Post by Kyle Travis on Oct 13, 2011 21:34:17 GMT -5
::ACW Revolution has come out on DVD. A Walmart in Atlanta is having an autograph session within the store to celebrate the release of the DVD. There is a crowd at the Walmart, waiting for several wrestlers to arrive.::
::It is to that one Walmart where Kyle Travis, the man who captured the ACW World Heavyweight Championship at Revolution, is heading. “The Canadian Legend” is in the back of an SUV with a black leather interior. He is dressed in a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. On the shirt is an image of Travis, standing at left side profile. The Travis on the shirt is wearing his wrestling gear, a chest plate, bracers and greaves. In his left hand is a broad sword and in his right is a shield. A purple cape is draped over his shoulders and he is wearing a crowd. Behind the image are the words “The Once and Future King” in bold golden letters::
::Travis is looking out the window as the SUV drives down the highway.::
“Allow me to explain to you how the world works Duke Dice.”
::He turns his head forward and lifts his arm above his head. He holds his hand parallel to his head.::
“At the top of the pile, you have your main event stars. These are the people who get to be world champion. They are the people who bring in the biggest crowds, get the endorsements and move the most merchandise. These are the people that the company revolves around. They get the exposure, the perks, and the glory.”
::Travis lowers his hand to his eyes.::
“Next you have the mid-card level wrestlers. This is the stock that breeds the main event crowd. These people hold titles, but rarely ever reach world title level. At this level, you can get a third or second tier title. The occasionally form successful tag teams. These people can draw crowds, and sell merchandise. Not at a main event level, but still enough. You can get a pretty good house show crowd on these guys alone, as long as you throw in a title match.”
::Again, he lowers his head. This time, it is mid chest.::
“After that mid-card level, you have the curtain jerker. These people are not going to be champions. This class of wrestler may get a title shot here and there, and in a miracle, might even win one on a fluke, but it will be a short reign. Usually it is that third tier title. The only time they get a second tier or world shot is when the champion needs an easy victory. Occasionally, one or two from this stock may form a pretty good tag team or even a great one. There is even a chance that people at this level may get enough of a following to garner a t-shirt being made for them.”
“You have that rare group from the curtain jerkers that reach mid-card level and then flounder back to curtain jerker. However, in that rare moment, they attract a following which gets them at least one t-shirt or they can get a little more exposure.”
“Now main event wrestlers often bounce to mid-card level, and mid-carders can flounder to the curtain jerker level, but there is that one class that will never amount to anything. Every now and then, a wrestler falls down to this level. Yet there are those who start at this level and never break free of it.”
::Leaning down in his seat, Travis lowers his hand as far down as he can, which is just about mid-calf.::
“Once you hit that point, you get to the absolutely, pathetic, worthless nobodies. These are wastes of space wrestlers who no one cares about. They have no ability to move merchandise or draw a crowd. In all honesty, they may not even get a reaction. It is from here that most of the dead weight is cut when a company starts releasing people. They exist simply to elevate better talent with a simple win in an exhibition. They are nothing and will never be anything.”
::Travis sits back up.::
“Do you want to try and guess where in the hierarchy you fall Duke?”
“I mean it really shouldn’t be that hard for you to figure out. I mean, it’s pretty obvious where you fall on the food chain here in the ACW.”
::He raises an eyebrow.::
“No? Can’t figure it out? It really shouldn’t be that hard Duke. All you have to do is think of everything you have done since joining the ACW and that should help you figure out your place in the peeking order, as they call it.”
“Still can’t figure it out? Well allow me to tell you then Duke.”
“You Duke, are part of that bottom rung of the ladder.”
::Travis points at the camera.::
“You are a no body Duke. No one watching Shockwave says, “oh I hope Duke Dice is wrestling tonight”. You walk out to the ring and the crowd is silent Duke. They neither love you nor do they hate you. To them, you are just a giant blah. You are a waste of space and you always will be.”
