Post by Allen Guiliano on Sept 26, 2010 12:30:37 GMT -5
The scene opens back inside the conference room at the Guiliano Hotel and Casion. Allen Guiliano continues to field questions from the large media contingent that has gathered in Las Vegas. He has carefully removed the WCF World Championship belt and Hardcore Title belt from his shoulders and they are being displayed in front of the podium. Sweat beads start to form on the brow of the World Champion due to the intensity in which he has chosen to respond to questions and the bright overhead lights that are beaming down directly where he is standing. After pausing for a moment after answering the question about his thoughts on what other competitors have had to say, the next media member reluctantly continues the questioning.
“Um, Mr. Guiliano, my name is Carl Avery, I'm a blogger and my question to you is that over your long career, has there been any key mentors for you either inside or outside the ring?”
“I always hate answering this question because I feel like I am going to leave people out, but yes, there are several people who have mentored me along the way and really molded me not only as a wrestler, but as a person as well. A lot of people don't realize the magnitude of the relationships that wrestlers have outside the ring, in the locker room, and after shows. We may be heated rivals on Monday nights here in the WCF, but the other six days we are sharing drinks and visiting each others families. The bonds that go out outside the ring are what make this business the most enjoyable. I can win all the titles in the world, but without the friendships I have made, it wouldn't be worth it. And even after retirement, I look to continue those relationships and keep up with what is going on in their career's and in their personal lives as well.
Back to the original question, I think the first person to really pull me outside and show me the ropes of this business was a guy by the name of Cobra. He was a great friend of mine when I first started to enter the world of professional wrestler and he was instrumental in showing me how to weaver together a promo, entertain the fans, and what it takes to win wrestling matches. He was an absolute superstar that took a chance to show a newcomer the ways of the locker room and I will always been indebted to him. I actually got to face him in a match that never saw a conclusion. It was one of the hardest fought hardcore matches I have ever been a part of and both of us ended up in the hospital for several days after. It was the ultimate student versus mentor match and it ended when I hit a shooting star press from...wow, I'm not sure, at least 30 feet while he was on a stack of tables. They crowd went crazy but the way I landed and the way the tables broke under him resulted in both of us being unable to continue. The bell rang and it ended in the draw. I claim that I should have won since I was the one that performed the move that ended the match, but he saw it otherwise. There are really no words to describe what happened in that match other than it solidified my nickname as the Ace of Hardcore. I showed the world just how determined I could be during that match. I went in as an extreme underdog and emerged as a real threat to anyone in the XGWO. Cobra really pushed me each and every week no matter if he and I were involved in the same storyline or not. He was a great competitor and I still speak to him to this day.
I also have to mention Mr. Jerry, who wasn't really a mentor to me, but certainly got my career off on the right foot by signing me to my first contract in the GEWF. Zak, the owner of the W2OXWF got me into the business of wrestling my realizing my talents and offering me the position as commissioner. I took it and we ran a great federation until he suddenly went missing and the federation had to close its doors. Was one of the turning points for me as a professional. I got to see the inner-workings of a federation and it really made me appreciate the things that owners have to go through to run a competitive federation. Seth has done a great job in my time here in the WCF handling every aspect of the organization and rebuilding it after the unfortunate take over a few months ago. I'm not just saying this because I am currently on the roster here, but the WCF is the best federation I have been a part of and that is taking nothing away from Jason, the owner of the XGWO, the federation that really propelled me into the upper echelon of this business.
If I had to name some people that I have admired since joining the WCF, there is a short list and that means no disrespect to anyone that isn't on it. Obviously Torture and Chad Evans brought out the very best in what I had to offer while I was in this federation. Those two presented me with challenges that I had never faced before and will never face again. I was pushed to my limit and far exceeded even my own expectations in victory, defeat, and ties with both of those individuals. I thinks some people only focus on the matches I had with Torture because they were so publicized and overlook the matches I had with Chad Evans because it was a short lived feud, but I tell you what, look back over those few weeks and I don't think you will find a moment in my entire career where I was as intense, except for perhaps right now.
Others that I need to mention are Logan, Jack of Blades, and D-Day. I know those are names that some people might find strange, but Logan really stands out because of what he did last year at WAR. I only faced him a few other times and he seemed like he wasn't at the top of his game and wasn't the legend that I had heard so much about, but last year, he gave it everything he had and I was very fortunate to escape with a win. It took nearly everything I had to win this even once and he has done it multiple times. Any wrestler has to respect that regardless of what you think of Logan as a person. He has caused controversy in the past and has had moments of negativity, but I he has providing many more positives to this federations than he has negatives. I wish I would have known and been able to compete against Jack of Blades more than I did. His style is something that I have never seen before and his ability to turn your own words against you was unbelievable. The one match that I did have against him, really made me realize that I was going to have to be at the top of my game if I expected to succeed in WCF on a weekly basis. I just wish our paths had crossed a few more times before he decided to call it quits. I hope that I provide the kind of motivation for the young guys on the roster now that Jack of Blades did for me when I first started to compete here. And finally, D-Day has been my partner and has really impressed me with the way he has improved since arriving here. I think he should be an example of what a person can achieve if they put their mind to it. Week in and week out he continues to impress me with his ability to step up his level of competition when he needs to. I know that many people overlook him and do not see him as one of the better wrestlers in this federation, but I assure you that his time is coming. He has worked his way up through the ranks to become the Television Champion and the United States Champion. There is only one thing left for him to accomplish and there is no doubt in my mind that he will.”
