Post by James Gilmore on Jul 11, 2023 4:09:03 GMT
"What the hell is the difference between what I do and what she does for a livin'...?!"
2:30 PM on April Fools Day, several months ago.
It was no laughing matter inside a Tarrant County family courtroom as James Gilmore, sporting a charcoal gray business suit and tie, was making his case for why he should be the one to retain full custody of children Luke and Leia. Yulia Malakova, wearing a red formal dress, stood on the opposite side as a small gallery of onlookers and press clamored about.
"I often had to pray I didn't hear YOUR obituary on Good Day!"
"Yeah...I had to pray that you got off Fortnite instead of leavin' me to change the damn diapers...!"
The two continued bickering back and forth as Judge Kellyanne Wapner looked on. For a few minutes, it felt like the two sides were about to come to blows. Eventually, peace prevailed for the moment as the long-serving judge made her decision.
"After listening to testimony from both parties and their witnesses in this case, I've come to a conclusion. While wrestling and marketing are different lines of work in their own right, they cannot allow anyone to be considered untouchable for the choices a person makes. While Ms. Malakova has technically had a presence in the children's lives while Mr. Gilmore is out on the road, it is clear that Mr. Gilmore -- regardless of health and hassle -- has chosen to stay faithful to his marriage."
Judge Wapner laid out a scathing rebuke of Yulia's remorseless and condescending behavior following the cheating scadal that led them to this day. She then turned her attention towards the Islander alum, whose head was bowed in a moment of prayer. The calm displayed in the courtoom was palpable, but it was merely a facade. The sparks of tension were about to turn into a raging flame.
"Mr. Gilmore, as a woman whose grandfather was a former trucker, I can understand what it feels like to be away from home and the ones you love most. To cope with this, you have built and cultivated a support system of honest, worthy individuals that truly have your and your children's best interests in mind."
JJ took a deep breath and opened his eyes as the judge read her decision.
"...it is this court's decision to award full custody of Luke Reagan and Leia Melania Melania to Mr. Gilmore. Furthermore sir, during the road to your recovery from your latest health issue, I'm allowing you to appoint a temporary legal guardian to oversee the children's care pending approval and instructions..."
Yulia screamed out in Russian, accusing the judge of being bought and paid for among other things. Wapner wasn't buying it and wrapped her gavel.
"Keep it up, Malakova, and I'll throw you in the slammer for contempt!"
Court was adjourned, and JJ and his team were whisked out to meet an assembled crowd of reporters outside. Yulia gave him a death stare -- along with a warning.
"HMPH! One way or another, JJ..."
She paused, her face beet red as she gritted her teeth.
"I will break you..."
***
Present day, 12:30 PM.
JJ found himself back in his office at the Academy, sighing to himself after reading the list of names that had jumped ship to Yulia's Palace in recent days. Kenny Konroe, Petey Plinko, and Lizzie Yeoh -- people that he had amired working with after Caroline and RAM left the school -- were now gone. The Islander alum looked solemn as he second-guessed himself, wondering whether or not the divorce was the right thing to do.
"All this 'cuz Yulia couldn't have Luke and Leia...?"
At that moment, a horrifying realization began to set into JJ's mind. Yulia might not stop poaching the Academy for new recruits. His eyes gazed upon the small photograph of Luke and Leia that sat on the left side of his desk, next to the model ship Yulia had given him years ago as a present. The tone of his voice became terse as he made a resolution.
"No...ain't happenin'. I ain't gonna let her take what we've built."
JJ paused.
"Time for Papa JJ to put his foot down..."
Taking a sip from a bottle of orange Gatorade, JJ closed his eyes and began to meditate...
"Alright, dudes. Let's cut the crap and get down to business.
Listen, Matt...what makes you think that you're better than anyone else, especially someone like Angel Blake?! Is it 'cuz you're old, is it 'cuz your passionate about this business?! Sure, you've beaten people like RAM and Alan Cheney in the past. Sure, you've had a helluva run with the TV title before gettin' to face Angel for the big one/
Only ya flunked out and walked outta the company for ten months.
