Post by cyborg878 on Feb 16, 2021 22:41:52 GMT -5
In life we face many battles.
Some are paltry distractions....... momentary delays with no true significance beyond a simple pull on our Left Hand to turn us away from the destiny before us.
Some battles however.... some battles seem to have been foretold by the Gods themselves.
Epic clashes between forces unrivalled.
Beings of inconceivable power and skill waging war with the world watching breathlessly.
Legends will meet,
History will be made....
The Storm will be withstood so that Day and Night may finally meet.
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A crisp air breezes lightly down a forest path. A paved walkway winds its way through a lush sea of green trees. Two men stand side by side looking in awe at the beauty before them. As they venture into nature both men feel as if surrounded by a powerful atmosphere. The trees seem to whisper as their branches dance in the wind. As other tourists pass on by the two men stop to take in the moment.
Jaime: Damon mi amor,... this is .... it's absolutely beautiful.
Damon: I know isn't it? There's so much beauty in Japan... it's one of the reasons I admit I'm not completely angry with Jubei for moving APW here.
Jaime: Yeah... maybe he isn't all that bad..
Damon turns his head and raises an eyebrow at Jaime.
Damon: Keep in mind he only moved us all hereas some power play to show he has control. Yes we may have lucked out that being here isn't entirely a negative... but he still didn't do this to benefit anyone other than himself.
Jaime: Yeah... you're right he's still pretty awful.
Damon: But being here makes me forget that at least for a moment. Seeing the beauty of nature.... and being able to feel spiritually at peace for once. It's why I thought we should go here.
Jaime: To feel at peace?
Damon: No to help me spiritually.
Jaime's face becomes overcome with confusion.
Jaime: I'm sorry... .you never struck me as a spiritual person.
Damon: There are many things you still have yet to find out about me Jaime... but yes with all of the anger at Jubei... the constant stress of carrying the weight of the company on my shoulders.... I find sometimes not only is my mind affected, but sometimes as if my energy becomes overwhelmingly negative. I felt there no better place to try and rejuvenate my spirit than here.
Jaime: So where is here exactly?
Damon: Ise Jingū.... the Ise Grand Shrine. It's one of the the most sacred Shinto shrines in all of Japan. It is said the sun goddess Amaterasu dwells in this shrine.
Jaime: Amatera-who?
Damon stops and closes his eyes. He sighs deeply before opening his eyes again.
Damon: Do not be disrespectful Jaime. Her name is Amaterasu... she is the Shinto goddess of the sun. She is why we are here. Not just for cleansing of the spirit, but also I wanted to feel the atmosphere of this sacred land.... in hopes it prepares me for one of the greatest battles I will ever have to endure. I find myself in a conflict reminiscent, at least in my mind, of conflicts the sun goddess herself once had to face.
As Damon and Jaime resume walking down the stone path the find themselves journey under a stone torii gate before entering a courtyard like area. Many of the tourists have gone towards a group of priests in ethereal looking robes perform a ceremony. Jaime and Damon decide to stay behind, instead focusing on the rooftops peaking over the top of large wooden fences.
Damon: That is apparently her home.
Jaime: I have to admit that's... pretty cool. Umm what was it you were saying about God fights?
Damon: God fights.... oh Jaime. The goddess Amaterasu had two brothers with whom she did not always ... get along with. And her story feels rather similar to mine. See Amaterasu was created when her father Izanagi bathed in the sea to cleanse himself after a run in with the dead.... long story. When he washed his left eye Amaterasu was born and became the goddess of the sun. Her brother Tsukiyomi was born when Izanagi washed his right eye and he became the moon god. Finally their brother Susanoo, the storm god was created when his father washed his nose.
Jaime: Riiiiiiiight okay....
Damon: Three noble children.... three godlike beings. Not unlike APW has currently. Damon Warrens, America Jackson, Zaigon Carter......Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi, Susanoo. Our history has some... interesting overlap. See Susanoo was sent from the Heavenly Plains to rule over the seas.
Jaime: Like when Zaigon left APW to try and "rule" over AW.
Damon: Yes, but... Susanoo actually DID rule over his realm. But that point aside.... before Susanoo left to rule the seas he tried to anger Amaterasu...and he succeeded. Amaterasu withdrew into a cave...disappearing and letting darkness fall on the world.
Jaime: But Zaigon didn't anger you and send you away....
Damon: No in this case Jason Ryan did. He did everything he could to make me leave... and it worked for a while until like Amaterasu I re-emerged from that cave to bring light back once more to the realm.
