Post by Kyle Kemp on Feb 28, 2021 22:37:03 GMT -5
Choke artist. Going nowhere. Played out cult leader. Using Dandy DiVito. Hit his ceiling. Those are just a few of the things you are all going to hear about me this week. Choose to believe the drivel that pours out of my hungry opponents mouths, vomiting their own propaganda all over the network with little thought. Believe that if you are too closed minded to see through it. I know that many of you will but for those that wish to be enlightened, allow me to open your minds.
Look at everything I have done. Could a choke artist really do the things I have done?
The sheer definition of a choke artist is someone that drops the ball in a big time match. Pisses away a lead. I would have to be given a chance to get a lead for that to be true. The reality is that I can’t be a choke artist because I’ve been kept away from the big matches ever since Action Wrestling opened. Hell since I debuted in WCF! Week after week I have brought my very best to the ring. I have been on your television screens constantly for the better part of the past decade! Why? Because I don’t take time off.
The longest period of time Kyle Kemp wasn’t on TV, well I was on TV as Grayson Ward and what were all of you? You were entertained. You were thrilled! You were on the edge of your seats when I took that mask off at Havoc last year. From day one you all have been interested in me….but never interested enough. At least according to management.
Isn’t that right Torture?
You’ve used my willingness to show up against me. You’ve scheduled me week after week in every kind of match. Just like Seth Lerch did. Just like Jayson Price did. Just like all the has beens did at the end of WCF. My reliability became my greatest weakness. My consistency made me a known entity. An entity that would show up and put forth my best in an effort to be a better man.
And make no mistake. The Following has made me a better man. It’s made me the best man I could be. With examples like Wesley in my life I have become more of a man then many of you thought I would be seven years ago. With that in mind I have one goal at BattleBowl. To be the better man. What does that mean? You all will know it when you see it.
The first rays of warm sun hit Kemps face as he walks out the back exit of the compound. He has a cup of coffee in his hand and takes a seat at one of the long friendship tables with a smile. The weather is finally warming up and that means it’s only a matter of time till the cold days of winter are behind them. To Kemp the promise of a new year doesn’t come with January 1 but instead spring. Spring is more hopeful.
And hope is a powerful tool in the hands of Kyle Kemp right now.
An unwinnable situation. That is where you have found yourself Corey. You’re stuck in a situation that has no positive outcome. Why? Because you are tethered to Frank Lowe. Like it or not you have made your bed and now you have to lie in it. When I look at you I see a broken man. A man with no hope.
Am I wrong Corey? Can you really sit there and tell me that I’m wrong? What do you have to fight for? The approval of a man that you despise? Let’s be real. That isn’t really a motivator. It’s more depressing than anything.
There is no light at the end of the tunnel. The farther you go into this hole the deeper it gets. The depression sets in. All hope is lost. BattleBowl will just be another notch in your belt of failures.
Kemp sips his coffee and can see some of his students training in the window with Wesley sitting by the mats. He smiles and nods at Wesley who gives him a nod back.
It’s good to see Wesley training the students again. The passion he shows for it has truly been a revelation. Unfortunately he can’t get in the ring and actually wrestle with them yet but these students are going to be key to his rehab.
Tough days are ahead for Wesley but he will get through it. Kemp continues to watch him give instructions and he knows that as much as he wants to protect Wesley from getting put on the shelf again, over protecting him will serve him no good. He wants this life. This is what he was made for. Anyone else would be more of a risk and Kemp would feel more at fault if he was forced to look after them.
It would be much worse if he was trying to force this life on Wesley.
Is this what you expected Kidsgrove? A life where you always have to look over your shoulder? A life where you are held back by an anchor? Slowly moving through life, watching everyone around pass you by? Because that’s exactly what’s happening. All of your peers are moving on with their lives and you’ve been stuck in neutral for what seems to be a year.
Has it all dawned on you? Or are you still too infatuated with Zooey Deschanel? I think it’s the latter with your new found efforts to force an award winning actress to adopt this life. I heard about her desire to “protect” you and get a trainer. I can’t believe you are giving this any thought. I can’t believe you would do this to her.
