Post by Cable Arcane on Apr 21, 2018 17:05:34 GMT
The last few months had been grueling. Between listening to Steve Awesome wax poetic about his newest conspiracy theory to initiating Roberto Verona's plans for the future of IWF and my pending lawsuit he was helping me with there was hardly any down time.
I found myself sleeping for only a few hours here and there, generally on flights between business meetings so opportunities to train were few and far between. Most days, like today I found myself training at 3:00 AM in some random hotel gym. It's not ideal but no one ever said being at the top was easy. Despite what Steve Awesome would have you believe Roberto and I actually have to work to make sure that loud mouthed asshole's checks don't bounce.
It's more than most men can handle but I never asked for or expected an easy life. Most times life is a grind and if you don't have the balls to grind it out you're going to be left behind.
I'm not going to be left behind.
I'm going to lead the charge. I've never settled, I will never settle. I'll push through the hardships, the early morning workouts, the assholes I work with because in the end it's all worth it. The ends justify the means for me so while most people in IWF don't understand who I am or what I do I can rest easy knowing I've always given my all.
Some people, they wouldn't be here in the gym right now, they wouldn't be pushing their body like I do, they wouldn't be constantly refining their skills. Some people are perfectly happy to phone it in and collect their check.
That's not good enough for me.
If you aren't striving to be the best then why be here at all?
That mind set is what gets me out of bed in the wee hours of the morning and into a gym. That mind set is what stops me from just slugging people in contract negotiations. That mind set is why I call myself the Best in the World.
"Cable?"
That voice, it's like a symphony to my ears.
"Abby."
I said, performing one last burpee and popping up to my feet, my bare chest glistening with sweat.
"It's nearly five thirty in the morning."
Her eyes are a deep forest brown, loving, they suck me right in every single time I look at them. She smiled coyly at me as she handed me a towel.
"You need to rest."
"I will. Roberto and I have a two hour flight ahead of us, I'll sleep then."
"No you won't, heh."
She laughed at me, she was right, we'd probably end up talking shop.
"You're going to burn yourself out."
"Heh."
Now it was my turn to laugh as I reached out and stroked her soft cheek.
"Babe, even if I was half dead and crippled I could beat Todd Williams and Teddy Steele."
"Then why push yourself so hard?"
Her curiosity was genuine. I smiled.
"Just because they don't give a shit doesn't mean I don't. I don't want to be just good enough."
She nodded at me, her fingers dancing down the back of my neck.
"You certainly are better than just good enough. How about we go upstairs..."
Gently her hand moves around my neck and lightly grazed my bare chest with her nails..
"And do some... Cardio with me."
A shudder runs up and down my spine as she nibbles on my ear lobe.
"Oh that's not fair."
"All's fair in love and war."
Without thinking I hoisted her up and gently laid her down on the bench, her hair askew as my hands worked their way down her body.
"I could get into this routine."
"I know something else you could get into."
I knew I loved this woman for a reason...
A few hours later I found myself on the flight with Roberto Verona. We were headed to a presser for Dark Reign, the usual Q and A stuff, hopefully they screened the questions this time. Had a couple of dirt sheet reporters slip in some real bottom of the barrel questions at High Stakes.
At the moment Verona found himself neck deep in a conversation with a certain poker playing friend of his so I took the moment to address our opponents for this coming weekend. TNT. Todd and Tedd. I booted up the live stream feed, removed my aviators and looked dead into the lens.
"Todd Williams. Teddy Steele."
I pause to think.
"Who the fuck is Teddy Steele?"
I ask with a look of total confusion.
"That's not an anecdote. That's not me trying to be funny. I've been signing the checks around here for the last six or so months and the name Teddy fucking Steele is completely foreign to me. I'm half expecting Todd to cut a promo in front of a mirror and try to tag in his shadow come Sunday night because I'm almost one hundred percent sure there isn't a man named Teddy Steele on this roster."
