Post by James Gilmore on Oct 18, 2022 23:10:13 GMT
"IF WE FIGHT..., PART I"
October 17, 2022 - 4:30 PM
"Hey, JJ...can we talk? Man to man."
The weather outside was perfect as perfect can be -- sunny, cool, nothing but bright blue skies overhead. A taste of early autumn was in the air, but when most folks were enjoying the great outdoors? James Gilmore was sitting inside his suite at the Revolution Texas Academy, looking over the report he got from his heart specialist some time ago that encouraged him to retire from in-ring competition. He had just finished an afternoon training session before quickly retreating to the comfort of his apartment-style office.
R.A. Marshall, one of the many people JJ had been working with in recent months, wasn't about to let the venerable trainer off the hook.
"You're still mopin' around about that doctor's report...?"
"Yeah..."
JJ paused and took a deep breath.
"You don't know the full story. It...it's that I've got a 25 percent blockage in my widowmaker.
Doc wants me to retire..."
"So what...?!"
"So..?"
Ram cleared his throat.
"Do you really think that I, for one, am gonna allow you to train me while you sit here, wither away, and die?!"
JJ shook his head solemnly.
"Ram...lemme tell ya what the widowmaker is, okay? It's the artery that pumps all the blood into your heart and all that mess. Ya wanna know why they call it the widowmaker? 'Cuz when that goes, your significant other's gonna wind up bein' left one 'cuz you're dead as a doornail."
He then took a sip from a bottle of orange Gatorade as Ram watched.
"It happened to my dad a few years ago. It's one fight that, no matter how hard ya try, you ain't gonna win."
Ram nodded as he looked at the document.
"Look, I understand. I understand you've got a family to think about back home, but...doctors ain't God. Only God decides who lives and dies, right?"
He plopped himself on the white leather sofa.
"Point being, just 'cause you've got 25 percent blocked, that means 75 percent is still good. You've still got somethin' left in the tank. If we fight, you gotta fight too...."
JJ sighed.
"I haven't even told my wife about this. Kept it from her ever since I left the doc's office that day."
"Tell her. Don't be a pussy and tell her. I'm sure she'll understand."
JJ bowed his head, closed his eyes, and began to meditate -- pondering about what was coming down the pike once he got back home.
To be continued...
"I guess I'm a bad teacher -- a bad father -- for wantin' to do this roedeo again.
It's been a while since I've been back on the road. I've heard all sorts of commentaries bashin' me 'cuz I happen to help run a fledglin' academy with a great business partner of mine. I heard people dismiss it as a cult. I've listened as, up and down the block, people often said that I wouldn't amount to nothin'. So I took some time to digest everything, to let it all sink in...and ya know somethin'!
I was perfectly happy with what I had, in an out of the ring.
I was hopin' to pass a decade's worth of experience down to the next generation.
I wanted to live a normal, peaceful life with my wife and family.
Then Shelly Diamond came on two weeks ago and ran her mouth, claimin' that she was robbed of the Women's World title. She chose to use the title like dice in craps, in her never-endin' quest to prove that she's the best ever, and wound up hittin'a seven. It's one thing, y'all, to scream and shoult and tell the world that you're gonna make a helluva good comeback at a lter date -- I've seen that movie before, plenty of times through the years. It's ANOTHER thing, however, to point a finger at a woman I helped TRAIN and say that she ain't a legit champ.
And I've had enough of it.
As a trainer AND a dad!?!
I. Have. Had. ENOUGH.
Lemme tell youse a l'il somethin' about me, perhaps to help put things into proper context. II spent a l'il over a decade in this business, goin' from commentator to full-time worker to former two-time World Champion. I played my part in that very ring, puttin' time, money, and BLOOD on the line 'cuz, when I think about it, professional wrestlin' become a callin' to my life. 'Til I became a father to twin children, I often considered trainin' people for this business as practice -- practice on learnin' how to be a good, lovin' dad.
I'm very proud of Caroline, for the woman she's become -- a true role model that anyone can admire.
I'm very proud of Ram, for takin' his lumps on the way to achievin' greatness.
As much as Gabriela Luna wants me to be proud that I gave 'em a solid foundation, and that means the world to me...truth is, they're doin' this game on their own, choosin' their OWN path. They've never needed me at ringside all the time, blowin' sunshine and rainbows up their asses and tellin' 'em they're gonna win so-and-so. That ain't my job, that ain't what I signed up to do. The harsh, cold crux of it all is simple...not everybody's gonna have a piece of gold to add to their trophy case. I've seen a lot of good, hard-workin' folks -- guys, gals, and nonbinary pals -- spend their whole careers without goin' recognized for their efforts, for the work they've put in.
And when ya DO win somethin' big?!
Doesn't matter the title or other achievement?!
