Adam Benjamin vs. Karl Brown

[SteelCitySon]

Intercontinental Title Match!

 

[EpyonMarx]

This Morning

[FADE IN. A studio, two beige sofa's with some plants surrounding them, and windows behind looking out over the river Mersey, Liverpool, England. Two presenters, Richard Harris (dressed in a red suit, purple shirt and horrible tie) and Carole Murphy (dressed in a white suit) are sitting on one of the sofa's as the camera pans in for a close up]

RH: Welcome back. Next, we have a special treat for all the wrestling fans out there.

CM: That's right, Richard. Today we have with us in the studio a man who hasn't been wrestling for long, but who's certainly made a name for himself in MCW, Empire Pro and the NWL. He made it to the final of MCW's tournament, the second round of Empire's heavyweight tournament, is in the NWL Wrestling League Series, and at the first Empire Pay Per View he challenges Adam Benjamin for the Empire Pro Intercontinental title. Please welcome into the studio Karl Brown.

[The camera pulls back as Karl enters the shot from the right, dressed in blue jeans and a white Empire Pro t-shirt, his hair swept back. He shakes hands with both Richard and Carole, before sitting down on the unnoccupied sofa]

RH: Welcome Karl.

Karl: Hi Richard, Carole.

CM: Karl, a lot of the viewers might not know much about you. Please, tell us a little about yourself.

Karl: I've been wrestling for a few months, and as you said Carole, I've done a lot considering the time I've been in-ring. I started training three years ago, doing some basic training here in England, down in Portsmouth, before getting a flight to Japan, where I trained under some quite strict trainers. I was at university at the time, so I had to keep coming back to England during term time, so I'd train mainly during holidays, flying out to Japan and Canada. I got my degree last July, and have been wrestling properly since around October or November when I joined MCW. I signed to Empire shortly before MCW closed, and have since signed with the NWL, where I've defeated Hacker and Canada's Hero to make it to a five man round robin for the main title. In Empire, I've faced Mike Diamond, Christian Sands, who I also faced in MCW, Jonathan Marx and Troy Douglas.

RH: You've faced Adam Benjamin before, am I right?

Karl: Yes, I faced him in the final of the tournament to decide MCW's heavyweight champion. A little odd since I'm techically classed as a lightweight, only being about two hundred eleven pounds [laughs]. But, yeah, I faced Adam in the Mayhem Mountain match.

CM: We can have a look at some of that.

[CUT TO: Shots from MCW's Mayhem Mountain match between Brown and Benjamin]

TK: OH MY - BROWN JUST SUPLEXED BENJAMIN INTO THE BARBED WIRE!!!


BF: THIS MATCH IS INSANE!!! BOTH OF THESE GUYS SHOULD BE HALF DEAD BY NOW!!!

(Benjamin doesn't even cry out in pain with the impact. Rather, his eyes seem to glaze over, and he slumps down to the floor in a bloody mess. Brown lies on the floor for a moment longer, wearied from his own blood loss. Finally, he pulls himself up and begins the painstaking process of scaling the final rope.)

[scene change]

(Benjamin pulls himself onto the roof of Mayhem Mountain with an audible groan. Dripping blood, he reaches down and pulls something up after him: a Singapore cane. By now, Brown has climbed out of arms' reach. However, the Singapore cane reacher just fine - as Benjamin proves as he WAILS Brown in the back with it, stunning him and stopping his climb!)

TK: CANE TO THE BACK!!! BENJAMIN STOPPED BROWN IN HIS TRACKS!!!

DM: He's going up!

(As Brown tries to recover, Benjamin grabs the second rope and begins to climb slowly towards the title. Within twenty seconds, he's about twelve feet up the rope. However, Brown finally regains his senses and starts creeping up rapidly. Growling, Benjamin shifts his grip to two legs and one hand, swinging the Singapore cane at Brown with his free hand.)

(And Brown GRABS the cane in his own hand.)

TK: OH MY!!!

BF: BROWN GRABBED THE CANE!!!

DM: NO!!!

TK: THIS IS DOWN TO THE WIRE!!! THEY'RE BOTH FIGHTING OVER THE CANE!!!

