Post by Mike Laszlo on Mar 27, 2017 3:03:57 GMT
Well...Steve...this is it.
The scene fades in and I’m walking through the halls of the arena, preparing for High Stakes as the camera catches up to me.
You and I, one more time, and this time, it’s pretty much anything goes. No more jokes, no more Union of Jobbers, no more excuses from you or your wife. It’s you and me, one on one, and finally, there’s something more than your ego being bursted on the line. This time, rather than me just deflating your head just a tiny bit more, finally letting that last gasp of air out, we get to raise the stakes, which is quite ironic considering the name of the event being High Stakes and all.
Before I can continue, I’m interrupted by a stagehand looking to give my some instructions. I nod and send him on his way before turning back to the camera.
Now, before I was so rudely interrupted...where was I?
I feign pondering, quickly picking up right where I left off.
Ah yes...our match...and the stakes on the line. You and me Steve, and when I plant my knee in your face one final time, it’ll be for the right to pick my number in the Roulette match...and to make you start from the very beginning.
I shake my head with a smile on my face.
The anticipation is killing me...lemme tell ya. I can’t wait to walk down that ramp and throw out everyone else involved in the Roulette...almost to the point where I almost forgot we had a match, just because I’ve beaten you so many times over.
I shrug my shoulders.
But hey, it’s a friendly rivalry...who cares right?
At least that’s what you keep telling yourself. For me, it’s a proven fact of superiority. I’ve beaten you one on one. I’ve beaten you when our wives were our tag team partners, and nobody can blame a bit of the unfairness on me, since it was your wife who opened her mouth and made the challenge; and now, in front of the entire world, you will swing and miss for a third time, and strikeout in your at bat against me once and for all, further proving my moniker of “The Best Period”.
I flare my hands a bit as if I had been predictable.
I know what you’re thinking of Steve…”Would you shut up already?” and the answer is quite plain and simply...NO!
I grab my shirt.
Me saying I’m “The Best Period” isn’t a simple little phrase I put on a shirt to make money, God knows, I’m not desperate for it. It’s not just something I say without any signs of backing it up, similar to you and being the Face of the Franchise. These words…
I tug on my shirt again.
...the ones on my chest are something I live to prove each and every single damn day of my life. I train to make myself better, every single day. I walk out to that ring each week with a singular goal in mind...prove I’m better than the rest of you on this roster.
It doesn’t matter to me if it's you, or Spike Kane, or Angel, or Rob, or Jake, or Roberto himself. If I’m in that ring, and I’m competing in front of the people who pay their money to see me fight, I’m going into it with the intention of beating the crap out of each and every single person I’m heading out to fight.
It just so happens...on this night...I get to do it over, and over, and over again.
I slam my heads into my chest.
It’s what I live for!
It’s what I strive for each and every single day.
I point into the camera.
I hope that’s what you strive for Steve. I hope that’s what you live for. I hope that when you get in that ring with me at High Stakes, you’re willing to put it all on the line, because I swear to you that I will, and when I do...you don’t stand a chance.
========================================================
Title: Once and For All
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
10:40 PM Local Time
Alexis Caffrey: So, what exactly do you have to prove by facing Steve one more time? You beat him up, then you beat him up again, proving the first time was no fluke...what’s left?
As the scene fades in, I’m rearranging some of my gear in my bag so that it’s on top, and easily accessible. I look up at my lovely wife.
Mike Laszlo: For lack of a better word...closure.
Alexis Caffrey: Closure? You’ve proven you’re the better man in this little friendly rivalry.
Mike Laszlo: I know that, and you know that, but why not go for the sweep? Why not put a definitive stamp on this once and for all?
She nods a little bit, but then a look of concern comes over her face.
Alexis Caffrey: But if you go ahead with this match, it’ll get you all hot and lathered, and then you have to sit in the back for a couple hours, your muscles tensing up and getting cold while you wait. Won’t that be a hinderance?
I zipped the bag up and turned, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Mike Laszlo: Come here.
I waved her over and she sat on the bed next to me.
Mike Laszlo: I’ve been doing this for years, you don’t think I know how to pace things?
Alexis Caffrey: I know. I know. I just get nervous for you...you know that.
I couldn’t help but smile at my wife.
Mike Laszlo: Trust me when I tell you, you don’t have a single thing to worry your sweet little head about, other than your own match. Did you really have to go challenge Paige for the belt?
Alexis Caffrey: Yeeeeeeah...it’s her fault.
She threw a smile on her face before leaping up and kissing me on the forehead. Just like that, she was focused on her own match, leaving me to make the final preparations for mine as the scene fades.
========================================================
The scene comes back and I’m sitting in a chair in the catering area.
It’s not just you Steve who has no chance, it’s everyone involved in the Roulette...which coincidentally...is also you all over again. So in one night, I get to take away your “Face of the Franchise” status, and your chances of winning the Roulette.
The casual shrug of my shoulders means I’m running out of things to say on the matter.
Steve, this whole thing has been...how do I put it...rejuvenating? It made me realize again why I do what I do and for that I thank you. I thank you for unleashing the fire within. I thank you for going along with me to our counseling session and showing the Union of Jobbers that they really are the pieces of crap that they are.
I can’t help but chuckle.
It’s been one hell of a ride Steve, but like all good things, this one must too, come to an end. We may re-visit this somewhere down the line, and just like now Steve, just remember...it’s just a simple friendly rivalry.