"However, if there is a real Teddy Steele then I've got to ask..."
"How fucking sad is it that one of your bosses has no idea you exist?"
"How insignificant to this company can you possibly be?"
"Look, generally I try to see the best in my competition, I try to gauge them as legitimate athletes who are trying to make a name for themselves in this business. But then I come across the name Teddy Steele. Teddy fucking Steele. And I have to wonder why you're even here, if you are really emplyeed by us."
"You've done nothing. Beaten no one. You're a complete after thought in a tag team no one cares about. Teddy, what the fuck are you doing with your life? There's got to be something else you're good at. Sorry. I mean to say there has got to be something that you're good at, clearly wrestling isn't that thing."
"Otherwise I'd know who the fuck you are."
"And I'd care."
"But I'm going to be completely honest with you Teddy. I don't care who you are. I don't care what you think you're capable of. I'm the best wrestler in the entire world. I've proved it over and over again against the best competition in this world. That is why I can say unequivocally Roberto Verona and I are going to fucking embarrass you inside of our ring."
"You remember us schooling the shit out of the one eyed misfit? Multiple that tend fold, Teddy. There ain't going to be but two moves in this whole match. We hit you, you hit the mat. Berto and I move on to Round Two of the Tag Team World Cup."
"Enjoy your fifteen seconds in the spot light, it'll be the last time you come anywhere near my ring. Count on it."
I scoff and lean back in my seat.
"Todd, my partner saw fit to give you some praise..."
I nod my head slightly with a smirk.
"I have no idea why."
"Why praise outright laziness? Why praise apathy? Why praise a man who is so unconcerned about their career? Todd, while I understand you accomplished some great things in NCW and Berto chooses to remember those things..."
"NCW is dead."
"Long live IWF."
"And what is it you've done in IWF? Did you continue that momentum from your World Championship run and turn it into an Imperial Championship run? A Man of Steel run? Invictus run? Heir to the Throne? Roulette? Anything?"
"Or did you simply piss it all away?"
"Because it looks like you showed up to IWF with all that steam and did exactly that. Pissed your whole damn legacy away. Hell, maybe Roberto feels bad for you and that's why he keeps giving you these chances but I'd have cut my losses on Todd Williams four years ago. Clearly your best years are behind you at this point and you're just a nostalgia train going for the cheap pop."
"Cheap pops don't win you matches."
"Cheap pops don't get you championships."
"I'm not in this for the cheap pop, Todd. As much as I appreciate the crowds response to me and their respect for my craft at the end of the day I step into that ring to do a job. And the better I am at that job the more money I get paid."
"Hence why I'm the best."
"You? I don'y know what you are or why you're here. You claim to love the sport but you don't respect it enough to get better. You claim to love the crowd but you don't respect them enough to win. You claim you mean business but son, I've seen your pay checks and it's a wonder you can afford your rent."
"Look, I get it. You were a big deal once upon a time. You stood on top of a company that folded under the massive ego of it's leadership. You beat men who were unable and unwilling to put in the effort to succeed in IWF. You were an inspiring talent to the crowd. But now all you are is a waste of my time and effort, Todd. Beating you and Teddy won't be an accomplishment on our way to the World Cup."
"It'll just be business as usual."
"You're enhancement talent, a guy Berto and I put up against newbies to see how good they are. We don't expect you to win pretty much anytime we book you. And you're making money in that position, you seem happy with that position and while that wouldn't be good enough for me I respect that you don't have an aspirations to be better than what you are."
"But Todd..."
"We very much aspire for greatness."
"As your boss it would fill me with nothing but joy if you actually tried to beat Verona and I this week but as a competitor I can promise you you don't have a fucking chance in hell. Not against two of the best wrestlers this business has ever known. We aren't some washed up has been in a hockey mask or a flamboyant high flyer with spousal abuse issues."
"We're professional wrestlers."
"We eat, breath and sleep this business."