(With a sudden surge of strength, Brown wrenches the cane out of Benjamin's grip; however, his hand slips thanks to the slick blood coating it, causing him to slide down a few feet. He shifts his grip and prepares to strike with the cane. However, Benjamin makes his move. He leaps off his rope towards Brown's, grabbing it in mid-jump; however, as he jumps to Brown's rope, he angles in just right so that his knee SMASHES Brown in the face!)

TK: OH MY GOD!!! SHINING WIZARD!!! ROPE TO ROPE - Oh no... Brown's gonna -

(His grip weakened by the impact of the Shining Wizard, Karl Brown loses his grip on the rope. As if in slow motion, he drops off the rope... and CRASHES through the plywood ceiling of the Mayhem Mountain, landing in a limp pile on the floor inside the third cell!)

TK: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!!! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!!! I CAN'T - HE'S BROKEN IN HALF!!!

BF: OH MY -

[CUT TO studio again]

RH: Ouch....

Karl: [laughing to himself] Yeah, that was a good match. Weird, too, since Benjamin and I are known for our technical styles, yet resorted to some pretty, erm, hardcore action in that one.

CM: What was it like, inside that cell?

Karl: Well, the first part was fine, just a standard cage. The second one had some weapons, and we were both already tired in that one. The third was the one you saw me throw Adam into it, barbed wire with weapons. The top had a rope to climb, and you saw what happened. It hurt like anything for days afterwards.

RH: I'll bet. What was going through your mind?

Karl: Well, right up till I fell through the top, I kept thinking to myself that I could do it. When I went through the top, I managed to glimpse at Adam as he reached for the belt before I passed out. Next thing I knew I was in the hospital. I still have no idea how they got me out of there [laughs again]

RH: Moving on, if I may, which promotion you've been in is the best?

Karl: They've all been good for different reasons. MCW before it closed was getting quite a bit of attention, but most of the roster didn't promote their matches, which was a shame. Empire's got a good product and is really getting noticed, with people commenting on the matches quite favourably, and the place is quite unpredictable too. NWL is starting slower than Empire did, but at the same time, it has the depth in talent to do really well. I wouldn't say any of them are better than any of the others.

CM: Now, we've got some callers on the line. First is Tom from Shrivenham. Hello Tom?

[over the phone]Tom: Hi Richard, Hi Carole, Hi Karl.

Karl: Hello Tom.

Tom: Karl, I was wondering, who did you look up to in wrestling growing up?

Karl: Well, that's an easy one. I used to watch quite a bit of US wrestling, and at first it was people like Brian Pillman, Ricky Steamboat, Rick Rude and Stunning Steve Austin. I caught some Japanese action too, so you can add Jushin Lyger to that list. As the years went by, I caught some older US PPV's, with the likes of Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Ted DiBiase, Tito Santana and Jake Roberts, so really you can list all of those. I model my style more on Lyger, Pillman, the Harts and DiBiase, but I picked up bits and pieces from all of them.

CM: OK, Tom, that answer your question?

Tom: Yeah. Thanks Karl

Karl: Any time, Tom.

RH: OK, next up is Erika from Bogner Regis. Hello Erika

[over the phone]Erika: Hi everyone. Karl, I was wondering how you came up with the idea for your Dragon's Bite finisher?

Karl: Hi Erika. The Dragon's Bite came about watching someone called Gangrel. He used an implant DDT as his finisher. I remembered that one match I was in whilst training, and thought about how to improve it. I like to use the Dragonsleeper, so I thought about using that position as an implant DDT, dropping them on their head. So, I tried it out, it worked, and some of the trainers told me it looked like it would be successful, so I kept it.

Erika: Cool. Thanks Karl.

RH: OK, we've got time for one more caller, and it's Chris from Southwell. Hello Chris?

[over the phone]Chris: Hello Richard, Carole, Hi Karl. I'm a huge Empire fan, and was wondering what your thoughts were on Rocko's attack last Aggression?

