Post by Ryan Shane on May 29, 2016 15:46:06 GMT
I couldn't get to ring fast enough...
Even then, there was nothing I could do...
I had to give into the demands of Laura Howlett...
I had to give Zasshu what he wanted...
He had already won the match, earned his shot...
That wasn't enough...
The Man of Steel title had been taken from him...
Someone had to suffer for it...
That man is me...
Even then, there was nothing I could do...
I had to give into the demands of Laura Howlett...
I had to give Zasshu what he wanted...
He had already won the match, earned his shot...
That wasn't enough...
The Man of Steel title had been taken from him...
Someone had to suffer for it...
That man is me...
May 24th, 2016
It is the day after Sacrifice. That usually means Ryan Shane is arriving back home as to not spend any unneeded time on the road. This week is different. Instead of being home Ryan finds himself in the hospital. Where else could he be right now? This is one of the scarier things he has dealt with in this business and it's all his fault.
The ambulance ride was a tough one. His cousin was unconscious the whole way. It was a situation that could have been avoided if he had just given Zasshu what he wanted. When they arrived at the hospital they took Brian in for testing. Ryan waited anxiously in the waiting room. That was hours ago.
The doctors told him that all things considered Brian would be fine, make a full recovery even. Wrestling again? That might be out of the question. It was still going to be awhile before he could see him though. When they finally told him his cousin was awake and that he could see him Ryan rushed to his side.
Would his cousin even want to see him?
Would he ever forgive him?
Ryan knocks on the door to Brian's room softly before entering.
Brian: Hey...
He looks terrible. It is hard to believe that all of this was done by one man.
Ryan Shane: Hey...
There is a moment of silence with neither man knowing what to say.
Ryan Shane: I'm sor...
Brian: Don't...You have nothing to apologize for.
Ryan Shane: Yes I do. If I had just given him a rematch, not tried to be cute with things.
Brian: You were just giving him a taste of his own medicine...
Ryan knows this isn't exactly true.
Ryan Shane: I did the same to him you know. I made Laura Howlett give me the title shot after I was screwed out of it. This is karma.
Brian: Karma? You know I don't believe in that. Plus, you were given the match and you walked out with the Man of Steel title. You deserve your moment in the spotlight.
Ryan Shane: I could have done it without getting you involved...
Brian: You did me a favor. It's been awhile since I got to wrestle on that large of stage. It felt good. Well until that bastard beat the living shit out of me.
Ryan Shane: Again...I'm sor...
His cousin gets a mixed look of pain and frustration on his face.
Brian: I told you to stop that! You did me a favor. This? This is temporary. I will be as good as new soon. Hell, I've been through worse!
He doesn't yet know that he may have wrestled his last match.
Ryan Shane: Don't worry. I'll be here with you until you are good enough to leave. I've been here all night.
Brian: I appreciate that, but you have other places you need to be.
Ryan Shane: I need to be by your side.
Brian: You need to be at home with Amber...
Ryan Shane: She will understand.
Brian: I'm sure she will, but she needs you more than I do. I will be alright. Have you seen some of the nurses here?
For the first time since last night Ryan lets a bit of a smile come to his face.
Ryan Shane: Alright. You need rest anyway...
Brian: Maybe even a sponge bath!
Ryan gives his cousin a painful hug before leaving the room. It is time to find a flight home.
A few months ago when I came back to the IWF I was blinded by hatred. I had let it fester in me for so long that it had eaten me up inside. I was hell bent on ending the career of Jake Keeton, putting him on the shelf for good.
It was a mission I failed at.
One I'm glad I didn't succeed in. I had put all of my shortcomings on him. I refused to look into the mirror and see that my failures were my fault. I had no one to blame but myself. It was a harsh reality check.
I lost to Jake Keeton. It happens. I also wasn't able to win the Roulette. Funny this is, in that night I went from vindictive asshole to a guy the fans wanted to get behind. That is part of the reason I wanted to go after the Man of Steel championship. I figured my days were numbered so I might as well go all out.
So I asked for a shot, and I was declined. Not because I wasn't good enough, but because Zasshu was scared. He will never admit to that of course. REAL champions take on all comers.
I admit, I sunk to his level and forced his hand. It had to be done. Who else was lining up to face him?
Zasshu might be the most dangerous man on the roster. He has proven that. He kicked my ass. At the end of the day? I was the better man. I still am. I want everyone to know I never had a problem giving him a rematch.
All I wanted to do was give him a much needed lesson in humility.
It backfired.
All he had to do was ask but the guy is so full of himself he couldn't do it. He had Laura Howlett do the talking for him. That is nothing new. She is good at running her mouth, and there is no one who can shut her up. I'll admit that sometimes I want to. You have no idea how bad I want to.
So I decided to beat him at his own game. I know Muru isn't as good as he once was. The truth is there is no one else I would have trusted to be in that match. Like I said, it isn't like people have been lining up to step in the ring with Zasshu.
Muru will probably never wrestle again. That's on me. At Night of the Immortals Jake Keeton is having his last match. In the span of a week the two biggest influences on my career are leaving their in ring careers behind. The circumstance may be different, but the result is the same. I will be sad to see them go. With my own career in doubt I feel bad. I feel like I'm disrespecting their legacies.
