Post by leonvanzandt on Feb 14, 2021 19:56:42 GMT -5
“It seems that Gus Arnold has a fascination with placing me in matches that put me outside of my comfort zone.”
Cold open.
Not that there was any real surprise, given the thick accent that belongs to this man, but Leon Van Zandt greets us, back in his humble, Spartan gym, head turned to the side.
“Not that I am facing two hard men who have backgrounds in the dregs of society… but that I am facing two of ANY men at the same time!”
The bemused Professional faces us.
“Shawn Kutter and John Cavanaugh are not men to be ignored in the ring, but I am confident that in a one-on-one confrontation with either one, I would come out on top. They are surely strong fighters, and Kutter in particular is a bull of a man. But as my mentors often said, ‘bulls are killed on the floor.’
“But against both at the same time, I will admit I feel more than a little outside of my element. So why have I gone ahead with this matchup? The answer is quite simple; Shawn Kutter holds an opportunity for a shot at Northern Pro Wrestling championship gold, that is being defended. And simply put, I intend to win that opportunity. Since I first arrived in Canada last year, I have been undefeated in singles competition, and I believe I am ready to prove myself worthy of representing NPW at its highest level. I could go on about the uphill battle represented, in the form of the Syndicate, but I am not so naive as to take a match with Eric Dane for granted.”
The Professional shrugs.
“Though Shawn Kutter and John Cavanaugh are certainly worthy practice for such an opponent; ruthless, physically tough, harboring blatant disregard for rules at BEST, and each holding a more up-front form of fighting than most. Of course, such an approach begs the question…
“...can one throw a punch with a broken arm?”
A chuckle from the undefeated Belgian.
“Not that breaking bones is ever my intent. I don’t care about inflicting pain beyond that necessary to win. And ultimately, that is what separates me from a Shawn Kutter or a John Cavanaugh.
“My opponents at Vicious Valentines’ live up to the event name; they are vicious. They are hard men, who had hard lives and perhaps, at least in Shawn Kutter’s case, feel they are owed some kind of recompense from the world for the hand they were dealt. Whereas I don’t get in the ring and fight as a legal method of taking out my anger at the world; I get in the ring and fight because first of all, that is how I put food on the table, and beyond that?”
Leon smiles with a hint of pride.
“I am quite good at it, as my undefeated singles record in a company with the caliber of talent that NPW has can attest. And John Cavanaugh… he certainly talks a boisterous talk, and perhaps he would be a threat in a street fight. But how is he in the ring, especially against a man who knows more than one way to make a fighter beg for mercy?
“He is right about one thing; the ring is another world entirely from the day-to-day of life. He may have a track record as a New York tough, but that doesn’t matter in wrestling. That becomes another struggle entirely. And the ring is where I excel above all else.”
He shakes his head.
“I am not naive, though; nothing lasts forever, and I know there will come a time where I am not unbeaten in the NPW ring.
“I just do not see that happening against either Shawn Kutter or John Cavanaugh. There is too much of a prize at stake for me to take either of you lightly, but I do firmly believe that neither of you, alone or in tandem, can defeat me. And once I have PROVEN that, and defeated you both? Once I have taken Shawn Kutter’s championship opportunity?”
Leon slams a fist into an open palm.
“THEN I will begin planning for a match with Eric Dane, facing down the Syndicate yet again, and doing battle for the North American Double Crown. Then, of course… I will need to think a bit more outside the usual parameters of a wrestling match, because that will involve a man who treats matches like a swindle and not a game… but one step at a time, yes?
“John Cavanaugh and Shawn Kutter had best prepare themselves. I have a reputation to uphold, and the odds may be stacked against me going into Mississauga yet again, but I will not let it deter me. Come the 16th, the championship opportunity will be mine, and then? Leon Van Zandt will be claiming his prize.”
With a nod and a determined stare, The Professional sees us off as we fade to black.
Cold open.
Not that there was any real surprise, given the thick accent that belongs to this man, but Leon Van Zandt greets us, back in his humble, Spartan gym, head turned to the side.
“Not that I am facing two hard men who have backgrounds in the dregs of society… but that I am facing two of ANY men at the same time!”
The bemused Professional faces us.
“Shawn Kutter and John Cavanaugh are not men to be ignored in the ring, but I am confident that in a one-on-one confrontation with either one, I would come out on top. They are surely strong fighters, and Kutter in particular is a bull of a man. But as my mentors often said, ‘bulls are killed on the floor.’
“But against both at the same time, I will admit I feel more than a little outside of my element. So why have I gone ahead with this matchup? The answer is quite simple; Shawn Kutter holds an opportunity for a shot at Northern Pro Wrestling championship gold, that is being defended. And simply put, I intend to win that opportunity. Since I first arrived in Canada last year, I have been undefeated in singles competition, and I believe I am ready to prove myself worthy of representing NPW at its highest level. I could go on about the uphill battle represented, in the form of the Syndicate, but I am not so naive as to take a match with Eric Dane for granted.”
The Professional shrugs.
“Though Shawn Kutter and John Cavanaugh are certainly worthy practice for such an opponent; ruthless, physically tough, harboring blatant disregard for rules at BEST, and each holding a more up-front form of fighting than most. Of course, such an approach begs the question…
“...can one throw a punch with a broken arm?”
A chuckle from the undefeated Belgian.
“Not that breaking bones is ever my intent. I don’t care about inflicting pain beyond that necessary to win. And ultimately, that is what separates me from a Shawn Kutter or a John Cavanaugh.
“My opponents at Vicious Valentines’ live up to the event name; they are vicious. They are hard men, who had hard lives and perhaps, at least in Shawn Kutter’s case, feel they are owed some kind of recompense from the world for the hand they were dealt. Whereas I don’t get in the ring and fight as a legal method of taking out my anger at the world; I get in the ring and fight because first of all, that is how I put food on the table, and beyond that?”
Leon smiles with a hint of pride.
“I am quite good at it, as my undefeated singles record in a company with the caliber of talent that NPW has can attest. And John Cavanaugh… he certainly talks a boisterous talk, and perhaps he would be a threat in a street fight. But how is he in the ring, especially against a man who knows more than one way to make a fighter beg for mercy?
“He is right about one thing; the ring is another world entirely from the day-to-day of life. He may have a track record as a New York tough, but that doesn’t matter in wrestling. That becomes another struggle entirely. And the ring is where I excel above all else.”
He shakes his head.
“I am not naive, though; nothing lasts forever, and I know there will come a time where I am not unbeaten in the NPW ring.
“I just do not see that happening against either Shawn Kutter or John Cavanaugh. There is too much of a prize at stake for me to take either of you lightly, but I do firmly believe that neither of you, alone or in tandem, can defeat me. And once I have PROVEN that, and defeated you both? Once I have taken Shawn Kutter’s championship opportunity?”
Leon slams a fist into an open palm.
“THEN I will begin planning for a match with Eric Dane, facing down the Syndicate yet again, and doing battle for the North American Double Crown. Then, of course… I will need to think a bit more outside the usual parameters of a wrestling match, because that will involve a man who treats matches like a swindle and not a game… but one step at a time, yes?
“John Cavanaugh and Shawn Kutter had best prepare themselves. I have a reputation to uphold, and the odds may be stacked against me going into Mississauga yet again, but I will not let it deter me. Come the 16th, the championship opportunity will be mine, and then? Leon Van Zandt will be claiming his prize.”
With a nod and a determined stare, The Professional sees us off as we fade to black.