Karl: Well, I don't really know what to make of it. He's upset he lost in the main tournament, and if you saw his promo, it was as if his whole world had ended. I've heard backstage rumours saying somethings not right with him personally right now, but I haven't been able to talk to him for a while, so I can't say what it is. As for him attacking Troy and myself, when he did that, he lost a lot of respect. I don't really care what his reasons are, he had the chance to compete in the match and no-showed. Now, maybe he was giving me the win he used to say I deserved against him in MCW, or maybe Troy annoyed him somehow, or maybe Rocko's just lost the plot completely. That one wouldn't suprise me, sicne he seems to have something about name dropping Sands and his entire wrestling belief seems to be him winning titles. If he wants to set foot in the ring with me somewhere down the road, I have no problem, as long as he wrestles honourably like he used to claim. But I'll tell you this, Rocko's attack now doesn't mean too much to me. Yes, it's unfortunate Troy and I couldn't work out the victor on the night ourselves, and I offer a rematch to Troy somewhere down the line. But if Rocko thinks he can get a straight title shot if I beat Benjamin just because he hit me with a chair, he's got another thing coming.

Chris: Thanks. Bye.

RH: OK, last question Karl. We all know you have a small history with Adam Benjamin, and at Black Dawn you're facing him for the IC title. What are your thoughts going in to that one?

Karl: The same as any match. I'm going to be training on the basis that Adam's a hundred times better than I am in every way, and I'm going to push myself to go beyond the level I currently am. The title's not all that important to me, so much as proving to myself that I can go beyond my limits. I've done it before, and hopefully against Adam I'll do it again.

CM: Thank you Karl. Next up, we have Jules with the weather, and we'll be back after the break.

[FADE OUT to some corny musak]

 

[Adam_Benjamin]

(Fade into Adam Benjamin sitting with a huge British Flag back drop behind him. A grin on his face Adam begins to speak)

Benjamin: Well the time has finally come, the smoke has cleared and two gladiators stand remaining, both with one thing one there mind… Yes the IC title hangs in the balance, up for grabs to the better wrestler. In one corner you have a man that needs no introduction he is without a question your hero and mine, he is Yours Truly…. And in the other corner the hardest worker on the planet besides myself Karl Brown…

(Adam claps his hands)

Benjamin: Well fans it looks as if you are going to get a treat, a flat out wrestling match, one of which will feature two finally tuned British stallions. What this match will be is a small case of Déjà vu, a rematch from the finals of the MCW championship finals. However this time you are not going to see the two of us fighting with weapons, no you are going to see pure wrestling at its best…

(Adam claps his hands again smiling)

Benjamin: Karl when I caught the end of your match I smiled knowing the fact I would get a chance to finish what I started in that cage. You see ever since that match both of our careers have blasted skyward. Mind of cause had a great title run, and many win in the process. Yours however although rocky still demands a lot of attention with out question. Like you say wins are not your top goal bettering yourself is, and by god you took a lose at the hands of me and made the best of it. But ever since that match I have had a small question in the back of my mind. Could I have pinned Karl, could I have tapped him out. Now the rules were not a finish of that matter, although this week is. But I answer that question with the fact that I did what was said had to be done, and in the end Karl we both know that I slept with a title belt and you slept with a IV in your arm in the hospital. But none the less when I went to England I heard the buzz of Karl Brown, and Adam Benjamin all around.

(Adam laughs)

Benjamin: Karl losing is a life lesion and I am afraid that at this time I must again instruct you in the laws of the mat. For this week I am not coming to learn or better myself, I am coming to win the IC title. This week on PPV I am coming Karl to stand out clear on PPV as the best that EPW has, and I am going to do this on your behalf. I am not coming to play the nice guy, I am not coming to finish second. This belt is my destiny, it is my first chance to win gold since the day I found out MCW closed, how fitting I will win this title on the back of the very man I won my last title… Come on Karl tell me how you are going to try your best, because that is all you can do, go out and give it your all, and let you abilities guide your future… Karl I listen to your interview and want to leave you with this, how do you look up to Jake Roberts, a man that kills his own snake on our land? Karl Brown your best is good, mine is simply better. Karl the limits that will determine this title are too much for you to go beyond. Think about it mate, think about it.

(fade to black)

 

[EpyonMarx]

[FADE IN. Karl is sitting under the shade of a tree, watching some ducks and geese on the nearby pond. The camera zooms in from the side, as from out of shot, we hear the water being disturbed by a rock, and some rather loud quacking]

Karl: Disrespectful brats. They don’t seem to understand the finer things in this world. Life, nature, the quietness of it all, where people can come and reflect on their lives, prepare themselves mentally for challenges. A place where we don’t have to rely on flashy lights, pyro, computers, or any modern convenience. A place where all we have are the skills we as a species developed. We can be free of the constraints and do things as we feel comfortable. I always feel calmer out here, watching nature. That’s why I’m fond of forests, rivers, and lakes. It feels more natural.

