Torn

[Kyle Kemp]

Winning...and Alone 

Only seconds have passed since Slam went off the air and as I stand over the broken body of Grayson Pierce I am filled with the ultimate high. The adrenaline pulsates throughout my body as I point to the crowd with my foot still resting on Pierce’s body. They boo as I point at them and the booing only makes the higher better. I have waited for almost a year to fight in a singles match to close a show and it finally happened. Not only did it happen but I didn’t drop the ball like most would in this position. I believe most people chalk that up to “rookie mistakes” or as a “learning experience.” Well I guess I showed tonight that I’m ahead of the game.

I finally walk over to the corner and climb through the ropes. The crowd is still white hot and as I pass by some fans and head back up the ramp a few pieces of trash are thrown at me. I turn and stare at the offenders who are high fiving each other like adolescent child's. I smirk at them and blow a kiss at them. They look on shocked, thinking that their antics would get under my skin. As I get to the top of the ramp I turn and begin to mockingly wave to the crowd and tap my fist against my chest and then point at them. This only gets them more riled up.

I laugh and then motion into the camera for someone to bring me a microphone. It takes a minute before someone runs one over to me. I rip it out of his hands and push him away. “Thank you! Thank you! You’re cheers are so uplifting. You guys have been amazing!” This act of defiance only makes the crowd boo louder. “Aw are some people upset? Did you all think that you were going to get a feel good moment before the long trek home to your shitty log cabins with no electricity and no amenities? I’m sorry folks but this isn’t your typical ending. This isn’t a fairy tale. This is the Kyle Kemp story and that story ends with only one person happy. Me! Not that piece of trash that’s still lying in my ring down there!”

Grayson Pierce still has not moved and I laugh at that sight. Poor bastard thought he really had a chance. “When I arrived tonight I said that change was coming. That I was going to become the champion you all deserved. This moment tonight was just the first step towards that. The next step comes at Aftermath when I face Jared Holmes in the Trilogy Cup Finals where a World Title shot will be on the line. If you all think that I am going to let that pass me by without taking advantage than you are all nuts. I plan on winning. I plan on facing the winner of Joey Flash and Grayson Pierce. I plan on being the World Champion.”

Pierce finally begins to stir in the ring as he crawls towards the ropes and stares up at me. “Wakey wakey Grayson! I know you had higher hopes for this evening and had all this thought up bullshit about carrying some kind of momentum into Aftermath. Well you ran into a roadblock in me and I put you down. Get used to that feeling. Get this moment engrained in your head! Because if you get past Joey Flash, this is exactly what will happen. So decide if winning the World Title is worth it. Because you’ll only be a transitional champion for me.”

I walk towards the end of the stage, paying no attention to Pierce now but instead pointing toward the crowd. “All of you people are witnesses that I am not a joke. I am not a washed up ball player who decided to come here for a paycheck. I have said this from the very beginning and like it or not, I’m Kyle Kemp and I’m better than you!” I drop the microphone and extend my arms out as I walk back to the curtain. I flip off Pierce who is now climbing out of the ring as I walk through it.

I walk down the stairs from the stage in the back and past crew members who look on with both shocked and disgusted faces. I grin at them and bask in this. I love being hated. I love being the antagonist and these guys couldn’t hate me more for what I did here tonight. Pierce is well respected in the back and these backstage guys are pulling for him to finally win the big one at Aftermath. It’s the same sob story that I’ve heard before. A bunch of blue collar guys rooting for the fan favorite and not wanting the rich and arrogant ass to come out on top. This really eats them all up and I just walk past all of them with smiles. Fuck these guys. I’m Kyle Kemp. They need to get used to it because I will be the reason they all have jobs soon.

I make my way towards the #BeachKrew locker room and think about the confrontation with Jared from earlier in the evening. I know it may not have been ideal and I may be in the process of burning some bridges but it’s for the greater good. Jared is just in the way from what I want. He is standing between me and what has been rightfully mine since I was born. I know that sounds cliche but most would think that I was referring to the World Title when I say that. I don’t. I mean the reputation and money that comes from being the best. Championships just usually come with that.

Then again it may not be in my best interest to completely piss Jared off. If I am going to succeed once I am champion, it would be nice to still have #BeachKrew as an asset. An apology may need to be in order. As I open the door to the locker room I decide that I am going to do just that. It’s the right move in the chess game that Jared and I keep playing. However I stop in the doorway as I look on at the room. The empty room. My mouth opens slightly but I quickly close it and furrow my brow. I can’t look weak here.