“Allen, Oliver England from the BBC. As you know this is a world wide event and I'm sure that all eyes will be on you not only in the United States, but also in your home country of Italy as well. Does that linger in the back of your mind that they will no longer be able to watch you compete after this match and what would failure mean to you and the people of your country?”
“That is a very deep question, but one that is pretty easy for me to answer. Of course it means everything to me to represent not only Italy, but the island of Sicily and failure in this match would weight heavily on me for the rest of my life. However, I realize that what I am asking myself to do is something that is very difficult and as long as I have a good showing, I can live with myself. What would be very hard to swallow, would be to enter #1 and be eliminated within the first 10 to 15 competitors. Anything but a final four appearance, I would say would be a let down for me as an individual.
As far as Italy in concerned, I am very blessed to have the support of that country and I know they will cheer for me and welcome me with open arms no matter what happens. I will make a trip back to Palermo no matter the outcome of my match and publicly thank them for all of their support throughout my career. I have received calls and letters from several different parts of Italy after each one of my matches and I do everything for that great land. When I lost that World Title match to Torture, I feel like I let down everyone in that entire country and was afraid of how I would be viewed by the people of my homeland when I returned, but they weren't dejected at the loss, they were ecstatic that I had mad it that far, and it really gave me a new outlook on what that defeat really meant. I wish that every wrestling in this federation knew what it was like to have an entire nation behind them. Here in the United States everyone seems to pick a different wrestler that is their favorite. Sure, there are areas of the country that root for a local product, but for the most part, our fans are regional. Many of the fans in the Chicago area and here in Las Vegas back me each and every week, but I'm sure there are other parts of the US, where Slickie T is seen as a villian instead of a hero. However, when you go to Italy, no matter what part, when you utter my name, every person's face lights up with excitement and to me that is what this entire thing is about. That country is so excited to have an Italian representing the highest level of sports entertainment. I know full well that even if I were seen as a heel instead of a face, that I would still have the support of my fellow countrymen. They are what drive me to succeed in this business and they are what drive me to succeed in the gaming industry. I owe so much to the red, white, and green that no matter how much I accomplish, no matter how much wealth I amass, no matter how much power is bestowed upon me, that I could never pay it back. That little island off the coast of the mainland means everything to me and when my career here in Las Vegas is over, I will retire back to Palermo and spend the rest of my days there amongst the olive trees. Nothing beats Italian food, wine, and hospitality. I just hope that I can take another WAR victory back to Italy with me after Monday night, because no matter what happens, I will be on the first plane to Palermo on Tuesday morning.”
“Mr. Guiliano, Claire Lewis for Cosmo...”
“Wait, hold up for a minute? Who did you say you were with again?”
“I write for Cosmopolitan. The magazine.”
“Right, I know what Cosmopolitan is, I am just wondering why someone from that magazine would be here in Las Vegas to cover a press conference about Allen Guiliano and his wrestling career. I suppose I will shut up know and let you ask your question so I can find out. I'm sorry for interrupting, just...yeah, go ahed.”
“No worries. Mr. Guiliano, as you may or may not know, you have been selected as the #1 most eligible bachelor this year for Cosmo magazine. Now that you are retiring from wrestling do you plan on settling down and finding that lucky girl?”
“Wow. Well, I guess you answered my question of what Cosmopolitan magazine was doing by sending a writer to this press conference. To tell you the truth, I had no idea that I was deemed the most eligible bachelor. I'm not sure whether I should be flattered by that or not. But, I suppose I will take this time to thank Cosmo for bestowing that honor upon me and I am humbled by the #1 ranking.
To answer your question, I don't think you will be hearing about a Mrs. Guiliano any time soon. I guess you never know when the right women is going to come along, but with my schedule and my constant traveling, I can see anyone wanting to put up with that. It sounds like it will be a big deal if I do in fact find someone that is willing to date a guy like me, so that adds yet another element to the mix.
Perhaps one of these days I will find me a nice Italian girl that won't care about my background, my wealth, or my status and will simply enjoy my company and passion for life. But then again, who am I kidding? Finding a woman and settling down is very low on my list of priorities right now. At the top of the list is winning that match on Monday night and right below it is making this hotel and casino the very best that it can be. I have always felt that romance can wait for me and when the time is right, I will know. Sorry to disappoint all the ladies in the audience tonight.”