But what does that have to do with my match against Adam at Black Dawn? It has everything to do with it.

We get to finish what we started in Mayhem Mountain. Not only that, but we get to see who the better man, the better technician, is. And we’re doing it in a standard match, no gimmicks, no weapons, no cages, no barbed wire, no ropes dangling from the ceiling. Nothing but two men, going move for move, to determine the victor through a test of natural ability and skill. And the question many people are now asking; who is the better man?

Adam, when I saw you lose to Rocko, I was slightly disappointed. I’d hoped to move through this tournament and face off against you in the semi-finals for the heavyweight title. Then I saw you defeat Mike Diamond on the night I lost to Christian Sands, and I knew that I could still face you, retesting myself against one of the best technicians in this sport today. Because although the score is Adam Benjamin one, Karl Brown nil, we still don’t know who the better man is. I was never pinned, nor made to tap out. Inside that monstrosity, we both had times when, in a normal match, we could have pinned the other. But, owing to the situation, neither of us was allowed to. Pity, really.

No flashy gimmicks. No pyro. No weapons allowed. Just a good, honest wrestling match between two technicians, each vying to upset the others pacing. As nature intended. The people who call for hardcore rules, huge pyro, flashy gimmicks, they’re like those two brats a few minutes ago. No respect for the way this sport, the sport of kings, should truly be. But just as the water settles down, as the waterfowl return to their everyday, undisturbed existence, so does wrestling. Nature at it’s finest doesn’t need flashy, it doesn’t need things disturbing the very real nature of its existence; it doesn’t need rocks being thrown into the water, so to speak. But when it happens, all it does is stir the water for a few moments, then fades, nature resuming normal service. Such will wrestling. And we, Adam, are just that way.

We don’t need the flashy, the gimmick. We are two true gladiators, doing what we do best. Wrestling, trying to determine the better man through skill and technique. Call it, natural selection if you will.

But you know, there’s one thing, Adam. You aren’t going to find me anywhere near as beatable this time. Nor as easily defeatable as you think, sitting there. I’m focused on one thing, surpassing my own abilities. Surpassing them and moving to a level far in excess of any I’d previously though possible. The IC title, that’s going to be a mere symbol. A sign to show how far I have surpassed myself, how far I have gone beyond my own abilities in comparatively no time at all. It’s been what, four, five months since I signed with MCW? And here I stand, facing one of the best for the IC title of Empire Pro. Not only that, but I have a shot at the NWL heavyweight championship in the form of their little round robin. I’m probably the underdog in each case. You, Dakota Smith, The Watcher, Maelstrom, Lars Magellan…. I checked the bookies the other day, and the best odds I have of me winning any of those are twenty-three to one. So, for every pound sterling on me, if I win a match, you can get twenty-three back. I intend to make a few people rich. They’ll have gold to line their pockets, and I’ll have the IC gold around my waist after Black Dawn. Then, it’s back to business as usual, one match at a time, defending it.

But that might be getting ahead of myself. So, let me say, the IC belt is the target; it will show me how far I’ve progressed. Even if I lose this match, it’ll still be there, something to aim for. And I will take it from you if you happen to defeat me. There is no way I’ll allow myself to stay at this level. And if I do meet a setback, then it’s no big problem. I only progress at a slightly slower rate.

Adam, I respect you, but there is no way I can allow myself to stay at this level. That title is a symbol of what I have achieved. And I intend to win it, hold onto it, and progress from it the only way I know how. By wrestling.

Good luck, mate. May the best man truly win this time.

[FADE OUT]

 

[Adam_Benjamin]

(Fade into Adam Benjamin finishing up his daily workout. He sits on the bench in the gym water bottle in hand as he begins to speak)

Benjamin: If you were told to jump ten times on one foot could you do it? Now in doing it you jump ten times perfectly have you completed your task? Now if you ask me you have, you have done what you were asked to do. Here is another one you have a race were you can either ride a bike, a scooter, or a skate board, and you choose a bike and win the race, someone saying but you did not beat me using the skate board, or the scooter. Do you see what I am saying; basically rules are laid out in certain circumstances for a reason.

