Post by Smith Jones on May 16, 2020 8:41:15 GMT -5
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Smitty: “When it starts to feel like a chore...”
Fade up on a shot of Smith Jones sitting in a director’s chair in front of a simple white background. The lighting on his face is low, almost a silhouette.
Smitty: “...Get out. That’s all I keep thinking. It’s been on my mind for weeks now. I’ve been trying to ignore it. I’ve been talking myself into staying the course and making things happen. I’ve been convincing myself to be patient with people and to help them out. Put them over every once in a while. Tell a story. Make more moments.”
His brow is deeply furrowed as he remains focused on the lens.
Smitty: “Noble Savage. What would you do with your career if you happened to get a win over “Classic” Smith Jones? How would you parlay that into a successful run here in APW? How tall a stepping stone do you need me to be? I guess APW fans will see how that turns out for you.
I have been the franchise since day one. Tell me I’m wrong. Whether I was competing at the World Title level or making efforts to climb through the rankings, Smith Jones has been putting the wrestling into Alpha Pro Wrestling since the opening bell at Alpha Rising on June 10th, 2019. In the eleven months since, I have given everything to be THE GUY on this roster. Not saying I am the only talented superstar here. Just saying I put the effort in to try to be that guy. I’m a locker room general and I’ve been leading by example here in APW for all of its eleven months. I’ve worked some forty-odd shows, Main Eventing many of them.
When Masuda Jubei up and DIED, leaving the Alpha World Title vacant, I rescued it and I raised it up.
After my questionable loss to Dean Wolf, when he left the company a month later, leaving the Alpha World Title vacant, I rescued it for a second time. I raised it up.
During both of my title reigns, I did nothing but provide constant content and high level entertainment and high level competition in that ring. I laced up and showed up every damned time.
I reached out to the wrestling world and recruited exemplary talent in the form of Lex Collins and Damon Warrens. I’ve done everything I humanly can to make this place sparkle and shine like it should… It was a true honour to stand alongside Damon Warrens and Lex Collins to create such an interesting storyline together. You both far exceeded my expectations and made The Architects into an unforgettable new era of my ongoing career.”
His intensity ramps up suddenly and he growls into the camera.
Smitty: “...And you people just can’t stop fucking it up!!!!!”
Smith gets up from the director’s chair and starts to walk across the white background. There are no details around him. Everything is plain white.
Smitty: “Let’s start with the recent roster poll backstage. This is a bit borderline kayfabe, but I’ll endeavour to stay on the proper side of things here. Stay with me. This vote was a chance for people to show their true colours... and they did. This was a chance for APW to show that we are a top level competitive fed and that people should feel good signing up here. I cannot even begin to express how disappointing it was to see the way that vote went down. I’m not complaining about the result itself. I love to compete and I know that losses happen. Frank and Corey clearly have talent. What I am PISSED about is that people chose to vote by popularity instead of basing it on the hard work that everyone put into their matches. People were voting far before it made any sort of logical sense to do so. I am a man of integrity. Tell me I’m wrong! After all of the blood, sweat, tears, dedication, and sacrifice that I’ve poured into this place, I couldn’t even be afforded the decency of a clean vote. I don’t care whether it went my way or not! It’s the fact that none of the work I put in made a difference. The vote was a total sham… and it wasn’t because of Irina Ivanova… it was because of YOU!
Of course, I can see why Lex is so angry about being left off the website banner for a couple of AW guys. While The Architects have spent the last five months draped in APW gold, Venable and Black waltz in and take over the Main Event scene as if they did the building that WE DID here. Not to take anything away from Man Made Gods at all! You guys are the shit. You are legit. But, not so much as to take the place of long-time North American Champion Lex Collins on the production trucks and on the website. The Architects ARE APW… or… we were.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this in private. Mulling things over in my mind. On one hand, I am very impressed with the environment that has been created here, and on the other hand, I am so very disappointed that there has been so much drama and too much hanging out in the back eating shrimp cocktail and chatting about pets. Fuck pets!!!! I am in this game to fight against the best and to win and lose against the best. They say that when the game starts to feel like a chore, that’s when you should get out. Honestly, for the past few months, that’s the way this feels to me here in APW. ”
Jones arrives at a gray door in at the end of the white background. He stops walking and stares off at nothing for a moment before looking again at the lens.
Smitty: “I can’t speak for Lex or for Damon, but personally I am sick and tired of PEOPLE and what they want and what they need and what they think!!! When I look at my current career here with honest eyes, I can clearly see that this not what I got into the game for and I do not wish to do it anymore.
I have had some of the greatest times of my career right here in Alpha Pro. My time here has reached its end.
Effective immediately, I am no longer under the employ of Alpha Pro Wrestling. I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavours. I hope you all endeavour to work as hard as the top superstars on this roster are working. Follow their example. And as I take my leave, I know that history may try to paint me as a rage-quitting coward who left because of one loss to a talented tag team. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It took me weeks to come to this difficult decision. Those who’ve been watching me all this time know what kind of man I am. Those who choose to speak ill of me for this can go to hell. I am the same hard working hero that I always have been. I simply choose to stop spinning my wheels trying to build something for other people who may or may not appreciate it.
I got into this game for me.
I am doing this for me.”
With that, he opens the door to a long, dark hallway. Smitty exits. Fade to black.
Smitty: “See ya ‘round.”
