Post by Craig on Jun 13, 2013 21:29:19 GMT
Undisclosed location somewhere in the world. This is all you need to know for where I'm at right now. Its not cold here but yet there is no real heat either. The perfect weather for visiting an old friend who would raise more then a few eyebrows about who he is. This man is one of my oldest friends in professional wrestling and probably not the person you're thinking of either. I knock on the door of his home and that old familiar face answers the door. Always figured the home of a time traveling hero would look different.
David Alastair, or the Horned Frog as he's known now, looks different from the days of when we spent time in the squared circle together. A smirk creeps onto his face, the two of us sharing a bro hug. Alastair steps aside and welcomes me into his house. Its nothing spectacular but he's not rich either. No, just a man trying to save us normal folk from the dangers of the world without really wanting anything in return.
I take a seat on his couch which has seen better days. I haven't seen David in a couple of years and it all makes sense as to why. Always knew there was something different about the man. Hell, I joked around with him once saying if someone murdered my family I'd stop wrestling and join him on his crusade adventures. He takes a seat in an easy chair across from me, leaning back to relax himself.
David: Can I offer you a drink?
I shake my head no. I try not to drink unless its a special occasion as there will be someone to catch me from falling back to the self destructive tendencies of alcoholism. Of course with this different timeline body maybe my body reacts differently to the alcohol. Haven't tried it yet.
Brad: No thanks.
The two of us sit in an uncomfortable silence. For being two old friends this feels awkward. Its not like I didn't drop by without an announcement. I find it rude to stop by someone's home without the proper notification. Too many things could go wrong.
David: So how's the wrestling business treating you old friend?
Brad: You know how it goes. Wrestle, get paid, train, sleep, wrestle and the cycle goes on and on until the body gives out. This is the best I've felt about the business for quite a while though. Finally feel like I can properly stay put in one promotion.
David: Only took you how many years now?
We share a laugh over my misdeeds of the past. He wasn't much better. I try to get comfortable on this couch having to move over a spot due to a spring trying to violate my corn hole.
Brad: Yeah, yeah. So how's the crime fighting business and all that?
David: I do what needs to be done, friend. I keep it to myself and that's about it. No need to concern every day people with what I do.
Brad: Understandable. So I'm sure you want to know why I asked to visit you after all these years. I wasn't disappointed that you weren't there to my wedding with Nina. You got bigger fish to fry.
David: I'm sure it was a lovely ceremony. At least you found someone to put up with you.
I chuckle. We've always had a rapport like this. Most guys do and the one's that don't get it are weird. Evan and myself always insult one another and the wives cannot understand why we do it either. Just something men do.
Brad: It was, thank you. I'm not here to talk about the glory days of the Saints of the Strong Style. Instead I'm here to ask you questions about time travel.
David leans forward going to that place I've seen him go to before. He's a dangerous man and not one to be trifled with. Just glad I can call him a friend. If he got back into wrestling with his genetic modifications we'd all be toast.
David: Brad, you know this is not something to discuss with me. I've told you this information in private, as a friend, not so you can bug me with questions.
Brad: I realize this but I think something's happened to me and I need to know a few things about it.
David: What happened?
I sigh trying to find the right words to explain how I feel. Most people would laugh me off but I know the Horned Frog is the only person I can really trust about this sort of thing. If I went to anyone in IWF I'd get put into a mental ward. Despite two supposed time travelers, I know David is the real deal.
Brad: You know about my neck problems and the surgeries. About a month ago I went to the doctor for a check up and he did some tests and x-rays and found no lasting damage to my neck, no problem what so ever. Don't you find that a little weird given the two surgeries?
He leans back into his chair again pondering about my situation. Its just too nice and neat for me not to question. Most people would be thrilled with this slate of health but its like there was nothing wrong with me at all. Everyone saw me get carted out against Lex nearly a year ago.
David: It is a bit odd, Brad. If you were replaced with a different version of yourself then either they needed that particular one in their universe to fight for something or the theory of alternate universes, rather then timelines, exist and someone took out some of the other Brad Kane types.
Brad: That sounds like that Jet Li movie, The One.
David: Indeed it does but it'd make sense given your current condition. If you were a future version of yourself you'd be different in age and appearance and yet you look the same. The answer is one of those two, old friend.
Brad: Basically I'm up shit creek as far as answers go?
The Horned Frog nods his head unable to help me from more then what I've already determined. The two of us sit in silence again for a moment or two, neither of us thinking of anything constructive to say. I stand up and dust my shorts off and stretch my arms out. This whole thing just really reeks. I want the answers and yet they aren't presenting themselves to me.
David: My best advice, Brad, is to simply block it from your mind. You're feeling better, your memories are the same and your life is in great shape. Questioning this only leads to a dark path with unhappy answers and possible violence against you or your family. Enjoy your career and family, my friend.
Brad: David, we both know I can't rest unless I have what I want. Thank you for your time anyways.
I extend my hand while he stands to shake it. He follows me to the door while I open it ready to head back to my family. I'm just about to my rental car when I hear him say something else.
David: Remember, old friend, never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon.
