Post by Mongo the Destroyer on Jun 30, 2023 20:35:22 GMT -5
*It’s late; things are closing up at the gym where one Nelly Angel has been spending the evening. Has he been training himself or others? It isn’t clear. He’s in his wrestling tights and a tank top as he checks to make sure everything is in pristine condition before he walks to the door and turns out the lights. One last check over everything, it’s all dark, probably fine. He walks out what looks to be a back door and after closing it he starts to fish around in his pockets. Meanwhile he turns to the camera.*
Nelly: For those of you who don’t know, I’m Nelly Angel. I’m an original XHF alumni and a multiple-time XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion. I’m proud of what I’ve done and the length of my career.
*He finds what he was looking for but keeps talking.*
Nelly: But when I joined the XHF Network at its launch I was introduced to a position I hadn’t ever really imagined myself in. You see, when Felix Ziko looked at my resume, my legend status, my accolades, he didn’t put me into the upper echelons of AWF.
*The younger Angel brother’s mood seems to grow increasingly bad.*
Nelly: No. Felix thought to himself, “I’ll use this legend to test our new talent!” And so I became AWF’s gatekeeper.
*With a sigh, Nelly moves the key he had been looking for in his hand and locks the door of the gym. He starts walking down a pathway lit only by streetlights on the dark night.*
Nelly: So whenever a new guy would win a title, guess who’d be his first challenger? Nelly the Gatekeeper. Felix didn’t really intend for me to win, he just wanted to prove his hires could do it. Spoiler- not all of them could and I ended up being a Prestige Champion because of it. But I got sick of that so I went to FWA. I figured I could train up some of their new members.
*He looks back at the gym as he walks away. This isn’t their gym for sure, but he might be training people in it.*
Nelly: But almost immediately after I signed on to help their developmental program- the program was shut down and- although I was still training the students- they were being pressed onto the main roster right away. And me?
*Reaching the end of the path Nelly walks through a gate, shutting it behind him.*
Nelly: Oh I was relegated to gatekeeper. FWA’s administration felt that a legend like me would be perfect for testing their talent.
*A sigh and an eye roll follows that one. Nelly leans against the stone archway that outlines the gate.*
Nelly: I didn’t stick around- and as it turns out, neither did FWA. I’ve moved around the Network a bit since then. When GUNS called me for this season I assumed that- being run by XHF alumni like myself- that I’d finally have a chance to show my worth again.
*He hangs his head down.*
Nelly: Magnus thought he was hiring an interviewer. And Venom?
*Without saying anything Nelly pulls a key ring from his pocket and starts twirling it with his finger.*
Nelly: And here we are. So that Venom’s son, El Rey, can prove himself he has to beat me. “Gatekeeper” Nelly Angel.
*Another sigh.*
Nelly: Well let me tell you something. I’m a darn good gatekeeper as it turns out, and do you know why? Because I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be guarding the gates for some young punk to try to beat his way in. Look, El Rey, I’m not stupid. I know you’ve already been X*Crown Champion, I know you’ve been doing well as the XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion. I know your dad is just being a dick. But this match is different for me.
*He points the key ringed finger at the camera.*
Nelly: To you I’m just another obstacle that’s been put in front of you. To your dad this match is the gateway to his respect. To me though? This is my chance to prove to you, your dad, and everyone at home that still have it. This is my chance to show that I’m more than just a gatekeeper- that I deserve to be in the title picture because of my skill and not just my status. This is my chance to show the world that Nelly Angel isn’t so easily forgotten.
*Angel turns around and locks the gate behind him, then returns his attention to the camera.*
Nelly: I don’t want to be here. Now don’t get this wrong, you’re not going to get me half-heartedly going through the motions because I don’t want the match. No I want the match. I want to face you El Rey and I want to prove that I am on your level or better. When I say I don’t want to be here it means that I’m hungry for more than just gate keeping. And if it means holding the door to your dad’s respect? Then so be it.
*He knocks on the metal gate, it clangs and clatters in response.*
Nelly: I’ll see you at the XHF Birthday Show, El Rey. Bring your best, because I’m more than a gatekeeper and I’m out here to prove it. If you try to lazy your way through me you’ll find out exactly why Scorpion told you to be wary of more experienced people. Because El Rey, as far as I’m concerned I’m not the gatekeeper to your success, you’re the gatekeeper to mine.