Even if you DID beat myself and Nick Danger, what are ya gonna get out of it?! What're you gonna accomplish by beatin' Angel down the line?! Truth is...I'm one of a handful of dudes out there who've beaten Angel -- in his signature Death Cage -- but lemme tell ya what that got me. Bumps, bruises, docs standin' over me wonderin' what the hell was I thinkin'?! Ya know, sooner or later, life is gonna have a way of catchin' up with you.
Then...what're ya gonna do when you're finally told that ya can't be doin' this no more?!
Point bein'...you ain't no different or better than anyone else in this business. I say this 'cuz you're one tough-son-of-a-gun, but I'm also sayin'...you can dismiss myself and Nick Danger at your own peril. I've had the honor of workin' with Nick for sometime now, and look what he's accomplished! Dude's come a long, long way in a couple of years! Are you gonna call him a 'punk child' like you did with your tag-team parnter, Sabin?!
Not exactly the wisest of ideas.
Speakin' of Wraith...I"ve been lookin' forward to this for a long time. Youngest World Champ ever, tag team champ...for Angel's First Son, you're one tough cookie to crack. I ain't gonna bullshit around when I tell you that you tappin' Nick out for the TV title was very impressive. Yet as I asked your partner earlier, I'm gonna ask you the same thing: what're you REALLY gonna get out of makin' people tap out, huh?!
Accolades? Awards?! Yeah...but you're also gonna get banged up really bad in the process.
'Cuz it ain't about how many times you've beaten someone.
It's about how many times you've been BEATEN!
And you, Wraith...you can be beaten. Nick took you to the absolute limit and then some. You're lookin' at me doin' the same thing. Out there, in that ring...we gotta push it. It's our livelihood, our callin', our shared belief. Not everybody gets a chance to have matches like this, when we're showcased in front of a bigger audience than the usual. Consider this day an honor, a blessin'...a privilege.
It might not come again.
In the meantime? Have at 'em, Nick."
2:30 PM on April Fools Day, several months ago.
It was no laughing matter inside a Tarrant County family courtroom as James Gilmore, sporting a charcoal gray business suit and tie, was making his case for why he should be the one to retain full custody of children Luke and Leia. Yulia Malakova, wearing a red formal dress, stood on the opposite side as a small gallery of onlookers and press clamored about.
"I often had to pray I didn't hear YOUR obituary on Good Day!"
"Yeah...I had to pray that you got off Fortnite instead of leavin' me to change the damn diapers...!"
The two continued bickering back and forth as Judge Kellyanne Wapner looked on. For a few minutes, it felt like the two sides were about to come to blows. Eventually, peace prevailed for the moment as the long-serving judge made her decision.
"After listening to testimony from both parties and their witnesses in this case, I've come to a conclusion. While wrestling and marketing are different lines of work in their own right, they cannot allow anyone to be considered untouchable for the choices a person makes. While Ms. Malakova has technically had a presence in the children's lives while Mr. Gilmore is out on the road, it is clear that Mr. Gilmore -- regardless of health and hassle -- has chosen to stay faithful to his marriage."
Judge Wapner laid out a scathing rebuke of Yulia's remorseless and condescending behavior following the cheating scadal that led them to this day. She then turned her attention towards the Islander alum, whose head was bowed in a moment of prayer. The calm displayed in the courtoom was palpable, but it was merely a facade. The sparks of tension were about to turn into a raging flame.
"Mr. Gilmore, as a woman whose grandfather was a former trucker, I can understand what it feels like to be away from home and the ones you love most. To cope with this, you have built and cultivated a support system of honest, worthy individuals that truly have your and your children's best interests in mind."
JJ took a deep breath and opened his eyes as the judge read her decision.
"...it is this court's decision to award full custody of Luke Reagan and Leia Melania Melania to Mr. Gilmore. Furthermore sir, during the road to your recovery from your latest health issue, I'm allowing you to appoint a temporary legal guardian to oversee the children's care pending approval and instructions..."