“Allen, Bill Newton from right here in Las Vegas. After retirement will you still stay involved in the WCF or another federation or will your retirement mark a full retirement from the entire sport?”
“I would love to stay involved with the WCF as much as possible. I would like to be a mentor to the new roster members and assist them with their careers in any way that I can. The reason that I am stepping away from competition is that I simply do not have the time that it takes anymore to be at the top of my game and if I can't give 100% to my in-ring performance, then I would assume not compete at all. Some guys tend to hold on to their careers too long an even though they continue to rack up victories and win more titles, I just can't see myself giving anything less than my very best and I came come to the realization that I just do not have the time to devote to the WCF to keep myself at the level of a World Championship competitor.
I hope that Seth and the rest of the competitors on the WCF roster see me as someone that they can always ask for help and not someone that is leaving their federation behind. I have enjoyed my stay here and want to give back as much as I can. The older veterans were instrumental and making my career a success and I want to be the guy that the newer guys can look up to when they are in limbo. It would mean much more to me for someone that I had mentored to succeed than it would for me to win each and every match I was in. I am the kind of person that enjoy seeing others find success even it is at my own expense. I'm sure that my competitors both inside the ring and in the business world would completely disagree with that statement, but I assure you that it is the truth.
I know that there are several newcomers that are trying to make the jump from midcarder to the highest level and I would love to be the one to allow them to make that jump and I don't mean by retiring. I know that there were a lot of minor things that I was able to correct and I would have never know about them if it weren't for a veteran pointing them out to me. This business is so complicated that sometimes you get tunnel vision and become so focused on improving one part of your game that you completely forget, ignore, or simply overlook a lot of other things that could make you better. I know that I have done it in the past and perhaps I am even doing it right now. I don't know. I just know that every day I try to find something that will make me better. It could be improving my speed to gain an advantage over a larger, stronger opponent or improving my skills on the mic to gain an advantage that way. Whatever it may be, I want to be there to help out others in the WCF and even in other organizations if I am wanted there. This sport means far too much to me to simply walk away from it forever. I don't think I will ever feel the urge to do that. I got into this business as a teenager to keep myself out of trouble on the streets of Chicago and the Bronx, but I never thought it would lead to this.”
“Mr. Guiliano, Fred Davis. You are arguably the face of the WCF right now and have led the federation back to the status that it had been at before the takeover. With the threat of invasion and with you leaving the federation with no real #1 superstar behind you, are you worried at what with will happen to the federation when you leave?”
“As I have stated before, the invasion doesn't worry me at all. The WCF has been through far worse than a simply invasion and came out of it just fine. This is no different and I expect the results to be the same. I could care less what the invaders have in mind or what they plan on doing at WAR, because even though the entire roster has been pitted against each other, that can all change when an outside forces starts to threaten. I will gladly stand beside a fellow WCF competitor to make sure a foreign invader does no damage to the integrity of the WAR match. With that being said, I think the roster is strong enough and is close enough to defend itself from any threat without me having to be there. There are guys like Oblivion and Greenfever that are taking this threat a lot more seriously than I am and those two monsters on the same side is a scary thought. If the two of them combined cannot stop a threat to this federation, then I think it is safe to say that it couldn't have been stopped in the first place.
I would argue that there are plenty of #1 superstars behind me in this federation. Look at the two former World Champions in Oblivion and Greenfever. As strange as it may seem, those are the two men that will become the face of this federation and will be key to its future success. Jay Price and Jason Kash are also two competitors that I could see vying for the WCF World Title in the future. The talent is there. They just have to be willing to put the same amount of effort into as I have and those who have come before have as well. Your career enters a whole new chapter when you make the jump up to the top rung of the ladder. People always talk about how they want to become the future of the federation or be the most recognizable name, but with that honor comes a great responsibility and some people just aren't cut out to carry that torch. Do I think that my retirement will open up a new chapter in the history of the WCF and be the start of a new era? Absolutely. But, I am not arrogant or stupid enough to think that the entire federation will crumble without me in it. There are more than a few capable wrestlers on the roster to step up and take over after Monday night.”
“Allen, Jay Wright from the New York Times. I believe I have the honor of asking the final question of the evening so I will try and make it a good one. What is going through your head right now and what are the emotions like for you knowing that Monday will be your last match as a professional wrestler? Is it a feeling of relief? Of disappointment? Of anxiousness?” And if you had to sum of your career in one word, what would it be?”
“Well, Jay, that is a very deep question. Right now I have so many emotions going through my head that I don't think I can pinpoint just one. Certainly heading into the match and during my training sessions, the only thing I can think about is how bad I want Monday night to come so I can get in that ring and see how far I can make it from the #1 spot. I can't recall another time in my career when I have wanted to get inside that ring so badly. It is nice being the first to the ring since I will get to fully enjoy my entrance and I will certainly relish hearing my music on Monday night, but I am so ready for this match that you may, for the first time ever, see me make a straight line to that ring and simply stare down anyone and everyone that comes through that curtain. Stan Trinity will be the first man through and he will get a warm welcome to the Wrestling Championship Federation when he finally makes it to the ring. Do I think he will be the first man eliminated? If he comes after me and tries to make a statement by trying to eliminate the current World Champion, then he WILL heading back up the ramp as fast as he walked down it.
