Post by Ryan Shane on Jun 12, 2017 4:46:05 GMT
It's a beautiful spring day. The sun is shining high in the sky, the sky is the clearest blue, and the grass is a lush green. Birds can be heard singing in the distance. Most people would say that it's perfect.
Despite all of that, the park is completely empty, except for one blanket spread across the grass. On the blanket is a picnic basket containing a midday feast. Next to the basket is a woman.
The woman is one that many would consider stunning. Her blond hair glimmers in the sunlight, and her brown eyes reflect off the sun as well.
In her arms she is cradling a baby, not more than a few months old. As they sit there enjoying the day a man appears on the other side of the park. He is dressed in a policeman’s uniform.
The man with his dark hair and blue eyes. makes his way across the park to them. He takes a seat next to the woman and her baby. The man gives them both a kiss.
Ryan Shane and his family are once more.
Amber Lynn: I'm so glad you could make it. I was worried your duties would keep you away.
Ryan smiles at her.
Ryan Shane: I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
The two share another kiss.
Amber Lynn: Why don't you hold your son and I'll prepare lunch.
She hands Ryan his son. He holds the bundle of joy in his arms. The perfect son he's always wanted.
Amber Lynn: I made salami sandwiches. I know they're your favorite.
Ryan Shane: Tell me you brought potato salad?
Amber pulls a large bowl of potato salad out of the picnic basket.
Ryan Shane: Yes!!!
She smiles at him as she continues to fix a couple of plates.
Ryan sets the baby down in his carrier. Amber hands him his food and the two begin eating.
Ryan Shane: I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.
Amber Lynn: Let's toast to that!
She pulls out two glasses from the picnic basket. She then reaches goes into a cooler that was behind her and pulls out a bottle of champagne. Amber pours two glasses and hands one to Ryan.
Ryan Shane: Here's to forever!
Amber Lynn: Forever…
As the two clang their glasse together they hear the sound of thunder. The once clear sky begins to fill up with dark clouds. Ryan and Amber hurriedly began packing things up.
Amber Lynn: He's gone!
Her scream gets lost as the thunder gets louder. Amber is frantic. Ryan feels an ominous presence surrounding them and goes for his gun.
It's not there.
He searches for it but suddenly he hears a shot over the thunder. When he turns around he finds Amber in a pool of her own blood.
The gun is nowhere to be seen as he rushes over to her. He's too late, she's gone. As he fights back tears he hears a voice.
You could never protect them.
You never deserved them.
Ryan closes his eyes and when he opens them he is no longer in the park.
He's in his hotel room in Belfast. He and the bed are completely drenched in sweat as the nightmare is all too real.
Lose is never easy to deal with. But this is something different.
Ryan has lost two pieces of himself that he'll never get back.
Devlin Raine, the 2017 Joker in the Pack winner!!
I’m not sure if I’ll ever get used to the sound of hearing that. Going into the Joker in the Pack match it should have been as close to a guarantee that we have in this business. Everything pointed to me walking out of Columbus with the briefcase in hand. I was already making plans on what I was going to do with it. I was already planning my future, the future of IWF.
Then…
Devlin Raine took that from me.
I know I should really be blaming myself.
The old Ryan Shane, he would have bitched and moaned and blamed anyone but himself. He would have played the victim. Those days are over. Now I’m going to take responsibility for my career. I’m going to put Night of the Immortals behind me and look into the future.
My future, isn’t tied into one night. My future isn’t written.
That’s why I confronted Devlin Raine at Sacrifice. He did what many couldn’t, what I couldn’t. He defeated Spike Kane. A huge achievement and something to be proud of. He took that hard fought briefcase and cashed it in. He got to walk out of Night of the Immortals as Man of Steel champion.
A great achievement, if a little short sighted.
None of that matters because Devlin walked out as a bonafide star!
I know there are going to be people who are going to see me as jumping the line. I have seen more than a couple people asking what I have done to place myself in the Man of Steel conversation. Here is my answer…
Nothing.
That’s why I didn’t demand a shot at the Man of Steel title. All I really wanted was a chance to prove myself against the newest big name in the IWF. I don’t think that’s asking too much. I mean I never did get a rematch for the Man of Steel title, so maybe I could have been justified in asking. But like I said…
Things are different now.
It doesn’t matter if that maybe people think that you may have been the luckiest man alive that night. It doesn’t matter that you went from new on the scene cruiserweight to man of steel. Which I know it’s a transformation that’s easy to make. What matters is what you believe.
Perhaps to you it’s just destiny.
I just hope you really know what you’re in for.
The position you’re in isn’t an easy one to maintain. There are going to be a lot of people wanting what you have. Perhaps they haven’t crawled out of the woodwork yet, but they will. Someone will step up, even if you defeat me.
See, everyone thinks in their mind that they can be Imperial champion, the best the world has to offer. When it comes to Man of Steel? It isn’t for everyone. It takes something special to forge your way in that division. I hope you have what it takes kid.
Open Fight Night isn’t about that though, is it? It’s just two men going all out, proving to each other and themselves, what they are worth. Sure, I may have more on the line. I’ll admit I want the Man of Steel shot. It was a division that was mine for three months last year, and I’m having a hard time saying goodbye.
Devlin, our match is going to be top notch. I know it. We are both too talented for it to be anything otherwise. I know you’re the new shining star, but I have the experience. I also have the drive. What do you have left after besting your biggest foe?
At Open Fight Night, I’m going to beat you and earn my shot at my...your Man of Steel championship.
You may have destiny on your side, but I have right now!