Post by Daron Smythe on Sept 6, 2022 21:33:58 GMT -5
We fade into the locker room at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee as UWL reporter Abby Joseph catches up with #1 Daron Smythe backstage...
Abby Joseph: Daron! Congratulations on a huge victory tonight against Tyler Barrett, your thoughts on the victory?
Daron Smythe: *unwrapping his wrist tape, balling it up, and throwing it in a nearby trash can* Abby, I can't lie, Tyler Barrett gave everything he had in the ring tonight, and it was a battle - but I'm feeling better every single time out there. That first match with Robb Daniels, I can definitely tell a difference now - there's no substitute for getting in the ring and actually fighting. You can do all the weights, all the cardio, all the drills you want - nothing compares to getting inside of that 20 by 20 foot ring and wrestling. That's two in a row, first Ace Sky, now Tyler Barrett, the momentum is starting to build. I can feel it, I think the fans can feel it, and I think UWL management is starting to feel it, too.
Abby Joseph: One thing I'm curious about, and I do have to ask - who exactly were you talking to on the phone when I caught you before the match?
Daron Smythe: *chuckles* Oh him? That was Jim Miller. We go way back. He was just a little upset that I was using his ring and his building to get a good workout. What he doesn't realize is his own son let me in. What he forgets is I built that ring that sits there. I painted those walls. I patched that ceiling countless times. I fixed broken chairs, broken ring steps, broken ring beams. Meanwhile, he sat on his fat ass and let me and everyone else do the work. Abby I started in this business as a 16 year old kid in 1999. I had to sneak around the area on outlaw shows until I hit the age of 18. Jim's company was the first bit of independent wrestling I ever saw on TV way back in 1996. It was a little inkling that this poor kid from a little town of Wheeling, West Virginia could actually make his dreams come true and become a professional wrestler. Fast forward to 2001 - I graduate high school, I'm finally of age to wrestle. Jim is no longer the only game in town in Pittsburgh but he's still there - hell, even his son-in-law left him to start up a rival group. It was me and three other guys, setting that building up, cleaning, promoting, scouting talent, booking - doing EVERYTHING to keep that company afloat. Yeah, maybe I left on bad terms, but whether or not Jim wants to admit it, he owes me - there's a lot more to that story Abby and I'll tell it, when it's time...
Abby Joseph: Wow - I had no idea, Daron. Seems like we unwrap new layers every time we speak...
Daron Smythe: Well Abby, they say professional wrestling is a lot cheaper than therapy - so here I am...
Abby Joseph: Getting back on track - I'm just receiving word that the main event of the next Eruption card is a four-way elimination match, the winner gets a UWL World Title shot - it's Heritage Champion Anthony Cross, new Television Champion Nick Danger, former Television Champion Billy Danielson, and...you!
Daron Smythe: Um...damn. Kinda caught me by surprise on that one - I'm excited for the chance, nervous as hell, and ready to get to work all at the same time. I'm always confident in myself - like I said, that loss to Robb Daniels knocked me down a peg, but I've never been one to bitch and bellyache about a loss. This is the most important match I've had in well over a decade and I'll look at these guys one by one...
Anthony Cross - Since day 1 he's bet against me week in and week out and I can't lie, it pisses me off a bit. It's like the fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me thing, right? That guy didn't know me from anybody - he saw what type of fight I brought to a former World Champion in Robb Daniels and even if I came up short, he has to know what I'm capable of. Maybe he feels threatened? I've been thinking since the first day I've seen him that Caleb Hart has been carrying Anthony Cross on his back. Hell, I really hope he underestimates me. It'll be fun to see what happens when I finally get to go toe to toe with him.
Nick Danger - Honestly Abby I don't know too much about Nick - the one thing I know for sure, he's our new Television Champion - but would he even be the champ if not for Robb Daniels? The next rung on the ladder for me is that Television title and honestly it was my next focus after Tyler Barrett. Maybe this is a golden opportunity falling into my lap? If I pin this guy in the four way, UWL management has to make me #1 contender for the Television title, right? Let's see what happens...
Billy Danielson - It's unfortunate he lost the Television Title that way but if you walk around calling yourself the GOAT - or maybe he's the Billy Goat? - it starts to piss people off. He can't be too happy after how that Television Title three way turned out, but I'd bet anything his focus isn't on this match - I'm sure he wants the TV title back, I'm sure he wants to get his hands on Robb Daniels. Physically he'll be 100% ready, but will he be there mentally? Can he brush off a loss and be poised and ready for this match? I don't know him too well - maybe he can, maybe he can't.
And finally, I'll speak on Robb Daniels. Robb, you aren't even in this match, but your specter hangs over it. I can't shake that loss to you until I get a chance to beat you one on one - no doubt Nick Danger and Billy Danielson have to wonder if you'll be around. Maybe you'll even get involved in this match? I know you said you wanted to work your way up from the bottom, but does it irk you that I might just skip you in line for a shot at the UWL World Championship? I can't even think that far ahead, Abby, but if and when I get there, I'll be happy to share my thoughts on Caleb Hart. But for now? I gotta hit the showers and get outta here...