You and I both know that fighting in Action Wrestling is something you have to be passionate about otherwise you will get eaten alive. Do you think she will face a different fate if you get her some simple training? I’ll be real with you. Training won’t help. Why? Because deep down she doesn’t want this.
No this is all about you being selfish. It’s all about you. You’re pathetic.
I still can hear your statement from last week. She’s all the backup you need. You’re going to get her hurt. I hope you can handle what comes next. We both know it’s not going to be pretty.
Kemp's attention is broken when the door to the compound opens and Chase Jackson walks out with his own coffee. He smiles at Kemp and takes a seat next to him.
Both men sit for a second before Chase breaks the ice.
This could be a pretty big week for us.
They’re all big weeks Chase.
Chase smirks and shakes his head
You’re supposed to say that but you and I both know it’s more than that. One of our guys could win the BattleBowl!
And you don’t think I know that?
No but I think there’s a lot of speculation going around.
Speculation about what?
About if this is the week where you put yourself above The Following.
Why would I do that?
Chase shakes his head.
Come on Kyle. You and I both know this is the moment everyone has been waiting for since Dandy, Wesley and CJ joined The Following. You finally have your chance to use them and put yourself first. That and you can finally put a knife in one of their backs.
Who says this bullshit?!
Everyone Kyle! This is what all of our detractors have been waiting for!
I would never do that.
Why? Tell me why I shouldn’t be worried!
Because that’s a choice I’m not willing to make.
Life is all about choices. Every single decision affects your life. Some drive you towards success. Some carry you away. Some will leave you feeling full and happy. Some will leave you feeling empty and sad. No one knows that more than you Howard. No one.
I’ve always wondered why you called yourself The Lost Boy. The choices you have made have cleared that up.
You are completely lost.
The choices you have made since you returned have seen your entire life fall apart. Your marriage has fallen apart. Your choice to spend time with Lissie Hope rather than take a couple of weeks off to try to go fix that shows your true colors. You’re a coward. You made a commitment and just because it won’t be easy to fix makes you scared to return home.
Your choice to have this retirement tour shows you are all about you. Only a prima donna would announce this grandiose retirement tour, hoping that people would pay attention to him for an entire year before he retires.
Your choice to not take time off to recover after COVID and let the after effects ravage your body cost you the United States Title.
Your choices have left your prime for the picking. This isn’t 2020. You aren’t Wrestler of the Year. You aren’t United States Champion. You aren’t the favorite that many think you are in this match. You are simply the biggest loser.
And you can thank your choices for that.
If I were to stab our boys in the back I would be going back on everything I have claimed The Following would be. We wouldn’t be better men. I wouldn’t be a better man. I’d be just like every other leader. In it for myself.
And you aren’t?
Have I done anything to show that I am that guy Chase?
No but at some point shouldn’t you cash in? Shouldn’t you use all of these resources to your advantage?
No my friend. I can’t do that. I’ve seen what happens when someone you consider a friend does that. I’ve seen the pain it causes. I’ve seen how karma comes back on that person.
I’m not going to waste my time rehashing the same old storyline. Spencer Adams. Kyle Kemp. Rivals. Sometimes friends. Sometimes enemies. Always ready to fight. It’s exhausting. Just like it was exhausting being your friend Spencer!
Your ego needed to be stroked at all times. Just like it still does now.
The problem is the rest of your associates have gotten tired of stroking it for you. It’s not like you do anything in return to those that help you. You just use them. Do you remember everyone you used to get where you are? To get those accolades you brag about?
Do you remember Lincoln, Teo, John Rabid, Lockhart, me and the countless others that got you that Grand Slam you love so much?
There’s a reason why you haven’t been World Champion since I gave that title win to you. Everyone saw you use me and saw me never get my reward for doing so. I still remember you not letting me win this match a couple years ago. I remember you not helping me win the first All In match. I remember you always being about you.
The problem is now you’re the one exhausted. Exhausted from doing all the work for once and it showed when I took my Tag Team Title belly off your shoulder! It will show again at BattleBowl when I toss your ass over the top rope.
Karma? Do we suddenly believe in that?
Do you not?
Well I thought being better wasn’t leaving things up to chance but doing things to make us better people. All of those efforts would pay off.
That’s true but if we didn’t do the right things then obviously things aren’t going to go your way. What I’m saying is that if you choose to go down that route you will end up at the end of the road all alone. Do you want that?
