Post by CJ Phoenix on Sept 11, 2016 15:35:52 GMT -5
September 4th
Wheeling, West Virginia
Phoenix: Hey everybody and welcome to CJ Phoenix's Postgame Press Conference! I wanna thank all of you for staying after the show to speak to me. I saw a few of you on the way here and decided to have an impromptu press conference so that I can get an evaluation of some sorts from some of the people that I come out here to entertain. So, without further adieu, bring on the questions!
Hands start going up as one of the security guards picks out random people to ask questions.
"Tonight, you got the chance to main event a WCF show for the first time in your career. How did it feel coming out to that ring for the last match of the night, and how do you think you did in that match?"
Phoenix: Excellent questions. It was such an honor and a privilege to be able to be in the main event, especially against the guys that I just faced. It was a great opportunity for all of us, and I think we all seized it. It feels like yesterday that I was fighting just to get out of the undercard. Now, I've gotten my first taste of headlining a show, and it felt great being able to go out there and put on a hell of a match. Of course, a match is only as good as its participants, and my opponents definitely brought it. I feel like we exceeded the expectations of the WCF Galaxy. So to answer your second question, I think I did well enough to have a solid foundation to improve upon heading into my next match.
"You had a great match, but it wasn't quite enough for you to pick up the victory. How does that affect you heading into next week?"
Phoenix: You can't win them all, you know? Ever since I came back at Ultimate Showdown, I've tried to make it second nature to want to step into each week better than I was last week. Whether I win, lose, or don't get involved in the decision, there's always something to be learned after a match. In fact, first chance I get, I'm gonna take some time out and study what happened in this match so that I can learn not only about my opponents, but about myself as well. I would love to be sitting here talking about how I won the Fatal Four Way match and how I should be on everyone's radar now, but I didn't win. I didn't take the fall either, but I didn't win, and that's okay. It's okay because the race to the top is a marathon, not a sprint. Congrats to Kevin Bishop. He earned that win, and he deserved it. He's establishing himself as both a People's Champion and a potential favorite to win the War match in a few weeks. He's definitely on his way to the top tier, as are Blaze and eXtreme. Thing is, so am I. Kev's out in front right now, but we all know that there's still a lot of battles left to be fought. I'm heading into next week looking to close the gap some.
"Did you match change your intentions with the Alpha Title?"
Phoenix: Nope. I still plan on trading this here belt in for a World Title shot after I've held it for 92 days.
"Why the World Title? Why not cash in after two months?"
Phoenix: Because I want to make the most out of this opportunity. I don't want the Alpha Title to be just a title that people win so that they can say that they've won one. When this belt is won, I want it to capture the attention of all of the other champions. This title should symbolize a serious threat. I'm the first person that will have to defend this belt, which means that the pressure to set the bar as high as possible is on me. My reign isn't just about me. It's about every person that will hold this title after me. It's about everyone that wants to hold this title. I can't allow anyone to take this from me for their own good. If I can prove that I can go from no title to Alpha Champ to World Champ, it'll give those young guys after this title an even greater desire to do the same.
He looks at the Alpha Title and then back at the audience.
Phoenix: For me to hold the World Title, I need to be at the top of my game. Iron sharpens iron, and what better way to improve upon myself by consistently taking on top-notch talent? This title is my chance at breaking through the glass ceiling and being one of the elites that have held the WCF World Title. However, I know that it's gonna take everything I got to make it there. These these few months will help me prepare myself to be the best version of myself that I've ever been.
Guard: One more question!
"If you manage to succeed in trading your title in for a World Title shot, who would you want to face?"
Phoenix: Whoever's holding the title, honestly. I'd fight a five-headed dragon face to faces if it meant I'd walk out World Champion.
Guard: Alright, that's it. No more questions. Everyone out!
Phoenix: I'll translate that for him. Thanks for taking the time out to meet with me here. Drive safely and have a great night everybody!
The crowd cheers as CJ hops off the barricade and begins making his way toward the exit.
September 6th
Atmore, Alabama
(OOC: I wasn't planning to put a casino scene in this one, but because I've actually gone to the one in Montgomery and the first one I've ever been to is in Atmore, I just had to. Enjoy!)
