Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2021 5:44:28 GMT -5
Crossroads (off-cam)
So here we were. Two weeks to go and I’d have the biggest match my career had seen in over 20 years. The contract was signed, the battlelines drawn. CORONATION was coming.
These were the thoughts in my head as I stood in my backyard enjoying the winter weather in Reno, just chilling and smoking. The yard wasn’t big. It didn’t need to be as I didn’t plan on hosting any big grill-parties or anything. But I liked the privacy and the fact that I could stretch my legs without going out to the public. I reached over to the mixer on the table and took a sip.
Tasted like crap. But Donny had given me a total earful about proper eating and supplements if I wanted to be in tip-top shape come CORONATION. And he had told me to drop alcohol for the next two weeks. And I actually obliged. This was just how much the match and the opportunity meant for me. He did tell me to switch the cigarettes for a patch or something, but I knew from experience that if I tried that I’d be such a shaking nervous wreck after a few days that it’d be a moot point.
CORONATION… the UPRISING title. Since November, I’d been in a roll of my career. But it hadn’t been easy. Almost getting caught out by Flix. Barely getting by Bloonie with a countout. The whole set of shenanigans that the triple threat with Flix and Pinky had been. But here I was. I had overcome all the challenges and was ready.
I watched the smoke billow out of my mouth and dissipate into the winter air. It was a bit chilly, but nothing like the winters of my youth back in Finland. I had heard that my home town had been cast into a complete snow-chaos in the past week or so. Even joked about it in twitter about hell freezing over and whatnot.
But the truth was that I was nervous. Even scared. No matter what happened to me in my career I had been able to take solace in the fact that I had nothing to lose, that I could just bounce back and keep going. But now… now the stakes were too damn high. I had my chance at glory. To finally fulfill all the potential I had shown even back then, over 20 years ago. If I failed now, I would prove all the naysayers right. I would prove them right in saying I didn’t have what it takes. That I didn’t have the final bit of drive, talent and dedication needed to reach the apex.
Losing at CORONATION could be my last hurrah. And that scared me. Luther was no pushover. No matter how much I tried to get into his head through his own insecurities, through his wife, through our similarities and our differences, he had proven resistant to it. It was dawning on me that this time I would not have the mental upper hand. This time I would not have an opponent so hell bent of destroying me on a personal level that I could find openings and mistakes. This time it would be a flat out fight with the better man coming out on top.
And I didn’t know if I was the better man.
*THUD*
My musings were interrupted by something landing on my yard with a resounding thud. I glanced up and saw a soccer ball embedded into the muddy grass and blinked. Scanning the perimeter I saw a pair of eyes looking at me from over the fence that blocked both access and line of sight into my yard. A kid, probably barely 10 years old was staring at me over the fence with slight dread in his eyes.
“Hey kid. That your ball?” I hollered and stood up, walking towards the ball. The moment I did that, the kid vanished out of view and by the time I had picked up the ball and turned back towards the fence, I saw nobody. I blinked and bounced the ball. It was pretty good coordination-training actually. Since the kid was nowhere to be seen I shrugged and walked back to my porch and set the ball to the ground, planning on returning it if the kid showed up. I almost fell back into deep thought when a female voice snapped me out of it.
“Hey mister, my nephew told me you have his ball”
I glanced up and saw a female figure standing next to the fence. Blonde, lithe with distinctive facial features. Pretty, but her face clearly showed the signs of being about my age. I stood up and grabbed the ball, walking over the fence. “Yeah, I planned on giving it back to him but he vanished before I could. Here ya go”
I handed the ball to her and smiled, now that I was closer I was able to take a better look at her. Dressed in a rather homely getup of a loose shirt and pants, no makeup and hair barely done. She clearly didn’t feel the need to pretty herself up at home. She took the ball and returned my smile. “Thank you. Say, did you move in recently? I thought this house was still vacant and I don’t remember seeing you around”
I nodded and extended my hand over the fence. “Yeah, moved in a few weeks ago. Names Tirri, Don Tirri. Pleasure to meet you Mrs…?.”
The woman scanned me from head to toe before returning the handshake. “Nice to meet you Tirri, Don Tirri. I’m Angela Nelson.”She gave me a smile. Her handshake was firm, but she wasn’t squeezing like I was the last drop of toothpaste in the tube. “So tell me Mr. Tirri, what brings you to this neighbourhood? Looked for a place to settle with the missus and kids?”
I chuckled and shrugged. “Nah. No missus and no kids that I know of. Employment brought me here to Reno. I liked the neighbourhood and the house wasn’t too expensive so it was a good deal for me.”
