Post by Frank Venable on Jan 26, 2020 23:58:12 GMT -5
FPV RP #1 - Build Bridges, Not Walls
I was all smiles and I toured the backstage era of Monday Night Metal. I had my little interaction with Smitty beforehand, and though I had caught him saying nothing but garbage about me, I wasn't actually that mad at all. In fact, I was amused more than anything. He was particularly upset that I had come into APW with so much fanfare and was being thrust into their main event picture while still technically a member of another federation in Action Wrestling. I understand his frustrations, but it was a more complex issue then he perhaps thought it was.
As I was walking down gorilla, a man I recognized from earlier, Troy Butler, stopped me in my tracks. He didn't seem to have a recorder or microphone in his hands, it looked like he just wanted a moment of my time.
I was all smiles and I toured the backstage era of Monday Night Metal. I had my little interaction with Smitty beforehand, and though I had caught him saying nothing but garbage about me, I wasn't actually that mad at all. In fact, I was amused more than anything. He was particularly upset that I had come into APW with so much fanfare and was being thrust into their main event picture while still technically a member of another federation in Action Wrestling. I understand his frustrations, but it was a more complex issue then he perhaps thought it was.
As I was walking down gorilla, a man I recognized from earlier, Troy Butler, stopped me in my tracks. He didn't seem to have a recorder or microphone in his hands, it looked like he just wanted a moment of my time.
Troy: Excuse me, Frank! I'm Troy, from earlier.
FPV: Oh yeah, the interviewer!
Troy: Yeah, wish we coulda met under...y'know, less tense circumstances, but I just wanted to welcome you to APW! You know, for real.
FPV: Thank you very much, I can already tell I'm going to be right at home in this place, haha.
He chuckled sheepishly to himself, almost as if he had something to hide.
Troy: Listen, I'm not sure if this is the right time or place for it, but do you think you could...
FPV: ...give you a quick word for the site?
Troy: Yes...actually yes, exactly that! How did you know?
FPV: I've been in the business a long time, Troy. I know when people want a word with me.
Troy: I suppose so! Just a second...
Troy took out his phone and quickly went over to the camera app to record video. Very humble quick media, probably meant for Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter more than anything.
Troy: APW fans, I'm here with the #1 contender for the World Title Frank Patrick Venable here, Frank there was a very heated moment just now between you and your opponent at 2020 Ways To Die Smith Jones. Tell us your immediate feelings after that confrontation.
FPV: Heh. Honestly, it doesn't bother me one bit, the things he was saying. I've heard some variation of that every time I join a new federation. There's always going to be cries of "Invasion!" and "You're just living off your old accomplishments!" After a certain point you just get used to it all and learn to live with it. I'm putting all of my focus on two things right now, this upcoming Metal main event, and that 2020 Ways main event. No more, no less. Anything else is a distraction. Now Troy, if you'll excuse me, I've got a honey badger i've got to attempt to talk strategy with before our match
I sauntered out of frame from Troy's camera, making my way to the locker room to get prepped for my main event.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some days later, I was back in my office in New Orleans, making a quick stop there to check how The People's Grounds was running in my absence. To my delight, I saw that everything was running just as smoothly as I had left it. I was seated at my desk, the same place that I delivered my opening promo to the APW faithful.
FPV: Hello everyone. We're only days away from the first pay-per-view of 2020, and I figured it would do some good to have one last chat before everything kicks off.
First off, just to be a bit more specific on what kind of arrangement I've got in this lovely federation. I'm here as part of a new talent exchange program between Action Wrestling and Alpha Pro Wrestling. This arrangement was looked over and signed off on by Irina Ivanova herself, so it's got the full approval from the higher ups. I can come in and do whatever match I want in APW (within reason of course) as long as it doesn't majorly conflict with the AW schedule. Luckily, with the technology some of my friends have, even that isn't much of an issue, hehe.
But I'm not the only person involved in this little talent exchange. There should be more people from that fed coming over in due time, I just happen to be one of the first. I'm here on behalf of both Camilla Gonzalez and Torture himself, and they both are excited to see this relationship grow and prosper.
I think you all can take one guess as to who doesn't take too kindly to this talent exchange, however.
That's right, the leader of the Architects himself Smith Jones. Apparently he doesn't take very kindly to people actually giving him the exact thing that he wants. Wasn't it he who said on social media that he wants the best competition that he could be given in this federation? But the moment he lays eyes on said best competition all of a sudden he's regretting his decision. "That damned rumble" in the man's own words. Is it because now that he knows the caliber of his opponent he's suddenly realized just how bad he's in it now? I'd like to think so, but that's just me.
