Nobody's Perfect

[Joe Everyman]

I should have known that it would end this way
I should have known there was no other way
Didn't hear your warning
Damn my heart gone deaf

This week... was America week. A very important week for me. I spent a good chunk of my time out with my family, saying hello to the fans, watching some fireworks, the normal routine. I got so wrapped up in it that I didn't have much time this week to talk about my match. I have a few minutes now where I can do just that for you fine ladies and gentlemen. And no, you don't get to have a peak into my life outside of the ring this week. I've been hearing rumbling from my less than nice acquaintances, opponents and or critics that my life is too perfect. Because of that, NOBODY gets to have a peak inside my life. If you want to blame someone for this, your letters and concerns can be directed towards Steve Awesome, as it's at least fifty percent his fault.

The other fifty percent is also Steve's fault.

But, moving on. This week, I have two on two against the leader in points for the Heir To The Throne tournament, Lex Sense. To say him and I have some history together would be putting it lightly. For those who don't know, him and I were in a tag team for a long while. We won a ton of matches, beating some big name teams. However... we could never beat the biggest name team, Knitely Bangs, the team of Curtis Kanyon and Adam Knite. We fought our hearts out, but lost to them three straight times. We just couldn't get it done. There was a lot of talk backstage trying to figure out who the weak link was in the group. Lex and I stood by each other's side throughout it all, saying their was no weak link. And as much of a friend Lex was to me, the truth needs to be put out there.

Lex Sense was the weak link in EverySense.

He was too slow and too clunky to be able to compete with the likes of Adam, Curtis and I. He just didn't fit the mold. His mind was always haywire. He wanted to frighten his opponents more than dominate them. And for that, we lost in those matches. Believe me in this, my faithful fans. I know I will have some shit slung my way for this, but it is the truth. We was always the weak link, but I stuck by his side because I see the good in everybody. I wanted to be his friend still, and I wanted to push him towards our goal. But in the end, we broke up, and now, here we are.

It's been a long, strange trip for him and I. And as soon as it was just him and I in the ring at the end of that long battle royal, I knew something like this would happen. I knew that him and I would meet up again. We do have two top Diamonds in with us. Eternity, in Lex's corner, and Alysson Gardner, in my corner. Alysson is one hell of a wrestler, let me tell you that. I've seen her wrestle for a long time now, and I couldn't ask for a better partner on my side. Eternity is new to me... and she's fucking nuts. That's the best way to describe it, so I'm going to stick with it.

Eternity... you are bonkers. And I mean that in the nicest, please don't throw a knife at me, sort of way. That would really suck if you did that. And I wasn't really going to say anything about you and Lex. I don't see as really an issue at all. It's not puppy love. It's just that crazy digs crazy, so Lex and you are perfect for each other. Like... Joker and Harley Quinn, you guys go together perfectly. And I swear, if you go out and buy a giant mallet... well, actually, I won't be surprised. But Eternity, I didn't really have anything against you until I saw your promo. Who are you to even mention my fiance? Huh? Who lifted you onto the pedestal for you to pass ANY judgment onto someone else?

Oh, and thank you so much for calling me a scatterbrain. Thank you so much for shining light onto that flaw of mine.

The truth is... I am a scatterbrain. I have been for a long time. I have a hard time focusing on one thing at a time, and my mind is all over the place all of the time. And... because I'm getting onto this, I suppose I'm going to have to get into more personal shit. And I'm sure that was your exact plan, but I don't care.

There is a reason why I try to show the happier moments of my home life. I want to portray to everyone that Melanie, Aurora and I have a happy home life. The truth is... we don't all of the time. Or at least, I don't. Melanie has been an emotional wreck the last couple weeks. My daughter is starting to panic, because she fears she won't get as much attention when the twins are born. And best of all, I've started drinking again. Do you know why? Because my career is a husk of what it used to be. I haven't won a single match in IWF so far, despite putting my full effort forward. No matter what I do, I can't win. So I turn to the alcohol... because it helps. It helps ease my mind, and ease my sorrows.

And just to think, I was a recovering alcoholic. Oops. I guess that came to an end a couple weeks ago. I don't hit the bottle nearly as hard as I used to... because I don't need to. The alcohol affects me in a funny way. It helps me focus. It helps me stay sane in this fucked up world of ours. It helps things make more sense. I don't drink because of my fiance. I don't drink because of my daughter. I don't even drink because of my career, to a degree. I drink because I can't stand myself.

