Press Conference Heard Round the World
SCENE BEGINS
(Fade in to the hustle and bustle of a large room filled with many people. Many notable faces in the sports journalism world have gathered here, seating themselves in a squared section of folding chairs set up before a long table bearing three microphones. We fade in as we wait for a press conference to take place. The reporters are talking amongst themselves.)
(From the right, three people enter. The first is Rocko Daymon in casual wear, followed by his wife, Caitlyn, and a man in a white coat, presumably a doctor. The din dies down as the three come behind the table and take their seats, Rocko in the middle, flanked by the wife and doc. He leans in close to the microphone.)
Rocko Daymon
Ladies and gentlemen... I'd like to thank you all for coming here tonight. It's good to see that people still care about me.
(He smirks a bit.)
Rocko Daymon
Anyways, the reason I called you all down here today is not for a standard Q and A session. I had an announcement to make for everybody in the world of professional wrestling...
First, I think I should discuss something. There have been a few rumors flying around about my recent behavior... suggesting that I might have a few screws loose up in the head. I admit, I have been behaving erratically... but my wife Caitlyn quickly discovered why. For more information, I'm going to hand this off to Dr. Henry, my physician...
(The other man leans over his mic.)
Dr. Henry
Thank you, Mr. Daymon.
As many of you know, Mr. Daymon's career was almost cut short about a year ago in a physically challenging match in which he suffered a herniated disk in his neck. He got lucky; it could have easily been broken, leaving him crippled for life, or dead.
Over a year, I have overseen Mr. Daymon's recovery. During that time, he was on medication to help his neck injury heal.
Amazingly enough, around the time Mr. Daymon decided to return to professional wrestling, an ordering mishap occured in the shipment of this prescription drug. What Mr. Daymon received instead of his recouperative medication was a psychoactive drug used for patients of extreme cases of schizophrenia. This drug has been known to have some side effects...
(Daymon nods.)
Rocko Daymon
And unfortunately, I got to experience them first hand. But, everything's been sorted out... I'm back on my original medication... and I've spent the past few days in a clinic having everything flushed out of my system.
But while I was out... away from the gyms, without having to worry about who I would be fighting next, or what would be on the line... I had some quality time to reflect on myself. I've come to the realization... that no matter how hard I try, and no matter how much I want it... the times have changed. Professional wrestling isn't like what it was in my hey-day; it's surpassed that.
I feel I don't belong...
(He pauses for a moment, licking his lips.)
Rocko Daymon
So when I'm done with my match at Revolution... I'm done for good, people. I'm announcing my retirement.
(The crowd becomes abuzz at this news, reacting with surprise. A reporter in the front row raises his hand. It's Jim Hosselhoff, of the Hoss Report. Jim Hosselhoff appears with the permission of handler Jeff Bolichowski. Handlers appreciate it when you ASK to use their characters before writing them in.)
Rocko Daymon
Jim...
Jim "The Hoss" Hosselhoff
Wait wait, Rocko... can I be hearing this right? You mean, after five years of professional wrestling... you're throwing in the towel? Hanging up the boots? That's it? Finito?
Rocko Daymon
...I wouldn't call it "throwing in the towel". Quite simply, I think I've done this federation a service, and my time has gone on. It's time for me to stop dreaming about reclaiming my lost fame, and handing it over to someone else.
Jim "The Hoss" Hosselhoff
Okay, then, let me get this right... you're scheduled to go against David Allen Black at Revolution. Are you saying that as soon as that match is over, so is your career, or are you retiring as of this moment?
Rocko Daymon
No, when I'm done with David Allen Black, my career is done. And don't think I haven't been thinking about him over the past week. I tried researching his career, but I didn't get any further than Battleground Britain. Did I hear it right when someone reported that he sh*t himself while Clapper threatened him with an axe?
Let's put this into perspective... a year ago, Clapper was the man who put me on the shelf. He nearly broke my neck. When Clapper goes all the way, then expect to be beaten within an inch of your life. You look at the performance of Troy Douglas at Battleground Britain... he never gave up against Clapper. I didn't either. Black, on the other hand... he's a coward. He was reduced to nothing more than a blubbering fool, pleading for his life...
Because of that fact, you could easily argue that I'm more willing to go all the way in this match. I know... this is going to be my final match in professional wrestling. I want it to be my greatest victory ever, and I will be giving it my all. More than what I put up against Clapper... or against Maelstrom, for any of you who have been watching my performance in Empire Pro.
This is it, ladies and gentlemen... my azimuth, at Revolution, against David Allen Black. My final moment to shine. I can't promise that it will be my golden moment in the spotlight, as though everything will go my way... but I can garuntee that I will do everything in my power to see it come out that way. I, personally, haven't heard anything from David Allen Black lately, but I suppose that's irrelevant. I don't care about what he has to say, or what he thinks he's getting into...
What I'm going to do to him at Revolution is going to make Clapper's work look like a slap on the wrist. I couldn't beat Maelstrom, or Christian Sands, or Adam Benjamin... but I sure as hell won't let myself lose to David Allen Black. Expect total revenge.
Any more questions?
(Another reporter stands up, and Rocko nods to him. It's Pete Penzler, from FW Torch--yet another character of Jeff Bolichowski's, used expressly with his permission.)
Pete Penzler
What about your match against Troy Douglas, Cameron Cruise, and Jonathan Marx at Empire Pro, scheduled at Black Dawn?
Rocko Daymon
Yeah, well... I considered going out that way, but then again, title shots are on the line in that kind of match. I honestly didn't want to interfere with the plans of any of the other wrestlers. If I won, what use would a title shot do to me, considering I'd have left the business?
I sent my letter of resignation to Freeman the other night. He was sad to see me go, but he understood. As I understand it, he's looking for a substitute for that match... but I really don't know the details.
(He looks around for more questions, and nods when he sees that he was successful in getting the main point across.)
Rocko Daymon
If that's it, then... I'll be on my merry way.
(He nods, and the three people at the table come to their feet. As they exit to the right, the members of the press applaud. We fade to black.)
SCENE ENDS