Forgettable Champions (Storm RP #11/Rumble)
Apr 15, 2020 17:44:13 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer and Kira Izumi like this
Post by ForeverKuroi on Apr 15, 2020 17:44:13 GMT -5
As the screen is black, text grows brighter, discerning itself from the black. It goes brighter and brighter until it turns to the white text that takes over the screen. It says...
Michael Storm walks into this empty building. It looks a lot like the old VFW. For those that don't know, in late 2017, Terry Bradshaw crashed a helicopter into the VFW in trying to make a grand entrance for a 'Battle of the Billionaires' match against XHF Network Owner Mongo The Destroyer that didn't actually exist because Mongo had no intention of wrestling and was just trying to have his cat. The overall scheme of the building was the same. Small. Country based. A lot of wood flooring. It had the same err, but obviously with the new age of the building, things were updated. The wood doesn't seem to be as weathered. The paint seems fresher and less faded. Michael Storm is in the building, in the large open area.
When the AWF called this place home, there would be a wrestling ring smack dab in the center. Around on three sides, there would be lines of chairs. On the fourth side would be a curtain, where the wrestlers would come in through the slits. But obviously, the AWF no longer visits here for their matches as they've gone national. Instead Storm stands here. It's completely empty.
Storm: It's important to know where you came from. A lot of people don't know where they came from and that's a big mistake because they could easily go back. After all, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I grew up poor. I've lived poor. Now I've hit the jackpot more or less and I became a multi millionaire. Now because of identity theft, I'm poor again. Fuck you by the way, Duncan. Sure, because of the AWF, I'm able to survive. But I'm nowhere where I used to be - which I just want to say, going from dead to living again is a bitch to explain to banks and the Department of Social Security. It's making this whole prospect of trying to get my money back so much more of a pain in the ass.
Michael Storm groans at the bureaucratic prospect he has undergone.
Storm: I've been prepared for this. When I had more money than God, I've counted every one of my blessings. Jack Diamond? He's lost his Diamond lounge. His buddy, Bobby, has gone broke. Chris Card? He's learning money can't keep him from having to heal from a cast. But people who forget their past are changed. Even the AWF, who has gone national and pride themselves on being a small time wrestling promotion which has been able to grow, I don't even think they come back to their old stomping ground, the VFW. But hey, why would they care? This is just where they came from after all.
Michael Storm looks around, taking in the sights. Standing at the doors which connect to the front foyer area.
Storm: I remember my first match with the AWF just short of three years ago. It was the very first Prestige. I was in a tournament to decide who the first AWF Champion would be. This would, of course, be won by our very own commissioner, Jackson Steele. I got shafted by an attack from my old mentor, M.G.K. But enough of that. That's not relevant here. My point is, we had a capacity of seventy-five people. Only seventy-five. Imagine that. Seventy-five people all crammed into this room and starting from that evening where we could fit all those people into one tiny room on the beginning night of our new company, we know right then that we had something special. Now it's a national companies with tens of thousands of people coming to our matches throughout the country in order to watch us wrestle.
Michael Storm cocks his head at what he just said.
Storm: I mean... Obviously not now. You know what I mean. Before this whole Corona Virus bullshit, we were able to accommodate all of them. My point is, the AWF is only getting bigger and when I win the X*Crown Championship, I will bring those twenty one belts back home. We will get better and then there's me on top of the XHF Network. And when I'm back on top, I'll look back on me now. At the bottom. This is a kind of humility so many of you don't understand and this kind of chauvinistic sense of grandiose superiority is what will keep so many of you behind. Now-
Michael Storm gets interrupted as the door opens. Two elderly gentlemen dressed in winter jackets and hats, all designating themselves as veterans from the United States Vietnam War. They approach Storm.
Vet #1: Excuse me, but we have an event being set up soon.
Storm: That's fine. I'll be out of your way.
Vet #1: Thank y-
Vet #2: Hold on a minute there!
Storm: ...What?
Vet #2: You're that Matthew Strom fella!
Storm: Michael Storm. Yeah.
Vet #1: Harold, you know him?
Harold: Of course I know him! My grandson, Jay, was watching the XHF Network channel and-
Vet #1: Shay? That's a girl's name!
Harold: No, Phil! I said JAY! Why would I name my grandson Shay!?
Phil: You didn't name your grandson Jay! Your son did! But your son is an idiot! Of course he would name his son a girl's name!
