One For The Finger

[TWhitefield]

Fadein: Tom Adler sits in a darkened room illuminated only by a video monitor that flickers with footage of matches from the past season. An ominous red glow comes from the corner... the tell-tale sign of a camera looking over the situation

I suppose this is the point in time when I'm supposed to give the sheet writers some witty one liner that they can plagurize as something original for the geeks that actually read those things to oogle over. But then, I've never actually been one to play by somebody else's rules. So, I guess I'll pass and cut right to it.

Eli Flair, you and I have never really seen eye to eye on much of anything in our careers, despite the fact that, as you so name droppingly pointed out, we've only ever met once before in the ring. But, you're right when you said that in the overall scheme of things, this match is fairly meaningless.

I had a choice to make upon coming to this company. Whether I cared more about Eddie Mayfield or my own personal ambitions. Unfortunately for both Eddie and Craig Miles, I'm the type of guy who likes to have his cake and eat it too. Mayfield and I have been in the same ring together three times since I came here. I left him laying in a pool of blood two of those times. The other? I did what I've become infamous for on a number of other occasions... I destroyed the legacy of the UWA.

And that pretty much brings us full circle to now. A tag match between four combatants to determine the top four seeds of the Ultra-Title tournament. I could point out that I've already beaten one of my oponents in this match. I suppose I just did. But, Alias, I realize that was seemingly ages ago and there will always be those who say the match could have gone the other way. I'd probably agree with at least part of that.

Alamassy? You managed to finish first in the rankings. The fact that you still need to compete to be the top seed, I suppose, is Miles' way of saying that you backed your way into that ranking, you didn't get there by your own doing. Whatever. All I'll say to you, at the moment, anyway, is the same as I'll say to both Eli and Alias. I was in your position. I was all alone at the top of the rankings. If I'd cared about where I was going to be seeded, I'd still be there. Period. I am where I am in this tournament because I put myself there. Not you. Not Alias. Not you, Eli. And certainly not Miles.

When this match is over? Well, you can all rest assured that I'll STILL be exactly where I want to be. I will simply leave one of you with this thought. And that is Eli Flair. Five years is a long time, Eli. I'm not the same hunk of rust you chose to pad your stats with. But, if you think back, following that match with you, I had a choice to make. I had to decide whether there was a place for me in this industry or not. I decided there was. And, I told you then, that there would come a point in time when you and I would cross paths again. And then, and only then, will you be able to come out here and HONESTLY say whether or not you'd gotten the best of whatever Tom Adler had left that night. No matter what happens in this match, that point IS coming, Eli. Because we both have the same objective. And, to achieve it, ONE of us is going to need to lose at some point.

I'm sure you believe in your heart of hearts that that ONE is going to be me, so I'll save you the predictible response response of saying it's not. I'll simply say this. Our battle WILL be waged. But, it won't be here.

Fade Out

 

[User Poets]

It's not name - dropping to say that something that happened... happened, Tommy. It's not name - dropping to bring up the only shared history in this match and gloss over what actually took place in the ring. The point I was attempting to make was that a world of wrestling, and a whole bunch of lifetimes had passed since then.

I've officially retired, pending the outcome of the S2 Playoffs. I've gotten married and am raising a daughter. I'm looking at life after wrestling as something iminent, not something abstract.

And I'm sure you've changed in remarkable ways since '01 as well, I just don't care enough to try and look them up. You feel the same about me, I'm sure - and you feel the same way I do about our opponents in this little spiel... if they show up, they're going to lose.

At this point I'd rather knock Alias and Seymour out of the way quick 'n easy, and wrestle you, one on one, to determine who's number one and who's number two. You're an opponent with a pulse, Tommy... and that's more than we can say for ASA so far.

I'm glad our match years ago lit a fire under ya, Tommy, and made you wanna stick around and prove your skills once again. For wrestlers our age, you're at least as good as Melton. And before the knee - jerk reaction, that is a compliment.