Jaime puts his hand up for a second to pause Damon. The young cuban man seems clearly perplexed by the comparison.
Jaime: Wait so is Jason this Susan guy? I thought you said Zaigon was.
Damon: Jaime look it's not an exact copy and paste here...
Jaime: Okay.... I'm just saying it's getting a little confusing.
Damon: Regardless... let me continue. With Amaterasu gone... and Susanoo off in another company.... another realm I mean... that left only Tsukiyomi, the moon, in an era of darkness.
Jaime: America...
Damon nods confirming Jaime's guess.
Damon: Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi existed in peace with each other for a while until Tsukiyomi angered his sister and the two could no longer co-exist... which is why we have day and night... America and I may be team mates.. dare I say friends now.... but there will come a time where we will have to be on opposite sides of the battle field... day and night will have to fight for supremacy.
The two men take one last look at the rooftops of the shrine before heading back down the path from whence they came.
Damon: So now we have all three noble children of APW back in the heavenly realm itself. The sun, the moon, and the Storm. Like the goddess I plan on outshining my counterparts.
Jaime: Even America?
Damon: The moon may be bright, but ultimately it only shines in such a way because it reflects light from the Sun.
As they reach the end of the pathway the scene fades out.
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When the promo feed begins the APW audience is brought into a quite different room than they are used to. No red walls, no dark room, but instead in its place warm wooden walls and floor. White drapes hang above dipping down. Natural lighting floods the room which also has wafts of smoke presumably coming from burning incense. The walls have beautiful paintings of nature with kanji written on them. The camera pans around before settling on the source of the smoke: correctly assumed to be incense. More importantly than that it pans to the Alpha Pro Wrestling World Champion "The Devil Himself" Damon Warrens. The Canadian born star is sitting in a white and gold kimono cross legged on the floor.
There is an unfamiliar peace on the "Nitemare's" face. He breathes in slowly, the smoke clouding around him, before exhaling with purpose. Damon sits with his eyes closed as he continues what seems to be a meditative state. Finally after about a minute of this his eyes open and he tilts his head upwards to look directly at the camera.
Damon: A...... P..... W..... I can't tell you how content I am. I know the world expects pure fury... hellish fire to spout from my eyes.. but I feel at peace. How can I be so calm you might wonder? You may be confused because clearly I was far from pleased with the full move to Japan. Clearly Jubei made this decision to isolate us more from our families.. our friends... our support circles... our homes. He wanted to show just how far his control could truly go. He made it very clear that he intends to make myself and my APW World Tag Team Championship holding partner... my fellow American Devil America Jackson.... he will make us both bend a knee to him.
Damon's otherwise peaceful demeanor is changed with a slight smirk.
Damon: I admire your determination Jubei. You want the world to call you Master. You don't want the world to see you as the washed up wrestler that you are... you want to be seen as a being of pure power. I have to let you know though... I will never see you in such a way. You will never be my master. You will always be a washed up has been who hopes he can threaten his detractors into obedience. The Nitemare doesn't cower from threats. I have never bowed to anyone who claimed to be my authority. Not back in PCW when I rebelled against James Baker. Not in CCP when my former best friend Liam Reilly tried to crack down on me. Not in APW when Irina tried to mess with the Architects in the tag tournament. Not Here when Adam Dante tried to use his connections to AW to steamroll over my reign. Not now.
There is conviction in Damon's voice as he speaks. If his words don't send the message loud and clear his tone certainly does.
Damon: You won't break me Jubei. I'm certain you can't break my partner America Jackson either. We've swatted away the reach of the Left Hand for the moment. I'm sure they will again grasp at our titles. I believe they will prove themselves to be an ever present threat looming over our championship reign.... that being said I can confidently say they will never be able to wrest the belts from the Right Knee... the Gold Standard of APW...the American Devils. See were it not for the timely interference of a mystery vistor leading to the match being thrown out... we would have BROKEN the Left Hand. But those cultist fools are now in my peripheries...for the moment... as I must instead switch my focus to that which stands directly before me.
Damon pauses for a moment and as he does flashes of the masked man's attack appear on the feed.
Damon: I of course mean Zaigon Carter. Former APW World Champion Zaigon Carter. Former member of The Storm Zaigon Carter. The man who hid behind a series of videos about beasts and dragons and blood... for a moment I thought.... oh Jason Ryan again? But no...Zaigon Carter. Our disgraced former champion. A man who made his presence felt by inserting himself into the business of the American Devils. Who put me through a table. Who attacked America. A man who politicked his way into a championship match with me at Liberty of Death. Now normally I'd be pissed about this... but I'm not for a myriad of reasons. First off... I think Zaigon Carter is one of the few people who actually deserves a championship match with me. Although he may have used contract negotiations to make it official.... I genuinely feel he is still owed the rematch he never cashed in on.
