Post Event Press Conference
Feb 8, 2023 19:13:31 GMT -5
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Post by Cross Recoba on Feb 8, 2023 19:13:31 GMT -5
The assembled press waited patiently for their next star to emerge to face their post-event questions. A few of the older faces check their watches, the habit of making the deadline for print still lies ingrained in their system as second nature.
Eschewing an introduction, Cross Recoba emerges from the back and makes his way to his seat at the center of the table, the HCW Diamond Title over his shoulder. A knot can be seen forming on his forehead, no doubt caused by Armand von Krauss’ headbutt in his match earlier in the night. Pulling out the chair, he unbuttons his blazer as he sits down.
Cross Recoba: Evening, ladies and gentlemen. Who wants to kick off the questions and, please, if you could start off with something relatively easy it’d be appreciated and you’ll all get better copy to file.
A throng of hands go up and Cross points towards a man we saw earlier in the night.
Oliver Davis: Hi, Cross. Oliver Davis, Wrestle Talk. How does it feel to have fought in two different locations against two very different opponents?
Recoba smiled, this was a puffball question, if they were all like this he could pretty much engage Cruise Control.
Cross Recoba: I’m no different to anyone on the HKW roster in that respect. I took on two wrestlers who are renowned within their companies as being yardsticks and I proved just an hour or so ago that if I’d have thrown my hat into the ring for Battle for Hegemony instead of The Sheik, I’d have been the Captain on that team…not Armand.
Fiona Gabriel: Fiona Gabriel, Headlines and Headlocks. You put away Armand but you didn’t get the result against Tuxedo Mask, instead ruining your perfect record. Were you saving yourself for von Krauss? Can you keep your focus on Watts when you two meet or will Jordan be the deciding factor?
The puffball era had ended, Cross noted. He had to catch himself before his smile and visage slipped from the loaded question.
Cross Recoba: I think you’re maybe being overly simplistic, Fiona. Tuxedo and Armand are both well-respected but that’s about where the similarities end. My gameplan going against Tux was always to try and slow the match down, make it a fight where I could use my mat-game to counter his ability to soar through the skies. Armand is different, letting him have time to think just means you’re closer to getting hurt or maimed…
Fiona Gabriel: And Watts?
Cross Recoba: He technically gave me an assist. I’ll take a draw against Tuxedo Mask, I’m still undefeated and more importantly, that win against Armand will push my stock higher than just beating Tux would. Marty hasn’t been out here yet has he…
The silence confirms his statement.
Cross Recoba: Ask him if he comes out whether or not he thinks a showdown between the two of us is inevitable. He can feel his buffer zone decreasing match-by-match…
Tuna Meltzer: Tuna Meltzer, The Tuna Report, Wrestling Monthly. I have the latest HKW card hot off the press in my hand…
He holds a piece of paper with the HKW letterhead atop it.
Tuna Meltzer: You face off against Kalmin Watts in Portland. We all saw you earlier tonight in what many are saying was a panicked state that your submission wasn’t as effective as his. We saw you attack him…Pearl Harbor him to save face. Are you afraid of Watts?
Internally, Recoba made a note to cancel his subscription to the Wrestling Monthly and rescind their staff’s Tap Out press passes.
Cross Recoba: Afraid?
Cross stopped himself from openly laughing.
Cross Recoba: I saw Watts’ ‘victim’ checking his watch! The man was bored! Jordan can come out here in front of you later and dispute that but here’s the truth: Kalmin hasn’t got it upstairs to beat me. Anthony Jordan can hype the match, hype his charge’s chances up as much as he’d like but he can’t wrestle the match for him. Watts is a great talent but he’s raw and unseasoned. Sure, he has the amateur background but I don’t think he can adapt his gameplan on the fly. Jordan might think he’s the best cornerman going and is always in his client’s head but the reality is that the only thing of Kalmin’s he’s in is his wallet as he pickpockets money he didn’t earn…
Murmurs from the assembled press rise at that answer.
Brandon McKay: Brandon McKay, If The Walls Could Talk. Do you have eyes on Wrestle: UK’s British Television Championship? You are, after all, still waiting on your first title on the XHF Network…
Despite an impulse to answer immediately, Recoba ‘Hollywooded’ the question as if giving it great consideration.
Cross Recoba: Firstly, Brandon, we’ve met. You were, I’m sorry to say, sent on a bit of a suicide mission when you interviewed Poena ahead of the Tap Out Openweight Tournament…how’s the hand?
McKay wiggled his hand to make a show delivered with a faint smile.
Cross Recoba: Excellent, but to your question…why would I want a third-rate title? Why would I want a title that has so far been held by a former ReVenant and Watts? It’s fine for Kalmin, he can keep it but there’s only two belts on the Network I want. For one, I can get a shot anytime I want with this…
Recoba pats the HCW Diamond title.
Cross Recoba: The other? Watts can feel like he’s part of something important when I make him tap out and go on to topple Marty Donovan as the HKW World Heavyweight Champion…I’ve got time for one more question and then I’m going to have to make my way back to Vegas…
Fred LaPrade: Fred LaPrade, The Times of London. Can you handle a defeat to Kalmin? After all, the only thing you’ve told us since you came to Hardkore World is that you’re the best wrestler on the Network and we should all take that for granted…but what if you lose? Will you be able to take it?
Cross did his best to remain composed. He let out what was almost a snort.
Cross Recoba: Mr LaPrade, I’ve lost on the Network before but Watts isn’t in the same class as Erin Gordon or Bloodied Fox…Thank you all for coming today.
