Post by Matthias Mintzel on Nov 21, 2020 7:33:33 GMT -5
A strong, cold wind swirls around a dark night sky as Matthias Mintzel gazes over the same bridge that he and the rest of The Lost Breed threw Corey Bull from at XIII. As cars speed over the bridge, unaware of the meaning of this scene to Matthias, he peers over the edge and ponders the obvious question, how has Corey Bull gone from plunging towards the icy water below less than 2 weeks ago, to being in the Hardcore Title match at Turmoil?
I was a bit disappointed when they took Odin out of triple threat. That relic wasn’t a threat to anyone, least of all to me taking the Hardcore Title. I guess that’s the real reason he got kicked out, his presence would’ve cheapened the match. A one on one match between myself and Frank Lowe wouldn’t be a classic, very few squash matches are, but it suited me fine. I’m here for one reason and one reason only, and that’s to take what’s waiting for me.
It’s a fucking long way down. Honestly, they had no idea if he’d die or not. Matthias doubted it, cockroaches like Corey Bull always found a way of surviving but he didn’t see a situation where he’d be facing him in the ring within 2 weeks, that wasn’t the plan.
To be honest with you Corey, your only mistake was getting in my way.
Inserting yourself in the Hardcore Title picture and getting in MY way was extremely foolish. Ever since Frank fluked a win against NATE, a phrase you never thought you’d hear anyone say, I decided that this belt was mine, even if people didn’t know it yet.
I don’t know what it is about gold, but it does something to me. The way it shines, the way it feels, even the way it smells… that’s the reason why I never let the Pure Championship leave my side for all those weeks and months. So it hurts me when I see the state some of these divisions are in. It hurts when I see the likes of Frank Lowe holding a title belt and not giving it the respect it deserves, I take it upon myself personally to fix that.
Zombie McMorris is about to beat 3 absolute nobodies to win the Pure Title he came up well short of when I was champion. It beats me up inside every day that that’s not still mine when it should be but the Hardcore Title will be my redemption, just like I’ll be the redemption of the Hardcore Title.
So do you understand now Corey? The story of my redemption… the story of the Hardcore Title’s redemption? Do you hear what’s missing? Those tales have got absolutely fucking nothing to do with Corey Bull. That’s why we had to get you out the picture, that’s why you should be a few hundred feet under me right now, right where I stand.
Matthias looks over the side one last time and shrugs. It was getting cold now, and fuck it, Corey Bull did survive the fall. He did turn up on Clash and he is in the title match. No matter, he just has to fall again, this time in the ring.
He starts to walk down the sidewalk, a young couple walk past being obnoxiously affectionate, dangerously close to the side of the bridge without knowing it, there’s no one else around, even the rumble of the cars from the road silences temporarily, they continue approaching, oblivious to the violent, uncaring and cold-blooded fighter coming the other way… Matthias walks straight past them without a second thought… that’s never been his style.
I think what separates me from so many here is I don’t give a shit about 90% of this game. When I started here, I thought that was 100%, but I was wrong. I care about winning and being at the top. I don’t need to hurt innocent people that mean nothing to me like Frank Lowe does. If he gets off to that and thinks it makes him scary that’s fine by me, but it’ll make no difference when I’m standing across the ring from you.
And it’s the same with Corey. I don’t need to try and psych my opponents out, I don’t need a mask and a catchphrase to desperately try and make people notice me. I get in that ring, I hit people hard and I get my recognition that way.
You see, when you put on a mask and try to create a persona like you both do, you’ve got to keep it going, forever. It’s slipping, for both of you already. No one will ever look at Frank the same way after that NATE match, no ones seen Corey Bull as a threat since… I mean I’m struggling to finish that sentence. I’ll pull your self made masks off your fucking faces and throw them into the river below be at Turmoil.
Matthias reaches the end of the bridge, the very last streetlight on the bridge flickers in the darkness. The enormous German looks menacing in this scene but any passer by who would be worried needn’t be, he only actually has one thing on his mind.
Despite what you might think, and what you might even want, this isn’t personal. All I care about is having that belt. I decided I wanted it so I’m taking it and neither of you are stopping me. It’s not going to be pretty, I’m not going to tell anyone it is, but it’s going to be simple and effective. When we’re in the ring, all the bullshit will fade away, it’ll be three men and the Hardcore Championship and I walk out the winner.