I walk into the room and look around. Everyone has packed all of their shit and left, even Rabid. I look at my stuff sitting in the same locker that I left it in and see that there is a note left hanging on the shelf in the locker room. I rip the note off and look at it. “We felt like you didn’t need us to wait for you. You know the way home. See you on Sunday. -Jared.” I crumple up the paper in my hand and know that this is just another one of Jared’s games. However I can’t help but turn around and look at the empty locker room and for a brief moment the thought of if this is all worth it crosses through my mind. Because at this moment I am a winner….and I’m alone.

WCF Network Interview 

I’m sitting in a chair, waiting for this interview to begin. It’s my last big interview on the WCF Network before the match on Sunday and I just want to get it over with. This is what feels like my 100th interview of the day and I keep getting asked the same questions. They’re all about facing Jared and how it will affect #BeachKrew. I’m sick of it. It’s like that is all anyone cares about. My thoughts are interrupted by Hank Brown finally starting the interview as the cameras begin to roll.

“Ladies and gentlemen we are only a few short days away from the end of the Trilogy Cup tournament. In the finals we have Jared Holmes and Kyle Kemp. Two member of #BeachKrew who are fighting to not only win the tournament but for a World Title shot. Today I am joined by one half of that final matchup, Kyle Kemp. Kyle thank you for joining me!”

“What’s up Hank. Let’s get this show on the road.”

“Well let’s get right to this then. Are you ready for Sunday?”

“Am I ready? You’re damn right I am. I have been looking forward to this for quite a while.”

“Some say you’ve been putting yourself ahead of your fellow #BeachKrew members. How do you feel about that?”

“So what. This is about the World Title. Sometimes you have to put yourself first. Plus if I win….it’s good for the group.”

“But isn’t it good for the group if Jared Homes wins as well?”

“Sure but it’s better if it’s me. That’s why I’m better than you.” I say with a smile.

“But in all seriousness, what is the future of #BeachKrew?”

“The future is whatever it is. It doesn’t matter right now. What matters is this Sunday. There is no #BeachKrew on Sunday. There’s just me and Jared Holmes. Winner take all.”

“How do you think your fellow #BeachKrew members feel about that mentality?”

“I don’t care. I don’t care what you think. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I’m fucking Kyle Kemp and I’m better than you.” I stand up and walk out of the interview. I can’t stand these questions any longer.

This Is My Birthright 

The end is finally here. The Trilogy Cup finally ends on Sunday. I wish I could say that I am shocked by the matchup in the finals but I’m not. It was a couple of months ago when the brackets were announced that I knew this would be the finals matchup. It was just meant to be. It was meant to be Kyle Kemp vs Jared Holmes. There was no other matchup that was intriguing on paper and let’s face it….you all wouldn’t care if this was CVC vs Sarah Twilight. The real matchup that gets you excited is the one that all of you get. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. It’s a #BeachKrew world and you are all just living in it. However that doesn’t come without a few bumps in the road. Isn’t that right Jared?

It appears that the “leader” of our group has a problem with me and the rise to the elite that I have been on as this tournament has gone on. He’s been a little jealous because I have taken off and he doesn’t like it when people are on his level which is where I am at now. I beat Grayson Pierce to finalize that last Sunday. Something that you didn’t like. I saw it in your eyes in that locker room when we were nose to nose before the match. You didn’t want me to win. You really didn’t want me in the finals against you. You wanted me to continue to be a rung below you on the ladder that is the hierarchy of #BeachKrew.

That is why you have undermined every accomplishment that I have made. Hell you have even taken credit for my victories! How sad is that? You of all people should know that I was not going to let that slide. You talk about stacking the deck for me?! Guess what Jared! We’ve been stacking the deck for you since I joined this group. Do you know how I know this Jared? Because my first act of being in #BeachKrew was to stack the deck for you. Or have you forgotten about your matchup with Derek Moreno at Revenge last year? Is that a memory that you wipe from your mind Jared? Let me refresh you.

You were in the ring, getting your ass handed to you when I ran down to the ring and punted Moreno into another stratosphere. I rolled him back in the ring and you got the victory. Without me...you would have lost. Not only would you have lost but the credibility of this group would have been gone. To have the leader lose to a loser like Moreno would have derailed #BeachKrew. I didn’t let that happen. Hell you could say that my joining of this group was the final ingredient it needed to become a powerhouse….which is what we are today. The only issue is that your feelings are getting in the way from letting us go even higher.

You have always been jealous of me Jared. That is why you hid behind that mask for so long. You didn’t have the same confidence that I have. You didn’t have the same attitude that I have. It wasn’t until I joined this group that you slowly started to mold into the “Sixgod” that you are now. Whether you want to admit it or not, I have been the example that you were always looking for. I am the epitome of everything that you want to be and now that you think that you’ve finally broken out, you think that you can toss me to the side and think that I will just be your backup. Think again kid. I’m nobody’s lacky. I’m nobody’s sidekick.