(Adam looks into the camera)

Benjamin: Karl Brown I respect you a lot, but I have to say you are really starting to piss me off. All I keep hearing is you did not pin him or make him tap, that is what the whispers are saying. I mean the rules said climb up and ladder beat the hell out of your opponent and grab the belt. In that match I did what I had to do to win the title, so to say this time around we will find out who the better man is…

(Adam pauses)

Benjamin: The outcome of that match proved who the better man was Karl the question really is this time around can you overcome Yours Truly, or will you loose your second chance at gold again to my hands. That is the only question that needs a answer Karl not who was the better man! I am tired of hearing that, I mean come on if it was a pin fall or submission match I still know I would have left with that belt because by god Karl look in my eyes I wanted it more that night. I want you to remember that because that same desire, that same passion I had that night, I have it ten times now, I am the man that was told you are no longer a champion, having a belt that I work my entire life for taken away from me, not you, not anyone else. You this chance, this moment, is not burning inside me as I train, this is once again my time Karl not yours.

(Adam smiles)

Benjamin: Karl I am so glad that in the months since our match you have been so successful. You do not need to tell me that you are better than you were, I know this, but at last so I am. I am better and hungrier. Because Karl unlike you I only care about the IC title this week. You talk about the IC title being a symbol, and the fact of having your skills bettered the real goal. Karl Brown take a look in the mirror, you said it your self it has been four or five months right since we last went at it? So it has been that amount of time for you to be one step closer to gold, a moment in time were you can stand alone, one of if not the very best this company has to offer. Wake up Karl chances like this do not come often, yet tuning your skills happens everyday… Karl you talk about the level you are at as if it is a bad thing. Karl do you know how many wetbacks are going to be watching you dieing to be in your shoes vying for the IC title?

(Adam gets up and begins to walk off)

Benjamin: Karl Brown remember this when you sleep, this is your chance. This is your time to shine. All you have to do is defeat one man, one human being inside the ring and you can take that next step, the step towards greatness, the step that separates you from the rest of the pact….

(Adam smiles grabs the camera)

Benjamin: Yours Truly is not great at anything Karl, but by god I am good at everything. Beat me if you can, survive if I let you. That is a line that a man once said and I due believe it is the truth regarding this match Karl.

(Fade to black)

 

[EpyonMarx]

[FADE IN. Karl is sitting in his hotel room, having just a few minutes earlier gotten back from the gym. He sits on the bed, dressed in jeans, and a black Empire Pro “Black Dawn, MSG” t-shirt. The room is tidy, with a copy of the Guardian newspaper neatly folded on the desk, the title just visible]

Karl: And so, it comes down to this. Two men. One title. One prize. One man who wants the title to show the world what he can do, the other who wants the title to show himself how far he’s progressed, and how far he has left to progress before the next level. That’s what this whole matter comes down to. But, there are still things to be said before the battle lines are finalised.

Adam, you beat me in the Mayhem Mountain match. I have no desire to even try and take that away from you. But, it doesn’t mean you are, or even were, the better man. You won a gimmick match, good for you. You knocked me out, sending me crashing through to top of the cell. Congrats. I was bleeding and beaten, as you were, by all the weapons in there. That doesn’t make you the better man. The better wrestler. No, far from it. That was never settled. If you watched my last promo for this match, you’d know that the better man is the one who defeats the other in a natural, standard match. Not in a cancer of a match, as you called it. I’m not a fan of those gimmick matches, and would rather have settled the score the first time round, one on one, man on man. But, Bolich needed something to do with that cell, so we got stuck with it. It was a hell of a way to end the pay per view. But, it still didn’t tell us who the better wrestler was. It just showed who could use weapons and ropes better.

Of course, in that environment, the unnatural environment of that construction, you were better than me. Were you the better man? No. It’s like saying who’s the better man, the White European colonialist, or the native? Put either in an environment they’re not comfortable in, and they both falter. Stick both in an environment that neither is suited for, who’s the better man then? The one who survives.

Well, even if I lost the match, I survived. We both survived.