All I know is that at Night of the Immortals I will do whatever it takes to stay Man of Steel champion.
I'm doing it for Muru
I'm doing it for Jake.
I'm doing it for the fans.
And I'm doing it for myself.
It was a mission I failed at.
One I'm glad I didn't succeed in. I had put all of my shortcomings on him. I refused to look into the mirror and see that my failures were my fault. I had no one to blame but myself. It was a harsh reality check.
I lost to Jake Keeton. It happens. I also wasn't able to win the Roulette. Funny this is, in that night I went from vindictive asshole to a guy the fans wanted to get behind. That is part of the reason I wanted to go after the Man of Steel championship. I figured my days were numbered so I might as well go all out.
So I asked for a shot, and I was declined. Not because I wasn't good enough, but because Zasshu was scared. He will never admit to that of course. REAL champions take on all comers.
I admit, I sunk to his level and forced his hand. It had to be done. Who else was lining up to face him?
Zasshu might be the most dangerous man on the roster. He has proven that. He kicked my ass. At the end of the day? I was the better man. I still am. I want everyone to know I never had a problem giving him a rematch.
All I wanted to do was give him a much needed lesson in humility.
It backfired.
All he had to do was ask but the guy is so full of himself he couldn't do it. He had Laura Howlett do the talking for him. That is nothing new. She is good at running her mouth, and there is no one who can shut her up. I'll admit that sometimes I want to. You have no idea how bad I want to.
So I decided to beat him at his own game. I know Muru isn't as good as he once was. The truth is there is no one else I would have trusted to be in that match. Like I said, it isn't like people have been lining up to step in the ring with Zasshu.
Muru will probably never wrestle again. That's on me. At Night of the Immortals Jake Keeton is having his last match. In the span of a week the two biggest influences on my career are leaving their in ring careers behind. The circumstance may be different, but the result is the same. I will be sad to see them go. With my own career in doubt I feel bad. I feel like I'm disrespecting their legacies.
All I know is that at Night of the Immortals I will do whatever it takes to stay Man of Steel champion.
I'm doing it for Muru
I'm doing it for Jake.
I'm doing it for the fans.
And I'm doing it for myself.
Later that day...
Ryan had called Amber a couple of times before hopping on a plane home. There was no answer. He had also left some voice mails since last night. No response. He knows she is pissed. Things have been bad, really bad. A relationship he had fought for was falling apart. By this time next week he will be back home for good. Things just need to hold on until then.
The cab Ryan took from the airport pulls up in front of his house. As he is paying the driver and collecting his things another cab pulls up behind them. Ryan finds this odd but doesn't think much of it.
When he enters the house he sees bags packed by the door. Amber had threatened to leave in the past but she had never gone through with it. This was something new. It couldn't be because he was later than usual coming home is it? He had a good reason. She has to understand that.
Ryan Shane: Amber, are you here?
There is no response but shortly after calling for her she comes down the stairs. She has another bag with her.
Ryan Shane: What's going on?
She wants to ignore him. She wants to just walk out the door. She is angry and she is hurt.
Amber Lynn: I'm going back home. My mom said she would help with the baby when it comes. I feel like it's where I need to be right now.
Ryan Shane: You can't leave. We are so close to starting the life we planned.
She doesn't respond. Instead she continues to gather her things.
Ryan Shane: Is this about being late? I had to stay, Brian was in the hospital! If you had answered my calls or returned my messages you would know that...
Again there is no response. He goes to grab her but thinks better of it.
Ryan Shane: Please, just say something, anything.
Amber Lynn: I'm sorry about Brian. You never should have gotten him involved. It was selfish. No surprise there.
Ryan Shane: I know...
The second cab outside honks its horn.
Amber Lynn: I've got to go...but I want you to know, I loved you more than anything.
Ryan Shane: Loved?
Amber Lynn: I thought things would be different this time around but I was wrong. You'll never be able to love me the way I loved you. Your heart belongs to another.
Ryan Shane: I don't understand. I have one more match and then it's over.
Amber Lynn: I wish I could believe that...
She reaches into the bag she is carrying and pulls out an envelope. Ryan immediately knows what's inside.
Ryan Shane: You have to let me explain...
From outside the honk of the waiting cab can be heard again.
Amber Lynn: It's too late.
As she opens the door and grabs the rest of her luggage Ryan only stands there as she walks away. He knows that he should chance after her, that he shouldn't let her leave, but he is frozen in place. He watches her enter the cab before it speeds away.
The heartbroken Ryan sits down on the living room sofa unable to hold back the tears. He opens up the envelope and between wet eyes he looks over what's inside.
It's a new IWF contract, unsigned.
With the girl he loved having just walked out the door Ryan stares at it. The decision just became more difficult.
Zasshu I can't wait to step into the ring with you again. There are some who would call me crazy for wanting to. They see the monster that you, and it scares them. It used to scare me to. Before Destiny when everyone was claiming that there was no way I could beat you, they had me believing it. I was biting off more than I could chew in a last ditch effort to give my IWF career a little bit of meaning. I never expected to be in the match to begin with. Surely someone like me wouldn't be allowed to sniff a title. The match got booked, albeit through forcing your hand. Rather the hand of Laura Howlett.
