Post by Teo Blaze on Oct 11, 2015 12:49:37 GMT -5
Hello again Old Friend.
Okay, maybe it’s too soon to call you old friend, I mean we have really only known each other about a month, but then again in your line of work a month with someone is practically a lifetime. Look what he did to you, so many scratches, so many dings… You’re still a prize though. Bright as you were when we met back at Revenge. I’m glad you saw fit to forgive me, to come back after I let you go. That cage match took more out of me than I would ever like to admit, but losing you? That was the real pain.
Look, I know that there’s more to this business than gold, more meaningful goals that one should aim for, but I won’t lie when I say that when you decided to hang out with me? That was one of the happiest moments of my life. That was until tonight.
Two Time Champion, that has a ring to it, alliterative after all. Teo del Sol The Two Time Television Title Tyrant. Okay, Tyrant’s a bad word, but I wanted another T.
Spencer and Vic came out to help, what did you think of that? Heck of an act on their part, kept me safe. People like Tiburones just can’t take losing, but then I know what it feels like to have you taken away, it’s like a part of you is gone. I don’t care who comes up against me, I never want to feel a pain like that again. But that’s enough reflecting on bad vibes, it’s time to go meet the public. Back out in front of that camera, back where we belong.
Part 1- WAR veterans.
Teo del Sol walks back to the locker room, eliminated from WAR much sooner than he would have liked. Beach Krew had been absolutely laser-targeted on him from the moment that he had stepped into the ring, no doubt in revenge for taking away Tiburones’s Title, never mind the fact that he had never won it in the first place, only managed to escape the cage. Before he can make his way back to the locker room, however, he is greeted by the familiar sight of Hank Brown! Hank quickly shoves a microphone under his chin and signals for the cameraman to start rolling.
“Hank Brown here with Teo del Sol! Teo, that was a heck of a performance earlier tonight when you regained your Television Title from Los Tiburones, but it looks like you didn’t have much left in the tank for WAR, care to comment?”
“Hank, let me tell you something, sometimes in this business it just comes down to chance. I was able to reverse that Dolphin Driver earlier tonight and hold down Tiburones just long enough to win back that belt, and Beach Krew was able to have a numbers advantage before the match even started.”
“Speaking of numbers, earlier tonight we saw you align yourself with Vic Venable and Spencer Adams! The fans want to know about this, your hashtags have been blowing up all night!”
“Well Hank, it’s simple really. The enemy of my enemy is my friend; Beach Krew have been running around like they rule this roost for as long as they’ve been here, but they’ve always been protected by their numbers, heck it happened to me again tonight. Well no more, I say! Teo del Sol and Vic Venable and Spencer Adams are declaring an alliance, starting tonight, we have each other’s backs! We are not going to let Beach Krew run this locker room any longer!”
“What do you think of their newest member, Dustin Beaver?”
“Is Beaver in Beach Krew..? You may want to check on that, Hank. Well, if it’s true, it’s sad. First Kyle Kemp and now Dustin Beaver, you have all these young, talented guys trying to take shortcuts, to align themselves with the big bad wolf so that they can huff and puff and blow down everyone else. Listen Dustin, you of all people should know that you don’t need anyone else to make it in this business. This is a business that preys on weakness, that grinds men down and attacks their most vulnerable points, it’s not a good thing to keep advertising that you want other people to win your matches for you. All you’ve done is paint a big bullseye on your back, let everyone know that you are not willing to fight a fair fight, and would rather take the easy way out if you have an option.”
“It sounds like you don’t like Beaver very much.”
“Phrasing Hank, come on man! Look, I don’t dislike the guy, but I dislike the way he handles himself in the ring, he comes out and acts like he’s the cock of the walk, the head of the roost, the ruler of the realm, but every single moment he’s had has come from taking advantage of distracted opponents, from letting his tag partner get the pin, or my personal favorite, simply not showing up at all on PPV.”
“Hold that thought, I’ve just received word that Seth Lerch has been watching this interview! Not only that, but he wants to put you one on one with Beaver this week!”
“Wait, Seth is watching this? What a…Wonderful Boss!”
“You heard it here first, ladies and gentlemen, tune in this week to see Teo del Sol vs. Dustin Beaver!”
“Hank, you better beavlieve that I’m gonna make it a match worth watching.”
Teo turns and walks back to the locker room, greeted by the sounds of cheers as Hank eagerly awaits the next eliminated wrestler.
Part 2- Special Guest Star!
