Post by J on Jan 31, 2021 9:08:41 GMT -5
SIX DAYS
(On Camera)
We are treated to a view of what looks like a dark room, well almost at least. A single source of light, a table lamp luminates the darkness and as the camera rides in closer we see a man dressed in black sitting at a desk. His suit, tie, slicked back hair, well groomed appearance. Everything showcases a presence of a man well aware of his surroundings. His face is expressionless as he speaks up.
“Six days, that may not seem like a long time to us. 144 hours, 8640 minutes or 518 400 seconds. The bible leads us to believe that the world was created in six days because on the seventh as everyone knows: God rested. We are somewhat six days away from unveiling a whole new world. UPRISING gets it’s first champion, and the two men who will fight for that privilege on February 6th are myself and “Old School Cool” Don Tirri. For those of you who are wondering who I am: My name is Luther Thunder and I am part of UPRISING’s roster. You may not necessarily believe it since there are those who subscribe to the belief that I am one of those wrestlers who operates more behind in the scenes, who shows up, does his thing and leaves. No don’t take me wrong I am not like Matt “The Raven” Knox, you won’t find me skulking in the shadows and brooding. I am approachable, I am present and I am believe it or not: not that bad of a guy really.”
He flashes a pearly white smirk to the camera.
“Now of course everyone who has been in this business longer than a cup of coffee has a reputation and depending on who you ask it may be a good reputation or a bad reputation. I believe that I am not the most respected or looked up to member of any locker room I step into but my name does carry certain weight, mentioning it in some places causes more of a reaction than others but while I have been prolific with my presence over the years I have not been the type of guy who hops from promotion to promotion, who scratches some fame here and a little quick payday there. I am not the type who joins a dozen places in hopes of adding another title or an accolade to some sort of a collection like a deranged hoarder. If you do wonder why I joined UPRISING though? I’ll tell you. Bradley Jackson the General Manager, the big man himself? He asked me. Personally. Now whatever you think of me and the way I conduct myself, if Brad Jackson wants me in a place where he’s making matches, how could I be that bad of a guy, huh?”
He shrugs in a rather matter of fact manner and smirks.
“Now my opponent. My dear friend and colleague Don Tirri and I we are not alike, I don’t think we are exactly on each others christmas card lists either but as much as I’d hate to admit it. There are similalarities between us. Neither of us are American, we’ve both had our fair share of ups and downs in the business, he maybe more downs and me a bit more ups but regardless. Our careers have never really crossed. We’ve worked in the same promotions sometimes but him and me, you could say we were in different crowds. Yet I never had much of an opinion of him or how he conducted his business in or out of the ring. The man can wrestle, and he can run his mouth. Say what you want about Don Tirri but when it comes to this business he does walk the walk and he loves to talk the talk. Oh lord how he likes to talk and that’s why he could utilize his career at ringside as well. Announcer’s position is not an easy one but when you are motormouth like DT you’ll do it few shades to the wind or stone cold sober and the fans or the wrestler’s won’t know the difference. He has his faults as we all do but don’t let that fool you, don’t let that outsider look, the disheveled appearance or crass language lul you right into the eye of the storm. The man is a master at what he does, I may never be an announcer a play by play or a color guy. I talk when I have something to say, not just so that I can hear myself talk.
DT however has done a masterful job at portraying himself as the everyman, your average joe that you could sit down and have a few beers with. Watch the game, comment on the cheerleaders, then throw friendly jabs at the rival teams and have a great night. However that is only he wants you to see that. Because what I think, what I assume is that Don Tirri has managed to play not just his peers, not just the management but even plenty of the fans into believing that UPRISING needs him a lot more than he needs it.”
Thunder puts his palms together and rests them on the top of the table.
“He had some powerful words to say, before, during and after Revolution 5 and as those of you who live and breathe social media have probably noticed. The man has plenty to say and isn’t afraid to say it. He likes to point out how big of a deal this match of ours is, how it’s not just about the championship but much more than that: a matchup of epic proportions between two men who both wish to be the very first of no doubt and hopefully long lineage of UPRISING Champions. What a marvel and noble idea, right? Except DT might not be completely truthful about it, he clearly cares for UPRISING and it’s fans if he says so, right? Sure, let’s assume that for the sake of argument. However to Don Tirri personally, this is a heck of a chance, he can win his first big championship, very first and only of his storied career. Sounds pretty grand doesn’t it? Of course in the same process he could take down a man like me who at least in UPRISING’s view and standards has been rather successful so far, you think he booted me in the face just on instinct?
