Martin Karloff- This Man...

“Let’s keep this simple. No theatrics. No paint. Just me, a camera….perhaps a bit of music?” Martin says. Martin Karloff unbuttons the button of his suit jacket as he takes a seat at his piano and takes a deep breath.

“The Monster Messiah was an interesting time in my life.” Martin says. He opens the fall board of the piano and begins to delicately improvise a nice little bit of background music for his words.

“To claim myself to be a monster…as a means of entertainment to the fans who I owed nothing to. It was a strange time. I was not a monster, nor am I a monster. I will never lay claim to being anything more or less than a man but that’s just semantics isn’t it? We’re all animals. Driven by impulse and instinct. Eat, sleep, mate, and self defense. We make monsters out of people who do things we don’t understand. We claim them to be less than human because that is easier than admitting that the potential to do bad things is in all of us. ‘I would never do that. I’m a good person… only a MONSTER would do that’. I was called a monster when I publicly crucified Johnathan Fitzsimmons but I had my reasons for doing so and if I were to sit down and explain them I think many people would realize that my reasoning is justified.” Martin says, playing a nice little series of arpeggios.

“But I don’t owe you an explanation.” Martin says as he abruptly stops playing. After a few moments of stark silence he begins to play again.

“I will admit that the war paint… it assists in the process of dissociation. The theatricality of it is not the reason for it. The truth is that it allows me to mentally separate myself from the Phantom and the Manticore. It’s how I can personally justify all of the brutality and return home to my loving wife and beautiful children… so when people like Maria tell me to ‘get help’ I can’t help but laugh. I’ve had more help than you will ever know, Maria. I’ve been getting help since the moment I watched my father paint the walls of our family room with the contents of his and my mother’s skulls. I value and treasure that help, but for you to go on social media and throw my mental health in my face as if you’ve pulled out some sort of ace in the hole? Well Maria, I think we may have figured out who the actual Monster is here. Not to point fingers but perhaps the Monster is the person who would look in the eyes of a man who had to have skull fragments of his parents removed from his hair as ‘evidence’ and say ‘Ugh, why are you so weird?’. That is cruelty even I can not fathom, Maria. Shame on you.” Martin says, driving the point home with a dramatic bit of piano.

“I enjoy striking fear into my opponents…but to suggest that fear is my greatest weapon is misleading. I have grown more than accustomed to the naysayers who believe they are oh-so-clever when they point out that I’m ‘Just a guy in body paint’ as Mason Moore recently had to point out to Maria. I suppose they have similarly enlightening opinions on the moisture levels of water and the tendency of raisins to lend a ‘raisiny’ taste to foods. These are the types of people who post about the weather on social media as if they are the only individual on the planet with access to a window. Really, Karen? Is it colder than it was yesterday? Yes, surely this is definite proof that global warming is a hoax. Idiot.” Martin says, rolling his eyes dismissively as he continues to tickle the ivories.

“No, my greatest weapons will always be my skill and physicality. I’m not expecting you to be afraid of my body paint. I’m anticipating your fear after the bell rings and you realize how thoroughly outmatched you are.” Martin says with a smirk.

“Apparently this match will be used in consideration for who should be next in line for a shot at the Spotlight title. I am more than intrigued at this prospect. There will be no Mason Moore to run to your assistance the moment you become intimidated, Maria. It’s just you and I. Please do not take into consideration the accusations that you do not belong here and your continued presence is this company is only due to your association with your far more successful and talented beau. I would HATE for such doubts to interfere with your performance and give you some sort of excuse in the face of your upcoming loss. Navigating accusations of special treatment due to sexual contact with someone in a position of power or influence backstage is a bit of a Trixie issue to navigate around. Tricky. I meant to say tricky. Slip of the tongue.” Martin says as he continues to play, chuckling lightly to himself before releasing a sigh of satisfaction at his ‘mistake’.

“In the long run it isn’t up for me to decide whether or not I am a Monster, is it? It is up for my peers and history to decide. It is not my place in the long run to determine my own legacy but if that Legacy paints me exclusively as a monster? I will be disappointed. That is why the Monster Messiah is a failure and The Son of the Devil will succeed. The Monster Messiah had this preoccupation with being feared. His focus was misguided at best. Under the tutelage of the Allfather I have realized that the only legacy I need concern myself with is my success in the ring. Once you have that figured out? The Fear comes naturally without you even thinking about it. This is my Sermon. I’ll see you soon, Maria.” Martin says before slamming the fall board closed.