Story of Mark Storm

[Mark Storm]

"I was born ready, war ready." 

He'd already created a stir. He could feel the waves, the dynamics and the tide changing direction. All of this and he'd only appeared in one match but it was enough. He knew, and he knew everyone else knew that there was a storm coming, whether they liked it or not was up to them but they couldn't ignore it. Not after the debut he had. 

"You hear me Ronin?" He asked rhetorically. 

Perched up against his red mustang, a smile on his face as he looked at the camera. Dressed in black jeans, a white t-shirt with a black leather coat over it. The embodiment of cool, a retro sort of look about, an old hollywood James Dean kind of look. 

"This, this is my world." He stated, referring to the wrestling business. "I've made it my world. I've made it my home. And I've let everybody know that I am the best at what I do. I'm not afraid to admit that. I'm not going to hide away and tell you otherwise because it wouldn't be true. Deep down, everybody think's they're the best but I guess you kinda have to. Because why else would you be doing it? To be 'mediocre'? To be, 'OK'? Those words, they aren't in my vocabulary, I don't allow them to be. 

Mediocrity, I despise it. But yet people are content with just being mediocre, they're OK with just being average and it baffles me. I hope you're not like that Ronin. I hope you're different, for your own sake as well as mine. Because when you step into the four sided circle with me Ronin, it's not going to be a mediocre contest, or an 'OK'. You have to expect a main event caliber fight. Doesn't matter where we are on the card. I'll give you a main event performance and I'll expect you to do the same. And if you don't, well that's punishable by defeat."

Clearing his throat he paused, clasping his hands together in the process. 

"I've done my research. I know what you can do and I know where you've been. A small following in Japan, an expert in the mixed martial arts and an arsenal so unique I'm in awe. You've got this style about you, I admire. This background, I admire. And you're still young, you've got a long way to go.

Whilst you've dipped your toes within Japan competing in the smaller promotions, I've already conquered it and I'm in the process of conquering it again. Whilst you've yet to master your craft, I have and I'm constantly adding new additions to enhance it. What I'm trying to say is, I'm three steps ahead and there's no ignoring that. You know that too.

'Ghetto Strong Style', it's an art you've only just become accustomed to. You're just getting the grips of it. Whilst Storm Style, I've been developing that since the beginning of my career almost a decade ago. That's how long I've been around."

Pausing, he counted with his fingers; "I've got experience, I've got the accomplishments, I've got what it takes." He wasn't lying. And this point, it was no secret that Storm had become one of the biggest names within the wrestling realm. Something he was deeply proud of but never allowed it to let him slip into complacency. 

"This is a crusade I'm on." He admitted. "I don't know how long I'm going to be here. It could be weeks, it could be months.. it could be years, but I'll know when the time has come. When I'm heralded the SKYFIRE Champion, that's when I'll know I've made it here.

I've come to conquer.

I've come to release hell on those who are in my way. And right now, you're in my way RONIN. And I can't have that. It's only a matter of time before I'll have a championship draped on my shoulder but until that time comes, I'll happily dismantle those who threaten to knock me off my pedestal."

He'd watched the video RONIN had posted, the fight scene that looked like it was out of a movie, looked like it must've of been scripted but he wasn't going to say anything about it. He was impressed with the presentation and with the efforts made but it didn't cause him to sweat. 

"You said to came here to finish the fight that you started. Because guys like you, you always finish the fight. That's what you've been taught, that's what you know. But just because you finish a fight, doesn't guarantee you emerge the victor, you know that right?

A win, it's never promised. But if you can stand up after that fight, look your opponent in the eyes and shake his hand.. it won't matter, because you would've earned the respect, of Your Hero, And Mine.

You wanna fight? Well you've got the biggest fight in your life two days away. I hope you're ready. Because I know I am. You see RONIN, I was born for this. I was born ready. War, ready." He smirked, walking away from the bonnet and now entering the car. Bringing the windows down, he slowly drove pass and stopped as he reached the camera.  

"You've got a lot of guts, kid. I'll give that to you. And I hope that what we create, is another five star match for the books. That's what the people want. Let's give them what they want! From Your Hero, And Mine." He chuckled, before finishing. "Peace out."

He then drove off, whilst the scene faded to black.

[Mark Storm]

"Today is the day I follow my intuition."

You didn't have to see his face to recognize the voice. We'd all become accustomed to it within the industry. He had his hands clasped together and his signature smirk upon his lips, leaning against the edge of a ring apron - location, his personal wrestling gymnasium. You could tell he'd been training. His body drenched in sweat, dressed in garms you'd only associate with training, with tape wrapped around both wrists.

He smiled, reaching down and picking up his water bottle, taking massive gulps to refresh himself before tossing the finished bottle aside, wiping his lips with his wrists.

"Your Hero, And Mine." He said, a stern look in his eyes as he engaged with the camera. "It didn't go so well for me a week ago." He admitted, nodding his head in disappointment.

"But not it's not going to go well for me every single week. That's not promised in this industry. The best you can do, is give it everything you've got and hope for the best.

Because what you put in, is often what you'll get out, in terms of work, intensity, every aspect of this sport. You decide how successful you become. You decide, if you wanna build a legacy or become a burning ember that's quickly forgotten."