As far as our eventual settlement date... I'm not gonna say I'm gonna win, and I'm not gonna say you're gonna win. Tommy, you've made a bold prediction, yourself... so either stop me, or shut the f**k up.

One of those will happen, and you're gonna have to earn 'em both.

FADE

 

[TWhitefield]

Well, Eli, it looks like it's up to you and I to give the masses a little ear play since our esteemed oponents don't seem to be too chatty at the moment.

Now, I don't really feel like getting into a battle of semantics out here. But, for the record, unless you're actually competing AGAINST me, remind the world that you've beaten me pretty much fits the definition of name dropping. But, I digress.

I will, however, respond to a few other things you said, since they were all pretty much aimed my way. First, you can save the retirement stuff, because I really don't care. I've been around long enough to know that the only thing LESS permanent than the retirement of a pro wrestler is the latest Streisand "No, this time we really mean it" tour, which will probably be opened by Mick Jagger.

I assume you're in this to win, Eli. Your motivation is pretty much meaningless to me at this point, just as I'm sure mine is to you.

Now, you and I have the opportunity to lead the pack here in the West. We didn't get here by luck. We didn't back our way into our positions. We busted our asses to get where we are, and to gain the repurations we have.

I have never minced words, Eli. I expect to win. Period. As a general rule, I always expect to win. In fact, I'd say the last time I stepped into a match NOT expecting things to turn out in my favor was the last time you and I wrestled. Because, after five years away from this sport, I can honestly say I didn't have a clue how I measured up against some of the elites. I took what I wanted out of our match, Eli. Then I moved on and I haven't looked back.

You can call it bold, if you want. Fair enough. Trust me, I've been called far worse. What does that mean for this match? For you, nothing. For now, you have nothing I want. When you do, you won't have to wonder where I'm coming from. You'll know.

 

[Whats Your Alias]

What can I say... I'd rather sit back and see how far you two will go, before fists start heading towards faces, friendly conversations and the 'big brother/little brother' rivalry quits being all 'Bird/McHale' and spins into 'Kobe/Shaq'.

So continue...

Oh who am I ****in' kidding? Do I want the two of you to take out each other before I get a better chance at either of you? Probably not no, I'm here for a fight, not a war of words between team mates. I've watched you bicker for long enough, answer each others questions, really getting into the semantics of the situation.

And I don't ****ing care. I'll look to beat both of you, if it's necessary.

Eli, I know how hard it is to have a family and be on the road. I have a daughter of my own, and admittedly I haven't spent as much time, nearly as much time as I possibly could with her. I missed the first things she did, everything single one of them, though I do I love her... and she loves me... and I've even got to know her these last few years. It's insane how well put together she's become without my interference.

Me not being there, at the start, was the best thing for my family... because I needed to find out who I was, and now that I do... me not being there for my daughter, or her mother, what does that mean?

That I'm not a good father? No, that means I'm a dedicated man... and I can't look at a life after wrestling, because my life is wrestling. I love that ring, even if you're always looking past the ropes, waiting for the inevitable.

And that's your down fall. Not overlooking Almasy or I, for our lack of wordplay in this little back and forth of yours and Adler's. Your mind is on the past, with Adler, with Melton... because... you've got no future anymore. Here, at least.

I'm just saying these things, not because I wanted, but just because I felt it was a common courtesy, bub. Before I put it all on the line against T'NE, I might as well not leave any words unspoken.

And Adler, you certainly didn't ask, maybe because you where sure I wasn't going to answer, but do you want to know my motivation?

I'm in it not just to win, I'm in it to break you down. I'm in it to make you sweat, make you bleed. I want to hear you TAP, either that, or I want to see the ref stop the fight after I break your arm in the Anarchy's Lullaby, if you're that stubborn. I'm not a nice guy, I've rarely ever been, it's just that sometimes... I've proven complacent... not anymore. Not because of some sadistic mindset I've picked up since being maced from our mutual friend Miles, oh no, I'm in it to prove to no one but myself what I'm capable of.