Of course not. He wanted to send a message to me that he can do it and is willing it do it again but also to the fans: He wants to show to you how he’s sticking it “to the man” to the “corporate suits” or “company men” Don Tirri even in his matured years still wants to be a rebel, to go against the grain and fight the system. It was not a coincidence that he would refer to himself and Uprising as “grunge” in the time of hair metal. I may not be what one would call a music enthusiast but even I know that Grunge was a phenomenon during it’s hayday, just like hair metal was..however in 2021 Grunge is not what it used to be, the greats that came with the time have moved on to do their own things and if I look at the modern music. It seems to be a lot more produced, clean to dang near sterile level and very carefully plotted out and marketed to the consumers. So it’s no wonder he associates himself with something else than the modern youth’s idols. He sticks to what he knows, he focuses on the notes he can play from sheer muscle memory and he is dang good at it.”
He separates those palms and nods with approval.
“Well done Tirri, really well played and that little poll you put out? A lesser man could have been all shook up and even angry that the self proclaimed man of the people didn’t win by a landslide, right? Yet what do you, what does DT too? You turn it into another case of how UPRISING’s fans don’t particularly like me, bring out a view that I am disrespecting them despite winning the poll. How do the fans know you didn’t rig the poll? How can they be sure you didn’t orchestrate it to make yourself look more like the underdog, the little man fighting the big bad corporate goon? Are you thinking they’ll just believe in your bright eyes and solemn words that you would never do that? Tirri, you old dog, you’ve been around the block so many times you damn near own two of out of the four corners. Tell the fans what you want, have the chug down whatever koolaid you are offering but don’t expect me to just believe this without blinking twice.
I admit that my ways of doing business might not have always been on the up and up with the morals and ethics of the general public. Yet I have always and forever worked for the interests of the business we are in and to my employers and of cours emy own interests because believe it or not Don. Those are the exact same thing. I take pride in my work and what I do in that ring, I aim to do it the best I can every darn night and it doesn’t depend on the size of the stage or the amount of the people watching or anything like that. If my name is on the card you can take it to the bank that Luther Thunder works just as hard in front of 20 fans than 20 000 fans.”
There is some serious determination in his tone, a glare in his eyes, the Dutchman is hammering this point home to everyone watching.
“So while we may not see eye to eye on how business should be done, ware both businessmen in our own ways. I don’t peddle merchandise nor do I woo the fans with sticking it to the ones they do not shower with praises, however if I am scheduled to appear, if I am getting paid to be at an event, be it a match, a signing or just a meet and greet with the fans. I’ll be there taking pictures with them, talking to them, hearing them out and sure if there are merchandise or pictures to sing I’ll happily sign my name, maybe even film some of those little video messages or give someone’s sick auntie a call to brighten their spirits. I am not some sort of an ogre or a boogeyman. I interact with people just like everyone else. Just because it doesn’t leave a trace on social media or I don’t boast about it don’t mean that I don’t do good things too. However I am also a very private man, I am not available to the public 24/7 my life is not a public thing that anyone can just swoop in. If I’m out having dinner with my wife, no I am not signing autographs or posing for pictures just because I’m a professional wrestler. That is my job yes, but I do have a life of my own outside the ring. Would imagine if say a plumber manages to scrape together enough cash to take his darling wife and their lovely little children out to fancy restaurant to eat and suddenly when he’s enjoying this precious moment he gets a tap on the shoulder and maitre d leans in “hey you a plumber right? The toilet’s backed up, why don’t you go and fix it?” No of course you wouldn’t and yet because I am a professional wrestler I am the BAD guy if I don’t drop everything I do when a fan shows up. A true fan, a respectful fan would let others live their lives too, they are not the ones who stick a phone to your face while you are training at the gym, they are not the ones who crowd you at a gas station asking when is your next match going to be..”
He bites down on his lower lip just a hint, taking a breath, collecting himself.
