Certain Uncertainty [Jam Sessions Ep.20 RP]
May 25, 2023 21:08:37 GMT -5
Kira Izumi and mosler like this
Post by Jack Diamond on May 25, 2023 21:08:37 GMT -5
The scene opens to a somewhat quiet Diamond Training Facility. Jack Diamond stood inside one of the rings, his focus clearly on the upcoming tasks that were before him, both inside and out of the squared circle. With just a week remaining before his journey to Japan for a match against James Raymond in J-ROK, his mind was consumed by thoughts of preparation, strategy, and the consequences of the impending battle.
As he went through one of his training routines, Jack's thoughts were a whirlwind of anticipation. Sure, he was confident, but the flight to Japan could be daunting for even the most experienced. There was a real possibility of losing his coveted Tap Out Openweight Championship to James and that thought loomed over him like a storm. He couldn't afford to underestimate his opponent or let complacency cloud his judgment. The stakes were too high.
Jack tossed a towel over his shoulder, and took a moment to catch his breath as his mind momentarily wandered. What would it mean if he DID lose the title to James Raymond? Would it tarnish his legacy or push him to strive for even greater heights? It would surely kill all leverage he had in his Tap Out contract talks. The uncertainty ate at him, but you’d never know it by looking at him. He was cool, calm and collected.
Suddenly, the sound of the gym's door opening snapped Jack out of his daze. It was his longtime agent, Vince Silverman, striding purposefully towards the ring. Vince's presence brought a mix of relief and apprehension. He was the voice of reason, the one who handled the business side of Jack's career, but their discussions lately had been tense, revolving around the ongoing contract negotiations with Tap Out Wrestling.
Jack Diamond: Vinny! What brings you here today? More contract talks?
There was a weariness in Jack’s voice as he spoke. Vince was climbing up the ring steps with a stack of papers in his hand. He held them in his left hand and slapped the top of them with the back of his right. A somber look on his face.
Vince Silverman: Jack, we need to have a serious discussion. Cross has been playing hardball and I haven’t been able to make ANY headway.
Jack grimaced. Just the mention of Cross’ name sent a jolt of anger through Jack’s veins. He knew the negotiations had been dragging on, and Cross's reluctance to come to an agreement only added fuel to the fire. His grip on the championship tightened as he listened intently to Vince's next words.
Vince Silverman: I've come up with a list of demands to present to Cross, if he’ll meet with us. We won't accept anything less than a fair deal. I don’t know what game he’s playing at by agreeing to send you to J-ROK, but I am going to make it clear to him that if he doesn’t meet us in the middle then there could be some real consequences.
A nervous smile formed in the corners of Jack's mouth as he listened to Vince. He understood the hidden threat that Vince was planning to delicately weave into the conversation. Losing the championship to James Raymond in J-ROK would not only crush Tap Out Wrestling's reputation but also have ripple effects throughout the XHF Network. Cross wouldn’t want to deal with those ramifications. He would have to scramble to find a way to keep Jack happy and motivated to get the job done overseas. On second thought, the whole thing could backfire. Jack will be at the Sands the night before his flight. What lengths would Cross be willing to go to so that he can guarantee his title doesn’t get lost in the land of the rising sun?
Jack Diamond: Vinny, I hope you know what you’re doing. I trust you to play the mind games with Cross, just know that I’m willing to defend this title with everything I've got. If anyone thinks I'll roll over and let my championship slip away, they’re gravely mistaken. J-ROK will witness the true greatness of Jack Diamond.
Vince nodded, his expression filled with a mix of pride and concern. He slapped Jack on the side of his arm with the rolled up paperwork. As he exited the ring he stopped halfway down the steps. Holding up the papers to Jack.
Vince Silverman: I know you’ve got this, Jackie-boy. But I'll make sure Cross understands the gravity of the situation. We won't back down and we won’t bend a knee in this.