Her expression shifted slightly when I said it was just me. And I could swear her smile got a bit brighter. “Oh, is that so. So, what do you do for a living Mr. Tirri? You don’t look like a pencil-pusher or a high roller. So.. construction?”
I became keenly aware of my appearance. A comfy, but worn pair of sweatpants, a t-shirt that had seen better days and a hoodie that I had gotten probably 10 years ago. Shaking my head I responded. “Nah, not construction. I’m a professional wrestler, working for the recently opened UPRISING-promotion here in Reno. Maybe Mr. Nelson or your kids would know me?” I left the question hanging in the air.
She looked slightly bemused and shook her head. “Maybe once upon a time, but Mr. Nelson hasn’t known anything in years. It is difficult to keep tabs with events from six feet under. And the closest thing to a child in my household is my nephew. That would explain his reaction to seeing you though Mr. Tirri”
So. A widow with no kids, I made a mental note as she continued. “A professional wrestler you say. Well, that would explain the rugged face and physique. Well Mr. Tirri, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, but I believe my nephew would like his ball back and I have a pot on the stove. I guess I’ll be seeing you around then?”
I nodded and handed the ball over. “I do plan on sticking around Mrs. Nelson. And if we do end up conversing more, just call me Don. or just Tirri. I have never been too comfortable with formalities like Mr. and so on.” I said while cracking my most disarming smile. She seemed like someone worth getting to know.
She returned the smile. “Well in that case Don, you can call me Angie. I am not big on formalities either. One more question though: Are you any good with DIY-things? Ever since I was widowed, I’ve had to spend a fortune in plumbing and whatnot.”
I raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “I’m no expert but I have picked up a few useful skills over the years. So if something goes amiss, I might aswell come take a look. Give me a holler if and when it happens Angie, and have a good day!”
She nodded as I gave him a small bow and we both went our separate ways. I heard some whispering from behind the fence, guessin Angie was telling her nephew what happened.
I lit up a new cigarette, finished up my drink, barely holding you a gag and stared into the distance. CORONATION was a crossroad in my career. I was standing at a precipice and it could go either way.
The Beauty of this business.
CORONATION (on-cam)[/u]
We open up to a view of Don Tirri seated in his living room. The big Finn seems relaxed atleast on the surface but beneath, there is something bubbling. The first thing that springs out is the fact that there is no cigarettes, ashtrays or beer bottles in sight. Instead Tirri has a shaker next to him that he occasionally sips. And when he talks, his voice is tinged with barely contained excitement and nervousness.
“So. Here we are. Five Revolutions behind us. A Grueling tournament, a triple threat to set the stage and a contract signing and here we are Luthie. The championship train has cleared every station and the next stop is CORONATION. And let me tell not just you Luthie, but everyone watching UPRISING both live and through SplatTV… I am hyped and excited.
We’ve had a lot of banter in the last month or so. We’ve both been trying to maneuver each other into a position of a mental upper hand through hook and crook. But ultimately it comes down to what happens in that ring in CORONATION. I have been slagging you, slagging your wife, slagging everything and anything I’ve been able to get my mind on. And you’ve taken it like a champ, no pun intended. For a quiet, reserved man you are extremely eloquent. It takes a real expert to see beyond the surface that you put out. So it’s time to switch gears. Luthie, this is no longer about who can get into the others head. Because nobody can get into mine and you have proven to my great pleasure that getting into yours is a fools errand. So it’s time to just stop with the childish insults and snide remarks. It’s time to break down this rivalry of ours to facts.”
Tirri stands up and begins to pace around his living room, a sight as familiar as any when it comes to promos cut by the man.
“See Luthie, like I said at Revolution 5, this matchup at CORONATION is not just for the title. It’s to decide who is the face of the company going forward. And since it is the first time an UPRISING-champion is crowned, the stakes are even higher than they are normally in a titlematch. Whoever gets their name etched into that belt at the end of the night will go down in history as the man who began the legacy. For years to come whenever the title is discussed, the one of us who claims it at CORONATION will be referred as the progenitor. Nobody holds onto a title forever Luthie, and long after you and I have hung up our boots for good the title will continue to gain holders. The promotion will keep gaining champions. But there is one thing nobody can EVER take away, no matter what happens in the future: Being the First. There can be only one first champion. And That name will remain etched in history for forever.