“Duke, you will never be a champion. You will never get a t-shirt. You are not going to sell out an arena. The only reason you even main evented one Shockwave was simply because the ACW didn’t have anyone else to qualify for the Tournament of Eight. No one actually thought you would win.”
“As long as we’re being honest, I don’t think anyone believe you can win this match either. I have to ask, have you even won a match since you got here? I am asking because I do not know and I care even less. You are not even a flash in the pan. You are just dead weight and that is so very sad.”
::Slowly, Travis takes his left hand and slides his thumb and fingers down his chin. As his hand lowers from the chin, he flexes and wiggles the fingers. He sounds a little upset.::
“Frankly, Duke, the fact that I have to wrestle you at Shockwave is insulting.”
“You are neither worth the time nor the effort I am going to put into beating you. And make no mistake about it, Duke; I am going to beat you. Do you really think the outcome of this match can be any different than me getting the win? No. It won’t be.”
“Duke, this would be like a gnat trying to take down a lion. It’s like an ant trying to beat a dragon. The odds are so astronomically against you that even David himself would tell you to give up. This will not be a David beating Goliath story. No, it will be Goliath crushing David under his boot.”
“Look what you are up against Duke. I mean really take a good look at it.”
::With both hands, Travis gestures to himself::
“I am a former world champion. I am the second man in ACW history to achieve the Grand Slam and the fifth to win the Triple Crown. In the span of my first month here, I accomplished more than you have since you joined the company. Duke, the majority of the time I have been in the ACW, I have spent as a champion. I am a damn legend here in the ACW. They call me “the Canadian Legend” and “the Once and Future King” because I am one of the best in the world and because sooner or later, I always get a championship around my waist. I sell out arenas and I move merchandise.”
“Yes, people pay to see me wrestle because they are hoping I will lose. I walk into just about every arena the ACW goes to knowing full well that I will be booed right out of the building. They paid good money simply to hate me.”
“But you know what the really great irony is? As much as they hate me, they will still buy the crap with my name on it. It is amazing. I made a few thousand dollars last month in royalties because people in the crowd bought one of my shirts or my hat or an action figure of me. I made more money in t-shirts alone last month than you have since you joined ACW Duke.”
:: Travis gestures to the t-shirt just to point out the fact that he has t-shirts.::
“As for you Duke, the majority of your time here has been spent on your back, being pinned or losing in some other way. In the brief span you have been here, you’ve accomplished nothing. You have proven to be exactly what I called you, nothing.”
“However, the fans will cheer you this week Duke. Oh yes, chances are that the crowd in Atlanta will cheer you. Do you know why that is?”
“It has nothing to the crowd suddenly liking you. It has nothing to do with them thinking that it is your time. It actually has nothing to do with you Duke. See, they will cheer you because they simply hate me, and thus, will cheer for whoever I get into the ring regardless of how huge a loser that guy is. But no matter how loud they cheer, no matter how much they hate me, it will not change the results.”
::Travis smiles his cruel, sadistic smile. His eyes gleam with that predatory glare.::
“You are going to lose this match Duke Dice. Nothing can change that. Nothing you do will prevent it. You simply are not good enough to beat me. You never have been and you never will be.
“The only thing you can do is at least try to put up something of a fight before I finish you. Who knows? I might actually break a sweat before beating you. I doubt it though. No Duke, you will go to the ring, lose and honestly, beating you will do nothing for me. I mean sure it is a win, but I fail to see how beating someone so pathetic as you gets me closer to the ACW World Heavyweight Championship.”
“At Shockwave in Atlanta, you are about to step into the biggest match of your life. This, Duke Dice, is the closest that you will ever get to being in the ring with a guy who has been world champion. I am hoping that you will make it worth my time Duke, but I doubt it. I’m sure you’ve heard this a lot, but you are not in my league.”
::From inside the SUV, it is clear that the vehicle has stopped. Travis unbuckles the seatbelt and opens the door. He glances at the camera as he exits the vehicle.::
“You never will be.”