There is honesty in Damon's words as he explains his thoughts.
Damon: See APW... typically unless a champion loses a "Loser Leaves APW' match..... not that I know of anyone stupid enough to agree to one of those..... anyways... typically a former champion cashes in their rematch clause as soon as possible. They need to redeem themselves. They need to prove their loss was a fluke. They need to assert themselves as THE top dog of the company. The REAL champion. Although I lost my right to a rematch clause due to well..... being stupid enough to lose a "Loser Leaves APW" match... the first thing I did upon my return was redeem my loss against Jason Ryan. I immediately showed the world that his victory over me was a fluke. What did I do next? I asserted myself as the TOP DOG of APW... the REAL CHAMPION. I haven't stopped since....I mean I'm at the point where I'm starting a collection... maybe I'll add the Strong Style belt next...
Damon looks to his left and right and the camera reveals his APW World Tag Team and APW World Heavyweight Championships beside him.
Damon: Not Zaigon Carter though. Whereas I was determined to prove the world wrong...Zaigon was determined to tuck his tale between his legs and run away from the shame. He took his ball and ran to Action Wrestling. Now I know in an interview post-loss you tried to spin a story about how regardless of win or loss you were planning on leaving anyways.... but let's be honest Zaigon. You were comfortable with the idea of reigning here as long as you could.... until you realized that the man you thought you had standing just outside of your spotlight was too bright a star to not shine. You hated the fact that a man you felt was your assistant... your hired gun... a man leagues beneath you...was actually your better. So you had to save face. You wanted a fresh start over in AW...a place much like yourself. Like you Action Wrestling thinks itself above APW....like we are some... developmental brand... that it is impossible that one of us minor league wrestlers could be on...or ABOVE your level. That company shared your delusion....a folie a duex.
Damon's hands move with his words...as if he is talking with them.
Damon: You even decided to bring America Jackson with you... smart decision... if things all worked out for you in AW then you could ride America's coattails.... claim you were the reason he was so successful..... but if they went wrong.... you could have a fall guy to lay your blame upon. And that's just what you did wasn't it Zaigon? I mean sure.... it started out great for you both... the Storm ran through true "legends" of the business like....Demon Joker.... Chad Ford......who the fuck is Milk Crate Inc? Real top notch challenges that put anyone in APW to shame right? You decimated these juggernauts and earned yourselves a tag team championship opportunity... and then everything turned to dust. You failed to crown yourself King of AW. You lost "intentionally" by count out to try and trick the audience into forgetting the fact the tag champs were handing you an ass whooping. And then the big tables match.... and you blew it... went right through the table.
There is a bit of mockery and condescension in Damon's voice as he outlines Zaigon's numerous failures.
Damon: BUT THOSE WEREN'T YOUR FAULT ZAIGON! RIGHT? ....right? It couldn't have been you....you didn't have a recent history of blowing huge title matches involving America Jackson.... it had to be HIS fault. SO there you are... November 2nd. Fresh off a win over Indie Rebellion and.... CRACK! You headbutt your own partner. You attack a man who even in victory over you...still remained loyal to you.... looked up to you. But you don't just attack him right? You had to make him suffer for of course being the cause of you looking like a jobber. Viciously you slammed him into a table covered in broken glass. Vile. Wretched. Admittedly something I would have done years ago. Surely by disposing of this "dead weight" ..... mind you this "dead weight" had a better match record than you... with America gone you could show AW that Zaigon Carter was the top dog that he couldn't be in APW.
The Nitemare moves his hands up and pretends he is setting the scene for the epic telling of Zaigon's dominance in AW.
Damon: And then... yeah that didn't really work out for you either..... you beat Randy Buster! A lot! He was like your version of my Jason Ryan. But beyond Randy you.... you just couldn't reignite the flame of the man who won the APW World Championship. You couldn't wind the Pure championship. You lost to a debuting Tom Frost. You couldn't even beat what sounds like some sort of teenaged edgy garage punk band in Twiztid Insane... or some similar bullshit sounding name. So you did what Zaigon Carter does best.... you picked up your ball again and ran away. You thought you'd find luck in your old stomping grounds of APW ... surely you must be in for a cake walk because America Jackson wouldn't be champion when you returned. Oh dear Zaigon... you miscalculated.
A cocky smirk spreads across the Nitemare's face.