This scene opens up at the underrated Windcreek Casino&Hotel. Though it lacks card tables, it's a full circle packed with hundreds of slot machines, a great all-you-can-eat buffet, and you can order your drinks using the slots themselves instead of having to flag down waitresses! The camera does a lap around the casino area, observing the combination of players and employees interacting. The sun has just gone down, so the area is slowly starting to get packed. As of right now, CJ Phoenix is not here surprisingly. To find him, we must elevate ourselves to the 5th floor, where he and the lady known as Kaiyah are inside room 510. As Kaiyah is on her laptop, CJ is messing with his phone as the two converse.
Kaiyah: Looks like The Skybox is finally taking off, especially with you being able to interview Thomas Bates.
Phoenix: It was great. He's a great dude. I remember after the show thinking to myself that I can't wait until I get to face him in the ring.
Kaiyah: Well, you don't have to wait much longer, seeing as you face him in a tag match Sunday.
Phoenix: So true, and he has the Tag Champs on his side. Even better! Plus, I got a pair of heavy hitters on my side. I'm really looking forward to this one!
Kaiyah: Speaking of sides, you sure you're fine with having Kevin Bishop and Crazy J as your partners? I know you have two great up and comers on your team that can handle themselves in the ring, but why are you so confident that you can trust them? How do you know that ZT won't attack you after the match, and what makes you so sure that you can just work with The Plague after you tried to kill each other a couple days ago?
CJ puts his phone down and looks at her.
Phoenix: Because we have greater common goals. While we don't need each other to succeed in the WCF, we all know that we need to be a team if we're to beat a team like the one we're up against. For example, I know for a fact that Crazy J wants to win way more than the average person. He challenges himself to go out and win every time he steps in the ring simply because he hates losing that much. He has an intense desire to be victorious, and I respect that. Zero Tolerance will be facing Lilith and Skittlez with a shot at the Tag Titles on the line. I have reason to believe that they'll be more focused on getting closer to gold than they will be on possibly staging an attack. Plus, even if they did stage one, it would most likely be on Tom-O-Hawk and Captain WCF, since they're the ones who hold the belts that Jason Cash and Salem Shepard are seeking. As for Kevin Bishop, he and I are in a race to the top of the WCF. We know that both of us will be there, it's just a matter of who gets there first. That's where the respect comes in. Just as I respect the fact that he has given it his all each and every time he's stepped in the ring, I know he respects the fact that I do the same. Kev has a competitive nature. He loves the thrill of a challenge and wants to surround himself with legitimate competitors. He and I both know that trying to take the underhanded approach to eliminate each other from the race would only hinder us both. The Plague wants me at my best so that he can have more of a reason to bring out the best in himself. The same goes the other way. The more he proves himself, the more it drives me to go out and do the same.
He looks out the window at the night sky.
Phoenix: Think of it this way. Dragon Ball Z became so popular because of all of the awesome fights that the characters would have. They would push each other to their limits, forcing them to get better each time they fought. You know how boring the show would've been if they didn't? Think about it. What if anyone stopped ANYONE from powering up? What if Vegeta ignored his pride and killed Cell before he became perfect? That would mean that there would be no Perfect Cell. No Perfect Cell means no Cell Games. It also means that we don't get to see Gohan go all badass. No father-son Kamehameha. Matter of fact, let's go further back. What if Goku didn't go Super Saiyan against Frieza and Vegeta was the one to kill the tyrant while Goku failed? That would mean that Vegeta wouldn't be jealous of Kakarot. Since he would already be stronger than his rival, he wouldn't have the drive to become stronger than him. Therefore, he wouldn't have pushed himself enough to become a Super Saiyan himself. It's a chain reaction. When you have someone that you truly feel that you are just as good as, if not almost as good or a little better than, fighting to reach the top, it gives you that extra push to want to be able to keep up with them and force them to have to do the same to keep up with you.
Kaiyah: So you want Bishop to be at his best so that it can bring out the best in you, and vice-versa?
Phoenix: Precisely.
Kaiyah: Oddly enough, that makes sense. Though I am still a little in disbelief that you went as far as using DBZ to make an analogy.