But there is more than that Luthie. UPRISING is a young promotion. Only 5 shows in. During an era when promotions open and close on an almost weekly basis. A new promotion like UPRISING needs a champion who sets a standard. A champion who all those who follow will be measured against. And UPRISING is not your bog-standard cookie cutter promotion. See, that is where comes the main difference between you and I Luthie, and the reason why I am the one and only correct man to take UPRISING forward. Just like I alluded at Revolution 5. for any other run-at-the-mill promotion in the US and elsewhere, a well-spoken refined company man such as yourself would be the perfect front man. But UPRISING is different. We are grunge to the hair metal that the wrestling scene has turned into. A Revolution is coming, and Brad Jackson and his UPRISING will spearhead that change. And to lead that Revolution he needs someone who differs from the grain. Someone who isn’t just a cut and paste company man. He needs a man with an edge. He needs ME.”
He stops and does the “thumbs pointing at his chest”-pose he is often seen doing in promotional pictures, chuckles, shrugs and continues.
“Of course he won’t admit it outright because like a true professional, no matter how he sees things he treats everyone equal. But no matter which way you spin it, I am the one who is best suited to take UPRISING to the next level. I am the man who is best suited to put the name UPRISING on the lips of everyone in the wrestling world. I am best suited to be the face that runs the place. So not only am I fighting for my own legacy. But I am also fighting for the legacy and the future of the place I have grown to love in these short months. Brad Jackson and UPRISING are the first to give me a real fair shake in a decade. For once I am able to be myself and do my own thing without having to worry about backstage politics or bosses who don’t see me as nothing more than a sideshow.
CORONATION will be my crowning moment. A moment over 20 years in the making. It was a long road, getting from there to here. And Luthie, no matter how impressive of a physical specimen you are. No matter how great of an inring competitor you are. CORONATION is my time. UPRISING is my yard. And the UPRISING title will be my crown, not some trinket you can add to your already expansive list of titles and trophies. So Luthie, come to CORONATION prepared to fight. And prepared to lose. Because there is nothing on this world or any other world that can prevent me from finally reaching out and grabbing that brass ring. NOTHING short of death will stop me from pinning your shoulders to the mat for a threecount and crowning myself as the FIRST EVER UPRISING CHAMPION.”
Tirri sits back down on the couch, kicks his boots to the table and lean backs, speaking the last words up towards the ceiling more than the camera.
“That is not a threat Luthie. That is a promise. It’s my time now.”
And with that, we fade fo black.
So here we were. Two weeks to go and I’d have the biggest match my career had seen in over 20 years. The contract was signed, the battlelines drawn. CORONATION was coming.
These were the thoughts in my head as I stood in my backyard enjoying the winter weather in Reno, just chilling and smoking. The yard wasn’t big. It didn’t need to be as I didn’t plan on hosting any big grill-parties or anything. But I liked the privacy and the fact that I could stretch my legs without going out to the public. I reached over to the mixer on the table and took a sip.
Tasted like crap. But Donny had given me a total earful about proper eating and supplements if I wanted to be in tip-top shape come CORONATION. And he had told me to drop alcohol for the next two weeks. And I actually obliged. This was just how much the match and the opportunity meant for me. He did tell me to switch the cigarettes for a patch or something, but I knew from experience that if I tried that I’d be such a shaking nervous wreck after a few days that it’d be a moot point.
CORONATION… the UPRISING title. Since November, I’d been in a roll of my career. But it hadn’t been easy. Almost getting caught out by Flix. Barely getting by Bloonie with a countout. The whole set of shenanigans that the triple threat with Flix and Pinky had been. But here I was. I had overcome all the challenges and was ready.
I watched the smoke billow out of my mouth and dissipate into the winter air. It was a bit chilly, but nothing like the winters of my youth back in Finland. I had heard that my home town had been cast into a complete snow-chaos in the past week or so. Even joked about it in twitter about hell freezing over and whatnot.
But the truth was that I was nervous. Even scared. No matter what happened to me in my career I had been able to take solace in the fact that I had nothing to lose, that I could just bounce back and keep going. But now… now the stakes were too damn high. I had my chance at glory. To finally fulfill all the potential I had shown even back then, over 20 years ago. If I failed now, I would prove all the naysayers right. I would prove them right in saying I didn’t have what it takes. That I didn’t have the final bit of drive, talent and dedication needed to reach the apex.
Losing at CORONATION could be my last hurrah. And that scared me. Luther was no pushover. No matter how much I tried to get into his head through his own insecurities, through his wife, through our similarities and our differences, he had proven resistant to it. It was dawning on me that this time I would not have the mental upper hand. This time I would not have an opponent so hell bent of destroying me on a personal level that I could find openings and mistakes. This time it would be a flat out fight with the better man coming out on top.