Damon: I know what you will probably say... Damon Warrens not only lost his championship to.... but was ousted from APW by Jason Ryan. A man who is the "one of these things is not like the the others, one of these things just doesn't belong" of APW's World Champions. How could I lose to such a disappointment of a champion you must be asking. A man you handily defeated to win your world championship. It has truly been my greatest shame to have lost to him.
Warrens drops his head in feigned embarrassment before looking up again with a thoughtful expression.
Damon: I guess that's what's so interesting about us both Zaigon. We both left immediately following losing our championships. Though the differences in those instances are... incredibly important. As I already outlined you left by choice.... out of pure shame. I left out of contractual obligation. And even though we both ultimately made our returns to very quickly find ourselves back in the title pictures... again the vast disparity between our experiences is notable. You left and repeated your shooting star success.... there for a moment and gone in an instant.... before wasting away in AW for a total of five months before coming crawling back to a match you negotiated your way into. I returned after a little less time.. four months, but I did what you haven't, won't, and dare I say can't. I rectified the loss that sent me packing. Then? I earned my spot fighting for what should have still been mine. I took those months off to refocus... to improve...and I have.
Damon looks to his two championships.
Damon: These prove that I am a better champion and a better fighter than I was before. When I came to APW I was called a flash in the pan. I silenced those critics. When I won the number one contenders spot one year ago at Liberty or Death I was considered an unlikely challenger... a sparring partner. I silenced those critics. When I faced Andre Aquarius I was told I was overproduced drivel. I SILENCED those critics. When I lost to Jason Ryan.... when the world thought I was done for... too humiliated to ever return and regain my former glory.... I SILENCED those CRITICS. When management tried to paint me as a complacent champion whose own ego would be his downfall... I SILENCED THOSE CRITICS! And now here you are. I assume you believe that I don't know what I'm in for. You probably think I'm more than outmatched against you. Do you know what I plan to do Zaigon? I think you get the theme here.
The tone of his words are determined... fiery, but controlled.
Damon: I get that APW and its roster .. they don't know much about me. They just know what they have seen and what they have experienced in my time in this company. They know that as I have said time and time again... I will adapt to any challenge and overcome it. Something you have proven incapable of. They know that I thrive on being underestimated. You on the other hand are set off by any perception of "less than perfection". I have stamina... I have pain tolerance.. I have a will to fight matched by no one except for America fucking Jackson. The thing I have which you might find maybe the most concerning of these.... is a clear advantage in our match. Now you might be wondering... how could I have a drastic advantage over you in our match... with your wrestling ability... your experience.. I mean I have both of those in spades.... but it's a particular experience of mine that really sets me up for success in our match.
There is an almost sinister confidence about Damon.
Damon: See Zaigon I'm not sure if you've seen the announcement, but it seems our match isn't just some normal clash of titans.... nooooo see we find ourselves... two of APW's wrestling gods.... having to ascend to the heavenly plain of World Championship prowess.... by climbing a ladder. Now I've watched you Zaigon. I've seen the viciousness you employ. You put me through a table. Kudos. I saw how violent your assault on America was. And yet may I be frank? It was... cute? See at the risk of making a cliched Bane reference... and not not THAT Bane... like the cool one... you merely adopted the hardcore fighting style of this business.... but I was born in it. I cut my teeth on violent weapon filled chaos. The first time I ever started to make a name for myself was as Two time PCW Brawl Champion... our answer to a hardcore division. Barbed wire steel cages... last man standing... extreme rules... this is what I did almost every week Zaigon. It wasn't an annual vacation I took... I lived there. But what about ladder matches specifically? Well Zaigon I have some bad news on that count as well. The first World Championship I ever won... Cardinal City Pro.... was in a TLC match against Alexa Corra. I ended one of the most dominant championship reigns in company history. And I did it by decimating my opponent... by climbing that ladder.. and by figuratively and literally being above my opponent.
The earlier peaceful energy returns, but with it comes a smugness.
Damon: And so as I said Zaigon... despite your attack.... despite Jubei clearly wanting me to suffer... despite your abilities.... despite the stipulation.... I am at peace. Even though the Storm God has returned.... I have no fear... for the winds will calm and the rain will clear...and the Sun will shine bright. When you meet me at Liberty or Death you meet me in my kingdom. You meet me in my preferred battlefield. On a event at which I have already recorded incredible success. History is not on your side Mr. Carter... and the future doesn't show much different either. I think when the dust settles you'll find that America Jackson may have been your original downfall..... but you'll learn that Damon Warrens is your WORST NITEMARE.
