Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2017 20:22:26 GMT -5
We see Tornado Desencadenado sitting on a locker room bench. He’s in his ring gear, a blue singlet with airbrushed silver and white whorl patterns, and a matching colored headband worn snug around his heavy brow. He is hunched forward, tying up his wrestling boots, while still looking up to address the viewer.
“The last two weeks have had both highs and lows for me.”
Wait: highs and lows? Was that a weather pun? Tornado’s plain-spoken tone made it hard to tell. He continues on with his summary of recent events.
“I debuted for Union Battleground at Lights Out 7; earning a win against the talented Chris Andrew. Then, back at Alpha Wrestling’s Sunday Night Massacre event, I was able to pin someone who had been a plague on that company. This man, Akgrath, had been sowing chaos and disorder backstage for weeks before I debuted, and even after he left the shadows and entered the wrestling ring he still claimed he would continue his mission to destroy AWE.”
Finishing with the laces on one shoe the Spin Doctor moves to secure those on the other.
“That didn’t sit well with me, for obvious reasons. I looked forward to facing Akgrath, to put him in his place, and show him that for all his supervillain boiler-plate, between the ropes he was just a wrestler; a powerful and accomplished wrestler, for sure, but one who could be beaten. And I did that. It wasn’t easy; I’m still sore from the fight; but a desperation Cyclone Smash was enough to put Akgrath down for the ‘one-two-three’.
There’s a cutaway, and the end of the match is shown. Tornado caroms off the cables and levels the masked Akgrath with a running corkscrew forearm smash. The exhausted rookie drops down for the cover and scores the win. When the highlight clip transitions back to TD in the present he is beaming with pride.
“Biggest win so far in my career. Which, ok, isn’t saying much, given that I’ve had a total of four matches as a pro, but it was so satisfying to humble ‘The Ravager’ after all he had said and done. But then-“
The Spin Doctor’s smile vanishes. He rubs his lantern jaw contemplatively, stalling as he struggles to come up with the best way to explain what happened next and why it was so terrible. He decides to go with an analogy.
“Akgrath, right? He saw himself as the villain. With his mask and demeanor he had the style of the heavy in a slasher film. One part Michael Myers, one part Hannibal Lecter. And in all those movies what happens in the end? You get what in this business we call the ‘false finish’. You think the killer is dead, and the threat is over, but in that last shot we see his eyes open and we know the good guys didn’t really win. That’s what happened to AWE, because it would close down after that show. Sunday Night Massacre 10 turned into Monday Morning Termination. Alpha Wrestling was done. And I’m not going to say Akgrath deserves the credit for what happened; to this day I’m really not sure who or what was responsible, but at least in the abstract, Akgrath and the others who wanted AWE destroyed could say they had the final victory.”
Pause for effect.
“It is a shame Alpha Wrestling ended. As a place to work it wasn’t perfect; the, uh, management structure was a bit, um, chaotic; but the locker room was filled with top notch talent who were given the freedom to be themselves, which made it an interesting experience to be part of. I hope all of my former co-workers can find places to perform that are just as accommodating as AWE was; which brings me to myself, my future plans, and Union Battleground’s part in them.”
Tornado leans back on the bench slightly. He lifts a leg and rests its shin across the other’s knee.
“I joined Union Battleground to represent my old company, but the company no longer exists. That does not mean, however, I’m going to give up on it. I will still do my best to honor Alpha Wrestling, because of what they stood for, and because they gave me my first real chance in this sport. When I’m fighting under the UB banner, I will continue to ‘rep where I have stepped’.”
The broad grin is back as he previews his next match at the Battleground.
“This Wednesday I get to wrestle in front of what to me counts as a hometown crowd, as Union Battleground comes to New Orleans. I’m from Metairie, which is not far from there. It will be the first time my family and friends will get to see me compete on such a large stage. Before that, it was high school gyms and bingo halls. And just like the scale of the venue is more impressive so is the level of talent. At Lights Out #8 I’ll be facing the man who takes pride in breaking faces, World Wrestling Headquarters’ Damon Xalvador.”
