Only one.
Fade in: on a TV studio, where Larry Tact sits, dressed casually, with his friend and media personality, Et Cetera.
Et Cetera: "We're back and still talking wrestling with New ERA of Wrestling's former and first World Heavyweight Champion, Larry Tact! Now, Larry, I saw a spot air a couple days ago, where you revealed-- at least, symbolically-- a part of your past. Even I didn't know what it was, and I've known you for years. Care to explain?"
LARRY TACT: "Actually, E.T.C., I'm gonna have to decline comment for now. I decided that, at BANNED in the US, I'll get into it a little further. But I felt it might be time to address it."
Et Cetera: "I have to ask, seeing you at the grave.... that grave... it did bring one idea to mind. Does it have anything to do with your dead--"
TACT: "Don't go there, Et. Not now. At BANNED in the US, I will speak on it."
Et Cetera: ... Alright, if you're going to be that way, then let's turn to your other opponent, Jonathan Marx, at BANNED in the US. We've heard you speak on Daymon, and now Marx has had some words recently. Any thoughts on wrestling him again?"
TACT: "Marx is the only two-time World Champion in NEW history, and constantly seems to have a scheme in mind to get an edge in every match he's in. Combined with his wrestling ability, it makes him a formidable challenge."
Et Cetera: "He seemed very sportsman-like when regarding you, as opposed to Daymon, recently. Any idea why?"
TACT: "It isn't really my concern. I know what Marx is capable of; he showed at WrestleStock that he can hang with the best of NEW, and also rise up above the rest to be in this match. I don't agree with the way he did it, and I don't feel he is doing anything to help his own image. If anything, he's reduced his credibility as Champion."
Et Cetera: "So you don't feel he's been a worthy Champion?"
TACT: "He's been a good Champion, but he has a shadow of controversy that has followed him for a while now. He seems to rely quite a bit on his friend, Brandon Jacobs, rather than trusting his wrestling ability, which is surprising and disappointing. I feel that Marx has shown he is capable of being one of the best technical wrestlers in the industry, but he chooses this path instead."
Et Cetera: "If you feel that way, then how do you feel your chances are?"
TACT: "Well Marx, like Daymon, is not an opponent I can take lightly, but I don't doubt I can win. I've gotten here on my own, without help from outside intruders. This is one more match I need to survive in order to get what I've been working back to the top for. So, I'm psyched and ready to stake my claim to the title again."
Et Cetera: "Any doubts?"
TACT: "I know it'll be tough against the two of them, I'm not saying it won't be. But even the best schemers can fall through, and the truest technical wrestlers have their vulnerabilities. I am no different, in that I am not perfect. I may very well not walk out of this match with the title. But when you've been to the top of the mountain before, you know how to walk the path up again. You never forget it. And where they have had help, I have done it on my own. So I feel I've got more of a reason to feel confident than they do. Not that it will stop them from feeling they can win, nor should it."
Et Cetera: "It's on record that Rocko Daymon has been pretty adamant that you have failed to pin him. What do you say to that?"
TACT: "He, and Marx... neither of them have pinned me, either. What's the point of bringing it up? I don't need to think about that, when I have what got me here, inside of me and ready to go. And there's nothing they can say that will change that."
Et Cetera:[]/b] "Well, thank you for coming, Larry, and good luck to you. I'm sure we'll be having you on again, and perhaps as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion."
TACT: "That's what I'm aiming for."
Et Cetera: "Stick with us, fans, because when we come back... we're going to air Larry Tact's latest promo for BANNED in the US! And this will be the first run of the promo, right here, right now! That's on the other side of this commercial break!"
Fade out.
A BANNED in the US hype package airs and ends with the PPV logo fading from the screen, replaced by no picture. Instead there is a brief silence, and then audio kicks in. It is audio NEW fans would recognize: the voices of Rocko Daymon, and then Larry Tact.
ROCKO DAYMON: "Last time you fans saw me, they heard me associate the word “hypocritical” to Larry Tact. That still stands, seeing as how Larry tries to explain his methods as “entertainment” whereas everybody who isn’t him is just a g*ddamn cheater in his eyes…"
LARRY TACT: "Entertaining the masses with TV appearances? Sure. But in-ring methods? Wrong. "Entertaining" is the least of my concerns in there...."
DAYMON: "Today, for both of these individuals, we can tack on another word: DENIAL."
TACT: "Here we go."
A pause. Then...
DAYMON: "Yep, there’s that dreaded “D” word."
A pause in audio. Then muffled, or attempted muffled, bursts of laughter.
DAYMON: "Normally, I don’t like to bring it up unless there’s a good reason to--"
TACT: "Oh, now he's in trouble..."
