The B-O-D - Chapter One: "If You Can't Beat Him..."
Aug 8, 2021 12:22:15 GMT -5
CJ Phoenix, Johnny Bacchus, and 1 more like this
Post by Donovan Rayne on Aug 8, 2021 12:22:15 GMT -5
Once again, the familiar setting of the Rayne family home foyer can be seen. The white walls of the foyer which were originally adorned by eccentric art pieces have been replaced by large picture frames. In each frame, a different picture of Donovan in the midst of wrestling action can be seen. While these pictures would not seem out of the ordinary for what one would expect to come from the young stand-out, these pictures have a unique significance. In each of the frames, a different picture of Donovan in the throws of action against Action Wrestling star Rampage can be seen. In each frame, Donovan is shown being on the offensive. After a moment, Donovan enters the foyer. A smirk adorns his chiseled face. He is wearing a simple black t-shirt that reads “Stand-Out” in big, bold lettering. He places his right hand into the pocket of his light-wash jeans as he examines each of the pictures for a moment. Moving through the foyer, he lets out soft laughs as he passes each picture. Reaching the final frame, an image of Donovan applying the Stand-Out to the massive neck of Rampage. Shrugging his shoulders, Donovan reaches down, taking hold of a book that was placed on the table below the frame. With the book now in hand, Silas walks over to his now infamous seat. Lowering himself into it, a lectern is seen at his right side. Placing the book onto it, the book's title can now be seen; “The Book of Donovan: The Art of Being The Stand-Out”. Taking a few controlled breaths, Donovan looks forward with a cheshire smile adorning his face.
“Well, the time has come once again ladies and gentlemen. It is now your favorite time of the week, when you are all blessed to be addressed by the stand-out! Now, it’s another week of Monday Night Clash where I am booked to compete in one of the marquee matches on the always star-studded card. You see, last week I was victorious in my efforts against one Johnny Dangerously. Now, I cannot lie, Johnny did have a great showing. In fact, I was frankly shocked that he had that in him… yet, he still lost. I was still able to hit heavy rayne, and I was able to add another win to my column. Yes, this was the paradigm shift in momentum that I needed, and obviously I’m not the only person that recognized that. Alexander Pasternak named me as the second official competitor in the All-In ladder match at Uprising. Now, I don’t know if anyone doubted my position in that match, but they would have been crazy to doubt such a thing. You see, no one in their right mind doubts my hunger for wanting to be the next big thing in Action Wrestling. For months, I’ve been scratching and clawing my way to the top, salivating for an opportunity. With the All-In ladder match, I have the chance to fix my plate, and sit at the table whenever I see fit. Now, that’s still a few weeks away, and I have a few minuscule challenges to get through first.”
Letting out a scof, Donovan turns his attention to the book on the lectern. Tracing his hand on the cover for a moment, he begins to speak again.
“You see, I’ve decided that my own positive affirmations haven’t necessarily done me good. While yes, I believe every word that comes out of my mouth, because it’s all true… you all need to believe them as well. That is why I have this beauty on the side of me! Yes, the official motivational, self-help book of Donovan Rayne! See, in “The Book of Donovan: The Art of Being The Stand-Out '' I go through chapter by chapter to teach the world how to have the right level of my confidence. I took time out of my busy schedule to teach you all what it’s like to be as great as me, and that was a gift from me to all of the world that cannot be duplicated. Now, each chapter is very important, and luckily the first chapter means a lot to my match-up at Clash. Alexander Pasternak announced me as the second official entrant into the All-In ladder match, and then, he placed me in a match up against the first entrant this week. You see, he announced my good old friend Rampage as the first entrant. Rampage, I feel like we’ve both had this simple song and dance before. You see, our paths have been entangled in each other’s since we both stepped foot into Action Wrestling. This is our third meeting against each other, and we have a very unique history… wouldn’t you say?”
Taking the book off of the lectern, Donovan places it onto his lap. Thumbing through it a bit, he looks down at the page with a smirk.
