Post by Smith Jones on Mar 3, 2020 11:44:12 GMT -5
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Fade up on a shot of APW Interviewer Troy Butler running towards the parking lot area, mic in hand. Monday Night Metal has just gone off the air.
“Mister Jones! Smitty!! May I have a word with you?! After that encounter with APW General Manager Irina Ivanova tonight, how are The Architects feeling going into next week’s Monday Night Metal?!”
We see Smith Jones moving quickly through the hall. He’s dressed in dark jeans and a gray tee that reads ‘mastermind’ across the front of it in white lettering. Jones has the APW World Championship locked safely around his waist. He drags his black wheelie bag along behind him. He glances at Troy and keeps walking with pace.
“You wanna know what’s really on my mind, Troy?”
“What’s that, Mister Jones?”
Smith stops walking and looks directly into the camera lens. Jones grabs the mic from Butler and glares him dead in the eye. Troy takes the hint and vanishes. Smith Jones looks straight into the camera with a stern sneer and he speaks.
“Jason Ryan. In between all of my boring moments are buried morsels of true genius.”
Fully focused on the lens, Jones’ face scrunches up even more into that signature stone scowl.
“I understand your frustrations. I am on your side. Try to keep sight of that fact as you listen attentively to my words.”
Smith takes a deep breath and then exhales slowly, closing his eyes and thinking back. He keeps his eyes closed for a good, long time as he speaks on.
“I, too, have felt the way you feel. Ignored and put aside. Not taken seriously. I felt that very same way on the July 15th, 2019, episode of Monday Night Metal. I was booked in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match along with five other wrestlers who were just plunked together as teams. I didn’t want to tag up with Bryan “Buzz” Worthy. I didn’t want to tag up with anyone at all! I had no beef with Lucy Sixx back then. Nor Sandy Coconuts, aside from his stupid name. Nor Johnny Blaze. Nor Alex Scott… the… very same Alex Scott you’re complaining about being stuck in a match with now.
At the time, I had been on a losing skid, falling in previous weeks to Braxton Locus then to Steven Osbourne. After that loss to Osbourne, I made a promise to myself there in my locker room that I would never give up, no matter how hard things got here in APW. The following week, I took a loss to the Wolf who shall not be named that led me to that big tag match I didn't want.
The last thing I wanted was to get lost in the crowd.
I made sure we WON that Triple Threat Tag Match! For my trouble, I got stuck in a Triple Threat Match the following Metal against Christian Gullen and… Fucking A. That’s the guy’s name. So glad he’s gone from this locker room. I never want to have to speak his name aloud again. I won THAT match too. In the face of adversity, at the risk of being shoved aside and forgotten, I made it my job to make it impossible for the world to ignore my excellent skill.”
Jones opens his eyes and gives a crooked smile.
“I carry so much wisdom that I can’t help but to drop some from time to time.
Here… catch!”
He begins to stroll towards the parking lot. The roll of his wheelie bag serves as background noise to his diatribe.
“I see you out there trying to make waves around here. That's fantastic. Podcasts. Social media. Flipping off anyone you think will look your way and pay attention to you. Not a horrible strategy. Your champ sees you, Jason. If you really want to make an impact around here, you need real substance. You don’t get awarded title matches by yelling the loudest how much you want it. EVERYBODY SAYS THAT! Everyone wants it, Jason. That’s why we all survived training and the indies to get here. That alone is quite the accomplishment, but it does NOT make you special in this locker room. You need to be more. You need to say more. Do more. With your words. With your actions.
When I was down, I didn’t flip off management and talk crap about this great company. Don’t blame the booking if you’re having trouble finding a way to break out and be a real superstar. I don't even like Reenie Ivanova, but I still respect her booking choices and I make those choices work for ME. Are you really crying ‘popularity contest’ in Alpha Pro??? Have you seen the talent you’re up against around here?? For me, those matches along the way where I didn’t feel emotionally attached to them, those matches were opportunities for me to stand out. Fuck the match, you said in your promo? Bite your tongue!!! That's why you lost.
Every match counts. Write that down!
It’s how you get from where you are to where I am, Mister Ryan. One match at a time. You are me… a long, long time ago. Long before I ever signed on here in AP-Dub. You have so much passion, but also so much to learn about how to channel it. So, show us all who you are. When I wasn’t main event material, I trained. I paid attention to the wrestling world around me and I learned from my mistakes; I learned from my peers. Will you? To all the Jason Ryans out there, frustrated that you just can’t break through the glass ceiling, clueless about what you can do to get the respect that everyone OWES you...”
He leans is very close to the camera and whispers.
“...hear me now when I say that they owe you NOTHING.”
Jones’ voice grows now to a great growl.
“As your Alpha Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion, I can promise you that the only way to get anywhere in this game is to do the work. Research and watch tape on your damned opponents, for goodness’ sake! In your promos, always talk about the specifics of what you are going to do to your coming opponent in this specific match and don’t just talk about how great you are in general. Make it a point to take a real look at the attributes of your opponent and then let the world know why you are better.
It’s just like Masuda said. You could cut the potential energy in APW with a knife. Let’s get kinetic!
Jason Ryan. Don’t make the mistake of hiding behind your Bloodline, lest it be spilled all over my canvas. I'm sure you and Aaron have big plans for the future, but you won't get anywhere at all unless you first focus on yourself and learn how to truly be something! If you can’t find a way to do that...”
He walks away from the camera.
“...your champion has no further use for you.”
Smith stops and turns to face camera again.
“Oh, and to Troy’s question just now about how The Architects are feeling heading into next week...
We… are…”
Fade to black.
“...incredible.”