No of course not.
Neither do I. I couldn’t come back here and look all of these people in the eye if I were to use Dandy or CJ to win this match. If it comes down to winning this match by stabbing one in the back I would rather lose.
Chase takes a second and looks at Kemp and smiles.
That’s what I’ve been hoping you would say. I feel so much better.
I’m happy I could ease your mind Chase. This is a family.
I don’t want to sound cheesy. I don’t want to sound like Vin Diesel in a Fast and Furious movie but The Following is a family. We have been together for some time now and these guys are brothers to me. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them and I know they feel the same way. That’s why I look at this match as a chance for any one of us to earn some respect and grab that last spot.
I look at CJ and see a young man with such promise. He has reminded me of myself since day one. Why? Because he has all the potential. He has promise. He just needed guidance and The Following gives him that. I would’ve given anything to have had the support system we have when I was coming up. I would be in such a better place. I wouldn’t have fallen from the lies and promises from people like Spencer Adams. If CJ were to win than I would consider that one of my greatest achievements. I would’ve helped him rise to new heights. Honestly it would be such a joy to watch that happen.
Then there’s Dandy. Wow. What can I say. Dandy and Wesley came and joined me at a time where things were looking bleak. Odin had not panned out and people were beginning to believe that The Following was a joke. I needed support. I needed people to believe. Dandy believed. Now look at us.
We are Tag Team Champions. Have been for over 3 months. Slaying all challengers and using our teamwork to be better than any other tag team. It’s the trust that we have in each other that leads me to believe that we will be able to trust each other at BattleBowl. I could look Dandy in the eyes right now and I would see a man that wasn’t going to toss me over the top rope just because my back was turned.
These men are my family and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them and if that means losing BattleBowl then so be it. Family above everyone else.
Chase stands up, pats Kemp on the shoulder and walks back into the compound. Kemp takes a deep breath and lets out a deep sigh. He knows that this week will be huge for the future of The Following. He lied to Chase. He had heard all of the rumblings. People wondering if he would blow up the following to be the last entrant in the Havoc Rumble.
He smirks. He knows that’s not worth it. Coming in last gets you only a small advantage. Why ruin a good thing? This is all about the long game and right now there is only one thing he wants. That’s Ash Blakes head on a stick.
He looks back up and sees Wesley struggling to walk as the training session ends. A rush of anger flows through Kemp's body. That sight reminds him that there is only one thing on his mind. Revenge.
Revenge. That’s what drives me Carter. You’ve spent the last few weeks with me. Any man with half a brain should know that’s why I was so nice to you. That’s why I asked you to join The Following. It’s not because I thought you were talented or would be a great addition to The Following. It’s because I want revenge. I want Ash Blake.
And in order to get to your boss I have to win the Havoc Rumble. Getting the last spot is the easiest way to do that. Messing with your head and your place in Philidor is an added bonus. I had plenty of time around you when we teamed and all of your insecurities showed. You can say that you were playing me all you want but you and I both know my offer messed with your head. Hell it’s messing with your head still right now!
I saw your match last week. I saw your promos. There was a gleam missing in your eye. The conviction wasn’t there. You went through all of your greatest hits. 2020 Rookie of the Year. Mr. All In. Blah blah blah. But the confidence wasn’t there. The only thing that was was confusion.
Everything I do and say has a purpose Carter. You didn’t one up me when you were here. You simply became my newest target. Mental warfare had begun. Now you review all of my past words with a fine tooth comb, wondering about ulterior meanings. What if there weren’t any Carter?
What if you just aren’t smart enough to tell the difference?
Kemp finishes his coffee, enjoying the last couple seconds of peace before heading back inside. He opens the door to the compound and picks up his bag sitting by the front door. He walks through the hall and up to both CJ Phoenix and Dandy DiVito in the hallway. All three men smile as they fall in line with Kemp. Walking towards the front door where the rest of their followers are standing and cheering them on.
Chase pumps his fist as they walk by him and standing at the front door is Wesley. He hugs each man and then steps aside. Kemp turns and faces all of the followers. Pride swells up inside of him. This is what it’s all about. These men and women.
BattleBowl here we come.