Post by Aaron Kostan on Jun 26, 2020 19:07:51 GMT -8
PRESENT DAY
The scene opens up in a room silent save the birds singing somewhere on the other side of an unseen window. Floorboards creak softly under heavy footsteps before the bearded wonder known as “Mr. IPW” sits down in the wooden chair in center frame.
“Sometimes I miss simpler times. No, not just back when we could get together in groups and we didn’t have to wear masks...I mean way back. I mean way back when I first started wrestling and everyone underestimated me because they didn’t really know who I was.”
“Back then I felt like the only obligation I had was to get that pay check at the end of the match...”
“And I know, I know...I’ve had moments where I have lamented over my growing responsibility, perceived or real, to preserve the integrity of a sport that often has little to speak of. This, however, is not one of those moments. Let me explain.”
“See, I’ll admit that I am going for the low hanging fruit here, but as soon as I heard who my opponent was for this upcoming Chaos, Fort Knox crossed my mind.”
“You know Fort Knox, I’m sure. It’s the place where they keep the gold. Technically that’s not completely true, but we’re just going to let that slide for a bit.”
“The truth is, I am feeling a bit like Fort Knox at this point...the keeper of the gold.”
He looks down at his empty hands outstretched before him, palms towards the camera as if he just performed a magic trick and is showing the audience the incredible result.
“Well...not that I have any gold. No, that belongs to Brianna Rissi and Krahe, and I am fine with that for now. I suppose I am more of a gate keeper, though very different from the last man who called himself the gate keeper in IPW mind you.”
“But in my time here in IPW I have sent quite a few people packing. Just this year, Cross Recoba managed to pull out a victory over me at Civil War with a little bending of the rules, and a little resilience. Truth be told, after kicking out of the Finale he even tricked me into thinking that I was wrong about him and that he had the skill and persistence he needed to be an IPW Champion someday soon. Now he’s out the door. Part of me thinks that bringing him so close to the end of his undefeated streak made him throw that tantrum I had more correctly predicted before our match.”
“Most recently, Jason Dave decided to take some time off after I crushed him on Chaos. For what it’s worth, I wish the best for him. I hope he takes this time off to rethink his betrayal of Scott Wilson and his moral standing. Time off, time alone can be beneficial that way..”
“That brings me back to Fort Knox, the keeper of the gold. Knox, you need to know that your second match in IPW isn’t against some pushover like Captain All-Star who, while I respect his longevity and dedication to the sport, may be a bit past his prime. I will counter you. I will outmaneuver you. I will outwrestle you. I will push you to the limit, just as I did Cross Recoba and Jason Dave.”
“That’s what makes me the keeper of the gold here. That’s what makes me the the gatekeeper here. Not on purpose, but by circumstance I have found myself in this position. I trained to be a wrestler, plain and simple. People who are here for the wrong reasons - fame, money, titles, that addictive feeling of being better than others - they typically come up short against people who are here to wrestle, and they don’t take it well. Will you?”
“Of course, I hope you can wrestle, and I hope that when I beat you you take it well, just like I wished Cross or Jason could. I hope you are here for the right reasons. But if you aren’t cut out to be Iconic, if you aren’t cut out to be a champion one day, you may as well learn now, and you may as well learn from me just like scores of men and women who have come before you.”
Kostan shrugs matter-of-factly the reaches for the camera. A second later, the scene cuts to black.
