Post by kaster on Jan 10, 2023 18:36:03 GMT
Moments after his match with John Blade at Sacrifice, Caleb Cannin treks through the backstage to the locker room. No exchanges with any interviewers, no confrontations with any poor soul that could happen upon him right now. The locker room door slams shut as he passes through. He sits down on a bench, a towel slung around his neck. The arm sleeve and gloves are slowly peeled off from his limbs. A distant rumbling grabs his attention briefly, as the entrance music of the Diamond brothers echoes out. He goes back to making a quick change, rifling through his gym bag for a t-shirt and sweatpants. The boots are replaced with plain black tennis shoes. All he needs now is a shower and a good rest. He eventually exits the arena, venturing out onto the streets of Tokyo.
Some time later, he finds himself on a treadmill, jogging for what feels like an eternity. The empty hotel gym is dead quiet, barring the rhythmic steps and breaths coming from Cannin. His rest could wait a little while longer. To him, the training is more important, especially if he ever wants to be a top star. Cardio is king; thatās what he learned from his countless days in wrestling school. The steps never become easier as the treadmill doesnāt waver from its everlasting speed. His legs are growing more sore, his lungs are desperately calling for air, his heart thumps from his chest like a knock on the door. Even so, he can hear a very familiar voice in his head, telling him to run faster, faster, fasterā¦
He hops off the treadmill, hunching over and trying to draw breath. Whatever time that has passed doesnāt matter. The fact that he canāt push himself that much further does. All parts of his body are telling him to quit now while heās ahead. That voice in his head, one that heās heard endless times, berates him for ever believing that he could go. It all seems so distinct, like a wire in his brain being connected. The voice is as clear as day now.
You pathetic worm. How do you find new ways to embarrass yourself? You know what? No. You canāt hack it. Get out of my sight. You are nothing more than a coward. Thatās what Iāve got on my hands, a sniveling coward.
The silence is broken by Calebās yell. He tosses a nearby stool across the gym, a loud clatter reverberating in the room. He huffs and paces around the room, trying to calm himself down. A quick glance at the treadmill puts a shine deep in his eyes. He mounts the treadmill again and begins to start up. It isnāt about training now more so than proving something to himself. If it were physically possible, he would run on that treadmill all night. He continues to run for what feels like hours before inevitably heading back to his room. As he lay in bed, all he can think about is that memory of the voice. He tosses and turns that night, praying that he never has to hear another syllable out of that voice ever again.
āI have to admitā¦ I have a little bit of deja vu right now.ā
The Future sits on an armchair, one leg crossed over the other. In the background, a match from IWF: Odyssey plays on a television. The camera focuses on the screen, zooming in to reveal that itās the triple threat match between Pax Stormcrow, Shelly Diamond and, of course, Caleb Cannin.
āHey, douchebag, are you just going to watch the match or are you here to watch me do my thing?ā
The camera quickly comes back to Cannin.
āThatās better. Now, where was I? Oh yeah, deja vu. Almost feels like yesterday that I was telling the whole world that Caleb Cannin would be the inaugural Invictus Champion. Did it work out? Not the way that I had hoped. But hey, my good pal Stevie Terrella has the title and my god, heās doing a damn fine job with it. I mean, heās doing exactly what I would have done. Defend it only when it matters, because that championship is a prize and that makes the champion a prizefighter. That title could have, would have been around my waistā¦ if it wasnāt for Shelly Diamond.ā
His gaze detaches from the camera for a second, an expression of stone forming on his countenance. It doesnāt take long for him to snap back to it.
āAfter that match, I was calledā¦ a- a coward. Not just by people in the locker room, but hundreds of so-called wrestling fans around the globe. I-Iām sorry, are we forgetting that little Miss Diamond almost broke my goddamn neck with a piledriver? Of course I needed to preserve my own health, you idiots! And guess what, folks? I wasnāt even the one who got pinned in that match! But you sit there and call me a coward. Alright, you go in there with two of the most tenured wrestlers in the company and you tell me that you can come away without getting pinned or submitted. I donāt think you can. Shelly, Iāll give the tiniest amount of credit to you. You came into that match, you pinned that Olympic j-brone and then went on toā¦ oh wait, you still couldnāt win the Invictus Championship! You couldnāt get the job done against Big Steve andā¦ā
His tongue presses up against his cheek as he grins slightly. He shakes his head, his eyes darting away from direct contact with the camera lens again.
