Post by Cosmo Goldworthy on Apr 20, 2024 22:15:03 GMT -6
“It doesn’t get any easier.”
“It never will, Mo.”
The camera pans down to reveal Cosmo Goldworthy and Pastor Williams standing in unison at a cemetery in Colma, California, in front of Carter Williams’ grave. One of Cosmo’s very best friends. He’s dedicated his current Fighting Spirit Championship journey to him.
“I just wanna make him proud.” Cosmo concedes. “I wanna make you proud. I wanna make them proud. My moms–”
Carter places his hand on Cosmo’s shoulder, slightly shaking him. “You HAVE made us proud. No matter what you do from here on out, we all gathered around and watched you win that.” He gestures to the United States Championship around his waist. “Don’t you forget that Carter was alive to watch that happen.”
Cosmo slightly bows his head down. “Hang your head up high, young man. You have nothing to be ashamed of.” Cosmo looks at Carter, confused. “But how? I dedicated this match to him and I fail–”
“But what did you learn?”
That question stings Cosmo. He felt cold, and it wasn’t because of the furious winds beating his way. Perhaps he was looking at this all wrong. “You learned to be better. I know that. We’ll be watching, and win or lose we won’t turn on you – but I trust that you will kick them boys’ asses.”
Cosmo chuckles, feeling the weight starting to come off. “Vin Havoc. Mercenary. They ain’t bad men. But you know how I am. You were there for me when my pops wasn’t.”
Carter laughs. “I’m so proud of you. You’ve come a long way. You didn’t care who it was, good or bad, if they gave you a reason? You’d give ‘em hell.”
“I have always had ‘fighting spirit’. I know I ain’t meant to still be here..” Cosmo sighs, his voice faltering.
“But you got out at the right time. You found a way to provide. You have earned everything you have right now.”
Cosmo slowly nods his head. “Aye. I’ll always donate to the church. And as for the championship match? Y’all are in my heart.” Cosmo beats his chest.
“You can do it, son. We know you can.”
Cosmo embraces Pastor Williams in a hug. The two stand there for a while, sharing their collective pain. There’s more to how they feel about Carter... but for Cosmo, this is the closest he can get to closure.
Pastor Williams releases from the hug and looks at Cosmo one last time. “I’mma stick around for a bit.”
He nods and leaves without saying a word. Cosmo stands alone at the cemetery as he glances at all of the clouds, moving around. Cosmo is hardly fazed by the cold air, the wind continuing to move his jacket. After a while, he finally breaks his silence.
“For weeks, I’ve been accused of not having what it takes when it comes to Fighting Spirit. My approach was flawed and I got shamed for it. Despite the fact that I’m still United States Champion, no one wanted me to live that loss down. Not even Vin Havoc. He takes so much pride in being the first Fighting Spirit Champion, but I have gone through a month of hell. I won’t rest until I beat him.”
Cosmo calmly asserts, his eyes narrowing as he stares directly into the bright sun, its light slightly covered by the beautiful blue sky.
“Vin, you disrespected me and masquerade as a moral arbiter. Claiming that I lack fighting spirit? My ENTIRE LIFE is fighting spirit. I’ve shown it this month! I can’t sleep at night because I failed my people. You and Mike can relate to that, right? You’ve disappointed everyone, so you’ve projected it on me. This title wasn’t made for y’all. It was made for me. You’re an underdog, Vin. Why is that?”
He chuckles, lightly running his foot against the rough grass surface.
“Underdogs aren’t expected to win. I’m a winner, and your life would be worthless without me.”
The sound of the wind gets louder, just in cue with Cosmo’s incredibly blunt delivery and cold expression.
“Michael Mercer. Scars & Stripes was the greatest day of your career. And instead, everyone ruined it by criticizing you and Vin for being co-champions. But when you finally beat Vin, then what? You lost it two weeks later to Chris Page. You drew with Reid, waited months for a second Undisputed Championship shot only to lose to Sally Talfourd. I really feel for ‘ya, because I think that you’re the standard for what a Rampage superstar should be. A hard worker with the scars to prove it. You deserve the praise. But your work ethic doesn’t guarantee victory. Did Talfourd have the same hunger as you after accomplishing way more than you have? Probably not, but she still won. I don’t need to make this all-or-nothing to defeat you. I just need to hit you where it hurts.”
Cosmo smirks, looking down to his title around his waist. In his eyes, it’s not greed. Just a sheer desire to be the very best in the world.
“Your hulking presence makes your legs an easy target. I injured your knee last month and I’ll do it again. I’m notorious for having the best striking in the game, so my relentless pressure and leg kicks will bring you down. You love to make it dirty but how will you do that with no legs? How can you generate the power to throw me around, or punch me if your hips are in pain? How will you hit the Decimator Atomic Bomb if your knees face risk of crumbling under the pain when you lift me? What about Grave Breaker when I’m high up in the air, only for your knee to blow out. I can slip free and apply The House Special, which I learned directly from the man who’s tapped many names with it.”
Cosmo grins. One of his proudest examples of ‘fighting spirit’. His war with JoJo Rush at Youngblood.
