Post by Daron Smythe on Dec 26, 2023 14:44:38 GMT -5
Moments after the conclusion of Starrzone, cameras follow a dejected Daron Smythe walking towards his locker room. Daron unwraps his wrist tape and throws it into a nearby trash can before opening his locker room door, slumping into a chair with a look that is a combinaton of frustration, exhaustion, and relief. Intrepid UWL Reporter Abby Joseph follows him into the locker room, eager to get her next scoop...
ABBY: Daron, at one hour and nine minutes, you and Cory Chevelle have just endured what many have already deemed an instant classic and some think may be not only the UWL Match of the Year, but the greatest match in the history of the UWL! Your thoughts?
DARON: They say a picture's worth a thousand words, Abby, and I'm sure if you took a picture of me right now it would be worth about a million. Cory Chevelle is a hell of a competitor. Since I came to the UWL some eighteen months ago, I could always poke holes in my competition. Too inexperienced, too cocky, not ring savvy enough, too emotional - right now, none of those words apply to Cory Chevelle. We've gone round and round for a few months now and while Cory's bravado would never admit it to you right now, he knew deep down he had to beat me, man to man, to really cement his place in the UWL. It's crazy for me to even think about - being a guy to pass the torch to the next guy. I didn't make it easy on purpose, Cory. You think these guys made it easy for me? Prior to eighteen months ago, not a single person in this company even knew who I was, and they treated me accordingly. The UWL is a company that respects its past and I had to scratch and claw to get to that main event spot, I had to go through my own ups and downs - losing to the big dogs, winning the Television title, winning the Universal Stampede, losing in a pay per view main event, winning a tournament for yet another shot, and finally claiming the prize. Nothing was handed to me, so I sure as hell wasn't handing it over to you without a fight. So, I can say in a loud clear voice that Cory Chevelle is the greatest wrestler on the planet...for now.
ABBY: What do you think contributed to this loss? This was a match that went the distance and honestly could have gone either way?
DARON: Since I've gotten here, whether you agreed with my methods or not, I've prided myself on being the consistent, reliable guy that can be counted on to carry the flag. It pissed everyone off at first because they thought "who the hell does this guy think he is?" but over time, they grew to understand and even respect what I bring to the table. Unfortunately, the past month or so I've allowed myself to become distracted. I've said it a million times, but it's lonely at the top and your responsibilities and obligations are a multiple of a multiple at that point. Yeah, we all think we can handle it, that we are invincible, but that pressure takes a toll on you. I think you know and everyone else here knows how I respond to pressure. This is merely a setback to set up a comeback.
ABBY: So what's next for Daron Smythe? The next edition event for the UWL is the Universal Stampede, an event you are very familiar with...
DARON: It'd be really easy for me to feel sorry for myself right now, Abby, but we all know the best way for the cowboy to get back to being himself is to get up, dust himself off, get back on the horse, and ride, right? I'm trying to build a Hall of Fame resume. Winning a second straight Universal Stampede certainly adds to that, don't you think? Starrzone signaled a lot of change around here, new Telelvision Champion, new Six Man Tag Team Champions, lots of new faces in the mix. A whole bunch of people looking to climb over me to get to the top of the mountain and I can't let them. So tonight, I'll lick my wounds, I'll go home, I'll remember what it means to be #1 again, and in a few short weeks, I'll be in that Universal Stampede, vying for another chance to be the world heavyweight champion. Remember, the only variable is time. Thanks, Abby.
ABBY: Daron, thank you for your time.
The scene fades to black...
ABBY: Daron, at one hour and nine minutes, you and Cory Chevelle have just endured what many have already deemed an instant classic and some think may be not only the UWL Match of the Year, but the greatest match in the history of the UWL! Your thoughts?
DARON: They say a picture's worth a thousand words, Abby, and I'm sure if you took a picture of me right now it would be worth about a million. Cory Chevelle is a hell of a competitor. Since I came to the UWL some eighteen months ago, I could always poke holes in my competition. Too inexperienced, too cocky, not ring savvy enough, too emotional - right now, none of those words apply to Cory Chevelle. We've gone round and round for a few months now and while Cory's bravado would never admit it to you right now, he knew deep down he had to beat me, man to man, to really cement his place in the UWL. It's crazy for me to even think about - being a guy to pass the torch to the next guy. I didn't make it easy on purpose, Cory. You think these guys made it easy for me? Prior to eighteen months ago, not a single person in this company even knew who I was, and they treated me accordingly. The UWL is a company that respects its past and I had to scratch and claw to get to that main event spot, I had to go through my own ups and downs - losing to the big dogs, winning the Television title, winning the Universal Stampede, losing in a pay per view main event, winning a tournament for yet another shot, and finally claiming the prize. Nothing was handed to me, so I sure as hell wasn't handing it over to you without a fight. So, I can say in a loud clear voice that Cory Chevelle is the greatest wrestler on the planet...for now.
ABBY: What do you think contributed to this loss? This was a match that went the distance and honestly could have gone either way?
DARON: Since I've gotten here, whether you agreed with my methods or not, I've prided myself on being the consistent, reliable guy that can be counted on to carry the flag. It pissed everyone off at first because they thought "who the hell does this guy think he is?" but over time, they grew to understand and even respect what I bring to the table. Unfortunately, the past month or so I've allowed myself to become distracted. I've said it a million times, but it's lonely at the top and your responsibilities and obligations are a multiple of a multiple at that point. Yeah, we all think we can handle it, that we are invincible, but that pressure takes a toll on you. I think you know and everyone else here knows how I respond to pressure. This is merely a setback to set up a comeback.
ABBY: So what's next for Daron Smythe? The next edition event for the UWL is the Universal Stampede, an event you are very familiar with...
DARON: It'd be really easy for me to feel sorry for myself right now, Abby, but we all know the best way for the cowboy to get back to being himself is to get up, dust himself off, get back on the horse, and ride, right? I'm trying to build a Hall of Fame resume. Winning a second straight Universal Stampede certainly adds to that, don't you think? Starrzone signaled a lot of change around here, new Telelvision Champion, new Six Man Tag Team Champions, lots of new faces in the mix. A whole bunch of people looking to climb over me to get to the top of the mountain and I can't let them. So tonight, I'll lick my wounds, I'll go home, I'll remember what it means to be #1 again, and in a few short weeks, I'll be in that Universal Stampede, vying for another chance to be the world heavyweight champion. Remember, the only variable is time. Thanks, Abby.
ABBY: Daron, thank you for your time.
The scene fades to black...