Harold: You shut your mouth, Phil! My son, Al, is a good man! He's a businessman, you know! He owns his own company in South Kor-
Storm: Look. I don't want to get in the middle of... Whatever the hell this is, but can I get away from you two now?
Phil: Yeah. Why were you so angry anyway?
Harold: I don't rememb- Oh yes! That's right! My grandson was watching the XHF Network and Matthew here-
Storm: Michael.
Harold: Matthew was disrespecting Johnny Sniper!
Phil: Johnny Sniper!? He's a military man! He died for this country!
Storm: Johnny Sniper is still alive.
Harold: You shut your mouth! Johnny Sniper is an American hero and you treat him with some respect!
Storm: Look, I never said that he wasn't a hero. I'm sure he did a great job serving our country, but that doesn't mean he's going to win the XHF Rumble and be X*Crown Champion.
Phil: What!? Of course Johnny Sniper is going to win the XHF Rumble! He died fighting for this country, ya know!
Storm: Dude, what the fuck did I just say? And look at Sniper. He's not dead. He's injured. Or at least was. But even before he was injured, he wasn't going to win before. He can't win matches. Nothing in his past suggests he's going to win. You just want him to win because he satisfies that American enigma you're obsessing over.
Harold: You don't love America? THEN MOVE TO CHINA IF YOU LOVE KIRA ITSUKI SO MUCH!
Storm: It's Kira Izum- Kira is Japan- Wait, I never said I love Kira. And I never said I don't love Amer- Actually, fuck it. I don't think you're understanding what I'm trying to say so I'm going to let you be.
Michael Storm walks past the rambunctious veterans. The two give him death glares as he walks past. The two begin muttering among themselves when they think that Storm can't hear him. Phil can even be heard saying something.
Phil: I gotta be there when you tell Shay that you met Matthew Strom! She's going to love it!
Michael Storm makes his way outside, where he takes in the environment. The parking lot where all the cars crammed in every Prestige. Storm smells the pies being cooked at the local pizza restaurant down the street. He even sees a couple of children dressed up in jerseys, one of them carrying a baseball bat. Of course, they were heading over to the local baseball field, where the AWF hosted Prestige after the original VFW was taken down.
Storm: A lot of history in this little town. It seems like most of the history can be found in this building. Not the building, of course. It's only a year or two old. I mean the two geezers causing a fuss before they need to get changed. They think Johnny Sniper is going to win. Now I'm not going to trash talk him like I have many others. I don't even really have beef with the guy. He seems nice enough. His problem is a lot like the problems so many others have. He's an idealist. Sniper dreams and hopes and eventually believes that through his convictions that he can win.
Michael Storm shrugs his shoulders.
Storm: I get it. I am as human as the rest of you, if you want to call it that. I know. You probably think I'm a monster, which I am, but that I'd go after those two old men for their incompetencies. I could, but I wouldn't. If I was going to attack anyone for being annoying, Copycat would be dead by now. There's a time and a place for everything. But that's something Sniper needs to work on. I know about context. I wouldn't dare start making fun of a dead celebrity before their body even got warm. The man left behind a legacy, but like we all do. In that way, we are both in the same boat.
Michael Storm pauses before he elaborates.
Storm: We get this kind of bullshit a lot. You were asking if you were a good AWF United States Champion. It's a lot like if I would ask if I was a good XHF X*Crown Champion. If we asked both of these questions to people, they'd say the same thing. "You were champion?" You couldn't get through the first defense. I couldn't get through the first week. Sorry, bud. But we were the forgettable champions. Sorry, but that's the nature of things. Just last promo, I forgot Steve Awesome was a former X*Crown Champion. It seemed his decline started earlier than I originally thought. Some people are just forgettable. You're one of them. And you're not alone. I am as well.
Michael Storm hears something. He looks up, where he finds the American flag wavering through the air. He looks back down.
Storm: You're an American. You're an American hero probably, sure. Hell, if we ask who the most American wrestler is in the XHF Network, it'd almost assuredly be you. And you work hard. There's a lot of credit in that. You weren't meant to be a soldier, but you forced yourself to be one. Now you could try to claim that you aren't an X*Crown Champion, but you could mold yourself as one. I know what they say. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. I mean, that's one of your signatures, right? I'm sure everyone would know that too if you ever had the ability to use one of your moves. Now, I have to ask. Is that why you know you're going to win? I mean, if you seem to know that, what else do you know that the rest of us don't? Advanced calculus? The meaning of life? Tomorrow's Power Ball numbers?
