The Final Title Shot

[Ryan Shane]

I have to admit that it's getting tiresome. I'm beginning to think I can't have a one on one match without someone sticking their nose when it doesn't belong. I expected it but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow. I'm mostly disappointed in myself for being so easily distracted when there was so much on the line.

I want to take nothing away from Demonio Blanco. The guy beat me, no matter what the circumstances. I'm just sorry that in the two matches we've had that guys trying to get at me interfered in our matches. I would really like to see what happens when we just get to fight with no one interfering. I think it would be a hell of a match. It would allow me to prove that I can beat you straight up.

April 20th, 2016

This week hasn't been an easy one for Ryan Shane. It is becoming very difficult to juggle home life with wrestling life. Why can't he have both? He knows that he is going to pay for all the time he has been spending at Brian's this week. Amber is going to have a fit. She doesn't understand how much winning the Man of Steel title means to him.

Inside of the ring at Brian's warehouse Ryan is drenched in sweat. Across the ring from him Brian is equally covered in sweat. The two have been going at it for hours. They both have big matches coming up.

Brian showing his age calls for a break. The two men head outside of the ring and to a cooler filled with water. Ryan grabs a couple and hands one to his older cousin. Ryan downs the bottle at once and then grabs another.

Ryan Shane: You should really think about getting a cage for this place.

Brian: No thanks...this ring is to train and help others who are interested learn the craft. There is no need to have something like that here. I try to prevent injuries in this ring.

In his younger days Brian wrestled a more hardcore style of match. He knows what that can do to a person. His body reminds him of it everyday.

Ryan Shane: It would just be nice to have a way to prepare for the match.

Brian: You're focusing on all the wrong things. The cage isn't there to be a weapon. It's there to keep the match contained. You might even be able to get by like it isn't even there.

Ryan Shane: That doesn't mean it won't be used. It's not just the cage, but the whole style of the match. I can only win by submission or knock out. I wouldn't exactly call those my strengths.

Brian can't help but laugh.

Brian: You knew the match stipulations before you challenged Zasshu right?

Ryan Shane: I mean, sure...well enough I guess.

Brian: If it isn't your type of match why did you make the challenge?

Ryan Shane: My wrestling career is almost over. I did to make my mark somehow. If I can win a championship that will go a long way in do that.

Brian: Ah, so you picked Zasshu because you thought he was the weakest target? How's that working out for you?

Ryan Shane: I got my shot didn't I?

Brian: Yes you did. I just want you to remember one thing. You don't have to win a bunch of championships to have a successful career.

Ryan Shane: It helps.

Brian: True...but take it from me. I don't have a lot of belts and accolades to my name. I still consider my career a success because I love doing what I do.

Ryan Shane: My love for this business has never been in question...

Brian: Hasn't it?

The two men just stare at each other for a moment.

Brian: I'm not going to get all preachy. You know I've done that for far too long. I just want you to be happy. I don't think winning the man of steel championship will do that.

Ryan Shane: But I am happ...

Not wanting to hear what he perceives as lies Brian cuts him off.

Brian: I know...

I've got to tell her how I feel. It's only fair that she know. I want to keep doing this. I feel like it's what I was made for. The problem is that there is no give when it comes to Amber. There is only take.

She doesn't really understand that I can do both. It shouldn't be one way or the other. That is an issue with her, not me. I love her to death, but sometimes I wonder if she feels the same.

I know she came back to me. Isn't that love? Was it only because I wasn't wrestling? Did she think she could get her claws into me and keep me from it? Am I so weak that I can't stand up for myself. Man up Ryan!

April 22nd, 2016

Well shit has officially hit the fan.

Ryan Shane technically never agreed that he wouldn't spend time at his cousin's house training. Amber had said she didn't think he needed to with him leaving the business and all. The issue is Ryan never argued his point. Now with his biggest opportunity ever he has taken a week off from house work and baby proofing to concentrate on wrestling.

This isn't the first time he has done that since saying he was going to retire. He spent a good amount of time preparing for High Stakes and his match with Jake Keeton. This is just as important, maybe even more so. Wanting to beat Jake was personal. Trying to win the Man of Steel championship? That's professional. Until Night of the Immortals ends Ryan Shane is still a professional wrestler. He wants to do his part to portray himself as such.

Amber obviously feels different. She thinks he should be doing the bare minimum, and that nothing should keep him from his responsibilities at home. If it was up to her he would've just walked out and they could have figured something out. That's why for the past few hours she has given him the cold shoulder.

That's when he made a big mistake. He asked her what was wrong. As if he didn't know...

Amber Lynn: Why do we have to keep going over this? You're place is here with me and the baby!

