Post by Adrien on Jan 10, 2021 23:29:16 GMT -5
“There is one thing that never changes no matter how many times I step behind that curtain and into whatever ring it happens to be… I try to remember who I am.”
The Dropkick King sits on a wooden stool in a brightly lit room, dressed in a red and white plaid shirt and a pair of black jeans. But it is his surroundings that stand out: an octagon of mirrors around him.
“I look back at my early days and realize that was my biggest error. I was trying too hard to be like Christian Light or Ryan Corey. I focused more on what I perceived was the person I was supposed to be instead of just being myself. I didn’t really have an identity.
“I look at my opponents… the younger brother of John Cavanagh, and the warrior of the Dark Stars. A youngster fighting from the shadows of his dad and brother… his words, not mine. And then there is the mercenary from the future that’s trying to demonstrate a vast superiority than the modern era competitors.
“Without your brother and father, who are you, Chris? Without the other Dark Stars, who are you, Niko? Would you still be in this tournament? Would you still be in the ring at all? See, I’m pretty much at that point in my life where I’m not affected by the decisions of someone I’m trying to be in the shadow of or alongside. I’m my own person. I know who I am.”
Cochrane glances at his reflection to his left than to his right.
“But since I already know who I am, I do my best to make sure I get to know my opponents. One of the most interesting things about stepping into a new ring? All the new faces! People I’ve never met, people I’ve heard of but never shared a room with, and then… well, there’s the people I haven’t seen in over a decade.”
Adrien gives a deep exhale, knowing Tyrone Walker, Stephen Greer, Angus Skaaland, and Eric Dane are around and saw a rookie Adrien Cochrane a long time ago.
“I never encountered Cavanagh, and I only had a faint awareness of Niko. I think it is safe to assume that my opponents have the same level of knowledge on me. I know of Niko because he was an opponent of my student, Adam Sanders, at XHF All that Glitters. I was also a participant in the Fired Up event that also had Niko’s ally, Xiaolong, and I did read up a bit on Niko in case he was one of the secret entrants to aid Xiaolong.
“Cavanagh, on the other hand? Nothing until I saw these brackets. I admit when I don’t know anything. And when I don’t know something, I try to do research, like any reasonable competitor would want to do. Knowing your enemy is part of the battle, right? Member of the Celtic Club, Tag Team Titles, Cruiserweight Titles… honestly he told you all these things, so I doubt they require repeating. But I look back at his words and wonder this: did he try to look at anything on me?
“The claim to have wrestled in more companies than all of us was a weird flex, but okay. But while I don’t have your final tallies, you realize I’ve been in double-digit companies in my sixteen-year career, right? And I’m not one to brag about titles I’ve gotten here and there. I normally have a manager who does that for me enough, honestly. But he’s going to brag about being a multiple-time Cruiserweight Champion and Tag Team Champion… to a four-time World Heavyweight Champion? Yeah, none of my titles were here in NPW, but yours aren’t either, bud.
“You say, I had bad luck being drawn with you as my first opponent, and I ask, how? You know how tournaments designed like this one work, right? At best, I face five opponents. At worst, I face three. Not to mention, I’ve always believed we get better by facing the best of the best. Are you the best Cruiserweight in this tournament, Chris? Are you the cream of the crop? Will it be you holding that trophy at the end?
“Then I WANT to face you. I want to test myself against you, battle it out like the whole tournament is on the line right then and there. I want to see your skills in the ring and not on a microphone. And if it is my music you hear after the final bell, I want you to look in the mirror and ask yourself if it was my bad luck or yours?”
Adrien points behind him at a mirror.
“And there was Niko, the man who extended friendship towards my student then turned that offer around with some cheap tactics. And man, has Adam been giving Xiaolong a hard time for that stunt!
“See, I’m a sucker for redemption stories. My student prevailed and was able to pin you in the ring. And I know you are going to look at the teacher of Adam Sanders and realize this is your shot to make up for that loss.
“Though I’m not going to harp on about how terrible you are for going to those lengths, I will be aware of that when we are in the ring. If I think you are going to retrieve a weapon on the outside, I’m going to fly at you before you can. I’m not new to people trying to cheat to win, and I will adjust if you put me in that situation, Niko.
“I look at my two opponents and I see talent. I really do. But I’m not some pushover who is trying to make a name for himself. I’m here to win gold. I want that match with MYŌJIN after my encounter with him. You two? Tests to see if I deserve that match. So to you both… good luck.”