“I was locked in The House Special and even with blood gushing out my head, I refused to tap out. I later adopted that hold, and we know that even YOU are susceptible to submissions, given you couldn’t escape The Elite Lock. I planned my entire match with Page around it and won. Can’t you see? I’m the smarter competitor here. You thrive off mayhem, but now Vin’s in the mix and we saw what happened the last time y’all entered an iron man match... y’all lost juice and neither kicked out at the end.”
Cosmo slowly walks over to Carter’s headstone and rubs the top of it. He feels his hands rub against the granite, taking a deep breath.
“Vin. This isn’t Muhammad Ali or some World War 1 vet y’all don’t know. This is my brother, just like how Mike is yours. I don’t regret attacking you. You crossed the line, and y’all resent me so much it’ll cost you both the match. You wanted a fair fight? Here I am, alone! Put me in the ground next to Carter? I will BURY you where you stand! Don’t you ever say my mama should be ashamed of me. Clearly God should’ve made your mother sicker, ‘cause you’re entitled. Carter dies and you tell me to wake up..?”
“LOOK IN MY EYES!”
He snaps to turn his face, his eyes bloodshot red.
“I LOOK PRETTY FUCKIN’ AWAKE!”
He takes a deep breath, hardly blinking as he still holds a pained stare.
“...You thought you could lead your team to victory in War Games, but I pinned you. You got massacred to your dyin’ breath. No mortal man could withstand that punishment. I didn’t underestimate you this time, and you crumbled. I hurt you with my speed and precision. I can showcase my impressive vertical with the Cash Cow or Ready To Die, you’re too slow to evade both. No-DQ doesn’t scare me because War Games proved I can handle it. That strategic approach will hurt y’all, you’re too stubborn to think I can survive in this environment; even though Mike and Vin have wear and tear that cost them hardcore matches against younger competitors.”
Cosmo looks around to his body. It hurts more than before, but it’s not twenty years of physical stress.
“Mike and Vin have made it clear they’ll take me out of the equation, and fight each other. Selfish as always, making this moment about themselves. All I have to do is take advantage and attack both when they’re engaged in a slugfest. The fifteen minute iron-man stipulation means their pace whilst focusing on each other will exhaust them. Hardcore experience means nothing when Vin couldn’t even beat SONYA or Andrea Hernandez. I’m the one with the most momentum, I made it personal with them, and outlasted ‘em at War Games! Do you hate bein’ reminded of your future child constantly, Mike? I know that you would love to shut me up. But it would be a shame if you’re still on crutches when that baby is born.”
Cosmo chuckles, dismissive disdain for both opponents.. His booming laughter faintly echoes back like a whisper in the wind.
“StrangleMania XIX marks the night I beat three of Rampage’s best in the same night. I will be heralded as a god. We’re no longer in the era of Ace, Malone, or Lavender. This is an era defined by my irrefutable proclivity to be the best.”
Cosmo adjusts his championship. He doesn’t plan on losing it either. Cosmo backs up to get more of a look at the headstone, seeing Carter’s great qualities inscribed.
“It’s funny ‘cause Vin harnessed knowledge and confidence to beat me ‘cause he trained with Mike. Now he has to fight ‘em, when Mike’s his kryptonite. Mike took that United States Championship from Vin, and without his help, how will he beat me OR him? The champion is fightin’ an uphill battle and he loves tripping at the finish line, I remember when he let Talfourd dropkick him off the Insanity Cage. Mike’s the only non-champion in this match, so he has the most to gain. I know he desires the Fighting Spirit Championship, but he cares more about proving to me he deserves a match for MY title. If he wanted his rematch to come to fruition, he should’ve defended his championship.”
He notes how quiet the cemetery is. He appreciates the loneliness. It stands as symbolism for his focus compared to the first match with Vin Havoc.
“Vin and Mike can’t shoulder the responsibility of being Rampage’s leader quite like me. Vin’s first defense, ZERO, almost ended in disaster. He learned from his mistakes, only for Vin to luck out with a last second roll-up. I lost to Vin, so I redeemed myself by pinning Callie, then Vin. Two champions pinned in one month. I’ve learned from my mistakes. Vin ain’t chokin’ me– because I’m tearin’ his arm apart. He can try to target my head again, but I’ll abuse his arms so he can’t choke or Havoc Driver me!”
“You two doubt me like everyone else, I ain’t tough enough for y’all? I’m provin’ y’all wrong. I DIDN’T FIGHT MY WHOLE FUCKIN’ LIFE TO BE TOLD I DON’T GOT FIGHTING SPIRIT! LOOK AT THIS SHIT!”
Cosmo angrily gestures around to the tombstones.
“THIS IS MY REALITY! SHOT BY POLICE, OR YOUR OWN FOLK! This is for the black boys told they can’t do it... y’all don’t believe in me ‘cause I chose money over pain. ME AND MY MAMA HAD NOTHING! Ain’t it crazy that Mike and Vin, the perennial underdogs, are underestimating MY GRIT?! I dragged you fuckers into war, and I WON!”
“I’LL WIN AGAIN! I’M FIGHTING SPIRIT!”
“NOW! AND! FOREVER!”
Cosmo beats his chest. The pain in his eyes and his cracking voice encapsulate this match’s importance to him. He stares at Carter’s headstone, vowing not to fail him this time, the scene fading.