Post by Daron Smythe on Aug 13, 2023 15:08:36 GMT -5
It is backstage after the latest edition of Eruption, many of the talent have already left the building, but after wrestling not one, but two main event matches, Daron Smythe is still lying on the floor of the locker room, catching his breath, looking at the ceiling, a look that's half bewilderment, half relief, washed over his face as Abby Joseph walks into the locker room to see the champion, flat on his back, with the UWL World Title belt lying folded on his waist, one arm behind his head and one arm bent covering his eyes. It has been a long night for the champion...
ABBY: Daron, tonight you faced your toughest test as champion - first a defense against David Carroll, who some thought might take that title from you tonight after two pinfall victories, and then a returning Anthony Cross, who shocked the UWL fans and staff members alike by activating his automatic rematch clause right after a grueling main event...
Daron, still focused on his breathing, is slowly lifting himself from the floor - a combination of exhaustion and soreness overtaking his body and mind. Daron shoots a weary look Abby's way and speaks softly...
DARON: The professional wrestling business is so weird, Abby. We have to have a strong ego, a strong belief in ourselves that we can beat anyone all the time, with every waking moment working towards being the absolute best. Yeah, we can believe in ourselves, but what happens when we lose? What happens when that belief has shattered? A challenge to our ego, our psyche. David Carroll has had my number lately - both in the Coronation Cup and in tag team action. I was riding so high, winning the Universal Stampede, winning the #1 Contender's Tournament, winning the UWL World Title. When you're riding that high, you think it's never going to end. Some might think I'm naive to think that way, but if you don't believe in yourself like that, the wrestling business is insane, isn't it? Why subject yourself to all of this if you don't think you're actually the best? Why put all those workouts in, sometimes in the gym two or three times a day, sometimes in the ring for hours, preparing yourself for every possible situation. What happens when it doesn't work? What happens when someone is just better than you? Were the critics and naysayers all correct? It can be useful to use those words as bulletin board material, and I'll get back to that later, but if you can't overcome those obstacles, you begin to question everything. Have I made the right decision in coming back to professional wrestling after nearly a decade absence? Some people say they hate losing more than they love winning - but I have to view things equally. The audacity to carry a nickname like #1? Losing hurts. The thing I know for sure, this is far from over. David Carroll will be back, and he will be stronger than ever.
And then the surprise with Anthony Cross? Yeah, I've talked a lot of crap about Cross - when I got here I was a brash as I could possibly be. Some of these people have been in this UWL/UWL family for years, and while I'm no spring chicken, I'm new to all of it. I'm going to shit talk everyone. Cross is a guy I viewed as a hanger on, a running buddy for Caleb Hart, an extension of Caleb. Speaking of which, where has that guy been? I'd love to get him in the ring. Anyway, Anthony Cross was a guy just doing what he needed to do until his opportunity came around, and when it did, he struck and turned it into a World Title run. I can't fault him for that. I can't fault him for challenging me when he did - sometimes you have to take the opportunities where they come. Sometimes you get pushed to the brink and have to throw a fireball in Nick Danger's face. I certainly don't have a perfect past but right now, I'm trying to do what I can to carry the banner for the UWL. I signed my first contract here under the UWL banner and I was fine with that. But, when the company changed their name back to UWL, I felt a genuine shift, in terms of attitude and excitement, from everyone. UWL was fine, but UWL was it. That's where where the history is. I'm doing my best to take it seriously. At the end of the day, I don't know if anyone will even remember my time here, but I will. I want to know I did things the right way.
ABBY: I think you have erased some misconceptions tonight with two title defenses - but it's just been announced in two weeks you will face Mark Storm in a proving ground match!
DARON: I feel so many different ways about this match. Mark Storm is more than worthy of a World title shot. He has to feel disrespected to be in this position and I don't blame him. But, I want you to know, Mark, I don't feel like you need to prove anything. I'm sore as hell right now, but when I get home I'm going back into to training to get ready for our match. It may be labeled as a "proving ground" match but I'm treating it as seriously as any match I've had here. At the same time, I've already seen some of the predictions, I've heard the whispers. Earlier I talked about that bulletin board material - some of my colleagues here have picked against me in this match and I have to say, thank you. I knew when I won this world title that it would be lonely at the top, but to see so many people STILL picking against me after all this time, I know I have work left to do. Rest assured, it pisses me off and it's going to push me to work even harder to prepare for this match - if that was everyone's intention, thank you. Like I said earlier, I know I'm not a part of the establishment around here. I'm sure some people still can't believe I'm holding this UWL World Title but if you are sleeping, you need to wake up. I'm #1 for a reason, I'm the measuring stick, I'm the guy carrying this place on his back, week after week for over a year now consistently putting in work when everyone else is inconsistent. I am *the* guy. Mark Storm, I welcome this challenge. I hope more people come out of the woodwork to challenge me, because rest assured, I won't shy away from any of it. At the end of the day, I see myself in the UWL Hall of Fame. I plan on building this resume by testing myself, not hiding. Mark Storm, in Atlanta, GA, BADSTREET for those of us who know, bring your A game, because I am. I'll see you there!