I wink at the camera before reaching forward and turning it off.
The scene fades in and I’m walking through the halls of the arena, preparing for High Stakes as the camera catches up to me.
You and I, one more time, and this time, it’s pretty much anything goes. No more jokes, no more Union of Jobbers, no more excuses from you or your wife. It’s you and me, one on one, and finally, there’s something more than your ego being bursted on the line. This time, rather than me just deflating your head just a tiny bit more, finally letting that last gasp of air out, we get to raise the stakes, which is quite ironic considering the name of the event being High Stakes and all.
Before I can continue, I’m interrupted by a stagehand looking to give my some instructions. I nod and send him on his way before turning back to the camera.
Now, before I was so rudely interrupted...where was I?
I feign pondering, quickly picking up right where I left off.
Ah yes...our match...and the stakes on the line. You and me Steve, and when I plant my knee in your face one final time, it’ll be for the right to pick my number in the Roulette match...and to make you start from the very beginning.
I shake my head with a smile on my face.
The anticipation is killing me...lemme tell ya. I can’t wait to walk down that ramp and throw out everyone else involved in the Roulette...almost to the point where I almost forgot we had a match, just because I’ve beaten you so many times over.
I shrug my shoulders.
But hey, it’s a friendly rivalry...who cares right?
At least that’s what you keep telling yourself. For me, it’s a proven fact of superiority. I’ve beaten you one on one. I’ve beaten you when our wives were our tag team partners, and nobody can blame a bit of the unfairness on me, since it was your wife who opened her mouth and made the challenge; and now, in front of the entire world, you will swing and miss for a third time, and strikeout in your at bat against me once and for all, further proving my moniker of “The Best Period”.
I flare my hands a bit as if I had been predictable.
I know what you’re thinking of Steve…”Would you shut up already?” and the answer is quite plain and simply...NO!
I grab my shirt.
Me saying I’m “The Best Period” isn’t a simple little phrase I put on a shirt to make money, God knows, I’m not desperate for it. It’s not just something I say without any signs of backing it up, similar to you and being the Face of the Franchise. These words…
I tug on my shirt again.
...the ones on my chest are something I live to prove each and every single damn day of my life. I train to make myself better, every single day. I walk out to that ring each week with a singular goal in mind...prove I’m better than the rest of you on this roster.
It doesn’t matter to me if it's you, or Spike Kane, or Angel, or Rob, or Jake, or Roberto himself. If I’m in that ring, and I’m competing in front of the people who pay their money to see me fight, I’m going into it with the intention of beating the crap out of each and every single person I’m heading out to fight.
It just so happens...on this night...I get to do it over, and over, and over again.
I slam my heads into my chest.
It’s what I live for!
It’s what I strive for each and every single day.
I point into the camera.
I hope that’s what you strive for Steve. I hope that’s what you live for. I hope that when you get in that ring with me at High Stakes, you’re willing to put it all on the line, because I swear to you that I will, and when I do...you don’t stand a chance.
========================================================
Title: Once and For All
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
10:40 PM Local Time
Alexis Caffrey: So, what exactly do you have to prove by facing Steve one more time? You beat him up, then you beat him up again, proving the first time was no fluke...what’s left?
As the scene fades in, I’m rearranging some of my gear in my bag so that it’s on top, and easily accessible. I look up at my lovely wife.
Mike Laszlo: For lack of a better word...closure.
Alexis Caffrey: Closure? You’ve proven you’re the better man in this little friendly rivalry.
Mike Laszlo: I know that, and you know that, but why not go for the sweep? Why not put a definitive stamp on this once and for all?
She nods a little bit, but then a look of concern comes over her face.
Alexis Caffrey: But if you go ahead with this match, it’ll get you all hot and lathered, and then you have to sit in the back for a couple hours, your muscles tensing up and getting cold while you wait. Won’t that be a hinderance?
I zipped the bag up and turned, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Mike Laszlo: Come here.
I waved her over and she sat on the bed next to me.
Mike Laszlo: I’ve been doing this for years, you don’t think I know how to pace things?
Alexis Caffrey: I know. I know. I just get nervous for you...you know that.
I couldn’t help but smile at my wife.
Mike Laszlo: Trust me when I tell you, you don’t have a single thing to worry your sweet little head about, other than your own match. Did you really have to go challenge Paige for the belt?
Alexis Caffrey: Yeeeeeeah...it’s her fault.
She threw a smile on her face before leaping up and kissing me on the forehead. Just like that, she was focused on her own match, leaving me to make the final preparations for mine as the scene fades.
========================================================
The scene comes back and I’m sitting in a chair in the catering area.
It’s not just you Steve who has no chance, it’s everyone involved in the Roulette...which coincidentally...is also you all over again. So in one night, I get to take away your “Face of the Franchise” status, and your chances of winning the Roulette.
The casual shrug of my shoulders means I’m running out of things to say on the matter.
Steve, this whole thing has been...how do I put it...rejuvenating? It made me realize again why I do what I do and for that I thank you. I thank you for unleashing the fire within. I thank you for going along with me to our counseling session and showing the Union of Jobbers that they really are the pieces of crap that they are.
I can’t help but chuckle.
It’s been one hell of a ride Steve, but like all good things, this one must too, come to an end. We may re-visit this somewhere down the line, and just like now Steve, just remember...it’s just a simple friendly rivalry.
I wink at the camera before reaching forward and turning it off.
Well howdy there pardner.