Tapping Out on Validation [Dylan Rumble #4]

[Dylan]

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Does everyone really think I am after their validation? Is everyone under the impression I am here to shake hands and pay respects to all of them as the X*Crown Champion?

Dylan shakes his head.

Nuh-uh! I'm not here for any of that. I'm not here to impress everyone with my reign. I did that shit three years ago when I cemented myself with my first X*Crown reign! I toured the feds giving places who'd never had a lick of the X*Crown get their shots, all while flying back to Japan the next day and defending against the very BEST J-RoK had to offer! I am the innovator of the touring title project! I began my X*Crown run defending in Destiny and NLW and two months later the Junior Heavyweight Championship is thrown into a similar rotation! And just two months ago the Tag Team Championships entered the fray as well. So pardon me for not wanting to work such an intense schedule, Cross. I earned my place years ago but now that TAPOUT isn't getting a spot in the rotation from the X*Crown, now you want to make a fuss?

Dylan rolls his eyes.

Yeah, Cross. I sold out. I sold out because the landscape of the XHF has changed. Suddenly there are almost half a dozen-year-old feds companies who haven't finished getting their feet wet and I should be giving those companies, those unproven wrestlers the handout of a lifetime? Even when I was in touch with my roots, the Savior of the Alt-Feds wasn't taking handouts to get where he was. I had to drag myself through Call to Arms, Overheated, and Night of Champions to even make an IMPRESSION with the higher-ups! I earned a match with Rob Arnold through sheer grit and determination. I grabbed that shot by the throat and ran with it! And after I beat Rob, I wanted the light to shine down on people who were less fortunate than me. I gave handouts to people you'd NEVER see in X*Crown matches otherwise! Keith Williams, Big Bone, and even Adrien Cochrane! Without the opportunities I gave them, they would NEVER get to know a lick of the X*Crown Championship otherwise.

He folds his arms in front of him.

But I think what makes me laugh the most Cross, is calling me a "FIRESIDE Champion keeping to GUNS." Should I remind you that before FIRESIDE hot potatoes the X*Crown AWF did it for a year and a half? But run down my defenses Cross. If anything you should be THANKFUL that Jason Long had the balls to challenge me, twice! He did his best to challenge me and came up short but it's still more than anyone else on the TAPOUT roster. So don't come crying wolf as I beat your best back. Jack Diamond isn't going to get the chance to throw me out of the ring. Random, as much a wildcard as you hype her up to be is in a whole new pond. Wildcat just doesn't have what it takes to hang with the big kids. TAPOUT, as far as I'm concerned, the Box Office Bore will not be getting to see the X*Crown as long as you keep stepping on your own roster for the opportunities better men deserve.

And concerning people stepping over rosters to steal opportunities, Cross has a point. How is Jack Diamond going to balance his school, the TAPOUT Openweight Championship, the GUNS Fight Club Championship, the X*Crown Championship, and his recovering family life? He won't! I know that once Jack finally reaches the pinnacle of his career, we'll see another of his patented falls from grace where he loses everything and walks the fuck on home. I've seen this song and dance before and I'm not keen on watching the reruns of Diamonds Are Forever part deux. Besides, I might be able to get over the sting of losing to Jack Diamond. But I could never let you do the X*Crown injustice by defending it against the likes of Jason Long, Poena, or Tommy Strychnine. You lead a wild locker room of undeserving brats at TAPOUT and letting the X*Crown sink into that rotation, where Adrien Cochrane would be allowed to come back and get another shot for nothing? THAT CAN'T HAPPEN!

Dylan spits on the ground.

But you criticize my leadership skills? I curated a roster of KILLERS for GUNS Fight Club Season 2, with the Icons as my lieutenants and you got the job done. I will say that much. But I put faith in my team, in the Icons and associated killers because I knew each and every one of them were great fighters and THEY failed ME. I didn't train them. I didn't coach them. I drafted FAILURES! I tried to give some people advice but somehow the most well-put-together team can't pull it together to beat drunks like Randy Angel, Greg Adkins, and Steve Awesome, washed-up GUNS has-beens like Venom, Rob Arnold, and Spike Kane, and Wildcat Capone. THEY ALL COULDN'T GET THE JOB DONE WHEN I ASKED THEM TO, and now I look like a fool for trusting the Icons.

He buries his head in his hands.

But Jack Diamond is the fool for campaigning to make Dylan an honorary Icon? Jack, you guys were full-on going to use me to win the Call to Arms tournament. And you all couldn't even make it through the first round! Mav, Bobby, and JFK couldn't bring the heat but you and I, we made a fucking stand. BUT I WAS THE ONE CARRYING THE ICON FLAG AT THE VERY END! I was the last stand for your team but somehow I'm the one riding your coattails to victory? I'm the one using the Icons? Fuck the Icons. You guys were only shit because you ran AWF. Outside of that, Bobby was a bitch in AXW. Jason hops from fed to fed like a druggie hops cheap hookers. And Jack... well I hope my thoughts are clear enough about you. Whatever respect and admiration you've been feigning for the last five years, I know it's faker than Dakota's Big O's.

He smiles. Papa RB taught him well as a #FuckMongo affiliate.

But nothing is as fake as the chances of Aiden Merric or Wildcat Capone winning the Rumble. Personally, I hope Aiden Merric kicks Jack's ass for the GFC Title but that's as far as I want to wish a guy like him to succeed. Every time I've come close to facing off with him he's been nothing but weak. That's why I kicked his ass in the first Brawl for All tournament. But he showed me in that fight that he's resilient, and he hits like a fucking truck. That's why I picked him for Team Black, and that's why he's my pick to beat Jack Diamond.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dylan recorded this in the GFC Locker Room during the Diamond/Merric match and missed the ending, so he doesn't even know who won. Yet. He's disappointed in you, Aiden.

And Wildcat Capone... fuck. I had sung high praises for you, and then I watched your work. You're dog shit. You're so dog shit you make Terrian Bradshachrane look like a legitimate wrestler. You're not worth the time I'd spend shitting on you so do me a favor, look yourself in the mirror, and then smash your own head on the corner of the sink. Because you deserve some of the brain damage you've given other people for watching your work.

Dylan dusts his hands off.

Random McConalogue though... that's an interesting character. You're the newest on the scene in TAPOUT and you've struck up an impressive winning streak lately. I genuinely don't have anything bad to say because you've not come and stepped on my toes so I don't have to deal with you. I just hope you're out of the match before I show up because when I do, heads are rolling and I'm beating the shit out of everyone I see in that ring. When you get back home to Vegas, do me a favor and work your way up the ladder of TAPOUT. Take that title from Jack Diamond. Everyone is so concerned that I'm not a worthy figurehead, a good representative for the XHF but they put scumbag Jack in charge of TAPOUT. I know you can do better.

He claps his hands together.

And that folks is the fruit of my labor for going to TAPOUT and egging them on to come to challenge my throne. Cross Recoba, I hope that paycheck was worth it because I'm going to take each of your guys in the match, smash their teeth down their throats, and send them back home with nothing but pats on the back from XHF Brass.

And after I've won the Rumble?

Maybe I'll come touring again.

I'm just gonna hit the other Sin City company first.

Lord knows SCCW has better representation than TAPOUT ever will.

Fin.

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