Post by Frank Venable on Mar 29, 2020 18:38:40 GMT -5
FPV RP #6 - NEW GOD FLOW
This is the end, beautiful friends. After three rounds of tag team dominance by the Man Made Gods, the time had come for the final round, the end-all-be-all, the one for all the marbles! Alex Richards. Odin Balfore. Enforcers vs. Gods, for the APW Tag Team Championship.
Though things were definitely on shaky ground in Action Wrestling with my reign as World Champion ended abruptly by the cashing in of the All-In briefcase, I was not deterred from my goal to dominate the competition. Quite the contrary, in fact. In this moment, leading up to APW Battlecade, I had never been more confident about my standing in the Wrestling industry at large. Since my return in May last year I have only recorded four pinfall losses, one to Walter, one to KOS, one to APW's own Smith Jones and one to Lissie Hope (and though I really shouldn't count that one on account of it being a cash-in, I must because to do otherwise would make me guilty of many of the sins of the people I face.) Beyond that, I've recorded two World Title reigns, a litany of victories and established my legacy in this business to come. With Corey Black on my side, I was ready to add being a Tag Champion to that list. This was no longer a Venable Renaissance, this was now The Golden Age of Frank.
Alas, there was some heartbreak to go with this success. With the rise in concern over COVID-19, my beloved Ramon and I had been separated for the time being as he went into self-isolation. It was absolutely the right call to make, but it did hurt knowing that I couldn't get to him even if I wanted to. We made the best of it that we could, as while I was in my hotel room in preparation for Battlecade, I facetimed him from his home. His appearance on my screen was casual, laid back. He had talked about how trying to ignore the obvious stresses of being a business owner during these trying times, and by all accounts was succeeding at that. Not only that, but I could see his calendar on display behind him, and could vaguely make out that he had circled the date for March 30th. I had even told him beforehand that I'd be fighting for the championship, he just knew and circled it appropriately. After months of making guarantees to him, it was nice to see him carry on this fun little tradition of ours.
We had been speaking at length about the current happenings of our careers when he began to pry and ask me questions about Alpha Pro Wrestling specifically.
This is the end, beautiful friends. After three rounds of tag team dominance by the Man Made Gods, the time had come for the final round, the end-all-be-all, the one for all the marbles! Alex Richards. Odin Balfore. Enforcers vs. Gods, for the APW Tag Team Championship.
Though things were definitely on shaky ground in Action Wrestling with my reign as World Champion ended abruptly by the cashing in of the All-In briefcase, I was not deterred from my goal to dominate the competition. Quite the contrary, in fact. In this moment, leading up to APW Battlecade, I had never been more confident about my standing in the Wrestling industry at large. Since my return in May last year I have only recorded four pinfall losses, one to Walter, one to KOS, one to APW's own Smith Jones and one to Lissie Hope (and though I really shouldn't count that one on account of it being a cash-in, I must because to do otherwise would make me guilty of many of the sins of the people I face.) Beyond that, I've recorded two World Title reigns, a litany of victories and established my legacy in this business to come. With Corey Black on my side, I was ready to add being a Tag Champion to that list. This was no longer a Venable Renaissance, this was now The Golden Age of Frank.
Alas, there was some heartbreak to go with this success. With the rise in concern over COVID-19, my beloved Ramon and I had been separated for the time being as he went into self-isolation. It was absolutely the right call to make, but it did hurt knowing that I couldn't get to him even if I wanted to. We made the best of it that we could, as while I was in my hotel room in preparation for Battlecade, I facetimed him from his home. His appearance on my screen was casual, laid back. He had talked about how trying to ignore the obvious stresses of being a business owner during these trying times, and by all accounts was succeeding at that. Not only that, but I could see his calendar on display behind him, and could vaguely make out that he had circled the date for March 30th. I had even told him beforehand that I'd be fighting for the championship, he just knew and circled it appropriately. After months of making guarantees to him, it was nice to see him carry on this fun little tradition of ours.
We had been speaking at length about the current happenings of our careers when he began to pry and ask me questions about Alpha Pro Wrestling specifically.
Ramon: Frank, darling, you need to tell me about these Architects I keep hearing about. Who is this Smitty and is he as important as he sounds?
FPV: More than you'll ever know, love. That man has done more than any other person to make Alpha Pro what it is today, and though my loss to him still stings, I can hang my head high knowing that it's one of the best in the business I lost to.
Ramon: That and you think it's nice to have a goal to strive for. Like beating him, yeah?
I had to chuckle at that one.
FPV: You know me too well, dear.
Ramon: What about the other architects, though? Lex and Damon, what are they like?
FPV: Well most champions have their entourage of confidants they keep around them. Mine only extends to you and Corey, but to SMitty, Lex and Damon are his confidants, his partners in crime. And though things are hairy with that group right now, with Damon challenging for the dominance his leader holds, even with all that they still manage to be one of the most dominating presences in APW today. And yet they aren't the team Corey and I are facing this week.
Ramon had a double take to that statement, he seemed to be totally caught off-guard.
Ramon: Wait, they aren't? With they way everyone was talking I thought that it'd be you two teams in the finals.
FPV: Yeah, that's not the case.
Ramon: So if this team that's helping to shape APW into what it is isn't in the finals, than why do you look so confident? After all, the team that beat them must be an amazing duo, shouldn't they?
