Post by Robbie A on Apr 25, 2018 19:29:41 GMT -5
Hey, it’s me, sorry to have missed your call.
Yeah, I’m fine, I’ve just arrived in Madrid, I’ve left the Guns company now. It’s not what I was expecting, but I think it’s done me some good. Originally I thought hard training and pure focus would be perfect, but I was in danger of going overboard. Spending time with Venom and Mueller reminded me that sometimes its good to spend time with like minded guys, you can shoot strategy around, and you may pick up on something you missed before. So it was good to spend four or five days doing that amongst the driving and the sightseeing, granted the latter was somewhat of a mess in places, but we’re all three different and complex guys, so it was bound to be hit and miss. I’ve got a few days now to get back to the final parts of my training, planning, and getting used to my surroundings.
Anyway, how is everything with you?
That poor sod. I knew Lisa would start going into planning overdrive with the wedding. So he’s been hiding in the bar essentially as refuge? That’s as equally hilarious as it is sad. Still, if he’s in there so much you can actually have a shift off, or even a weekend? You know I worry you work too hard sometimes...Yes, I know I am the pot calling the kettle black right now, but I’ve walked away before, I could always do it again. You haven’t broken the cycle yet...Well just think about it, that’s all I’m saying.
No, I won’t be over for a few weeks. The Rumble is Sunday, then there’s an AXW show in eight days that follow. I don’t have a match right now for that show, but never say never. Besides, win or lose I will want to keep in the spotlight there.
What? I’ve never considered the concept of losing a match to you before? I guess that’s because I’ve never really considered that I may lose before. This...this is different though, the odds are a lot longer, even for me. One slip, one error, all that planning could count for nothing. You can play the perfect game and still not come out the victor, and that troubles me, no matter how much I try and ignore it, the idea keeps tapping me on the shoulder.
Of course it bothers me, you give me one man, two men, a Throne of Blood match, it doesn’t phase me. This rumble match though, there’s too many variables, too many things out of my control. I could be drawn number one, I could be drawn as the last man in, and until I stand on the ramp I’ll have little to no idea who else is in the mix still. So I’ll have to improvise, effectively, and constantly.
Well, I’m glad you think I can do it. I’m sure I can too, I just need to keep out of my own head a little.
Oh, that’s actually a really good idea. I know just the activity as well...I’ll get right on it as well...Listen, I’ll speak to you in a few days.
Welcome to the XHF Network
Your Video Is Loading…
We open to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid. Stood by the home dugout is XHF’s mainstay interviewer, Nelly Angel, he gives the camera a smile and a nod.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are merely days away from the XHF Rumble, with the feature match featuring almost countless amounts of XHF Network superstars, all of them, including myself, aiming to win the XHF Rumble and at the same time, win the X*Crown Championship. With that in mind, I would like to introduce you to one of those men, my guest at this time, Rob Arnold.”
Arnold walks up the tunnel and into view, for a change he’s not wearing a full three piece suit for the interview, instead he’s wearing a white polo shirt and navy chinos. Wrapped over each shoulder is one of his two customised X*Crown Titles. He looks around the empty stadium and smiles, before approaching Nelly.
“Nelly Angel, good to see you again!”
“Well thank you Rob, although you did interrupt my training for this.”
“Training? You have to train to be an interview-? Oh, yes of course I heard you say that you were an entrant in the rumble match. I have to say Nelly, I do hope that you and I don’t have to cross paths in the match.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I actually like you, so I don’t want to have to hurt you.”
Nelly’s face drops, realising that he was naive to think Rob was going to pay him a compliment.
“So...Why did you drag me out here?”
“Well, first of all I wanted a quieter change of pace, it’s been a fast and furious week for me, travelling across Europe with the Guns...”
“Yeah I heard about that, I also saw the picture you sent Mongo...”
“Glorious, wasn’t it?”
“...I wouldn’t use that word.”
