Post by Daron Smythe on Sept 23, 2023 17:23:17 GMT -5
In troubled times, so many of us retreat to things that make us comfortable, maybe for some that's curling up with your favorite book or plopping down on the couch to watch your favorite movie. To some, that may be making or eating your favorite meal? Maybe it's watching your favorite sports team and living vicariously or take a vacation? For #1 Daron Smythe, the UWL World Heavyweight Champion, this place of comfort is the same place it's always been, the PWX Sportatorium in McKeesport, Pennsylvania - the same shitbox warehouse, light, wind, bird droppings, perhaps even rain leak in through the broken glass panes on the roof, any hope of a working HVAC system has been long gone, but still, there are four walls, protection from (most of?) the elements, and most importantly, a weight set and a wrestling ring. Yes, the weight set is old and rusty, yes, the ropes aren't exactly the best and the bump isn't exactly the softest, but home is home. Eighteen months ago, owner Jim Miller might've chased Smythe out of this building, but oddly enough, Daron has his own key and has even come by a time or two to help out with the newest batch of trainees. After running the ropes for five minutes straight, Daron drops down to one knee, grabs a jug a water from the corner, taking a long chug before looking dead into the camera...
DARON: Yeah...I know when you see this place, it isn't much - it's never been the cleanest or even the safest, but despite all of its flaws, it's still the place where I feel like I can be myself more than any other place in the world. Sometimes I've felt like this place is hell and if there's anywhere that's caused me hell, both personally and professionally, it's this place. Just like your home town and all of its problems, I've come to be at peace with it.
So, Cory Chevelle, when you talk about hell, I'm not afraid of it, I've been there before and I'm sure I'll be there again. You're a big sumbitch and I saw that first hand last week on Eruption when that chair cracked you across the skull - I can tell you enjoy the pain, you thrive in it. But inside that ring it's about more than just absorbing pain, it's about technique, it's about skill, it's about pinning your opponent's shoulders to the mat for a three count. You might enjoy the pain, but you're human, just like me, and all human beings have their limits - we are going to test those limits in one week. I've felt the pain, physically and metaphorically, on my way up the mountain to get the UWL World Title...
Daron looks off in the corner, where a broken flourescent light bulb lies on the ground, half propped up against the wall...
DARON: And then I think of that hardcore maniac, BRADDOCK, the wild card in this affair - a guy who would love to use that light tube over here and bash everyone's skull and maybe take a pound of flesh. A sick, sadistic man who may enjoy inflicting pain more than cashing checks or being the champion. It's true that Chevelle and BRADDOCK formed quite the team last week - but what happens when it's every man for themselves? Are you going to be able to navigate those deep waters when it comes to surviving a four way? That's what I'm interested in seeing - from being in the ring in the tag match, you have one speed and hey, maybe you can channel that to victory, but I'm the guy that when the bright lights are on, when the pressure is on, when it's time for the money match, I deliver every single time...
A few drops of rain fall through the ceiling, starting a puddle right at the champion's feet...
DARON: Interesting. The weatherman said there'd be no rain tonight. Funny thing about weathermen, huh? They get paid over and over again to be wrong. I think you're wrong Jackson Burnside, I think you're going to fall short again, just like I've seen you in the past. Yeah, you've gone away, you regrouped, you learned a hold, as the old timers say, but all the bad weather metaphors in the world won't help in the end - you've got that Heritage belt and MY Television title - has anyone explained yet how he can hold two titles but I couldn't? So I'd say just enjoy them while you have them. When this is all said and done, there's one Billy Goat I need to settle a score with...
Daron looks as the camera, snaps his fingers, and the picture quickly cuts to black...
DARON: Yeah...I know when you see this place, it isn't much - it's never been the cleanest or even the safest, but despite all of its flaws, it's still the place where I feel like I can be myself more than any other place in the world. Sometimes I've felt like this place is hell and if there's anywhere that's caused me hell, both personally and professionally, it's this place. Just like your home town and all of its problems, I've come to be at peace with it.
So, Cory Chevelle, when you talk about hell, I'm not afraid of it, I've been there before and I'm sure I'll be there again. You're a big sumbitch and I saw that first hand last week on Eruption when that chair cracked you across the skull - I can tell you enjoy the pain, you thrive in it. But inside that ring it's about more than just absorbing pain, it's about technique, it's about skill, it's about pinning your opponent's shoulders to the mat for a three count. You might enjoy the pain, but you're human, just like me, and all human beings have their limits - we are going to test those limits in one week. I've felt the pain, physically and metaphorically, on my way up the mountain to get the UWL World Title...
Daron looks off in the corner, where a broken flourescent light bulb lies on the ground, half propped up against the wall...
DARON: And then I think of that hardcore maniac, BRADDOCK, the wild card in this affair - a guy who would love to use that light tube over here and bash everyone's skull and maybe take a pound of flesh. A sick, sadistic man who may enjoy inflicting pain more than cashing checks or being the champion. It's true that Chevelle and BRADDOCK formed quite the team last week - but what happens when it's every man for themselves? Are you going to be able to navigate those deep waters when it comes to surviving a four way? That's what I'm interested in seeing - from being in the ring in the tag match, you have one speed and hey, maybe you can channel that to victory, but I'm the guy that when the bright lights are on, when the pressure is on, when it's time for the money match, I deliver every single time...
A few drops of rain fall through the ceiling, starting a puddle right at the champion's feet...
DARON: Interesting. The weatherman said there'd be no rain tonight. Funny thing about weathermen, huh? They get paid over and over again to be wrong. I think you're wrong Jackson Burnside, I think you're going to fall short again, just like I've seen you in the past. Yeah, you've gone away, you regrouped, you learned a hold, as the old timers say, but all the bad weather metaphors in the world won't help in the end - you've got that Heritage belt and MY Television title - has anyone explained yet how he can hold two titles but I couldn't? So I'd say just enjoy them while you have them. When this is all said and done, there's one Billy Goat I need to settle a score with...
Daron looks as the camera, snaps his fingers, and the picture quickly cuts to black...