Reluctance.

---

Noris' momentum in Alpha Pro Wrestling has been quite noticeable especially at his pace. From defeating Charmaine in his opening match to acquiring a win over the APW Tag Team Champions in the co-main event has garnered attention. The issue is with such media demanding his time for interviews and personal meetings, Noris has had a little bit of a standoff. The young teenager's main passion is in the squared circle. His recent victories have proven his die-hard determination to be at the top of his game at every second of every day. With support from the growing fan base and even the world champion, Masada Jubei, his ego may have been expressive in blowing up quite too soon.

But on the other hand, it's about to learn another lesson in humility. Cranley learned the hard lesson of the need to prove yourself still. Recently learning about his placement in the opening match, he has voiced his opinion on social media stating he wasn't exactly too keen about it. His expectations were to earn a singles competition in contendership for perhaps the APW North American Championship but all in due time. No one earned the title of being the best on their first night; It took time to develop themselves into becoming a world-class competitor. Although Noris wasn't perhaps the most ideal about the circumstances, regardless, he was going to sacrifice it all once again to walk out of the Allstate Arena with his head held high.

And speaking of the Allstate Arena, the atmosphere in the emptied fortress was subtle and still. Thousands of seats remained folded in their emptied space where fans will presume their places in their supporting roles to liven the dead environment. Millions of eyes watching around the world to witness the very best professional wrestling on the planet while the fortunate thousands will be in-person to support the action inside the ring. However, there is only one populating the very ring. A child of eighteen years sat down in the center; A greenish hoodie covering his head, ripped blueish denim jeans and black converses to complete the look. Head down and silent. This was a gesture of meditation before he broke the silence with an eerie confident tone.

"I'm not happy about this. I was never happy about this and I specifically do not what management has to say. Take it as they will but it's the truth. Why in the hell do I have to be put down in a shameful boring opening match with names I've never heard of- no. Names APW has never heard of? Let me be frank about this. In the match supplied with over six competitors, there is only one name that stands out from the rest. One name that the match is built around simply because that competitor does not know the meaning of surrender, defeat or quitting. I'm not going to sit tight and hold my tongue as the rest do. Pretend to be overly excited about contention for the APW Tag Team Championships. No. It's a waste of my damn breath to even summon the energy to speak higher than everyone else who thinks they have a chance to even win.

There is no chance!"

Noris slowly lifted his head for a gruesome glare ahead of him. The opportunity was ripe but so was his anger. The offense he took from his name added to the match was more than reasonable on his part. The arched right eyebrow contrasted with his pursed lips was a facial expression of pure agonizing annoyance in regards to his position.

"You know what? How about we all take a moment to be honest with ourselves because clearly, no one is at this point. Does anyone believe that I deserve to be in this match when I've literally beaten the APW Tag Team Champions with Dean Wolf literally a week ago? Sure, there are other contenders but if the Canadian Coalition couldn't handle a hardcore wrestler and a rookie, what is the point of having a contention match? I'll tell you what it is. It's to please the other wrestlers who are literally crawling and begging to be noticed for the sake of earning likes on Instagram. This isn't a match worthy to prove you're the best; It's a match to leech off my own momentum and uses it to gain more followers on Twitter. It's really pathetic because the others don't have the skill nor the mindset I possess.

I cannot believe that I have to sit here and explain this. I said I let my actions do the talking and clearly, they're not being heard. So guess what? If I have to make a bigger impact by beating every one of my opponents in this match, so be it. It's not me being a douchebag but it's me telling the truth. Out of everyone in this match, Noris Cranley is the only name that matters. It's the name that speaks volumes during a point in this company where even the veterans, the champions, the management, and the world are continually asking what's next in my journey. They're all paying attention to me due to the fact I'm risking my very damn life to put on a show, entertain and win for everyone who ever supported me during this time. In my defense, no one in this match has the gall nor confidence to truly strike out on their own. This is a spoon-feeding moment to the unknown losers in the locker room who are unable to make something of themselves.

Apex Onyx? Teddy Geisel? Johnny Blaze? Leon Dread? Hell, even Charmaine doesn't even deserve to be put down with the rest of them. I may have beaten her in my debut but she's twice the competitor the others are. We've never even heard of their existence until their names appeared next to mine which means management has two perspectives. They either believe they are not good enough to break out of the mold. Am I wrong?! In the last two weeks, the rookie that has aspired everyone has been me. I've recently captured the attention all on my own because I wasn't going to be lost in the shuffle as everyone does. I wasn't going to be stuck in an intersection crossed between people who think I'm not the one to truly set the roof on fire. I've proven I can hang, I've proven I can beat champions and I did that without having to look around for a partner.

So apologies if I seem a little tense but when you get screwed over for your own talents, it tends to leave a nasty taste in my mouth. I'm sure anyone watching would understand where I'm coming from but no matter, it is what it is right?"

A mild scoff escaped his lips. Noris looked away for mere moments trying his best to calm his emotions. A passionate child can be the most dangerous thing in a war; There was so much he wanted to say but it would mean nothing. He simply closed his eyes, took in hollow breaths and reopened them in a more calm pleasure. The reward was a means to an end for the scramble. A chance to be a champion was the goal and Noris had to understand that. He simply shook his head and continued where he left off.

"But August twenty-sixth in Chicago Illinois, I am walking down that aisle with one goal on my mind. Gaining a guaranteed opportunity at the APW Tag Team Championships. Come to think of it? I've just remembered how many Hall of Fame worthy careers have started. My mentor became a legend by starting with the Tag Team Championships in both Wrestling Championship Federation and even dominating United Championship Infinite Wrestling. He taught me that although he hated it, he did what he had to do to surpass everyone else and branch off on his own. We're dealt the cards we have but that doesn't mean we can't make a hand out of it? I'm not happy about this match?

Good.

Because I can extract my boiling anger onto everyone who thinks they have even the slightest chance of usurping me. There's a reason why I call myself unstoppable. When I see a goal and I'm pissed off, there's nothing nor no one in this industry that can stop me. I am a teenage Juggernaught and not even the X-Men could hold him back. I am calling out every no name in this match to prove me wrong. Did you want the spotlight so bad? Now APW has given you the chance to shine. Use it and make sure your fifteen minutes of fame is very slow because that's the best chance you got at ever being known in this business. I'm not looking to make friends but I'm willing to do it all for the sake of becoming APW Tag Team Champions. That's on the set where I make my movie and categorize my journey to becoming APW World Ch-. No. Better yet. APW Grandslam Champion!"

And from that title, Noris' smile erupted from ear to ear. The personification of a flashlight appearing over his head as he slowly left the ring. From that point on, it was adamant about what his true goal in APW was to be.