FPV: Well, the team that beat them, The Enforcers, consists of Alex Richards...and Odin Balfore.
Upon the mention of the All Father's name, a look of recognition grew on Ramon's face. It was as if saying that one name had answered all of his questions in one fell swoop.
Ramon: I see. Well I'll be happy to see you again when you have those Tag Titles on your shoulders, you and Corey. I know for a fact you'll be taking them home after hearing that THAT'S your opponent.
I smiled. It was nice to have a partner who just understood the way things worked, and that certain statements like "FPV > Odin" were just rock solid facts that could not be dismissed.
FPV: Your support means the world to me, Ramon. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you.
Ramon: I love you too, dear.
We hung up, and I went to bed. I was making a trip in the morning and needed my rest.
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Ramon wasn't the only one doing his part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Many other businesses had shuttered their doors for the time being, and although there were some churches still stubbornly refusing to not hold mass, I had found one church that was in fact closed. Through some online negotiating (and proving that I was indeed not infected) I was allowed entry into the holy building for a few minutes. I could've delivered this promo anywhere, but my belief was that it would hit harder if I were here, in a godly establishment. I took my phone out, ready to record my final promo for the APW Tag Team Tournament. I was going to go out with a bang.
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Ramon wasn't the only one doing his part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Many other businesses had shuttered their doors for the time being, and although there were some churches still stubbornly refusing to not hold mass, I had found one church that was in fact closed. Through some online negotiating (and proving that I was indeed not infected) I was allowed entry into the holy building for a few minutes. I could've delivered this promo anywhere, but my belief was that it would hit harder if I were here, in a godly establishment. I took my phone out, ready to record my final promo for the APW Tag Team Tournament. I was going to go out with a bang.
FPV: This is it. In just a few short days, Corey Black and I are going to take our rightful spot on top of the APW Tag Team Division. We've our intentions known from the beginning: The Man Made Gods are going to be #1. Guranteed.
In our way, are personifications of the old gods of wrestling. Alex Richards and Odin Balfore. The Enforcers. You two had quite a lot of fun cutting down the Architects in your promos, didn't you? I hope you enjoyed that little romp because you can't repeat that same routine against Corey and I. It's going to make your defeat look even sillier than it needs to be. But then again what am I to say what you two can and can't do? After all, your accolades speak for themselves. Hall of Famers multiple times over, former World Champions, what else is there to say? But those accolades only establish you as the old gods, they are by no means a representation of your current industry achievements. In fact, let's look at those achievements, shall we?
Alex, the last time you had a victory of any real significance was when you won your match at AW Evolution and was gifted Torture's WCF Hall of Fame spot because he quite frankly didn't need it anymore. An unprecedented passing of the torch, and what did you do after that torch was passed to you?
FAIL.
You earned a shot at Lockheart’s world title for THREE MONTHS IN A ROW, once in what was supposed to be a singles match that T.F.K. inserted himself into and you couldn’t do anything about. Then you got your shot at Uprising in a big multi-man ladder match, where you couldn’t seal the deal that Dandy DiVito could. By the time you got your spot in the Execution chamber match, no one considered you a serious contender anymore. You had failed so many times by this point no could imagine you as World Champion. And they are gonna keep imagining, because you’re so far removed from the World Title scene that you aren’t going to be champion any. Time. Soon.
You know why? Because you exhibit one trait that is going to keep from any title as long as you remain the same drunken oaf that you’ve always been. A trait that has defined your career since WCF closed and has followed you everywhere.
You are so damn naive, Alex.
How, just how were you so trusting of Dandy DiVito for so goddamned long? You KNEW that he was a snake in the grass when you aligned yourself with him. Everything you did as Two Dandy Dicks was done to serve Dandy and only Dandy. Whenever you were around that World Title, it was to serve Dandy’s purposes. And when it finally came time for him to cut you loose, you still had the gall to be SURPRISED by that? Unbelievable.
Don’t think a change in partnership is going to help your odds, Alex. You’ve gone from one snake in the grass to another, and you just haven’t realized it yet. Because that’s always the case with you. Too little, too late.
Speaking of new partners, hi there Odin! This should feel fairly familiar to you now, getting showed up by me on a big stage. I mean...God, what else is there to say at this point. I’ve gone up against you twice. The first time, I took your World Title from you, the second time I pinned you in the ring for the definitive one, two, three. Both times, the pay-per-view ended with the Man Made Gods standing tall over you and celebrating their victory. And at Battlecade, the exact same thing is going to happen. Bet on it.
Y’know Odin, I heard you talk last week about Balfore’s paradox. To be legend, yet also not one at the same time. And that’s a wonderful, almost poetic way to describe the decay of your own legacy. You’ve reached a point where no matter how many times you lose, you still have a small sliver of respect from the fans and your peers, even when they should know better. You know why that is, Odin?
Because you represent the old gods. Your immortality is a testament to that.
But me? I’m on that fuckig New God Flow. And you know what we do to the old gods, Odin? We END them.
So when you find yourself on the losing side of this tournament, Odin, and when you begin to hear people talk about Frank Venable as one of the best tag team wrestlers out there today, don’t look down on them for saying it. After all, you were the first one to say so yourself. And come Battlecade, I’m ready to prove you right.
See you at Battlecade, boys.