*With one last bang on the gate with his fist, Nelly Angel walks out of the frame and we get a full view of the metal gates. They read, “GUNS.” We fade out.*
Nelly: For those of you who don’t know, I’m Nelly Angel. I’m an original XHF alumni and a multiple-time XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion. I’m proud of what I’ve done and the length of my career.
*He finds what he was looking for but keeps talking.*
Nelly: But when I joined the XHF Network at its launch I was introduced to a position I hadn’t ever really imagined myself in. You see, when Felix Ziko looked at my resume, my legend status, my accolades, he didn’t put me into the upper echelons of AWF.
*The younger Angel brother’s mood seems to grow increasingly bad.*
Nelly: No. Felix thought to himself, “I’ll use this legend to test our new talent!” And so I became AWF’s gatekeeper.
*With a sigh, Nelly moves the key he had been looking for in his hand and locks the door of the gym. He starts walking down a pathway lit only by streetlights on the dark night.*
Nelly: So whenever a new guy would win a title, guess who’d be his first challenger? Nelly the Gatekeeper. Felix didn’t really intend for me to win, he just wanted to prove his hires could do it. Spoiler- not all of them could and I ended up being a Prestige Champion because of it. But I got sick of that so I went to FWA. I figured I could train up some of their new members.
*He looks back at the gym as he walks away. This isn’t their gym for sure, but he might be training people in it.*
Nelly: But almost immediately after I signed on to help their developmental program- the program was shut down and- although I was still training the students- they were being pressed onto the main roster right away. And me?
*Reaching the end of the path Nelly walks through a gate, shutting it behind him.*
Nelly: Oh I was relegated to gatekeeper. FWA’s administration felt that a legend like me would be perfect for testing their talent.
*A sigh and an eye roll follows that one. Nelly leans against the stone archway that outlines the gate.*
Nelly: I didn’t stick around- and as it turns out, neither did FWA. I’ve moved around the Network a bit since then. When GUNS called me for this season I assumed that- being run by XHF alumni like myself- that I’d finally have a chance to show my worth again.
*He hangs his head down.*
Nelly: Magnus thought he was hiring an interviewer. And Venom?
*Without saying anything Nelly pulls a key ring from his pocket and starts twirling it with his finger.*
Nelly: And here we are. So that Venom’s son, El Rey, can prove himself he has to beat me. “Gatekeeper” Nelly Angel.
*Another sigh.*
Nelly: Well let me tell you something. I’m a darn good gatekeeper as it turns out, and do you know why? Because I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be guarding the gates for some young punk to try to beat his way in. Look, El Rey, I’m not stupid. I know you’ve already been X*Crown Champion, I know you’ve been doing well as the XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion. I know your dad is just being a dick. But this match is different for me.
*He points the key ringed finger at the camera.*
Nelly: To you I’m just another obstacle that’s been put in front of you. To your dad this match is the gateway to his respect. To me though? This is my chance to prove to you, your dad, and everyone at home that still have it. This is my chance to show that I’m more than just a gatekeeper- that I deserve to be in the title picture because of my skill and not just my status. This is my chance to show the world that Nelly Angel isn’t so easily forgotten.
*Angel turns around and locks the gate behind him, then returns his attention to the camera.*
Nelly: I don’t want to be here. Now don’t get this wrong, you’re not going to get me half-heartedly going through the motions because I don’t want the match. No I want the match. I want to face you El Rey and I want to prove that I am on your level or better. When I say I don’t want to be here it means that I’m hungry for more than just gate keeping. And if it means holding the door to your dad’s respect? Then so be it.
*He knocks on the metal gate, it clangs and clatters in response.*
Nelly: I’ll see you at the XHF Birthday Show, El Rey. Bring your best, because I’m more than a gatekeeper and I’m out here to prove it. If you try to lazy your way through me you’ll find out exactly why Scorpion told you to be wary of more experienced people. Because El Rey, as far as I’m concerned I’m not the gatekeeper to your success, you’re the gatekeeper to mine.
*With one last bang on the gate with his fist, Nelly Angel walks out of the frame and we get a full view of the metal gates. They read, “GUNS.” We fade out.*