[GB] After Glory...
Jul 4, 2020 12:19:29 GMT -5
The Papa John's Pizza Man, “The RevolutiDaddy” Wesley, and 7 more like this
Post by Graham Baker on Jul 4, 2020 12:19:29 GMT -5
We cut to an image of Graham Baker celebrating in the crowd, but he pauses the celebrations for a moment as he holds his championship high. He rolls back to the ring, and demands a microphone, only for a crew member to toss him one. He lays the United States Championship on his shoulder, and holds the microphone up to his mouth.
“Alright, first things first...someone get me a goddamn beer!”
The crowd swells, and Baker holds his hand up as a few open Bud Lights are tossed his way. He catches a closed tallboy in midair as it comes in, and kneels in the middle of the ring. He looks down at the championship, and bows his head for a moment before he begins speaking.
“This night could’ve been anyone’s! It could’ve been Omega’s, but it wasn’t, despite his best efforts, sometimes you can’t prepare for a knee to the skull! This could’ve been Slane’s, but it wasn’t, despite putting up a hell of a fight, sometimes you just have to tap out! And especially, this could’ve been Wesley’s, but sometimes, despite everything, the fighting spirit is just too fucking much!” The crowd swells up in a cheer as Baker keeps his head down. “Despite everything, despite the bullshit with Cranley, despite getting thrown out of Havoc in just under twelve minutes, despite losing my television championship to interference and Carnivore, I have persevered! I have withstood the storm! In my hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Graham Baker has become YOUR Action Wrestling United States Champion!”
The crowd lets out a massive cheer. They beat their hands against the barricades. The arena shakes. Baker lowers his head and kisses the belt, before he picks it up and slots it onto his shoulder. He leans over the ropes, sweat pouring down his face as he looks up.
“On this day, the Fourth of July, remember that despite all that’s going on in this world, there is still hope! There is still a driving light! There is still a way forward! Hell, I’m not even from this country, but when I came here eleven years ago, all I had was a gear bag, all the cash I’d saved, and a dream! Now, eleven years later, I’m standing in a ring in the same city I arrived in, I’m standing surrounded by people who’ve supported me every time I’ve come through, I’m standing right here, in the birthplace of our nation, where they signed the Declaration of Independence two hundred and forty four years ago, and let me tell you-if a kid coming from outside this country with nothing over a decade ago and winning a belt on the day of this nation’s birth with cash in his pocket, clothes on his back and a house to go home to isn’t the American Dream, I don’t fucking know what is!”
The crowd swells once more, and Baker quiets them down one more time.
“But we’re not done yet, nah! Wesley was a great champ, KOS was a great champ, EVERY CHAMPION AND CONTENDER to go after this belt has been phenomenal, and I look to carve my name into that legacy, to build this reputation, to carry this belt everywhere I go at the forefront of this sport, as the capstone of this industry, and I WILL bring honor to it! No matter what happens later today, tomorrow, two months, three years down the line, if I drop this belt in my first defense or hold it ‘til Action shutters their doors decades from now, I will always have this moment! We, as a city, will always have this moment! And I will remember every day how I managed to spend this all with each and every one of you!”
The crowd explodes one more time, and as Baker invites them forward as the barricades go down, he opens the beer and chugs it, before punting it deep into the empty arena! He dives into the crowd as we fade out...
“Alright, first things first...someone get me a goddamn beer!”
The crowd swells, and Baker holds his hand up as a few open Bud Lights are tossed his way. He catches a closed tallboy in midair as it comes in, and kneels in the middle of the ring. He looks down at the championship, and bows his head for a moment before he begins speaking.
“This night could’ve been anyone’s! It could’ve been Omega’s, but it wasn’t, despite his best efforts, sometimes you can’t prepare for a knee to the skull! This could’ve been Slane’s, but it wasn’t, despite putting up a hell of a fight, sometimes you just have to tap out! And especially, this could’ve been Wesley’s, but sometimes, despite everything, the fighting spirit is just too fucking much!” The crowd swells up in a cheer as Baker keeps his head down. “Despite everything, despite the bullshit with Cranley, despite getting thrown out of Havoc in just under twelve minutes, despite losing my television championship to interference and Carnivore, I have persevered! I have withstood the storm! In my hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Graham Baker has become YOUR Action Wrestling United States Champion!”
The crowd lets out a massive cheer. They beat their hands against the barricades. The arena shakes. Baker lowers his head and kisses the belt, before he picks it up and slots it onto his shoulder. He leans over the ropes, sweat pouring down his face as he looks up.
“On this day, the Fourth of July, remember that despite all that’s going on in this world, there is still hope! There is still a driving light! There is still a way forward! Hell, I’m not even from this country, but when I came here eleven years ago, all I had was a gear bag, all the cash I’d saved, and a dream! Now, eleven years later, I’m standing in a ring in the same city I arrived in, I’m standing surrounded by people who’ve supported me every time I’ve come through, I’m standing right here, in the birthplace of our nation, where they signed the Declaration of Independence two hundred and forty four years ago, and let me tell you-if a kid coming from outside this country with nothing over a decade ago and winning a belt on the day of this nation’s birth with cash in his pocket, clothes on his back and a house to go home to isn’t the American Dream, I don’t fucking know what is!”
The crowd swells once more, and Baker quiets them down one more time.
“But we’re not done yet, nah! Wesley was a great champ, KOS was a great champ, EVERY CHAMPION AND CONTENDER to go after this belt has been phenomenal, and I look to carve my name into that legacy, to build this reputation, to carry this belt everywhere I go at the forefront of this sport, as the capstone of this industry, and I WILL bring honor to it! No matter what happens later today, tomorrow, two months, three years down the line, if I drop this belt in my first defense or hold it ‘til Action shutters their doors decades from now, I will always have this moment! We, as a city, will always have this moment! And I will remember every day how I managed to spend this all with each and every one of you!”
The crowd explodes one more time, and as Baker invites them forward as the barricades go down, he opens the beer and chugs it, before punting it deep into the empty arena! He dives into the crowd as we fade out...