The feed dies and the scene goes black.
Some are paltry distractions....... momentary delays with no true significance beyond a simple pull on our Left Hand to turn us away from the destiny before us.
Some battles however.... some battles seem to have been foretold by the Gods themselves.
Epic clashes between forces unrivalled.
Beings of inconceivable power and skill waging war with the world watching breathlessly.
Legends will meet,
History will be made....
The Storm will be withstood so that Day and Night may finally meet.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A crisp air breezes lightly down a forest path. A paved walkway winds its way through a lush sea of green trees. Two men stand side by side looking in awe at the beauty before them. As they venture into nature both men feel as if surrounded by a powerful atmosphere. The trees seem to whisper as their branches dance in the wind. As other tourists pass on by the two men stop to take in the moment.
Jaime: Damon mi amor,... this is .... it's absolutely beautiful.
Damon: I know isn't it? There's so much beauty in Japan... it's one of the reasons I admit I'm not completely angry with Jubei for moving APW here.
Jaime: Yeah... maybe he isn't all that bad..
Damon turns his head and raises an eyebrow at Jaime.
Damon: Keep in mind he only moved us all hereas some power play to show he has control. Yes we may have lucked out that being here isn't entirely a negative... but he still didn't do this to benefit anyone other than himself.
Jaime: Yeah... you're right he's still pretty awful.
Damon: But being here makes me forget that at least for a moment. Seeing the beauty of nature.... and being able to feel spiritually at peace for once. It's why I thought we should go here.
Jaime: To feel at peace?
Damon: No to help me spiritually.
Jaime's face becomes overcome with confusion.
Jaime: I'm sorry... .you never struck me as a spiritual person.
Damon: There are many things you still have yet to find out about me Jaime... but yes with all of the anger at Jubei... the constant stress of carrying the weight of the company on my shoulders.... I find sometimes not only is my mind affected, but sometimes as if my energy becomes overwhelmingly negative. I felt there no better place to try and rejuvenate my spirit than here.
Jaime: So where is here exactly?
Damon: Ise Jingū.... the Ise Grand Shrine. It's one of the the most sacred Shinto shrines in all of Japan. It is said the sun goddess Amaterasu dwells in this shrine.
Jaime: Amatera-who?
Damon stops and closes his eyes. He sighs deeply before opening his eyes again.
Damon: Do not be disrespectful Jaime. Her name is Amaterasu... she is the Shinto goddess of the sun. She is why we are here. Not just for cleansing of the spirit, but also I wanted to feel the atmosphere of this sacred land.... in hopes it prepares me for one of the greatest battles I will ever have to endure. I find myself in a conflict reminiscent, at least in my mind, of conflicts the sun goddess herself once had to face.
As Damon and Jaime resume walking down the stone path the find themselves journey under a stone torii gate before entering a courtyard like area. Many of the tourists have gone towards a group of priests in ethereal looking robes perform a ceremony. Jaime and Damon decide to stay behind, instead focusing on the rooftops peaking over the top of large wooden fences.
Damon: That is apparently her home.
Jaime: I have to admit that's... pretty cool. Umm what was it you were saying about God fights?
Damon: God fights.... oh Jaime. The goddess Amaterasu had two brothers with whom she did not always ... get along with. And her story feels rather similar to mine. See Amaterasu was created when her father Izanagi bathed in the sea to cleanse himself after a run in with the dead.... long story. When he washed his left eye Amaterasu was born and became the goddess of the sun. Her brother Tsukiyomi was born when Izanagi washed his right eye and he became the moon god. Finally their brother Susanoo, the storm god was created when his father washed his nose.
Jaime: Riiiiiiiight okay....
Damon: Three noble children.... three godlike beings. Not unlike APW has currently. Damon Warrens, America Jackson, Zaigon Carter......Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi, Susanoo. Our history has some... interesting overlap. See Susanoo was sent from the Heavenly Plains to rule over the seas.
Jaime: Like when Zaigon left APW to try and "rule" over AW.
Damon: Yes, but... Susanoo actually DID rule over his realm. But that point aside.... before Susanoo left to rule the seas he tried to anger Amaterasu...and he succeeded. Amaterasu withdrew into a cave...disappearing and letting darkness fall on the world.
Jaime: But Zaigon didn't anger you and send you away....
Damon: No in this case Jason Ryan did. He did everything he could to make me leave... and it worked for a while until like Amaterasu I re-emerged from that cave to bring light back once more to the realm.
Jaime puts his hand up for a second to pause Damon. The young cuban man seems clearly perplexed by the comparison.
