Post by Ryan Rhodes on Sept 29, 2013 16:52:30 GMT -5
In the bowels of the US Airways arena, Ryan Rhodes sits in what could only be the referee’s locker room. The windowless and dimly lit room seems like a black hole inside the massive building. The only sounds to be heard are the hum of electricity keeping the lights burning and water passing through pipes over head every now and then. He finishes applying green tape to his right wrist. As he tears the tape his eyes glance across the tattoos running up his right arm to his shoulder. One in particular catches his attention.
His eyes are fixated on a skull and crossbones near his inner elbow. Just below that is two holes that represent a snake bite with green blood running from them. Rhodes has always had a disdain for snakes but this tattoo was one of his most fitting pieces. Ever since he was twelve, his uncle had nicknamed him Venom. Rhodes had excelled at every sport he tried as a child. Always able to grasp the rules and the concept of the game very easily, he was a man among boys. It also helped he was also physically gifted as well.
Whether it was baseball, wrestling, hockey, or football; Rhodes would toy with his opponents. Lull them into a false sense of security and then go to work on them. As a little league pitcher he would start games by throwing erratic. He’d often scare batters out of the box with wild pitches near their heads. He’d even groove a fastball or two to the most confident hitters on the team, letting them reach base with ease as long as the situation warranted it. The second time through the order is when he’d go to work. Pounding the strike zone and keeping hitters off balance with pinpoint accuracy. Teams would become very frustrated as it seemed like the pitcher flipped a switch, becoming nearly unhittable. Baseball was always his first love but the lack of contact, left him looking for a different physical outlet.
In hockey he’d keep pace with the players on the other team. He’d stick to them like a shadow, always trying to position himself so there was nowhere for them to go. He’d let them check him before he turned it on and returned the favor. His favorite thing to do was to let his man sneak past him only to lift his stick from behind and check him into the boards at the last second as the players eyes got wide, thinking they were just about to score. He’d outskate and out hit the other team the rest of the game. Nobody liked to shake his hand after the final whistle. Players were dog tired as a fresh looking Rhodes skated through the line with unmatchable energy. Always with a smile he would watch as the defeated skated off painfully slow and drained.
Football was always a great release. A linebacker on defense and a running back on offense, he was able to play cat and mouse at all times. He’d bait quarterbacks into throwing interceptions to him. He’d conserve his speed until his would be attacker was on him and accelerate right through him as they would try to pull him down in vain. Delivering punishing hit after hit, there was no quit in his game. While he never tried to purposefully hurt anyone, more than a few players never returned to the field after a hit by Rhodes.
Wrestling was the ultimate man versus man competition to Ryan. A battle of skill and strength, he prided himself on knowing the reversal to any move and being able to gain the upper hand in an instant. He would even wrestle higher weight classes looking for a challenge but hardly one was ever found. While he enjoyed team sports, something where he could compete on his own, was always more desirable to him. Being able to control your own destiny without the aid of teammates was something Ryan loved. At the end of the match, the only person responsible for winning or losing was himself.
Winning, the thing that has most recently consumed Rhodes mind had now popped back into his conscious thought. The date of his first win was inked on the inside of his right bicep. He could still remember every single detail. His first entrance music was “Break Stuff” by limp bizkit. For a split second he recalled being overwhelmed, walking down that ramp towards the ring. His opponent waiting, laughing at the sight of him walking down, projecting the feeling of unsureness. Ryan could barely contain himself as he stepped through the ropes. Now or never he thought. As the bell rang to signal the start of the match, all signs of being unsure of himself disappeared and a confident and ready man was now standing in his boots. Of course it was all an act on the way down and within seconds his counterpart was feeling the wrath of Venom.
The fight lasted as long as Rhodes let it, which was way longer then it should have. After running a clinic on the mismatched opponent, Rhodes finally delivered the crushing blow to finish him off. As he lifted the man up to deliver his vengeance, a smile formed across his face and the crowd ate it up. Sure, he had his swings as a heel but he always was held in high regard by fans. Charisma was something that oozed from Ryan.
He couldn't help but wonder where this current endeavor would take him. In a fed with a lot of great wrestlers at the top and a lot of clutter at the bottom, finding his place won't be easy. None of the past matters anymore and he fully embraced that fact. Its not what he has done or could do, It’s what are you doing now. Currently, in terms of wrestling Rhodes was doing nothing and that fact bothered him. Waiting for Sunday was all he could do. He taped up his left wrist and stood. Pulling off his t-shirt he was now ring ready. His boots were laced and his briefs were tied tight.
