Post by CJ Phoenix on Aug 7, 2016 6:01:01 GMT -5
July 31st
East Rutherford, New Jersey
The scene opens after Ultimate Showdown. CJ Phoenix is carrying his travel bag as he walks a quick lap around the inside of the arena. As he is exiting the Izod Center, he is met by Hank Brown. Armed with a microphone and a cameraman shadowing him, Hank requests a post-PPV interview. Phoenix agrees, and so the interview begins.
Brown: CJ Phoenix. You made a huge return tonight to a very welcoming crowd. How did it feel to come down that ramp to the cheers of the WCF Galaxy?
Phoenix: It was amazing! It's always a great thing being able to run down that ramp and feed off of the energy of the fans.
Brown: You put on a hell of a show out there, but unfortunately, you were on the losing side tonight. Does that kinda dampen your spirits heading into the future?
Phoenix: Not in the slightest. I just had to knock off some ring rust. You know, get back into the swing of things. Did I win the match? No. Did I win the crowd's attention? Absolutely.
Brown: A lot of rumors were going around about your contract and life outside of the ring keeping you from taking that next step upward. Do you think that those rumors were quieted after that match?
Phoenix: Of course, but here's the thing about rumors. They're not confirmations, and in most cases, they're just doubts spread by haters. I keep a folder of some of those rumors about me under my pillow. It helps me sleep just a little bit better at night knowing there are people out there to prove wrong.
Brown: One last question then I'll leave you alone. What's next for you? Where does CJ Phoenix go from here?
Phoenix: You know that's two questions, right?
Brown: I realized that.
Phoenix: Well Hank, to answer your questions, I go forward. That's what's next for me.
The two part ways. Phoenix takes a cab to Atlantic City. The cab pulls up to the Borgata Casino Hotel & Spa. Phoenix tips the driver before exiting the taxi and walking through the main entrance of the luxurious building. As he heads to the front counter, he is intercepted by a few eager fans along the way. He stops to take pictures and sign autographs. After writing a short story's worth of his own signatures, he finally makes it to the counter. On the other side is a woman with the name tag "Tara" on her jacket.
Tara: Welcome back to the Borgata, Mr. Phoenix.
Phoenix: Thank you. I've decided to stay a few extra days instead of checking out tomorrow.
Tara: Alright. And will this be in the same suite?
Phoenix: Yes it will.
Tara: How many more nights?
Phoenix: Three.
Tara does some typing on the computer until a cash amount is spoken. Phoenix opens up his wallet and pulls out his credit card. He uses this to pay for the extra nights. However, instead of going straight to his suite, he heads over to the fitness center. For the time being, it is empty, likely because the people in the Borgata are either in the casino, in their rooms, or making their way towards one or the other. Phoenix does a quick workout while it is still peacefully empty in terms of other people. After he's done, he heads up to his suite, takes a hot shower, and then heads off to bed.
August 2nd/3rd
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Time is approaching midnight as Phoenix makes his way to the poker tables. He takes a seat and buys in for $1,000. Immediately, the guy next to him looks at him with a friendly grin.
Guy: Hey. You're CJ Phoenix. I'm Jack Matthews. It's nice to meet you.
Jack attempts a handshake that turns out to be successful as CJ shakes Jack's hand.
Phoenix: Nice to meet you too, Jack.
Jack: If you don't mind me asking, what brings you here? Usually, it's hard coming across famous people.
Phoenix: Honestly, I wouldn't consider myself famous, but thanks for the compliment. Yes, I go all over the country and tour the world. Yes, I have a bunch of fans. Yes, I get paid more than I did last year, but that doesn't make someone famous. A man who was homeless last year could win The Amazing Race this year and he'd fit all of those categories. I'm a guy sitting at a poker table just like you. I've had a drink, just like you. I'm playing Texas Hold 'Em, just like you. So if I'm famous, you're famous. As for what brings me here, this is my relaxation and mental workout fused together. This is how I practice strategy. Just like in the ring, it comes down to who can make the right moves at the right times.
Jack: Wow. I never thought of it that way. How long you gonna be in Atlantic City?
Phoenix: Until the 4th. Then it's off to Manchester, New Hampshire for Slam.
Jack: So you go from one show to the next midweek?
Phoenix: In most cases. It gives me time to get acquainted with the city before I get in the ring.
Jack: Makes sense. So have you found out who you're facing this week?
Phoenix: Nope. Card hasn't showed up yet, but that's fine. I'll find out no later than the 4th. Then again, it doesn't really matter.