Jack agreed. He knew that Vince was excellent in negotiations and he believed it was all going to work out. With their conversation done, Jack refocused his attention back to the task at hand. First he had a match at Tap Out Wrestling 13 in just four days, and James Raymond wasn't the only opponent on his mind. The stage was set for a tag team showdown, and he and Jason Long would be expected to shine like only the Icons can. Close Collins and Jackalope would love nothing more than to sour the night. Still though, the match with Raymond had far greater implications. Jack's mind shifted gears, transitioning from contemplation to trash-talk.
Jack Diamond: Hey, James Raymond…
Jack called out with a confident smirk, imagining himself face to face with his upcoming rival. Of course, there was no one around.
Jack Diamond: You've been riding on Jason's coattails for far too long. It's time for you to step out of his shadow and face me, the Tap Out Openweight Champion, Jack Fucking Diamond, head-on.
Jack paced around the ring, his voice filled with a mixture of mockery and bravado.
Jack Diamond: You've been holding a grudge against me and Bobby Barratt since the Icon days. You couldn’t understand why Mav wanted to hang with us instead of you.
Jack smiles.
Jack Diamond: It’s because you simply weren’t on our level, in or out of the ring. Well, here's your chance to finally prove yourself. You are one on one with one of the greatest to ever lace his boots. You'll soon realize that any vendetta you have against me is a mistake.
He paused, letting his words sink in. The intensity in his eyes burned like fire as he continued with contempt in his voice.
Jack Diamond: When we step into that ring, I will remind you why you never reached the same heights as the Icons. Sure, your resume would be impressive to some. Even plenty of titles to your name, but I am a two-time X*Crown champion, a former tag champ, the current GFC champ and I hold the Tap Out Openweight Championship, a title that I would put on the same level with any belt in the network. I am the standard-bearer, the measuring stick of this industry, and you, James, will fall short once again. New Age Killer…
Jack scoffs. The words echoed through the empty gym. He couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline wash over him. The thought of facing James and proving his dominance on his way to retaining his championship yet again ignited a fierce determination within him. In a final taunting gesture, Jack raised the Tap Out Openweight Championship high above his head.
Jack Diamond: James Raymond, prepare to witness firsthand the glory of Jack Fucking Diamond. Your hopes of capturing this title will crumble. Your grudge against me will be shattered. The Ace of Spades will reign supreme, and there's nothing you can do to stop it.
With that, Jack Diamond slammed the championship belt down onto the ring canvas, the loud thud punctuating his declaration. The scene fades to black as Jack stares daggers in on one and everyone all at the same time.
As he went through one of his training routines, Jack's thoughts were a whirlwind of anticipation. Sure, he was confident, but the flight to Japan could be daunting for even the most experienced. There was a real possibility of losing his coveted Tap Out Openweight Championship to James and that thought loomed over him like a storm. He couldn't afford to underestimate his opponent or let complacency cloud his judgment. The stakes were too high.
Jack tossed a towel over his shoulder, and took a moment to catch his breath as his mind momentarily wandered. What would it mean if he DID lose the title to James Raymond? Would it tarnish his legacy or push him to strive for even greater heights? It would surely kill all leverage he had in his Tap Out contract talks. The uncertainty ate at him, but you’d never know it by looking at him. He was cool, calm and collected.
Suddenly, the sound of the gym's door opening snapped Jack out of his daze. It was his longtime agent, Vince Silverman, striding purposefully towards the ring. Vince's presence brought a mix of relief and apprehension. He was the voice of reason, the one who handled the business side of Jack's career, but their discussions lately had been tense, revolving around the ongoing contract negotiations with Tap Out Wrestling.
Jack Diamond: Vinny! What brings you here today? More contract talks?
There was a weariness in Jack’s voice as he spoke. Vince was climbing up the ring steps with a stack of papers in his hand. He held them in his left hand and slapped the top of them with the back of his right. A somber look on his face.
Vince Silverman: Jack, we need to have a serious discussion. Cross has been playing hardball and I haven’t been able to make ANY headway.
Jack grimaced. Just the mention of Cross’ name sent a jolt of anger through Jack’s veins. He knew the negotiations had been dragging on, and Cross's reluctance to come to an agreement only added fuel to the fire. His grip on the championship tightened as he listened intently to Vince's next words.