āAnd James Gilmore. Iām not going to say anything, because thatās not the topic at hand right now. What Iām talking about is you, Shelly, because you think you are still The Best Ever. But, to me, I think that the Diamond is starting to lose a lot of its luster. I know you wonāt be going in at a full hundred percent at Odyssey. That Queenās Gambit ladder match has to have taken something out of you. Iād almost guarantee it. Speaking of the Queenās Gambit, Iād actually like to put forward congratulations to the notorious C.H.E. To be honest, CHE, I think youāre exactly who you say you are. You are one of the best female talents in the company today and I think that winning the Queenās Gambit only solidified that position. However, it does make me wonder why youāre wrestling merely a week after winning what may have been the most monumental match in your career. If it were me, Iād take my time and really think about the golden goose that fell into my lap. You have a surefire title match at any time of the year, so you donāt really need to be in this match. You know who does, though? Me. Because I am going to avenge a fault in my 2022 track record and it can only be avenged when I pin or submit Shelly Diamond. If I know how your mind works, CHE, I know you wonāt be content with letting me score the decisive win, so Iāll extend an olive branch to you. You help me defeat Shelly Diamond and I will personally become something of aā¦ shall we say, āinsurance policyā. I keep my undefeated streak, you get the chance to have what would undoubtedly be one of the most powerful team-ups in this business and Shelly Diamond gets what she deserves for ever thinking that she can compare to either of us. Think about it, Cheyenne, itās the best of both worlds. Envision it: CHEā, nobody else like her, nobody else that can touch her, right next to Caleb Cannin, the unabridged prospect of professional wrestling, the undefeated prodigy and The Future. Side by side, they are the top of the food chain in both of their divisions. Itāsā¦ it could almost bring a tear to my eye just thinking about it. The offer is on the table, CHE, and I think you know what the right choice is.ā
He shoves a hand inside his right pocket, pulling out a television remote. Twirling it in his hand, he doesnāt take his eyes off the camera.
āRest assured, I will remain undefeated in 2023. I will not be pinned, I will not be submitted, hell, I wonāt even get disqualified! The only way anyone will be able to beat me is if they kill me. Come Friday night, I will prove everyone who has ever said that Iām a coward dead wrong. This is the year of Caleb Cannin, it might even be the year of CHE, but it will be the year where the future of this company shines brightest. Ten years of IWF and it is about to enter a golden age. So you may as well embrace it now, because it is inevitable. The Future will be here for a long timeā¦ and the past will fade to black.ā
Pointing the remote at the camera, he āshutsā it off, letting it cut to black.
Some time later, he finds himself on a treadmill, jogging for what feels like an eternity. The empty hotel gym is dead quiet, barring the rhythmic steps and breaths coming from Cannin. His rest could wait a little while longer. To him, the training is more important, especially if he ever wants to be a top star. Cardio is king; thatās what he learned from his countless days in wrestling school. The steps never become easier as the treadmill doesnāt waver from its everlasting speed. His legs are growing more sore, his lungs are desperately calling for air, his heart thumps from his chest like a knock on the door. Even so, he can hear a very familiar voice in his head, telling him to run faster, faster, fasterā¦
He hops off the treadmill, hunching over and trying to draw breath. Whatever time that has passed doesnāt matter. The fact that he canāt push himself that much further does. All parts of his body are telling him to quit now while heās ahead. That voice in his head, one that heās heard endless times, berates him for ever believing that he could go. It all seems so distinct, like a wire in his brain being connected. The voice is as clear as day now.
You pathetic worm. How do you find new ways to embarrass yourself? You know what? No. You canāt hack it. Get out of my sight. You are nothing more than a coward. Thatās what Iāve got on my hands, a sniveling coward.
The silence is broken by Calebās yell. He tosses a nearby stool across the gym, a loud clatter reverberating in the room. He huffs and paces around the room, trying to calm himself down. A quick glance at the treadmill puts a shine deep in his eyes. He mounts the treadmill again and begins to start up. It isnāt about training now more so than proving something to himself. If it were physically possible, he would run on that treadmill all night. He continues to run for what feels like hours before inevitably heading back to his room. As he lay in bed, all he can think about is that memory of the voice. He tosses and turns that night, praying that he never has to hear another syllable out of that voice ever again.