Ryan Shane: I am here. I've never not been here. All I'm trying to do is find the most success while I can. Until I am forced into retirement.

This doesn't help matters.

Amber Lynn: FORCED! Who is forcing you to do anything? Me? We talked about it, we were in agreement. I didn't force you into anything.

Ryan Shane: Things change...

Amber Lynn: So what? Now you want to continue to wrestle? You expect me to stay home and raise our baby by myself?

Ryan Shane: I never said that! All I'm asking for is to be able to give it my all while I am still active.

Amber Lynn: You mean until I FORCE you to retire.

She is starting to frustrate him.

Ryan Shane: I NEVER SAID THAT! You don't understand all the sacrifices I'm making.

Amber Lynn: You think I'm not making sacrifices? How dare you say that.

She begins to walk away. She doesn't want him to see her start to cry.

Ryan Shane: Where are you going?

Amber Lynn: Wherever you're not!

Ryan Shane: Fine! I can't deal with you when your like this. I'll be at Brian's. I'll see you when I get back. I have a wrestling match. You know the thing that puts food on the fucking table!

With that he grabs his keys and heads out the front door. He hops into his car and starts it. As he speeds out of the driveway he pulls his phone from the pocket of his jeans. He finds a number listed under the name “John” and dials it.

Ryan Shane: Hey...can you talk?

All I wanted was a shot to become Man of Steel champion. I didn't think it was too much to ask for. There might have been more deserving candidates out there, but where were they? I didn't see no one else opening their mouths and asking for the shot.

So why not Ryan Shane?

It isn't like the shot was just going to be handed to me.

All I wanted to hear was a simple yes or no. Instead I was repeatedly about how I didn't deserve a title shot. I was told I didn't even belong in the same ring as the champion. Sure, maybe all of that is true. When I step in the ring with Zasshu I could very well get my ass kicked. Even if I win there is a pretty good chance I won't walk away without knowing I was in a fight. Asking for a shot is something I had to do.

How can I prove myself worthy if I'm not allowed the opportunity?

Like I said, I only wanted a yes or no. Instead I was treating like I was inferior. I was attacked and verbally berated. Was I just supposed to let it go? What kind of man is going to take that?

Then you said if I could beat Demonio Blanco in a match I would get the shot. You couldn't let the two of us go at it and see who was the better man. You had to stick your nose into things. If was your plan all along to make sure I didn't win that match. Congratulations, it worked.

But it was the last straw...

I wanted to accept that the deck was stacked against me. I wanted to accept that I couldn't meet the goals put in front of me. I wanted to accept that I would never get to prove I'm worthy of being Man of Steel champion.

I couldn't.

You forced my hand Zasshu.

I knew that there was nothing I could do to get you to accept the match. Even when I took a page out of your book and attacked you I knew it wouldn't change your mind. That wasn't the point. You would do anything to hold on to the Man of Steel championship. You've proven that in the past. If you have a weakness I haven't found it. To get this match I didn't need to.

When I attacked you I wasn't looking for your weakness.

I wanted to prove what I already knew.

Laura Howlett's weakness is you!

You weren't going to give me the answer I wanted Zasshu. So I had to stoop to your level and take it.

I know I'm coming into the match as the underdog. It seems that's a role I've gotten to play quite a bit since returning. It would be nice to be seen as the favorite, but anything is better than being the guy who walks out when things don't go his way. I think I've done a good job and erasing some of those past mistakes.

What am I getting in return? I get to be trapped in a cage with you Zasshu. Then again you get to be trapped in a cage with me. You've grossly underestimated what I can do. Sure I might be at a disadvantage going into the match. You're champion for a reason. It doesn't matter how you got there.

What matters is...what's going to happen at Destiny!

I know a lot of people are going to throw around the word destiny this week when it comes to winning a title. It makes sense. There are a lot of people who thinking winning a title is there destiny. I'm not one of those. When I win the Man of Steel championship it will be because of all the hard work I've done.

It won't be destiny.

It will be because I deserve it.

Zasshu I know this is going to be one hell of a battle. I'm not taking you lightly. I want to beat you. I know that I can. I know the past couple of weeks I've come up short.

I couldn't beat Jake.

I couldn't win the Roulette.

I lost the match against Laszlo and Conway.

That was ALL me.

What makes this different?

I will tell you. Nothing. This is just another match no one expects me to win. It doesn't mean I'm not going to give my all. That's all I can do. If I do that things are bound to go my way.

I'm not Rob Diamond.

I'm not Jayson Matthews.

I'm Ryan Shane.

I'm the next Man of Steel champion!