This week, in Madison Square Garden, we have the chance to see who the better man in the more natural environment is. You even said once that you didn’t know who the better man was. It was when we were preparing to go at it in a tag-team match, remember? So, from that position, you now KNOW you were the better man? Odd. I’d never have thought of you as the type to contradict yourself so much.

Not to worry though, it’s not important. The past is no longer important. What matters is how we deal with each other inside the ring at the pay per view, to determine the first Empire Pro Intercontinental Champion. After all, that’s why we’re here.

Who’s going to win this match?

That’s the question.

But, here are a few points you should remember, Adam. In fact, I make this first point for all to see, so EVERYONE can stop thinking the opposite.

None of you control how my career goes. You, Adam, don’t decide if I survive or not. Rocko doesn’t decide whether or not I rot in the mid-card and loath it, Sands doesn’t determine how far I go, Magellan in NWL doesn’t decide for me if I consider myself a loser. None of you have any say in the ultimate path of my career, so all of you, including you, Adam, get your heads out of your arses, stop having a Messiah complex, face me one on one and let’s leave it at that. None of you decide what I do with my career; none of you determine how long I go in this business. And none of you determine on your own what happens to me outside of the ring.

Or you’ll find that your plans are stopped cold.

Now that that point is concluded. Adam, I know there are a lot of people with more experience than me who want this type of opportunity, but I couldn’t care less. I take care of what I have to do. I train to surpass myself, to move on to the next level. This match, and that belt, are a symbol of how far I’ve moved so far. The heavyweight title is another symbol, and there are others along the way. Set yourself a final goal, and smaller ones on the way to see how far you’ve got to go, and how far you’ve come. That’s what one of my trainers told me once. He also said make the goals with the mind that you may fail at first. I failed the first time, and got too far ahead of myself. Now, I’m ready. I know you may beat me, and am ready for that. But, I doubt very highly you’ll be able to keep that title from me for long.

On the matter of desire. You say you want it more than I do, but how do you know? Are you a pshycic? All I hear these days from people is “I want this more than you, I am going to win, I am more determined, so it will happen.” How do you know you’re more driven than I am? My drive can be equal to yours, if not greater, and yet I can’t compare the two. My drive is different to yours. I’m driven to surpass and move to the next level, constantly, day after day. Your drive is to show the world how good you are, it seems. You want to reclaim the prestige of having a title, since your last title was taken from you not by an opponent, but by the closure of the company. You say your desire has increased tenfold since the last match between us? I couldn’t care less. It still doesn’t give you the victory, nor the right to say you ARE going to win. Your drive is different from mine, not greater.

So, at the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, who is going to emerge the winner? That’s for the match itself to decide. I’m going to do all I can, going above and beyond myself by any amount I have to, to make sure it’s me. If it isn’t, then I’ll have lost to the better man, and I’ll happily get on the mic and admit it in the centre of that ring. I won’t make any attempts to say I am guaranteed the win, because on any night, anyone can win, and anyone can lose. Adam, good luck at Black Dawn, and I’ll see you in the ring. Let’s fight like true men, like Britons, and try and keep some dignity for the country, ok?

[The camera pans round, zooming in on the paper. The headline reads “Back to Jail for Britons Freed by US.” FADE OUT]

 

[Adam_Benjamin]

(Fade into Adam Benjamin watching Karl’s last promo. As it ends Adam pushes stop and turns towards toe camera and begins talking)

Benjamin: Karl Brown it’s funny how is a short time you can go from the nice guy, to the fire breathing dragon. You see Karl your destiny truly lies in my hands. Now at the present time you might think that it does not, but rest assure Mr. Brown its does if fact rest solely in my very hands. And with it I can take you to the level you have never been, or I can send you back were you started from. You see Karl your dreams of meeting your next goals are sad but true a mere dream. The part of the dream were you make that last step and cross the finish line, well Karl erase its very existence.

(Adam smiles)

Benjamin: Karl you want to know why Yours Truly believes he wants this match more? Evolution my dear British friend, this move is my calling. The very thought of an Intercontinental title being held by the greatest foreign wrestler may that is just too right is it not. I mean Karl you are without question the future of this great sport, years from now you will be on top of the hill looking down laughing at everyone. But right now, you are still in the learning process, still tuning your skills. Now I have paid my dues Karl, I have done what it takes to earn the right to win this title. You see Karl when we faced I did what the rules said to do, because I was the better man, you can make believe that I was not, go ahead, but from the end of that match, to this very second Karl you have done nothing to say that this week you want this title more that me.