And I didn’t know if I was the better man.
*THUD*
My musings were interrupted by something landing on my yard with a resounding thud. I glanced up and saw a soccer ball embedded into the muddy grass and blinked. Scanning the perimeter I saw a pair of eyes looking at me from over the fence that blocked both access and line of sight into my yard. A kid, probably barely 10 years old was staring at me over the fence with slight dread in his eyes.
“Hey kid. That your ball?” I hollered and stood up, walking towards the ball. The moment I did that, the kid vanished out of view and by the time I had picked up the ball and turned back towards the fence, I saw nobody. I blinked and bounced the ball. It was pretty good coordination-training actually. Since the kid was nowhere to be seen I shrugged and walked back to my porch and set the ball to the ground, planning on returning it if the kid showed up. I almost fell back into deep thought when a female voice snapped me out of it.
“Hey mister, my nephew told me you have his ball”
I glanced up and saw a female figure standing next to the fence. Blonde, lithe with distinctive facial features. Pretty, but her face clearly showed the signs of being about my age. I stood up and grabbed the ball, walking over the fence. “Yeah, I planned on giving it back to him but he vanished before I could. Here ya go”
I handed the ball to her and smiled, now that I was closer I was able to take a better look at her. Dressed in a rather homely getup of a loose shirt and pants, no makeup and hair barely done. She clearly didn’t feel the need to pretty herself up at home. She took the ball and returned my smile. “Thank you. Say, did you move in recently? I thought this house was still vacant and I don’t remember seeing you around”
I nodded and extended my hand over the fence. “Yeah, moved in a few weeks ago. Names Tirri, Don Tirri. Pleasure to meet you Mrs…?.”
The woman scanned me from head to toe before returning the handshake. “Nice to meet you Tirri, Don Tirri. I’m Angela Nelson.”She gave me a smile. Her handshake was firm, but she wasn’t squeezing like I was the last drop of toothpaste in the tube. “So tell me Mr. Tirri, what brings you to this neighbourhood? Looked for a place to settle with the missus and kids?”
I chuckled and shrugged. “Nah. No missus and no kids that I know of. Employment brought me here to Reno. I liked the neighbourhood and the house wasn’t too expensive so it was a good deal for me.”
Her expression shifted slightly when I said it was just me. And I could swear her smile got a bit brighter. “Oh, is that so. So, what do you do for a living Mr. Tirri? You don’t look like a pencil-pusher or a high roller. So.. construction?”
I became keenly aware of my appearance. A comfy, but worn pair of sweatpants, a t-shirt that had seen better days and a hoodie that I had gotten probably 10 years ago. Shaking my head I responded. “Nah, not construction. I’m a professional wrestler, working for the recently opened UPRISING-promotion here in Reno. Maybe Mr. Nelson or your kids would know me?” I left the question hanging in the air.
She looked slightly bemused and shook her head. “Maybe once upon a time, but Mr. Nelson hasn’t known anything in years. It is difficult to keep tabs with events from six feet under. And the closest thing to a child in my household is my nephew. That would explain his reaction to seeing you though Mr. Tirri”
So. A widow with no kids, I made a mental note as she continued. “A professional wrestler you say. Well, that would explain the rugged face and physique. Well Mr. Tirri, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, but I believe my nephew would like his ball back and I have a pot on the stove. I guess I’ll be seeing you around then?”
I nodded and handed the ball over. “I do plan on sticking around Mrs. Nelson. And if we do end up conversing more, just call me Don. or just Tirri. I have never been too comfortable with formalities like Mr. and so on.” I said while cracking my most disarming smile. She seemed like someone worth getting to know.
She returned the smile. “Well in that case Don, you can call me Angie. I am not big on formalities either. One more question though: Are you any good with DIY-things? Ever since I was widowed, I’ve had to spend a fortune in plumbing and whatnot.”
I raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “I’m no expert but I have picked up a few useful skills over the years. So if something goes amiss, I might aswell come take a look. Give me a holler if and when it happens Angie, and have a good day!”
She nodded as I gave him a small bow and we both went our separate ways. I heard some whispering from behind the fence, guessin Angie was telling her nephew what happened.
I lit up a new cigarette, finished up my drink, barely holding you a gag and stared into the distance. CORONATION was a crossroad in my career. I was standing at a precipice and it could go either way.
The Beauty of this business.
