The World of the Underdog [NOC RP #2]

[Seth Dillinger]

The bright breezy beachside makes a perfect backdrop for a casual Dillinger. Linen shirt, sunglasses, hair just so slightly disheveled so as to imply nonchalance -- this was peak Seth. He stops along the walkway as a pair of roller bladers cruise by behind them. Seth rests his forearms on the railing in front of him and stares out at the beach.

"Finn, Finn, Finn."

He can't help but chuckle and shake his head.

"You think you've got me figured out. Talent recognizes talent. I see it in you, and conversely, you see it in me. But see, while you levy accusations at me of reading off some printout of your accomplishments, you spend everyone's valuable time rambling off... your list of accomplishments."

Seth mockingly claps for the camera in appreciation of Finn.

"You went ahead and included most of mine, as well! Big thanks for that, Finn, you've saved me the precious breath it would take to remind everyone that I'm a legend in the XHF for good reason. Though you were wrong about my second and third reigns, since you know, that was when I became the longest reigning--"

He trails off and waves away the camera.

"Ahhh... Doesn't matter."

He pushes back off of the railing and begins walking down the wooden boardwalk towards the camera.

"But really, Finn, you should get out of your own way. Before you're even done talking, you're filling your head with imaginary thoughts of me dancing around, telling you that your accomplishments don't matter 'cuz they happened outside of the XHF. I'd never dream of saying those don't matter -- but hey, I'm not the type of guy to sit here and prattle on and on about his list of accomplishments from now dead feds as if that makes one fucking iota of difference in NLW. Different beast, different ballgame -- might as well be a different sport, frankly.

I mean, I'm just--"

Seth trails off, unable to stifle a chuckle.

"My god, man! I watched your second promo and you were like a dementia patient in the nursing home that wandered off and got lost.
What were you even responding to? Did you really invent a speech I never gave just to get to a terrible Metallica reference? You want the whole world to know how metal you are that bad, huh?

Which, by the way--"

Seth holds his hand up to the side of his mouth, as if he's telling a secret to the camera.

"Nothing else matters is something Queen did first, if we're trying to seem deep and intelligent with mainstream music references."

He rolls his eyes.

"Come on, Finn. Your whole point is that I should be prepared and not underestimate you. Great! I'm not. I looked you up, did my research, and I'm not writing you off. You'd know that if you saw my first promo this week instead of, I don't know, huffing what I can only imagine was a metric fuckload of mescaline and popping off. Hell, you spend half your time driving home some point about how hardcore and brutal you are."

Seth puts on a deep, gravelly voice with a (terrible) Irish lilt to imitate Finn.

"I'm so fuckin' hardcore. I'll chop your dick off and feed it to you. I'll make you a vegetable again! With thumbtacks!"

Seth can't help but shake his head and heavy sigh.

"My dude, get a grip. This isn't a hardcore match. This is a normal one on one wrestling match for the title. You want to pull out some tacks and slam me into them? Be my guest, at least the match won't be very long, because you'll get yourself disqualified. Uhh... congrats, I guess? And like, do you think being in a match where violence is possible scares me anyway? Like, you did see that Hostile Intent main event, right? With the weapons, and the glass, and the Chamber, and Nathan fucking Cage... ringing any bells? Bueller? Bueller?"

He furrows his brow.

"And if you spent more time doing research on me for this match, and less time yelling at the clouds, you'd know that I didn't just win one match and become champion. I'm on quite the undefeated streak here in NLW, where I started under a mask by the name of El Chico Promedio. And even if you hadn't paid attention to Chico, and you were only looking at me, you should obviously know that I didn't just get a match because of who I am. I got that championship match spot because I lasted all the way to fourth place in the XHF Rumble this year. And another thing, if you were--"

Seth starts to get amped up but he calms himself down, taking a few deep breaths.

"Nevermind. Forget it.

Why am I wasting my breath helping you understand the man you're about to face at Night of Champions? Less is more. Go on and assume what you will about me then. Ramble till the end of time about how my accomplishments in AWF don't matter, but your non-NLW wins do. Tell us all about how I only got my championship shot off of name recognition, ignoring the fact that I'm on an undefeated streak in NLW. I'll let you think what you want to think. I thrive in the world of the underdog."

Seth grins and takes off his sunglasses.

"Actually, I should be thanking you, Finn. I was feeling a little feckless about this match, like there wasn't much passion or fanfare from either of us. But then you walked in and made the mistake that dozens of competitors like you have made before. You made me the underdog. And as so many XHF Legends have learned -- including our mutual friend, Mr. Tommy Kelly -- the absolute worst thing you can do is make me the underdog.

It's where I live.

It's where I thrive.

You're gonna get a whole crash course in Dillinger at Night of Champions, Finn.

But hey, positive note?"

Seth leans in close to the camera, as if whispering another secret.

"Nobody makes the mistake of underestimating me twice."

He leans back and winks.

"So at least you'll have that going for you!"

Seth slips his sunglasses back on quickly and darts off to the side.

Fade to black.