Abby Joseph: Thank you so much Daron!
Abby Joseph: Daron! Congratulations on a huge victory tonight against Tyler Barrett, your thoughts on the victory?
Daron Smythe: *unwrapping his wrist tape, balling it up, and throwing it in a nearby trash can* Abby, I can't lie, Tyler Barrett gave everything he had in the ring tonight, and it was a battle - but I'm feeling better every single time out there. That first match with Robb Daniels, I can definitely tell a difference now - there's no substitute for getting in the ring and actually fighting. You can do all the weights, all the cardio, all the drills you want - nothing compares to getting inside of that 20 by 20 foot ring and wrestling. That's two in a row, first Ace Sky, now Tyler Barrett, the momentum is starting to build. I can feel it, I think the fans can feel it, and I think UWL management is starting to feel it, too.
Abby Joseph: One thing I'm curious about, and I do have to ask - who exactly were you talking to on the phone when I caught you before the match?
Daron Smythe: *chuckles* Oh him? That was Jim Miller. We go way back. He was just a little upset that I was using his ring and his building to get a good workout. What he doesn't realize is his own son let me in. What he forgets is I built that ring that sits there. I painted those walls. I patched that ceiling countless times. I fixed broken chairs, broken ring steps, broken ring beams. Meanwhile, he sat on his fat ass and let me and everyone else do the work. Abby I started in this business as a 16 year old kid in 1999. I had to sneak around the area on outlaw shows until I hit the age of 18. Jim's company was the first bit of independent wrestling I ever saw on TV way back in 1996. It was a little inkling that this poor kid from a little town of Wheeling, West Virginia could actually make his dreams come true and become a professional wrestler. Fast forward to 2001 - I graduate high school, I'm finally of age to wrestle. Jim is no longer the only game in town in Pittsburgh but he's still there - hell, even his son-in-law left him to start up a rival group. It was me and three other guys, setting that building up, cleaning, promoting, scouting talent, booking - doing EVERYTHING to keep that company afloat. Yeah, maybe I left on bad terms, but whether or not Jim wants to admit it, he owes me - there's a lot more to that story Abby and I'll tell it, when it's time...
Abby Joseph: Wow - I had no idea, Daron. Seems like we unwrap new layers every time we speak...
Daron Smythe: Well Abby, they say professional wrestling is a lot cheaper than therapy - so here I am...
Abby Joseph: Getting back on track - I'm just receiving word that the main event of the next Eruption card is a four-way elimination match, the winner gets a UWL World Title shot - it's Heritage Champion Anthony Cross, new Television Champion Nick Danger, former Television Champion Billy Danielson, and...you!
Daron Smythe: Um...damn. Kinda caught me by surprise on that one - I'm excited for the chance, nervous as hell, and ready to get to work all at the same time. I'm always confident in myself - like I said, that loss to Robb Daniels knocked me down a peg, but I've never been one to bitch and bellyache about a loss. This is the most important match I've had in well over a decade and I'll look at these guys one by one...
Anthony Cross - Since day 1 he's bet against me week in and week out and I can't lie, it pisses me off a bit. It's like the fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me thing, right? That guy didn't know me from anybody - he saw what type of fight I brought to a former World Champion in Robb Daniels and even if I came up short, he has to know what I'm capable of. Maybe he feels threatened? I've been thinking since the first day I've seen him that Caleb Hart has been carrying Anthony Cross on his back. Hell, I really hope he underestimates me. It'll be fun to see what happens when I finally get to go toe to toe with him.
Nick Danger - Honestly Abby I don't know too much about Nick - the one thing I know for sure, he's our new Television Champion - but would he even be the champ if not for Robb Daniels? The next rung on the ladder for me is that Television title and honestly it was my next focus after Tyler Barrett. Maybe this is a golden opportunity falling into my lap? If I pin this guy in the four way, UWL management has to make me #1 contender for the Television title, right? Let's see what happens...
Billy Danielson - It's unfortunate he lost the Television Title that way but if you walk around calling yourself the GOAT - or maybe he's the Billy Goat? - it starts to piss people off. He can't be too happy after how that Television Title three way turned out, but I'd bet anything his focus isn't on this match - I'm sure he wants the TV title back, I'm sure he wants to get his hands on Robb Daniels. Physically he'll be 100% ready, but will he be there mentally? Can he brush off a loss and be poised and ready for this match? I don't know him too well - maybe he can, maybe he can't.
And finally, I'll speak on Robb Daniels. Robb, you aren't even in this match, but your specter hangs over it. I can't shake that loss to you until I get a chance to beat you one on one - no doubt Nick Danger and Billy Danielson have to wonder if you'll be around. Maybe you'll even get involved in this match? I know you said you wanted to work your way up from the bottom, but does it irk you that I might just skip you in line for a shot at the UWL World Championship? I can't even think that far ahead, Abby, but if and when I get there, I'll be happy to share my thoughts on Caleb Hart. But for now? I gotta hit the showers and get outta here...
Abby Joseph: Thank you so much Daron!