“Well you could use so many superlatives. The bottom line is I wanted to come here and remind myself what it feels like to have that big arena feel. You see, whilst the Rumble isn’t being held in a big arena, with all those bodies, all that madness, it’ll feel like a big arena, and I wanted to feel that again before the match. This is also the home of Real Madrid, one of the most successful football teams in Europe. Did you know that in the fifties they retained the Champions league four times? They also did the same just last year, which in modern football is even more of an achievement. That’s the level of achievement that I have to emulate this weekend. That’s how good I want and need to be for the rumble match.
Now Nelly, whilst I was waiting for you to introduce me, I listened carefully to what what you said, that everybody is trying to win to become X*Crown Champion, but you made a rare error in that statement. You see, I’m not trying to win the X*Crown, I’m trying to retain the X*Crown. All those other guys, they think they have what it takes to dethrone the champion, but not many of them know how to do it. Not me, I dethroned Curtis Kanyon, and since then I have been your champion, the XHF Network’s champion. So I go into this match with a very different desire, the desire to survive.”
“Only survive?” Nelly looks confused.
“Of course, what more can I hope for? Think about it Nelly, as the match goes on and the numbers dwindle down, on the premise that I’m still there, who would you all want to take out first? You take out the most dangerous guy. What makes me the most dangerous? The sheer fact that I hold these titles. You were there at Supremacy, you saw what I had to do, the violence that I was capable of, and still am capable of. You know, everybody knows that I am capable of that, so why wouldn’t you try and get rid of me first? If you don’t and suddenly it’s just me and you, you’re in a whole lot more trouble than you would be before.”
“A...are you giving me and the rest of the competitors strategy against you?” Nelly can’t quite believe what he’s hearing.
“I’m stating the obvious, if you haven’t yet thought about it, you soon would. I’m very much aware that I am up against it. In fact, just yesterday I considered something I don’t ever consider when coming into a match. I considered that I may lose.
Let that sink in, I think I may lose these titles that I cherish so dearly. We’re into pretty new territory here Nelly so I hope it’s sinking in. It would be foolish for me not to consider it though, ol’ no balls has stacked the deck-”
“He really hates you calling him that by the way...”
“And I need to find an ace up my sleeve. No, not the former XHF wrestler, Jake Conway, but a real ace performance. Otherwise all my hard work comes to an end. So after considering that I could lose, and just how much its going to take to win, and even going so far as to worrying, me, Rob Arnold, worrying! It was starting to really get to me, I was thinking and overthinking, I was beginning to play in to no balls' hands...but then I remembered something Nelly, something really important.”
“And what was that?”
Rob smiles. “I’m Rob fucking Arnold, Nelly. I’m the X*Crown Champion. I’m the guy that you don’t back not because you don’t believe in him, but because you straight up don’t like him that much you can’t stand the idea of backing him. I’m the guy that gets the job done, simple as that.
It’s been three months, three prestigious months with me at the forefront of this company, and it has gone from strength to strength. Coincidence? I think not Nelly! I turned up to AWF a few times, and all of a sudden their moving out of hicksville and expanding, no pigs in sight. AXW has toured abroad, it’s merged with FWA, and has become one of the strongest shows on the Network. All of these things happen because I am the star power required to make it viable. These things didn’t happen when Kanyon was champion, they certainly didn’t happen when a pig was representing the company, a fucking pig, Nelly.”
Arnold shakes his head in disgust.
“Your reinvigorated confidence aside, you must have targeted a few competitors that could be the biggest risk to you defending your title?”
“I have. Honestly though Nelly, in a rumble match everybody is your biggest risk. Though admittedly there are a few people who have caught my eye, and a couple who have caught my ears too. There’s the big dogs, Bobby Barratt, Jack Diamond, and Maverick all of the Icons. They’re all top, top talents Nelly, Barratt has won the AWF Title and that can’t be ignored, Diamond, whilst he’s not had the success in terms of holding a title, he’s looked very dangerous. Maverick, whilst a little strange, has got the results lately, although what he’s doing showing old pictures of himself and his teen-moobs, I will never know. Nonetheless, will they be looking to team up and then let the best man win? Perhaps, and if that’s the case I’ll need to be very wary of that, nip it in the bud as soon as possible.
