Post by Ryan Shane on Jun 30, 2013 18:04:42 GMT
Finally...that's the first thought that game to mind when I was victorious over Deathtrain and Joe Everyman. I worked hard this week and it felt like maybe, just maybe I might be able to find some success in the IWF after all. The only difference between this week and the rest,...I have decided to focus on the things I can control. If there is one thing I can control it's how far I go in the IWF. I know how good I am, how great I can be. I've been there before. I just need to show this locker room what I'm capable. I need them to realize that Ryan Shane isn't just wasted potential, but he might just be the best addition the IWF could have ever hoped for.
I don't want to get ahead of myself. I know it was only one match. It just feels so good to not come out with another lose. It wasn't easy and there were a few times I thought I would taste defeat once again. But when I was covering Deathtrain, I knew for at least a moment things were different. Even though it was just one win there is something else of importance that come out of it. I got much needed points in the Heir to the Throne tournament. I'm right back in the thick of things. All I have to do is ride the momentum and hopefully that ends with being the first Imperial Champion. It has to be someone, why not me?
June 25th, 2013
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
The loud, annoying sound of an alarm clock startles Ryan awake from a dead sleep. He reaches across the bed slapping at the clock trying to get it to stop. Finally the room goes quiet and Shane is left there alone staring at the ceiling of his hotel room.
Ryan Shane: Ugh, it's too early for this.
He knows it's 6AM, the time set on his clock by his cousin. Brian always wanted to get an early start and Ryan never complained about it much. Right about now though he wishes he would have left his own clock at home and relied on the one provided by the hotel.
Ryan Shane: Just one more hour of sleep.
Ryan clumsily sets the resets the alarm and pulls the covers over his head. After tossing and turning for a moment he fights the urge to go back to sleep and gets out of bed. He slowly moves into the bathroom and looks into the mirror.
Ryan Shane: You can do this! You wanted to start anew and prove you could still do this? Here is your chance. You're not going to be successful sleeping in a bed, and you sure as hell won't be the first Imperial champion.
After the little pep talk to himself Ryan is focused and ready. He adjust the knobs on the tub so he can take a hot shower. As he removes his boxer shorts and steps into the tub he knows he has a lot left to prove. He also knows that a whole week without distractions might be exactly what he needs to pick up a win and a much needed twenty points.
These matches aren't getting any easier. Why should they be? This isn't just any kind of tournament. I learned that when I had a triple threat match with Joe and Deathtrain. What the eight of us men are fighting for is to be the first ever Imperial champion. Not only do you get the title and prestige that comes with it, but you automatically become the face of the company. Sure, it might be nice to be one of the other champions. But you are only representing a division of the IWF. When you are the Imperial champion, you are the top dog. In this business being the top dog is everything. If you aren't on top you are fighting to get there. There isn't one man who doesn't want to be Imperial champion. If they tell you different, they are lying. We are want to be alpha males, and if you aren't putting your all into doing so you might as well crawl into a corner and die. There is no place in wrestling for people not willing to fight.
Joe Everyman talks the talk, but does he walk the walk? That can be debated. I was in the ring with him last week so I know what he is capable of. He put up one hell of a fight and I give him props for that. The man finished second in the Heir to the Throne battle royale, that wasn't an accident. That night he was on fire and wasn't going to let anyone stop him. Last week? I don't know if he lost some of the fire or if I just wanted it more. Desire can only take you so far. You have to have talent. Is Joe talented, sure? The whole roster is. That is why this tournament is going to let the cream rise to the top. I know Joe was preaching to me about being humble and once I do that I would go further, but there is no proof to that. Outside of his phenomenal showing in the battle royale, what else has he done thus far? Nothing. I'm never one to turn my back on advice, and I admit I have tried to be more humble. Especially considering I haven't done much to back my talk up. There is a difference in being humble about how good you are, and being humble because when it comes down to it you don't measure up.
