Post by UWL Office on Jun 28, 2024 20:34:23 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 video package opens up with a shot of the empty Addition Finance Arena with the UWL ring set-up. The lights are dimmed and Jackson Burnside approaches the ring from the entryway. The entire sequence is dark, with the colors washed out to add dramatic flair. A voice over starts, superimposed over jump shots of Burnside changing positions. Though we see a still shot of the ring itself, Burnside is edited into different positions. Standing on the outside, then sitting on the apron facing the camera. After that he's standing in the ring, then running the ropes, before he's standing in the corner with his head down.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"My entire life was defined by a moment I can't even remember. It's something that would have broken a lot of people. It's something that a lot of people would have used as an excuse to justify their mistakes and bad behavior. I know, because that's how I grew up. I made a lot of mistakes, but then I had some help. Somebody noticed that big kid from the group home. He saw that I just needed a guiding hand, that I had potential. I could reach that potential. And I did."
The scene transitions from the cold empty ring to candid footage. A young Burnside wrestling in high school and working out. Archival, grainy footage from smaller, more local wrestling shows. Burnside tosses some unknown souls over the top rope, and cuts to another shot of an outdoor venue, Burnside has someone over his shoulder in the Torture Rack.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"I couldn't let one moment define my life. I got strong, I was coached in wrestling and ways to vent my frustrations. I was good at it, and in two years I learned to channel all my negative energies into something positive. I deiced then, that I needed to be a role model. Something kids in similar situations could look to. Be a superhero, or just an entertainer to somebody who needed it."
Then we cut to behind the scenes footage. Jackson signing autographic, posing for a picture with a young fan doing his best Jackson Burnside costume.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
At the end of the day, I just wanted to be a positive influence in somebody's - anybody's life. I live for it. Every day of my life. Every kid I meet, every hand I shake, ever person who comes up to me and says 'thanks Jackson.' It means as much to me as any championship. So when I came to the UWL and blew up, I knew this was it.
There's quick clips of Burnside's 'greatest hits' now. Throwing paint on Calliope during the Artists' Atelier Match, bloodied and brawling with Arch Stanton, tethered by a chain, and even a shot of Burnside backstage drinking Fight Milk with Anthony Cross.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
This was really my chance to reach people. As I did that, as the people came to see me, whether it was a Superbeast, a Weatherman, or plain old Jackson Burnside, I gave 'em a Hell of a show."
The next quick clips sum up Burnside's title wins. Bloodied winning the Heritage Championship from Arch Stanton, victorious over Cory Chevelle in their title-for-title bout, and celebrating hugely with the World Title after beating James Edwards.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"There was even success. Heritage Champion, Television Champion, and yes World Champion."
The scene fades out from Burnside's celebration to black.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"Then what?"
Back to the empty arena and washed out shot of the ring. This time we have an elevated view into the ring, and Burnside is laying down in the middle of the canvas. It evokes the image of loss.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"What has it gotten me, and where am I now? Every day the passes, I don't accomplish what I set out to do and the doubts sink in. Each week that passes, you know it gets harder? I have to push harder to get the same weights up. I find myself getting gassed a few seconds sooner. My reactions are... just a microsecond too slow.
The next shot juxtaposes all of Burnside's title wins from earlier. Now we see brief glimpses of aftermath. Jackson laying down in the ring as someone else's hand is raised. Sitting on the apron looking despondent. Walking through the backstage area with his head down as he receives token pats on the back.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"You begin to ask, how much longer can I take this? How much loss and... heartbreak can I endure?
Daron Smythe Superkicking Burnside in slow motion, with a quick cut to the three count from the previous show.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"Is it worth it?"
Clips of Burnside getting jumped by BRADDOCK and Cory Chevelle in the ring, with a smash cut to the viscous assault in the parking lot a few weeks ago.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"The beatings?"
Cut to black again, then back to the ring. The camera slowly spins around the middle of the empty ring, where Burnside's boots have been placed all by themselves.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"I guess the question is, do you call it quits?"
Jackson Burnside is sitting there now, right in front of the camera. He looks directly into the camera and answers the question he asked himself.
Jackson Burnside:
"What are you, crazy?"
Now there's more shots of Burnside exercising. Benching weights, doing some cardio routines, that sort of stuff. There's some zoomed in crowd shots from recnt shows, people with signs, Burnside apparel and Weatherman umbrellas cheering on the Chicago native. Footage from a recent Burnside entrance plays back in slow motion.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"I didn't work this hard to give up because the going got tough. Hard times and bad luck have been the story of my life. One thing I'll never do is quit. Because the kids out there, they need a real superhero. People need entertainment and their escapism.
A quick montage of Burnside with a little girl. She's got blonde hair in tight ringlets not unlike his own. Burnside is giving her a running piggyback ride outside somewhere. Then he's playing wrestling with her, gingerly performing some basic moves into a pile of pillows and blankets. The third is a shot of the pair doing something with a pair of Smurfette plushies, a pink Uni-dragon, and a toy cash register.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"And there's a little girl in Chicago who wants to see her daddy win the pretty gold belt for herself. Until that's done, and until I've proven to myself that all of this has been worth it, I'm not giving up.
The video package is building to an end. There's shots now of Burnside being beaten, but bouncing back. Getting right back into the fight, and telling his opponents to come get some.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"So you can beat me. Bloody me. Make me hurt so bad I wish I could give it all away. But I won't quit. Because no matter how hard you hit me, no matter how hard I hit the floor, I'll always get back up."
Burnside posing with a large group of fans outside a show.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"Because I'm a hero."
Footage from Burnside cheating, using the bottom rope to pin Billy Danielson. There's never before seen footage following the match of Burnside walking up the aisle, guilt racked on his face.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"The people don't just look up to me, but they support me. They've got my back when I slip up.
Back in the empty ring from earlier, and Burnside down on one knee praying with a rosary in his hands.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"God as my witness-"
Footage from an old altercation with Cory Chevelle, and Burnside eyeing the World Championship belt across his shoulder.
Jackson Burnside (voiceover):
"I will one day call myself UWL World Heavyweight Champion again."
The package ends with Burnside standing in the middle of the empty ring, the same angle used as when the package started. Clever use of lighting shows us only the Weatherman's silhouette. The video ends on this visual; Jackson Burnside standing a statuesque vigil alone in the empty arena.