As though summoned by his thoughts, the door cracks open and the old man himself walks in through the front door, a cup of coffee in his hand and a clipboard under his arm. He notices his student and approaches him.
“Good morning, Mijo. Good to know the plane ride didn’t’ affect your sleep patterns any.”
“Hector, how could I sleep when there’s training to be done? This week was one of the biggest wins of my career! People are going to be wanting more of the same.”
“It was an okay victory. Not fantastic, but okay.”
Teo chuckles to himself, used to his mentor’s ‘sense of humor’. He had known Hector almost a year and a half now, and he had never known him to ever give out an honest compliment. Calling the win okay might as well have been calling it spectacular. Suddenly Teo realizes what time it is, and he quickly grabs the remote control, pointing it at the large Television that occupies a significant portion of the lobby.
“By the way Hector, there’s something I want to show you. I know you’re going to like this.”
“What, did your next opponent have a heart attack so you get a week off?”
“Ha ha, no, I’ve decided to make better use of this title!”
“Better use..?”
“You see, I am the Television Champion now, right? So I decided that I should make more use of the Television! I’m going to start making some appearances in between training.”
Hector eyes his student with a look of disapproving skepticism.
“Hector come on, the people love Television! And I promise only to appear on wholesome programs. Here, look at this one I recorded earlier this week.”
Teo pushes a button as the Television roars to life. The screen opens on a rather strange background, the scene of an animated cartoon. After a few moments, the familiar face of Dora the Explorer and her monkey sidekick walk onto the screen.
“Gee Boots, I wonder how we’re going to get to the big party in time!”
“I don’t know Dora, I think we’re lost!”
“Hey, maybe he can help us!”
The camera slowly pans over to an animated version of Teo del Sol, the TV title draped over his shoulder. He gives a hearty laugh and waves at the camera.
“Why hello there Dora! I understand you’re looking for the big party! I can help you-“
“Oh no, it’s Swiper!”
The masked orange fox appears on the right side of the screen, a devilish grin on his face as he approaches the trio. Dora turns towards the screen to implore the viewer:
“We need your help!”
“Who are you talking to?”
The fox begins moving closer, his hands outstretched, no doubt to steal a precious item of some kind.
“Say it with me! Swiper no Swiping! Swiper no Swiping! Swiper no-“
Teo turns and delivers a Habanero Hurricane to the fox, knocking him unconscious on the side of the road. Dora and Boots freeze in place, their mouths hanging open in stunned silence.
“…So anyway, it’s just up the road there.”
Teo shuts off the television and looks at his mentor with an expectant grin.
“That was the most horrible thing I’ve seen in my entire life.”
“Okay, so Lucha Libre doesn’t translate well to every show, but the important thing is that we’re getting attention!”
“You’re acting like a clown is what you’re doing!”
“Hector, you’re exaggerating.”
Hector sighs, staring at his pupil through exasperated eyes; he never could deny the boy’s enthusiasm, but sometimes Hector wondered if Teo was trying to lose his dignity.
“Tell me about your opponent this week.”
“Right, well this week I’m facing Dustin Beaver.”
“The Pop Singer? Bring ear plugs. Training complete.”
“No, that’s a very common mistake, he is a pop star impersonator turned pro wrestler. Although it’s kind of strange he was ever able to imitate that pop singer given that he’s taller than I am. Maybe the camera makes you look shorter?”
“Teo, focus.”
“Right right, so he’s kind of an unorthodox grappler, very green but very hungry. He’s been on a bit of a losing streak right before he won that fatal 4-way, and he’s looking to play spoiler on me.”
“How would you describe his style?”
“Well, he runs away a lot, but I don’t really know if that’s a style. He seems to rely more on other people in his matches, he tends to go for sudden moves from behind, taking out people while they’re distracted.”
Hector nods, considering Teo’s words.
“So he’s going to be looking to end it quickly…Teo, here is my suggestion. He is going to come at you guns blazing, he isn’t going to want to give you a chance to get going, so your job is to weather the initial storm. Reverse, dodge, do whatever you have to, but keep him coming after you.”
“So I can tire him out?”
“No, so you can shake his confidence! He isn’t going to want to stand in the ring with you if he can’t overcome you immediately. He doesn’t have the patience to wear down an opponent, he’s just going to look for bigger and bigger moves.”
“Which means he’ll make a mistake.”
“Exactly. You want him to go for something disastrous, to try and hit you with a top rope moonsault before you’re too weak to dodge, let him beat himself.”
“Hector, you give the best advice.”