I like to think at another time, another place, Joe Everyman could do well in this tournament. If he really HAD to fight for it. I think that might be the problem. The top four get in and Joe had a thirty point advantage on me going in. I have to scrape and claw for one of those top four spots. All Joe has to do is not lose any points. He doesn't have to pick up anymore points, just make sure he holds serve. In that position it's hard to be all in. I think that's the problem with you Joe. In your mind, even if you don't think so, you are already in the top four. So while you might say you are going to come out and fight, prove yourself, turn things around, I'm not sure I believe you. You're not a desperate man, trust me. I know what one looks like because I stare at him in the mirror everyday. Just like last week, I might not pin you Joe, but I WILL outlast you.
I'm not going to pretend I know anything about Bernard de Montfort. Well, I do know he is the son of Simon de Montfort, which doesn't mean much. Their relationship is between the two of them. I don't care if it's love, hate, or somewhere in between. I know there is corruption in the wrestling business, and that it takes many forms. Like I said, I have no idea of their relationship. Here is something I do know. Simon was in the battle royale and he was better than I was that night. That's undeniable. So it doesn't matter what his last name is, he earned his spot, and that makes him a threat. One thing I noticed is that Simon didn't have a match last week. I'm not sure if that's an advantage or a disadvantage. Sure, he might be well rested after having the week off, but he could also be ill prepared to face three men who put it all on the line last week. I think he will, and I'm ready for him.
He is ex military and no doubt that will have him prepared. I may not have served my country, but that doesn't mean I will be any less prepared. I know what it's like to be looking for approval, and wanted to impress someone. It sucks. I'm beginning to learn I can't compete with the legend of the one man I will forever be tied to in this business, Jake Keeton. The only person you should be doing any of this for is you. That should be all that matters. I learned that when you wrestle for anyone else but yourself, it ends badly. No one can appreciate everything you put into it like you do. No one else can understand. I used to wrestle to make Brian and Jake proud, to provide for Amber Lynn, it got me on the bottom of the pile. From now on I'm wrestling for me, to make myself happy. My relationship with wrestling, like all relationships has been rocky. I'm through with dealing with relationships that give no returns. I advise you to do the same Bernard.
The last man in the match is Lex Sense. He, from what I can tell is a big deal. He is the man who won the battle royal. He is the man who eliminated me. So I should be scared right? Afraid? Maybe. I can tell you this, I'm not. What reason do I have to be. He tossed me over the top rope of the ring, that's the extent of what I know. He is big, he is strong, but he is still just a man. Lex was a mystery entrant in the battle royale and it caught people off guard. He won last week, again impressive. He's not invincible though, he has weaknesses. Spending time in a mental hospital doesn't make you scary, it makes you someone deserving of pity. The problem is that everyone else is falling over themselves to run from you. I am willing to stand face to face with you. Even if I have to grab a step stool to do so. I'm not going to back down from you. If that means being destroyed than so be it, because that's how much I want to win this match. That's how much being Imperial champion would mean to me.
Lex you are NOT a wrestler. I don't care what anyone says. You get by on being bigger and stronger than everyone else. You strike fear in your opponents and they become easy pickings. Until two weeks ago I never even heard of you. I've faced scarier “monsters” in my time. Did you see what I did to Deathtrain? He was supposed to be big and bag and he fell just like I knew he would. The bigger the man the more my survival instinct kicks in. I enjoy facing guys like you, because if I can beat you I look like a giant slayer and my stock only rises. I'm guessing you're not accustomed to losing Lex, and that being Imperial champion is nothing more than a formality. It might be. I can't predict the future. All I know is that if you take me lightly you might find yourself on the wrong side of a Shaning Wizard. Trust me when I say this, it doesn't matter how mentally unstable you are. When it hits you will realize any mistake you made in the match because that's when you will find yourself eliminated.