What is worse is that you had the audacity to say that you made me. Is that a joke? Is this real life? You didn’t make Kyle Kemp Jared. Kyle Kemp made you. You would still be Los Tiburones if I wasn’t here. You’d be hiding behind your mask with all of your insecurities and hoping that Wade would continue to carry you along. The success that you have is because of me and that rips away at you every day.

#BeachKrew was your creation and you cannot stand that it wouldn’t be successful if you hadn’t brought me in. Think of all I have done for this group besides helping you beat Moreno. #BeachKrew doesn’t win Hellimination without me. You all don’t even come close. I was irreplaceable on that team and we would not have won without my contributions. That means we would not have run the WCF for a month. That means all the advantages we got from that would not have happened. In fact someone else would have won and tried to take us out with their power. I saved us from that. Not only did I save us from that but I also held the team together while you were gone. Don’t forget that.

If it wasn’t for me working with Rabid, Rabid would have driven this team into the ground. He would have let his dark side out and it would have been too much. That is why I allowed myself to mess around in the Tag Team division for so long. We needed someone to keep him in check when necessary and I did that. Not only did I do that but I also made sure to take the Tag Titles for this group as I did it. It wasn’t until you came back that things went to shit and we all lost our titles. Think about it Jared. You are the reason why we have nothing! You are the reason why we have had to fight so hard through this tournament to get our title back and I am tired of taking one for the team.

That is what I had no problems with being put in the opposite side of the bracket of the Trilogy Cup. It is also why I had no problem with being matched up with Dune in the first round because I knew I would beat him and that ate you up. When the bracket was announced you gave me that sad look like I was going to be slaughtered. You thought I had no chance beating the man that destroyed your jaw and put you out of action. I know it ran through your mind that it was the perfect opportunity to not only have me eliminated from the tournament but for me to be embarrassed by Dune. Part of you hoped that he would break my jaw as well. You didn’t expect me to win but I did and you hated it.

I will never forget the disappointment in your eyes as I walked back in the locker room after I beat Dune. You weren’t happy that I won. Even when you hugged me in congratulations, I could feel the disappointment running through your body. It was just another way for me to show that I am better than you.

This has been brewing for a long time Jared. You have wanted a piece of me forever but we have never had the ability to do it without causing the whole group to implode. Well we’ve finally reached the point where it’s time to put up or shut up. I’m ready to knock your teeth down your throat and you need to accept that I’m not going to lie down for you. I’m not going to let you get in the way between me and my destiny. I am going to be the next World Champion….not you. You’re in luck though Jared. I’ll continue to let you run #BeachKrew when it’s all over. Just like I do now. The only difference will be that everyone won’t just feel like I may be better than you. Everyone will know it.

Let that sink in Jared. Everyone will know that you aren’t the man you claim to be. While you may think that you are and that it is your destiny to be World Champion, I stand here in your way and I laugh. It’s not your destiny Jared. It’s mine. This is my birthright. This is why I am on this planet. To be superior to not just you, not just the WCF but the entire planet. I was born to be better than everyone. The only problem for you is that in order to do that, I need to beat you on Sunday. Once you’ve accepted that then maybe we can figure out what to do about #BeachKrew because I’m not lying down for anyone anymore. Do you know how I know that? It’s because I’m Kyle Kemp and I’m better than you.

A Lesson from the Blackhawks 

The past 24 hours have been crazy. After the Blackhawks won their matchup on Thursday night to force a Game 6 on Saturday night at the United Center, I knew I had to be there. I knew even more after Patrick Kane called me and invited me to come. He said it would be an atmosphere that I would not want to miss. I didn’t have to think twice. I was on the first plane back to Chicago. Most would criticize this move, especially 24 hours before the Trilogy Cup finals but I don’t care. I don’t need the extra rest. I’ll have enough adrenaline running through me to offset the lack of sleep.

The game itself was amazing. I had seats on the glass and while the Blackhawks fell behind 3-1 in the first period, I know that they were going to win. I saw the look in their eyes and I knew that they were going to win. With every goal in the second and third period I saw the look of despair crawling across the faces of the Blues. Their spirit had been broken. They no longer believed they could win. I have seen that look before. I’ve seen it in the eyes of #BeachKrew opponents as we come at them in waves. They start to lose hope until we break them completely and they are staring up at the lights as we pin them.

As the final horn blows and “Chelsea Dagger” plays throughout the arena, I point at Patrick Kane through the glass and he points back at me. He reminds me of me. He’s cocky with moves that no one can duplicate. He knows no one can stop him and when it comes down to it, he puts people away. I walk away from me seat and down a tunnel towards the player’s locker room. Security escorts me into the locker room where I walk up and high five different players in the room until I get to Kane where we stand give each other three low fives before laughing. “Now that’s what I am talking about!” He shouts at me.