DAYMON: "... but that’s typically because I have faith in my opponents that they actually have half a mind to know what they were going up against."
Pause.
TACT: "Normally his opponents don't push him back, because they don't bother listening."
Fade in... on Larry Tact, sitting on the sofa of his Manhattan apartment. He wears blue cargo pants, a black sleeveless shirt, and holds a remote in one hand. He presses a button on it, continuing to watch the television, lying across the sofa with a smirk on his face.
DAYMON: "Ever since coming to NEW, the talent here has done nothing but deny my ability."
TACT: "Aww, poor Daymon. Well, I've yet to do that."
DAYMON: "Even after witnessing my strength and ability first-hand between the ropes, they would still sit there and say that I’m nothing but a bullsh*tter…"
TACT: "Or that... why bring it up now? What a lack of focus..."
DAYMON: "So even when physical PROOF that defies everything they WANT is staring right back at them, like a Christian looking at the bones of the missing link that proves the theory of evolution, they steadfastly refuse to believe the obvious."
Tact's smirk turns to a huge grin, and he drives his face into a cushion as more muffled laughter ensues. After a bit, he composes himself.
DAYMON: "It’s obvious the two of you like to take my wife’s example. You’d rather cast a blind eye to that aspect of me that you fear and loathe… which is my talent. It’s something you can’t ignore, but have flagrantly slandered on air… That very kind of mentality is what brought me to this title. People have done nothing but belittle my accomplishments and refute everything I’ve said, and it pushed me to try even harder."
Pause. Tact turns towards the camera.
TACT: "Okay. Enough. You know, Daymon, I seriously considered using this time to take everyone through that last spot of yours, just so I could show you how much I could really pick apart what you said... rather than what I've been doing, which is anything but."
He moves into an upright sitting position, though still with his back relaxed against the cushions.
"I can't do it, though. I just can't waste all that time, because there's just so much. Too much. And I don't want to turn this into a Maelstrom-Manson, GLCW affair, circa 2003. Despite their abilities, their talent... it degenerated into a back-and-forth, tit-for-tat *****fest between them. And I'm not going to create the 2007 version. Even as you try so hard, and give me so many reasons to... I will not."
"I've already responded to all your charges against me. You're just rehashing much of the same whining. Oh, and you've still managed to distract the amazon. Congratulations on that. You know what, though? It's still a lot of crap. No, not your talent, that you clutch to and defend so staunchly, Daymon. I wouldn't discredit your talent. I already made it clear, months ago, that I was looking for the best of NEW to compete with at WrestleStock. And although, with you, there were other reasons to bring you in... it's not like I would invite someone I didn't feel had enough talent. Then you wouldn't be the best of NEW, would you? Of course, that's just my thought on it."
He crosses his arms.
"I have to bring up your accusations, however, of how "backstage politics" got me here. That's just too funny to let go."
"Yes, Daymon, with LaRoque and I having had minimal contact until I proposed the WrestleStock match, which is the only reason I spoke with him. And..."
He laughs.
"... Marceau would sooner have sexual relations with Nick Jive than help me."
"So, nice work there. I tell you, Daymon, you're funnier just saying **** like that than when you and your wife try acting like comedians. Which makes her completely useless standing there with you. Oh, except for the belt holder thing. Very classy, yes. "Put the woman back down to her place"... is that the desired effect? I gotta break it to you, Daymon... That train did derail, some time ago."
"Now, since you were giving me something to consider, let me return the favor..."
He brings his hands down onto his knees, leaning forward a bit.
"I don't need to hear the same ten or twenty gripes Rocko Daymon has with NEW wrestlers. Take that to Human Resources."
"People don't care whether or not you think they should have taken you seriously. The fact of the matter is, people aren't taken seriously until they do something that garners respect. All you've done is try to take a route to the top that has been based on consistently inconclusive victories. You left the door open for your opponents, and that's nobody's fault but your own. I don't want to hear excuses for why you didn't pin any of those opponents. Your choice. Live with it."
"Which leaves you clutching the pinfall victory over Mr. Entertainment, in a non-title match. You pinned him, yes, and that's why you got the Television title shot. But don't parade it around as if you deserved a World title shot for that. I've pinned Champions here in non-title matches, too. Do you see me needing to tout any of those now?
"And therein lies one of many differences between us, Daymon. You've got this huge chip on your shoulder, from all those years of ineffectiveness and listening too hard to what the opposition is saying. It's good to have motivation. It's not so good to feel like everyone is against you. That only gains you enemies you never would have made, had you just controlled your emotions."
He reaches over to the cocktail table in front of the sofa, and brings into the shot a glass of water, drinking some before setting it down on the table.