There is also the feeling of relief knowing that after this match, a lot of pressure and a lot of expectations will be lifted from my shoulders. When you are a sports entertainer there is a lot of press put on you each and every week to not only perform, but to be at your very best and put on a show each time out. Sure, we have our regular storylines and often go up against some of the same opponents, but what you have to remember is that we are in a different city every week and there is a different set of fans in the stands every week. These individuals dish out good money to see us go out there and compete and they expect to see us live just like they see us on television every Monday night. There is no such thing at taking a week off when you are booked, because if you do, you are letting down an entire city's fan base. They may be wearing Slickie T shirts to the arena that night, but if I go out there and simply go through the motions, no matter if I win or lose, they will see me as just another wrestler and begin to question what makes me so special and why they were rooting for me in the first place. As established of a superstar as I am here in the WCF, the fans have short-term memory and are highly influenced by what they see when our show comes to their town. That pressure, although expected, builds on you throughout the year and continues to pile up each and every week, especially when you are making a title run or are making your way through the ranks and pressing to get to that next level. All it takes is one bad week, one unexpected loss, or one wrong statement and all that hard work dissipates. As amazing as a feeling as it is to be at the top, it feels exponentially worse when you are on the other end of spectrum.
And yes, there is a feeling of disappointment as well. That disappointment doesn't come because this is my last mach and I am walking away from something I truly have a passion for, I think there disappointment because of the state I am in while walking away. I am at the peak of my career and at the top of this federation and I know I have what it takes to continue this title run, but there are things going on behind the scenes and right here in Las Vegas that are forcing me to step away from the ring and hang up the boots for good. It's a terrible feeling to know that I still have so much to give, but at the same time I know that this is the right thing to do and I would much rather end my career on my own terms than having someone else decide it for me. To me, it is better to step away at the top of the mountain rather than falling own the other side even if that does mean coming up short in some of the categories in the WCF record books. It's not about career records to me if it means extending my career just for the sake of extending it. I know some people may see that different and think that longevity is the key to becoming a legend, but if I win WAR on Monday night, I think I will have achieved about all I can here in the WCF. Sure, I could stick around and try to defend my title for months on end, but with my personal situation I do not think that would be possible and to tell you the truth, the federation is going in a direction where Allen Guiliano doesn't seem to have a place in it. My era is over. The men that I really wanted to compete against, that I loved to beat are gone. Yeah, Greenfever nearly ended my career right here in this building and I would love to repay the favor by giving him an absolute beat down, but I have avenged that loss more than once and can stand over him with a pair of title belts held high. What better way to show you are the dominant force than to be able to walk around with these two belts in your possession? The new faces will become the usual faces and the cycle will continue. My retirement will complete an era in the WCF and although it was a short one with Slickie T at the helm, I feel the torch should be passed to the new generation of superstars like Oblivion, Greenfever, and Jay Price.
A far as summing up my career in one word, it is pretty easy. My career has been glorious. I have experienced the ups and downs, been battered, bruised, and bloodied, and sacrificed so much, but it has all been worth it. I wouldn't trade anything else for the experiences I have had as a professional wrestler and that feeling dates all the way back to my humble beginnings in the GEWF, to my rise in the XHWF, achieving superstar status in the XGWO, and then my long run here in the WCF. I have met so many people and seen some amazing things. It has been rough traveling to different places on a weekly basis and trying to run a legitimate business over a long distance, but it was all worth it. Every hospital trip, every major setback, ever boo that I ever heard. It's all worth it. Sure, my goals and my aspirations are different that everyone else's in the sense that this job wasn't my livelihood, but it meant just as much if not more to me than all those other guys. I think that was really brought out in my exchanges with Chad Evans and it resulted in a literal war of words. But, when it is all said and done after Monday night, the fans and my fellow superstars will ultimately be the ones to decide how I am remembered, but each and every moment has been glorious.”
Guiliano exhales and takes everything in for a moment as he leans forward and begins to dismiss those who have gathered for the press conference. However, before he can utter a word the entire room breaks into a thunderous applause. Each and every media member in the room has put down their notepads and writing utensils and are applauding a man they have been following for years on end. The emotions start to flow through the face of Guiliano as he starts to get choked up and fights back the tears of joy and pain. The Italian puts up a hand to try and silence the room, but that only causes the applauds to grow louder and more meaningful. He finally accepts that it is not going to end until he leaves the room and simply leans forward to utter the only two words that come to his mind.
“Thank you.”