“So for training this week, I’m going to have every student hit you with every move they know how. You are not allowed to hit back.”
Teo blinks in shock, then stares at his mentor with a look of disbelief.
“They’ll knock my head off, Hector! These kids are vicious!”
“Then you had better perfect your dodging, mijo. Something tells me that your opponent this week isn’t going to be as easy to knock out as a cartoon fox.”
Teo rolls his eyes, of course Hector wouldn’t understand the importance of exposure for a Television Champion, besides, Dora the Explorer needed more kicks to the head- any critic could tell you that.
“Hector, one of these days you’re going to give me a training regimen that doesn’t require a hospital visit.”
“And then you’ll lose your title. Now come on, Champions don’t get to laze about!”
Hector swats at his student with the clipboard, Teo rolls out of the chair and turns toward the gym, ready to start another day of training. Beaver wasn’t going to be an easy challenge, but there was no way Teo was going to let go of that TV belt this soon, either.
Part 3- Beaver Shooting
The screen now bears a WCF logo, the familiar sounds of training can be heard echoing throughout a building, Teo del Sol once again stands in the center of the ring in El Gimnasio del Sol, pacing slowly. The Shining gold of the Television title is draped over his shoulder, a shiny new belt replacing the one that Tiburones destroyed, the name plate reading Teo del Sol once more. He looks out over the gym as a student executes a picture perfect headlock takedown, Teo nods in approval. He turns slowly towards the camera, the look on his face a mixture of pride and excitement.
“You know, this is the kind of match that really gets the blood pumping.
Teo del Sol vs. Dustin Beaver! That is a match that anyone can put up on their marquis, a match where you know that you are going to see action, suspense, drama, intrigue! Anyone can tell you that this is the match of the week, but not anyone can tell you why.
You see Dustin, your opponents have had the nasty habit of underestimating you, of just assuming that because your record has about as many wins as Tiburones does Title Defenses…Okay maybe not that bad, that you are no threat, that they can just roll over you and keep on going. Well Beaver, fortunately for you I am not in the underestimating business- I am not a man of records or statistics, nor do I believe that the past is an indicator of the future. This week you and I are stepping in that ring for the biggest prize in this company short of the world title!”
Teo pulls the television title from his shoulder and holds it towards the camera.
“The Television Championship! I know as well as anyone that any man on any night can dethrone the Television Champion. I know that all it takes is one week, one slip-up, one bad move and then your gold is around someone else’s waist. You see Beaver, to be Television Champion more than any other title in this company demands perfection, and frankly when it comes to you, I just don’t see it.
Don’t get me wrong, I see potential, I don’t think there was a single person expecting you to walk out of that fatal 4-way three weeks ago with your hand raised, and I don’t think people would pick you again in a rematch. Coming out over not one, but two members of Beach Krew? That is an accomplishment, man.
But Dustin, here’s what I don’t understand. You have never been able to pick up a win on your own. You have spent most of your career clinging to other men’s coattails. Your first big win was over Clan Macneill, and it was Riddlebox who did most of the work there. Your other big win, well, I gotta be honest, you spent most of the match on your back and then managed to beat Bad News Benson, who I honestly forgot was even in the match.
That’s the thing Dustin, that’s the thing that makes it so frustrating to watch you week in and week out, is that you show this limitless potential, you’ve got athleticism, charisma, and you work hard. But you just can’t put anything together without having someone else do all the work.
Dustin, there is nothing that would make me happier than to see you one day with a world championship. One day. But not right now. Right now you are not the wrestler that you have the ability to be, right now you are not the championship caliber performer that could sell out stadiums, could rock the world, who could be the face of this business, oh no, right now you are nothing but a little spoiled brat.
You have your entourages, your posses, your managers all patting you on the back, your yes men and your sycophants all telling you that you are the greatest in the world. Let me tell you a secret, Dustin, that is not the atmosphere that breeds champions. Champions are created through blood, sweat, and tears! They are sculpted only after they have been ground down, time and time again! Dustin I have refined myself against some of the biggest names in this company’s history, former and current champions. I have been in the ring with Jonny Fly and Joey Flash, with David Sanchez and with Los Tiburones, and win or lose every time I have come out better for it! But you..?
Who have you challenged yourself with, who has been your hardest opponent? Kyle Kemp? Okay, I’ll give you that, he is definitely no slouch. I know because I’ve also done battle with him, and that win is what got me my TV title shot. But when you faced him? Why you just waited for Billy to do the work and tried to steal the win. Dustin, you gotta understand, watching you in and out every week, it’s frustrating man! You have the guts to get into that ring each and every week but you spend every single match hiding like a coward! I have yet to see you do one honorable thing in that ring, to show one ounce of respect for your opponent. I really hope that when our match on Sunday starts that I don’t have to spend it chasing you around.
