Post by James Stall on Mar 17, 2011 6:42:49 GMT
Tag… Team… Champions. And it’s still not enough… not nearly enough. Let me tell you something about Jealousy. I was so close to having it all. I would have beaten Ross Walker if it hadn’t been for the injuries I suffered in the gauntlet match. And I don’t think I need to remind you that I ran that gauntlet match wire to wire with my partner Marcus Thomas Brody to win the FWF United Tag Team Championships. In that match I pinned the other Jealousy finalist Camisado. He beat Prozac to advance to the finals, and I made Prozac tap out to the Captain Clutch at the Live-Wire before Jealousy. Again, I almost had it all. My rise was almost meteoric.
Now let me tell you about what happened after Jealousy. I had such a severe concussion by the end of the night I don’t remember anything that happened after my match with Ross or the day after. It was a month before I could really celebrate, and I did once I was able to drink alcohol again. But by then I had already gotten the notice that we were on hiatus again. Career-wise this might have been a good thing. Continuing to wrestle without giving my concussion time to heal would have been seriously dangerous. But now it’s been too long. I’ve long healed all my injuries, and I’ve been itching to get back into the ring for months. I’ve risked losing the momentum that I gained going into Jealousy.
But now I’m ready for action. While others may have slacked off I’ve been training at both the FWF and UCW Academys. I’ve gotten diverse training from some of the best in this business, including my Grandpa “Captain” Joe Stall. I still can’t believe he’s planning on actually coming out of retirement. It’ll be really sad when I have to be the one to toss him over the top rope in the Blizzard match. But as great as the old man is, my time is here.
That’s why I’m at the FWF arena where this special edition of Live-Wire is being held. I’ve done some last minute workouts at the gym. Now I’m going to do my traditional walk in the ring before relaxing and waiting for my match against the World Champion, Christian Lee. It’s non-title of course, but it’s still a major match for me. It’s exceptionally important because I’m going to be facing him at Genesis for that World Title after I win the Blizzard match later tonight.
There are still a few hours till show and the place is buzzing with activities. Roadies are lugging in heavy equipment. Techies are double and triple checking lights, sounds, and pyros. Everything has to be perfect for FWF’s Re-re-re-re-re-opening. I bump into a frazzled roadie and tell him to get me a mocha-latte with extra milk and no sugar. When he looks at me with a frozen expression I give him a head fake and he runs off in the other direction. I know I’m not getting that latte. He’s got way too many other things on his plate, but giving him just one more thing on his mind will torture him even more.
I pick up a muffin from the craft services table take a bite and chuck the rest into the garbage as I pass by more roadies and technicians. I bump passed a few more people and then slip passed the curtain and into the arena. As I walk down the ramp to the ring I take stock of how empty the place is. Every time I do this that always strikes me. In a few hours this place will be packed, but right now there’s no one here but me.
I climb into the ring and start with a slow pace around. Then I bounce of the ropes and run to the other side of the ring. I bounce off of those ropes and run across the ring again. I bounce around the ring a few times before stopping at the center and turning around three hundred and sixty degrees. I let my eyes really take in the size and emptiness of the arena. I learned this little exercise from my Uncle and Grandfather. They both do it before every show they’re involved in. It has something to with walking through your match and surrounding mentally. I just like to come out here and soak it all in. I like to remind myself that I’m living a dream that’s just getting better.
”Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome to the ring your FWF World and FWF United Tag Team Champion, he truly is one of the great ones, James Stall.”
I bounce off the ropes again and smile as I raise my arms in the air.
”Thank you. Thank you. It’s a real honor to address you here tonight as your World Champion. Christian Lee you put up a real hard fight at Genesis, but I knew once I beat you one on one at Live-Wire that I had your number. You’re just going to have to face it. I’m pretty damn incredible. And your time just came and went quicker than you imagined it. I think that’s an important life lesson for us all really. Live every second like it is our last. I’m just sorry your career had to end so early.”
If there was a crowd here they would be eating this up.
”But really I need to thank the people I beat in the Blizzard match. Without them I wouldn’t even have gotten a title shot this early. I’d like to take the time to address a few of them personally. MTB, you’ve been an excellent tag team and training partner. And I’m so glad you were finally able to admit that out of the two of us I’m far better than you. Marcus Senior, thank you for spawning Marcus Jr. And thank you for being an old fool who was easy to eliminate. Grandpa Joe, thank you for teaching me so much and taking me to the level that I needed to beat you in the ring.
But really there are just too many people I need to thank. Camisado, James Bohne, Prozac, you were all such wonderful stepping stones. And Ross Walker how could I forget how great it was to finally beat you. I’m sorry if I made you cry, but really I’m so good. How could I not have earned that title shot? It’s not my fault that I’m so much better than you. Thank you. Thank you.”
I turn around in time to see the roadies from earlier standing there.
”What are you doing here?”
I… I got you your latte.
Well that was wonderfully unexpected.
”Thank you.”
I roll out of the ring and grab the latte from the roadies before patting him on the shoulder.
”Thank you. Now get back to work, and be sure to watch the show tonight. Because I’m going straight to the top.”
Yes sir.
“Sir.” I like the sound of that.
