Post by Jesse Marchand on Mar 14, 2021 6:10:25 GMT
Jessé Marchand exhales slowly, seemingly reflecting on a moment in his mind.
"I stood by the other day and I listened as a man I respect a great deal walked a group of students through the physical challenges a match like this presents. I've been in a few multi-team tags, and I've seen my fair share of chaos in the ring... but a match such as this, it'd also be uncharted territory for me. So I listened to his words, and as he described it as one of the absolute toughest, most brutal competitions that anyone could ever step into, and it's hard to argue with that. His words got me thinking about my own intentions with this, though."
"When you look at the field already announced, the talent is undeniable. There may be no bigger name in it than Dean Harper, a previous World Champion already; and a genuine piece of shit. To what ends would a man such as that go is anyone's guess. I won't sit here and pretend I have an ounce of respect for Dean Harper, because I don't. I also don't fear the legend of Dean Harper. I can tell you though that if my back is turned, I'd want to know where he is. Dismissing Dean Harper would be a foolish mistake."
"Then you've got Ulf Hednir, who might have the most momentum of any man in this company right now. Man like that, you slip once, and he'll put you face down in the dirt with a single punch. You have to be cognizant of that at all times in a match such as the Roulette, even if you've got another guy pounding away on you in a corner somewhere. He's no doubt going to be driven to become a double champion, too. If you win two belts and a Roulette in the same year, it's hard not to say you've already cemented your legacy."
"There will be men in there like James Gilmore, Evan Albrecht and Seth Evans to name a few- honorable men reaching for that star, either again or for the very first time. Those are men you can't discount. Team Diversity Hire will be a collective force to be reckoned with. You've also got guys like Stephen Terrella and Locke who might be just a little bit desperate, and who knows what they'll try to do or who they'd cross for a chance to become World Champion."
Jessé clasps his hands in front of his face, his elbows resting on his knees.
"Opportunities such as this... they do strange things to people. When a shot at that World Heavyweight Championship is up for grabs, some men go to dark places. It's a match fueled by chaos, designed to bring out the best and worst in people all at once. There will be amazing feats of athleticism in combat... and there will inevitably be moments when friends become enemies, and one has to end the other's dream to get what they want."
"That's a hard pill in some ways for me. As I wrestled with this decision, I tried to take stock of who I am. I'm confident in my preparation and my abilities, and out of every name mentioned and every not yet announced, there isn't one I don't believe in my heart I can't beat. I may not have the athleticism or power of some, but I'll outwork and out wrestle anyone in this company every single day of the week."
After a brief sigh, Jessé continues, "The part I struggle to wrap my head around is what happens when it comes down to myself and Travis; because if we're in there together, we're going to work together until it comes down to myself and Travis. That's not giving anything away because if you're just now realizing that as I say it, you might as well write yourself off from winning this match. He's got just as much chance as me, though- or anyone else in there- to earn a World Title shot. No one knows that better than I do."
"When you have to assess how you feel about potentially stealing your best friend's moment away from them so you can have your own, that's a heavy thing, let me tell you. People they're going to want to sit and talk about how physically grueling this match is, and it is. Those are things you can put some ice on, take a few weeks off- whatever it is that gets you right, and you come back from them."
"How do you mend those friendships though when you're going on to fight for the World Heavyweight Championship and your friend isn't? What words do you say? How does it go if it's the other way around? That's the nature of this beast. When you put your name on that dotted line, unless you either have no friends at all or are simply just coming to say you participated, that's the task you're signing up for. Because I know if I enter I am going to win, I know that potentially means I'm going to have to put my friend and brother's dream on ice to do it. Then I'm going to have to try to find those words. Those are the stakes, and they are high."
Jessé places another log on the fire, and uses a stick to stir the ash a bit.
"So as the Roulette approaches, I'd be lying if I sat here and said I wasn't a little bit conflicted as to rather or not to enter this match. I'm a loyal person, sometimes to a fault. Facing Travis isn't something I want to do."
"If I don't enter, though, I'm effectively throwing away a chance at my own dream that I had way back when I was a young boy. That'd be a regret.. and as I said before, regret is a hard thing to swallow, man."