It makes you stop and think about what it took to get ya to this point. It makes you realize that you've accomplished somethin' special. On one hand, you're gonna have people lookin' up to ya and say 'THIS person is someone I can look up to!' On the other hand....now you're gonna have a big target on your back by those who constantly hate your guts for whatever reason. That ain't meant to inspire, by the way.
Those are just some cold, hard facts that should never be taken for granted.
You understand that, Virginia?! Twice-times dominant Imperial Diamond champion, earned the chance to main event on the biggest stage of 'em all, taken down Hall of Famers alike. Now...this ain't no bias comin' from me, but out of all the women I've seen in this gig, you're one of my favorites. Yet the problem here is that, for so long, you've been trainin' yourself to think that the only thing that matters is hittin' people hard, 'cuz when you're smackin' teeth around....you're winnin'.
Some might want you to think that you're on the verge of greatness.
That's bullshit...'cuz you're already there, at the level of greatness you wanna be at.
But here's the thing...while I'm pretty damn proud that you, Shelly, and Jennie are gonna be blazin' a new trail on this night?! You ain't fightin' just women no more; now you're fightin' men...men who've spent DECADES in this business and have earned their keep. I get it why people sometimes look down upon ya, 'cuz you can throw hands and kick people hard in the teeth. Yet come Friday, you're gonna wind up learnin' what it TRULY feels like to get hit and keep movin' forward. Nothin' is half-assed, nothin' is compromised -- REAL winnin' is about gettin' back up after your ass gets knocked down.
Speakin' of which...
Alek, I know that you and I did a l'il work together here and there. You oughta be very proud of yourself, for there ain't a lot of people who've taken their lumps against Angel Blake and lived to tell the tale. He's one of the most feared dudes in the company for a BIG reason, I know that one very well, and you came outta that eighteen-plus minute encounter with a lot of bumps and bruises, but...I really hope ya learned somethin' from the experience.
Ya wanna learn some more lessons?
Look at the IWF Women's Division, look at what people like Virginia have done. As someone who's trained women, trained with women, and even fought women on the indy circuit, I can tell you firsthand about how hard they can hit. Doesn't matter whether it's me or her Alek, THIS is where ya gotta push yourself. This is where ya gotta elevate your game to the next level and not be afraid to take the fight to an opponent. After all, the word 'invictus' is Latin for 'unconquered.'
So go out there, kick ass, get your ass kicked, and be unconquered.
That goes for both of youse, you and Virginia. This ain't gonna be easy, though. It's a long, hard road up ahead, and out there...the war never, ever ends. You will be made, you will be measured, you will be tested. And if you ain't careful?! You will be left...
#ShellShocked!!!"
October 17, 2022 - 4:30 PM
"Hey, JJ...can we talk? Man to man."
The weather outside was perfect as perfect can be -- sunny, cool, nothing but bright blue skies overhead. A taste of early autumn was in the air, but when most folks were enjoying the great outdoors? James Gilmore was sitting inside his suite at the Revolution Texas Academy, looking over the report he got from his heart specialist some time ago that encouraged him to retire from in-ring competition. He had just finished an afternoon training session before quickly retreating to the comfort of his apartment-style office.
R.A. Marshall, one of the many people JJ had been working with in recent months, wasn't about to let the venerable trainer off the hook.
"You're still mopin' around about that doctor's report...?"
"Yeah..."
JJ paused and took a deep breath.
"You don't know the full story. It...it's that I've got a 25 percent blockage in my widowmaker.
Doc wants me to retire..."
"So what...?!"
"So..?"
Ram cleared his throat.
"Do you really think that I, for one, am gonna allow you to train me while you sit here, wither away, and die?!"
JJ shook his head solemnly.
"Ram...lemme tell ya what the widowmaker is, okay? It's the artery that pumps all the blood into your heart and all that mess. Ya wanna know why they call it the widowmaker? 'Cuz when that goes, your significant other's gonna wind up bein' left one 'cuz you're dead as a doornail."
He then took a sip from a bottle of orange Gatorade as Ram watched.
"It happened to my dad a few years ago. It's one fight that, no matter how hard ya try, you ain't gonna win."
Ram nodded as he looked at the document.
"Look, I understand. I understand you've got a family to think about back home, but...doctors ain't God. Only God decides who lives and dies, right?"
He plopped himself on the white leather sofa.
"Point being, just 'cause you've got 25 percent blocked, that means 75 percent is still good. You've still got somethin' left in the tank. If we fight, you gotta fight too...."
JJ sighed.
"I haven't even told my wife about this. Kept it from her ever since I left the doc's office that day."
"Tell her. Don't be a pussy and tell her. I'm sure she'll understand."
JJ bowed his head, closed his eyes, and began to meditate -- pondering about what was coming down the pike once he got back home.
To be continued...
"I guess I'm a bad teacher -- a bad father -- for wantin' to do this roedeo again.
It's been a while since I've been back on the road. I've heard all sorts of commentaries bashin' me 'cuz I happen to help run a fledglin' academy with a great business partner of mine. I heard people dismiss it as a cult. I've listened as, up and down the block, people often said that I wouldn't amount to nothin'. So I took some time to digest everything, to let it all sink in...and ya know somethin'!