Are you fucking happy now? The cat's out of the bag.

My life is far from perfect, and yet, that's what everybody expects that it is. I let you people into my life a little bit at a time, every week, because it's something you enjoy. And then I get chastised by my opponents every single week because my life is different than theirs. And I'm sure I'm just going to add more ammunition to the fight, but the truth had to be put out there. Nobody is perfect. And I'm far from ever getting there.

But thankfully, I have a loving wife who is ok with the fact that I'm not mentally stable most of the time. I have a daughter who thankfully didn't inherit any of it. And I'm praying that my sons don't either. I don't want to pass this disease onto anybody else. It's already destroyed the inside of one life. It doesn't need to destroy anybody else's.

The scene slowly opens up inside of the living room of Joe Everyman's house. A travel bag and a hoodie sit next to the door. There is little sound coming from the inside of the house, except for some movement upstairs. The sounds of cars passing outside can be heard, as the world outside of the house goes by, not knowing what is happening on the inside.

Ok... maybe I'll let you all in on a little bit of my personal life this week. The truth is, I was afraid to leave this week. I was afraid to go to my job, the same job that I have loved for seven years now. I was afraid to fail. I couldn't face it. I just couldn't do it. When I'm around Melanie and my daughter, I feel loved and needed. When I'm in the ring and in the back, I feel... used up. Like I'm not good enough. Like I've never been good enough. I wanted to call in sick or something, even with everything on the line this week. I didn't want to leave...

Joe can be seen walking down the stairs and into the living room, seeming happy as ever. He turns around for a quick second and yells up the stairs.

Joe Everyman: I'm going to head out, Melane! I'll call you when my plane touches down. I love you!

Melanie Brooks: Good luck this week, babe! I love you too!

Joe smiles and turns towards the door, where his pace quickly slows. He looks down at his bag with a tone that quickly turns south. He closes his eyes for a moment, trying to get his mind wrapped around everything going on in it. He reaches down to pick up his bag, but he stops before he can do it.

Would a perfect husband drink around his pregnant wife and daughter? Would a perfect father miss the beginnings of his only daughter's life for work? I'm just trying my best. I just want to support them. I'm not perfect. And even though, in the end it will hurt me more than I could ever say... scaring me mentally and physically... it's something I have to do, for them.

Joe finally grabs his bag and slings it over his shoulder. He sighs for a moment, letting out a bit of his fear, if only for a moment. He then quickly opens the door and closes it behind him. The scene then slowly fades to black on the image of the doorknob.

I do what I have to do, for those I love. I like to think of myself as a good person, because I do what I do for them. I want to support my soon-to-be wife, my daughter and my two newborns. I want to make sure they are in a safe place financially. And I think that I've done that. But, I've done that while hurting myself.

I used to absolutely love what I do for a living. But now, it's becoming hell. No matter what I put forward, I can't get my right foot ahead. I can't get that stride going, to take down the challenges ahead of me. And despite my short comings. Despite my scatterbrain, as Eternity so eloquently put it. Despite my fears of failure, that have been upon me for so long now... despite it all... I will do what I have always done. No matter what is going on at home, no matter what is going on in my life, I will always fight. My heart has waned in it's time, and it may not be the strongest one out there anymore. Heh... first time in my life where I can admit that. But no matter what, I will keep trying. One win... one win is all I need to set a few wrongs into the right. One win, and maybe I can be a little more happy with my life. Because one more loss...

...well, I don't want to even think about what the could do to me.

For now, onto Sacrifice I go. This team of Alysson Gardner and myself will be a good one. Lex Sense, Eternity, we're coming for you. Lex, I'm going to show you that you were always the weak link of EverySense. Eternity, I will make sure you pay for what you said about my fiance. I just need one win... and it will be caused by you two.

I will right this sinking ship. I will repair all of that which I have broken. Because it's something I have to do. I'm not perfect... but I'll still fight for what's right in this world... no matter what.

I should have known
Look at the shape you're in
I should have known
But I dove right in
One thing is for certain
As I'm standing here
I should have known