::On the back of Travis’s shirt is written in bold, gold letters “Optimus Maximus”. In Latin, this means “The best and the greatest”. The scene fades out.::
::It is to that one Walmart where Kyle Travis, the man who captured the ACW World Heavyweight Championship at Revolution, is heading. “The Canadian Legend” is in the back of an SUV with a black leather interior. He is dressed in a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. On the shirt is an image of Travis, standing at left side profile. The Travis on the shirt is wearing his wrestling gear, a chest plate, bracers and greaves. In his left hand is a broad sword and in his right is a shield. A purple cape is draped over his shoulders and he is wearing a crowd. Behind the image are the words “The Once and Future King” in bold golden letters::
::Travis is looking out the window as the SUV drives down the highway.::
“Allow me to explain to you how the world works Duke Dice.”
::He turns his head forward and lifts his arm above his head. He holds his hand parallel to his head.::
“At the top of the pile, you have your main event stars. These are the people who get to be world champion. They are the people who bring in the biggest crowds, get the endorsements and move the most merchandise. These are the people that the company revolves around. They get the exposure, the perks, and the glory.”
::Travis lowers his hand to his eyes.::
“Next you have the mid-card level wrestlers. This is the stock that breeds the main event crowd. These people hold titles, but rarely ever reach world title level. At this level, you can get a third or second tier title. The occasionally form successful tag teams. These people can draw crowds, and sell merchandise. Not at a main event level, but still enough. You can get a pretty good house show crowd on these guys alone, as long as you throw in a title match.”
::Again, he lowers his head. This time, it is mid chest.::
“After that mid-card level, you have the curtain jerker. These people are not going to be champions. This class of wrestler may get a title shot here and there, and in a miracle, might even win one on a fluke, but it will be a short reign. Usually it is that third tier title. The only time they get a second tier or world shot is when the champion needs an easy victory. Occasionally, one or two from this stock may form a pretty good tag team or even a great one. There is even a chance that people at this level may get enough of a following to garner a t-shirt being made for them.”
“You have that rare group from the curtain jerkers that reach mid-card level and then flounder back to curtain jerker. However, in that rare moment, they attract a following which gets them at least one t-shirt or they can get a little more exposure.”
“Now main event wrestlers often bounce to mid-card level, and mid-carders can flounder to the curtain jerker level, but there is that one class that will never amount to anything. Every now and then, a wrestler falls down to this level. Yet there are those who start at this level and never break free of it.”
::Leaning down in his seat, Travis lowers his hand as far down as he can, which is just about mid-calf.::
“Once you hit that point, you get to the absolutely, pathetic, worthless nobodies. These are wastes of space wrestlers who no one cares about. They have no ability to move merchandise or draw a crowd. In all honesty, they may not even get a reaction. It is from here that most of the dead weight is cut when a company starts releasing people. They exist simply to elevate better talent with a simple win in an exhibition. They are nothing and will never be anything.”
::Travis sits back up.::
“Do you want to try and guess where in the hierarchy you fall Duke?”
“I mean it really shouldn’t be that hard for you to figure out. I mean, it’s pretty obvious where you fall on the food chain here in the ACW.”
::He raises an eyebrow.::
“No? Can’t figure it out? It really shouldn’t be that hard Duke. All you have to do is think of everything you have done since joining the ACW and that should help you figure out your place in the peeking order, as they call it.”
“Still can’t figure it out? Well allow me to tell you then Duke.”
“You Duke, are part of that bottom rung of the ladder.”
::Travis points at the camera.::
“You are a no body Duke. No one watching Shockwave says, “oh I hope Duke Dice is wrestling tonight”. You walk out to the ring and the crowd is silent Duke. They neither love you nor do they hate you. To them, you are just a giant blah. You are a waste of space and you always will be.”
“Duke, you will never be a champion. You will never get a t-shirt. You are not going to sell out an arena. The only reason you even main evented one Shockwave was simply because the ACW didn’t have anyone else to qualify for the Tournament of Eight. No one actually thought you would win.”