June 29th, 2013
It's been a tough week, not because of the workouts, but because of how hard it was to stick to it. You would think that spending the better part of five years in the business would make staying on a regimen easy. Ryan has pushed through and is now spending his Saturday night in his hotel room, going through the almost endless stream of text and voice mails from his cousin Brian. Finally he has had enough and texts a message back in all caps
I'M ALIVE!!!!!
It seems that Brian isn't dealing with the separation as well as Ryan is. It's understandable since Ryan was his last connection to the business since injuring his back a year ago and not being able to wrestle himself. Ryan isn't any less upset about it though.
He needs to learn I have to do this on my own.
Fed up with all the messages Shane decides he needs to go for a walk. He gathers up his room key and walks toward the door. When he opens it he is surprised at what he see. Surprised and pissed.
Brian: Obviously, you are alive. I never doubted that!
Ryan Shane: What are you doing here? I told you I needed to do things on my own going forward.
Brian: I know, that's why I didn't interfere with your training this week. Good job though, you were pretty on the money with it this week.
Ryan Shane: Wait! You've been here all week? What the hell man.
Brian: Hey, you just said you wanted to do it on your own. I just came into town early to see the show. I didn't know I couldn't do that.
Ryan Shane: It should have been obvious.
Brian: You should have said that, I'm not a mind reader. I guess I will go then.
Ryan Shane: Alright, I was just going for a walk anyway.
Brian: Seriously? You are just going to let me go?
Ryan Shane: What should I do? I can't continue to let you just poke your nose in my business if I am going to grow, get past this slump.
Brian: I'm sorry. As part of the apology, let me buy you dinner. A man's got to eat.
Ryan Shane: Fine, but after dinner and the show Monday, you go home. I will return your calls but I don't need you here.
Brian: Need or want?
Ryan Shane: Forget it. Let's just get dinner, and no wrestling talk.
Brian: Agreed.
The two cousins head out to get dinner. Brian has a huge smile on his face.
I knew it! I knew it and I fell for it anyway. Brian didn't talk about wrestling, he talked about becoming my manager. He thought it was pretty clever to disguise it as such. At this rate it won't be long before Jake Keeton is calling me up and asking me to be his tag team partner again. I need to calm down. I can't have this effecting me during my match. If I'm going to beat Joe, Bernard, and Lex I need to keep my eyes on the prize.
I don't want to get ahead of myself. I know it was only one match. It just feels so good to not come out with another lose. It wasn't easy and there were a few times I thought I would taste defeat once again. But when I was covering Deathtrain, I knew for at least a moment things were different. Even though it was just one win there is something else of importance that come out of it. I got much needed points in the Heir to the Throne tournament. I'm right back in the thick of things. All I have to do is ride the momentum and hopefully that ends with being the first Imperial Champion. It has to be someone, why not me?
June 25th, 2013
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
The loud, annoying sound of an alarm clock startles Ryan awake from a dead sleep. He reaches across the bed slapping at the clock trying to get it to stop. Finally the room goes quiet and Shane is left there alone staring at the ceiling of his hotel room.
Ryan Shane: Ugh, it's too early for this.
He knows it's 6AM, the time set on his clock by his cousin. Brian always wanted to get an early start and Ryan never complained about it much. Right about now though he wishes he would have left his own clock at home and relied on the one provided by the hotel.
Ryan Shane: Just one more hour of sleep.
Ryan clumsily sets the resets the alarm and pulls the covers over his head. After tossing and turning for a moment he fights the urge to go back to sleep and gets out of bed. He slowly moves into the bathroom and looks into the mirror.
Ryan Shane: You can do this! You wanted to start anew and prove you could still do this? Here is your chance. You're not going to be successful sleeping in a bed, and you sure as hell won't be the first Imperial champion.
After the little pep talk to himself Ryan is focused and ready. He adjust the knobs on the tub so he can take a hot shower. As he removes his boxer shorts and steps into the tub he knows he has a lot left to prove. He also knows that a whole week without distractions might be exactly what he needs to pick up a win and a much needed twenty points.