Matthias fought the downslope and he was on his way back up, nothing was breaking his focus. The Hardcore Title was within his grasp. He was going to take it.
I was a bit disappointed when they took Odin out of triple threat. That relic wasn’t a threat to anyone, least of all to me taking the Hardcore Title. I guess that’s the real reason he got kicked out, his presence would’ve cheapened the match. A one on one match between myself and Frank Lowe wouldn’t be a classic, very few squash matches are, but it suited me fine. I’m here for one reason and one reason only, and that’s to take what’s waiting for me.
It’s a fucking long way down. Honestly, they had no idea if he’d die or not. Matthias doubted it, cockroaches like Corey Bull always found a way of surviving but he didn’t see a situation where he’d be facing him in the ring within 2 weeks, that wasn’t the plan.
To be honest with you Corey, your only mistake was getting in my way.
Inserting yourself in the Hardcore Title picture and getting in MY way was extremely foolish. Ever since Frank fluked a win against NATE, a phrase you never thought you’d hear anyone say, I decided that this belt was mine, even if people didn’t know it yet.
I don’t know what it is about gold, but it does something to me. The way it shines, the way it feels, even the way it smells… that’s the reason why I never let the Pure Championship leave my side for all those weeks and months. So it hurts me when I see the state some of these divisions are in. It hurts when I see the likes of Frank Lowe holding a title belt and not giving it the respect it deserves, I take it upon myself personally to fix that.
Zombie McMorris is about to beat 3 absolute nobodies to win the Pure Title he came up well short of when I was champion. It beats me up inside every day that that’s not still mine when it should be but the Hardcore Title will be my redemption, just like I’ll be the redemption of the Hardcore Title.
So do you understand now Corey? The story of my redemption… the story of the Hardcore Title’s redemption? Do you hear what’s missing? Those tales have got absolutely fucking nothing to do with Corey Bull. That’s why we had to get you out the picture, that’s why you should be a few hundred feet under me right now, right where I stand.
Matthias looks over the side one last time and shrugs. It was getting cold now, and fuck it, Corey Bull did survive the fall. He did turn up on Clash and he is in the title match. No matter, he just has to fall again, this time in the ring.
He starts to walk down the sidewalk, a young couple walk past being obnoxiously affectionate, dangerously close to the side of the bridge without knowing it, there’s no one else around, even the rumble of the cars from the road silences temporarily, they continue approaching, oblivious to the violent, uncaring and cold-blooded fighter coming the other way… Matthias walks straight past them without a second thought… that’s never been his style.
I think what separates me from so many here is I don’t give a shit about 90% of this game. When I started here, I thought that was 100%, but I was wrong. I care about winning and being at the top. I don’t need to hurt innocent people that mean nothing to me like Frank Lowe does. If he gets off to that and thinks it makes him scary that’s fine by me, but it’ll make no difference when I’m standing across the ring from you.
And it’s the same with Corey. I don’t need to try and psych my opponents out, I don’t need a mask and a catchphrase to desperately try and make people notice me. I get in that ring, I hit people hard and I get my recognition that way.
You see, when you put on a mask and try to create a persona like you both do, you’ve got to keep it going, forever. It’s slipping, for both of you already. No one will ever look at Frank the same way after that NATE match, no ones seen Corey Bull as a threat since… I mean I’m struggling to finish that sentence. I’ll pull your self made masks off your fucking faces and throw them into the river below be at Turmoil.
Matthias reaches the end of the bridge, the very last streetlight on the bridge flickers in the darkness. The enormous German looks menacing in this scene but any passer by who would be worried needn’t be, he only actually has one thing on his mind.
Despite what you might think, and what you might even want, this isn’t personal. All I care about is having that belt. I decided I wanted it so I’m taking it and neither of you are stopping me. It’s not going to be pretty, I’m not going to tell anyone it is, but it’s going to be simple and effective. When we’re in the ring, all the bullshit will fade away, it’ll be three men and the Hardcore Championship and I walk out the winner.
Matthias fought the downslope and he was on his way back up, nothing was breaking his focus. The Hardcore Title was within his grasp. He was going to take it.