Post by Frank Venable on May 10, 2020 3:47:48 GMT -5
FPV RP #8 - In Perpetuity
I don't care what anyone says about Zoom meetings vs. normal meetings. I will always hate meetings in general.
Though I had let it fall to the wayside since the beginning of the year due to my in-ring success, I still held the responsibilities as TPG's CEO, in charge of the company's expansion throughout the country. And for a few months, things were looking good. We were nearing the end of our long term plan that had been set out over a year ago, and I could see the beginning of the next phase in sight. The People's Grounds, my own company, going head-to-head with Starbucks. The goal I had been striving for for over a year...
...stopped dead in it's tracks by COVID-19.
The virus and subsequent lockdown of most of the country brought an abrupt halt to normal business. We managed to make through Mach and April in okay shape with delivery options via partnerships with DoorDash, but this was certainly not ideal. And though our plan was still to finish expansion in a timely manner, it was going to need some restructuring in order to work.
The one convenience being on a Zoom meeting afforded me was the ability conduct business while out on the road. I was finishing getting dressed in my business attire in my Idaho hotel room. Soon after this meeting would finish, I'd be in the gym clothes prepping for my big Monday Night Metal Main Event Match. Man Made God vs. The Architects. The magnitude of this match was mindboggling, to say the least.
Though I really didn't need it, something in my mind told me that I needed a painkiller to deal with the various aches and pains ailing me. Against my better judgment, I popped one into my mouth before beginning the meeting.
Of all the tasks I conducted as CEO, these meetings were always my least favorite. Presenting these ideas to my peers came easy, a long career of cutting wrestling promos meant I knew how to get my point across. But that only applied when it was me doing the presenting. Listening to my peers attempt to give their input was...painful, to be blunt. And these would drag meetings on much longer than anyone had the patience to deal with them. This was my fear going into this meeting, but much to my relief it looked like none of the other workers there really wanted to do it either, so we were all looking to get this done as fast as possible.
I don't care what anyone says about Zoom meetings vs. normal meetings. I will always hate meetings in general.
Though I had let it fall to the wayside since the beginning of the year due to my in-ring success, I still held the responsibilities as TPG's CEO, in charge of the company's expansion throughout the country. And for a few months, things were looking good. We were nearing the end of our long term plan that had been set out over a year ago, and I could see the beginning of the next phase in sight. The People's Grounds, my own company, going head-to-head with Starbucks. The goal I had been striving for for over a year...
...stopped dead in it's tracks by COVID-19.
The virus and subsequent lockdown of most of the country brought an abrupt halt to normal business. We managed to make through Mach and April in okay shape with delivery options via partnerships with DoorDash, but this was certainly not ideal. And though our plan was still to finish expansion in a timely manner, it was going to need some restructuring in order to work.
The one convenience being on a Zoom meeting afforded me was the ability conduct business while out on the road. I was finishing getting dressed in my business attire in my Idaho hotel room. Soon after this meeting would finish, I'd be in the gym clothes prepping for my big Monday Night Metal Main Event Match. Man Made God vs. The Architects. The magnitude of this match was mindboggling, to say the least.
Though I really didn't need it, something in my mind told me that I needed a painkiller to deal with the various aches and pains ailing me. Against my better judgment, I popped one into my mouth before beginning the meeting.
Of all the tasks I conducted as CEO, these meetings were always my least favorite. Presenting these ideas to my peers came easy, a long career of cutting wrestling promos meant I knew how to get my point across. But that only applied when it was me doing the presenting. Listening to my peers attempt to give their input was...painful, to be blunt. And these would drag meetings on much longer than anyone had the patience to deal with them. This was my fear going into this meeting, but much to my relief it looked like none of the other workers there really wanted to do it either, so we were all looking to get this done as fast as possible.
FPV: So if we're gonna make this goal, which we will, what we need to do is put all of our attention into marketing our delivery services. We don't know when this pandemic is going to end and folks, let's face it. With the current administration in charge, it's probably not going to end any time soon. Right now we all are gonna have to play the marketing game. Advertise delivery via our own site and app over DoorDash to maximize our profits, make new flavors and menu items to even further differentiate us from the competition, and most importantly we must not falter. This a setback yes, but a setback we can overcome.
The crowd of virtual heads all nodded and verbally agreed to my statement. I had thought that would be the end of the discussion there, we'd all exit out of zoom and I could switch from CEO mode to Champion mode. But then...Mr. Stevens opened his mouth.
Don't get me wrong, Mr. Stevens was an excellent worker, and was a valuable asset to TPG. He just had a habit of saying things that he just really...REALLY should not have said. I had coached him on this in the past and thought he had learned from his mistakes. His comment, drowned out by everyone's back channel talk in the Zoom call, proved otherwise.
Don't get me wrong, Mr. Stevens was an excellent worker, and was a valuable asset to TPG. He just had a habit of saying things that he just really...REALLY should not have said. I had coached him on this in the past and thought he had learned from his mistakes. His comment, drowned out by everyone's back channel talk in the Zoom call, proved otherwise.
Mr. Stevens: Well, let's hope you're plan for the company works out better than your AW Title Reign.
I'd like to think I held my emotions in pretty well, and in an ideal world no one really heard what Stevens had said anyway. I cracked a weak smile and said...
FPV: And with that wonderful comment from Stevens, this meeting is adjourned.