Speaking of the AWF Title, golden balls himself, the pocket rocket, Jackson Steele will be in the mix. Steele has had a lot of success in this past year, much like myself, and he’ll cause everybody in the rumble an issue.
The last AWF big hitter is a man who I’ve come across before, a man who I have bested before as well, Hyperion. There’s been a lot of rumours in the wind that he’s been hoping to get another shot at me after I bested him once, and I understand that, we all get hung up on certain losses. The thing is, is he too focused on me to not see the bigger picture. In a raging sea you have to ride the waves, not just focus on getting to land.”
Rob smirks.
“Away from the madhouse that is AWF-”
“Wait, there’s nobody else in the AWF that you think could give you a run for you money?”
“Well, some could, but I’d say those are the main guys-”
“Nobody? Are you sure?” Nelly seems to be winding up. Arnold notices this and pauses.
“Nelly? Are you okay?”
“What about me?”
“What about you, ohhhhhhhh. You want me to consider you to be a danger to my titles?” Rob twigs and his voice softens, almost in pity.
“All you ever do is assume I’m just some interviewer, but I’ve been AWF Prestige Champion, Rob, I can compete with you! If you can't accept that then I'm out of here!”
Rob pauses and nods slowly.
“Nelly, you’re absolutely right, you’re a very talented wrestler, my honest opinion is that your calling is with the microphone, but you continue to prove me and others wrong, and I respect that. It would be unfair, and downright rude for me not to consider you, and I’ll come back to that point shortly...for now though, there’s a couple more people I want to walk about, if I may?”
Nelly nods, seemingly calming down.
“Great. The next guy is somebody who I’ve never seen, and barely even heard of, but he’s making a lot of noise, and he’s showing a lot of confidence. That’s the man they call Taane. He was making a name for himself at my old buddy Spike’s fed, Combat Wrestling before it closed, now he’s looking for a new home, well Taane, let me tell you now that if you’re as good as you think you are, you’ll fit right at home in AXW, that’s if you want to truly challenge yourself.”
Rob laughs.
“Then finally, there’s Curtis Kanyon.”
Rob pauses and sighs.
“Curtis is a bit like eczema, you think you have got it under control, to the extent that it’s gone away, then boom! Comes back to annoy the hell out of you one more time. Somehow he’s now President of the United States as well, which not only disturbs me, but makes me very worried for the whole world.
Now, the point I want to come back to, is that about consideration, and rudeness. A lot of these guys, not all, but a lot have been shouting their mouths off, they’ve been listening to music or playing cards. Some haven’t even talked about the X*Crown like it exists, like they don’t care about this absolute prize. Some, don’t even have the respect to even mention the fact that I’m the champion, yet their coming for my titles, like I’m some sort of invisible champion.”
“I think I know how that feels.” Mumbles Nelly.
“Now call it my ego, call it what you like, but to me, they should be talking about me, they should be respecting me and the X*Crown, because I represent it, and it represents me.”
“Yeah that’s definitely your ego.”
Rob pauses and stares at Nelly.
“I’m sorry Nelly, are you bored? Would you rather not be here?"
“Well actually y-”
“Would you rather I had Funaki interview me?”
“Him?” Nelly scoffs. “No, I’m fine right where I am, you were saying?”
“The point is, they can play cards, listen to mixtapes, they can go play video games or dig up old photos of themselves, it doesn’t matter. Do you know what real champions do Nelly? They take on tough competitors and defend their title just a week before the XHF Rumble, they train hard, they plan. Real champions, they stay true to themselves, and then when they put it all together, they make history. Nelly, you’re good, all of these competitors, they’re good, but they will not stop me making the history that I am destined make. You know why? Because I’m Rob Arnold, and that’s what I fucking do.”
Rob smirks at the camera, and walks back down the tunnel. Nelly sighs and turns back to the camera.
“The X*Crown Champion folks, tune in this Sunday, as I, along with many, many others, try to shut that guy up!”
Hey, it’s me, how are you?
Yeah, I’m doing much better, you had sound advice. What do you mean you know? Oh, you saw the interview then? What can I say? Sometimes you just need somebody to remind you who you really are, and as we both know, I’m Rob Fucking Arnold, and sometimes, that’s enough.