He then walks to the front of the podium, collects his title belts and begins to make his way through the room, shaking the hands of each and every individual that has been involved with the press conference and even sharing hugs with those men and women who began covering him when he was still training out of a small gym in Chicago. For them, it means just as much, if not more, to see him go. Very few in that room have seen the rise from Bronx enclave to one of the most recognizable men in the country. Guiliano continues through the room, continuing to share handshakes and even signing a few autographs before finally making his way back up onto the stage and heading out the door in which he entered. The screen fades out and the script “G” logo appears as the media contingent finally starts to disperse.
“Um, Mr. Guiliano, my name is Carl Avery, I'm a blogger and my question to you is that over your long career, has there been any key mentors for you either inside or outside the ring?”
“I always hate answering this question because I feel like I am going to leave people out, but yes, there are several people who have mentored me along the way and really molded me not only as a wrestler, but as a person as well. A lot of people don't realize the magnitude of the relationships that wrestlers have outside the ring, in the locker room, and after shows. We may be heated rivals on Monday nights here in the WCF, but the other six days we are sharing drinks and visiting each others families. The bonds that go out outside the ring are what make this business the most enjoyable. I can win all the titles in the world, but without the friendships I have made, it wouldn't be worth it. And even after retirement, I look to continue those relationships and keep up with what is going on in their career's and in their personal lives as well.
Back to the original question, I think the first person to really pull me outside and show me the ropes of this business was a guy by the name of Cobra. He was a great friend of mine when I first started to enter the world of professional wrestler and he was instrumental in showing me how to weaver together a promo, entertain the fans, and what it takes to win wrestling matches. He was an absolute superstar that took a chance to show a newcomer the ways of the locker room and I will always been indebted to him. I actually got to face him in a match that never saw a conclusion. It was one of the hardest fought hardcore matches I have ever been a part of and both of us ended up in the hospital for several days after. It was the ultimate student versus mentor match and it ended when I hit a shooting star press from...wow, I'm not sure, at least 30 feet while he was on a stack of tables. They crowd went crazy but the way I landed and the way the tables broke under him resulted in both of us being unable to continue. The bell rang and it ended in the draw. I claim that I should have won since I was the one that performed the move that ended the match, but he saw it otherwise. There are really no words to describe what happened in that match other than it solidified my nickname as the Ace of Hardcore. I showed the world just how determined I could be during that match. I went in as an extreme underdog and emerged as a real threat to anyone in the XGWO. Cobra really pushed me each and every week no matter if he and I were involved in the same storyline or not. He was a great competitor and I still speak to him to this day.
I also have to mention Mr. Jerry, who wasn't really a mentor to me, but certainly got my career off on the right foot by signing me to my first contract in the GEWF. Zak, the owner of the W2OXWF got me into the business of wrestling my realizing my talents and offering me the position as commissioner. I took it and we ran a great federation until he suddenly went missing and the federation had to close its doors. Was one of the turning points for me as a professional. I got to see the inner-workings of a federation and it really made me appreciate the things that owners have to go through to run a competitive federation. Seth has done a great job in my time here in the WCF handling every aspect of the organization and rebuilding it after the unfortunate take over a few months ago. I'm not just saying this because I am currently on the roster here, but the WCF is the best federation I have been a part of and that is taking nothing away from Jason, the owner of the XGWO, the federation that really propelled me into the upper echelon of this business.
If I had to name some people that I have admired since joining the WCF, there is a short list and that means no disrespect to anyone that isn't on it. Obviously Torture and Chad Evans brought out the very best in what I had to offer while I was in this federation. Those two presented me with challenges that I had never faced before and will never face again. I was pushed to my limit and far exceeded even my own expectations in victory, defeat, and ties with both of those individuals. I thinks some people only focus on the matches I had with Torture because they were so publicized and overlook the matches I had with Chad Evans because it was a short lived feud, but I tell you what, look back over those few weeks and I don't think you will find a moment in my entire career where I was as intense, except for perhaps right now.
Others that I need to mention are Logan, Jack of Blades, and D-Day. I know those are names that some people might find strange, but Logan really stands out because of what he did last year at WAR. I only faced him a few other times and he seemed like he wasn't at the top of his game and wasn't the legend that I had heard so much about, but last year, he gave it everything he had and I was very fortunate to escape with a win. It took nearly everything I had to win this even once and he has done it multiple times. Any wrestler has to respect that regardless of what you think of Logan as a person. He has caused controversy in the past and has had moments of negativity, but I he has providing many more positives to this federations than he has negatives. I wish I would have known and been able to compete against Jack of Blades more than I did. His style is something that I have never seen before and his ability to turn your own words against you was unbelievable. The one match that I did have against him, really made me realize that I was going to have to be at the top of my game if I expected to succeed in WCF on a weekly basis. I just wish our paths had crossed a few more times before he decided to call it quits. I hope that I provide the kind of motivation for the young guys on the roster now that Jack of Blades did for me when I first started to compete here. And finally, D-Day has been my partner and has really impressed me with the way he has improved since arriving here. I think he should be an example of what a person can achieve if they put their mind to it. Week in and week out he continues to impress me with his ability to step up his level of competition when he needs to. I know that many people overlook him and do not see him as one of the better wrestlers in this federation, but I assure you that his time is coming. He has worked his way up through the ranks to become the Television Champion and the United States Champion. There is only one thing left for him to accomplish and there is no doubt in my mind that he will.”