Don't get me wrong, out of all the APW originals in this here company, Smitty is absolutely the best out of all of them. His World title run in this company is Legendary with a capital "L" and he absolutely deserved this match over everyone else after the title was vacated. Generally speaking, he seems like a good enough guy. But this past week on Metal he's shown his true colors a little bit with his petty rantings and ravings to Troy Butler about me from behind my back.
I said it then and I'll say it now, you should be THANKING yourself for that Rumble, because it gave you exactly what you wanted, the best possible competition for that APW World Title. I hold gold everywhere I go because I am just that damn good at the art of professional wrestling. I have fans chanting my name for five minutes at a time every single night I make my entrance because I am the People's Champion to end all People's Champions. Those fans were the reason I was able to obtain that AW Title in the first place, because THEY wanted to see me in that tournament for the belt this past November. Not anyone else, except me. And I made the most of that opportunity because deep down I did not want to let those fans go home unhappy every night. I wanted to win so I could tell them "Yes, you made the right choice backing this horse" and for three weeks straight I told them that they made the right decision as I scratched and clawed my way to that title victory. You may look down upon me because I only held it for six days, but I held that belt six days longer than many members of either AW's roster or APW's roster will ever hold any belt, and I held that belt with PRIDE just like I will wear this APW belt with PRIDE!
See, you seem to have it in your head that I disrespect this APW World title belt that we're going after, don't you? What did you say exactly, that I was "talking about collecting the APW World Championship like it’s a souvenir belt buckle from a gift shop in downtown Wichita?" Was that it? God, how incorrect a statement you just uttered there, friend! I have got boundless and endless respect for the APW World Championship. If I didn't, why do you think I spent so much time and effort looking to win not only the Rumble but the belt itself at 2020 Ways? You think I enjoy wasting my time hunting things that mean nothing to me? If you think that, then you don't know ANYTHING about me! People may call me a belt mark, and i'll give them that, but that's only because I treat every belt I hold with DIGNITY and POISE worthy of a World Champion. DIGNITY. AND. POISE.
It's just like I said, Smitty. I'm looking to elevate both of these World titles by holding them simultaneously. I want to make these two belts feel like they transcend federations, transcend roster boundaries, transcend contract limitation, brother I want these belts to feel like the most important thing on the goddamn PLANET! If you're content with just being the best thing in one part of the wrestling stratosphere, be my guest, but I'm looking to be the best PERIOD. So many small federations have come and gone since AW began it's rise to the top, and many have had their top belts absorbed and eaten up without much thought, RIP to UCI and trinity Wrestling. That's NOT what I'm looking to do with the APW World Title. I'm looking to bring that belt to Monday Night Clash, hold it up high along with the AW World title and say "These two belts? Equal." Just like what I'm going to do with the AW Title on Monday Night Metal.
Champion of Monday Night Clash.
Champion of Monday Night Metal.
Smitty you might as well call me Mr. Monday Night because that's going to be the one night of the week you'll never be able to escape my glory.
I'm not interested in being the best in only one place. I want to expand further and further until I reach my absolute limits and can go no more. I'm here to unite every federation I touch with my presence and be a true architect in this business and connect them all with bridges.
But that's not your M.O, is it?
No, you want to stay small time and isolationist as every other opportunity passes you by like a ship in the night. You aren't interested in pushing yourself to your limits, hell you don't even know what your limits are because you've never even tried going past them in the first place! That is the kind of wasted potential, Smitty, that makes me want to GAG. You think that me and people like Raging Dead are here to take over APW? Hell no! We're just here to compete. Hell, take a page from some of your APW alum like Zmac. It seriously hurts to only limit yourself to one think purely out of brand loyalty, it's honestly a terrible look for you all things considered.
You could accomplish so much if you just did what you were originally going to do and just join AW, but instead you're all "Rah rah APW" and you and your little band of architects continue to build a wall over yourselves to protect you from all that is different. But if our current presidential administration has proved anything, it is that walls...don't...work.
So this is my plea to you, Smitty. Stop it with the isolationist nonsense, it's not going to get you anywhere and it never will. Stop building walls and start building bridges, expand your horizons, and maybe you'll find a way to be even more successful than you could've ever wildly imagined. That's just my opinion though. No matter what happens, I'll still be seeing you at 2020 Ways to Die, ready to prove to you why I am the King of the Deathmatch, why I am the Double Grand Slam Champion, and most importantly, why I am going to be the next Alpha Pro Wrestling World Champion.
See you soon. Au revoir.