Not you. Not the wild West. Not Randalls, where ever the old dog may be.

Against the one man I've faced, who's defeated me this season, and I hadn't gotten another chance at in a ring, before or since. I want Tom Adler in the center of that squared circle. The first go was what I put on the table, and it wasn't enough, obviously. This time around? You've got the Original Nobody in your corner, who you seemingly aren't exactly sweet with.

I'd call the man in black a handi-cap to you, but then I know he's far more dangerous then that. Now is that good or bad? For you or for me?

Well, we'll just have to wait and see.

Won't we?

 

[TWhitefield]

Alias... in the spirit of fair competition that I have tried to foster through out the past season, let me give you a little friendly advice. Set your sights on something that you're actually man enough to achieve.

The list of men who have tried to prop up their careers by breaking me down is a long one, Alias. More men have tried... and failed than you have even wrestled, I suspect. And, believe me when I tell you that there's no disrespect intended when I say that there are better men than you on that list.

I've been around this business a long time. I'm sure there are those that'll say a little too long. And I dare say that you will find very few who have been more successful for a longer period of time than I have. And, there are two very simple reasons why. And, I suggest you listen closely because I won't give you this freebie again.

One? Because, like it or not, I am better at what I do than just about anybody you are ever likely to meet. There isn't a man in this business that I can't beat. And, very few that I haven't.

And, two? Because, whether you believe it or not, I don't take anything for granted.

I've been called a good many things over the course of my career. Some complimentary. Most not. Arrogant. Conceited. Overconfident. I've heard them all at one time or another. If you want to believe those, be my guest. But, I will tell you that what I am is comitted.

I don't take nights off, Alias.

When guys like Miles and Mayfield are out sipping on Heinekins penning out their next mic spot, I'm standing in the shadows watching every oponent... in every match... watching YOU... finding out YOUR weakness. And, it doesn't matter to me whether you're ranked number one, or number one thousand. You get the same attention. So, if, like them, you think my promos are a little dated... well, sorry, I have better things to do with my time then spend ninety percent of it stuck in front of a blinking red light trying to come up with yet another clever way of getting a cheap pop.

So, Alias, if you think I'm looking past your partner... if you think I look at you and see a man I've already beaten and can therefor be overlooked... my suggestion to you is to think again.

You want some sort of revenge for a loss you have no reason to complain about? Go ahead. Bring that to the ring. And, I assure you, you will see how long a very fast defeat can seem.

 

[User Poets]

So let's cut out the semantics.

We had a match, Alias. I remember it now - of course, a match on a weekly wrestling show that was there for entertaining filler. No blood feud, no thirst for vengeance. Just two working class heroes doing what they do best, do what they do better than most of the rest of the sport.

You'll forgive me, of course, for that fact slipping my mind. There was no disrespect intended.

But, as I said, let's leave semantics out of it and talk about the facts of the match.

The only thing the winner gets is a number. Odds are, the winner's gonna face off with the loser again at some point in this thing. I'd have t'sit down and work it out, but mathematically, one participant in this match might have t'beat every other participant t'make it t'the finals.

I'd say the only advantage I've got in this match is that I don't have to wrestle Tom Adler.

And maybe it's just a conceit that I wanna be the number one seed in the Playoffs, but it's a healthy one. Tommy Boy, once the NFW Playoffs are over, if you see me in a wrestling ring again with the intent to wrestle, I'll give you ten percent ownership in me and Ivy's bar/gym/whatever she's calling it this week, tax free.

Alias, our single prior meeting aside, your reputation preceded you both in the fWo and here in the NFW. I wish this match had more at stake than bragging rights, but I'll take every opportunity I can t'step in the ring with the best.

That's what we are, y'know. THE BEST. Forget about the top four in the East - we've got more guts, more talent, and more style.

And if I don't win, I don't win. The planet keeps on turnin'.

But that's a pretty big 'if' right there. And the rest'a the West had better get used t'disappointment.