"This is our world, you're just living in it."
I throw my shades back on and lean forward.
"No sleep. No rest. Do whatever it takes to be the best."
I found myself sleeping for only a few hours here and there, generally on flights between business meetings so opportunities to train were few and far between. Most days, like today I found myself training at 3:00 AM in some random hotel gym. It's not ideal but no one ever said being at the top was easy. Despite what Steve Awesome would have you believe Roberto and I actually have to work to make sure that loud mouthed asshole's checks don't bounce.
It's more than most men can handle but I never asked for or expected an easy life. Most times life is a grind and if you don't have the balls to grind it out you're going to be left behind.
I'm not going to be left behind.
I'm going to lead the charge. I've never settled, I will never settle. I'll push through the hardships, the early morning workouts, the assholes I work with because in the end it's all worth it. The ends justify the means for me so while most people in IWF don't understand who I am or what I do I can rest easy knowing I've always given my all.
Some people, they wouldn't be here in the gym right now, they wouldn't be pushing their body like I do, they wouldn't be constantly refining their skills. Some people are perfectly happy to phone it in and collect their check.
That's not good enough for me.
If you aren't striving to be the best then why be here at all?
That mind set is what gets me out of bed in the wee hours of the morning and into a gym. That mind set is what stops me from just slugging people in contract negotiations. That mind set is why I call myself the Best in the World.
"Cable?"
That voice, it's like a symphony to my ears.
"Abby."
I said, performing one last burpee and popping up to my feet, my bare chest glistening with sweat.
"It's nearly five thirty in the morning."
Her eyes are a deep forest brown, loving, they suck me right in every single time I look at them. She smiled coyly at me as she handed me a towel.
"You need to rest."
"I will. Roberto and I have a two hour flight ahead of us, I'll sleep then."
"No you won't, heh."
She laughed at me, she was right, we'd probably end up talking shop.
"You're going to burn yourself out."
"Heh."
Now it was my turn to laugh as I reached out and stroked her soft cheek.
"Babe, even if I was half dead and crippled I could beat Todd Williams and Teddy Steele."
"Then why push yourself so hard?"
Her curiosity was genuine. I smiled.
"Just because they don't give a shit doesn't mean I don't. I don't want to be just good enough."
She nodded at me, her fingers dancing down the back of my neck.
"You certainly are better than just good enough. How about we go upstairs..."
Gently her hand moves around my neck and lightly grazed my bare chest with her nails..
"And do some... Cardio with me."
A shudder runs up and down my spine as she nibbles on my ear lobe.
"Oh that's not fair."
"All's fair in love and war."
Without thinking I hoisted her up and gently laid her down on the bench, her hair askew as my hands worked their way down her body.
"I could get into this routine."
"I know something else you could get into."
I knew I loved this woman for a reason...
A few hours later I found myself on the flight with Roberto Verona. We were headed to a presser for Dark Reign, the usual Q and A stuff, hopefully they screened the questions this time. Had a couple of dirt sheet reporters slip in some real bottom of the barrel questions at High Stakes.
At the moment Verona found himself neck deep in a conversation with a certain poker playing friend of his so I took the moment to address our opponents for this coming weekend. TNT. Todd and Tedd. I booted up the live stream feed, removed my aviators and looked dead into the lens.
"Todd Williams. Teddy Steele."
I pause to think.
"Who the fuck is Teddy Steele?"
I ask with a look of total confusion.
"That's not an anecdote. That's not me trying to be funny. I've been signing the checks around here for the last six or so months and the name Teddy fucking Steele is completely foreign to me. I'm half expecting Todd to cut a promo in front of a mirror and try to tag in his shadow come Sunday night because I'm almost one hundred percent sure there isn't a man named Teddy Steele on this roster."
"However, if there is a real Teddy Steele then I've got to ask..."
"How fucking sad is it that one of your bosses has no idea you exist?"
"How insignificant to this company can you possibly be?"