Michael Storm gives a little chuckle.
Storm: See, everyone loves to use that line. "I don't think I'm going to win this match! I KNOW that I will!" Knowing implies you have some sort of reliable, verifiable and objective way to answer it. There's no way to know that. You can't know that. I mean, are you the last entrant? Are you fixing the timer so you come out ten hours after the entrant before that? Are you planning on coming out when everyone is gone? Get the fuck out of here. You're an idealist. You're trying to psych up yourself to win by thinking you can't lose if you tell yourself that up enough. And when you lose, you'll be putting yourself down in the dumps by seeing what you thought was impossible by actually happening.
Storm points to himself.
Storm: Me? I'm completely open to the prospect of knowing I'll lose. Now you really want to win. Maybe you want to win more than everyone else out there. Maybe you want to win more than me. Who knows? It doesn't mean shit. Hell, maybe it gives me a reason to eliminate you more than some of the others. Not that I don't like you. Hell, you look more put together than half the roster out there. You seem like a nice guy, but imagine if you did win. Imagine thinking that your delusion is upheld by thinking you're as good as you think you are, living on such false pretenses. You'd be insane. Like me. I can't wish that kind of hell on anyone. By taking you down and throwing you out of the ring, I'd be doing you a favor. You may not like me, but maybe one day you'll thank me.
Michael Storm gives a respectful nod forward.
Storm: Look, there's some things you'll want to know. As you already know, life isn't fair. I'm with you there. I've faced that. I grew up as a financial black hole and turned into a tycoon. You, well... As a nerd, you'll appreciate it. You grew up as skinny Steve Rogers then turned yourself into buff Steve Rogers. You want to win, but then there are people like me who are better than you. Now I'm not saying you definitely won't win. I'm sure people told you that you couldn't be a soldier and there you are, turning your last name isn't a type of gun after passing through Parris. In fact, the only thing stale about you, Staley, is your promo style. But that's neither here nor there.
Storm pauses.
Storm: All that you need to know is that even though you could theoretically win, you won't. Nor should you. You're an idealist who doesn't know the world you live in. These are the limits you have. Break them. Teach us all that you aren't who we think you are. A forgettable champion.
Michael Storm walks past the camera as the scene slowly fades to black.
Location: VFW
Bethesda, OH
Bethesda, OH
Michael Storm walks into this empty building. It looks a lot like the old VFW. For those that don't know, in late 2017, Terry Bradshaw crashed a helicopter into the VFW in trying to make a grand entrance for a 'Battle of the Billionaires' match against XHF Network Owner Mongo The Destroyer that didn't actually exist because Mongo had no intention of wrestling and was just trying to have his cat. The overall scheme of the building was the same. Small. Country based. A lot of wood flooring. It had the same err, but obviously with the new age of the building, things were updated. The wood doesn't seem to be as weathered. The paint seems fresher and less faded. Michael Storm is in the building, in the large open area.
When the AWF called this place home, there would be a wrestling ring smack dab in the center. Around on three sides, there would be lines of chairs. On the fourth side would be a curtain, where the wrestlers would come in through the slits. But obviously, the AWF no longer visits here for their matches as they've gone national. Instead Storm stands here. It's completely empty.
Storm: It's important to know where you came from. A lot of people don't know where they came from and that's a big mistake because they could easily go back. After all, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I grew up poor. I've lived poor. Now I've hit the jackpot more or less and I became a multi millionaire. Now because of identity theft, I'm poor again. Fuck you by the way, Duncan. Sure, because of the AWF, I'm able to survive. But I'm nowhere where I used to be - which I just want to say, going from dead to living again is a bitch to explain to banks and the Department of Social Security. It's making this whole prospect of trying to get my money back so much more of a pain in the ass.
Michael Storm groans at the bureaucratic prospect he has undergone.
Storm: I've been prepared for this. When I had more money than God, I've counted every one of my blessings. Jack Diamond? He's lost his Diamond lounge. His buddy, Bobby, has gone broke. Chris Card? He's learning money can't keep him from having to heal from a cast. But people who forget their past are changed. Even the AWF, who has gone national and pride themselves on being a small time wrestling promotion which has been able to grow, I don't even think they come back to their old stomping ground, the VFW. But hey, why would they care? This is just where they came from after all.