Jaime: Wait so is Jason this Susan guy? I thought you said Zaigon was.
Damon: Jaime look it's not an exact copy and paste here...
Jaime: Okay.... I'm just saying it's getting a little confusing.
Damon: Regardless... let me continue. With Amaterasu gone... and Susanoo off in another company.... another realm I mean... that left only Tsukiyomi, the moon, in an era of darkness.
Jaime: America...
Damon nods confirming Jaime's guess.
Damon: Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi existed in peace with each other for a while until Tsukiyomi angered his sister and the two could no longer co-exist... which is why we have day and night... America and I may be team mates.. dare I say friends now.... but there will come a time where we will have to be on opposite sides of the battle field... day and night will have to fight for supremacy.
The two men take one last look at the rooftops of the shrine before heading back down the path from whence they came.
Damon: So now we have all three noble children of APW back in the heavenly realm itself. The sun, the moon, and the Storm. Like the goddess I plan on outshining my counterparts.
Jaime: Even America?
Damon: The moon may be bright, but ultimately it only shines in such a way because it reflects light from the Sun.
As they reach the end of the pathway the scene fades out.
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When the promo feed begins the APW audience is brought into a quite different room than they are used to. No red walls, no dark room, but instead in its place warm wooden walls and floor. White drapes hang above dipping down. Natural lighting floods the room which also has wafts of smoke presumably coming from burning incense. The walls have beautiful paintings of nature with kanji written on them. The camera pans around before settling on the source of the smoke: correctly assumed to be incense. More importantly than that it pans to the Alpha Pro Wrestling World Champion "The Devil Himself" Damon Warrens. The Canadian born star is sitting in a white and gold kimono cross legged on the floor.
There is an unfamiliar peace on the "Nitemare's" face. He breathes in slowly, the smoke clouding around him, before exhaling with purpose. Damon sits with his eyes closed as he continues what seems to be a meditative state. Finally after about a minute of this his eyes open and he tilts his head upwards to look directly at the camera.
Damon: A...... P..... W..... I can't tell you how content I am. I know the world expects pure fury... hellish fire to spout from my eyes.. but I feel at peace. How can I be so calm you might wonder? You may be confused because clearly I was far from pleased with the full move to Japan. Clearly Jubei made this decision to isolate us more from our families.. our friends... our support circles... our homes. He wanted to show just how far his control could truly go. He made it very clear that he intends to make myself and my APW World Tag Team Championship holding partner... my fellow American Devil America Jackson.... he will make us both bend a knee to him.
Damon's otherwise peaceful demeanor is changed with a slight smirk.
Damon: I admire your determination Jubei. You want the world to call you Master. You don't want the world to see you as the washed up wrestler that you are... you want to be seen as a being of pure power. I have to let you know though... I will never see you in such a way. You will never be my master. You will always be a washed up has been who hopes he can threaten his detractors into obedience. The Nitemare doesn't cower from threats. I have never bowed to anyone who claimed to be my authority. Not back in PCW when I rebelled against James Baker. Not in CCP when my former best friend Liam Reilly tried to crack down on me. Not in APW when Irina tried to mess with the Architects in the tag tournament. Not Here when Adam Dante tried to use his connections to AW to steamroll over my reign. Not now.
There is conviction in Damon's voice as he speaks. If his words don't send the message loud and clear his tone certainly does.
Damon: You won't break me Jubei. I'm certain you can't break my partner America Jackson either. We've swatted away the reach of the Left Hand for the moment. I'm sure they will again grasp at our titles. I believe they will prove themselves to be an ever present threat looming over our championship reign.... that being said I can confidently say they will never be able to wrest the belts from the Right Knee... the Gold Standard of APW...the American Devils. See were it not for the timely interference of a mystery vistor leading to the match being thrown out... we would have BROKEN the Left Hand. But those cultist fools are now in my peripheries...for the moment... as I must instead switch my focus to that which stands directly before me.
Damon pauses for a moment and as he does flashes of the masked man's attack appear on the feed.
Damon: I of course mean Zaigon Carter. Former APW World Champion Zaigon Carter. Former member of The Storm Zaigon Carter. The man who hid behind a series of videos about beasts and dragons and blood... for a moment I thought.... oh Jason Ryan again? But no...Zaigon Carter. Our disgraced former champion. A man who made his presence felt by inserting himself into the business of the American Devils. Who put me through a table. Who attacked America. A man who politicked his way into a championship match with me at Liberty of Death. Now normally I'd be pissed about this... but I'm not for a myriad of reasons. First off... I think Zaigon Carter is one of the few people who actually deserves a championship match with me. Although he may have used contract negotiations to make it official.... I genuinely feel he is still owed the rematch he never cashed in on.
