Post by Matt Storm on May 8, 2011 19:38:48 GMT -5
5/6/11 - Panama City, FL... Matt Storm groans in pain as he rolls over and climbs out of bed. The aftermath of yet another day of strenuous training leaves him wondering (yet again) just how brilliant an idea this latest comeback really is. Limping towards the sanctuary of a hot shower he is agonizingly reminded that there is no cartilage left in his right knee. Wincing in hellish pain, he hobbles over to the sink and turns on the faucet. He cups his hands in the icy stream and splashes his bearded face. He scoops a handful of water into his mouth, rinses, then spits. Only then does he look into the mirror, staring at his haggard reflection. Faint traces of the smile that used to electrify millions creeps across his visage as he speaks in his raspy, morning voice.
Damn! I'm getting too old for this!
***************
5/7/11 - Tampa, FL... Storm takes a last, forlorn look at the fabled FXW Arena. The venue which once housed his creation, Federation X Wrestling. Once the preeminent indy promotion in North America, FXW was supposed to be re-opening this day. Unfortunately, Storm's financial backer fell through in the eleventh hour, along with any hopes of an FXW revival. Storm glances at the building where he fought so many famous battles, and sighs.
Oh, well... You can't win them all.
***************
5/8/11 - Lincoln, NE... Storm eagerly paces backstage of a WCF house show on the campus of the University of Nebraska. Here at the Gorilla position, just moments before taking a walk down the aisle for the first time in nearly two years, it's amazing how the roar of a live crowd seems to melt away the years. Thinking back to September 1999 he remembers what it was like as he stood in a similar position, moments away from his "big league" debut for the World Wrestling Corporation. A smile crosses his lips as he remembers puking in a garbage can just as his theme music hit, and then as if on cue, "Thunderstruck" blares over the PA, and it's time once again to do what he loves best in all the world. Gathering his wits about him, Storm claps a stagehand on the back and quips,
Wish me luck, buddy!
Storm hits the curtain full stride and doesn't look back as the ignorant stagehand chides,
Rookies!
As Storm steps out before a live crowd for the first time since his "retirement"'match in July 2009, he can't help but catch his breath. For a split second the crowd doesn't recognize him. After all, it's been two years plus the 10x World champion has never competed in WCF before. But once the capacity crowd realizes what they are bearing witness to: the unannounced return of Matt Storm, the noise level begins to rise. Slowly at first, but steadily growing in intensity as he slowly makes his way to the ring. By the time he's standing center ring, Storm is greeted with a lusty chant of "MAIN EVENT!" He smiles ecstatically, then raises his hand for silence as he pulls a mic from his back pocket.
I want to thank you all for that awesome welcome... for remembering me... but that was a long time ago, y'all. There was a time when that chant meant the world to me, but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask y'all not to call me that anymore... because I'm not the Main Event... Not anymore.
A stunned silence falls over the crowd as the fans try to figure out what Storm means by all of this. Indeed, something seems different. This isn't the same bold, cocksure competitor they've come to know and love over the years. This is a completely different Matt Storm than perhaps anyone has ever seen before.
See, there was a time when I would have come out here and talked smack like nobody's business! I would have come out here and called out every single man in that locker room, and I would've fought them all by myself! But that was years ago, y'all. Back then I had the body to back up those kinds of words. Back in those days I was the Main Event... the Pinnacle of Perfection... the New Age Icon, and I was as bad as any man walking the planet! I stood toe to toe with men who towered over me by 6 or 8 inches and outweighed me by 100 lbs or more. You know me, I have NEVER backed down from a fight! Win or lose, I gave every match every ounce of strength I had. I've broken bones and spilled buckets of blood all over the globe, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat! I was the Main Event because I earned it dammit!!
Storm pauses a moment to allow the fans to cheer, then he continues.
But that was then, and this is now. Truth is y'all, I'm not as young as I used to be. All those matches with guys twice my size, all those crazy bumps like taking dives off a cage or being tossed off a bulding...
Storm winces mockingly then chuckles at himself.
Believe it or not, that catches up to you! I used to think I was ten feet tall and bullet proof, but damn! I was wrong!! To be honest with you, I'm not sure what this old body has left in it... but tomorrow night I'm damned sure gonna find out!! Because tomorrow night, in this very ring, Matt Storm is back!!!
The crowd roars it's rowdy approval, and Storm drinks it all in like a sponge.
And even though I'm not a young man who can fly around the ring like a retarded spider monkey anymore, I'm still gonna give you 120% when that bell rings! Because I'll be honest with you, after a decade of being considered the best in this business it just plain bugs the hell out of me that I'm not anymore! So that's why I came back, and why I came to WCF, because this is a whole new breed of animal from what I've been used to over the years. These are the best and brightest young stars in the industry today, and if I'm gonna prove myself one more time it's not gonna be worth a damn unless it's against the best!
Saying that, Storm turns his attention towards the curtain he just walked through.
Now I know there's a locker roomful of guys back there listening to me thinking, "An in ring promo at a house show. How cliche." But you know what, as I look out over this amazing crowd right here in the heart of Cornhusker country...
The 'Husker faithful explode in unison, drawing a huge grin to Storm's face.
It still works!! And just like the 'Huskers are gonna regain their rightful place atop the college football world...
That brings the biggest pop of the night.
Matt Storm's gonna regain his rightful place atop the wrestling world! And the journey starts tomorrow night in Omaha! I may not be able to call myself the Main Event anymore, but I earned it once and I'll damn sure earn it again! No matter how long it takes, I pledge to all of you fans that I will climb that mountain one more time, no matter how far down I have to start. I will sweat, bleed, and pay the price to once again be YOUR Main Event! In the meantime, WCF, prepare to be taken... by Storm!!!
