Post by Chuck Matthews on May 20, 2017 12:42:03 GMT -5
It’s the same open white room where so many of Chuck’s best speeches have taken place. There are no pictures. No images. No furniture, no fancy screens, no visible walls, floor, or ceiling. It’s simply an open space, pure white, and in the center of it all, the man they call “The Smartest Man in Wrestling.” He stands in the center, his hair combed back, his hands in the pockets of his jeans, wearing plain old gym shoes and a ratty old t-shirt, emblazoned with an image of a human brain, and the words “Predictably Unpredictable” stamped across the chest.
Chuck Matthews: “So……. What’s up?
These introductory things are always a little weird, aren’t they? When I was younger, fresher, this all made sense. Come to a new playground, introduce myself, tell the world what I’m all about? That works. That’s logical. But now? I’m older. Smarter. More experienced. I’ve been around a few companies here and there… Let’s be honest, is there anybody by now who hasn’t heard my name? I mean, sure, there’s always that crowd that talks up a great game, drops the ‘Who are you?’ line, says they’ve never heard of me before…. But living under a rock is a choice for some people. We can only fault them so much.
And that’s why, I suppose, there’s always such a buzz whenever I sign somewhere new. There’s always talk. Always that collective murmur through the circles, through the crowds. We know why. There’s always that underlying question:
What is Chuck’s game?
Because that’s just it, isn’t it? There’s always a plan, isn’t there? There’s always a plot. Always some… thing, some goal to attain, some mountain to conquer, some end result that I strive to reach. I know what they call me: ‘The Smartest Man in Professional Wrestling.’ They’ve been hyping me up as the greatest mind in the business since… what, 2010? And in that time, how often has it been proven wrong? How often has somebody been able to outsmart me? How often has somebody been able to keep me from reaching out and taking exactly what it is that I’m after?
Big ol’ goose egg.
Nobody. Nobody in the last seven years has been able to stop me. The plain and simple truth is: When Chuck Matthews wants something, Chuck Matthews is going to get it. It’s not a matter of ‘if.’ It’s a matter of ‘when.’ It’s the same old trick, the same old con I’ve been running for YEARS, and I keep doing it because nobody’s been smart enough to crack the code.
Enter Redemption Wrestling.
I implore you: Be different. Give me something I’ve never seen before. Give me somebody who can give me a challenge. Give me something that I can really get behind, something worth fighting for, something worth doing.
And to start this happy road, we’ll see….. Chuck Matthews, Kayla Richards, and Justin Harmony.
………alrighty then.
Here’s the thing… there’s been a bit of criticism over the last week that I’ve been quiet, that I haven’t said a whole lot about this upcoming match… this upcoming stint here in Redemption… that I’m taking my opponents lightly, I’m not giving them the respect they deserve. And I guess, in all fairness, that’s partly true.
You’re exactly right, I’m not terribly concerned about this match. I’m not thinking weeks or months ahead. I’m not studying up any more than I already have. I’ve hit the gym a couple times this week to keep in good shape, but I’m not going above and beyond. And truly… it’s not because I think either of these two are easy opponents. Far from it. You don’t get to this level without impressing a few people along the way. I should know. They made that very clear when I was negotiating my contract. I have no doubt that both of my opponents this week are top level competitors, and I would be foolish to expect to win a match without preparing for the bout.
…….so why haven’t I?
Ah. Did you feel that? Right about now, a good number of you just got a slight chill. You’ve seen this trick before. You know my M.O. You know where I’m going with this. The rest of you, those not quite so familiar with my work… pay attention.
I want you to ask yourselves: What is it that drives Chuck Matthews? What is it that he hopes to gain during his time here in Redemption. Think you’ve figured it out? Next question:
Why would the Smartest Man in Wrestling intentionally walk into a match unprepared, knowing very well what’s on the line, and knowing very well that neither of his opponents will be easy pickings?
Now THAT’s the riddle, isn’t it? And yet… the answer is so simple, isn’t it? What is the one thing that everybody in this business KNOWS about Chuck Matthews? He turns wrestling into a game. He turns a physical contest into a mental one. Combat becomes chess.