Shoving open the door, he strode into the somewhat empty hallway. Roadies and stagehands were busy scurrying around, making sure all the final preparations were made for War on Sunday. Making his way to the staging area not a sound was heard in the empty arena. Rhodes pushes back the curtain and takes the long but short walk down to the ring. No one is waiting for him as he takes his time entering the ring. Climbing the steps slowly and pausing near the corner, he walks ringside for a few feet before bending through the ropes.
He turns around to view the Jumbotron and stage. The video screens have test bars across them as the crew checks their connections. He looks up to the very top of the nosebleed section and through the darkness stares at the last rows. The spot where the true fans sit. In those very same seats at Joe Louis arena in Detroit is where Rhodes watched his first ever wrestling match. All he wanted for his birthday was to go. His Father begrudgingly took him. Not knowing if he waited to the very last second or just bought the cheapest seats possible, he climbed to the top of the upper bowl where no one could read his sign.
The match was everything and more a young boy could want for his birthday. His favorite wrestlers dueled below him in what seemed like the next county. By the middle of the event, he was chanting along with the crowd. His Father had even started to warm up to it all. Both were on their feet cheering as the Champion successfully defended his belt in the main event of the night. After the purchase of a T-shirt they headed home and Ryan dreamed of one day becoming a professional wrestler.
Wrestling school was easy for Ryan because it was all he wanted to do. A tireless worker at the gym, he spent hours perfecting every move. He quickly booked his first match and knew when he heard the room of 20 or so people cheer for him it was all he wanted to do. He traveled long and far, to bingo halls and VFW’s waiting for his chance to catch a break and one day he did. The road to superstardom wasn't easy but Rhodes accomplished everything he set out to and more. He had amassed championships and beaten any and all takers that would step into the ring with him.
And now, all that meant nothing. Starting over in a new place with no familiar faces to vouch for him, Rhodes was ready to work his way back to the top. Grabbing the ropes to stretch, he observed a strange calmness around the arena. Come Sunday night that would all change as War unfolds. A tingle of anticipation ran down his spine. No longer would he have to wait to prove himself in the ring. Sunday night will start his new journey towards becoming a Champion.
“Never thought I’d see this again!” A sense of amazement rang in the mans voice as Ryan Rhodes turned to see who was speaking.
“Uncle Fred! What the hell are you doing here?”
Rhodes also equally amazed, looks to the 3rd row near the ring. An older man in a worn Venom t-shirt is sitting there gazing up at the wrestler standing there with a dumbfounded look on his face. His blue eyes are locked on his nephew. His tousled white hair shines under the lights and a tattered program has been wrung by his hands. A small look of concern crosses his face but overall, he seems happy to be there.
“Do you even know who these people are?” The old man asks, waving the program in Rhodes direction.
“I know who they are. The best part about it is they have no clue who I am.”
“Do you know who you are? I see you with these fancy cars and different women all the time!” The uncle yells in a disparaging tone.
“I know myself better now than ever, Fred. It doesn't bother me anymore that what I do is hurt people. I tried to just let it all go. I dont need the money, I don't care about the fame. It will all come as long as I do what I expect of myself. There’s a lot of good competitors here but give me any of them one on one, I think I can stand toe to toe in the ring with them any day. Sunday, I’m going to start paying those dues, and I’m gonna pay them fast.” Rhodes has climbed up to the top turnbuckle and taken a seat there, facing his uncle.
“Leave it all out there, like you did as a kid, when I gave you that nickname. Sting quick, wear your adversary down, and make sure to finish!”
“I’m only out there for one reason, to win. I know its going to be an all out war. I know for that some of these guys, they’ll never be the same. Everything is going to change after this. Some people are going to crack under the pressure, they just won't be able to handle it. Men will be fighting for life and death. Bodies will be broken and there will be carnage. I will feast on all of it. They have no clue what is coming. I won't tap and it will take a lot to pin me.”
“It’s going to take a lot to pin some of these characters!”
“I understand that and I’m ready to do what's necessary to win, I’m willing to fight to the last.This is the chance I’ve been given and I’m going to make the best of it.”