Having said his peace, Storm tosses the mic to the mat and climbs the second rope to salute the fans as "Thunderstruck" blares over the PA again. He repeats the salute on all four sides of the ring before jumping to the floor and hopping the security barricade. Instead of walking back up the ramp Storm slowly makes his way through the mass of fans swarming him. All the while an ecstatic smile on his face, as for the first time in a long time Matt Storm feels at home.
Damn! I'm getting too old for this!
***************
5/7/11 - Tampa, FL... Storm takes a last, forlorn look at the fabled FXW Arena. The venue which once housed his creation, Federation X Wrestling. Once the preeminent indy promotion in North America, FXW was supposed to be re-opening this day. Unfortunately, Storm's financial backer fell through in the eleventh hour, along with any hopes of an FXW revival. Storm glances at the building where he fought so many famous battles, and sighs.
Oh, well... You can't win them all.
***************
5/8/11 - Lincoln, NE... Storm eagerly paces backstage of a WCF house show on the campus of the University of Nebraska. Here at the Gorilla position, just moments before taking a walk down the aisle for the first time in nearly two years, it's amazing how the roar of a live crowd seems to melt away the years. Thinking back to September 1999 he remembers what it was like as he stood in a similar position, moments away from his "big league" debut for the World Wrestling Corporation. A smile crosses his lips as he remembers puking in a garbage can just as his theme music hit, and then as if on cue, "Thunderstruck" blares over the PA, and it's time once again to do what he loves best in all the world. Gathering his wits about him, Storm claps a stagehand on the back and quips,
Wish me luck, buddy!
Storm hits the curtain full stride and doesn't look back as the ignorant stagehand chides,
Rookies!
As Storm steps out before a live crowd for the first time since his "retirement"'match in July 2009, he can't help but catch his breath. For a split second the crowd doesn't recognize him. After all, it's been two years plus the 10x World champion has never competed in WCF before. But once the capacity crowd realizes what they are bearing witness to: the unannounced return of Matt Storm, the noise level begins to rise. Slowly at first, but steadily growing in intensity as he slowly makes his way to the ring. By the time he's standing center ring, Storm is greeted with a lusty chant of "MAIN EVENT!" He smiles ecstatically, then raises his hand for silence as he pulls a mic from his back pocket.
I want to thank you all for that awesome welcome... for remembering me... but that was a long time ago, y'all. There was a time when that chant meant the world to me, but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask y'all not to call me that anymore... because I'm not the Main Event... Not anymore.
A stunned silence falls over the crowd as the fans try to figure out what Storm means by all of this. Indeed, something seems different. This isn't the same bold, cocksure competitor they've come to know and love over the years. This is a completely different Matt Storm than perhaps anyone has ever seen before.
See, there was a time when I would have come out here and talked smack like nobody's business! I would have come out here and called out every single man in that locker room, and I would've fought them all by myself! But that was years ago, y'all. Back then I had the body to back up those kinds of words. Back in those days I was the Main Event... the Pinnacle of Perfection... the New Age Icon, and I was as bad as any man walking the planet! I stood toe to toe with men who towered over me by 6 or 8 inches and outweighed me by 100 lbs or more. You know me, I have NEVER backed down from a fight! Win or lose, I gave every match every ounce of strength I had. I've broken bones and spilled buckets of blood all over the globe, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat! I was the Main Event because I earned it dammit!!
Storm pauses a moment to allow the fans to cheer, then he continues.
But that was then, and this is now. Truth is y'all, I'm not as young as I used to be. All those matches with guys twice my size, all those crazy bumps like taking dives off a cage or being tossed off a bulding...
Storm winces mockingly then chuckles at himself.
Believe it or not, that catches up to you! I used to think I was ten feet tall and bullet proof, but damn! I was wrong!! To be honest with you, I'm not sure what this old body has left in it... but tomorrow night I'm damned sure gonna find out!! Because tomorrow night, in this very ring, Matt Storm is back!!!
The crowd roars it's rowdy approval, and Storm drinks it all in like a sponge.
And even though I'm not a young man who can fly around the ring like a retarded spider monkey anymore, I'm still gonna give you 120% when that bell rings! Because I'll be honest with you, after a decade of being considered the best in this business it just plain bugs the hell out of me that I'm not anymore! So that's why I came back, and why I came to WCF, because this is a whole new breed of animal from what I've been used to over the years. These are the best and brightest young stars in the industry today, and if I'm gonna prove myself one more time it's not gonna be worth a damn unless it's against the best!
Saying that, Storm turns his attention towards the curtain he just walked through.
Now I know there's a locker roomful of guys back there listening to me thinking, "An in ring promo at a house show. How cliche." But you know what, as I look out over this amazing crowd right here in the heart of Cornhusker country...
The 'Husker faithful explode in unison, drawing a huge grin to Storm's face.
It still works!! And just like the 'Huskers are gonna regain their rightful place atop the college football world...
That brings the biggest pop of the night.
Matt Storm's gonna regain his rightful place atop the wrestling world! And the journey starts tomorrow night in Omaha! I may not be able to call myself the Main Event anymore, but I earned it once and I'll damn sure earn it again! No matter how long it takes, I pledge to all of you fans that I will climb that mountain one more time, no matter how far down I have to start. I will sweat, bleed, and pay the price to once again be YOUR Main Event! In the meantime, WCF, prepare to be taken... by Storm!!!
Having said his peace, Storm tosses the mic to the mat and climbs the second rope to salute the fans as "Thunderstruck" blares over the PA again. He repeats the salute on all four sides of the ring before jumping to the floor and hopping the security barricade. Instead of walking back up the ramp Storm slowly makes his way through the mass of fans swarming him. All the while an ecstatic smile on his face, as for the first time in a long time Matt Storm feels at home.