Phoenix: I work with what I can whenever I can. It just so happens that DBZ was the first thing that popped into my head this time.
Kaiyah: Fair enough.
Phoenix: Then, you have the opposition. Thomas Uriel Bates, Tom-O-Hawk, and Captain WCF. The World Champ and Tag Champs, respectively. I can honestly say that I don't believe that they can function as well as a team as we can.
Kaiyah: I don't think they can either. As individuals, definitely. As a group, not exactly.
Phoenix: And that's the difference maker. It's pretty sad, actually. The fact that the tag champs aren't good at being a tag team. Even Blaze It and I worked together better and he hates my guts. I'd say we're good friends.
Kaiyah: The best of buddies I'm sure.
Phoenix: Too bad the same can't be said about Tom-O-Hawkeye and Captain WCFalcon. They work well as individuals. They both have noble reasons for stepping onto the battlefield each week. They're a pair that could develop into one of the more beloved tandems in the company. However, they're too disorganized right now. I saw their match a few nights ago, and they just weren't gelling together. Tom-O-Hawk had to bark out orders because Cap was about as lost as Bugs Bunny after not making that left turn at Albuquerque. Even Lilith and Skittlez have some kind of cohesion between them.
Kaiyah: More like confusion mixed with Malibu's Most Wanted.
Phoenix: Well.....yeah. That too. Regardless, as far as teamwork goes, they don't quite have the chemistry to keep up in a match like this.
He looks back at her as she pulls her view away from her laptop in order to match his gaze with one of her own.
Kaiyah: What about Bates?
Phoenix: He's my biggest challenge, and I don't say that just because he's a damn mountain. He's a World Champion that was Tag Team Champion two months ago. He knows how to get the job done both as an individual and as a teammate. Additionally, he's the guy I feel like I can learn the most from in our match this week. Not to mention it's a chance to see how I stack up against a World Champ.
Kaiyah: That's true.
Phoenix: Bates is a serious threat in every match that he's in. He takes his opponents seriously, and I know he will do the same with us. The guy's more humble that most of the other people I've faced, so I can't rely on using the balloon effect to defeat him.
Kaiyah: Balloon effect?
Phoenix: It's what I call it. Basically, I feed an opponent's arrogance until it becomes too much for them to keep in check and it ultimately leaves them in pieces, kinda like a balloon popping.
Kaiyah: I swear it's like looking in a mirror when you say methodical stuff like that.
Phoenix: Mind games. Gotta love em.
CJ's stomach growls.
Phoenix: Stomach. Gotta feed it.
Kaiyah: I'm getting a bit hungry too now that your stomach mentions it.
Phoenix: Let's go feed our bellies.
Kaiyah gets off of her laptop as she and Phoenix exit the room and journey to the buffet. An hour passes as an inhumane amount of food is consumed between the two. Afterwards, they decided to spend a few hours on the machines as they were already on the first floor. While Kaiyah safely balanced a combination of water and alcoholic beverages, CJ downed a staggering amount of milkshakes and got in a few alcoholic drinks as well. After a while of playing, the two make their way back to their room. They immediately get under the covers as it's borderline freezing in their room. They chose to make it this cold because they love the feeling of being warm and comfortable under the blankets. The scene closes with the camera zooming in on the room's complimentary alarm clock, revealing the time to be 1:16AM.
Four Hours Later
"Gar...dian. The Cel-tic Guardian! Gar...dian. The Cel-tic Guardian!
Daaaaaaave the Celtic Guardian, brave, but he's shit!"
Before the voice can continue, a pissed off look fills Dave's face as he speaks with an outraged tone, causing the music to stop abruptly like a needle being slid off a record.
Dave: What was that!? Did you just say I'm shit!?
Voice: No. I don't think you're shit. I'm just reading my lines!
Dave: Well who the hell wrote my lines!?
Voice: I don't know, the producer of the show, I guess.
Dave: Producer!? I bet it's the Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Fuck that winged bitch!
As Dave continues his tirade, the camera view switches, revealing the producer's room. Inside it is Blue-Eyes looking at the screen with Dave on it next to a copy of the intro lyrics. CJ's attention gets redirected as an arm points at the screen from outside of the show. He turns to his left and sees Dave standing up in the living room of a nice looking house while angrily pointing at the TV screen.