“Just do me proud, I’ll be here for the match.”
“I’ll do my best”
Venom jumps down and meets his Uncle at the barrier for a hug and then jogs to the back. His uncle sits down and checks the program one more time.
His eyes are fixated on a skull and crossbones near his inner elbow. Just below that is two holes that represent a snake bite with green blood running from them. Rhodes has always had a disdain for snakes but this tattoo was one of his most fitting pieces. Ever since he was twelve, his uncle had nicknamed him Venom. Rhodes had excelled at every sport he tried as a child. Always able to grasp the rules and the concept of the game very easily, he was a man among boys. It also helped he was also physically gifted as well.
Whether it was baseball, wrestling, hockey, or football; Rhodes would toy with his opponents. Lull them into a false sense of security and then go to work on them. As a little league pitcher he would start games by throwing erratic. He’d often scare batters out of the box with wild pitches near their heads. He’d even groove a fastball or two to the most confident hitters on the team, letting them reach base with ease as long as the situation warranted it. The second time through the order is when he’d go to work. Pounding the strike zone and keeping hitters off balance with pinpoint accuracy. Teams would become very frustrated as it seemed like the pitcher flipped a switch, becoming nearly unhittable. Baseball was always his first love but the lack of contact, left him looking for a different physical outlet.
In hockey he’d keep pace with the players on the other team. He’d stick to them like a shadow, always trying to position himself so there was nowhere for them to go. He’d let them check him before he turned it on and returned the favor. His favorite thing to do was to let his man sneak past him only to lift his stick from behind and check him into the boards at the last second as the players eyes got wide, thinking they were just about to score. He’d outskate and out hit the other team the rest of the game. Nobody liked to shake his hand after the final whistle. Players were dog tired as a fresh looking Rhodes skated through the line with unmatchable energy. Always with a smile he would watch as the defeated skated off painfully slow and drained.
Football was always a great release. A linebacker on defense and a running back on offense, he was able to play cat and mouse at all times. He’d bait quarterbacks into throwing interceptions to him. He’d conserve his speed until his would be attacker was on him and accelerate right through him as they would try to pull him down in vain. Delivering punishing hit after hit, there was no quit in his game. While he never tried to purposefully hurt anyone, more than a few players never returned to the field after a hit by Rhodes.
Wrestling was the ultimate man versus man competition to Ryan. A battle of skill and strength, he prided himself on knowing the reversal to any move and being able to gain the upper hand in an instant. He would even wrestle higher weight classes looking for a challenge but hardly one was ever found. While he enjoyed team sports, something where he could compete on his own, was always more desirable to him. Being able to control your own destiny without the aid of teammates was something Ryan loved. At the end of the match, the only person responsible for winning or losing was himself.
Winning, the thing that has most recently consumed Rhodes mind had now popped back into his conscious thought. The date of his first win was inked on the inside of his right bicep. He could still remember every single detail. His first entrance music was “Break Stuff” by limp bizkit. For a split second he recalled being overwhelmed, walking down that ramp towards the ring. His opponent waiting, laughing at the sight of him walking down, projecting the feeling of unsureness. Ryan could barely contain himself as he stepped through the ropes. Now or never he thought. As the bell rang to signal the start of the match, all signs of being unsure of himself disappeared and a confident and ready man was now standing in his boots. Of course it was all an act on the way down and within seconds his counterpart was feeling the wrath of Venom.
The fight lasted as long as Rhodes let it, which was way longer then it should have. After running a clinic on the mismatched opponent, Rhodes finally delivered the crushing blow to finish him off. As he lifted the man up to deliver his vengeance, a smile formed across his face and the crowd ate it up. Sure, he had his swings as a heel but he always was held in high regard by fans. Charisma was something that oozed from Ryan.
He couldn't help but wonder where this current endeavor would take him. In a fed with a lot of great wrestlers at the top and a lot of clutter at the bottom, finding his place won't be easy. None of the past matters anymore and he fully embraced that fact. Its not what he has done or could do, It’s what are you doing now. Currently, in terms of wrestling Rhodes was doing nothing and that fact bothered him. Waiting for Sunday was all he could do. He taped up his left wrist and stood. Pulling off his t-shirt he was now ring ready. His boots were laced and his briefs were tied tight.
