Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2018 15:11:20 GMT
“For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.”
As Nighthawk carefully places all of his replica samurai armor in the trunk of his custom-made Ford F-150 as he prepares to drive them all and donate them to the Field Museum one can’t help but see in his eyes and body language how healthy he looks after having a week off from his long and slow march towards winning a singles championship, and wonder if that quest to achieve the victory that has eluded him might have been more trouble than it was worth.
But as he prepares for a preshow match against Gibberg that he specially requested we can’t help but wonder if his failure in both the Heir to the Throne series, and the Best of 5 Series against Pax Stormcrow, has caused him to rethink his career arc up until now and may have even been the impetus for him willingly choosing to wrestle a preshow match.
Finishing putting the last box of samurai armor in the back of the truck Nighthawk smiles, yet more weight and stress leaving his body as he does so. Moving to get in the truck and drive to the Field Museum he slowly turns and sees his wife Sin barreling down the stairs of their Chicago row house at full speed, jumping into her husband’s arms as she does so.
(Author’s Note: This conversation took place in Spanish.)
Nighthawk: “I’m just going to the Field Museum to drop all of this stuff off. It’s not like I’m driving to the US Olympic Center by myself. I mean, it’s not like I’m unhappy to be greeted like this. More so just wondering what brought it on.”
Sin: “It’s that samurai armor in the trunk. I’m so happy you made the decision to get rid of it. I mean, I know why you had it. We all do. And it was an awesome way to return to the ring. But you’re not that cold, emotionless, samurai figure you wanted everyone to believe you to be. Things matter to you. I know that. The people closest to you, the people in your life who matter, they know that too. You might not express it, or scream from the mountaintops, but we know it’s true. We know you care about us, and we’ve known you long enough to know that the way you show it is just different from everyone else. And holding on to that ‘samurai’ aesthetic, that thing that isn’t really you, is just you trying to build yet another shell around yourself. Do you know why I think you do it?”
Nighthawk, raising his eyebrows quizzically: “Sure. Why?”
Sin: “Because, Tristan, all your life you’ve wanted to be anything other than the son of the Spirit. I know what he did to you, and weirdly, how big of a deal it was that he said he was proud of you on his deathbed. But you’re not a samurai, Tristan. You’re an Irish-American kid from a section of Chicago that is an Irish-American enclave. It’s time to be proud of that.”
Nighthawk, smiling as he embraces his wife: “Of course, honey. I am. And it’s time to show it.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
As Nighthawk sits on the ring apron at one of the practice rings of the Wrestle Factory, his hands already wrapped with royal-blue wrist tape, the “Wrestling Machine” slowly opens his eyes. Clad in a turquoise Villano III half-shirt, royal-blue wrestling shorts with orange trim, and blue mid-top wrestling shoes, Nighthawk pounds his left taped fist into his right palm and gazes at the camera with steely-eyed determination.
Nighthawk: “I remember, as clear as day, when I first signed here. I remember all of the texts of congratulations I got on my iPhone about how proud my friends, and my peers, were for me. I remember all the articles I read about how I was the best unsigned wrestler in the world, and how IWF signing me was proof they wanted real technical wrestling. And I remember how good I felt the first time I walked through the doors into an IWF locker room.
Two years later, and everything since the 1st day has been bittersweet. Because while I made friends and watched them achieve all of the glories they have ever wanted to have for themselves, I’ve not been as fortunate.
Two years. Two Heir to the Thrones, knocked out before the elimination round even began both times. Two years. Two IWF Roulettes, having never made it to the final four either time. Two years. One Survival of the Fittest.
The days of me being happy with being in the conversation for a title are over. I know how good I am. These fans know. Anyone who has stepped in the ring with me over the two years I’ve been in IWF, they know too.
From this moment forward, until there is no more breath in my body, I will set out with one goal in mind. One overarching goal above all others, and it’s this: I will be the best.
I treasure the honor, because it is a distinct honor, of being a wrestler you aren’t ashamed to have your kids watching. The feeling of having fans come up to you in the supermarket, or at the gym, and tell you that they improved their grades, or joined the wrestling team, because of you is something I could never describe if you gave me all the words that existed in every dictionary you could find. And I want to show them you can win, and win big, while still being able to sleep at night.
Think about how often it is now you see people tell you ‘You can’t win without cheating’.
I am going to change that mindset. I am going to show the world you can win, and still be a man of honor and a pure athlete. No longer will I stand by and watch people abuse the spirit, and the soul, of this sport and think they can get away with it. Not on my watch.
I WILL stand alongside my friends as peers, not just their sidekick. I will prove I am the best in the world.
Gibberg, my return back to the throne starts with you. But it’s not going to end with you.
Goodnight. May sleep give you the courage to go on.”