“You see, the first chapter in this book of mine is specifically written for you Rampage. The first chapter of the B-O-D, is simply titled ‘If you can’t beat him… don’t try again’. Rampage, you and I have the distinction of facing each other twice… and neither of us walking away with the win. That’s a very unique situation when you think about it. In our first meeting on Monday Night Clash, Toture stopped our match. He stopped our match when you were in the center of the ring, getting your life choked out by me. I had you, I had you beat. I had you in the stand-out, a moment I’m so proud of, it’s even on my fucking wall. Yet, Torture saved you. Torture took away my moment of glory. Torture made sure that I didn’t make you tap out. Torture not only threw you a life-line, he also threw you a bone. He saved you from the certain embarrassment that you would have felt by losing at my capable hands, and allowed you into MY match at Evolution. You see, if it wasn’t for his interjection, you would have been handed a loss by me, someone you consider inferior. You look down at me because of the complete juxtaposition of our livelihoods. You look at me as a man who was raised with a gilded spoon, a man who didn’t have to scratch and claw to get where he needed to be. Yeah, I had a cushy upbringing, but that hasn’t helped me one bit since stepping foot in Action Wrestling. I’ve gotten where I am completely on the merits of my in-ring acumen. I’ve gotten everything that I’ve received and will continue to receive, because I am just that damn good. You can diminish that fact with all the fallacies of your head, but it’s the truth. Whether you had a gilded spoon like I, or a rusted spoon like yours, I’m still better in that ring day in and day out. So, Torture gave you an out. He put you in that Television Championship match, and made it a triple threat.”
Thumbing through the book a bit more, a stern expression comes over Donovan’s face. He takes the book, and puts it back onto the lectern before beginning to speak once more.
“Then on Action Wrestling’s biggest stage, you choked. You got pinned in the center of the ring by Claire Hawkins. You ruined your opportunity for that title, and more importantly, you ruined mine. Yes, I wasn’t victorious in that match-up, but it wasn’t my shoulders that were pinned to the mat, that was all you. No matter what, I can hold my head up high and say that I wasn’t the person that got pinned, I simply wasn’t the person who walked away with the winner’s share of the purse. Rampage, when it comes to being in the ring with me, you just can’t get it done. There’s evidence of this. That’s why Torture threw you that bone and saved you from being beaten by me. That’s why you were the only true loser at Evolution. You just can’t get it done when it comes to facing me. That is why this chapter in my self-help book is devoted to you, Rampage. If at first you cannot succeed, why are you trying again? Rampage, while we may have the exact same record against each other, my statistics are still better, you know that. If Torture wouldn’t have stopped that match, I would have beaten you. Had you within breaths of passing out at my hands. There was no stopping me from taking my rightful place in that match, until you were given a miracle at the last minute. No matter what anyone says, that decision solely benefitted you. Allowing you a position at Evolution was simply throwing you a life persevere. Yes, you’ve done great things within this company, but that’s only because our paths hadn’t crossed again. Now, you once again step into the ring with the biggest roadblock that you’ve had.”
Standing from his seat, the serious expression on Donovan’s face is only amplified from the fire in his voice from his statements.
“This is big for me, Rampage. You have somehow, someway been a thorn in my fucking side since the fight time we’ve locked horns. Somehow, I cannot escape you… until I formally beat you. Rampage, I am ready to prove to you and the entire Action Wrestling faithful that I am the better athlete in this scenario. Donovan Rayne is tired of being pigeonholed as just not good enough for that next level. This is the first step that I truly need to ascend to the mountaintop… the place where I deserve to be. Our parallels end here Rampage. I’ve already proven that I’m pound for pound a better athlete than you big boy. I’ve already proven that from our meetings, fate just intervened to continually throw you a bone. Now, don’t worry, there will be salvation at the end of this for you. At the end of that dark tunnel, you will still have a light. You see after I beat you, I will give you your own signed copy of the B-O-D, and you will be able to make amends with your loss to me. As a matter of fact, let me sign your copy right now... “
Taking the book from the lectern, Donovan places it into his arms. He lifts it up, opening the book to the front cover. Then, with his right hand, he reaches down into his pocket. After a moment of fumbling, he pulls out a pen. Clicking it, he raises his hand to the book, and begins to write. After a few moments of writing, he throws the pen down to the floor, letting out a chuckle. Turning the book, the contents can now be seen.
“Dearest Rampage, thank you for your ill-fated attempts at beating the Stand-Out. Remember, this is not the end for you. This is only the beginning of your overdue fall into obscurity. It is about time you’ve learned your lesson at the hands of someone who is truly better than you. Once and for all, the world will know that Donovan Rayne is exactly who he say he is… the Stand-Out. With love, Donovan”
With a smirk once again adorning his chiseled face, Donovan nestles the book underneath his left arm. He takes a deep breath before he begins to speak once more.
“There’s something therapeutic about letting go. Rampage, this Clash is the moment I finally let go of the massive albatross that is you. I’ll see you Monday, big guy and remember, the B-O-D is not only a tool for reconciliation, it is a tool to help you… so long as you don’t eat it!”
With a smirk, Donovan confidently walks out of the foyer feeling confident about his match against Rampage on Clash.