Dave: See!? I told you that demon was running the show! He doesn't even talk! That's not fair!
Before Phoenix can respond, the power in the house goes out. He and Dave look around the room.
Phoenix: What happened?
Dave: I don't know, but I bet it was the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's fault.
Phoenix: Now how could the Bl-
CJ gets cut off as the roof of the house gets torn off. As the two look up, the see a huge black hole sucking everything in.
Phoenix: Is that a black hole!?
Dave: I'm pretty sure that's what it is! Hold the sofa! It's bolted down!
Phoenix hangs on to the sofa with all of his might. As he clings to the piece of furniture, a myriad of debris and other things get drawn into the dark vortex. The Pharaoh/Atem from Yu-Gi-Oh! can be briefly seen and heard as he is holding the Mantis Flip Coin from Xiaolin Showdown.
Pharaoh/Atem: I'm the mother flippin!
CJ continues to cling to the sofa until a shadowy figure slices at his arms, causing him to lose his grip and fly into the black hole. However, rather than waking up from his dream, he ends up landing in front of a mountain. The camera flies up the mountain, and once it reaches its peak, it shows the WCF World Title floating in the air. CJ begins climbing up the mountain. As he does, he notices a large chess piece in the snow. The piece is a bishop. It begins cracking until a black knight bursts out. The knight looks toward the mountaintop and then back at Phoenix. As he looks at Phoenix, he points his sword at the peak of the mountain and then points at himself. After this, he begins ascending the mountain. Seeing as a challenge, the Workhorse of the WCF starts to race the knight up the mountain. However, their progress gets stopped as two soldiers, one made of water and one made of oil. The soldiers charge at the knight and Phoenix. They go back and forth, and the matchup seems to be about even, so CJ and the armed swordsman agree to work as a tandem. This proves to be effective as they quickly gain the upper hand. Things don't go as well for their opponents. Just as oil and water don't mix, the soldiers are unable to work together. Just as they're about to deliver the final blow, rocks grow out of the mountain itself and grab hold of our protagonist's legs. This allows the soldiers to deliver an attack of their own. Phoenix tries to get himself free from the mountains grip in order to better defend himself, but it's no use. Just as things are looking grim, a machine gun toting maniac with a mask on shows up. He fires his weapon at the soldiers, and then at the mountain itself, freeing CJ and the black knight. Together, the three of them overpower the dysfunctional duo. The three then look at each other and exchange nods in a sign of mutual respect before they race each other up the mountain. It's a close race, but CJ Phoenix barely makes it to the top first. As soon as he touches the World Title, the ground starts to shake violently, causing all three guys to fall. The earthquake is revealed to be caused by a giant that rises from underground. Once it makes it to its feet, it looks down at the three guys at the top of the mountain. The men are staring up at Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu. A large hand gets raised by the being and slammed down onto the top of the mountain, forcefully waking Phoenix from his dream. He sits up and breathes heavily. Kaiyah is awakened by this.
Kaiyah: You alright?
Phoenix: Yeah...I think so. Just had a strange dream.
He places his hands on his face. Kaiyah grabs his arms.
Kaiyah: What happened to your arms?
CJ looks and sees a scar on each arm. Immediately, a flashback of his arms getting slashed in his dream pops into his mind. He shakes his head.
Phoenix: I'm not sure. Guess the wild dream was a little more violent than I thought.
Kaiyah: Hopefully, that's the end of it.
Phoenix: Hope so.
The camera fades to black with one last look at the scars.
September 9th
Montgomery Alabama
The final scene opens up at the Windcreek Casino&Hotel in Montgomery. The camera follows CJ Phoenix as he looks around at the casino floor.