"Look, generally I try to see the best in my competition, I try to gauge them as legitimate athletes who are trying to make a name for themselves in this business. But then I come across the name Teddy Steele. Teddy fucking Steele. And I have to wonder why you're even here, if you are really emplyeed by us."
"You've done nothing. Beaten no one. You're a complete after thought in a tag team no one cares about. Teddy, what the fuck are you doing with your life? There's got to be something else you're good at. Sorry. I mean to say there has got to be something that you're good at, clearly wrestling isn't that thing."
"Otherwise I'd know who the fuck you are."
"And I'd care."
"But I'm going to be completely honest with you Teddy. I don't care who you are. I don't care what you think you're capable of. I'm the best wrestler in the entire world. I've proved it over and over again against the best competition in this world. That is why I can say unequivocally Roberto Verona and I are going to fucking embarrass you inside of our ring."
"You remember us schooling the shit out of the one eyed misfit? Multiple that tend fold, Teddy. There ain't going to be but two moves in this whole match. We hit you, you hit the mat. Berto and I move on to Round Two of the Tag Team World Cup."
"Enjoy your fifteen seconds in the spot light, it'll be the last time you come anywhere near my ring. Count on it."
I scoff and lean back in my seat.
"Todd, my partner saw fit to give you some praise..."
I nod my head slightly with a smirk.
"I have no idea why."
"Why praise outright laziness? Why praise apathy? Why praise a man who is so unconcerned about their career? Todd, while I understand you accomplished some great things in NCW and Berto chooses to remember those things..."
"NCW is dead."
"Long live IWF."
"And what is it you've done in IWF? Did you continue that momentum from your World Championship run and turn it into an Imperial Championship run? A Man of Steel run? Invictus run? Heir to the Throne? Roulette? Anything?"
"Or did you simply piss it all away?"
"Because it looks like you showed up to IWF with all that steam and did exactly that. Pissed your whole damn legacy away. Hell, maybe Roberto feels bad for you and that's why he keeps giving you these chances but I'd have cut my losses on Todd Williams four years ago. Clearly your best years are behind you at this point and you're just a nostalgia train going for the cheap pop."
"Cheap pops don't win you matches."
"Cheap pops don't get you championships."
"I'm not in this for the cheap pop, Todd. As much as I appreciate the crowds response to me and their respect for my craft at the end of the day I step into that ring to do a job. And the better I am at that job the more money I get paid."
"Hence why I'm the best."
"You? I don'y know what you are or why you're here. You claim to love the sport but you don't respect it enough to get better. You claim to love the crowd but you don't respect them enough to win. You claim you mean business but son, I've seen your pay checks and it's a wonder you can afford your rent."
"Look, I get it. You were a big deal once upon a time. You stood on top of a company that folded under the massive ego of it's leadership. You beat men who were unable and unwilling to put in the effort to succeed in IWF. You were an inspiring talent to the crowd. But now all you are is a waste of my time and effort, Todd. Beating you and Teddy won't be an accomplishment on our way to the World Cup."
"It'll just be business as usual."
"You're enhancement talent, a guy Berto and I put up against newbies to see how good they are. We don't expect you to win pretty much anytime we book you. And you're making money in that position, you seem happy with that position and while that wouldn't be good enough for me I respect that you don't have an aspirations to be better than what you are."
"But Todd..."
"We very much aspire for greatness."
"As your boss it would fill me with nothing but joy if you actually tried to beat Verona and I this week but as a competitor I can promise you you don't have a fucking chance in hell. Not against two of the best wrestlers this business has ever known. We aren't some washed up has been in a hockey mask or a flamboyant high flyer with spousal abuse issues."
"We're professional wrestlers."
"We eat, breath and sleep this business."
"This is our world, you're just living in it."
I throw my shades back on and lean forward.
"No sleep. No rest. Do whatever it takes to be the best."
Well howdy there pardner.