"Therein lies the paradox."
"I stood by the other day and I listened as a man I respect a great deal walked a group of students through the physical challenges a match like this presents. I've been in a few multi-team tags, and I've seen my fair share of chaos in the ring... but a match such as this, it'd also be uncharted territory for me. So I listened to his words, and as he described it as one of the absolute toughest, most brutal competitions that anyone could ever step into, and it's hard to argue with that. His words got me thinking about my own intentions with this, though."
"When you look at the field already announced, the talent is undeniable. There may be no bigger name in it than Dean Harper, a previous World Champion already; and a genuine piece of shit. To what ends would a man such as that go is anyone's guess. I won't sit here and pretend I have an ounce of respect for Dean Harper, because I don't. I also don't fear the legend of Dean Harper. I can tell you though that if my back is turned, I'd want to know where he is. Dismissing Dean Harper would be a foolish mistake."
"Then you've got Ulf Hednir, who might have the most momentum of any man in this company right now. Man like that, you slip once, and he'll put you face down in the dirt with a single punch. You have to be cognizant of that at all times in a match such as the Roulette, even if you've got another guy pounding away on you in a corner somewhere. He's no doubt going to be driven to become a double champion, too. If you win two belts and a Roulette in the same year, it's hard not to say you've already cemented your legacy."
"There will be men in there like James Gilmore, Evan Albrecht and Seth Evans to name a few- honorable men reaching for that star, either again or for the very first time. Those are men you can't discount. Team Diversity Hire will be a collective force to be reckoned with. You've also got guys like Stephen Terrella and Locke who might be just a little bit desperate, and who knows what they'll try to do or who they'd cross for a chance to become World Champion."
Jessé clasps his hands in front of his face, his elbows resting on his knees.
"Opportunities such as this... they do strange things to people. When a shot at that World Heavyweight Championship is up for grabs, some men go to dark places. It's a match fueled by chaos, designed to bring out the best and worst in people all at once. There will be amazing feats of athleticism in combat... and there will inevitably be moments when friends become enemies, and one has to end the other's dream to get what they want."
"That's a hard pill in some ways for me. As I wrestled with this decision, I tried to take stock of who I am. I'm confident in my preparation and my abilities, and out of every name mentioned and every not yet announced, there isn't one I don't believe in my heart I can't beat. I may not have the athleticism or power of some, but I'll outwork and out wrestle anyone in this company every single day of the week."
After a brief sigh, Jessé continues, "The part I struggle to wrap my head around is what happens when it comes down to myself and Travis; because if we're in there together, we're going to work together until it comes down to myself and Travis. That's not giving anything away because if you're just now realizing that as I say it, you might as well write yourself off from winning this match. He's got just as much chance as me, though- or anyone else in there- to earn a World Title shot. No one knows that better than I do."
"When you have to assess how you feel about potentially stealing your best friend's moment away from them so you can have your own, that's a heavy thing, let me tell you. People they're going to want to sit and talk about how physically grueling this match is, and it is. Those are things you can put some ice on, take a few weeks off- whatever it is that gets you right, and you come back from them."
"How do you mend those friendships though when you're going on to fight for the World Heavyweight Championship and your friend isn't? What words do you say? How does it go if it's the other way around? That's the nature of this beast. When you put your name on that dotted line, unless you either have no friends at all or are simply just coming to say you participated, that's the task you're signing up for. Because I know if I enter I am going to win, I know that potentially means I'm going to have to put my friend and brother's dream on ice to do it. Then I'm going to have to try to find those words. Those are the stakes, and they are high."
Jessé places another log on the fire, and uses a stick to stir the ash a bit.
"So as the Roulette approaches, I'd be lying if I sat here and said I wasn't a little bit conflicted as to rather or not to enter this match. I'm a loyal person, sometimes to a fault. Facing Travis isn't something I want to do."
"If I don't enter, though, I'm effectively throwing away a chance at my own dream that I had way back when I was a young boy. That'd be a regret.. and as I said before, regret is a hard thing to swallow, man."
"Therein lies the paradox."
Well howdy there pardner.