Post by Adrien on Jan 28, 2021 14:23:55 GMT -5
“The home stretch, guys. We’re almost there. The light at the end of the tunnel grows as it keeps approaching. Just one more night and we will know for sure who is the one who leaves as the Cruiserweight Cup winner. Just four of us left… and gents, it’s been an honor to be in this final four with all of you.”
Adrien Cochrane gives a warm smile as he leans on the ropes in the practice ring that he has set up in the building behind his house. He’s in his ring gear: the black, silver, and light blue tights and his #Believe sleeveless shirt.
“So what have the cards dealt me this time around? Jay Stephens, the second-generation prospect who is looking to make his years training under some of the best finally come to fruition. You know, Jay… I’m really excited for you. Not just a match with you, but I’m excited about your career in general. Your pedigree is impressive, and you’ve worked hard to be where you are. You’re going to go on to do amazing things, and I truly can’t wait until it happens.
“But heed these words of caution, Jay. Don’t ever think that I’m complacent. We’ve never met or even spoken to one another in any medium. You don’t know my mindset, just like I can’t speak to your motivations either. As for mine, I make it a point every time I’m in front of these cameras to talk about how that fire needs to keep burning for me to push myself further than I already have pushed so far. It’s what I told Trigger leading up to the first round of this tournament… I want to face the best there is for me to face. Do you know why, Jay?”
He starts wagging his index finger as if his next sentence was a very important point to make.
“To constantly test myself, improve myself after every match no matter if I win or lose. It’s the only proper mindset in this industry. There is always more mountain to climb, Jay. Always. Even if you think you’re at the top, you keep going, even if the only competition you have was the fighter you were yesterday. You’re absolutely right. You have to stay hungry. I don’t care if you’ve won zero world titles or twenty, if you stop being hungry, you’re going to slip.
“That’s not the case here, Jay. I assure you. Don’t want to take my word for it? No worries, as I plan on making sure that you get a chance to see how hard I’ve been working, even though… yes, I am a father and I do play many instruments. You know, it’s funny you focus on that aspect considering I haven’t touched any instrument or mentioned my sons in any video that I’ve done for NPW. I played with a snail… that one was interesting.
“But you seem to be against the idea of skill diversification. If people know how to do literally anything other than armbars and powerbombs, they are lesser competitors in your eyes. Jay, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: knowing how to change a tire or how to do your taxes doesn’t make you a worse wrestler. I’m not someone you should look down upon because I can play the piano or went to a Warped Tour fourteen years ago.
“Actually, a lot of successful people encourage skill diversification. See, I didn’t have a legendary uncle. I was on the road for smaller companies than even NPW. I wasn’t making a livable wage wrestling when I was starting out. If I had to wrestle on Thursday night and be a guitar tech for some band on Friday night to make ends meet, I would do it. Thankfully, I was taught music when I was very young and it was something I could take with me as an adult. I did what I had to do to survive. I worked my ass off to get to where I am today. I spent a lot of nights not having time to sleep because I had to keep working to succeed.
“But make no mistake, with income no longer a concern, when I’m booked in a match, the only thing that matters is that match. The moment to my name being put across another all the way to the final bell, what happens in the ring is my only objective.
“I admire the company you keep. Team Danger is one of the greatest tag teams I’ve ever seen. Griffith, Dane, and Andrews are legends in this industry and ones that I saw first hand when I was wrestling in the WWA as a youngster. But you aren’t the only one with a WWA legend who helped me become a better wrestler because I also had the Nightbringer himself, Ryan Corey, teach me how to turn my career around. Walker and Greer probably look at my name and scoff because they saw who I was in 2007 and think I shouldn’t be taken seriously. That’s fine. That’s the data they have.
“But I’m not who I was in the WWA. I had a lot to learn. I had to find my way and find my way, I did. I matured, honed my skills, and became the Dropkick King. I didn’t get here by wowing people with a sick drumbeat, Jay. It wasn’t pictures of little Alex Cochrane either. I got here on my own skill. And I got a lot to prove to people who only remember the old me.
“This is my chance to show how far I’ve come. Adding my name to that list of Cruiserweight Cup winners… and a final showdown with MYOJIN for the Junior Heavyweight Championship. It’s a goal that I’m working to reach until I achieve it.