I was perfectly happy with what I had, in an out of the ring.
I was hopin' to pass a decade's worth of experience down to the next generation.
I wanted to live a normal, peaceful life with my wife and family.
Then Shelly Diamond came on two weeks ago and ran her mouth, claimin' that she was robbed of the Women's World title. She chose to use the title like dice in craps, in her never-endin' quest to prove that she's the best ever, and wound up hittin'a seven. It's one thing, y'all, to scream and shoult and tell the world that you're gonna make a helluva good comeback at a lter date -- I've seen that movie before, plenty of times through the years. It's ANOTHER thing, however, to point a finger at a woman I helped TRAIN and say that she ain't a legit champ.
And I've had enough of it.
As a trainer AND a dad!?!
I. Have. Had. ENOUGH.
Lemme tell youse a l'il somethin' about me, perhaps to help put things into proper context. II spent a l'il over a decade in this business, goin' from commentator to full-time worker to former two-time World Champion. I played my part in that very ring, puttin' time, money, and BLOOD on the line 'cuz, when I think about it, professional wrestlin' become a callin' to my life. 'Til I became a father to twin children, I often considered trainin' people for this business as practice -- practice on learnin' how to be a good, lovin' dad.
I'm very proud of Caroline, for the woman she's become -- a true role model that anyone can admire.
I'm very proud of Ram, for takin' his lumps on the way to achievin' greatness.
As much as Gabriela Luna wants me to be proud that I gave 'em a solid foundation, and that means the world to me...truth is, they're doin' this game on their own, choosin' their OWN path. They've never needed me at ringside all the time, blowin' sunshine and rainbows up their asses and tellin' 'em they're gonna win so-and-so. That ain't my job, that ain't what I signed up to do. The harsh, cold crux of it all is simple...not everybody's gonna have a piece of gold to add to their trophy case. I've seen a lot of good, hard-workin' folks -- guys, gals, and nonbinary pals -- spend their whole careers without goin' recognized for their efforts, for the work they've put in.
And when ya DO win somethin' big?!
Doesn't matter the title or other achievement?!
It makes you stop and think about what it took to get ya to this point. It makes you realize that you've accomplished somethin' special. On one hand, you're gonna have people lookin' up to ya and say 'THIS person is someone I can look up to!' On the other hand....now you're gonna have a big target on your back by those who constantly hate your guts for whatever reason. That ain't meant to inspire, by the way.
Those are just some cold, hard facts that should never be taken for granted.
You understand that, Virginia?! Twice-times dominant Imperial Diamond champion, earned the chance to main event on the biggest stage of 'em all, taken down Hall of Famers alike. Now...this ain't no bias comin' from me, but out of all the women I've seen in this gig, you're one of my favorites. Yet the problem here is that, for so long, you've been trainin' yourself to think that the only thing that matters is hittin' people hard, 'cuz when you're smackin' teeth around....you're winnin'.
Some might want you to think that you're on the verge of greatness.
That's bullshit...'cuz you're already there, at the level of greatness you wanna be at.
But here's the thing...while I'm pretty damn proud that you, Shelly, and Jennie are gonna be blazin' a new trail on this night?! You ain't fightin' just women no more; now you're fightin' men...men who've spent DECADES in this business and have earned their keep. I get it why people sometimes look down upon ya, 'cuz you can throw hands and kick people hard in the teeth. Yet come Friday, you're gonna wind up learnin' what it TRULY feels like to get hit and keep movin' forward. Nothin' is half-assed, nothin' is compromised -- REAL winnin' is about gettin' back up after your ass gets knocked down.
Speakin' of which...
Alek, I know that you and I did a l'il work together here and there. You oughta be very proud of yourself, for there ain't a lot of people who've taken their lumps against Angel Blake and lived to tell the tale. He's one of the most feared dudes in the company for a BIG reason, I know that one very well, and you came outta that eighteen-plus minute encounter with a lot of bumps and bruises, but...I really hope ya learned somethin' from the experience.
Ya wanna learn some more lessons?
Look at the IWF Women's Division, look at what people like Virginia have done. As someone who's trained women, trained with women, and even fought women on the indy circuit, I can tell you firsthand about how hard they can hit. Doesn't matter whether it's me or her Alek, THIS is where ya gotta push yourself. This is where ya gotta elevate your game to the next level and not be afraid to take the fight to an opponent. After all, the word 'invictus' is Latin for 'unconquered.'
So go out there, kick ass, get your ass kicked, and be unconquered.
That goes for both of youse, you and Virginia. This ain't gonna be easy, though. It's a long, hard road up ahead, and out there...the war never, ever ends. You will be made, you will be measured, you will be tested. And if you ain't careful?! You will be left...
#ShellShocked!!!"
Well howdy there pardner.