As Nighthawk carefully places all of his replica samurai armor in the trunk of his custom-made Ford F-150 as he prepares to drive them all and donate them to the Field Museum one can’t help but see in his eyes and body language how healthy he looks after having a week off from his long and slow march towards winning a singles championship, and wonder if that quest to achieve the victory that has eluded him might have been more trouble than it was worth.
But as he prepares for a preshow match against Gibberg that he specially requested we can’t help but wonder if his failure in both the Heir to the Throne series, and the Best of 5 Series against Pax Stormcrow, has caused him to rethink his career arc up until now and may have even been the impetus for him willingly choosing to wrestle a preshow match.
Finishing putting the last box of samurai armor in the back of the truck Nighthawk smiles, yet more weight and stress leaving his body as he does so. Moving to get in the truck and drive to the Field Museum he slowly turns and sees his wife Sin barreling down the stairs of their Chicago row house at full speed, jumping into her husband’s arms as she does so.
(Author’s Note: This conversation took place in Spanish.)
Nighthawk: “I’m just going to the Field Museum to drop all of this stuff off. It’s not like I’m driving to the US Olympic Center by myself. I mean, it’s not like I’m unhappy to be greeted like this. More so just wondering what brought it on.”
Sin: “It’s that samurai armor in the trunk. I’m so happy you made the decision to get rid of it. I mean, I know why you had it. We all do. And it was an awesome way to return to the ring. But you’re not that cold, emotionless, samurai figure you wanted everyone to believe you to be. Things matter to you. I know that. The people closest to you, the people in your life who matter, they know that too. You might not express it, or scream from the mountaintops, but we know it’s true. We know you care about us, and we’ve known you long enough to know that the way you show it is just different from everyone else. And holding on to that ‘samurai’ aesthetic, that thing that isn’t really you, is just you trying to build yet another shell around yourself. Do you know why I think you do it?”
Nighthawk, raising his eyebrows quizzically: “Sure. Why?”
Sin: “Because, Tristan, all your life you’ve wanted to be anything other than the son of the Spirit. I know what he did to you, and weirdly, how big of a deal it was that he said he was proud of you on his deathbed. But you’re not a samurai, Tristan. You’re an Irish-American kid from a section of Chicago that is an Irish-American enclave. It’s time to be proud of that.”
Nighthawk, smiling as he embraces his wife: “Of course, honey. I am. And it’s time to show it.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
As Nighthawk sits on the ring apron at one of the practice rings of the Wrestle Factory, his hands already wrapped with royal-blue wrist tape, the “Wrestling Machine” slowly opens his eyes. Clad in a turquoise Villano III half-shirt, royal-blue wrestling shorts with orange trim, and blue mid-top wrestling shoes, Nighthawk pounds his left taped fist into his right palm and gazes at the camera with steely-eyed determination.
Nighthawk: “I remember, as clear as day, when I first signed here. I remember all of the texts of congratulations I got on my iPhone about how proud my friends, and my peers, were for me. I remember all the articles I read about how I was the best unsigned wrestler in the world, and how IWF signing me was proof they wanted real technical wrestling. And I remember how good I felt the first time I walked through the doors into an IWF locker room.
Two years later, and everything since the 1st day has been bittersweet. Because while I made friends and watched them achieve all of the glories they have ever wanted to have for themselves, I’ve not been as fortunate.
Two years. Two Heir to the Thrones, knocked out before the elimination round even began both times. Two years. Two IWF Roulettes, having never made it to the final four either time. Two years. One Survival of the Fittest.
The days of me being happy with being in the conversation for a title are over. I know how good I am. These fans know. Anyone who has stepped in the ring with me over the two years I’ve been in IWF, they know too.
From this moment forward, until there is no more breath in my body, I will set out with one goal in mind. One overarching goal above all others, and it’s this: I will be the best.
I treasure the honor, because it is a distinct honor, of being a wrestler you aren’t ashamed to have your kids watching. The feeling of having fans come up to you in the supermarket, or at the gym, and tell you that they improved their grades, or joined the wrestling team, because of you is something I could never describe if you gave me all the words that existed in every dictionary you could find. And I want to show them you can win, and win big, while still being able to sleep at night.
Think about how often it is now you see people tell you ‘You can’t win without cheating’.
I am going to change that mindset. I am going to show the world you can win, and still be a man of honor and a pure athlete. No longer will I stand by and watch people abuse the spirit, and the soul, of this sport and think they can get away with it. Not on my watch.
I WILL stand alongside my friends as peers, not just their sidekick. I will prove I am the best in the world.
Gibberg, my return back to the throne starts with you. But it’s not going to end with you.
Goodnight. May sleep give you the courage to go on.”
Well howdy there pardner.