Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 15:46:41 GMT -6
"Heart"
by Ashton Drake
"Are you sure that you want to do this?"
Standing in the shadows within a worn out where house, Tom Roberts takes a drag of his burnt cigar, his eyes looking around the room. Hidden from under thick sunglasses, he does his best to seem comfortable in his surroundings when he truly is not. As the floor squeaks under his shiny black boots, he button his trench coat and continues to speak. "The EWC has plenty of places for you to cut a promo, kid. This sort of thing is best left for the amateurs. What do you say to us heading back into the city, grabbing a bite to eat, and to re-plan the entire thing?"
"Not on your life." Responds Ashton Drake. Dressed in a simple pair of track pants and a white T-Shirt, he adjusts his ball cap upon his head before moving a few packing crates out of the way. Grunting, his muscles twitch as he slowly shoves them aside. Wiping off his pants after, Drake looks towards his manager and continues to speak. "We don't need fancy lights to get our point across anymore, Tom. Last week, I addressed the EWC Universe as myself, with no gimmicks or strings attached. It felt damn good too. Let's kick it up a notch."
"Why here though?" Responds Tom as he wipes cobwebs from off of his trench coat sleeve. "Why not do this in your living room then? Or how about in some open field? This place smells like piss."
"This place... is reality." Snaps Drake now, flinging his cap from off of his head and into the dark corner of the room. "This is New York, untouched and uncensored. This is where I am from. I made a statement last week, Tom. I dropped a message on their doorstep and dared them to listen. Then, I proceeded to kicking Alexis Morrison's ass all over the damn arena as a reward for their patience. The world is a pretty scary place, man. This where house... it's more than what others have. You know what I mean?"
Conceding, Tom nods his head. He motions for a man to approach them with camera in hand. "Set up right here. Let's get this segment started before I catch some sort of skin disease."
The Camera is positioned upon a tripod and aimed towards Ashton Drake. Looking out the window, Drake's gaze rests upon the New York City horizon, complete with skyscrapers piercing the clouds above. A thin stream of light makes it's way through the cracked window, landing across the bridge of his nose. Growing impatient, Tom speaks to Drake who is completely silent. "Kid... we are filming. Do your thing."
Drake continues to look out the window, seeing something that the others could not. His pupils enlarge for a moment.. he is still. As if he is waiting for the right moment in time, he suddenly springs to life and speaks:
"You know, I can't remember a day in my life where I didn't look out into that city... and feel lucky to be alive. Life truly is a miracle. Most overlook that gift from God, it's a human thing to take things for granted after all. It isn't until we lose something.. or someone.. important to us that we start to see life without the blinders on. As most of you know, I lost my family in a accident involving a drunk driver. It's a touchy subject, but I am learning to deal with it every day. The cold hard fact about it is that I have learned to appreciate the gifts in life due to losing something very dear to me."
Drake turns and glares at the camera.
"Which is why I can't understand for the life of me as to why someone would make a joke out of it. Over the last few weeks, I have read comments by Alexis Morrison, Vinny Gigante... even Xplode.. hurtful comments about my family. My pain has been made the butt of jokes, as if there would be no repercussions. I assure you... there will be vengeance. There will be vengeance and pain.
You see, it is that pain that fuels me... pushes me to be the best that I can be. Every week, I walk out to that ring and I bust my damn ass, with no thought as to victory or loss. No... no... my goals and strengths are much deeper than that. Alexis Morrison didn't understand it. For a woman with so much talent, she can't recognize the one simple thing that has sat at the forefront of our industry since day 1. Vinny Gigante? No... he doesn't notice it either. For him, it's all about gimmicks and tough guy talk. It's all a damn charade. Xplode? The wise legend? He doesn't even know that it exists. No, my strength originates from the one thing that has pushed man to be great since the very begin of time...
Heart.
That's right. Heart. Don't get me wrong, winning the EWC Undisputed Championship is a wonderful thing. When that comes, life will truly be blessed for me. Until that day though, I will continue to wake up every morning and ask myself... Do I have the heart to continue? Do I have the heart to succeed? Do I have the heart to return this industry to the people and eliminate the years of oppression that these evil.. gimmick laden pricks have bestowed upon us since the EWC reopened it's doors for business! Every morning I look into the mirror and ask myself these very things... and so far... the answer has been yes.
Rumble in the Bronx is upon us.. and no event has been so dependent on a competitors heart more than this one. The entire company will step into that ring and rage fucking war, man. There is a very good chance that we see yet another schmuck emerge from the pack who doesn't truly appreciate the opportunity that's being offered to them. That's where I come in though. You see, in case anyone hasn't noticed... there is a new Sheriff in town....and that man is me.
Call me.. quality control.
While this is going on, we have men like Xplode and Tony Savage stinking it up in that ring, putting the entire arena to sleep with their rants about destroying the world and what not. I don't know about any of you.. but that simply doesn't fly with me. I would be enraged if my kids saw that on television. Those men are supposed to be role models! No... they are hardly that. They all need to be put to sleep."
Drake walks around the where house, looking down. He then stops and looks at the camera.
"Over the next couple of months, I will be making my final push to the top. I won't make any pit stops along the way, believe that. When I reach the top of the mountain, there won't be a damn soul in that locker room who will have any doubt left inside of them. All of the haters, they will become believers... because I will be representing them. I will be placing them on my shoulders and carrying them over that abyss... all the way to the EWC Championship. I will defeat Xplode, and I will return that title to the company that created it.
There will be no more Kings and Queens.. just people.
That's right. The days of men claiming to be Gods amongst men will finally be over. We will once again settle our differences like the legends of the past, and wage war within that ring. A three count.. a submission.. that's how it is done. That's how it will be.
This message goes out to those who dare to be different. These are the one's who don't accept the status quo. This is for the Polly Pockets, the Derek Wellings... the Latoya Hix's. These are the people who raise their hands and hold up the foundation and the future of the EWC. This is for the Shelley Silvers and Nurse Kinsley's, the ones who continue to give their all despite impossible odds.... despite losses.
....This is for those who have heart."
Drake picks up his hat and places it on his head. He starts to walk away when suddenly he stops and smiles.
"Oh... and before I forget. Nurse Kinsley, I would be honored to have you stand by my side. Anytime you need a helping hand, give me a call. Those who see clearly need to stick together."
Drake walks away... leaving the camera man standing there with his mouth wide open. Glancing at Drake and then at the camera... Tom Roberts shakes his head and speaks: "Yup... we are looking at the future in that kid. This is just the beginning."