“Allen, Oliver England from the BBC. As you know this is a world wide event and I'm sure that all eyes will be on you not only in the United States, but also in your home country of Italy as well. Does that linger in the back of your mind that they will no longer be able to watch you compete after this match and what would failure mean to you and the people of your country?”
“That is a very deep question, but one that is pretty easy for me to answer. Of course it means everything to me to represent not only Italy, but the island of Sicily and failure in this match would weight heavily on me for the rest of my life. However, I realize that what I am asking myself to do is something that is very difficult and as long as I have a good showing, I can live with myself. What would be very hard to swallow, would be to enter #1 and be eliminated within the first 10 to 15 competitors. Anything but a final four appearance, I would say would be a let down for me as an individual.
As far as Italy in concerned, I am very blessed to have the support of that country and I know they will cheer for me and welcome me with open arms no matter what happens. I will make a trip back to Palermo no matter the outcome of my match and publicly thank them for all of their support throughout my career. I have received calls and letters from several different parts of Italy after each one of my matches and I do everything for that great land. When I lost that World Title match to Torture, I feel like I let down everyone in that entire country and was afraid of how I would be viewed by the people of my homeland when I returned, but they weren't dejected at the loss, they were ecstatic that I had mad it that far, and it really gave me a new outlook on what that defeat really meant. I wish that every wrestling in this federation knew what it was like to have an entire nation behind them. Here in the United States everyone seems to pick a different wrestler that is their favorite. Sure, there are areas of the country that root for a local product, but for the most part, our fans are regional. Many of the fans in the Chicago area and here in Las Vegas back me each and every week, but I'm sure there are other parts of the US, where Slickie T is seen as a villian instead of a hero. However, when you go to Italy, no matter what part, when you utter my name, every person's face lights up with excitement and to me that is what this entire thing is about. That country is so excited to have an Italian representing the highest level of sports entertainment. I know full well that even if I were seen as a heel instead of a face, that I would still have the support of my fellow countrymen. They are what drive me to succeed in this business and they are what drive me to succeed in the gaming industry. I owe so much to the red, white, and green that no matter how much I accomplish, no matter how much wealth I amass, no matter how much power is bestowed upon me, that I could never pay it back. That little island off the coast of the mainland means everything to me and when my career here in Las Vegas is over, I will retire back to Palermo and spend the rest of my days there amongst the olive trees. Nothing beats Italian food, wine, and hospitality. I just hope that I can take another WAR victory back to Italy with me after Monday night, because no matter what happens, I will be on the first plane to Palermo on Tuesday morning.”
“Mr. Guiliano, Claire Lewis for Cosmo...”
“Wait, hold up for a minute? Who did you say you were with again?”
“I write for Cosmopolitan. The magazine.”
“Right, I know what Cosmopolitan is, I am just wondering why someone from that magazine would be here in Las Vegas to cover a press conference about Allen Guiliano and his wrestling career. I suppose I will shut up know and let you ask your question so I can find out. I'm sorry for interrupting, just...yeah, go ahed.”
“No worries. Mr. Guiliano, as you may or may not know, you have been selected as the #1 most eligible bachelor this year for Cosmo magazine. Now that you are retiring from wrestling do you plan on settling down and finding that lucky girl?”
“Wow. Well, I guess you answered my question of what Cosmopolitan magazine was doing by sending a writer to this press conference. To tell you the truth, I had no idea that I was deemed the most eligible bachelor. I'm not sure whether I should be flattered by that or not. But, I suppose I will take this time to thank Cosmo for bestowing that honor upon me and I am humbled by the #1 ranking.
To answer your question, I don't think you will be hearing about a Mrs. Guiliano any time soon. I guess you never know when the right women is going to come along, but with my schedule and my constant traveling, I can see anyone wanting to put up with that. It sounds like it will be a big deal if I do in fact find someone that is willing to date a guy like me, so that adds yet another element to the mix.
Perhaps one of these days I will find me a nice Italian girl that won't care about my background, my wealth, or my status and will simply enjoy my company and passion for life. But then again, who am I kidding? Finding a woman and settling down is very low on my list of priorities right now. At the top of the list is winning that match on Monday night and right below it is making this hotel and casino the very best that it can be. I have always felt that romance can wait for me and when the time is right, I will know. Sorry to disappoint all the ladies in the audience tonight.”
“Allen, Bill Newton from right here in Las Vegas. After retirement will you still stay involved in the WCF or another federation or will your retirement mark a full retirement from the entire sport?”