āI have to admitā¦ I have a little bit of deja vu right now.ā
The Future sits on an armchair, one leg crossed over the other. In the background, a match from IWF: Odyssey plays on a television. The camera focuses on the screen, zooming in to reveal that itās the triple threat match between Pax Stormcrow, Shelly Diamond and, of course, Caleb Cannin.
āHey, douchebag, are you just going to watch the match or are you here to watch me do my thing?ā
The camera quickly comes back to Cannin.
āThatās better. Now, where was I? Oh yeah, deja vu. Almost feels like yesterday that I was telling the whole world that Caleb Cannin would be the inaugural Invictus Champion. Did it work out? Not the way that I had hoped. But hey, my good pal Stevie Terrella has the title and my god, heās doing a damn fine job with it. I mean, heās doing exactly what I would have done. Defend it only when it matters, because that championship is a prize and that makes the champion a prizefighter. That title could have, would have been around my waistā¦ if it wasnāt for Shelly Diamond.ā
His gaze detaches from the camera for a second, an expression of stone forming on his countenance. It doesnāt take long for him to snap back to it.
āAfter that match, I was calledā¦ a- a coward. Not just by people in the locker room, but hundreds of so-called wrestling fans around the globe. I-Iām sorry, are we forgetting that little Miss Diamond almost broke my goddamn neck with a piledriver? Of course I needed to preserve my own health, you idiots! And guess what, folks? I wasnāt even the one who got pinned in that match! But you sit there and call me a coward. Alright, you go in there with two of the most tenured wrestlers in the company and you tell me that you can come away without getting pinned or submitted. I donāt think you can. Shelly, Iāll give the tiniest amount of credit to you. You came into that match, you pinned that Olympic j-brone and then went on toā¦ oh wait, you still couldnāt win the Invictus Championship! You couldnāt get the job done against Big Steve andā¦ā
His tongue presses up against his cheek as he grins slightly. He shakes his head, his eyes darting away from direct contact with the camera lens again.
āAnd James Gilmore. Iām not going to say anything, because thatās not the topic at hand right now. What Iām talking about is you, Shelly, because you think you are still The Best Ever. But, to me, I think that the Diamond is starting to lose a lot of its luster. I know you wonāt be going in at a full hundred percent at Odyssey. That Queenās Gambit ladder match has to have taken something out of you. Iād almost guarantee it. Speaking of the Queenās Gambit, Iād actually like to put forward congratulations to the notorious C.H.E. To be honest, CHE, I think youāre exactly who you say you are. You are one of the best female talents in the company today and I think that winning the Queenās Gambit only solidified that position. However, it does make me wonder why youāre wrestling merely a week after winning what may have been the most monumental match in your career. If it were me, Iād take my time and really think about the golden goose that fell into my lap. You have a surefire title match at any time of the year, so you donāt really need to be in this match. You know who does, though? Me. Because I am going to avenge a fault in my 2022 track record and it can only be avenged when I pin or submit Shelly Diamond. If I know how your mind works, CHE, I know you wonāt be content with letting me score the decisive win, so Iāll extend an olive branch to you. You help me defeat Shelly Diamond and I will personally become something of aā¦ shall we say, āinsurance policyā. I keep my undefeated streak, you get the chance to have what would undoubtedly be one of the most powerful team-ups in this business and Shelly Diamond gets what she deserves for ever thinking that she can compare to either of us. Think about it, Cheyenne, itās the best of both worlds. Envision it: CHEā, nobody else like her, nobody else that can touch her, right next to Caleb Cannin, the unabridged prospect of professional wrestling, the undefeated prodigy and The Future. Side by side, they are the top of the food chain in both of their divisions. Itāsā¦ it could almost bring a tear to my eye just thinking about it. The offer is on the table, CHE, and I think you know what the right choice is.ā
He shoves a hand inside his right pocket, pulling out a television remote. Twirling it in his hand, he doesnāt take his eyes off the camera.
āRest assured, I will remain undefeated in 2023. I will not be pinned, I will not be submitted, hell, I wonāt even get disqualified! The only way anyone will be able to beat me is if they kill me. Come Friday night, I will prove everyone who has ever said that Iām a coward dead wrong. This is the year of Caleb Cannin, it might even be the year of CHE, but it will be the year where the future of this company shines brightest. Ten years of IWF and it is about to enter a golden age. So you may as well embrace it now, because it is inevitable. The Future will be here for a long timeā¦ and the past will fade to black.ā
Pointing the remote at the camera, he āshutsā it off, letting it cut to black.
Well howdy there pardner.