Dustin, let me tell you the difference between you and me, because it’s not ability, it’s not talent, it’s not even looks, though I guess you could say you’re far prettier than I’ll ever be, although believe me, in this business pretty doesn’t last. One cage match and you’ll end up looking like you’ve been through a World War. Although a cage match can be won by escape, so maybe it’ll play to your strengths, who knows. But no, the difference between you and me comes down to one thing, Beaver, and that is dedication. Your career has been nothing but loss after loss, and every single time you’ve spent most of the match simply trying not to lose.
Track the trajectory, it’s not hard, in WAR you spent most of the match hiding in the ring with Beach Krew, trying to get their attention like a bright-eyed puppy. Pick me! Pick me! Just another shortcut, you think that because you’re not actively getting beaten by Beach Krew that they care even slightly about you? I have faced Beach Krew on more than one occasion and I can say without a doubt that you are tapping a dry well.
That really has been the story of Dustin Beaver, though, let someone else do the work. Riddlebox, Billy, Ricco Rojas… You’ve had exactly one, underline, ONE singles match in your entire career here in WCF, and Dustin you didn’t even show up. Ego and Cowardice my friend, that’s a deadly combination right there. You think that you’re the greatest thing in the entire world, that you’re god’s gift to women and to wrestling, you think that because you come in here with a checkbook that you can buy your way to success, and no matter how many times you end up with your back against that ring, no matter how many times you panic and turn your back the moment you’re in a fair fight, you still seem to think that you’re going to amount to anything. I started by saying that you have unlimited potential Dustin, and I honestly believe it’s true, but right now, you’re nothing but diet Kyle Kemp, a whiny child who can’t take responsibility for his own losses and who has been in the right place at the right time.
So Dustin, our match this week is going to be a good one, it’s going to be high flying action and I am going to show you just what kind of repertoire comes from years of training, and when that bell rings, and you have added yet another loss to your record, I honestly hope that you realize just how much you have been holding yourself back.
I hope you cut yourself away from that atmosphere, from the agents and the cameras, from the expensive dinners and the press conferences, and you get into that gym. You get into that gym and you push yourself harder than you’ve ever pushed yourself in your life, because until you do that man, it’s not even gonna be close.
This week Teo del Sol will step into the ring with Dustin Beaver, and when the match is over, the Television title will still be around my waist! I did not conquer Tiburones, conquer Jonny Fly, get my head bashed in by David Sanchez to lose now, and certainly not to a competitor like you Dustin! Until you reach up, grab your ears, and pull your head out, it doesn’t matter how many times we meet, how many times we step between those ropes, the result will be the same every time! Teo del Sol, winner and STILL Champion! Beavlieve That!”
Teo hold the belt towards the camera with a determined grin, the sounds of training surrounding him as the camera slowly fades to black.
Part 4- Cameraman Teo
Teo walks down the corridors of the arena, preparing for Slam! in a rather peculiar way. Strapped around his waist is the shining Television Title, and in his hand is a small, compact, but still high-end camcorder. He turns it towards himself and the image on the screen shifts to the camcorder’s point of view.
“Hello WCF Faithful! Teo del Sol, your Television Champion here! Now, I was thinking to myself just how important the Television is as an invention, I mean it allows you to view WCF, which is greatly beneficial, but think about it. Television unites us as a people, Television brings families together, can make friends of strangers, can make even the most bitter rivals put their feeling aside to watch the latest episode of Better Call Saul or Walking Dead.
You have tuned in and given me the opportunity to come into your home and entertain you each and every week, and for that I have to say thank you. But as much as I enjoy being the one on your screen each and every night, I have to say that such great power should be shared. That is why this week, and maybe next week, we are going to speak to you, the WCF faithful, here in the arena. I may be TV champion, but TV is an experience that everyone should have the chance to participate in at some point in their life. So, come on, take the journey with me! Let’s see what the WCF Faithful have to say!”
At this point, the camera begins flashing between fans in attendance, all from the viewpoint of Teo’s camcorder.
“Who are you looking forward to seeing tonight?”
“Hash Tag Beach Krew BOiiiiii! Wade Moor Comin’ for that Gold Suhn!”
“I want to see Denise D’evil, it’s nice to see a girl who isn’t afraid to compete with the boys.”
