Post by Ragsdale on Oct 24, 2021 22:17:46 GMT -5
(Cliff Ragsdale is on a Zoom call with members of the wrestling media as he sits in his hotel room in Tokyo.)
Ragsdale: Thanks everyone for joining me. Let's get started, shall we?
Reporter: Devin Bishop had some words for Nathaniel about their upcoming match. What do you have to say in response?
Ragsdale: Devin is upset about what happened on the last Free For All and who can blame him? The man is not used to losing. The man is not used to ANYONE getting the best of him. For the first time in a long time, or perhaps the first time in his UPW career, he was not only overwhelmed but outsmarted. He can talk about me doing this and Brittany doing that and Ariana doing what she did but the fact of the matter is that Nathaniel pinned his shoulders to the mat 1-2-3. And he could do it again next Friday night when there is a lot more at stake.
Reporter: But Bishop had Nathaniel beaten, did he not?
Ragsdale: That's purely speculation on the part of Bishop. Nathaniel never gave up, did he? Next question.
Reporter: Bishop said he's preparing for a war the likes we've never seen. Does that mean that CCAZ and The Black Hand will be going to war?
Ragsdale: That's up to Mr. Bishop. I surely hope that he is not looking to go there. He may have surprises for us but we could very well have surprises of our own. Let's hope that this is an epic wrestling match, the greatest UPW Openweight Championship match to date, and we can leave it at that.
Reporter: He said he'll stop at nothing to keep the title.
Ragsdale: And we'll stop at nothing to win it. Nathaniel is ready. He has been waiting for this match since he arrived in UPW. He wants nothing more than to win the UPW Openweight Championship and grab that brass ring that has eluded so many others since Mr. Bishop has carried that championship belt. Nathaniel has nothing but respect for Mr. Bishop but he knows that that Mr. Bishop has the keys to the kingdom. A victory over Bishop, the best of the best, would be Nathaniel's launching pad to superstardom. This is not a responsibility that Nathaniel takes lightly. He is laser focused on this match like I've never seen anyone focused on a match before. To the people that claim he's a "meth head" or "trailer park trash", he has proven and will continue to prove that appearances are deceiving.
Reporter: Any derogatory words for Bishop?
Ragsdale: Not really. Like I said, he's the best of the best. Not only is the man talented but he's wealthy and even has his own personal jet. Nathaniel, on the other hand, has come from nothing. He grew on on the other side of the tracks. He's not impressed nor intimidated by Bishop's wealth. Nathaniel is a man that has come from nothing and this is a contest between two men that will come down to whoever wants it more. I have known Nathaniel for a long time and when he sets his mind on something, he accomplishes it. Bishop may be in for a rougher night that he's anticipating and that's all I'm gonna say about that.
Reporter: In the Sin City Championship match, it will be Dillian Dehaven defending against another member of the Black Hand - Rain Blackheart. Thoughts?
Ragsdale: Rain Blackheart is no Devin Bishop. You, I, and everyone else knows it. With that being said, he's a talented individual in his own right. Dillian may not say much but he is very familiar with the man and he's ready.
Reporter: Do you believe a win over Rain would cement DeHaven as "the greatest Sin City Champion" of all-time?
Ragsdale: I think he's already there, but of course, if he wins, there would be no question about it.
Reporter: What role do you think Terrance Christopher will play in the match?
Ragsdale: He seems pretty upset with me. It's such a shame that he's holding a grudge merely because I outsmarted him. We weren't associates for very long, we just had a cup of coffee together, but he financed much of the progress we've made over the past several months. I almost want to thank the man for being so short-sighted because we know that he didn't intend to help build us up. We have a beautiful property on the outskirts of Vegas, in the desert, and the money we made from Mr. Christopher helped finance much of that. He likes to rip on my negotiation skills but it's obvious that I did a pretty good job negotiating with him and he's bitter. What else can you say?
Reporter: Do you feel as if you have something to prove? He's in one corner and you're in the other.