Michael Storm looks around, taking in the sights. Standing at the doors which connect to the front foyer area.
Storm: I remember my first match with the AWF just short of three years ago. It was the very first Prestige. I was in a tournament to decide who the first AWF Champion would be. This would, of course, be won by our very own commissioner, Jackson Steele. I got shafted by an attack from my old mentor, M.G.K. But enough of that. That's not relevant here. My point is, we had a capacity of seventy-five people. Only seventy-five. Imagine that. Seventy-five people all crammed into this room and starting from that evening where we could fit all those people into one tiny room on the beginning night of our new company, we know right then that we had something special. Now it's a national companies with tens of thousands of people coming to our matches throughout the country in order to watch us wrestle.
Michael Storm cocks his head at what he just said.
Storm: I mean... Obviously not now. You know what I mean. Before this whole Corona Virus bullshit, we were able to accommodate all of them. My point is, the AWF is only getting bigger and when I win the X*Crown Championship, I will bring those twenty one belts back home. We will get better and then there's me on top of the XHF Network. And when I'm back on top, I'll look back on me now. At the bottom. This is a kind of humility so many of you don't understand and this kind of chauvinistic sense of grandiose superiority is what will keep so many of you behind. Now-
Michael Storm gets interrupted as the door opens. Two elderly gentlemen dressed in winter jackets and hats, all designating themselves as veterans from the United States Vietnam War. They approach Storm.
Vet #1: Excuse me, but we have an event being set up soon.
Storm: That's fine. I'll be out of your way.
Vet #1: Thank y-
Vet #2: Hold on a minute there!
Storm: ...What?
Vet #2: You're that Matthew Strom fella!
Storm: Michael Storm. Yeah.
Vet #1: Harold, you know him?
Harold: Of course I know him! My grandson, Jay, was watching the XHF Network channel and-
Vet #1: Shay? That's a girl's name!
Harold: No, Phil! I said JAY! Why would I name my grandson Shay!?
Phil: You didn't name your grandson Jay! Your son did! But your son is an idiot! Of course he would name his son a girl's name!
Harold: You shut your mouth, Phil! My son, Al, is a good man! He's a businessman, you know! He owns his own company in South Kor-
Storm: Look. I don't want to get in the middle of... Whatever the hell this is, but can I get away from you two now?
Phil: Yeah. Why were you so angry anyway?
Harold: I don't rememb- Oh yes! That's right! My grandson was watching the XHF Network and Matthew here-
Storm: Michael.
Harold: Matthew was disrespecting Johnny Sniper!
Phil: Johnny Sniper!? He's a military man! He died for this country!
Storm: Johnny Sniper is still alive.
Harold: You shut your mouth! Johnny Sniper is an American hero and you treat him with some respect!
Storm: Look, I never said that he wasn't a hero. I'm sure he did a great job serving our country, but that doesn't mean he's going to win the XHF Rumble and be X*Crown Champion.
Phil: What!? Of course Johnny Sniper is going to win the XHF Rumble! He died fighting for this country, ya know!
Storm: Dude, what the fuck did I just say? And look at Sniper. He's not dead. He's injured. Or at least was. But even before he was injured, he wasn't going to win before. He can't win matches. Nothing in his past suggests he's going to win. You just want him to win because he satisfies that American enigma you're obsessing over.
Harold: You don't love America? THEN MOVE TO CHINA IF YOU LOVE KIRA ITSUKI SO MUCH!
Storm: It's Kira Izum- Kira is Japan- Wait, I never said I love Kira. And I never said I don't love Amer- Actually, fuck it. I don't think you're understanding what I'm trying to say so I'm going to let you be.
Michael Storm walks past the rambunctious veterans. The two give him death glares as he walks past. The two begin muttering among themselves when they think that Storm can't hear him. Phil can even be heard saying something.
Phil: I gotta be there when you tell Shay that you met Matthew Strom! She's going to love it!
Michael Storm makes his way outside, where he takes in the environment. The parking lot where all the cars crammed in every Prestige. Storm smells the pies being cooked at the local pizza restaurant down the street. He even sees a couple of children dressed up in jerseys, one of them carrying a baseball bat. Of course, they were heading over to the local baseball field, where the AWF hosted Prestige after the original VFW was taken down.