Do either of you play chess?
No, of course you don’t.
So allow me to explain: This is what we call the gambit. It’s the first few moves, the opening, that time of the game where we move some pawns around, we make a few safe moves, and we try to gauge exactly what type of opponent we’re dealing with. Are you dealing with a man who’s going to play it safe? Will he come out of the gate fast? Aggressive? How does he intend to play it out? Who will he sacrifice? What pieces will he take?
Your problem, lady and gentleman, is that you’ve seen my method, you’ve seen the way I attack a match and you assume it ends when the final bell rings because that’s how wrestling is supposed to work. Wrestlers enter, wrestlers fight. One wins, one loses. The winner goes on, improves his standing. The loser hangs his head in shame, regroups, refocuses, tries to figure out what went wrong, and comes back next week to get back on track.
I’m not really like that though, am I? It’s evident that my mind is not on this match. It’s clear that I’m not giving this fight all that much attention. Let’s make no mistake, though: In many ways, this will be the most important match I fight here in Redemption. This is the match that will teach me everything I need to know. It will give me a valued glimpse at the talent, at the level of competition I can expect here in Redemption… and allow me to plan accordingly.
Now, winning the fight? That’s a whole other story, and not something I’m terribly bothered by. You’ve asked yourselves all week how Chuck Matthews plans to overcome his opponents, but the question you should have asked is DOES Chuck Matthews plan to overcome his opponents?
Does it matter?
Does he need to win?
No…. no, he doesn’t. It does nothing to further his plans. Rags to Riches? A chance to fight in another match, with bigger stakes? No… I know how this industry works. I’ve made a long career out of manipulating those very rules and making them work for me. If you’d truly read up on me the way you two will claim you have, you would know this simple fact:
Chuck never wins his first match in a new company.
That’s not rust. That’s not beginner’s luck. That’s planning. That’s manipulating perception. That’s putting the slow wheels in motion, starting to move my pieces around the board, all building up to the final checkmate. And just as every move has a purpose, so does ever match have a purpose…. Even this one. But to think that my game ends at the end of one measly match, on one show? To think that one loss is going to take me down before I can even get started? To think that keeping me out of this… Rags to Riches …. Thing… is going to faze me in the slightest? Perhaps you don’t know as much as you thought.
This is my gambit.
Your move.”
Chuck Matthews: “So……. What’s up?
These introductory things are always a little weird, aren’t they? When I was younger, fresher, this all made sense. Come to a new playground, introduce myself, tell the world what I’m all about? That works. That’s logical. But now? I’m older. Smarter. More experienced. I’ve been around a few companies here and there… Let’s be honest, is there anybody by now who hasn’t heard my name? I mean, sure, there’s always that crowd that talks up a great game, drops the ‘Who are you?’ line, says they’ve never heard of me before…. But living under a rock is a choice for some people. We can only fault them so much.
And that’s why, I suppose, there’s always such a buzz whenever I sign somewhere new. There’s always talk. Always that collective murmur through the circles, through the crowds. We know why. There’s always that underlying question:
What is Chuck’s game?
Because that’s just it, isn’t it? There’s always a plan, isn’t there? There’s always a plot. Always some… thing, some goal to attain, some mountain to conquer, some end result that I strive to reach. I know what they call me: ‘The Smartest Man in Professional Wrestling.’ They’ve been hyping me up as the greatest mind in the business since… what, 2010? And in that time, how often has it been proven wrong? How often has somebody been able to outsmart me? How often has somebody been able to keep me from reaching out and taking exactly what it is that I’m after?
Big ol’ goose egg.
Nobody. Nobody in the last seven years has been able to stop me. The plain and simple truth is: When Chuck Matthews wants something, Chuck Matthews is going to get it. It’s not a matter of ‘if.’ It’s a matter of ‘when.’ It’s the same old trick, the same old con I’ve been running for YEARS, and I keep doing it because nobody’s been smart enough to crack the code.
Enter Redemption Wrestling.
I implore you: Be different. Give me something I’ve never seen before. Give me somebody who can give me a challenge. Give me something that I can really get behind, something worth fighting for, something worth doing.