Jack: Why not? Wouldn't you want to know if it's a one-on-one match or a triple threat or a tag match or something?
Phoenix: Think of it this way. When a chameleon camouflages, it doesn't matter where it is. It adapts to its surroundings. If it's on a green leaf, it might turn green. If it's climbing up a brown tree branch, it'll likely turn brown. Chameleons adjust to whatever environment they're in so that it suits them. That's how I am when it comes to both matches and opponents. If it's a singles match, I'm ready to fight heads up. If it's a tag match, I've already proven that I can be a team player. If it's one of those infamous clusterfuck matches, I'll throw my hat in the ring and take a swing at everybody. As for the opponent, it doesn't matter who stands across from me when that bell rings. Whether it's one or 51, I have no problem giving them a ticket to Spearfest with its main attraction, the Talon Kick.
Jack: I see what you did there. I think I'd rather not visit the Talon Kick during Spearfest. I like my ribs and jaw being intact.
The two joke around as the convo switches to more poker-related things. Phoenix plays for about an hour and a half before standing up and heading to the fitness center to work out once more. He repeats the casino-to-fitness center process the next day before packing his stuff and checking out. He returns the room key and exits the Borgata.
August 4th
Manchester, New Hampshire
The plane that CJ was on has landed. He is rolling his suitcase while carrying his travel bag on the shoulder of his opposite arm. This allows him to be able to look at his phone and see the card for the upcoming Slam. A smile runs across his face as he's shaking his head.
Phoenix: Why am I not surprised? Alright. Bring it on Bishop and Parish. Bring it on.
He makes his way to a hotel near the Verizon Wireless Arena. Once there, he checks in and makes his way to his room. He unpacks and takes out his laptop. CJ had agreed to do an online interview for an up and coming reporter in order to have that something extra to add to the rookie reporter's resume. He emails the reporter and they set up a video chat so that the interview can be conducted.
Reporter: Hey everybody, I'm Keith Hurns and welcome to As The World Hurns, a series where I interview athletes from various sports in various countries. Today I have a special guest I'm interviewing. He made his return to the WCF last Sunday at Ultimate Showdown. Please welcome my guest at this time, CJ Phoenix! Welcome to the show, Phoenix!
Phoenix: Thank you. Glad to be here.
Hurns: So I'm sure you know that this Sunday, you'll be teaming with Henry Spearman to take on 'The Plague' Kevin Bishop and one of your tag partners from last Sunday, Lester Parish. Does it surprise you that you're facing someone that you were on the same side with just one week earlier?
Phoenix: Not at all. This is just smart booking on Seth's part. Whether or not he was sober when making said decision is debatable, but I'm glad this match is happening. You have four guys with major talent going pairing up to face up in a show-stealer. You got Henry Spearman, a guy who's coming off of a hellacious match with Mikey eXtreme, joining forces with yours truly. Spearfest meets Spearman, you know? Then, you have our opponents. You have Lester Parish. Like you said, we were on the same side last week, but that's the thing. You could be buddies with someone one week and rivals with them the next. The same works in reverse. Finally, there's Kevin Bishop. He was one of the champions that went into The Ultimate Showdown. He put on a hell of show, and was rewarded the People's title for his efforts. That's great for him. So you got two guys coming off of slugfests with partners that were teammates last week and now opponents this week.
Hurns: That's right. You said that you could be buddies with someone one week and rivals with them the next. A lot of positive things were said about Lester Parish by you last week. Do you see Parish as a buddy turned rival? And does this change how you feel about him?
Phoenix: I'll start with the first part of that question. You see, Keith, I respect every single person on the roster in terms of talent, experience, potential, and all that other good stuff. However, if you were to ask me who my biggest rival in the WCF is, my answer is simple. Everyone. When I look at the card and I see my name, whoever's on the other side of that "VS" is my rival for that week. Everyone in that locker room that I cross paths with in the ring is either holding a title that I want, they're an obstacle to overcome in my path to the gold, or they're simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. As for how I feel about Lester. Nothing's changed. He's still a hell of a competitor. He still has a bright future. I figured it would only be a matter of time before we faced off in the ring. Better sooner than later, I guess.
Hurns: You and Parish viciously attacked Tom-O-Hawk during your Ultimate Showdown match with a double team assault that nearly got you both disqualified. Knowing that Parish is a heel while your partner for this week, Henry Spearman, is a face, how does going from working with a bad guy to a good guy affect your game plan heading into the match?