“After that? There’s always more mountain to climb.”
Cochrane gives a quick wink before returning to his training.
Adrien Cochrane gives a warm smile as he leans on the ropes in the practice ring that he has set up in the building behind his house. He’s in his ring gear: the black, silver, and light blue tights and his #Believe sleeveless shirt.
“So what have the cards dealt me this time around? Jay Stephens, the second-generation prospect who is looking to make his years training under some of the best finally come to fruition. You know, Jay… I’m really excited for you. Not just a match with you, but I’m excited about your career in general. Your pedigree is impressive, and you’ve worked hard to be where you are. You’re going to go on to do amazing things, and I truly can’t wait until it happens.
“But heed these words of caution, Jay. Don’t ever think that I’m complacent. We’ve never met or even spoken to one another in any medium. You don’t know my mindset, just like I can’t speak to your motivations either. As for mine, I make it a point every time I’m in front of these cameras to talk about how that fire needs to keep burning for me to push myself further than I already have pushed so far. It’s what I told Trigger leading up to the first round of this tournament… I want to face the best there is for me to face. Do you know why, Jay?”
He starts wagging his index finger as if his next sentence was a very important point to make.
“To constantly test myself, improve myself after every match no matter if I win or lose. It’s the only proper mindset in this industry. There is always more mountain to climb, Jay. Always. Even if you think you’re at the top, you keep going, even if the only competition you have was the fighter you were yesterday. You’re absolutely right. You have to stay hungry. I don’t care if you’ve won zero world titles or twenty, if you stop being hungry, you’re going to slip.
“That’s not the case here, Jay. I assure you. Don’t want to take my word for it? No worries, as I plan on making sure that you get a chance to see how hard I’ve been working, even though… yes, I am a father and I do play many instruments. You know, it’s funny you focus on that aspect considering I haven’t touched any instrument or mentioned my sons in any video that I’ve done for NPW. I played with a snail… that one was interesting.
“But you seem to be against the idea of skill diversification. If people know how to do literally anything other than armbars and powerbombs, they are lesser competitors in your eyes. Jay, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: knowing how to change a tire or how to do your taxes doesn’t make you a worse wrestler. I’m not someone you should look down upon because I can play the piano or went to a Warped Tour fourteen years ago.
“Actually, a lot of successful people encourage skill diversification. See, I didn’t have a legendary uncle. I was on the road for smaller companies than even NPW. I wasn’t making a livable wage wrestling when I was starting out. If I had to wrestle on Thursday night and be a guitar tech for some band on Friday night to make ends meet, I would do it. Thankfully, I was taught music when I was very young and it was something I could take with me as an adult. I did what I had to do to survive. I worked my ass off to get to where I am today. I spent a lot of nights not having time to sleep because I had to keep working to succeed.
“But make no mistake, with income no longer a concern, when I’m booked in a match, the only thing that matters is that match. The moment to my name being put across another all the way to the final bell, what happens in the ring is my only objective.
“I admire the company you keep. Team Danger is one of the greatest tag teams I’ve ever seen. Griffith, Dane, and Andrews are legends in this industry and ones that I saw first hand when I was wrestling in the WWA as a youngster. But you aren’t the only one with a WWA legend who helped me become a better wrestler because I also had the Nightbringer himself, Ryan Corey, teach me how to turn my career around. Walker and Greer probably look at my name and scoff because they saw who I was in 2007 and think I shouldn’t be taken seriously. That’s fine. That’s the data they have.
“But I’m not who I was in the WWA. I had a lot to learn. I had to find my way and find my way, I did. I matured, honed my skills, and became the Dropkick King. I didn’t get here by wowing people with a sick drumbeat, Jay. It wasn’t pictures of little Alex Cochrane either. I got here on my own skill. And I got a lot to prove to people who only remember the old me.
“This is my chance to show how far I’ve come. Adding my name to that list of Cruiserweight Cup winners… and a final showdown with MYOJIN for the Junior Heavyweight Championship. It’s a goal that I’m working to reach until I achieve it.
“After that? There’s always more mountain to climb.”
Cochrane gives a quick wink before returning to his training.