“The Antidote! Don’t you see the facepaint man? Spencer Adams is gonna shake up that Tag Division”
“The Archduke of Mass Confusion…Aaaaaalllex Richards! He’s the next US champ, you better believe that!”
“I was just looking for the bathroom. Wait, aren’t you Teo del Sol?”
“ZEE-MAC! Honey Badger dun Took DAT TITLE BELT! WOOOO”
“Kyle Kemp man, He’s better than Benson, and he’s better than you, scrub.”
“Petrov is no Fan! Get Camera away from Petrov!”
“I bought this ticket before Flash was injured. Come back soon Flash! Hash Tag Future Flash Wife!”
“Say it together family…BILLY!! He’s gonna be a good US Champion!”
“Well, Teo del Sol of course…But aside from the obvious, David Sanchez is pretty cute… Oh, not that you’re not!”
“Hank Brown here with Teo del Sol who is filming me for some reason.”
“Doc Henry’s back! He’s gonna show these new guys what it means to be WCF!”
“Uh, I don’t know, I forgot to check the program. Adam Young I guess.”
“Pan! Thee! On! Woooo!”
“Man Teo, you gonna beat Beaver for sure! You showed Tibs last Sunday, I gotta give you props.”
As the transitions come to an end, Teo turns the camera towards himself once more.
“You see that Beaver? That is what it means to be Television Champion! You have to be one with your audience, to keep the pulse of society, and to be ready to defend your belt each and every week, to be perfect! I would love to see you be Television Champion one day, but only once you’ve got that stick out of your rear and that cowardice out of your system! But frankly, if you won it tonight, you’d lose it before you got out of the ring. You are not ready to be the one holding this gold, you are nothing but an imitator, a pretender, a child who put on a Halloween costume and told everyone that he was a wrestler!
I am going to beat you tonight, I am going to take you to your limits and I am going to pin you in the middle of that ring because I AM the Television Champion, I AM the one who speaks for the people! Kemp may have the belt, but ask anyone who the People’s Champion is, they’ll tell you!
You may think that because you have a title match tonight, that because you managed to steal a win over Bad News Benson that somehow it makes you qualified to hold the Television Title. Nuh-uh. This is a belt that will bring out and demand the very best you have to offer, that will leave you broken and crying, up late at night wondering if this will be the week, if this will be the one who snatches it away from you! Or it would any other week, Dustin, but as it stands, you are the only threat to me this week, so my belt is safe!
I’m going to go in that ring tonight and I am going to show these people exactly why I am the Television Champion, to show them exactly how much this belt means to me, and why I am going to defend it! You want a prize to hang on your mantle, a stat to show that of all people in the entire federation, you managed to hold a belt for one week! But I am not going to let that happen, Beaver! One day you may be ready to hold this belt, one day you may evolve to your full potential, but right now you are nothing but a step on my way to bringing this belt to the pedestal it belongs on!
Television is a wonderful force, it allows these people to welcome us into their homes, to compete for them, to put together something wonderful for them. This business is bigger than your ego, bigger than me, bigger than anyone in that locker room!
Until you realize Dustin just what it means to hold this belt Dustin, you don’t have a chance.”
Teo holds the belt up to the camcorder before it quickly cuts to black.
Part 5- One Last Dance
Well, here we are. In the locker room again, this is exactly what it was like when I lost you the first time, when Tiburones managed to snatch you away from me… heh. It almost seems like an eternity ago now, there’s a new threat, a new foe hoping to be the one who ruins my week.
That’s what I signed up for, and I knew that was what you wanted. You don’t want someone who barely manages to squeeze by, someone who only by the tips of their fingers manages to hold onto you, you want someone who embraces you completely, to be the center of their world, for them to dedicate every waking moment to keeping you. I think I can be that guy this time.
Beaver…he’ll be a champion one day, when he’s forced to he is able to put in hard work, to make real progress. But right now he’s hampered by his own inability to take this business seriously, he’s afraid of failure, afraid of losing. We both know I’m not afraid of that, huh?
Losing…it’s part of life, but not tonight. Tonight I’m going to make up for our lost time, I’m going to do something special. Tonight we walk into that arena together and out together.
Here’s hoping we can meet again after the show, Beaver may be a coward and an egotist with only one real win to his name, but anyone on any night can beat anyone else. Hector made it hard, no doubt, but it’s worth every drop of sweat, every bruise, every strained muscle if it means you come home with me at the end of the night.
Here’s hoping we can make it a good night, and until then, you stay here.