And to start this happy road, we’ll see….. Chuck Matthews, Kayla Richards, and Justin Harmony.
………alrighty then.
Here’s the thing… there’s been a bit of criticism over the last week that I’ve been quiet, that I haven’t said a whole lot about this upcoming match… this upcoming stint here in Redemption… that I’m taking my opponents lightly, I’m not giving them the respect they deserve. And I guess, in all fairness, that’s partly true.
You’re exactly right, I’m not terribly concerned about this match. I’m not thinking weeks or months ahead. I’m not studying up any more than I already have. I’ve hit the gym a couple times this week to keep in good shape, but I’m not going above and beyond. And truly… it’s not because I think either of these two are easy opponents. Far from it. You don’t get to this level without impressing a few people along the way. I should know. They made that very clear when I was negotiating my contract. I have no doubt that both of my opponents this week are top level competitors, and I would be foolish to expect to win a match without preparing for the bout.
…….so why haven’t I?
Ah. Did you feel that? Right about now, a good number of you just got a slight chill. You’ve seen this trick before. You know my M.O. You know where I’m going with this. The rest of you, those not quite so familiar with my work… pay attention.
I want you to ask yourselves: What is it that drives Chuck Matthews? What is it that he hopes to gain during his time here in Redemption. Think you’ve figured it out? Next question:
Why would the Smartest Man in Wrestling intentionally walk into a match unprepared, knowing very well what’s on the line, and knowing very well that neither of his opponents will be easy pickings?
Now THAT’s the riddle, isn’t it? And yet… the answer is so simple, isn’t it? What is the one thing that everybody in this business KNOWS about Chuck Matthews? He turns wrestling into a game. He turns a physical contest into a mental one. Combat becomes chess.
Do either of you play chess?
No, of course you don’t.
So allow me to explain: This is what we call the gambit. It’s the first few moves, the opening, that time of the game where we move some pawns around, we make a few safe moves, and we try to gauge exactly what type of opponent we’re dealing with. Are you dealing with a man who’s going to play it safe? Will he come out of the gate fast? Aggressive? How does he intend to play it out? Who will he sacrifice? What pieces will he take?
Your problem, lady and gentleman, is that you’ve seen my method, you’ve seen the way I attack a match and you assume it ends when the final bell rings because that’s how wrestling is supposed to work. Wrestlers enter, wrestlers fight. One wins, one loses. The winner goes on, improves his standing. The loser hangs his head in shame, regroups, refocuses, tries to figure out what went wrong, and comes back next week to get back on track.
I’m not really like that though, am I? It’s evident that my mind is not on this match. It’s clear that I’m not giving this fight all that much attention. Let’s make no mistake, though: In many ways, this will be the most important match I fight here in Redemption. This is the match that will teach me everything I need to know. It will give me a valued glimpse at the talent, at the level of competition I can expect here in Redemption… and allow me to plan accordingly.
Now, winning the fight? That’s a whole other story, and not something I’m terribly bothered by. You’ve asked yourselves all week how Chuck Matthews plans to overcome his opponents, but the question you should have asked is DOES Chuck Matthews plan to overcome his opponents?
Does it matter?
Does he need to win?
No…. no, he doesn’t. It does nothing to further his plans. Rags to Riches? A chance to fight in another match, with bigger stakes? No… I know how this industry works. I’ve made a long career out of manipulating those very rules and making them work for me. If you’d truly read up on me the way you two will claim you have, you would know this simple fact:
Chuck never wins his first match in a new company.
That’s not rust. That’s not beginner’s luck. That’s planning. That’s manipulating perception. That’s putting the slow wheels in motion, starting to move my pieces around the board, all building up to the final checkmate. And just as every move has a purpose, so does ever match have a purpose…. Even this one. But to think that my game ends at the end of one measly match, on one show? To think that one loss is going to take me down before I can even get started? To think that keeping me out of this… Rags to Riches …. Thing… is going to faze me in the slightest? Perhaps you don’t know as much as you thought.
This is my gambit.
Your move.”