Exactly one minute after the meeting closed, the laptop I had used to conduct the meeting was at the bottom of the hotels empty and unused swimming pool, pieces and keys spread out everywhere. It had been chucked out the window like a TV in the hands of Keith Moon, accompanied by the loudest scream of rage I had mustered in years.
The hotel staff checked in with me to make sure I was okay, and after paying for the damages to the window I sent a very simple text to Mr. Stevens.
The hotel staff checked in with me to make sure I was okay, and after paying for the damages to the window I sent a very simple text to Mr. Stevens.
"You're fired. We're going to use the money we would have paid you to come up with a new variety of latte. Learn to choose your words better."
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With a lot of pent up anger at so many things (my current status in AW and Stevens comments chief among them), my time in the gym was an intense one. In one day I worked through every bit of anger in me and did my best to exorcise that anger from my body. To make sure I was truly as serene as I could be going into Monday night, I did something I hadn't done for years: actually practice meditation.
The session was much more helpful than I thought it would be, so with my mind now clear and able to focus, I took out my phone as I sat there on the floor and went live. Thee video began with a slow inhale, followed by a long exhale.
With a lot of pent up anger at so many things (my current status in AW and Stevens comments chief among them), my time in the gym was an intense one. In one day I worked through every bit of anger in me and did my best to exorcise that anger from my body. To make sure I was truly as serene as I could be going into Monday night, I did something I hadn't done for years: actually practice meditation.
The session was much more helpful than I thought it would be, so with my mind now clear and able to focus, I took out my phone as I sat there on the floor and went live. Thee video began with a slow inhale, followed by a long exhale.
FPV: Hello Damon. Hello Smith. Glad I've got the chance to talk to you two before you dance with the Gods of APW.
I am consistently shocked with the amazing quality APW imbues in all of their main events. No show ends on a limp note, it's always action to end the night, and tonight, the night where the people hold all the power, it is no different. The Tag Team Champions, legends of the business, taking on the current World Champion as well as the greatest World Champion in APW History. How much more exciting can you get than that?
But even with excitement bubbling over like it is, I still am walking in to Metal confident that the Gods will continue their reign of dominance in this federation. And I could go on for years explaining just why like I know I'm want to do, but today...I think it might actually be best to keep things simple. I'll just give the one big reason why it'll be the Gods over the Architects.
At Battlecade in March, the Man Made Gods won the finals of the APW Tag Team Tournament they had been participating in the entire month and became the undisputed APW Tag Team Champions.
On that same night, you two were fighting amongst yourselves to see who gets to hold that nice big belt on Damon's shoulders.
That's all I need to say on the matter, really. Since I brought Corey into this federation we have been nothing but a united front, sticking together and conquering the landscape like the kings that we are. You two? You've had your ups and downs since the beginning, and who knows, maybe tonight will be just one more straw that breaks the camel's back.
Now Damon, your the top dawg here, that's an undisputed fact.. You've held the belt just long enough to prove to everyone that you're not a fluke or a freak accident, and to that end I congratulate you. But I've got a question for you Damon, and a very simple one at that.
See you've always been one to lash out at the establishment, you do that in every fed you walk into. Your hard as nails, devil-may-care has gotten you just as many haters from the old school fans as it has the adoration of the new fans. I mean, one look at Cortez and the love and devotion he has for you says a lot. You are the rebel to end all rebels, the one to finally stick a much needed middle finger to the establishment you think so rightfully deserves it.
Tell me Damon, how does it feel to be giving yourself that giant middle finger? Cause like it or not, after a month as World Champion, you ARE the establishment now. Trust me as a man who has held a belt saying the words "World Title" five times in my career, you're the face of the brand now, you're the one this company is going to be looking to lean onto for at least the foreseeable future. If you're game for being the face of charity promotions and brand ambassadorship, good for you. But if you're still that bloody, beat-you-to-death Warrens I know you are, then all I can say to you is good luck.
And as for you Smith, we dance once again. I've been waiting for months for a match like this Smith. Ever since you beat me at 2020 Ways To Die for that World Title, I've been waiting patiently for the opportunity to pay you back in full for that pinfall. Last time I had a match with you I wasn't in the match ending decision, but now...now I think things are gonna go a little differently.
We're both men down on our luck right now, you and I. We've both lost our World Title, both beginning to play catch-up and reestablish ourselves. That's what makes our rivalry so special Smith, just how much we resemble each other at the end of the day. But on Monday, for the first time in our little series it's going to be me coming out on top.
Why? Because I need to prove myself more than you do, and I'm fucking HUNGRY for it.
Y'see people starting to forget just how much of a beast I am in this ring. They're focusing too much on what's been going on with me in the short term, they're conveniently forgetting that I've been at this shit for over NINE YEARS NOW, and that I've been in wars the likes you've never even seen before Smith. Add Corey into the mix? You've got two Kings of the Deathmatch staring you down like you were dinner. Euthanasia Chambers. Clockwork Orange House of Fun. Hell in a Cell, WAR GAMES THE LIST GOES ON. Our battles throughout out combined 29 years of experience makes whatever matches you've had in your career look quaint in comparison.
We are undisputed TITANS of this industry, while your teams has a shadow of doubt over every facet of it's existence. If the winner of this match wasn't clear to you now, then you haven't been paying attention.
The Godsreign continues. In perpetuity.
See you two on Monday.
