Post by Coda on Jan 15, 2017 16:15:31 GMT -5
15 MINUTES OF FAME.
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DATE: 01/14/17
LOCATION: SAP Center @ San Jose, California
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
The thumbnail caught your eye. A small image of Kenzie Rydell's face, disappointed as she's ever been. Where have you seen that before, you wonder to yourself. Being a loyal NGW fan, and now with your attention firmly on Redemption Wrestling, you realize that that was the face she made after losing the NGW Five Lakes Championship back in June. Intrigued, you decide to click it.
An advertisement shows up in the video player. Of course, you already knew you could save 15% on your car insurance by switching to Geico, but you knew that being in Allstate's good hands was a much better deal. A chuckle left your lips. Small text on the bottom of an Allstate commercial you recently watched informed you that Allstate was not available in all states. Just as you considered what it should change its name to as an alternative - 'Somestate maybe?' - a pre-recorded video began to play.
"Today's video is brought to you by... Catalyst Mints! For those of you who can't make it through the day without a cup of coffee or an energy drink in the morning, here's an alternative. Just three little mints are the equivalent of one energy drink without that nasty sugar crash. Catalyst Mints. Now available in Siberian Wintergreen flavor."
The still image of the small black tin with green trim and white lettering sitting on a table effortlessly transitioned into something else entirely. You wondered to yourself if she needed the sponsorship for the money, or if she was just trying to assist a small startup company. Regardless, things moved forward towards the featured presentation.
"This is it. The SAP Center in San Jose, California."
The arena was empty, save for Kenzie Rydell sitting in a lone metal chair situated firmly in one of the highest seats she could have chosen. The view of the entire building from this very spot was marvelous, the vast openness as all the chairs around almost blended together in color. The stage was set, but a wrestling ring hadn't been built where it was designated just yet.
"Avery Miles III won the Marquee Championship from Levi Daughterty in a friendly but competitive bout, Dirk Bentley shortened the career of the now retired Corey Bull in one of the most hardcore matches I've ever seen, and me?"
She clicked her tongue and tilted her head in one swift movement.
"Let's put it this way. Devlin Scott and I? We aren't exactly the best of friends. Two weeks prior, after the legendary TLC match between me and Gavin Grimes, he ordered me to defend my Five Lakes Championship against two other people, but that's a story for another day."
With a heavy sigh, she continued.
"To tell the truth, if he had come up to me back then and offered me this match? I don't think I'd take it. The mere thought that I'm supposed to be a weapon used to convince him to have some respect for a man who was never in my corner still doesn't sit that well with me. I'm not a tool. I'm not a pawn Devlin Scott can play the second he realized I was on the board, but..."
Her serious expression transitioned into a bright toothy grin.
"But I respect one thing about Devlin. I respect that after unspeakable and sudden failure thanks to a financle setback, he still stands resilent. He still stands and opened up Redemption Wrestling, and stands as one of the most relevent men in wrestling today because of the decisions he's made. And the man he has me going up against? He frankly deserves everything that's coming to him."
"Johnny Maverick. Not only does that sound like something a twelve-year-old boy would name their create-a-wrestler in a video game, but it's also the name of IPW's last Spotlight Champion. Of course, one of the reasons he's probably bitter is because IPW closed down about five seconds after he captured the gold. Now he's the embodiment of a walking stereotype, someone who only exists to spur controversy as a way to get himself noticed. And when you put it that way? I feel just fine kicking someone like that square in the jaw."
She sounded almost excited by the concept. You couldn't blame her, in all seriousness. Given everything you've seen of Johnny Maverick, you couldn't help but think that this is exactly what Devlin Scott wanted too.
"Let's be honest. He knows his way around the ring. He knows how to fight, and he knows how to push the right buttons to eat his opponents alive. He wouldn't have gotten as far as he's gotten without those skills, I'm not undermining that whatsoever. But without the maturity defect, and without angering the boss, do you think anyone would even notice him? Do you think anyone would even pay any mind to someone who thinks its funny to mention his pubes like it's some hilarious joke even when he's the only one laughing?"
"Nobody outside the Redemption Wrestling circle even recognizes the name Johnny Maverick. I'm sure not even Blair and Xavier Laroux remember the name, and they were heavily attached to IPW at a time. And now he's just a thorn in Devlin's side that needs to be removed. That's my job, and I get to do it in front of that amazing Fukuoka crowd!"
Those beautiful hazel eyes of hers scanned the building quickly.
"The main difference between the SAP Center and the Fukuoka Convention Center? I'm not going to lose. I'm not going to leave after a chairshot to the head. I'm not walking away without a sense of pride, and that's a promise. Johnny Maverick might be good, but I'm in the best shape of my life right now. I've trained my heart out since NGW and now that I'm under the lights, preparing to head overseas to fight a disgrace to the sport I love with everything I have... I couldn't be any more prepared."
"So tune into Redemption Wrestling's Glory. Tune in to see Trixie versus Anton Chase for the Genesis Championship. Tune in to see KASH and Jack Tillman versus Giovanna Mancini and the oh so legendary John Blade. Avery Miles III, Courtney Leinart, Martin Karloff..."
"And get ready to see Johnny Maverick's 15 minutes of fame expire."
With that, the video came to an end. Some other videos were suggested, such as a short video created by Coda with the simple title of 'A Choice.' John Blade's most recent interview showed up as well, along with KASH's own words against the superstar. Trixie's promo showed up as well, along with the other two champions competing that same night, and it didn't take you long until you finally clicked on another thumbnail.
After some loading, another video showed up in the video player, but Kenzie's confident words still echoed in your mind.
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