Post by UWL Office on May 10, 2024 19:27:48 GMT -5
Voice Over - Welcome to the Universal Wrestling Council. Now let's go to your broadcast team, Cliff Morris and Logan Acker.
The show opens scanning across the arena.
The picture cuts down to the announcers at ringside.
Cliff Morris - Hello! Wrestling fans welcome to Grand Voyage! Tonight we'll crown the 2024 Coronation Cup winner. As we will see two semi final matches and the finals in tonight's main event. We have a loaded night of action here at Grand Voyage. Let's go to these prerecorded comments and we'll kick off tonight's action!
The scene fades in as #1 Daron Smythe stands in a conference room, remote control in hand, in front of a large screen TV…
DARON: Tonight at Grand Voyage, we have the semi-finals and the finals of the Coronation Cup - a historical event for the UWL. Last year, I was able to make it to the semi-final, where I lost to the eventual winner, David Carroll. When I won the UWL World Title, I felt like that dog who chases after the car every day, except once I caught the car, I didn't know what to do. David saw that uncertainty, that weakness in me. It manifested into fear, fear of imperfection, fear of loss, fear of being exposed. I felt that imposter syndrome every day in my run as World Champion - but more importantly, I learned from it. Becoming UWL World Champion isn't something that happens by fluke. I had scrapped and clawed, come up short, but kept fighting to become the World Champion. It was in me and I had to believe in myself. All that self talk and grandiose swagger is nothing if you don't back it up. Maybe that was the problem? Maybe I had always day dreamed about winning the title - that I never thought what I would actually do if I became the champion? One year ago at this very event, I captured the UWL World Championship. Just four short months later, I lost it to Cory Chevelle. Every day since then has been a reminder of my short comings, 223 days and counting.
...Daron motions to the TV where you see clips of Cory Chevelle, delivering a devastating Silverback Brain buster to the other three competitors in the UWL World Title match, then finally hitting Daron with a meathook clothesline moments before pinning Daron and capturing the World Title. Highlights are shown of the Ironman Match, Daron's rematch for the World Title , a look of shock and surprise on Cory's face as he throws the proverbial kitchen sink at Daron, but Daron keeps kicking out. The highlights run and tell a story in a Shakespearean-like fashion, the growing desperation of Daron to gain a fall, the frustration of The Silverback, unable to put the challenger away. The absolute devastation of the bell ringing, signifying a draw. The last glimmer of hope of Daron as the sudden death overtime announcement comes over the PA system. And finally, that combination of sadness and exhaustion as Cory finally, for once and for all, defeats Daron to retain the title and prove to be the undisputed World Champion...
DARON: 223 Days. But who's counting, right? I've been banging my head against the wall for 223 Days trying to figure out a way to get the World Title back. And, I told myself all the bullshit - it was a fluke, it was a four way match. Anything I could tell myself to block out those intrusive thoughts, to avoid taking the responsibility for the loss. That Ironman Match was the nail in the coffin - man, I took everything you had! We went out there and had the best damn match this place has seen in YEARS. I've been asked a million times what's going to be different *this* time. Like I said, I've had 223 Days to dissect exactly what happened. Despite the losses, you and I both know out of anyone in those whole company, I've given you the toughest fight. If one thing breaks my way, just one thing. Luck is the intersection of hard work and opportunity, so maybe I'm looking for a little luck in this match? And who could blame me, right? Cory Chevelle is 6'2" 290+ pounds of romping, stomping hell on wheels. A freak athlete who could throw you all over the ring with a variety of suplexes and then hit a backflip from the top rope like it's nothing. You've probably got 60 pounds on me, sixty pounds of solid muscle, and a combination of that and your athleticism is enough to scare any normal human being. Me? I'm afraid, but not of that, no Cory, it's something entirely different.
I'm afraid of going back to the bottom. I'm afraid of everyone being right about me. I'm afraid of proving all those people right, that a child of a broken home couldn't really make something of himself. I'd just be another statistic. I'm afraid of my high school football coach being right, the guy who called me every name in the book - names that would get a coach fired in a heartbeat today. He said I was soft and weak, that I'd never be worth a damn. I'm afraid of being just another dreamer from a devil town like Wheeling, West Virginia, a town that seems nice when you're young and naive, but you come to realize it's just a trap unless you're born into money or importance. This is the fear - the fear of loss, rejection, self worth. Tonight is not a World Title match, but in my mind, it is Cory.
And maybe I just couldn't frame you like I framed everyone else in my mind. Maybe it's because that deep down, we are a lot alike and hating you to fuel my drive and determination may mean I hate the man in the mirror? Maybe I'm thinking about it too much? Maybe that's what got me in this mess in the first place. But, I have to throw all of myself into this match, because if I don't win, I don't advance. If I lose to you again, I might as well kiss a future title shot goodbye. There's a lot of young, hungry talent entering this company right now, and it's a great thing, but not for some horse who's teetering between winning the Kentucky Derby and being taken out behind the barn and being shot and sent to the glue factory.
And if I survive this match? What's next? Could it be BRADDOCK, a man who seemingly feels no pain? A man who thrives on the sight and taste of his own blood. Will I exhaust all the energy in my body in one match and have nothing left for this guy? BRADDOCK, I was supposed to face you right before the UWL shut down and I can guarantee you, beyond all this self doubt is weeks and weeks of preparation that I went through to get ready for our match. Without bringing cameras around, I went to the places you seek, the world of underground hardcore no-ring wrestling, and maybe something about that will see the light of day, but I immersed myself in your world in preparation for our match, or should I call it a fight? That's what I expect if it's me and you in the finals.
And Billy Danielson? The Greatest of all Time? Could you be the one? There's been so much talk of "finishing the story" in wrestling lately that it's a bit corny to talk about wanting to finish mine but if I want to call myself the Modern Icon of this place, the Ace of the UWL, then I have to take down the GOAT, don't I? We've met once before and I don't even count that result, a cheap interference play that never sat well with me. No, if it's me and you in the finals, I'll have to pick my exhausted ass off that canvas and bring the fight with every ounce of my being.
Here's where I'd say something about my destiny, but to get there? I have to survive the night...
Daron snaps his fingers and the screen cuts quickly to black...
UWL World Heavyweight Champion, Cory Chevelle is shown backstage with Nicole Sanders. The champ has the world title draped over his left shoulder, and an ice cold beer in his right hand. Turning to the camera, Chevelle begins to address the UWL.
Cory Chevelle:
I don't have a lot to say tonight. Best believe my eyes are on Braddock and Billy to see who exactly I'll be facing later tonight for the Coronation Cup. The cup has evaded me since my first go back when UWL was still UWL. That was a long time ago. This year, the cups not evading me! This year is mine and there ain't damn one of ya that's gonna get in the way of that. And that's all I got to say.
Chevelle pounds back his beer and gives a quick cheers to the camera.