Yeah, I’m fine, I’ve just arrived in Madrid, I’ve left the Guns company now. It’s not what I was expecting, but I think it’s done me some good. Originally I thought hard training and pure focus would be perfect, but I was in danger of going overboard. Spending time with Venom and Mueller reminded me that sometimes its good to spend time with like minded guys, you can shoot strategy around, and you may pick up on something you missed before. So it was good to spend four or five days doing that amongst the driving and the sightseeing, granted the latter was somewhat of a mess in places, but we’re all three different and complex guys, so it was bound to be hit and miss. I’ve got a few days now to get back to the final parts of my training, planning, and getting used to my surroundings.
Anyway, how is everything with you?
That poor sod. I knew Lisa would start going into planning overdrive with the wedding. So he’s been hiding in the bar essentially as refuge? That’s as equally hilarious as it is sad. Still, if he’s in there so much you can actually have a shift off, or even a weekend? You know I worry you work too hard sometimes...Yes, I know I am the pot calling the kettle black right now, but I’ve walked away before, I could always do it again. You haven’t broken the cycle yet...Well just think about it, that’s all I’m saying.
No, I won’t be over for a few weeks. The Rumble is Sunday, then there’s an AXW show in eight days that follow. I don’t have a match right now for that show, but never say never. Besides, win or lose I will want to keep in the spotlight there.
What? I’ve never considered the concept of losing a match to you before? I guess that’s because I’ve never really considered that I may lose before. This...this is different though, the odds are a lot longer, even for me. One slip, one error, all that planning could count for nothing. You can play the perfect game and still not come out the victor, and that troubles me, no matter how much I try and ignore it, the idea keeps tapping me on the shoulder.
Of course it bothers me, you give me one man, two men, a Throne of Blood match, it doesn’t phase me. This rumble match though, there’s too many variables, too many things out of my control. I could be drawn number one, I could be drawn as the last man in, and until I stand on the ramp I’ll have little to no idea who else is in the mix still. So I’ll have to improvise, effectively, and constantly.
Well, I’m glad you think I can do it. I’m sure I can too, I just need to keep out of my own head a little.
Oh, that’s actually a really good idea. I know just the activity as well...I’ll get right on it as well...Listen, I’ll speak to you in a few days.
Welcome to the XHF Network
Your Video Is Loading…
We open to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid. Stood by the home dugout is XHF’s mainstay interviewer, Nelly Angel, he gives the camera a smile and a nod.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are merely days away from the XHF Rumble, with the feature match featuring almost countless amounts of XHF Network superstars, all of them, including myself, aiming to win the XHF Rumble and at the same time, win the X*Crown Championship. With that in mind, I would like to introduce you to one of those men, my guest at this time, Rob Arnold.”
Arnold walks up the tunnel and into view, for a change he’s not wearing a full three piece suit for the interview, instead he’s wearing a white polo shirt and navy chinos. Wrapped over each shoulder is one of his two customised X*Crown Titles. He looks around the empty stadium and smiles, before approaching Nelly.
“Nelly Angel, good to see you again!”
“Well thank you Rob, although you did interrupt my training for this.”
“Training? You have to train to be an interview-? Oh, yes of course I heard you say that you were an entrant in the rumble match. I have to say Nelly, I do hope that you and I don’t have to cross paths in the match.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I actually like you, so I don’t want to have to hurt you.”
Nelly’s face drops, realising that he was naive to think Rob was going to pay him a compliment.
“So...Why did you drag me out here?”
“Well, first of all I wanted a quieter change of pace, it’s been a fast and furious week for me, travelling across Europe with the Guns...”
“Yeah I heard about that, I also saw the picture you sent Mongo...”
“Glorious, wasn’t it?”
“...I wouldn’t use that word.”
“Well you could use so many superlatives. The bottom line is I wanted to come here and remind myself what it feels like to have that big arena feel. You see, whilst the Rumble isn’t being held in a big arena, with all those bodies, all that madness, it’ll feel like a big arena, and I wanted to feel that again before the match. This is also the home of Real Madrid, one of the most successful football teams in Europe. Did you know that in the fifties they retained the Champions league four times? They also did the same just last year, which in modern football is even more of an achievement. That’s the level of achievement that I have to emulate this weekend. That’s how good I want and need to be for the rumble match.