“As long as we’re being honest, I don’t think anyone believe you can win this match either. I have to ask, have you even won a match since you got here? I am asking because I do not know and I care even less. You are not even a flash in the pan. You are just dead weight and that is so very sad.”
::Slowly, Travis takes his left hand and slides his thumb and fingers down his chin. As his hand lowers from the chin, he flexes and wiggles the fingers. He sounds a little upset.::
“Frankly, Duke, the fact that I have to wrestle you at Shockwave is insulting.”
“You are neither worth the time nor the effort I am going to put into beating you. And make no mistake about it, Duke; I am going to beat you. Do you really think the outcome of this match can be any different than me getting the win? No. It won’t be.”
“Duke, this would be like a gnat trying to take down a lion. It’s like an ant trying to beat a dragon. The odds are so astronomically against you that even David himself would tell you to give up. This will not be a David beating Goliath story. No, it will be Goliath crushing David under his boot.”
“Look what you are up against Duke. I mean really take a good look at it.”
::With both hands, Travis gestures to himself::
“I am a former world champion. I am the second man in ACW history to achieve the Grand Slam and the fifth to win the Triple Crown. In the span of my first month here, I accomplished more than you have since you joined the company. Duke, the majority of the time I have been in the ACW, I have spent as a champion. I am a damn legend here in the ACW. They call me “the Canadian Legend” and “the Once and Future King” because I am one of the best in the world and because sooner or later, I always get a championship around my waist. I sell out arenas and I move merchandise.”
“Yes, people pay to see me wrestle because they are hoping I will lose. I walk into just about every arena the ACW goes to knowing full well that I will be booed right out of the building. They paid good money simply to hate me.”
“But you know what the really great irony is? As much as they hate me, they will still buy the crap with my name on it. It is amazing. I made a few thousand dollars last month in royalties because people in the crowd bought one of my shirts or my hat or an action figure of me. I made more money in t-shirts alone last month than you have since you joined ACW Duke.”
:: Travis gestures to the t-shirt just to point out the fact that he has t-shirts.::
“As for you Duke, the majority of your time here has been spent on your back, being pinned or losing in some other way. In the brief span you have been here, you’ve accomplished nothing. You have proven to be exactly what I called you, nothing.”
“However, the fans will cheer you this week Duke. Oh yes, chances are that the crowd in Atlanta will cheer you. Do you know why that is?”
“It has nothing to the crowd suddenly liking you. It has nothing to do with them thinking that it is your time. It actually has nothing to do with you Duke. See, they will cheer you because they simply hate me, and thus, will cheer for whoever I get into the ring regardless of how huge a loser that guy is. But no matter how loud they cheer, no matter how much they hate me, it will not change the results.”
::Travis smiles his cruel, sadistic smile. His eyes gleam with that predatory glare.::
“You are going to lose this match Duke Dice. Nothing can change that. Nothing you do will prevent it. You simply are not good enough to beat me. You never have been and you never will be.
“The only thing you can do is at least try to put up something of a fight before I finish you. Who knows? I might actually break a sweat before beating you. I doubt it though. No Duke, you will go to the ring, lose and honestly, beating you will do nothing for me. I mean sure it is a win, but I fail to see how beating someone so pathetic as you gets me closer to the ACW World Heavyweight Championship.”
“At Shockwave in Atlanta, you are about to step into the biggest match of your life. This, Duke Dice, is the closest that you will ever get to being in the ring with a guy who has been world champion. I am hoping that you will make it worth my time Duke, but I doubt it. I’m sure you’ve heard this a lot, but you are not in my league.”
::From inside the SUV, it is clear that the vehicle has stopped. Travis unbuckles the seatbelt and opens the door. He glances at the camera as he exits the vehicle.::
“You never will be.”
::On the back of Travis’s shirt is written in bold, gold letters “Optimus Maximus”. In Latin, this means “The best and the greatest”. The scene fades out.::