These matches aren't getting any easier. Why should they be? This isn't just any kind of tournament. I learned that when I had a triple threat match with Joe and Deathtrain. What the eight of us men are fighting for is to be the first ever Imperial champion. Not only do you get the title and prestige that comes with it, but you automatically become the face of the company. Sure, it might be nice to be one of the other champions. But you are only representing a division of the IWF. When you are the Imperial champion, you are the top dog. In this business being the top dog is everything. If you aren't on top you are fighting to get there. There isn't one man who doesn't want to be Imperial champion. If they tell you different, they are lying. We are want to be alpha males, and if you aren't putting your all into doing so you might as well crawl into a corner and die. There is no place in wrestling for people not willing to fight.
Joe Everyman talks the talk, but does he walk the walk? That can be debated. I was in the ring with him last week so I know what he is capable of. He put up one hell of a fight and I give him props for that. The man finished second in the Heir to the Throne battle royale, that wasn't an accident. That night he was on fire and wasn't going to let anyone stop him. Last week? I don't know if he lost some of the fire or if I just wanted it more. Desire can only take you so far. You have to have talent. Is Joe talented, sure? The whole roster is. That is why this tournament is going to let the cream rise to the top. I know Joe was preaching to me about being humble and once I do that I would go further, but there is no proof to that. Outside of his phenomenal showing in the battle royale, what else has he done thus far? Nothing. I'm never one to turn my back on advice, and I admit I have tried to be more humble. Especially considering I haven't done much to back my talk up. There is a difference in being humble about how good you are, and being humble because when it comes down to it you don't measure up.
I like to think at another time, another place, Joe Everyman could do well in this tournament. If he really HAD to fight for it. I think that might be the problem. The top four get in and Joe had a thirty point advantage on me going in. I have to scrape and claw for one of those top four spots. All Joe has to do is not lose any points. He doesn't have to pick up anymore points, just make sure he holds serve. In that position it's hard to be all in. I think that's the problem with you Joe. In your mind, even if you don't think so, you are already in the top four. So while you might say you are going to come out and fight, prove yourself, turn things around, I'm not sure I believe you. You're not a desperate man, trust me. I know what one looks like because I stare at him in the mirror everyday. Just like last week, I might not pin you Joe, but I WILL outlast you.
I'm not going to pretend I know anything about Bernard de Montfort. Well, I do know he is the son of Simon de Montfort, which doesn't mean much. Their relationship is between the two of them. I don't care if it's love, hate, or somewhere in between. I know there is corruption in the wrestling business, and that it takes many forms. Like I said, I have no idea of their relationship. Here is something I do know. Simon was in the battle royale and he was better than I was that night. That's undeniable. So it doesn't matter what his last name is, he earned his spot, and that makes him a threat. One thing I noticed is that Simon didn't have a match last week. I'm not sure if that's an advantage or a disadvantage. Sure, he might be well rested after having the week off, but he could also be ill prepared to face three men who put it all on the line last week. I think he will, and I'm ready for him.
He is ex military and no doubt that will have him prepared. I may not have served my country, but that doesn't mean I will be any less prepared. I know what it's like to be looking for approval, and wanted to impress someone. It sucks. I'm beginning to learn I can't compete with the legend of the one man I will forever be tied to in this business, Jake Keeton. The only person you should be doing any of this for is you. That should be all that matters. I learned that when you wrestle for anyone else but yourself, it ends badly. No one can appreciate everything you put into it like you do. No one else can understand. I used to wrestle to make Brian and Jake proud, to provide for Amber Lynn, it got me on the bottom of the pile. From now on I'm wrestling for me, to make myself happy. My relationship with wrestling, like all relationships has been rocky. I'm through with dealing with relationships that give no returns. I advise you to do the same Bernard.