“I would love to stay involved with the WCF as much as possible. I would like to be a mentor to the new roster members and assist them with their careers in any way that I can. The reason that I am stepping away from competition is that I simply do not have the time that it takes anymore to be at the top of my game and if I can't give 100% to my in-ring performance, then I would assume not compete at all. Some guys tend to hold on to their careers too long an even though they continue to rack up victories and win more titles, I just can't see myself giving anything less than my very best and I came come to the realization that I just do not have the time to devote to the WCF to keep myself at the level of a World Championship competitor.
I hope that Seth and the rest of the competitors on the WCF roster see me as someone that they can always ask for help and not someone that is leaving their federation behind. I have enjoyed my stay here and want to give back as much as I can. The older veterans were instrumental and making my career a success and I want to be the guy that the newer guys can look up to when they are in limbo. It would mean much more to me for someone that I had mentored to succeed than it would for me to win each and every match I was in. I am the kind of person that enjoy seeing others find success even it is at my own expense. I'm sure that my competitors both inside the ring and in the business world would completely disagree with that statement, but I assure you that it is the truth.
I know that there are several newcomers that are trying to make the jump from midcarder to the highest level and I would love to be the one to allow them to make that jump and I don't mean by retiring. I know that there were a lot of minor things that I was able to correct and I would have never know about them if it weren't for a veteran pointing them out to me. This business is so complicated that sometimes you get tunnel vision and become so focused on improving one part of your game that you completely forget, ignore, or simply overlook a lot of other things that could make you better. I know that I have done it in the past and perhaps I am even doing it right now. I don't know. I just know that every day I try to find something that will make me better. It could be improving my speed to gain an advantage over a larger, stronger opponent or improving my skills on the mic to gain an advantage that way. Whatever it may be, I want to be there to help out others in the WCF and even in other organizations if I am wanted there. This sport means far too much to me to simply walk away from it forever. I don't think I will ever feel the urge to do that. I got into this business as a teenager to keep myself out of trouble on the streets of Chicago and the Bronx, but I never thought it would lead to this.”
“Mr. Guiliano, Fred Davis. You are arguably the face of the WCF right now and have led the federation back to the status that it had been at before the takeover. With the threat of invasion and with you leaving the federation with no real #1 superstar behind you, are you worried at what with will happen to the federation when you leave?”
“As I have stated before, the invasion doesn't worry me at all. The WCF has been through far worse than a simply invasion and came out of it just fine. This is no different and I expect the results to be the same. I could care less what the invaders have in mind or what they plan on doing at WAR, because even though the entire roster has been pitted against each other, that can all change when an outside forces starts to threaten. I will gladly stand beside a fellow WCF competitor to make sure a foreign invader does no damage to the integrity of the WAR match. With that being said, I think the roster is strong enough and is close enough to defend itself from any threat without me having to be there. There are guys like Oblivion and Greenfever that are taking this threat a lot more seriously than I am and those two monsters on the same side is a scary thought. If the two of them combined cannot stop a threat to this federation, then I think it is safe to say that it couldn't have been stopped in the first place.
I would argue that there are plenty of #1 superstars behind me in this federation. Look at the two former World Champions in Oblivion and Greenfever. As strange as it may seem, those are the two men that will become the face of this federation and will be key to its future success. Jay Price and Jason Kash are also two competitors that I could see vying for the WCF World Title in the future. The talent is there. They just have to be willing to put the same amount of effort into as I have and those who have come before have as well. Your career enters a whole new chapter when you make the jump up to the top rung of the ladder. People always talk about how they want to become the future of the federation or be the most recognizable name, but with that honor comes a great responsibility and some people just aren't cut out to carry that torch. Do I think that my retirement will open up a new chapter in the history of the WCF and be the start of a new era? Absolutely. But, I am not arrogant or stupid enough to think that the entire federation will crumble without me in it. There are more than a few capable wrestlers on the roster to step up and take over after Monday night.”
“Allen, Jay Wright from the New York Times. I believe I have the honor of asking the final question of the evening so I will try and make it a good one. What is going through your head right now and what are the emotions like for you knowing that Monday will be your last match as a professional wrestler? Is it a feeling of relief? Of disappointment? Of anxiousness?” And if you had to sum of your career in one word, what would it be?”
“Well, Jay, that is a very deep question. Right now I have so many emotions going through my head that I don't think I can pinpoint just one. Certainly heading into the match and during my training sessions, the only thing I can think about is how bad I want Monday night to come so I can get in that ring and see how far I can make it from the #1 spot. I can't recall another time in my career when I have wanted to get inside that ring so badly. It is nice being the first to the ring since I will get to fully enjoy my entrance and I will certainly relish hearing my music on Monday night, but I am so ready for this match that you may, for the first time ever, see me make a straight line to that ring and simply stare down anyone and everyone that comes through that curtain. Stan Trinity will be the first man through and he will get a warm welcome to the Wrestling Championship Federation when he finally makes it to the ring. Do I think he will be the first man eliminated? If he comes after me and tries to make a statement by trying to eliminate the current World Champion, then he WILL heading back up the ramp as fast as he walked down it.