Now Nelly, whilst I was waiting for you to introduce me, I listened carefully to what what you said, that everybody is trying to win to become X*Crown Champion, but you made a rare error in that statement. You see, I’m not trying to win the X*Crown, I’m trying to retain the X*Crown. All those other guys, they think they have what it takes to dethrone the champion, but not many of them know how to do it. Not me, I dethroned Curtis Kanyon, and since then I have been your champion, the XHF Network’s champion. So I go into this match with a very different desire, the desire to survive.”
“Only survive?” Nelly looks confused.
“Of course, what more can I hope for? Think about it Nelly, as the match goes on and the numbers dwindle down, on the premise that I’m still there, who would you all want to take out first? You take out the most dangerous guy. What makes me the most dangerous? The sheer fact that I hold these titles. You were there at Supremacy, you saw what I had to do, the violence that I was capable of, and still am capable of. You know, everybody knows that I am capable of that, so why wouldn’t you try and get rid of me first? If you don’t and suddenly it’s just me and you, you’re in a whole lot more trouble than you would be before.”
“A...are you giving me and the rest of the competitors strategy against you?” Nelly can’t quite believe what he’s hearing.
“I’m stating the obvious, if you haven’t yet thought about it, you soon would. I’m very much aware that I am up against it. In fact, just yesterday I considered something I don’t ever consider when coming into a match. I considered that I may lose.
Let that sink in, I think I may lose these titles that I cherish so dearly. We’re into pretty new territory here Nelly so I hope it’s sinking in. It would be foolish for me not to consider it though, ol’ no balls has stacked the deck-”
“He really hates you calling him that by the way...”
“And I need to find an ace up my sleeve. No, not the former XHF wrestler, Jake Conway, but a real ace performance. Otherwise all my hard work comes to an end. So after considering that I could lose, and just how much its going to take to win, and even going so far as to worrying, me, Rob Arnold, worrying! It was starting to really get to me, I was thinking and overthinking, I was beginning to play in to no balls' hands...but then I remembered something Nelly, something really important.”
“And what was that?”
Rob smiles. “I’m Rob fucking Arnold, Nelly. I’m the X*Crown Champion. I’m the guy that you don’t back not because you don’t believe in him, but because you straight up don’t like him that much you can’t stand the idea of backing him. I’m the guy that gets the job done, simple as that.
It’s been three months, three prestigious months with me at the forefront of this company, and it has gone from strength to strength. Coincidence? I think not Nelly! I turned up to AWF a few times, and all of a sudden their moving out of hicksville and expanding, no pigs in sight. AXW has toured abroad, it’s merged with FWA, and has become one of the strongest shows on the Network. All of these things happen because I am the star power required to make it viable. These things didn’t happen when Kanyon was champion, they certainly didn’t happen when a pig was representing the company, a fucking pig, Nelly.”
Arnold shakes his head in disgust.
“Your reinvigorated confidence aside, you must have targeted a few competitors that could be the biggest risk to you defending your title?”
“I have. Honestly though Nelly, in a rumble match everybody is your biggest risk. Though admittedly there are a few people who have caught my eye, and a couple who have caught my ears too. There’s the big dogs, Bobby Barratt, Jack Diamond, and Maverick all of the Icons. They’re all top, top talents Nelly, Barratt has won the AWF Title and that can’t be ignored, Diamond, whilst he’s not had the success in terms of holding a title, he’s looked very dangerous. Maverick, whilst a little strange, has got the results lately, although what he’s doing showing old pictures of himself and his teen-moobs, I will never know. Nonetheless, will they be looking to team up and then let the best man win? Perhaps, and if that’s the case I’ll need to be very wary of that, nip it in the bud as soon as possible.
Speaking of the AWF Title, golden balls himself, the pocket rocket, Jackson Steele will be in the mix. Steele has had a lot of success in this past year, much like myself, and he’ll cause everybody in the rumble an issue.