Yulia screamed out in Russian, accusing the judge of being bought and paid for among other things. Wapner wasn't buying it and wrapped her gavel.
"Keep it up, Malakova, and I'll throw you in the slammer for contempt!"
Court was adjourned, and JJ and his team were whisked out to meet an assembled crowd of reporters outside. Yulia gave him a death stare -- along with a warning.
"HMPH! One way or another, JJ..."
She paused, her face beet red as she gritted her teeth.
"I will break you..."
***
Present day, 12:30 PM.
JJ found himself back in his office at the Academy, sighing to himself after reading the list of names that had jumped ship to Yulia's Palace in recent days. Kenny Konroe, Petey Plinko, and Lizzie Yeoh -- people that he had amired working with after Caroline and RAM left the school -- were now gone. The Islander alum looked solemn as he second-guessed himself, wondering whether or not the divorce was the right thing to do.
"All this 'cuz Yulia couldn't have Luke and Leia...?"
At that moment, a horrifying realization began to set into JJ's mind. Yulia might not stop poaching the Academy for new recruits. His eyes gazed upon the small photograph of Luke and Leia that sat on the left side of his desk, next to the model ship Yulia had given him years ago as a present. The tone of his voice became terse as he made a resolution.
"No...ain't happenin'. I ain't gonna let her take what we've built."
JJ paused.
"Time for Papa JJ to put his foot down..."
Taking a sip from a bottle of orange Gatorade, JJ closed his eyes and began to meditate...
"Alright, dudes. Let's cut the crap and get down to business.
Listen, Matt...what makes you think that you're better than anyone else, especially someone like Angel Blake?! Is it 'cuz you're old, is it 'cuz your passionate about this business?! Sure, you've beaten people like RAM and Alan Cheney in the past. Sure, you've had a helluva run with the TV title before gettin' to face Angel for the big one/
Only ya flunked out and walked outta the company for ten months.
Even if you DID beat myself and Nick Danger, what are ya gonna get out of it?! What're you gonna accomplish by beatin' Angel down the line?! Truth is...I'm one of a handful of dudes out there who've beaten Angel -- in his signature Death Cage -- but lemme tell ya what that got me. Bumps, bruises, docs standin' over me wonderin' what the hell was I thinkin'?! Ya know, sooner or later, life is gonna have a way of catchin' up with you.
Then...what're ya gonna do when you're finally told that ya can't be doin' this no more?!
Point bein'...you ain't no different or better than anyone else in this business. I say this 'cuz you're one tough-son-of-a-gun, but I'm also sayin'...you can dismiss myself and Nick Danger at your own peril. I've had the honor of workin' with Nick for sometime now, and look what he's accomplished! Dude's come a long, long way in a couple of years! Are you gonna call him a 'punk child' like you did with your tag-team parnter, Sabin?!
Not exactly the wisest of ideas.
Speakin' of Wraith...I"ve been lookin' forward to this for a long time. Youngest World Champ ever, tag team champ...for Angel's First Son, you're one tough cookie to crack. I ain't gonna bullshit around when I tell you that you tappin' Nick out for the TV title was very impressive. Yet as I asked your partner earlier, I'm gonna ask you the same thing: what're you REALLY gonna get out of makin' people tap out, huh?!
Accolades? Awards?! Yeah...but you're also gonna get banged up really bad in the process.
'Cuz it ain't about how many times you've beaten someone.
It's about how many times you've been BEATEN!
And you, Wraith...you can be beaten. Nick took you to the absolute limit and then some. You're lookin' at me doin' the same thing. Out there, in that ring...we gotta push it. It's our livelihood, our callin', our shared belief. Not everybody gets a chance to have matches like this, when we're showcased in front of a bigger audience than the usual. Consider this day an honor, a blessin'...a privilege.
It might not come again.
In the meantime? Have at 'em, Nick."
Well howdy there pardner.