Mia Fallon had given him the fight he wanted, a well contested back and forth competitive dual that he was unfortunate not to come out as the victor. But he was sort of glad that he didn't win, in a weird way. Coming into this match, he didn't have the momentum like the others involved, he was back in his element - the underdog, how it all started, and perhaps his greatest role. 

He cleared his throat, reminiscing on his previous tenure at Lions Road with great thought and deep regrets; "I didn't want to become that. Everywhere I've gone, I've done something - something with meaning, and something with purpose. But here, this is the place I've faltered, time after time. And it's get to a man, it really does."

He thought back to the time he was granted an opportunity to face Corey Cruelty, o two occasions and he almost cringed, turning his head away from the camera - annoyed that he couldn't put him away. 

"But it's not like I haven't had the opportunities, I have but I've failed to counter on them. I've failed to make those opportunities, career defining moments. But a lot has changed since then. A lot has changed since last year and I've become a man more respected, with more experience, with more skills and knowledge that has enhanced my game. 

That's what I've had to do, in order to become something else, entirely.

And now I find myself in a battle royal with a variety of talented men and women, who are all as hungry as I. Who are all just looking for one clean break, one moment, one opportunity, to cement their names into the history books of this great promotion.

The winner of this battle royal, advancing into a future championship match against either the Heritage Champion or the Iron. It's scary, it's exciting, and we're all going to give it our all, you can count on that."

Pausing, he allowed a smile to emerge back onto his face. Despite the result that may come April 27th, he wasn't going anywhere. Not until he made his mark, not until he had that one moment that would allow his time here to mean something of significance. "Too many men.. too many women, they've come here and they've gone, allowing their time here to be sour, to be tarnished. And I've come back, in an attempt to rectify. Because that's the sort of man I am, I won't let my legacy be tarnished by sloppiness. I can't have that, not now - not ever. 

This promotion, it's elevated to the top in such a short space of time and it's amazing, I was in awe when I did come back. You look at the talent pool, the depth of it - and it's overwhelming.

The people involved in this battle royal, they're all top tier competitors. But only one of us can emerge victorious and I'll do everything in my power to ensure that Your Hero, And Mine - is the last man standing inside that squared circle." 

And with that said, a smirk appeared upon his lips as the scene then faded to black.

[Mark Storm]

Yesterday's gone. 

The world is ours today. 

We can't keep living in the past.

I can't keep living in the past.

Because it doesn't change anything.

What we can do now is hope for the best. And I bet that's what you're all doing right? Hoping for the best. I feel as if we're all in the same place right now and I've said that already. I just feel the need to remind you all, just in case you forget. There's no one better than the other, there's no one in a higher position than the other - we're all on the same surface, looking up at the same goal. Just in case one of you egotistical assholes within the match wanna pipe up about how they deserve better than this. Well just letting you know, you don't - otherwise you wouldn't find yourself in this predicament. 

A predicament that we are all very fortunate to find ourselves in because for one of us, this is the break that we need. For one of us, this is the opportunity that we've been waiting for. This, is what it's all about. You have to make the most of it, otherwise someone else will snatch up your chance and you'll live to regret it. Nowadays, I try to go on with my life with less regrets because that in return, equals less stress and that's what I need. Less regrets. 

We've all got our separate agendas and ways of going round the ropes. We're all individuals and I'm not underestimating anyone in this contest. Not even Matt Stone, who's stepping into the Lions Road ring for the very first time, a debut match, a chance to make a statement on his debut. He's buzzing about the opportunity, I know he is. 

Not even Richard Drake; who's also a newcomer in the game, someone who has quickly let the Lions Road viewers know, and colleagues - that he isn't playing around. Sure, he likes a laugh as much as the next guy but inside that ring, he's prepared to tussle and hustle for that win. 

Fujiko and Ryan, I'm familiar with the both of you from our time in other companies, so I know the talent that you both possess, I know the danger you both bring to this match and I'm sure you know visa-versa. Lex Collins, who's name is also recognizable within the independent scene as well as other big promotions. Sutton and Carl Whitaker too, students of the game, technically sound with Whitaker already making a name for himself within our realm. 

It's a star studded match.

We all have our strengths.

We all have our flaws.

We all have our parts to play. 

I play the hero for many, but don't mistake that moniker for weakness. I am prepared to go to extreme lengths, to win this match, to emerge the victor. I am prepared to break the moral codes, and I am prepared to reach a new level of insanity, so that my arm, is the one that's raised at the end of the match.

Most people think I'm crazy because of that.

The extreme's I'm prepared to go. 

And I tell most people, that they're right.

I am crazy. It's my greatest strength.

And in a match like this, that's what you need. A little bit of craziness, a sprinkle of unpredictability, and a shit load of balls to do what's necessary to get the win. You can be as technical as you want but that's not going to win you the match. This isn't a technical dual, with pretty sequences that the fans can applaud to and the keyboard warriors can make into gifs.

No. 

This is a fight. This is about who wants it more. This is about, who's prepared to do everything in their power to ensure they're the last competitor standing inside that ring at the end of it all. And fights, that's what I've become accustomed to, as I've had to fight my whole life.

Whether it was the bullies at school, or the underground streets fights, or the octagon, or inside the ring, or the demon and voices that engulfed my mind.. I'VE HAD TO FIGHT, MY WHOLE LIFE. This, this is who I am. And this is what it's all about. Tell me you're going to beat me, tell me you're going to eliminate me - it doesn't matter, they're just words. They have no meaning. What matters, is what you do.