I don't acknowledge him. Instead I get into my car and let those famous by Rorschach ring through my ears. Perhaps he knows more then what he let on and is only protecting me. I don't know right now. My only hope is that the answers present themselves to me. Still... what would I have to compromise from this? My morals? My beliefs? I went to my old friend looking for answers and instead only left with more questions...
Shit.
-----
David Alastair, or the Horned Frog as he's known now, looks different from the days of when we spent time in the squared circle together. A smirk creeps onto his face, the two of us sharing a bro hug. Alastair steps aside and welcomes me into his house. Its nothing spectacular but he's not rich either. No, just a man trying to save us normal folk from the dangers of the world without really wanting anything in return.
I take a seat on his couch which has seen better days. I haven't seen David in a couple of years and it all makes sense as to why. Always knew there was something different about the man. Hell, I joked around with him once saying if someone murdered my family I'd stop wrestling and join him on his crusade adventures. He takes a seat in an easy chair across from me, leaning back to relax himself.
David: Can I offer you a drink?
I shake my head no. I try not to drink unless its a special occasion as there will be someone to catch me from falling back to the self destructive tendencies of alcoholism. Of course with this different timeline body maybe my body reacts differently to the alcohol. Haven't tried it yet.
Brad: No thanks.
The two of us sit in an uncomfortable silence. For being two old friends this feels awkward. Its not like I didn't drop by without an announcement. I find it rude to stop by someone's home without the proper notification. Too many things could go wrong.
David: So how's the wrestling business treating you old friend?
Brad: You know how it goes. Wrestle, get paid, train, sleep, wrestle and the cycle goes on and on until the body gives out. This is the best I've felt about the business for quite a while though. Finally feel like I can properly stay put in one promotion.
David: Only took you how many years now?
We share a laugh over my misdeeds of the past. He wasn't much better. I try to get comfortable on this couch having to move over a spot due to a spring trying to violate my corn hole.
Brad: Yeah, yeah. So how's the crime fighting business and all that?
David: I do what needs to be done, friend. I keep it to myself and that's about it. No need to concern every day people with what I do.
Brad: Understandable. So I'm sure you want to know why I asked to visit you after all these years. I wasn't disappointed that you weren't there to my wedding with Nina. You got bigger fish to fry.
David: I'm sure it was a lovely ceremony. At least you found someone to put up with you.
I chuckle. We've always had a rapport like this. Most guys do and the one's that don't get it are weird. Evan and myself always insult one another and the wives cannot understand why we do it either. Just something men do.
Brad: It was, thank you. I'm not here to talk about the glory days of the Saints of the Strong Style. Instead I'm here to ask you questions about time travel.
David leans forward going to that place I've seen him go to before. He's a dangerous man and not one to be trifled with. Just glad I can call him a friend. If he got back into wrestling with his genetic modifications we'd all be toast.
David: Brad, you know this is not something to discuss with me. I've told you this information in private, as a friend, not so you can bug me with questions.
Brad: I realize this but I think something's happened to me and I need to know a few things about it.
David: What happened?
I sigh trying to find the right words to explain how I feel. Most people would laugh me off but I know the Horned Frog is the only person I can really trust about this sort of thing. If I went to anyone in IWF I'd get put into a mental ward. Despite two supposed time travelers, I know David is the real deal.
Brad: You know about my neck problems and the surgeries. About a month ago I went to the doctor for a check up and he did some tests and x-rays and found no lasting damage to my neck, no problem what so ever. Don't you find that a little weird given the two surgeries?
He leans back into his chair again pondering about my situation. Its just too nice and neat for me not to question. Most people would be thrilled with this slate of health but its like there was nothing wrong with me at all. Everyone saw me get carted out against Lex nearly a year ago.
David: It is a bit odd, Brad. If you were replaced with a different version of yourself then either they needed that particular one in their universe to fight for something or the theory of alternate universes, rather then timelines, exist and someone took out some of the other Brad Kane types.
Brad: That sounds like that Jet Li movie, The One.
David: Indeed it does but it'd make sense given your current condition. If you were a future version of yourself you'd be different in age and appearance and yet you look the same. The answer is one of those two, old friend.
Brad: Basically I'm up shit creek as far as answers go?
The Horned Frog nods his head unable to help me from more then what I've already determined. The two of us sit in silence again for a moment or two, neither of us thinking of anything constructive to say. I stand up and dust my shorts off and stretch my arms out. This whole thing just really reeks. I want the answers and yet they aren't presenting themselves to me.
David: My best advice, Brad, is to simply block it from your mind. You're feeling better, your memories are the same and your life is in great shape. Questioning this only leads to a dark path with unhappy answers and possible violence against you or your family. Enjoy your career and family, my friend.
Brad: David, we both know I can't rest unless I have what I want. Thank you for your time anyways.
I extend my hand while he stands to shake it. He follows me to the door while I open it ready to head back to my family. I'm just about to my rental car when I hear him say something else.
David: Remember, old friend, never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon.
