Post by chris on Feb 4, 2017 0:18:32 GMT
January 17th
San Diego, CA
San Diego, CA
OFF CAMERA
No more than ten minutes have passed since his loss against Arkia Fisk in the second round of the Iron King Tournamanet and Chris Andrew was sitting on the floor in one of the backstage hallways of the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. His back was leaning against the wall, his head bent backwards with the eyes squeezed fighting the bright neon light. He was breathing slowly, keeping a cold pack pressed against the side of his face. He was still feeling that last elbow shot! As his mind was wandering, remembering the match and all the mixed emotions he went through, from hope to frustration, from a new found fighting spirit to a huge disappointment when the shot he thought could turn the table in his favor was countered by his opponent with a KO blow.
And obviously, a hint of pride for earning Fisk's respect, despite the loss. He was still hearing those words she whispered in his ear after their match, repeating in a endless loop. This thought alone put a smile on his face that quickly turned into a grimace of pain from the sore cheek bone. As he lowered the head tilting it to the side, he opened the eyes just in time to see his girlfriend Mandi Morrison walking towards him, a look of concern in her eyes. The young girl hastened, kneeling next to him and moving her hands over his, gently holding the cold pack pressed against his face.
"Are you ok Chris?"
He slides his hand from under her, caressing her long black hair as she keeps nursing his bruised cheek.
"I'm fine babe. Just a bit sore... That girl hits hard!"
Remembering that smiling would bring him more pain, he simply winked at Mandi.
"You know Chris, I can't help to think that the stipulation penalized you. If it was a normal one fall match, you could have kept fighting after that elbow shot..."
"Yeah, but I don't think If I could have actually beat her. She was always one step ahead of me, and definitely in a better shape. You know, I think she is right after all. I am fighting too much, I am worn out physically and mentally. I can't find time to study my opponent, I can't find time to fully recover from the previous match... I need a break"
Mandi nodded. That's exactly what she was hoping to hear, what she was praying for him to realize. She knew exactly how much he needed to cut down his bookings. All those fights, and the travels were taking their tolls. Chris was exhausted, but telling him would have been pointless. He needed to understand it by his own and, finally, he did.
"One last match next Tuesday, and then two weeks off. I want to be in perfect shape for February 7th, when I will finally teach Lacklan a lesson in humility, when I will finally put an end to this nightmare"
Smiling, he wrapped his arms around her. She rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
January 31st
Dallas, TX
Dallas, TX
OFF CAMERA
Chris Andrew was sitting on the bed in his hotel room. The towel wrapped around his waist and the wet hair are telling without the shadow of a doubt that he just took a shower. From the bathroom the sound of the water still running is heard; Mandi was still there. He was holding his head between his hands, reliving the events happened earlier that evening.
Before stepping into the KCW arena known as The Compound, he already knew that his match scheduled for the PPV on February 7th against Sarah Lacklan, the young woman that could easily be called his nemesis wasn't going to happen. When the cameras started rolling, he walked down the ramp with an heavy heart and a lump in his throat, sorry but determined to keep up his word and wave goodbye to the company he started his career in. It wasn't an easy call, he had friends there... But he felt like the management betrayed and let him down once again. One too many times.
He was actually surprised he could find the words to explain his feelings to the fans, even more that he was able to do it without choking on his own words and not letting the emotions breaking his voice. But he did it nonetheless. And when all was done, when he thought he could finally walk away and leave that place behind, with all the good and the bad memories he will forever carry, Stacy Sterling, the Showcase Champion and one of the woman he respected the most walked out and offered him a different point of view. Her words carved her way through the shell of couldn't-give-a-damn attitude he was wearing to save himself from the remorse and regrets he wanted to keep away so desperately. And it worked oh so well, until she decided to talk straight to his heart, convincing him that he couldn't leave just like that, that he should give the fans one last chance to see him in action.
For some reason, it made sense to him. Maybe because part of him was far from happy to leave the company. But he couldn't turn down another match against her, against the champ. Sure the title won't be on the line, but he still couldn't get over how close he went to beat her. It was the best match of his career, and he was sure that, if they were to meet again, he could have beat her. And that was his chance to prove it.
He dropped on his back, laying on the bed and staring at the ceiling. Mandi stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a white toweling robe and sit on the bed, next to him.