The Dropkick King sits on a wooden stool in a brightly lit room, dressed in a red and white plaid shirt and a pair of black jeans. But it is his surroundings that stand out: an octagon of mirrors around him.
“I look back at my early days and realize that was my biggest error. I was trying too hard to be like Christian Light or Ryan Corey. I focused more on what I perceived was the person I was supposed to be instead of just being myself. I didn’t really have an identity.
“I look at my opponents… the younger brother of John Cavanagh, and the warrior of the Dark Stars. A youngster fighting from the shadows of his dad and brother… his words, not mine. And then there is the mercenary from the future that’s trying to demonstrate a vast superiority than the modern era competitors.
“Without your brother and father, who are you, Chris? Without the other Dark Stars, who are you, Niko? Would you still be in this tournament? Would you still be in the ring at all? See, I’m pretty much at that point in my life where I’m not affected by the decisions of someone I’m trying to be in the shadow of or alongside. I’m my own person. I know who I am.”
Cochrane glances at his reflection to his left than to his right.
“But since I already know who I am, I do my best to make sure I get to know my opponents. One of the most interesting things about stepping into a new ring? All the new faces! People I’ve never met, people I’ve heard of but never shared a room with, and then… well, there’s the people I haven’t seen in over a decade.”
Adrien gives a deep exhale, knowing Tyrone Walker, Stephen Greer, Angus Skaaland, and Eric Dane are around and saw a rookie Adrien Cochrane a long time ago.
“I never encountered Cavanagh, and I only had a faint awareness of Niko. I think it is safe to assume that my opponents have the same level of knowledge on me. I know of Niko because he was an opponent of my student, Adam Sanders, at XHF All that Glitters. I was also a participant in the Fired Up event that also had Niko’s ally, Xiaolong, and I did read up a bit on Niko in case he was one of the secret entrants to aid Xiaolong.
“Cavanagh, on the other hand? Nothing until I saw these brackets. I admit when I don’t know anything. And when I don’t know something, I try to do research, like any reasonable competitor would want to do. Knowing your enemy is part of the battle, right? Member of the Celtic Club, Tag Team Titles, Cruiserweight Titles… honestly he told you all these things, so I doubt they require repeating. But I look back at his words and wonder this: did he try to look at anything on me?
“The claim to have wrestled in more companies than all of us was a weird flex, but okay. But while I don’t have your final tallies, you realize I’ve been in double-digit companies in my sixteen-year career, right? And I’m not one to brag about titles I’ve gotten here and there. I normally have a manager who does that for me enough, honestly. But he’s going to brag about being a multiple-time Cruiserweight Champion and Tag Team Champion… to a four-time World Heavyweight Champion? Yeah, none of my titles were here in NPW, but yours aren’t either, bud.
“You say, I had bad luck being drawn with you as my first opponent, and I ask, how? You know how tournaments designed like this one work, right? At best, I face five opponents. At worst, I face three. Not to mention, I’ve always believed we get better by facing the best of the best. Are you the best Cruiserweight in this tournament, Chris? Are you the cream of the crop? Will it be you holding that trophy at the end?
“Then I WANT to face you. I want to test myself against you, battle it out like the whole tournament is on the line right then and there. I want to see your skills in the ring and not on a microphone. And if it is my music you hear after the final bell, I want you to look in the mirror and ask yourself if it was my bad luck or yours?”
Adrien points behind him at a mirror.
“And there was Niko, the man who extended friendship towards my student then turned that offer around with some cheap tactics. And man, has Adam been giving Xiaolong a hard time for that stunt!
“See, I’m a sucker for redemption stories. My student prevailed and was able to pin you in the ring. And I know you are going to look at the teacher of Adam Sanders and realize this is your shot to make up for that loss.
“Though I’m not going to harp on about how terrible you are for going to those lengths, I will be aware of that when we are in the ring. If I think you are going to retrieve a weapon on the outside, I’m going to fly at you before you can. I’m not new to people trying to cheat to win, and I will adjust if you put me in that situation, Niko.
“I look at my two opponents and I see talent. I really do. But I’m not some pushover who is trying to make a name for himself. I’m here to win gold. I want that match with MYŌJIN after my encounter with him. You two? Tests to see if I deserve that match. So to you both… good luck.”