There is honesty in Damon's words as he explains his thoughts.
Damon: See APW... typically unless a champion loses a "Loser Leaves APW' match..... not that I know of anyone stupid enough to agree to one of those..... anyways... typically a former champion cashes in their rematch clause as soon as possible. They need to redeem themselves. They need to prove their loss was a fluke. They need to assert themselves as THE top dog of the company. The REAL champion. Although I lost my right to a rematch clause due to well..... being stupid enough to lose a "Loser Leaves APW" match... the first thing I did upon my return was redeem my loss against Jason Ryan. I immediately showed the world that his victory over me was a fluke. What did I do next? I asserted myself as the TOP DOG of APW... the REAL CHAMPION. I haven't stopped since....I mean I'm at the point where I'm starting a collection... maybe I'll add the Strong Style belt next...
Damon looks to his left and right and the camera reveals his APW World Tag Team and APW World Heavyweight Championships beside him.
Damon: Not Zaigon Carter though. Whereas I was determined to prove the world wrong...Zaigon was determined to tuck his tale between his legs and run away from the shame. He took his ball and ran to Action Wrestling. Now I know in an interview post-loss you tried to spin a story about how regardless of win or loss you were planning on leaving anyways.... but let's be honest Zaigon. You were comfortable with the idea of reigning here as long as you could.... until you realized that the man you thought you had standing just outside of your spotlight was too bright a star to not shine. You hated the fact that a man you felt was your assistant... your hired gun... a man leagues beneath you...was actually your better. So you had to save face. You wanted a fresh start over in AW...a place much like yourself. Like you Action Wrestling thinks itself above APW....like we are some... developmental brand... that it is impossible that one of us minor league wrestlers could be on...or ABOVE your level. That company shared your delusion....a folie a duex.
Damon's hands move with his words...as if he is talking with them.
Damon: You even decided to bring America Jackson with you... smart decision... if things all worked out for you in AW then you could ride America's coattails.... claim you were the reason he was so successful..... but if they went wrong.... you could have a fall guy to lay your blame upon. And that's just what you did wasn't it Zaigon? I mean sure.... it started out great for you both... the Storm ran through true "legends" of the business like....Demon Joker.... Chad Ford......who the fuck is Milk Crate Inc? Real top notch challenges that put anyone in APW to shame right? You decimated these juggernauts and earned yourselves a tag team championship opportunity... and then everything turned to dust. You failed to crown yourself King of AW. You lost "intentionally" by count out to try and trick the audience into forgetting the fact the tag champs were handing you an ass whooping. And then the big tables match.... and you blew it... went right through the table.
There is a bit of mockery and condescension in Damon's voice as he outlines Zaigon's numerous failures.
Damon: BUT THOSE WEREN'T YOUR FAULT ZAIGON! RIGHT? ....right? It couldn't have been you....you didn't have a recent history of blowing huge title matches involving America Jackson.... it had to be HIS fault. SO there you are... November 2nd. Fresh off a win over Indie Rebellion and.... CRACK! You headbutt your own partner. You attack a man who even in victory over you...still remained loyal to you.... looked up to you. But you don't just attack him right? You had to make him suffer for of course being the cause of you looking like a jobber. Viciously you slammed him into a table covered in broken glass. Vile. Wretched. Admittedly something I would have done years ago. Surely by disposing of this "dead weight" ..... mind you this "dead weight" had a better match record than you... with America gone you could show AW that Zaigon Carter was the top dog that he couldn't be in APW.
The Nitemare moves his hands up and pretends he is setting the scene for the epic telling of Zaigon's dominance in AW.
Damon: And then... yeah that didn't really work out for you either..... you beat Randy Buster! A lot! He was like your version of my Jason Ryan. But beyond Randy you.... you just couldn't reignite the flame of the man who won the APW World Championship. You couldn't wind the Pure championship. You lost to a debuting Tom Frost. You couldn't even beat what sounds like some sort of teenaged edgy garage punk band in Twiztid Insane... or some similar bullshit sounding name. So you did what Zaigon Carter does best.... you picked up your ball again and ran away. You thought you'd find luck in your old stomping grounds of APW ... surely you must be in for a cake walk because America Jackson wouldn't be champion when you returned. Oh dear Zaigon... you miscalculated.
A cocky smirk spreads across the Nitemare's face.
