Post by J on Mar 5, 2021 16:01:19 GMT -5
//Off Camera//
“Luther I”
February 6th 2021
Post Coronation
Reno Nevada
It had happened again, a night that changed not only the business that he was in but a night that made history. Luther Marcellus Thunder had become the FIRST ever UPRISING Champion and when he got backstage sweaty, happy and out of breath his wife, manager and lover embraced him with a beaming smile almost as wide as his own Cheshire cat smirk.
Esme Thunder: February 6th 2021 could have been the most important day in the life & existence of Don Tirri, but for my husband.. It was just another Sunday, congratulations babe I always had the utmost faith in you and tonight’s showing proves that you had nothing to be ashamed of. You just went out there, did what you do #1 seed, UPRISING’s first champion and STILL the most modest, honest and simply the best acquisition this company has ever made. Brad Jackson isn’t half as dumb as he looks, those black shirts, jeans and the age punk rocker attitude hasn’t ruined all of his brain power, even after the countless headshots.
Luther chuckles as he looks at her going on.
Luther Thunder: Garsh darlin’ I’d say he gave more than he got. My friend Bradley ain’t nothin’ to mess with.
She giggles looking down at his waist.
Esme Thunder: Wow, that’s so big, I might need both hands just to hold it. Can I touch it?
He flashes a suave smile.
Luther Thunder: We are married, what’s mine is yours and in fairness lover without you. I would have never made it this far. I would never have even shown up to Reno or ventured out of the places I was in, since I expanded my territory. I’ve been gaining more W’s than L’s than ever before and I am older than I used to be.
She winks stroking his nameplate.
Esme Thunder: You’ve aged like fine wine my dear, but don’t go getting lazy. All of these peons out there, the thugs, lowlifes, mistreats, the rejects that compile this roster. All of them from monsters to mooks will be gunning for a piece of your fine grade A-ass..and that title, just to prove they matter.
He seemed somewhat awkward about the terms but agreed on the overall view of things.
Luther Thunder: You might have a point but tonight is our night, you were not out there but I made it done with your support, that tournament, night one in Reno. I laid a claim, I gave a prophecy to the whole roster, those who are still left, those who remember, may realize just who I am, just what I am about and just what I am capable of.
Esme Thunder nodded, looking into his eyes, before snatching the title out of his hands.
Luther Thunder: HEY!
Esme Thunder: AHA! Just as I thought. You’re standing there all goofy and cozy. You need to get your brain in gear, mister. Wouldn’t want someone snatching the title away, you know... like I just did?
Luther grumbles.
Luther Thunder: Who is gonna take it, exactly? Ignis? Pfft...
Esme Thunder: You of all people should know better than to underestimate a Leavenworth.
Luther Thunder: Oh, ‘cause they’re such a wrestling dynasty, right?
Esme Thunder: No. Because they cheat.
He shrugs.
Luther Thunder: I mean they are pretty good looking, for a trio of crazy trio of Welsh girls.
She frowns at him.
..and he realizes it, sweating bullets.
Luther Thunder: I mean not as good looking as you my darling wife, my precious flower, my delicate light of life and..
She clenches the title to her ample chest.
Esme Thunder: You are lucky you just won this championship because otherwise you would be in a world of trouble. Now speaking of trouble..you plan on standing there, reeking of post match stench or are you gonna get clean, dressed up and take me to celebrate or shall I just leave solo with our championship?
He pulls her in for a tight embrace.
Luther Thunder: I’d love to, but you are the only one I trust with that championship, tonight will never be forgotten my love, and whatever happens after this Esmeralda.
He whispers to her ever so gently.
Luther Thunder: We’ll always have Reno.
She pulled him in for a kiss, that both of them wished would never end.
((On Camera))
“The Answer”
The scene opens in what appears to be a hall of stories. We see posters adorning the wall, each with Luther on the marquee for various promotions. We see glass cabinets that hold championship belts, photographs of his career highlights. And front and center, on his proverbial throne, sits the Dutch Destroyer himself, with the most recent and poignant of all these accolades, the UPRISING Championship, adorning the shoulder of the man to beat in this company.
Luther: Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters of all ages. I am not the man to say I told you so, as a matter of fact I was the one person in the whole tournament for the UPRISING Championship not to claim that I would win it. So many others, went out there boldly claiming they would be the first, the measuring stick, changing their careers and their lives by just one win. All they had to do was beat a bunch of other people which they all thought they could beat. Self confidence is one thing but when people like myself and Don Tirri make it to the finals, the rest of the tournament competitors need to take a good long, hard look at themselves. What did we do differently from you? Because nobody in their right mind would call myself and Tirri alike, yet we both made it there. Different routes, different methods yet only one of us could win.
He smiles, opening up his palms to flank the championship.
Luther: ..and we all know how that turned out don’t we? But I am not here to brag, I am not here to rub it in, because that is not who I am, I am notabout that, I am not a egotistical, self-righteous son of a gun that this business has more than its share of already. So if I was to sit here and tell you all how I told you since DAY ONE that I would make the most of my chances in UPRISING, if I sat here and proclaimed that WE were ALL EQUAL and you just SQUANDERED your chances while I proved my TRUE worth not just to this business but UPRISING, that would not only be hypocritical, disgusting and immoral it would also be completely untrue and against my character.
He smiles politely at the camera.