Another scene shift as we watch footage from Lights Out 5, where the rough and tumble Scotsman destroys former Union Battleground talent Chloe Dupont with a vicuous curb stomp followed by German Suplex that leaves her body limp and seemingly lifeless. Tornado looks grave when the shot again returns to him.
It’s going to be a tough match. Damon and I are about even when it comes to size and power, but he has the edge in experience. Also, he is a proven winner; currently holding the Hellsfire Extreme Championship as part of WWH’s Hellsgate brand. Xalvador has shown he is a ruthless fighter who delights in dishing out pain, and, honestly, that’s not my style. I’m just as happy winning with a roll up as I am knocking an opponent unconscious. However, his methods may be better suited to Union Battleground than mine. UB’s owner Axel Graves has made it clear to all of his employees he is more concerned with giving the fans matches with definite winners and losers than following the rules of combat to the letter. And that’s fine: I will learn to adapt to the circumstances; but for this fight I can’t argue the point Damon’s hardcore background gives him an advantage. “
Another pause as the young wrestler adjusts his right elbow pad.
“What do I have going for me at Lights Out #8 besides the home cooking? Well, my match will be just three days removed from WWH’s Wrestlemania IX, where Damon Xalvador has to defend his Extreme Championship in something called a Barbwire Spiderweb Scaffold Match. For me, who’s never even swung a steel chair in anger, stipulations like those sound absolutely brutal, like career enders. For Damon to even show up at Lights Out #8 he will earn my respect. But there’s no denying the torture he will put himself through fighting for his title improve my chances against him. It’s ugly, and unfair, but this sport often is.”
The Fuindamental Elemental uncrosses his legs and stands. The camera rises with him, as well as pulling back to show more of the gym’s locker room. Hanging from an open locker door is a red and black tee shirt.
“I know I can’t assume anything here in Union Battleground. Even if Damon isn’t at full strength it will be tough taking him down. But I don’t plan to lose against him. For my friends, for my family-“
Reaching behind him, TD grabs the shirt and unfurls it to show it bears the Alpha Wrestling Empire logo.
“- for the fed I still represent, I will beat Damon Xalvador at Lights Out #8.”
“The last two weeks have had both highs and lows for me.”
Wait: highs and lows? Was that a weather pun? Tornado’s plain-spoken tone made it hard to tell. He continues on with his summary of recent events.
“I debuted for Union Battleground at Lights Out 7; earning a win against the talented Chris Andrew. Then, back at Alpha Wrestling’s Sunday Night Massacre event, I was able to pin someone who had been a plague on that company. This man, Akgrath, had been sowing chaos and disorder backstage for weeks before I debuted, and even after he left the shadows and entered the wrestling ring he still claimed he would continue his mission to destroy AWE.”
Finishing with the laces on one shoe the Spin Doctor moves to secure those on the other.
“That didn’t sit well with me, for obvious reasons. I looked forward to facing Akgrath, to put him in his place, and show him that for all his supervillain boiler-plate, between the ropes he was just a wrestler; a powerful and accomplished wrestler, for sure, but one who could be beaten. And I did that. It wasn’t easy; I’m still sore from the fight; but a desperation Cyclone Smash was enough to put Akgrath down for the ‘one-two-three’.
There’s a cutaway, and the end of the match is shown. Tornado caroms off the cables and levels the masked Akgrath with a running corkscrew forearm smash. The exhausted rookie drops down for the cover and scores the win. When the highlight clip transitions back to TD in the present he is beaming with pride.
“Biggest win so far in my career. Which, ok, isn’t saying much, given that I’ve had a total of four matches as a pro, but it was so satisfying to humble ‘The Ravager’ after all he had said and done. But then-“
The Spin Doctor’s smile vanishes. He rubs his lantern jaw contemplatively, stalling as he struggles to come up with the best way to explain what happened next and why it was so terrible. He decides to go with an analogy.