”And don’t blink or you might miss my match with Christian Lee. That’s how fast I’m going to beat his sorry ass.”
Right sir.
There he goes again. I’m really starting to like this guy. I laugh and walk down the entrance ramp. I take a sip of my latte. There’s sugar in it. I chuck onto the floor. He’ll clean it up. I think I’m going to take a nap.
Now let me tell you about what happened after Jealousy. I had such a severe concussion by the end of the night I don’t remember anything that happened after my match with Ross or the day after. It was a month before I could really celebrate, and I did once I was able to drink alcohol again. But by then I had already gotten the notice that we were on hiatus again. Career-wise this might have been a good thing. Continuing to wrestle without giving my concussion time to heal would have been seriously dangerous. But now it’s been too long. I’ve long healed all my injuries, and I’ve been itching to get back into the ring for months. I’ve risked losing the momentum that I gained going into Jealousy.
But now I’m ready for action. While others may have slacked off I’ve been training at both the FWF and UCW Academys. I’ve gotten diverse training from some of the best in this business, including my Grandpa “Captain” Joe Stall. I still can’t believe he’s planning on actually coming out of retirement. It’ll be really sad when I have to be the one to toss him over the top rope in the Blizzard match. But as great as the old man is, my time is here.
That’s why I’m at the FWF arena where this special edition of Live-Wire is being held. I’ve done some last minute workouts at the gym. Now I’m going to do my traditional walk in the ring before relaxing and waiting for my match against the World Champion, Christian Lee. It’s non-title of course, but it’s still a major match for me. It’s exceptionally important because I’m going to be facing him at Genesis for that World Title after I win the Blizzard match later tonight.
There are still a few hours till show and the place is buzzing with activities. Roadies are lugging in heavy equipment. Techies are double and triple checking lights, sounds, and pyros. Everything has to be perfect for FWF’s Re-re-re-re-re-opening. I bump into a frazzled roadie and tell him to get me a mocha-latte with extra milk and no sugar. When he looks at me with a frozen expression I give him a head fake and he runs off in the other direction. I know I’m not getting that latte. He’s got way too many other things on his plate, but giving him just one more thing on his mind will torture him even more.
I pick up a muffin from the craft services table take a bite and chuck the rest into the garbage as I pass by more roadies and technicians. I bump passed a few more people and then slip passed the curtain and into the arena. As I walk down the ramp to the ring I take stock of how empty the place is. Every time I do this that always strikes me. In a few hours this place will be packed, but right now there’s no one here but me.
I climb into the ring and start with a slow pace around. Then I bounce of the ropes and run to the other side of the ring. I bounce off of those ropes and run across the ring again. I bounce around the ring a few times before stopping at the center and turning around three hundred and sixty degrees. I let my eyes really take in the size and emptiness of the arena. I learned this little exercise from my Uncle and Grandfather. They both do it before every show they’re involved in. It has something to with walking through your match and surrounding mentally. I just like to come out here and soak it all in. I like to remind myself that I’m living a dream that’s just getting better.
”Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome to the ring your FWF World and FWF United Tag Team Champion, he truly is one of the great ones, James Stall.”
I bounce off the ropes again and smile as I raise my arms in the air.
”Thank you. Thank you. It’s a real honor to address you here tonight as your World Champion. Christian Lee you put up a real hard fight at Genesis, but I knew once I beat you one on one at Live-Wire that I had your number. You’re just going to have to face it. I’m pretty damn incredible. And your time just came and went quicker than you imagined it. I think that’s an important life lesson for us all really. Live every second like it is our last. I’m just sorry your career had to end so early.”
If there was a crowd here they would be eating this up.
”But really I need to thank the people I beat in the Blizzard match. Without them I wouldn’t even have gotten a title shot this early. I’d like to take the time to address a few of them personally. MTB, you’ve been an excellent tag team and training partner. And I’m so glad you were finally able to admit that out of the two of us I’m far better than you. Marcus Senior, thank you for spawning Marcus Jr. And thank you for being an old fool who was easy to eliminate. Grandpa Joe, thank you for teaching me so much and taking me to the level that I needed to beat you in the ring.
But really there are just too many people I need to thank. Camisado, James Bohne, Prozac, you were all such wonderful stepping stones. And Ross Walker how could I forget how great it was to finally beat you. I’m sorry if I made you cry, but really I’m so good. How could I not have earned that title shot? It’s not my fault that I’m so much better than you. Thank you. Thank you.”
I turn around in time to see the roadies from earlier standing there.
”What are you doing here?”
I… I got you your latte.
Well that was wonderfully unexpected.
”Thank you.”
I roll out of the ring and grab the latte from the roadies before patting him on the shoulder.
”Thank you. Now get back to work, and be sure to watch the show tonight. Because I’m going straight to the top.”
Yes sir.
“Sir.” I like the sound of that.
”And don’t blink or you might miss my match with Christian Lee. That’s how fast I’m going to beat his sorry ass.”
Right sir.
There he goes again. I’m really starting to like this guy. I laugh and walk down the entrance ramp. I take a sip of my latte. There’s sugar in it. I chuck onto the floor. He’ll clean it up. I think I’m going to take a nap.