Damon: I know what you will probably say... Damon Warrens not only lost his championship to.... but was ousted from APW by Jason Ryan. A man who is the "one of these things is not like the the others, one of these things just doesn't belong" of APW's World Champions. How could I lose to such a disappointment of a champion you must be asking. A man you handily defeated to win your world championship. It has truly been my greatest shame to have lost to him.
Warrens drops his head in feigned embarrassment before looking up again with a thoughtful expression.
Damon: I guess that's what's so interesting about us both Zaigon. We both left immediately following losing our championships. Though the differences in those instances are... incredibly important. As I already outlined you left by choice.... out of pure shame. I left out of contractual obligation. And even though we both ultimately made our returns to very quickly find ourselves back in the title pictures... again the vast disparity between our experiences is notable. You left and repeated your shooting star success.... there for a moment and gone in an instant.... before wasting away in AW for a total of five months before coming crawling back to a match you negotiated your way into. I returned after a little less time.. four months, but I did what you haven't, won't, and dare I say can't. I rectified the loss that sent me packing. Then? I earned my spot fighting for what should have still been mine. I took those months off to refocus... to improve...and I have.
Damon looks to his two championships.
Damon: These prove that I am a better champion and a better fighter than I was before. When I came to APW I was called a flash in the pan. I silenced those critics. When I won the number one contenders spot one year ago at Liberty or Death I was considered an unlikely challenger... a sparring partner. I silenced those critics. When I faced Andre Aquarius I was told I was overproduced drivel. I SILENCED those critics. When I lost to Jason Ryan.... when the world thought I was done for... too humiliated to ever return and regain my former glory.... I SILENCED those CRITICS. When management tried to paint me as a complacent champion whose own ego would be his downfall... I SILENCED THOSE CRITICS! And now here you are. I assume you believe that I don't know what I'm in for. You probably think I'm more than outmatched against you. Do you know what I plan to do Zaigon? I think you get the theme here.
The tone of his words are determined... fiery, but controlled.
Damon: I get that APW and its roster .. they don't know much about me. They just know what they have seen and what they have experienced in my time in this company. They know that as I have said time and time again... I will adapt to any challenge and overcome it. Something you have proven incapable of. They know that I thrive on being underestimated. You on the other hand are set off by any perception of "less than perfection". I have stamina... I have pain tolerance.. I have a will to fight matched by no one except for America fucking Jackson. The thing I have which you might find maybe the most concerning of these.... is a clear advantage in our match. Now you might be wondering... how could I have a drastic advantage over you in our match... with your wrestling ability... your experience.. I mean I have both of those in spades.... but it's a particular experience of mine that really sets me up for success in our match.
There is an almost sinister confidence about Damon.
Damon: See Zaigon I'm not sure if you've seen the announcement, but it seems our match isn't just some normal clash of titans.... nooooo see we find ourselves... two of APW's wrestling gods.... having to ascend to the heavenly plain of World Championship prowess.... by climbing a ladder. Now I've watched you Zaigon. I've seen the viciousness you employ. You put me through a table. Kudos. I saw how violent your assault on America was. And yet may I be frank? It was... cute? See at the risk of making a cliched Bane reference... and not not THAT Bane... like the cool one... you merely adopted the hardcore fighting style of this business.... but I was born in it. I cut my teeth on violent weapon filled chaos. The first time I ever started to make a name for myself was as Two time PCW Brawl Champion... our answer to a hardcore division. Barbed wire steel cages... last man standing... extreme rules... this is what I did almost every week Zaigon. It wasn't an annual vacation I took... I lived there. But what about ladder matches specifically? Well Zaigon I have some bad news on that count as well. The first World Championship I ever won... Cardinal City Pro.... was in a TLC match against Alexa Corra. I ended one of the most dominant championship reigns in company history. And I did it by decimating my opponent... by climbing that ladder.. and by figuratively and literally being above my opponent.
The earlier peaceful energy returns, but with it comes a smugness.
Damon: And so as I said Zaigon... despite your attack.... despite Jubei clearly wanting me to suffer... despite your abilities.... despite the stipulation.... I am at peace. Even though the Storm God has returned.... I have no fear... for the winds will calm and the rain will clear...and the Sun will shine bright. When you meet me at Liberty or Death you meet me in my kingdom. You meet me in my preferred battlefield. On a event at which I have already recorded incredible success. History is not on your side Mr. Carter... and the future doesn't show much different either. I think when the dust settles you'll find that America Jackson may have been your original downfall..... but you'll learn that Damon Warrens is your WORST NITEMARE.
The feed dies and the scene goes black.
