Post by america on Feb 22, 2021 23:46:51 GMT -5
Inevitable.
It’s a brutal word.
We come out here and we fight and scrape and claw because we think that our efforts matter. That no matter how tough the opponent, there’s always a path through. It doesn’t matter if you’re overpowered, underexperienced, if they can run laps around you, or if they’re just plain tougher than you. As long as you have the fight deep within you, you can overcome.
As long as you can fight, the inevitable can be defied.
This is a competitor’s comfort. This knowledge that as long as you have it within you to keep fighting, nothing is really impossible. We show up to fight each and every show and once in a while, miracles happen. Not often. Not in any way you’d call dependably. But just enough that the hope in our hearts can endure, even as we push against a grind that wears us down each and every week.
I’ve seen you out here Felicity. Pushing and grinding and fighting to better yourself. I’ve told you repeatedly now that I have all the respect in the world for you. You show more heart and tenacity than the majority of this roster. Each and every time I’ve faced you, you’ve pushed me right to the limit. All the respect in the world for accomplishing that.
But…
Your defeat here?
That truly is inevitable.
We’ve done this three times now across two different lives for you. I’ll give you this much, every time you’re growing. You find a new angle, take a new shot. There’s a real drive that keeps you moving forward which is a huge part of why I love facing you. But you make the same mistake everyone does when facing me. You track your own growth and you think that it’ll be enough. That you can come on down, take your shots, and that work you did will pay off with the big victory.
Not luck.
Not a moment.
Your work alone will carry you though.
But Felicity.
No one out here works harder than me.
You keep training yourself up for me, this titan of the business. A man who’s held all the top titles in this place, often at the same time, broken records and generally been *the* Ace whether formally or otherwise for the last six months. I am the goal and each and every person who steps into this ring knows it. It’s why Damon has fought for our match just as hard as I have. Because he knows deep in his heart that every single moment he holds that title without beating me, he will only be a pretender to the throne.
You tell yourselves I was a natural talent. My rise to the top was inevitable. All you have to do is put in the work and eventually the day will come when that work will culminate in my defeat. You’ll have your moment in the sun, a champion finally. The person who was able to topple a giant and carve their own name into history. No matter how hard you fight, all of you make the same mistake.
You all fail the same way.
Because I am out here working twice as hard as you every time.
I am putting more blood, sweat, and tears into this ring.
I am fighting with everything I have.
You’re training to get that one win.
I’m training to never lose.
Because there will always be more like you, Felicity.
There will always be the next challenger.
There will always be someone out for my blood.
There will always be someone looking to make a name.
Whether it’s a washed up old star from a long dead company.
Or a hot young act marching onto the scene just like I was.
There’s always the next match.
So I need to be sure.
Because the hardest thing I had to learn…
Winning a title is easy.
All it takes is one great night.
A moment where everything goes right.
Keeping a title though?
That means being at your best every night.
Every match.
Every opponent.
Every challenge.
Keeping a title means never letting anyone else’s moment be your downfall.
I made that mistake once.
To be the best…
I can’t let it happen again.
So I’m going to beat you, Felicity. Again. And again. And again. Every time you rise up to take another shot at me, I’ll drive you back down to the earth. Not out of any grudge, no malice in my heart at all. I do this with no hatred. But I have to do it all the same. Because to be the greatest champion this company has ever seen, I cannot falter. I cannot fail. If I am going to keep standing at the top, your defeat must be…
Inevitable.
It’s a brutal word.
We come out here and we fight and scrape and claw because we think that our efforts matter. That no matter how tough the opponent, there’s always a path through. It doesn’t matter if you’re overpowered, underexperienced, if they can run laps around you, or if they’re just plain tougher than you. As long as you have the fight deep within you, you can overcome.
As long as you can fight, the inevitable can be defied.
This is a competitor’s comfort. This knowledge that as long as you have it within you to keep fighting, nothing is really impossible. We show up to fight each and every show and once in a while, miracles happen. Not often. Not in any way you’d call dependably. But just enough that the hope in our hearts can endure, even as we push against a grind that wears us down each and every week.
I’ve seen you out here Felicity. Pushing and grinding and fighting to better yourself. I’ve told you repeatedly now that I have all the respect in the world for you. You show more heart and tenacity than the majority of this roster. Each and every time I’ve faced you, you’ve pushed me right to the limit. All the respect in the world for accomplishing that.
But…
Your defeat here?
That truly is inevitable.
We’ve done this three times now across two different lives for you. I’ll give you this much, every time you’re growing. You find a new angle, take a new shot. There’s a real drive that keeps you moving forward which is a huge part of why I love facing you. But you make the same mistake everyone does when facing me. You track your own growth and you think that it’ll be enough. That you can come on down, take your shots, and that work you did will pay off with the big victory.
Not luck.
Not a moment.
Your work alone will carry you though.
But Felicity.
No one out here works harder than me.
You keep training yourself up for me, this titan of the business. A man who’s held all the top titles in this place, often at the same time, broken records and generally been *the* Ace whether formally or otherwise for the last six months. I am the goal and each and every person who steps into this ring knows it. It’s why Damon has fought for our match just as hard as I have. Because he knows deep in his heart that every single moment he holds that title without beating me, he will only be a pretender to the throne.
You tell yourselves I was a natural talent. My rise to the top was inevitable. All you have to do is put in the work and eventually the day will come when that work will culminate in my defeat. You’ll have your moment in the sun, a champion finally. The person who was able to topple a giant and carve their own name into history. No matter how hard you fight, all of you make the same mistake.
You all fail the same way.
Because I am out here working twice as hard as you every time.
I am putting more blood, sweat, and tears into this ring.
I am fighting with everything I have.
You’re training to get that one win.
I’m training to never lose.
Because there will always be more like you, Felicity.
There will always be the next challenger.
There will always be someone out for my blood.
There will always be someone looking to make a name.
Whether it’s a washed up old star from a long dead company.
Or a hot young act marching onto the scene just like I was.
There’s always the next match.
So I need to be sure.
Because the hardest thing I had to learn…
Winning a title is easy.
All it takes is one great night.
A moment where everything goes right.
Keeping a title though?
That means being at your best every night.
Every match.
Every opponent.
Every challenge.
Keeping a title means never letting anyone else’s moment be your downfall.
I made that mistake once.
To be the best…
I can’t let it happen again.
So I’m going to beat you, Felicity. Again. And again. And again. Every time you rise up to take another shot at me, I’ll drive you back down to the earth. Not out of any grudge, no malice in my heart at all. I do this with no hatred. But I have to do it all the same. Because to be the greatest champion this company has ever seen, I cannot falter. I cannot fail. If I am going to keep standing at the top, your defeat must be…
Inevitable.