CORONATION (on-cam)[/u]
We open up to a view of Don Tirri seated in his living room. The big Finn seems relaxed atleast on the surface but beneath, there is something bubbling. The first thing that springs out is the fact that there is no cigarettes, ashtrays or beer bottles in sight. Instead Tirri has a shaker next to him that he occasionally sips. And when he talks, his voice is tinged with barely contained excitement and nervousness.
“So. Here we are. Five Revolutions behind us. A Grueling tournament, a triple threat to set the stage and a contract signing and here we are Luthie. The championship train has cleared every station and the next stop is CORONATION. And let me tell not just you Luthie, but everyone watching UPRISING both live and through SplatTV… I am hyped and excited.
We’ve had a lot of banter in the last month or so. We’ve both been trying to maneuver each other into a position of a mental upper hand through hook and crook. But ultimately it comes down to what happens in that ring in CORONATION. I have been slagging you, slagging your wife, slagging everything and anything I’ve been able to get my mind on. And you’ve taken it like a champ, no pun intended. For a quiet, reserved man you are extremely eloquent. It takes a real expert to see beyond the surface that you put out. So it’s time to switch gears. Luthie, this is no longer about who can get into the others head. Because nobody can get into mine and you have proven to my great pleasure that getting into yours is a fools errand. So it’s time to just stop with the childish insults and snide remarks. It’s time to break down this rivalry of ours to facts.”
Tirri stands up and begins to pace around his living room, a sight as familiar as any when it comes to promos cut by the man.
“See Luthie, like I said at Revolution 5, this matchup at CORONATION is not just for the title. It’s to decide who is the face of the company going forward. And since it is the first time an UPRISING-champion is crowned, the stakes are even higher than they are normally in a titlematch. Whoever gets their name etched into that belt at the end of the night will go down in history as the man who began the legacy. For years to come whenever the title is discussed, the one of us who claims it at CORONATION will be referred as the progenitor. Nobody holds onto a title forever Luthie, and long after you and I have hung up our boots for good the title will continue to gain holders. The promotion will keep gaining champions. But there is one thing nobody can EVER take away, no matter what happens in the future: Being the First. There can be only one first champion. And That name will remain etched in history for forever.
But there is more than that Luthie. UPRISING is a young promotion. Only 5 shows in. During an era when promotions open and close on an almost weekly basis. A new promotion like UPRISING needs a champion who sets a standard. A champion who all those who follow will be measured against. And UPRISING is not your bog-standard cookie cutter promotion. See, that is where comes the main difference between you and I Luthie, and the reason why I am the one and only correct man to take UPRISING forward. Just like I alluded at Revolution 5. for any other run-at-the-mill promotion in the US and elsewhere, a well-spoken refined company man such as yourself would be the perfect front man. But UPRISING is different. We are grunge to the hair metal that the wrestling scene has turned into. A Revolution is coming, and Brad Jackson and his UPRISING will spearhead that change. And to lead that Revolution he needs someone who differs from the grain. Someone who isn’t just a cut and paste company man. He needs a man with an edge. He needs ME.”
He stops and does the “thumbs pointing at his chest”-pose he is often seen doing in promotional pictures, chuckles, shrugs and continues.
“Of course he won’t admit it outright because like a true professional, no matter how he sees things he treats everyone equal. But no matter which way you spin it, I am the one who is best suited to take UPRISING to the next level. I am the man who is best suited to put the name UPRISING on the lips of everyone in the wrestling world. I am best suited to be the face that runs the place. So not only am I fighting for my own legacy. But I am also fighting for the legacy and the future of the place I have grown to love in these short months. Brad Jackson and UPRISING are the first to give me a real fair shake in a decade. For once I am able to be myself and do my own thing without having to worry about backstage politics or bosses who don’t see me as nothing more than a sideshow.
CORONATION will be my crowning moment. A moment over 20 years in the making. It was a long road, getting from there to here. And Luthie, no matter how impressive of a physical specimen you are. No matter how great of an inring competitor you are. CORONATION is my time. UPRISING is my yard. And the UPRISING title will be my crown, not some trinket you can add to your already expansive list of titles and trophies. So Luthie, come to CORONATION prepared to fight. And prepared to lose. Because there is nothing on this world or any other world that can prevent me from finally reaching out and grabbing that brass ring. NOTHING short of death will stop me from pinning your shoulders to the mat for a threecount and crowning myself as the FIRST EVER UPRISING CHAMPION.”
Tirri sits back down on the couch, kicks his boots to the table and lean backs, speaking the last words up towards the ceiling more than the camera.
“That is not a threat Luthie. That is a promise. It’s my time now.”
And with that, we fade fo black.