Shoving open the door, he strode into the somewhat empty hallway. Roadies and stagehands were busy scurrying around, making sure all the final preparations were made for War on Sunday. Making his way to the staging area not a sound was heard in the empty arena. Rhodes pushes back the curtain and takes the long but short walk down to the ring. No one is waiting for him as he takes his time entering the ring. Climbing the steps slowly and pausing near the corner, he walks ringside for a few feet before bending through the ropes.
He turns around to view the Jumbotron and stage. The video screens have test bars across them as the crew checks their connections. He looks up to the very top of the nosebleed section and through the darkness stares at the last rows. The spot where the true fans sit. In those very same seats at Joe Louis arena in Detroit is where Rhodes watched his first ever wrestling match. All he wanted for his birthday was to go. His Father begrudgingly took him. Not knowing if he waited to the very last second or just bought the cheapest seats possible, he climbed to the top of the upper bowl where no one could read his sign.
The match was everything and more a young boy could want for his birthday. His favorite wrestlers dueled below him in what seemed like the next county. By the middle of the event, he was chanting along with the crowd. His Father had even started to warm up to it all. Both were on their feet cheering as the Champion successfully defended his belt in the main event of the night. After the purchase of a T-shirt they headed home and Ryan dreamed of one day becoming a professional wrestler.
Wrestling school was easy for Ryan because it was all he wanted to do. A tireless worker at the gym, he spent hours perfecting every move. He quickly booked his first match and knew when he heard the room of 20 or so people cheer for him it was all he wanted to do. He traveled long and far, to bingo halls and VFW’s waiting for his chance to catch a break and one day he did. The road to superstardom wasn't easy but Rhodes accomplished everything he set out to and more. He had amassed championships and beaten any and all takers that would step into the ring with him.
And now, all that meant nothing. Starting over in a new place with no familiar faces to vouch for him, Rhodes was ready to work his way back to the top. Grabbing the ropes to stretch, he observed a strange calmness around the arena. Come Sunday night that would all change as War unfolds. A tingle of anticipation ran down his spine. No longer would he have to wait to prove himself in the ring. Sunday night will start his new journey towards becoming a Champion.
“Never thought I’d see this again!” A sense of amazement rang in the mans voice as Ryan Rhodes turned to see who was speaking.
“Uncle Fred! What the hell are you doing here?”
Rhodes also equally amazed, looks to the 3rd row near the ring. An older man in a worn Venom t-shirt is sitting there gazing up at the wrestler standing there with a dumbfounded look on his face. His blue eyes are locked on his nephew. His tousled white hair shines under the lights and a tattered program has been wrung by his hands. A small look of concern crosses his face but overall, he seems happy to be there.
“Do you even know who these people are?” The old man asks, waving the program in Rhodes direction.
“I know who they are. The best part about it is they have no clue who I am.”
“Do you know who you are? I see you with these fancy cars and different women all the time!” The uncle yells in a disparaging tone.
“I know myself better now than ever, Fred. It doesn't bother me anymore that what I do is hurt people. I tried to just let it all go. I dont need the money, I don't care about the fame. It will all come as long as I do what I expect of myself. There’s a lot of good competitors here but give me any of them one on one, I think I can stand toe to toe in the ring with them any day. Sunday, I’m going to start paying those dues, and I’m gonna pay them fast.” Rhodes has climbed up to the top turnbuckle and taken a seat there, facing his uncle.
“Leave it all out there, like you did as a kid, when I gave you that nickname. Sting quick, wear your adversary down, and make sure to finish!”
“I’m only out there for one reason, to win. I know its going to be an all out war. I know for that some of these guys, they’ll never be the same. Everything is going to change after this. Some people are going to crack under the pressure, they just won't be able to handle it. Men will be fighting for life and death. Bodies will be broken and there will be carnage. I will feast on all of it. They have no clue what is coming. I won't tap and it will take a lot to pin me.”
“It’s going to take a lot to pin some of these characters!”
“I understand that and I’m ready to do what's necessary to win, I’m willing to fight to the last.This is the chance I’ve been given and I’m going to make the best of it.”
“Just do me proud, I’ll be here for the match.”
“I’ll do my best”
Venom jumps down and meets his Uncle at the barrier for a hug and then jogs to the back. His uncle sits down and checks the program one more time.