(Adam shakes his head)

Benjamin: Karl I want you to hold on tight to your NWL matches, get all the points you can, because in the fed that is your only chance right now of winning gold. This week in EPW the IC title is just a step away from Adam Benjamin’s arms. I am a step ahead of you in every single aspect of wrestling. This week I am going to show you first hand what the meaning of a technician. You see Karl you have gotten a little bite of your own head in terms of your opinion of yourself in the ring. I mean Karl Brown is all honesty who have you defeated in your career without the help of either interference or the ropes themselves. I am sure you have defeated a few people but I mean who have you defeated own your own. You love dropping names, so please drop me some that matter. Because you see Karl I have defeated a lot of names, all of which will look you in the eye and say get ready. And you know what one of those names of my fallen is Karl Brown.

(Adam looks in the camera)

Benjamin: Karl you talk about going above your own skills and bettering yourself match after match. My Karl did you think of that little theory all by yourself. Karl everyone does that, who are you to think that makes you better. Karl you are at this point in a match that on paper you might stand a remote chance, but in the ring, you are not ready to win. Basically Karl you can hold onto the thoughts on winning this title, and settling some score you have with me. But come bell time I am going to take the score between us and tap it out in the middle of the ring. Then I am going to take your dreams of winning the IC title and knocking them out with the Shinning wizard. Then I am going to turn to the only thing left in the ring a helpless outmatched Karl Brown and I am going to Benjamin Driver your body into the match and send you to the showers as I am left hold the gold. And the funny thing is Karl there is nothing you can do about it. Because as I said before your fate lies in my hands, and my hands are telling you now you have no chance in winning this title. Because as good as you have gotten I have gotten that much better. Prepare Karl for reality comes is one large helping, take small bites so you don’t choke twice in one night…

(Fade to black)

 

[EpyonMarx]

[FADE IN. A simple Empire Pro backdrop. Karl is standing in his wrestling gear in front of it]

Karl: You know, Adam. I can't help but wonder if there isn't a hint of jealousy in your voice? A hint of distain at yourself?

No?

Think again. You're spouting the same nonsense I see in a lot of people, throughout this profession. And many others. It's the simple fact that you see someone who is a threat, someone rising through the ranks, and you're scared, Adam. That's all it is. Fear.

You ask me to name some of the people I've defeated? In my career, I think I've lost three times. You know for a fact I've not had much oppertunity to face guys comparable to some of the ones you've faced. But, the list is wins against Andrew Dalton, Christian Sands, Mike Diamond, Hacker, and Canada's Hero. In terms of losses, there's you, Sands and Rocko. In how many of those did I have help from outside? None. In how many did I use the ropes? None. You must be thinking of my first match against Dalton. If you bothered to watch the tape, you'd know it was a refereeing blunder. HIS foot was on the ropes, not mine. But, of course, that doesn't give you a way to condemn me, does it? So you twist, you manipulate, you in effect LIE to the public. How very noble of you, Adam. I had expected so much more from you.

You also raise the point about me not proving that I want this title more. The title itself isn't what drives me, Adam. Never have I said it was. It's a symbol. And you've missed that point time after time after time. Much like you've missed pretty much every point I've made in the past week. So, for your benefit, for one final time before we meet, is a brief run down of what I've said.

Point number one. My destiny isn't in your hands. You're going to defeat me? You'll have the hardest time of your life in doing that, Adam. You MAY defeat me, but that isn't for you alone to decide. Hell, it's not really in your hands at all. It's called destiny. Also known as Fate. And unless you've taken to sharing an eye with three old ladies from ancient Greek mythology, you have no more idea of what the future holds than I do. There is no guarantee that you're going to win. I intend to win, but even if I lose, I have no problem.