Vince Silverman: I've come up with a list of demands to present to Cross, if he’ll meet with us. We won't accept anything less than a fair deal. I don’t know what game he’s playing at by agreeing to send you to J-ROK, but I am going to make it clear to him that if he doesn’t meet us in the middle then there could be some real consequences.
A nervous smile formed in the corners of Jack's mouth as he listened to Vince. He understood the hidden threat that Vince was planning to delicately weave into the conversation. Losing the championship to James Raymond in J-ROK would not only crush Tap Out Wrestling's reputation but also have ripple effects throughout the XHF Network. Cross wouldn’t want to deal with those ramifications. He would have to scramble to find a way to keep Jack happy and motivated to get the job done overseas. On second thought, the whole thing could backfire. Jack will be at the Sands the night before his flight. What lengths would Cross be willing to go to so that he can guarantee his title doesn’t get lost in the land of the rising sun?
Jack Diamond: Vinny, I hope you know what you’re doing. I trust you to play the mind games with Cross, just know that I’m willing to defend this title with everything I've got. If anyone thinks I'll roll over and let my championship slip away, they’re gravely mistaken. J-ROK will witness the true greatness of Jack Diamond.
Vince nodded, his expression filled with a mix of pride and concern. He slapped Jack on the side of his arm with the rolled up paperwork. As he exited the ring he stopped halfway down the steps. Holding up the papers to Jack.
Vince Silverman: I know you’ve got this, Jackie-boy. But I'll make sure Cross understands the gravity of the situation. We won't back down and we won’t bend a knee in this.
Jack agreed. He knew that Vince was excellent in negotiations and he believed it was all going to work out. With their conversation done, Jack refocused his attention back to the task at hand. First he had a match at Tap Out Wrestling 13 in just four days, and James Raymond wasn't the only opponent on his mind. The stage was set for a tag team showdown, and he and Jason Long would be expected to shine like only the Icons can. Close Collins and Jackalope would love nothing more than to sour the night. Still though, the match with Raymond had far greater implications. Jack's mind shifted gears, transitioning from contemplation to trash-talk.
Jack Diamond: Hey, James Raymond…
Jack called out with a confident smirk, imagining himself face to face with his upcoming rival. Of course, there was no one around.
Jack Diamond: You've been riding on Jason's coattails for far too long. It's time for you to step out of his shadow and face me, the Tap Out Openweight Champion, Jack Fucking Diamond, head-on.
Jack paced around the ring, his voice filled with a mixture of mockery and bravado.
Jack Diamond: You've been holding a grudge against me and Bobby Barratt since the Icon days. You couldn’t understand why Mav wanted to hang with us instead of you.
Jack smiles.
Jack Diamond: It’s because you simply weren’t on our level, in or out of the ring. Well, here's your chance to finally prove yourself. You are one on one with one of the greatest to ever lace his boots. You'll soon realize that any vendetta you have against me is a mistake.
He paused, letting his words sink in. The intensity in his eyes burned like fire as he continued with contempt in his voice.
Jack Diamond: When we step into that ring, I will remind you why you never reached the same heights as the Icons. Sure, your resume would be impressive to some. Even plenty of titles to your name, but I am a two-time X*Crown champion, a former tag champ, the current GFC champ and I hold the Tap Out Openweight Championship, a title that I would put on the same level with any belt in the network. I am the standard-bearer, the measuring stick of this industry, and you, James, will fall short once again. New Age Killer…
Jack scoffs. The words echoed through the empty gym. He couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline wash over him. The thought of facing James and proving his dominance on his way to retaining his championship yet again ignited a fierce determination within him. In a final taunting gesture, Jack raised the Tap Out Openweight Championship high above his head.
Jack Diamond: James Raymond, prepare to witness firsthand the glory of Jack Fucking Diamond. Your hopes of capturing this title will crumble. Your grudge against me will be shattered. The Ace of Spades will reign supreme, and there's nothing you can do to stop it.
With that, Jack Diamond slammed the championship belt down onto the ring canvas, the loud thud punctuating his declaration. The scene fades to black as Jack stares daggers in on one and everyone all at the same time.