*Daron snaps his fingers and the picture quickly cuts to black*
ABBY: Daron, tonight you faced your toughest test as champion - first a defense against David Carroll, who some thought might take that title from you tonight after two pinfall victories, and then a returning Anthony Cross, who shocked the UWL fans and staff members alike by activating his automatic rematch clause right after a grueling main event...
Daron, still focused on his breathing, is slowly lifting himself from the floor - a combination of exhaustion and soreness overtaking his body and mind. Daron shoots a weary look Abby's way and speaks softly...
DARON: The professional wrestling business is so weird, Abby. We have to have a strong ego, a strong belief in ourselves that we can beat anyone all the time, with every waking moment working towards being the absolute best. Yeah, we can believe in ourselves, but what happens when we lose? What happens when that belief has shattered? A challenge to our ego, our psyche. David Carroll has had my number lately - both in the Coronation Cup and in tag team action. I was riding so high, winning the Universal Stampede, winning the #1 Contender's Tournament, winning the UWL World Title. When you're riding that high, you think it's never going to end. Some might think I'm naive to think that way, but if you don't believe in yourself like that, the wrestling business is insane, isn't it? Why subject yourself to all of this if you don't think you're actually the best? Why put all those workouts in, sometimes in the gym two or three times a day, sometimes in the ring for hours, preparing yourself for every possible situation. What happens when it doesn't work? What happens when someone is just better than you? Were the critics and naysayers all correct? It can be useful to use those words as bulletin board material, and I'll get back to that later, but if you can't overcome those obstacles, you begin to question everything. Have I made the right decision in coming back to professional wrestling after nearly a decade absence? Some people say they hate losing more than they love winning - but I have to view things equally. The audacity to carry a nickname like #1? Losing hurts. The thing I know for sure, this is far from over. David Carroll will be back, and he will be stronger than ever.
And then the surprise with Anthony Cross? Yeah, I've talked a lot of crap about Cross - when I got here I was a brash as I could possibly be. Some of these people have been in this UWL/UWL family for years, and while I'm no spring chicken, I'm new to all of it. I'm going to shit talk everyone. Cross is a guy I viewed as a hanger on, a running buddy for Caleb Hart, an extension of Caleb. Speaking of which, where has that guy been? I'd love to get him in the ring. Anyway, Anthony Cross was a guy just doing what he needed to do until his opportunity came around, and when it did, he struck and turned it into a World Title run. I can't fault him for that. I can't fault him for challenging me when he did - sometimes you have to take the opportunities where they come. Sometimes you get pushed to the brink and have to throw a fireball in Nick Danger's face. I certainly don't have a perfect past but right now, I'm trying to do what I can to carry the banner for the UWL. I signed my first contract here under the UWL banner and I was fine with that. But, when the company changed their name back to UWL, I felt a genuine shift, in terms of attitude and excitement, from everyone. UWL was fine, but UWL was it. That's where where the history is. I'm doing my best to take it seriously. At the end of the day, I don't know if anyone will even remember my time here, but I will. I want to know I did things the right way.
ABBY: I think you have erased some misconceptions tonight with two title defenses - but it's just been announced in two weeks you will face Mark Storm in a proving ground match!
DARON: I feel so many different ways about this match. Mark Storm is more than worthy of a World title shot. He has to feel disrespected to be in this position and I don't blame him. But, I want you to know, Mark, I don't feel like you need to prove anything. I'm sore as hell right now, but when I get home I'm going back into to training to get ready for our match. It may be labeled as a "proving ground" match but I'm treating it as seriously as any match I've had here. At the same time, I've already seen some of the predictions, I've heard the whispers. Earlier I talked about that bulletin board material - some of my colleagues here have picked against me in this match and I have to say, thank you. I knew when I won this world title that it would be lonely at the top, but to see so many people STILL picking against me after all this time, I know I have work left to do. Rest assured, it pisses me off and it's going to push me to work even harder to prepare for this match - if that was everyone's intention, thank you. Like I said earlier, I know I'm not a part of the establishment around here. I'm sure some people still can't believe I'm holding this UWL World Title but if you are sleeping, you need to wake up. I'm #1 for a reason, I'm the measuring stick, I'm the guy carrying this place on his back, week after week for over a year now consistently putting in work when everyone else is inconsistent. I am *the* guy. Mark Storm, I welcome this challenge. I hope more people come out of the woodwork to challenge me, because rest assured, I won't shy away from any of it. At the end of the day, I see myself in the UWL Hall of Fame. I plan on building this resume by testing myself, not hiding. Mark Storm, in Atlanta, GA, BADSTREET for those of us who know, bring your A game, because I am. I'll see you there!
*Daron snaps his fingers and the picture quickly cuts to black*