Phoenix: It doesn't affect my main game plan. That plan is to bring whomever I'm facing down to Spearfest so that they can be up close and personal with its greatest attraction, the Talon Kick. That's plan A. When it comes to this match, I'm just as neutral a wrestler today as I was on July 31st, and on August 7th, I'll still be just as neutral. That's what works to my advantage. I can adapt to both my partners and my opponents. I could wrestle clean as a whistle from start to finish. I'd be perfectly fine with it too. The thing is, I also have no problem kicking a prick in the dick real quick. I'd punt kick someone's genitals right through the back of their head as soon as the bell rings if I felt it necessary. Maybe I'll try not to do anything underhanded, but I'm making no promises on it.
Hurns: One more question. There's no doubt that the four of you are very talented wrestlers. With that being the case, what makes you think you and Spearman will walk out of Slam this week with a win?
Phoenix: I'm so glad you asked me that, Keith. In fact, I've been waiting for it. You see, in any great match, everyone bring something to the table. Bishop brings experience. Parish brings rising star power. That's great and all. It really is, but it's not enough. My tag partner, Henry Spearman, like Kevin Bishop, has tasted championship gold. He has already taken that step forward. What Spearman brings is efficiency. He does what he does and he's good at it. You don't beat a battle-tested warrior like Mikey eXtreme by half-assing it to the ring and giving him candy and knockoff drinks. All those factors make this a fresh, watchable match already. You wanna know what launches it into the stratosphere? The fact that I'm in the match. I bring perseverance. I am the hardest working wrestler in that locker room. It doesn't matter if its in the ring, backstage, in the gym, in the fitness center of a casino, on the edge of a boat, on the wing of plane, or even on SportsCenter. From sun up to sundown to sun up again, I work on bettering myself. I workout in my dreams so that I can fight off nightmares! There isn't a single person in my match or in that locker room that works harder than me. There isn't a SINGLE...LIVING...CREATURE ON THIS PLANET...that works harder than me! Truth is, everyone in the WCF has their own story. You know what makes me different from the rest of the roster? While everyone else is out there trying to race up the mountain to get to the top, I'm building my way up so that WHEN, not if, WHEN I get to the top of the mountain everyone is trying to reach, their peak will be my base. Their ceiling will be my floor. Ever since I stepped foot in a WCF ring back in January, I have seen fireworks aplenty. I have seen people show up, get their name out there, and then vanish along with it. I've been in matches with people who have said that I won't ever make it. They said that they were gonna end my career. They said that they were the next big thing, they were here to stay, and I wouldn't stand a chance in the WCF. Well guess what? All of them have came and went, and I'm still standing! All of those guys like Lee Roberts, Charon The Ferryman, The Pride, Chance Von Crank, 'The Plague' David Sanchez, that's right, there was another plague before Kevin Bishop, and many more like them, stepped into this company, caught fire, and then burned out like a poorly lit match. Those were the guys that were talked about as being breakout stars that ended up being washed away by the tide. While all of them were like new toys for a kid, good for the now, I'm building a home so I can be great for the future. I'm not that guy who steps out onto the battlefield and uses all of his tricks and skills at once to get a head start on everyone else, just to run out of gas far too quickly. Kevin Bishop, I hope you and Lester Parish are watching this. I hope you got enough wax out of your ears to hear what I'm saying. No one, not you Kevin, not you Lester, not anyone in or out of the WCF, can stop me! Your best best is to hope and pray that you can slow me down just long enough for you to escape. Since the day I signed that WCF contract, I've been knocked down by wrestlers and I've been knocked down by life. Every time I got knocked down, I got back up. Even in the darkest of days when there was no longer a light at the end of the tunnel, I scratched and I clawed until I made one! THAT'S what makes me the hardest working wrestler on this planet! I cannot and will not be stopped by anyone! My story isn't the guy who shot up to the top. I'm the guy who kept getting up just to get knocked down and kept getting knocked down just to get back up. When August 7th arrives, I want the BEST out of Kevin Bishop, Lester Parish, and even my own partner, Henry Spearman. I want my opponents to take their best shot at me so that they can see for themselves that even their best can't stop a rising Phoenix! Then, when it's all said and done, and Spearman and myself are announced the winners, you can both smile knowing that you were added to the ashes that I rose from.
Hurns: Wow. I see you're ready for Sunday. That's all the time we have for this week's As The World Hurns. Good luck out there CJ Phoenix.
Phoenix: Thanks.
Hurns: You can see CJ Phoenix and all of your other favorite WCF wrestlers this Sunday on Slam! I'm Keith Hurns, and I'll see you next week!
The interview ends. CJ Phoenix closes his laptop and exits his room.