“Started a little slow bro but you broke them!”

“Now we just need to take care of business on Monday.”

“Oh I’ll be there! You can count on that. I just need to take care of some business myself before then.”

“I hear ya there man. You’ve got a big opportunity. Are you ready?”

“I’m ready. You know this. Just like you were ready the other night with that overtime goal.”

Kane laughs, “Yeah I took advantage there. What about the rest of it though? What about your team?”

I just stare at Kane with an indifferent look. “I don’t know man. It just doesn’t seem like it’s something that’s gonna keep going. They’re not being real supportive and everyone it seems like is siding with Jared.”

“Well I saw your interview on the WCF Network the other night….I have to say that I wouldn’t disagree with them after the things you said. You need to remember that you need to be part of the team. You need them and they need you. Without them, you will have guys coming after you all the time. It would be nice to have some backup. That’s why I get away with the things I do on the ice.”

“I hear ya. I just don’t think they see it the same way I do. It may be time to split.”

“Have you thought about what you’re gonna do if it comes to that?”

“Nope.”

“Well you should and try to make it work man. I’ve seen you guys. You’re like us. You’re a family. You’re a group that gets the job done when it counts. I think like you most of the time but I know what I need to do to be a team player. Think about that.”

I just look at Kane as he looks over me at Coach Q who is about to speak to the team. I nod at him and walk over to the corner of the room to watch the speech. Coach Q begins to speak but I hear nothing. I just look around this room and stare at the players. They’re a dynasty. A team that has won titles in 3 of the last 6 years including last year. I look at Toews and see a true leader. I look at Kane and see a stud. I look at Keith and see the backbone of the team. All of these guys could go out on their own and lead a team but they stay here. Is that how #BeachKrew really should be?

I see different guys that remind me of each of us in #BeachKrew and all the memories that I’ve been trying to suppress come flooding back into my mind. #BeachKrew is my family and I need to find a way to have both a family and accomplish my goals. Maybe that is what the lesson is this week. I watch Kane hand off the player of the game belt to a no name player in Richard Panik and I realize that Kane has found the perfect balance of star and team player. Maybe I need to take a page out of his book.

Only Seconds Away 

My eyes are closed as I think of all of the possibilities. The different moves that Jared will throw at me. The different ways that he will try to get into my head. All of these thoughts run wild as I take deep breaths in and out. I block out the thoughts of friendship and memories as I know that the only thing that I can concentrate on is winning. Winning is the only thing that matters today, even if Jared is the opponent. I need to focus on the things that make me me and those things are being able to focus on what I want. I want to win this match and get the recognition I deserve. I want the World Title for the money that comes with it. I want to do all of that but I know that somewhere back in my head I want to continue to be in #BeachKrew. That is the one problem that occurs when you have my mindset and I have been having these problems since I hung out with the Blackhawks after the game last night.

I’ve never been good with decisions where I can’t get everything that I want. This may be one of those moments. If I win will I still be in #BeachKrew? Or will I be ostracized for taking the leader down? But shouldn’t they be happy for me if I win? I don’t know. I keep taking deep breaths, wanting these thoughts to leave my head. I just want to focus on winning. Because that is what I want. Right? I open my hands and slam my hand on the wall. Being torn up mentally is not what I need right before this. I hear a knock on my door, signaling it’s time to head up to gorilla position. It’s go time.

I walk through the door and I can hear the crowd roar begin to rise in the background as a video package for my and Jared’s match plays. I can see Jared being lead to gorilla position in front of me. I want to go up to him and talk to him before the match begins but I know that he will want to hear nothing of it. I don’t know if the same thoughts are running through his head but it would be nice to know. Jared is pulled off to the side and I walk past him. I look over, hoping to catch eyes and get one glimpse of what is going on through his head. However he isn’t looking my way as I pass and am lead up the stairs. I stand there and stare at the black curtain.

I need to turn off all the emotions. I need to become that guy that beat Grayson Pierce at Slam. I need to become that guy that beat Dune. I need to become that guy that beat CVC. I try closing my eyes one last time and I just wipe out my head. “Better Than You” by Sam Adams begins to play and the crowd erupts in boos. It is in this moment where those boos take me back to last Sunday. They take me back to the feelings of confidence I draw from them. It makes me remember that I have a job to do. I open my eyes and the thoughts of doubt are gone. All that remains is that cocky and arrogant glaze and I smile as the adrenaline begins to flow through my body. I start to bounce back and forth as I know that it’s go time and what I truly want. I want to win. That is the last thought I have before I walk through the curtain.