I don't acknowledge him. Instead I get into my car and let those famous by Rorschach ring through my ears. Perhaps he knows more then what he let on and is only protecting me. I don't know right now. My only hope is that the answers present themselves to me. Still... what would I have to compromise from this? My morals? My beliefs? I went to my old friend looking for answers and instead only left with more questions...
Shit.
-----
...::"You only get one chance, and that's one too much.
What's the world gonna say when I call your bluff, punk? "::...
~~"Violence (Enough Is Enough)" by A Day To Remember~~
"Life, and history, is a cycle of repetition. We wake up in the morning, use the bathroom, breakfast and so on for our daily routine. We do this day after day after day because that is what we are conditioned for. Sometimes the cycle is broken due to illness or some other factors that are beyond our control. I have a daily cycle of how I do things. I wake up, eat, shower, spend some time with the kids, lunch, work out during the afternoon, shower again, dinner and then just do whatever for the rest of the night.
Day after day this is my life. Then comes the weekend where I know I'll be traveling and yet most of this cycle my life goes around in remains. I'll eat, shower, skype with the kids, lunch, try to find that gym and so on. Even when I'm not home it stays the same. This rarely ever changes for me. I don't mind it so much because I'm conditioned to believe this is how life should be for myself. Everyone has their cycles of life.
This weekend the first pay per view in the life cycle of the Imperial Wrestling Federation happens. The first Sunday night where people put down their hard earned dollars to watch their heroes face off against the villains. They'll see dreams become reality and reality become a nightmare. People will see men go against one another in the name of titles, women fight for the chances for the very same thing and they'll see old grudges finally come to the end of their road.
A long and winding road full of twists and turns through such a strange story that its hard to understand it without looking back at it completely. Seven years ago I walk into a company, new kid on the block. This decorated champion of theirs has a match with me, goes well and I think that's that. Little did I know that this would become an issue for the next seven years. When I look back on it that company did less for me then any other.
But chapter that Alex Jones and I share started seven years ago around this time. Its no secret that for a long time we hated one another. This wasn't your typical hate. No, instead this kind of hate was the one that would bring promotions down, that would force us to stay apart in the locker room because of the explosion that the two of us could bring upon at any given moment. Flash forward a couple of years. Everything dies down and the hatchet is buried.
Still I don't consider him a friend, never will either because I know Alex Jones a lot better than anyone else in this promotion outside of my own brother. The Kane boys know who the real Alex Jones is and it isn't the man that presents himself as a confident wrestler to everyone who is dumb enough to listen to him go on and on about how great he is. No, Alex Jones, ladies and gentlemen, is a scared man. He's scared and full of the fear that if he went away no one would really miss him.
No one would miss his talents. His so called ability in the ring. No one would miss him telling everyone just how awesome he thinks he is. This is the first difference between us, Alex, is that despite my ego, I know I'm nothing more then a cog. I can be replaced if I break down and I have been. I've been faced in a situation as we all know with this neck surgery stuff and I was replaced in the wrestling world but I've fought my way back in this year.
You think someone like you needs redemption, Jones? No, you don't need redemption like I do. My lasting legacy in this business isn't holding a title in the air. It's not kissing the canvas of the ring while thousands of people chant my name say 'Please don't go!' because my legacy in this business is bleeding all over the stretcher, my wife crying because she doesn't know if I'll be able to walk again as thousands of people remained silent wondering the same exact thing.
Your legacy if you walked away right now? Losing two World Titles to women. Oh, right, didn't think anyone would remember that one World Title you won and then lost to a woman? See its funny how the past repeats itself in a cycle isn't it? Two times you've won a World Title only to see a woman come out and snatch that title away. That's just how it goes sometimes, Jones, you just don't have enough in you to be the man of a promotion.
You're not the man to carry the company banner on your back because I know you'd fold under the pressure. You want people to think that you're this supreme holy wrestler. You want people who tune into IWF to think you're a big deal because you signed your contract on live television. Men who are better than you didn't need that to let the fans know that they're here. Instead you show up on live television to bitch and moan about what happened to you.
That's why I had to come down and break up your little sad story about how the whole world is against and blah blah blah. Then again you're trying to make it look like you're a fucking martyr of professional wrestling. Newsflash, dipshit, you're not Kevin Hardaway as he already has the market on that gimmick. Maybe that's why you hated him for so long because the two of you are exactly the same and that's why I find the both of you so insufferable.
You expect it to be handed to you on a silver platter. That's why you were the only man in this company to sign his contract in the ring so people would talk about Alex Jones. You know how I made people talk about me on the first show? Main event. I watched my cousin's student tear the house down. Myself and Tifa made history winning the first main event while you had to sit in the back and watch me have the spot you covet more than anything else in the world.
Like I said that first night you chase the spotlight while the spotlight follows me. I don't need sad stories, I don't need to sign my contract on live TV and I sure as hell don't need this never ending cycle of Alex Jones, AJ Phoenix, to whine and complain about not being the man on the top of the marquee every single time he opens his mouth.
History is a never ending cycle that repeats itself until someone breaks said cycle. Bloody Azzies, Cell match, I break you and this cycle you created for the better of professional wrestling and the people who love it.
Peace."
Well howdy there pardner.