Storm: A lot of history in this little town. It seems like most of the history can be found in this building. Not the building, of course. It's only a year or two old. I mean the two geezers causing a fuss before they need to get changed. They think Johnny Sniper is going to win. Now I'm not going to trash talk him like I have many others. I don't even really have beef with the guy. He seems nice enough. His problem is a lot like the problems so many others have. He's an idealist. Sniper dreams and hopes and eventually believes that through his convictions that he can win.
Michael Storm shrugs his shoulders.
Storm: I get it. I am as human as the rest of you, if you want to call it that. I know. You probably think I'm a monster, which I am, but that I'd go after those two old men for their incompetencies. I could, but I wouldn't. If I was going to attack anyone for being annoying, Copycat would be dead by now. There's a time and a place for everything. But that's something Sniper needs to work on. I know about context. I wouldn't dare start making fun of a dead celebrity before their body even got warm. The man left behind a legacy, but like we all do. In that way, we are both in the same boat.
Michael Storm pauses before he elaborates.
Storm: We get this kind of bullshit a lot. You were asking if you were a good AWF United States Champion. It's a lot like if I would ask if I was a good XHF X*Crown Champion. If we asked both of these questions to people, they'd say the same thing. "You were champion?" You couldn't get through the first defense. I couldn't get through the first week. Sorry, bud. But we were the forgettable champions. Sorry, but that's the nature of things. Just last promo, I forgot Steve Awesome was a former X*Crown Champion. It seemed his decline started earlier than I originally thought. Some people are just forgettable. You're one of them. And you're not alone. I am as well.
Michael Storm hears something. He looks up, where he finds the American flag wavering through the air. He looks back down.
Storm: You're an American. You're an American hero probably, sure. Hell, if we ask who the most American wrestler is in the XHF Network, it'd almost assuredly be you. And you work hard. There's a lot of credit in that. You weren't meant to be a soldier, but you forced yourself to be one. Now you could try to claim that you aren't an X*Crown Champion, but you could mold yourself as one. I know what they say. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. I mean, that's one of your signatures, right? I'm sure everyone would know that too if you ever had the ability to use one of your moves. Now, I have to ask. Is that why you know you're going to win? I mean, if you seem to know that, what else do you know that the rest of us don't? Advanced calculus? The meaning of life? Tomorrow's Power Ball numbers?
Michael Storm gives a little chuckle.
Storm: See, everyone loves to use that line. "I don't think I'm going to win this match! I KNOW that I will!" Knowing implies you have some sort of reliable, verifiable and objective way to answer it. There's no way to know that. You can't know that. I mean, are you the last entrant? Are you fixing the timer so you come out ten hours after the entrant before that? Are you planning on coming out when everyone is gone? Get the fuck out of here. You're an idealist. You're trying to psych up yourself to win by thinking you can't lose if you tell yourself that up enough. And when you lose, you'll be putting yourself down in the dumps by seeing what you thought was impossible by actually happening.
Storm points to himself.
Storm: Me? I'm completely open to the prospect of knowing I'll lose. Now you really want to win. Maybe you want to win more than everyone else out there. Maybe you want to win more than me. Who knows? It doesn't mean shit. Hell, maybe it gives me a reason to eliminate you more than some of the others. Not that I don't like you. Hell, you look more put together than half the roster out there. You seem like a nice guy, but imagine if you did win. Imagine thinking that your delusion is upheld by thinking you're as good as you think you are, living on such false pretenses. You'd be insane. Like me. I can't wish that kind of hell on anyone. By taking you down and throwing you out of the ring, I'd be doing you a favor. You may not like me, but maybe one day you'll thank me.
Michael Storm gives a respectful nod forward.
Storm: Look, there's some things you'll want to know. As you already know, life isn't fair. I'm with you there. I've faced that. I grew up as a financial black hole and turned into a tycoon. You, well... As a nerd, you'll appreciate it. You grew up as skinny Steve Rogers then turned yourself into buff Steve Rogers. You want to win, but then there are people like me who are better than you. Now I'm not saying you definitely won't win. I'm sure people told you that you couldn't be a soldier and there you are, turning your last name isn't a type of gun after passing through Parris. In fact, the only thing stale about you, Staley, is your promo style. But that's neither here nor there.
Storm pauses.
Storm: All that you need to know is that even though you could theoretically win, you won't. Nor should you. You're an idealist who doesn't know the world you live in. These are the limits you have. Break them. Teach us all that you aren't who we think you are. A forgettable champion.
Michael Storm walks past the camera as the scene slowly fades to black.