The last man in the match is Lex Sense. He, from what I can tell is a big deal. He is the man who won the battle royal. He is the man who eliminated me. So I should be scared right? Afraid? Maybe. I can tell you this, I'm not. What reason do I have to be. He tossed me over the top rope of the ring, that's the extent of what I know. He is big, he is strong, but he is still just a man. Lex was a mystery entrant in the battle royale and it caught people off guard. He won last week, again impressive. He's not invincible though, he has weaknesses. Spending time in a mental hospital doesn't make you scary, it makes you someone deserving of pity. The problem is that everyone else is falling over themselves to run from you. I am willing to stand face to face with you. Even if I have to grab a step stool to do so. I'm not going to back down from you. If that means being destroyed than so be it, because that's how much I want to win this match. That's how much being Imperial champion would mean to me.
Lex you are NOT a wrestler. I don't care what anyone says. You get by on being bigger and stronger than everyone else. You strike fear in your opponents and they become easy pickings. Until two weeks ago I never even heard of you. I've faced scarier “monsters” in my time. Did you see what I did to Deathtrain? He was supposed to be big and bag and he fell just like I knew he would. The bigger the man the more my survival instinct kicks in. I enjoy facing guys like you, because if I can beat you I look like a giant slayer and my stock only rises. I'm guessing you're not accustomed to losing Lex, and that being Imperial champion is nothing more than a formality. It might be. I can't predict the future. All I know is that if you take me lightly you might find yourself on the wrong side of a Shaning Wizard. Trust me when I say this, it doesn't matter how mentally unstable you are. When it hits you will realize any mistake you made in the match because that's when you will find yourself eliminated.
June 29th, 2013
It's been a tough week, not because of the workouts, but because of how hard it was to stick to it. You would think that spending the better part of five years in the business would make staying on a regimen easy. Ryan has pushed through and is now spending his Saturday night in his hotel room, going through the almost endless stream of text and voice mails from his cousin Brian. Finally he has had enough and texts a message back in all caps
I'M ALIVE!!!!!
It seems that Brian isn't dealing with the separation as well as Ryan is. It's understandable since Ryan was his last connection to the business since injuring his back a year ago and not being able to wrestle himself. Ryan isn't any less upset about it though.
He needs to learn I have to do this on my own.
Fed up with all the messages Shane decides he needs to go for a walk. He gathers up his room key and walks toward the door. When he opens it he is surprised at what he see. Surprised and pissed.
Brian: Obviously, you are alive. I never doubted that!
Ryan Shane: What are you doing here? I told you I needed to do things on my own going forward.
Brian: I know, that's why I didn't interfere with your training this week. Good job though, you were pretty on the money with it this week.
Ryan Shane: Wait! You've been here all week? What the hell man.
Brian: Hey, you just said you wanted to do it on your own. I just came into town early to see the show. I didn't know I couldn't do that.
Ryan Shane: It should have been obvious.
Brian: You should have said that, I'm not a mind reader. I guess I will go then.
Ryan Shane: Alright, I was just going for a walk anyway.
Brian: Seriously? You are just going to let me go?
Ryan Shane: What should I do? I can't continue to let you just poke your nose in my business if I am going to grow, get past this slump.
Brian: I'm sorry. As part of the apology, let me buy you dinner. A man's got to eat.
Ryan Shane: Fine, but after dinner and the show Monday, you go home. I will return your calls but I don't need you here.
Brian: Need or want?
Ryan Shane: Forget it. Let's just get dinner, and no wrestling talk.
Brian: Agreed.
The two cousins head out to get dinner. Brian has a huge smile on his face.
I knew it! I knew it and I fell for it anyway. Brian didn't talk about wrestling, he talked about becoming my manager. He thought it was pretty clever to disguise it as such. At this rate it won't be long before Jake Keeton is calling me up and asking me to be his tag team partner again. I need to calm down. I can't have this effecting me during my match. If I'm going to beat Joe, Bernard, and Lex I need to keep my eyes on the prize.
Well howdy there pardner.