Ragsdale: It's no I who has something to prove. It's he that has apparently has something to prove. You'd think that a guy with that much wealth would not be so concerned with someone who has a "ledger full of bounced checks" but he is. I'm afraid I'm just going to have to outsmart him again. This time, in front of a world wide audience.
Reporter: Last but no least, Mark Murphy will be in a match for the inaugural High Roller Championship. Any thoughts?
Ragsdale: Murphy has had his difficulties as of late but he had a really impressive win on the last Free For All over one Bryan Black, our former world champion, did he not?
Reporter: I would say so.
Ragsdale: Let me just say that Murphy's career seem to be back on track and I am looking for him to do great things in the weeks and months to come. It all starts with being the first-ever High Roller Championship.
Reporter: What do you think his chances are?
Ragsdale: Is that a serious question?
Reporter: Yes.
Ragsdale: I think he has a very good chance at emerging victorious. Look at his competition. Joe Nobody? He wouldn't even acknowledge that Murphy is in the match. (sarcastically) He's not intimidated by Murphy, is he? And then you have newcomer Saint Sakura, who doesn't seem to have much confidence. There are the Robinsons, who really aren't much of a threat. Then there is that BIG MOUTH Maddox who lost the Sin City Championship to RILEY WALKER, of all people. He hasn't been running his mouth so much lately, has he?
Reporter: You see his segment earlier?
Ragsdale: Oh yeah, that's right. He had the audacity to say that Murphy is in his 40s.
(Ragsdale laughs)
Ragsdale: Maddox needs to fire whoever does his scouting for him. And last but not least, Bryan Black, and you saw what Murphy did to him. I'd say Murphy's chances are pretty good.
Reporter: Any words for Kid Diaz who responded to your recent comments?
(Ragsdale laughs)
Ragsdale: After he and Miller FAILS at winning the tag straps, maybe he'll wise up and come to the realization that Miler is dragging him down. Perhaps we'll throw him a bone and give him a shot at the Sin City Championship to give him an opportunity to prove his claim. (grin) Any other questions? No? Okay, thank you for your time.
(Fade to black)
Ragsdale: Thanks everyone for joining me. Let's get started, shall we?
Reporter: Devin Bishop had some words for Nathaniel about their upcoming match. What do you have to say in response?
Ragsdale: Devin is upset about what happened on the last Free For All and who can blame him? The man is not used to losing. The man is not used to ANYONE getting the best of him. For the first time in a long time, or perhaps the first time in his UPW career, he was not only overwhelmed but outsmarted. He can talk about me doing this and Brittany doing that and Ariana doing what she did but the fact of the matter is that Nathaniel pinned his shoulders to the mat 1-2-3. And he could do it again next Friday night when there is a lot more at stake.
Reporter: But Bishop had Nathaniel beaten, did he not?
Ragsdale: That's purely speculation on the part of Bishop. Nathaniel never gave up, did he? Next question.
Reporter: Bishop said he's preparing for a war the likes we've never seen. Does that mean that CCAZ and The Black Hand will be going to war?
Ragsdale: That's up to Mr. Bishop. I surely hope that he is not looking to go there. He may have surprises for us but we could very well have surprises of our own. Let's hope that this is an epic wrestling match, the greatest UPW Openweight Championship match to date, and we can leave it at that.
Reporter: He said he'll stop at nothing to keep the title.
Ragsdale: And we'll stop at nothing to win it. Nathaniel is ready. He has been waiting for this match since he arrived in UPW. He wants nothing more than to win the UPW Openweight Championship and grab that brass ring that has eluded so many others since Mr. Bishop has carried that championship belt. Nathaniel has nothing but respect for Mr. Bishop but he knows that that Mr. Bishop has the keys to the kingdom. A victory over Bishop, the best of the best, would be Nathaniel's launching pad to superstardom. This is not a responsibility that Nathaniel takes lightly. He is laser focused on this match like I've never seen anyone focused on a match before. To the people that claim he's a "meth head" or "trailer park trash", he has proven and will continue to prove that appearances are deceiving.