“Akgrath, right? He saw himself as the villain. With his mask and demeanor he had the style of the heavy in a slasher film. One part Michael Myers, one part Hannibal Lecter. And in all those movies what happens in the end? You get what in this business we call the ‘false finish’. You think the killer is dead, and the threat is over, but in that last shot we see his eyes open and we know the good guys didn’t really win. That’s what happened to AWE, because it would close down after that show. Sunday Night Massacre 10 turned into Monday Morning Termination. Alpha Wrestling was done. And I’m not going to say Akgrath deserves the credit for what happened; to this day I’m really not sure who or what was responsible, but at least in the abstract, Akgrath and the others who wanted AWE destroyed could say they had the final victory.”
Pause for effect.
“It is a shame Alpha Wrestling ended. As a place to work it wasn’t perfect; the, uh, management structure was a bit, um, chaotic; but the locker room was filled with top notch talent who were given the freedom to be themselves, which made it an interesting experience to be part of. I hope all of my former co-workers can find places to perform that are just as accommodating as AWE was; which brings me to myself, my future plans, and Union Battleground’s part in them.”
Tornado leans back on the bench slightly. He lifts a leg and rests its shin across the other’s knee.
“I joined Union Battleground to represent my old company, but the company no longer exists. That does not mean, however, I’m going to give up on it. I will still do my best to honor Alpha Wrestling, because of what they stood for, and because they gave me my first real chance in this sport. When I’m fighting under the UB banner, I will continue to ‘rep where I have stepped’.”
The broad grin is back as he previews his next match at the Battleground.
“This Wednesday I get to wrestle in front of what to me counts as a hometown crowd, as Union Battleground comes to New Orleans. I’m from Metairie, which is not far from there. It will be the first time my family and friends will get to see me compete on such a large stage. Before that, it was high school gyms and bingo halls. And just like the scale of the venue is more impressive so is the level of talent. At Lights Out #8 I’ll be facing the man who takes pride in breaking faces, World Wrestling Headquarters’ Damon Xalvador.”
Another scene shift as we watch footage from Lights Out 5, where the rough and tumble Scotsman destroys former Union Battleground talent Chloe Dupont with a vicuous curb stomp followed by German Suplex that leaves her body limp and seemingly lifeless. Tornado looks grave when the shot again returns to him.
It’s going to be a tough match. Damon and I are about even when it comes to size and power, but he has the edge in experience. Also, he is a proven winner; currently holding the Hellsfire Extreme Championship as part of WWH’s Hellsgate brand. Xalvador has shown he is a ruthless fighter who delights in dishing out pain, and, honestly, that’s not my style. I’m just as happy winning with a roll up as I am knocking an opponent unconscious. However, his methods may be better suited to Union Battleground than mine. UB’s owner Axel Graves has made it clear to all of his employees he is more concerned with giving the fans matches with definite winners and losers than following the rules of combat to the letter. And that’s fine: I will learn to adapt to the circumstances; but for this fight I can’t argue the point Damon’s hardcore background gives him an advantage. “
Another pause as the young wrestler adjusts his right elbow pad.
“What do I have going for me at Lights Out #8 besides the home cooking? Well, my match will be just three days removed from WWH’s Wrestlemania IX, where Damon Xalvador has to defend his Extreme Championship in something called a Barbwire Spiderweb Scaffold Match. For me, who’s never even swung a steel chair in anger, stipulations like those sound absolutely brutal, like career enders. For Damon to even show up at Lights Out #8 he will earn my respect. But there’s no denying the torture he will put himself through fighting for his title improve my chances against him. It’s ugly, and unfair, but this sport often is.”
The Fuindamental Elemental uncrosses his legs and stands. The camera rises with him, as well as pulling back to show more of the gym’s locker room. Hanging from an open locker door is a red and black tee shirt.
“I know I can’t assume anything here in Union Battleground. Even if Damon isn’t at full strength it will be tough taking him down. But I don’t plan to lose against him. For my friends, for my family-“
Reaching behind him, TD grabs the shirt and unfurls it to show it bears the Alpha Wrestling Empire logo.
“- for the fed I still represent, I will beat Damon Xalvador at Lights Out #8.”