"Were you really so naive as to buy into what all your detractors said, while you struggled? And now, you try taking on the part of the bully, and even put words into our mouths... or, my mouth, at least."
He picks up the remote and presses a button.
DAYMON: "And yet … this entire time, while the two of you were thinking me as too arrogant and saying I have yet to do anything to prove myself… not once did I discredit your talent. NEVER did I suggest that neither of you has what it takes to finish this match as the winner. But the fact that you think I CAN’T is ultimately going to be the cheap, arrogant mindset that will be your undoing, as it has undone so many before you."
Pause.
TACT: "You are arrogant, Daymon. By your own admission, you talk a big game. And I've already gone over my thoughts on your road to this point. But since when did I say you didn't have what it takes to finish this match as the winner? When did I say you can't?"
"Never, Daymon. Not once."
"What's wrong, Daymon? You talking so much that you don't even realize what's been said to you, and what you are saying? Maybe I don't completely understand who Rocko Daymon is... because he can't even keep up with himself."
He laughs.
"Oh, I know you're here, Daymon. I understand that, because I invited you to the match that got you a chance to come here. However, Marcus LaRoque was the one who gave you the opportunity to merely climb a ladder and get a piece of victory. Not me. I wish it had been an elimination style, six-man match. Then I would have had the WresstleStock match I had planned, Daymon. A decisive one. One that truly showed who stood atop the best of NEW."
"But you got a match that suited your plans, Daymon. A match where you didn't have to pin anyone."
He grins.
"Nope, I never pinned Daymon. And I never said I had. I've also never been in a match with you, Daymon, that involved less than five opponents for me, until now. Sorry if you aren't satisfied that I wasn't paying exclusive attention to where you were, in our previous matches, but... tough. You just didn't earn that kind of respect, Daymon."
"Just as none of your opponents, who you wanted to try and stop you... they just didn't buy into you. Sure, you can fantasize all you want that they saw you set foot in the ring and thought, 'Oh, man, this guy's gonna be huge! I've got to stop him now!' But, really? Those matches are what you choose to stand on now. So why would your opponents, back then, before you'd even formed your pedestal, think you should be taken so seriously?"
"It's all in your head, Daymon. You believe what you want and I'm not trying to convince you otherwise. But I'm gonna tell you straight up: Nobody else had to buy into the Daymon locomotive theory. Nobody had a reason to give you that respect. And whether you like it or not... until you have sole possession of the World Heavyweight Championship, you aren't likely to begin getting it."
He leans a little closer.
"Does it eat away at you, Daymon, that I'm not buckling under your bullying? Does it bother you that I'm pushing you back? That, despite all your attempts, I come right back?"
"I'm strong, Daymon. I've been at the top of the mountain, stood there on my own, and now I'm on the cusp of doing it again. How does that make you feel, Daymon? Is it like a knife going in and out of your side, that someone you feel you're better than, is on the verge of ending "your" title reign, only to start his second? Does it add to the ridicule, the people calling you a bull****ter... unable to back up everything you say?"
Click.
DAYMON: "Well… to be honest, I’ve grown tired of having that sort of shame associated with me. I’ve put up with it my entire career--"
Click.
TACT: "Listen to yourself. You allow shame to slink around you, inside you, and infect you. You want it to go away, but after all these years, you've yet to be able to. And now, so close to disposing of it... can you bear with the thought of
losing this match? Can you see myself or Marx winning? I don't know if you can... and yet you accuse me of being unable to accept you have the ability to win."
"See, I know any of us are capable of winning, Daymon, because we are the best of NEW. We are the top who rose from the Dueling Ladders. But like I said, only one of us claimed untainted spoils. Whether your belt is real or not, or Marx's is real or not... we know my victory was true. And maybe that eats at you, too."
"Whether it does or doesn't, I have plenty to aspire to for this match, Daymon. The title is within my reach, and if achieving that total victory will eat away at you even more? Well... okay, then. But whether you pin me or not, Daymon, you will not kill my motivation, or my spirit. And if you believe otherwise, then you are just making it all the more difficult for yourself."
"I don't need to claim I will break anyone's spirit... break bones... kill motivation... kill my opponent. Not that you have. However, I know what I have to do to win. I need to control my opponent for three seconds, and keep them on the mat for those three seconds. I need to do what it takes to make my opponent submit, or pass out. Those are my goals."
"You may both still have your motivation, your spirit, and even some energy left in you. But that does not mean you'll have enough to break out from under me, and kickout of a pin in time. That doesn't mean you'll have enough left in your tank to resist submitting long enough to reach the ropes."
"At BANNED in the US... only one dream will survive."
Fade out.