Then the most amazing thing happened Zasshu.
Against all odds I defeated you. I won the Man of Steel championship by making you quit.
It was the first time anyone had beaten you under those rules. It proved that despite what anyone else said, I was good enough. I earned that victory. It wasn't easy. It was one of the toughest matches if not the toughest of my career. I couldn't wrestle for two weeks after that. I could barely move without crying out in pain. I didn't let it get to me though. All I had to do was look at the Man of Steel title and it made everything better. It put a smile on my face. It proved I was better than you.
Suddenly you weren't so scary anymore.
You bill yourself as this unstoppable monster who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. The truth is...you can back it up. That is why I don't know why you run and hide, or look for an advantage any chance you get. I know when you won the Invictus title you were trying to send a message to me. I received it. I just don't think it was the one you wanted me to get. In that moment I didn't think that you were capable of winning a title anytime you wanted to. I looked at you as the coward you are. Sure you were following the rules but still, where was the sportsmanship? Where was the honor?
It is up to me Zasshu to put a stop to you. I can't stand by and let you do whatever you want. No one has kept you in check and it has gone to your head. I beat you fair and square and you couldn't even except that. Your focus has been on getting the title back and you don't care at what cost. You think me seeing what you did to Muru is going to have me doubting myself? You're wrong. Muru is ten times the man you are. He stepped into the ring with you when others wouldn't dare. I know you are proud of yourself. You probably think you're in my head. You're not.
You hold no control over me Zasshu.
When the cage comes down the match begins you will be locked in there with me. That should have YOU scared.
Everything that has happened the past few weeks has only made me more determined to kick your ass! I know I would be doing the whole IWF a favor. In your head you still think that me beating you was a fluke. I know that's why you wanted a best two out of three falls match. You want to prove in that situation I can't best you.
I guess my only question is this?
Zasshu, you couldn't even beat me one out of one, what makes you think you can beat me two out of three?
I know we are going to tear each other apart. It's going to be brutal. We both strongly believe that the other can't beat us. We also both have our motivations. It should be a hell of a match, if you can even call it that. In my eyes it's been more like a war. Each of us have won our battles.
Everything was leading up to the biggest night in IWF history.
We all want our career achievements to live on forever.
At Night of the Immortals we get the chance to make sure they do.
I'd wish you luck Zasshu but that would be disingenuous.
I wish you nothing but pain.
I wish you nothing but torment
But mostly I wish to see your face when I beat you again and have my hand raised in victory.
Then the most amazing thing happened Zasshu.
Against all odds I defeated you. I won the Man of Steel championship by making you quit.
It was the first time anyone had beaten you under those rules. It proved that despite what anyone else said, I was good enough. I earned that victory. It wasn't easy. It was one of the toughest matches if not the toughest of my career. I couldn't wrestle for two weeks after that. I could barely move without crying out in pain. I didn't let it get to me though. All I had to do was look at the Man of Steel title and it made everything better. It put a smile on my face. It proved I was better than you.
Suddenly you weren't so scary anymore.
You bill yourself as this unstoppable monster who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. The truth is...you can back it up. That is why I don't know why you run and hide, or look for an advantage any chance you get. I know when you won the Invictus title you were trying to send a message to me. I received it. I just don't think it was the one you wanted me to get. In that moment I didn't think that you were capable of winning a title anytime you wanted to. I looked at you as the coward you are. Sure you were following the rules but still, where was the sportsmanship? Where was the honor?
It is up to me Zasshu to put a stop to you. I can't stand by and let you do whatever you want. No one has kept you in check and it has gone to your head. I beat you fair and square and you couldn't even except that. Your focus has been on getting the title back and you don't care at what cost. You think me seeing what you did to Muru is going to have me doubting myself? You're wrong. Muru is ten times the man you are. He stepped into the ring with you when others wouldn't dare. I know you are proud of yourself. You probably think you're in my head. You're not.
You hold no control over me Zasshu.
When the cage comes down the match begins you will be locked in there with me. That should have YOU scared.
Everything that has happened the past few weeks has only made me more determined to kick your ass! I know I would be doing the whole IWF a favor. In your head you still think that me beating you was a fluke. I know that's why you wanted a best two out of three falls match. You want to prove in that situation I can't best you.
I guess my only question is this?
Zasshu, you couldn't even beat me one out of one, what makes you think you can beat me two out of three?
I know we are going to tear each other apart. It's going to be brutal. We both strongly believe that the other can't beat us. We also both have our motivations. It should be a hell of a match, if you can even call it that. In my eyes it's been more like a war. Each of us have won our battles.
Everything was leading up to the biggest night in IWF history.
We all want our career achievements to live on forever.
At Night of the Immortals we get the chance to make sure they do.
I'd wish you luck Zasshu but that would be disingenuous.
I wish you nothing but pain.
I wish you nothing but torment
But mostly I wish to see your face when I beat you again and have my hand raised in victory.
Well howdy there pardner.