Am I less driven than you? I can't say. I don't have a magic "Adam Benjamin Brand" crystal ball to peer inside your mind with. You seem to have one though. No? No magic formula? Then you have no idea how driven I am. Here I am, poised on the biggest stage of my career, with four tough matches in another promotion against opponents classed above you, and I'm as driven to defeat you as I am Dakota Smith, Lars Magellan, The Watcher, or even Maelstrom. I'm as driven to show myself against those foes and to test my abilities as I am going in against you. My friend, that's not a small amount of drive. That's more a mountain. Your drive may be on a similar level. But it is in no way comparable in terms of essence. You want the belt for the sake of having a belt. I want the belt so I can see how much further I have to go to get from one level to the next. The end goal is very distant, and I have no doubt I'll fail to get there. But by gods, I'm going to strive each and every step of the way to get there.

Yes, I do work to better myself. And yes, I do know that others do the same. I'm not some state school kid, Adam, I did get top grades at GCSE, A level and a first class honours degree. I push myself to levels beyond those anyone, even someone like yourself, would think possible. How do you think I managed to get to where I am today in such a short space of time? By working harder than I thought I could, by going above my own inadequacies, by facing my opponents with the same mentality I face every obstacle in life. I'm always prepared to lose. I know what defeat tastes like. And I know I'll face it again. But, there is no way I'm going to sit back and let it come to me. It'll have a hard time getting to me, Adam. Much like you. You'll have a hard time defeating me this time. You say you've improved tenfold? Well, seeing as how I train as if my opponent is one hundred times better than me in all respects, I'd say I was ready for whatever you have to throw at me.

There isn't much time left, so I'll make this one quick. Adam, in this match, two men walk in, one leaves with a title. Who that's going to be hasn't been decided at all yet. We have a long way to go to find that one out. Good luck to you, and have a safe journey back home afterwards. I'll see you, one on one, in that ring, and then, and only then, will we know who truly is the better man, the better wrestler


and the first Empire Pro Intercontinental Champion.

[Karl walks away from the set. FADE OUT]

 

[Adam_Benjamin]

(Adam Benjamin slams down his final set during his workout. Towel in hand he dries his face off, and begins talking)

Benjamin: Point blank it goes like this Karl. I can wrestle better than anyone that thinks he can out wrestle me, and I can out think anyone that can actually out wrestle me. So as far as jealously or fear is concerned that are mere words in my eyes. You see Karl the time between your theories of a great match are nearing. Soon very soon all your little happy go lucky, I am bettering myself to be better than blah whatever will not matter. The lights will be shinning bright, Back on PPV Karl, millions of fans watching your every move. In you short career you have been under these light once before to my knowledge, and we both know what happened.

(Adam smiles)

Benjamin: Many wrestlers better themselves during the rematch Karl, but now all of them win the match. Prepare yourself to be in that category. For you see this match is not about Karl Brown. I have sat back and let you sell yourself as a contender. The fact is if you were fighting anyone else you might have a small chance, but by god Karl you have no chance. I am telling you I will take you out, I will do what ever it take to walk out with the title. Karl I have had it all taken away from me, I have nothing to lose in regards to your health, or your well being. At this point Karl the only difference between me and a madman is that I am not mad. I am confident and know you are good but I am better. I proved it in a match I know nothing about, and now I have you in a match I am a master of. Think about it Karl because the almighty interviews and cameras are not going to be able to help your when the bell rings. All my pain, my training, my god giving talent is just going to rock you like a hurricane. You are not going to be able to withstand the will of mine. I am at a point were winning this match is all I have, and by god Karl I will not allow you to end my path.

(Adam grabs the camera)

Benjamin: Karl Brown or Adam Benjamin. Both are involved in this match, but I am going in this match prove that only one is committed to winning. And Karl the difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast; the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'….

(Adam smiles)

Benjamin: Facts are the enemy of truth Karl I am sure you will be able to bounce back after this match. Karl in life you can only find truth with logic if you have already found truth without it. Yours Truly knows that your fate does lie in my hands, it is you that will find out the hard way. Take this message Karl and think about it at night as you wait for your reality check…

(Adam clears his throat)

Benjamin: All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. The IC title is mine and you can do nothing Karl to stop it, show up, make yourself look good, and get beat. Sorry mate but that is your fate summed up. Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals. My goals are straight ahead of me, and I am coming at a speed that you cannot match Karl… See you in the ring…

(Fade to black)