The last AWF big hitter is a man who I’ve come across before, a man who I have bested before as well, Hyperion. There’s been a lot of rumours in the wind that he’s been hoping to get another shot at me after I bested him once, and I understand that, we all get hung up on certain losses. The thing is, is he too focused on me to not see the bigger picture. In a raging sea you have to ride the waves, not just focus on getting to land.”
Rob smirks.
“Away from the madhouse that is AWF-”
“Wait, there’s nobody else in the AWF that you think could give you a run for you money?”
“Well, some could, but I’d say those are the main guys-”
“Nobody? Are you sure?” Nelly seems to be winding up. Arnold notices this and pauses.
“Nelly? Are you okay?”
“What about me?”
“What about you, ohhhhhhhh. You want me to consider you to be a danger to my titles?” Rob twigs and his voice softens, almost in pity.
“All you ever do is assume I’m just some interviewer, but I’ve been AWF Prestige Champion, Rob, I can compete with you! If you can't accept that then I'm out of here!”
Rob pauses and nods slowly.
“Nelly, you’re absolutely right, you’re a very talented wrestler, my honest opinion is that your calling is with the microphone, but you continue to prove me and others wrong, and I respect that. It would be unfair, and downright rude for me not to consider you, and I’ll come back to that point shortly...for now though, there’s a couple more people I want to walk about, if I may?”
Nelly nods, seemingly calming down.
“Great. The next guy is somebody who I’ve never seen, and barely even heard of, but he’s making a lot of noise, and he’s showing a lot of confidence. That’s the man they call Taane. He was making a name for himself at my old buddy Spike’s fed, Combat Wrestling before it closed, now he’s looking for a new home, well Taane, let me tell you now that if you’re as good as you think you are, you’ll fit right at home in AXW, that’s if you want to truly challenge yourself.”
Rob laughs.
“Then finally, there’s Curtis Kanyon.”
Rob pauses and sighs.
“Curtis is a bit like eczema, you think you have got it under control, to the extent that it’s gone away, then boom! Comes back to annoy the hell out of you one more time. Somehow he’s now President of the United States as well, which not only disturbs me, but makes me very worried for the whole world.
Now, the point I want to come back to, is that about consideration, and rudeness. A lot of these guys, not all, but a lot have been shouting their mouths off, they’ve been listening to music or playing cards. Some haven’t even talked about the X*Crown like it exists, like they don’t care about this absolute prize. Some, don’t even have the respect to even mention the fact that I’m the champion, yet their coming for my titles, like I’m some sort of invisible champion.”
“I think I know how that feels.” Mumbles Nelly.
“Now call it my ego, call it what you like, but to me, they should be talking about me, they should be respecting me and the X*Crown, because I represent it, and it represents me.”
“Yeah that’s definitely your ego.”
Rob pauses and stares at Nelly.
“I’m sorry Nelly, are you bored? Would you rather not be here?"
“Well actually y-”
“Would you rather I had Funaki interview me?”
“Him?” Nelly scoffs. “No, I’m fine right where I am, you were saying?”
“The point is, they can play cards, listen to mixtapes, they can go play video games or dig up old photos of themselves, it doesn’t matter. Do you know what real champions do Nelly? They take on tough competitors and defend their title just a week before the XHF Rumble, they train hard, they plan. Real champions, they stay true to themselves, and then when they put it all together, they make history. Nelly, you’re good, all of these competitors, they’re good, but they will not stop me making the history that I am destined make. You know why? Because I’m Rob Arnold, and that’s what I fucking do.”
Rob smirks at the camera, and walks back down the tunnel. Nelly sighs and turns back to the camera.
“The X*Crown Champion folks, tune in this Sunday, as I, along with many, many others, try to shut that guy up!”
Hey, it’s me, how are you?
Yeah, I’m doing much better, you had sound advice. What do you mean you know? Oh, you saw the interview then? What can I say? Sometimes you just need somebody to remind you who you really are, and as we both know, I’m Rob Fucking Arnold, and sometimes, that’s enough.