There is also the feeling of relief knowing that after this match, a lot of pressure and a lot of expectations will be lifted from my shoulders. When you are a sports entertainer there is a lot of press put on you each and every week to not only perform, but to be at your very best and put on a show each time out. Sure, we have our regular storylines and often go up against some of the same opponents, but what you have to remember is that we are in a different city every week and there is a different set of fans in the stands every week. These individuals dish out good money to see us go out there and compete and they expect to see us live just like they see us on television every Monday night. There is no such thing at taking a week off when you are booked, because if you do, you are letting down an entire city's fan base. They may be wearing Slickie T shirts to the arena that night, but if I go out there and simply go through the motions, no matter if I win or lose, they will see me as just another wrestler and begin to question what makes me so special and why they were rooting for me in the first place. As established of a superstar as I am here in the WCF, the fans have short-term memory and are highly influenced by what they see when our show comes to their town. That pressure, although expected, builds on you throughout the year and continues to pile up each and every week, especially when you are making a title run or are making your way through the ranks and pressing to get to that next level. All it takes is one bad week, one unexpected loss, or one wrong statement and all that hard work dissipates. As amazing as a feeling as it is to be at the top, it feels exponentially worse when you are on the other end of spectrum.
And yes, there is a feeling of disappointment as well. That disappointment doesn't come because this is my last mach and I am walking away from something I truly have a passion for, I think there disappointment because of the state I am in while walking away. I am at the peak of my career and at the top of this federation and I know I have what it takes to continue this title run, but there are things going on behind the scenes and right here in Las Vegas that are forcing me to step away from the ring and hang up the boots for good. It's a terrible feeling to know that I still have so much to give, but at the same time I know that this is the right thing to do and I would much rather end my career on my own terms than having someone else decide it for me. To me, it is better to step away at the top of the mountain rather than falling own the other side even if that does mean coming up short in some of the categories in the WCF record books. It's not about career records to me if it means extending my career just for the sake of extending it. I know some people may see that different and think that longevity is the key to becoming a legend, but if I win WAR on Monday night, I think I will have achieved about all I can here in the WCF. Sure, I could stick around and try to defend my title for months on end, but with my personal situation I do not think that would be possible and to tell you the truth, the federation is going in a direction where Allen Guiliano doesn't seem to have a place in it. My era is over. The men that I really wanted to compete against, that I loved to beat are gone. Yeah, Greenfever nearly ended my career right here in this building and I would love to repay the favor by giving him an absolute beat down, but I have avenged that loss more than once and can stand over him with a pair of title belts held high. What better way to show you are the dominant force than to be able to walk around with these two belts in your possession? The new faces will become the usual faces and the cycle will continue. My retirement will complete an era in the WCF and although it was a short one with Slickie T at the helm, I feel the torch should be passed to the new generation of superstars like Oblivion, Greenfever, and Jay Price.
A far as summing up my career in one word, it is pretty easy. My career has been glorious. I have experienced the ups and downs, been battered, bruised, and bloodied, and sacrificed so much, but it has all been worth it. I wouldn't trade anything else for the experiences I have had as a professional wrestler and that feeling dates all the way back to my humble beginnings in the GEWF, to my rise in the XHWF, achieving superstar status in the XGWO, and then my long run here in the WCF. I have met so many people and seen some amazing things. It has been rough traveling to different places on a weekly basis and trying to run a legitimate business over a long distance, but it was all worth it. Every hospital trip, every major setback, ever boo that I ever heard. It's all worth it. Sure, my goals and my aspirations are different that everyone else's in the sense that this job wasn't my livelihood, but it meant just as much if not more to me than all those other guys. I think that was really brought out in my exchanges with Chad Evans and it resulted in a literal war of words. But, when it is all said and done after Monday night, the fans and my fellow superstars will ultimately be the ones to decide how I am remembered, but each and every moment has been glorious.”
Guiliano exhales and takes everything in for a moment as he leans forward and begins to dismiss those who have gathered for the press conference. However, before he can utter a word the entire room breaks into a thunderous applause. Each and every media member in the room has put down their notepads and writing utensils and are applauding a man they have been following for years on end. The emotions start to flow through the face of Guiliano as he starts to get choked up and fights back the tears of joy and pain. The Italian puts up a hand to try and silence the room, but that only causes the applauds to grow louder and more meaningful. He finally accepts that it is not going to end until he leaves the room and simply leans forward to utter the only two words that come to his mind.
“Thank you.”
He then walks to the front of the podium, collects his title belts and begins to make his way through the room, shaking the hands of each and every individual that has been involved with the press conference and even sharing hugs with those men and women who began covering him when he was still training out of a small gym in Chicago. For them, it means just as much, if not more, to see him go. Very few in that room have seen the rise from Bronx enclave to one of the most recognizable men in the country. Guiliano continues through the room, continuing to share handshakes and even signing a few autographs before finally making his way back up onto the stage and heading out the door in which he entered. The screen fades out and the script “G” logo appears as the media contingent finally starts to disperse.