Cross stands and nods to the crowd of journalists before walking towards the curtain.
Fred LaPrade: You forgot to mention Chris Card!
Eschewing an introduction, Cross Recoba emerges from the back and makes his way to his seat at the center of the table, the HCW Diamond Title over his shoulder. A knot can be seen forming on his forehead, no doubt caused by Armand von Krauss’ headbutt in his match earlier in the night. Pulling out the chair, he unbuttons his blazer as he sits down.
Cross Recoba: Evening, ladies and gentlemen. Who wants to kick off the questions and, please, if you could start off with something relatively easy it’d be appreciated and you’ll all get better copy to file.
A throng of hands go up and Cross points towards a man we saw earlier in the night.
Oliver Davis: Hi, Cross. Oliver Davis, Wrestle Talk. How does it feel to have fought in two different locations against two very different opponents?
Recoba smiled, this was a puffball question, if they were all like this he could pretty much engage Cruise Control.
Cross Recoba: I’m no different to anyone on the HKW roster in that respect. I took on two wrestlers who are renowned within their companies as being yardsticks and I proved just an hour or so ago that if I’d have thrown my hat into the ring for Battle for Hegemony instead of The Sheik, I’d have been the Captain on that team…not Armand.
Fiona Gabriel: Fiona Gabriel, Headlines and Headlocks. You put away Armand but you didn’t get the result against Tuxedo Mask, instead ruining your perfect record. Were you saving yourself for von Krauss? Can you keep your focus on Watts when you two meet or will Jordan be the deciding factor?
The puffball era had ended, Cross noted. He had to catch himself before his smile and visage slipped from the loaded question.
Cross Recoba: I think you’re maybe being overly simplistic, Fiona. Tuxedo and Armand are both well-respected but that’s about where the similarities end. My gameplan going against Tux was always to try and slow the match down, make it a fight where I could use my mat-game to counter his ability to soar through the skies. Armand is different, letting him have time to think just means you’re closer to getting hurt or maimed…
Fiona Gabriel: And Watts?
Cross Recoba: He technically gave me an assist. I’ll take a draw against Tuxedo Mask, I’m still undefeated and more importantly, that win against Armand will push my stock higher than just beating Tux would. Marty hasn’t been out here yet has he…
The silence confirms his statement.
Cross Recoba: Ask him if he comes out whether or not he thinks a showdown between the two of us is inevitable. He can feel his buffer zone decreasing match-by-match…
Tuna Meltzer: Tuna Meltzer, The Tuna Report, Wrestling Monthly. I have the latest HKW card hot off the press in my hand…
He holds a piece of paper with the HKW letterhead atop it.
Tuna Meltzer: You face off against Kalmin Watts in Portland. We all saw you earlier tonight in what many are saying was a panicked state that your submission wasn’t as effective as his. We saw you attack him…Pearl Harbor him to save face. Are you afraid of Watts?
Internally, Recoba made a note to cancel his subscription to the Wrestling Monthly and rescind their staff’s Tap Out press passes.
Cross Recoba: Afraid?
Cross stopped himself from openly laughing.
Cross Recoba: I saw Watts’ ‘victim’ checking his watch! The man was bored! Jordan can come out here in front of you later and dispute that but here’s the truth: Kalmin hasn’t got it upstairs to beat me. Anthony Jordan can hype the match, hype his charge’s chances up as much as he’d like but he can’t wrestle the match for him. Watts is a great talent but he’s raw and unseasoned. Sure, he has the amateur background but I don’t think he can adapt his gameplan on the fly. Jordan might think he’s the best cornerman going and is always in his client’s head but the reality is that the only thing of Kalmin’s he’s in is his wallet as he pickpockets money he didn’t earn…
Murmurs from the assembled press rise at that answer.
Brandon McKay: Brandon McKay, If The Walls Could Talk. Do you have eyes on Wrestle: UK’s British Television Championship? You are, after all, still waiting on your first title on the XHF Network…
Despite an impulse to answer immediately, Recoba ‘Hollywooded’ the question as if giving it great consideration.
Cross Recoba: Firstly, Brandon, we’ve met. You were, I’m sorry to say, sent on a bit of a suicide mission when you interviewed Poena ahead of the Tap Out Openweight Tournament…how’s the hand?
McKay wiggled his hand to make a show delivered with a faint smile.
Cross Recoba: Excellent, but to your question…why would I want a third-rate title? Why would I want a title that has so far been held by a former ReVenant and Watts? It’s fine for Kalmin, he can keep it but there’s only two belts on the Network I want. For one, I can get a shot anytime I want with this…
Recoba pats the HCW Diamond title.
Cross Recoba: The other? Watts can feel like he’s part of something important when I make him tap out and go on to topple Marty Donovan as the HKW World Heavyweight Champion…I’ve got time for one more question and then I’m going to have to make my way back to Vegas…
Fred LaPrade: Fred LaPrade, The Times of London. Can you handle a defeat to Kalmin? After all, the only thing you’ve told us since you came to Hardkore World is that you’re the best wrestler on the Network and we should all take that for granted…but what if you lose? Will you be able to take it?
Cross did his best to remain composed. He let out what was almost a snort.
Cross Recoba: Mr LaPrade, I’ve lost on the Network before but Watts isn’t in the same class as Erin Gordon or Bloodied Fox…Thank you all for coming today.
Cross stands and nods to the crowd of journalists before walking towards the curtain.
Fred LaPrade: You forgot to mention Chris Card!