“So while you have done an outstanding job in dehumanizing me at the eyes of at least some of the fans. Let me remind you and them that this match, this opportunity we have at CORONATION means just as much to me as it does to you. UPRISING Championship, first ever. Is just as important to me as any other championship I have held or competed for. For me, every. Single. One. of. My. matches. Is important, I don’t have to specifically mention why one match would be so and some other wouldn’t be. I do have respect for you and what you have done in this business, probably more than you realize because you spend such time and put such effort into picking at things you think I do wrong, but let’s face it Don. You don’t have to be my friend, you don’t even have to like me to agree with this but the sole reason you and I are in this match is because we were the two best competitors in that tournament. We are the two best people this company has at this given point. If Dunn, Knox, JC, Mac or anyone else who signed up later had been in the tournament the result could be a whole lot different, you nor I might not be main eventing on February 6th but as it stands right now: we are there. That is our match and I am willing AND able to put down all slights, snide remarks and petty put downs, lace up our boots and just see which one of us is the better man at the end of the night in six days, because no amount of tailored suits or vintage muscle cars is going to change the fact that in the ring, appearances, ideals and what we both think we are strips down...and we both are revealed as what we truly are within our core, bell to bell. Mano A Mano, only one of us can win and only one of us will win. Everyone talks a good game going into battle, everyone has powerful words and bravado when they believe they have a chance to win, but you know what they say DT you can say a lot about a man’s character when you see how he acts in defeat. I have lost before, even in some of the biggest matches of my career and when it boils down to it, no amount of excuses or explanations would be able to change those results: Yet I have always been man enough to admit my defeat when I have been beaten by someone better than me.”
He lets that sink in before going on.
“So if you truly deep down in your heart to hearts believe that UPRISING needs YOu more than me, then all you have to do is beat me. That’s all it takes, no pretty speeches or motivational rallies necessary. Best me at Coronation and I will shake hands with you right smack middle of that darn ring in front of the whole world to see. However all this talk you’ve given about how whoever wins going forward sets the standard for the company, you do realize that the real body of work starts once you have becoming the champion, because then as the upright and honest man of the people that you are. You will follow through those claims won’t you DT? You wouldn’t just tell the people what they want to hear to get them to back you up going into this match? To get a bit of an edge over lil’ ol’ me now would you? Of course you wouldn’t. I can live with a loss to you on my record, my conscience would be as clear as it is now and I’d sleep my nights soundly, but pray tell Don? What does happen if you lose to me? Oh sure fall down 9 times get up 10 right? However how many more chances like this you think there are in store for you? Could you bare to live that I of all people would have denied you a chance to shut all those naysayers, doubters and haters up. Because you know they are there Don. People who think you are nothing, that you always were nothing and you will forever be nothing. Me? Being “hated by the fans” in most places that I have been employed, my haters have always been loud and proud of their existence. I didn’t need to wonder, but do you? Because if you mess this one up, and the next new hotness, fashionable rebel with the right cause comes along. Who wil remember you? Who will be coming to your signings, asking for your pictures or buying your shirts? Isn’t that what you are afraid of DT? That nobody would remember you, that you would fade away with the rest of the potential legends who never just truly made it.
You remember Don Tirri? Oh yeah, he had promise didn’t he. Whatever happened to that guy? ..I don’t know.”
He sits there, silent.
“That is why you want to make sure people know your name, isn’t it Don? That is why you believe in no such thing as bad publicity, write whatever you want as long you get the name right? UPRISING doesn’t need you, the fans don’t need you..You need them my friend and you need them bad. As you so poignantly put it yourself. Twenty years in the making, that is a long time knowing that you deserve better, wanting it, craving it yet not achieving it. If I was one of the fans in attendance, I could see myself cheering for you, if I was one of your country men. I would probably doing a whole lot more. Local boy done good, big deal for a big man from a small nation. We both know precisely what it is like for those of us in this business who are from the wrong side of the atlantic. Sadly for you, I am not a fan. I am your opponent and while my story may not be as compelling and tugging the heartstrings as yours. I too have a right to fight for that championship, I also earned my spot in this match. No free title shot at any given moment or backstage shenanigans about that. I signed my name on a contract just like you and then I got in the ring and fought my way through the competition, just like you. So if you think you have what it takes to do the deed and beat me, to claim this company and save it from whatever horrors you imagine me being a champion would bring forth. Then as I said before, all you have to do is beat me. Very simple, you booted me in the mush in our little triple threat, laid me out nice and clean. However CORONATION might just not have the same result, because we won’t be having other contenders distracting us will we? Just two Europeans having a time of their lives in Reno, Nevada on a night that neither one of us or any of UPRISING’s fans will not be forgetting.
Six days Don Tirri.
That is what you and I have, to create a whole new world.
Revolution Will Be Televised.
History Will Be Made.
Dreams Will Be Reality.
See you soon”
He flicks off the light and we are in darkness before the video ends.