"A dollar for your thoughts babe"
Their eyes met, and he couldn't help a smile.
"Just thinking about Sarah"
She frowned. Chris noticed it and quickly tried to explain.
"It's not like that... But it makes no sense to me... She came back into our lives, she attacked me and demanded a match just to pull out the night we were meant to make it official? Why?"
Mandi looked at him, moving her hand through his hair.
"I don't know, maybe she was scared you could beat her. Or she's not done playing yet. She knows she has a leverage on you, she just wants to be sure things keep going her way. Or maybe she's just a crazy bitch..."
The last statement put a smile on his face, at least for a brief moment.
"I just wanted it to be over Mandi..."
"I know Chris, I know."
She snuggled up against him, leaning her head on his chest. Both of them wondering if Chris will ever be able to move on from this.
February 6th
Seattle, WA
Seattle, WA
ON CAMERA
"Looks like Ron Swat is back and, oh joy, I'm set to face him again..."
Chris Andrew is standing on the observation deck of Seattle's must see Space Needle, resting his elbows on the balustrade and looking at the breathtaking sight of the underlying city. A light breeze ruffles his hair as he slowly turns to face the camera with a serious expression on his face.
"It's been a little over a month since our first match. So much happened in that time, at least for me. I have fought, winning some and losing some, I've had ups and downs in my personal life too, things I don't feel the need to bore you with Ron, not that I actually think you will understand anyways. But I grew up, I am no longer the insecure kid that pretended to be unafraid you faced in Las Vegas. It's crazy how a month can change a man. How experience and adversity can build someone's character. While you were in jail making bitches out of the other inmates, I kept working on my craft, I learned from my mistakes, and I even had the chance to take some time off and let my body rest and heal.
Don't take this as an offense but, since you don't look that bright, let me help you with the math here. You couldn't beat me back then, you won't beat me tonight. It's as simple as that. And this time, there will be no need for outside distractions."
As he stops talking, the only audible noise is the distant hum of the city traffic.
"This is you Ron. You are just like Seattle's traffic. Loud, almost deafening, chaotic, even scary to a degree... The kind of noise that gets inside your head and scrambles your brains. But that's all you are, noise. Talk.
A bunch of nonsense ramblings, filled with rape jokes and bros. I used to find all this annoying and disturbing, but where I am now..."
Once again he stops, bringing his right hand to his ear.
"I can barely hear you bro... You only had one advantage on me, psychological, and you lost it. Just like you'll be losing tonight. And there's nothing you and your partner can do about it.
You see, someone might say that you and Daniels are going to have an easy evening taking on me and Rowyn, a broken man and a rookie. Easy preys for two savages like you.
You couldn't be more wrong... Mason crossed a line he shouldn't have crossed on Redemption 104. You can't mess with someone's family and hope you can get away with it. It was the biggest mistake he could ever made. That's not how you break a man's spirit. That's how you fuel his fire. You probably don't realize it, but you just gave the man one more reason to fight, if he ever needed one. When the bell rings, look him in the eyes. That's not the same Rowyn Starr that refused to fight Johnny Rebel three weeks ago. It's going to be a different man, much closer to the dominant competitor he used to be. But way more angry and determined to beat the ever loving crap out of you. I will just make sure he does it under the limits imposed by the rules, or after we'll be declared victorious. And make no mistakes, that's the only possible outcome for this match.
Every action as a reaction Daniels, and you're about to find out that the consequences of your despicable act are way more painful than you originally planned."
He smiles, as he moves his hand through his hair moving them away from his forehead. Obviously, the wind immediately frustrates his attempt.
"As for my partner, well I don't feel like a rookie who's less than two months in the business can really give any advice to a former world champion. But I just want to tell you one thing. You are not alone. This is not the place or time for your personal vendetta. I know this match doesn't mean much to you, I know that you feel like you lost your purpose in this company, that you have nothing left to prove, and all that's left to you is to fulfill your thirst for revenge. Just make sure all this rage is channeled to help us win the match.
I am probably the only guy who's in this Duos Gauntlet match that actually gives a fuck about winning. You all seem to have your reasons to tear each other apart. It's just a match for me, my eyes are set on the prize, I am focused and no one will stop me from getting the win.
Not the fears I overcame.
Not a vicious and violent opponent.
And not even my tag team partner."