Luther: I said it that we all had a chance to start anew, leave old grudges behind, all baggage from previous places of employment, behind, all shortcomings and negative reinforcement, behind. Now I know there is a whole bunch of those who were part of the original tournament that have since gone down the road to elsewhere and there is a whole other bunch of you who could have changed the way the whole tournament went if you were in it. One of those is “The Answer” JC.
He puts his palms together and smiles.
Luther: I am not sure what it is but I like you JC. I like that you admit that you are not a monster, you are listed up there as one of the heavy hitters of UPRISING your Big Boot is up there with one of the greats and I can tell that just by seeing yours in action without taking one. I’ve taken a few boots to the face in my time even if you can’t tell by the looks, but I’ve given more than I have received, so if I tell you that there is something special about you: believe it. Now I know what this sounds like, your friend Knox has gone out of his way to praise you and just what kind of a beast you are and while that’s all well and good, you choose to downplay him and his sales pitch and all just goes to show that you and me JC, we are not that different. So while you claim that you are not a monster like SuMa or Legion or the like..I agree with that, however might I point out that I too was considered a monster in my day, a brute, a bruiser, a heavy hitter of sorts I was THE Enforcer, the chosen stable or faction guy. I was a team player, I was the one who did the things management didn’t want to get their soft palms dirty on. Yet I found salvation, I found a safe passage towards the light, towards whom I truly am as a person. Came to the realization that I did not need to be anyone’s lackey, anyone’s lap dog or a rottweiler. I did things to my opponents that were frowned upon, I was not beloved by the fans or my peers but you know what JC? I was pure, I was myself, I didn’t need a filter between me and the world and I was never going to be the fall guy for anyone else again. So when I see a specimen like yourself admit that you are not a monster, it makes me think. You, my brother are at the brink of salvation and you could be thisclose to your own salvation.
He opens up his arms as to embrace the lost lamb of the flock.
Luther: I welcome that, because that is true wisdom JC, not some overblown ego laying down a world that does not exist, you may not see yourself as a monster but I am living proof that any man can be a monster, so what I am suggesting JC, is a friendship between you and me, no I am not promising you a championship, no I am not saying you need my help and no I am not saying that this grants you any cuts in the line for a shot at the UPRISING title. What I AM saying is that would it really hurt you to have a friend such as the UPRISING champion in your corner? I may not be a fortune teller, I don’t have a crystal ball or some out of this world powers but I think you and me, if given the chance could accomplish a lot of good. I know you want a shot at MY championship, so does everyone else, so what? I am welcoming you as a friend as a brother to be part of something bigger, better than the both of us. Now if you were to get a shot at me for the title, great! I would welcome the challenge, I am a competitive champion and a honest & fair competitor, but even if you weren’t I would not abandon you. Get tha JC you are a man amongst a world of monster, each of them assuming they are bigger than the one one before them, badder than the one before the and of course the better than the one before them. So our match on March 6th you have a chance to show just what you truly are worth. Win, lose or draw I won’t think any less of you if you give me the very best that you’ve got. However have you considered this my friend, my brother? You are a man, a beast of a man who does not consider himself a monster, yet you have the ability, the potential to become one. I am a former monster who now comes out proudly proclaiming that I am a man. You and me could help each other JC, you call yourself “The Answer” well..JC, my brother what better friend or confidant could you have than the UPRISING champion? Think about it before our match, consider your future thoroughly and weigh in your options, because this is a chance that does not present itself to everyone. I see a lot of potential in you, me and you JC, we could be so, so much better than we already are if you just realized it.
He puts his palms down on the desk, on top of the UPRISING Championship’s side plates.
Luther: Now I am not telling you that you have no choice here JC, you can choose to accept my generous offer, become friends with me, form an alliance maybe a team. That all could provide very beneficial for your future, for you and your career of course nobody is telling you that you can’t got the other way. There are a slew of people who chose to go against me over the years, some chose to try and rid the business of me. Some chose to attack me and my family, some wanted to put me in the ground..
We get shots of some sand in the glass jar titled “dirt that buried Chris Strike” and a framed & glassed picture of blood stained ring mat “Blood of Colleen Harmon” as Luther smiles wide as the proverbial cheshire cat-
Luther: Yeah there are those who managed to snatch a win, some who got some padding to their records but some of the people who chose to go against me ended up paying a very hefty price for that, are you really open for such a thing JC? Because to me it seems like you are not really standing up or standing out to your true potential in UPRISING and with this match against me in Revolution 7 may just be your chance. Let me help you JC, let me help you help yourself to be the MAN you want to be, of course if you deny this and choose to defy my, the end result is all up on you. So if you choose to go against me to side against those who judge me, ridicule me, mock me and belittle me. Do not blame me for what you are receiving, I gave you a chance for redemption. I gave you a chance to redeem yourself, to do right by yourself but if you come at me, attack me and what’s mine with ill intent. I will defend it, I will fight back. I will do what is right for UPRISING and for this industry because while I may be the first champion for now, I am not a God, I am not beyond faults, I am only human after all, just like you JC so whatever happens to you, depends on your own choices in that ring.
Don’t put your blame on me.
He smiles at the camera, draping the title over his shoulder.
Luther Thunder: I am only human, after all.
He stands up and walks off as we fade to black on the cases with the championships in the trophy room.