Reporter: Any derogatory words for Bishop?
Ragsdale: Not really. Like I said, he's the best of the best. Not only is the man talented but he's wealthy and even has his own personal jet. Nathaniel, on the other hand, has come from nothing. He grew on on the other side of the tracks. He's not impressed nor intimidated by Bishop's wealth. Nathaniel is a man that has come from nothing and this is a contest between two men that will come down to whoever wants it more. I have known Nathaniel for a long time and when he sets his mind on something, he accomplishes it. Bishop may be in for a rougher night that he's anticipating and that's all I'm gonna say about that.
Reporter: In the Sin City Championship match, it will be Dillian Dehaven defending against another member of the Black Hand - Rain Blackheart. Thoughts?
Ragsdale: Rain Blackheart is no Devin Bishop. You, I, and everyone else knows it. With that being said, he's a talented individual in his own right. Dillian may not say much but he is very familiar with the man and he's ready.
Reporter: Do you believe a win over Rain would cement DeHaven as "the greatest Sin City Champion" of all-time?
Ragsdale: I think he's already there, but of course, if he wins, there would be no question about it.
Reporter: What role do you think Terrance Christopher will play in the match?
Ragsdale: He seems pretty upset with me. It's such a shame that he's holding a grudge merely because I outsmarted him. We weren't associates for very long, we just had a cup of coffee together, but he financed much of the progress we've made over the past several months. I almost want to thank the man for being so short-sighted because we know that he didn't intend to help build us up. We have a beautiful property on the outskirts of Vegas, in the desert, and the money we made from Mr. Christopher helped finance much of that. He likes to rip on my negotiation skills but it's obvious that I did a pretty good job negotiating with him and he's bitter. What else can you say?
Reporter: Do you feel as if you have something to prove? He's in one corner and you're in the other.
Ragsdale: It's no I who has something to prove. It's he that has apparently has something to prove. You'd think that a guy with that much wealth would not be so concerned with someone who has a "ledger full of bounced checks" but he is. I'm afraid I'm just going to have to outsmart him again. This time, in front of a world wide audience.
Reporter: Last but no least, Mark Murphy will be in a match for the inaugural High Roller Championship. Any thoughts?
Ragsdale: Murphy has had his difficulties as of late but he had a really impressive win on the last Free For All over one Bryan Black, our former world champion, did he not?
Reporter: I would say so.
Ragsdale: Let me just say that Murphy's career seem to be back on track and I am looking for him to do great things in the weeks and months to come. It all starts with being the first-ever High Roller Championship.
Reporter: What do you think his chances are?
Ragsdale: Is that a serious question?
Reporter: Yes.
Ragsdale: I think he has a very good chance at emerging victorious. Look at his competition. Joe Nobody? He wouldn't even acknowledge that Murphy is in the match. (sarcastically) He's not intimidated by Murphy, is he? And then you have newcomer Saint Sakura, who doesn't seem to have much confidence. There are the Robinsons, who really aren't much of a threat. Then there is that BIG MOUTH Maddox who lost the Sin City Championship to RILEY WALKER, of all people. He hasn't been running his mouth so much lately, has he?
Reporter: You see his segment earlier?
Ragsdale: Oh yeah, that's right. He had the audacity to say that Murphy is in his 40s.
(Ragsdale laughs)
Ragsdale: Maddox needs to fire whoever does his scouting for him. And last but not least, Bryan Black, and you saw what Murphy did to him. I'd say Murphy's chances are pretty good.
Reporter: Any words for Kid Diaz who responded to your recent comments?
(Ragsdale laughs)
Ragsdale: After he and Miller FAILS at winning the tag straps, maybe he'll wise up and come to the realization that Miler is dragging him down. Perhaps we'll throw him a bone and give him a shot at the Sin City Championship to give him an opportunity to prove his claim. (grin) Any other questions? No? Okay, thank you for your time.
(Fade to black)