Phoenix: Find your winning moment. That's the motto at these Windcreek casinos. It's easier said than done, obviously, but I like the concept. It reminds me of my match this week. You see, in order for myself and my teammates, Kevin Bishop and Crazy J, to defeat the team of Thomas Bates, Tom-O-Hawk, and Captain WCF, we need to find our winning moment. In order for us to do that, we need to create winning moments against each of our opponents. It's easy to say that the lack of cohesion between Cap and Hawk make them a target, but that's not enough for me. I waant to know why. Why is it so hard for them to work together? When I got booked to team with Teddy Blaze, we may not have gotten along, but we gelled pretty well. Then I realized that I've already answered my own question. Tom-O-Hawk won the Titles from Nathan Chambers and Stuart Slane, two guys that hated each other. They weren't built to be a team. They were just two great individual wrestlers thrown together as a team. When Tom-O-Hawk turned on Bad News Benson, he was forced to replace him with a new partner. In comes Captain WCF. A bright, rising star who quickly got the fans on his side. There's no doubt that those two guys can compete as singles competitors, but they just don't know how to handle being a team. They don't have anything in common besides fighting for noble causes. While it is true that this match will help mold them together as a team, it's painfully obvious that it's gonna take a while for these guys to be a formidable team.
He orders an Amaretto Sour.
Phoenix: Maybe they won't have to worry about becoming a great team. They won't have to worry about finding any winning moments if they get dropped by the winner of the ZT vs Lil Skitz match. Those two teams know how to actually be teams. So I ask you, Tom-O-Hawk, what can you do as the middle man of your team? You have a Mountain in Bates and a speedster in Captain WCF on your side. At first glance, you guys look to be the favorites. However, after giving it just the slightest bit of thought, it could be argued that you guys are the underdogs! You're good, Hawkeye, but not good enough to stop my team. I suggest you take notes, because you and Cap will need to get better if you even hope to have a chance at successfully defending those tag belts. I'm not bothered about our first meeting at Ultimate Showdown simply because there was no real chemistry between any of the guys in the match. This time, it will take true teamwork to achieve victory. I respect you, Hawk, but this is a battle that you cannot win.
The drink gets finished and he receives it.
Phoenix: W...C...Falcon Pawnch! You know, Captain WCF, I like you. I really think you can do well in this company. Like Tom-O-Hawk, you honestly have true potential. You two should be much better than you are, but something's missing. I mean this in the nicest of ways, but you aren't ready for this stage. Not yet. I commend you for being able to make it into the bright lights of the card, but you have a lot of work to do. You can't afford to sit on the top rope and wait for Tom-O-Hawk or Thomas Bates to tell you what to do. You have to be yourself, Cap. Do what makes you comfortable, and then use it to integrate into the offense of your teammates. You want an example of that? Go back and watch me and Blaze It. Watch Zero Tolerance. Then, after our match, go back and see how well my teammates and I work together. Welcome to the spotlight, rookie.
He drinks his beverage until it's half empty.
Phoenix: Thomas. Uriel. Bates. It's obvious that you're my main focus this week. You have the title that I want. I've seen the Bates Boot of yours. I have seen how dangerous it is, and I have made it a top priority to avoid being its next victim. As Alpha Champion, I have to make sure that I keep a close eye on every Champion and contender to the World Title. Seeing as you're the one holding the WCF World Title, this is my chance to face you in the ring. I've been looking forward to this since the moment you won the title at Revenge. I know that for me to better myself, I have to match myself with people that either as good as or better than me. Right now, you may be better than me heads up. I'm okay with that because this Sunday, I have the chance to prove myself to the both of us. I want you, and everyone else to know that it's only a matter of time until I am just as good as you are. In fact, though I see you as a little better, I know that I have a chance to prove that I'm at least in your tier as a World Title contender. I know you will take me seriously, and I will return that same respect. If it helps my teammate Crazy J get over his loss, then I'll win this for him. If it helps close the gap in the race between myself and Kevin Bishop, best believe I'm going for that opportunity. Most of all, if it brings me one step closer to bringing home the World Title, I'm definitely giving this match everything I've got. Your Bates Boot can't hurt me if you can't connect with it. Remember that.
CJ finishes his drink and puts it down.
Phoenix: This Sunday, while the ladies and gentlemen will be looking to find their winning moment, the team of CJ Phoenix, Kevin Bishop, and Crazy J will find their winning moments against the World and Tag Team Champions. Oh, and one more thing, 80 more days until I get my World Title shot. The countdown continues.
The camera fades to black as it zooms in on the empty glass.
