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| And I Rise; #6 (RP 1) | |
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| Topic Started: Jan 6 2011, 07:47 PM (105 Views) | |
| R. McNeil | Jan 6 2011, 07:47 PM Post #1 |
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....darkness and light
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Its funny how much things change over time, how different a person can become and how far they can trail from who they once were. Some for the better, some for the worse... but ultimately, it happens to everyone. We all change, we all grow, and we all evolve... its part of human nature. If we wish to survive in this world, we have to know how to adapt and move forward, and so many of us have mastered doing just that. For different reasons, mind you, but nevertheless there is not a single person in the CZW who does not understand the importance of moving forward against all odds. The problem with moving forward, however, is how one manages to do it. Some of us move forward with our heads held high, whilst some others go blindly into the future, their vision focused on the past. That's the problem I seem to find in everyone else towards me, actually... so many look to my past and they don't see the true story, they just see the surface of an ocean-deep reality. I've heard people talk before, of course... say that I'm trying to relive the glory days-- which, you know? I only retired... what, two years ago now? Just about? I'm in my early thirties, guys... I'm getting old, but I'm not an old man just yet. What I made was an early retirement and I changed my mind... most people would think it a good thing that I did. I suppose though that it's just the nature of the beast in the end... those that stand against you will conjure up everything they can to try and bring you down, even when those against you are generally good, decent people. It never changes, that at least is true. From Alan Fiscus to Krimson Blaze, the nature of the beast is prevalent in many. There was a saying I used a very, very long time ago... it's fitting, really, especially for those few of the CZW who believe themselves to be miracles of wrestling: we're nothing like God-- in fact, sometimes, we're driven to become the devil himself. There was a point in my career where I was driven to the brink and had to be helped back from it by a dear friend of mine, a time where I'd lost my mind and had to regain all sanity just to function well in the ring once more. The CZW was what provided me with shelter, a new home, a new hope for the future and eventually, a new life course I'd never thought possible. To spell things out here... my best days in the CZW? They're not over. They're not over, because I'm still fighting forward, and as long as I'm fighting in the CZW, I consider every day spent in this place to be the best day I've been within it. Sure, I can rank some matches in numerical order of importance to my career, but I treat each and every match the same in the end... and I can say this because hindsight allows me to do so. Tower of Pain? No different to me than a typical Triple Threat match, albeit with the environment changed to something... well, something entirely sadistic, really. The point is, my matches blur together and yet remain clear memories to me, and that's because I treat every match with the same importance. I did it then; I do it today, even when I've no fear of losing today like I had back then. That's the one thing that so many of my opponents up until this point have failed to realize, and something that many of my critics just don't seem to understand: there's a reason I'm out and about on behalf of the CZW, there's a reason I'm with our fans more often making appearances, making speaking arrangements, and what have you... it's because right now I can use my abilities as a business mogul to help spread the CZW's fame. That's what's important too, it's hooking in more people to see what we're all about. When I'm out there, sure it's my name that draws people in... but I'm not selling them on who I am, I'm selling them on who I work for, who made me, who put me in the world standing I find myself in today. The CZW has given me as much as it can, and now that I have the resources to give back, that's exactly what I find myself doing. It's honestly, very fulfilling work. So when I hear critics talk, when I hear opponents claim that I'm a washed up former champion who only holds a title because I can sneak in an opportunity? It doesn't offend me, hell it doesn't even really bother me at all... it just makes me laugh. It makes me laugh because even after everything I've proven, even after all the odds defied and the matches won despite all doubt... I'm still underestimated even today. These people to the CZW look at me and they don't see a legend, they don't even see a wrestler anymore... they just see a washed up former champion and expect an easy win over a guy who should have stayed retired. They don't know why I retired in the first place, they don't know the plans I put into action or the fact that, through that retirement, I was still making appearances and never resting in my dreams. Rather than learn anything valuable from this story of mine, they think it to be some sort-of challenge to their own superiority and like nothing more than wild apes, they begin to beat their chests and swing their dicks about like it's some sort-of game of one-upsmanship. Because I once had success and came back to the game, they feel like they're being threatened by a person who, in their eyes, has no right to even be around any longer. Sad fact of the matter is, KB, I'm here right now, I practically never left. It took me just about two years to do for my family's future what it takes most people a lifetime to achieve. The thing that most folks don't realize is...I didn't go to college for wrestling. I trained in a prestigious wrestling school, certainly, but what I went to college for was business... I understand this game better than most people in it do. That's why I was able to capitalize on so much from the business, work together with the board in order to make sure both the federation as well as myself prospered and, beyond that, it's why I was able to act as CEO of Acadian for the short while I did before handing the reigns over to someone else who, and this is just by the by, I brought in in the first place. Yet so many of the wrestlers still around today, and so many of these wrestlers now new to the CZW scene, just either don't plain remember or they never bothered to look it up. They never realized the impact I actually had on this place, never understood the goals and reasons I had for what I was doing... why do you think I've yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame? I retired, sure, but I wasn't going to be gone for long. In any event, after hearing all the criticisms and the comments going on about me, it just... I dunno, it sort-of made me a bit more confident, actually. These people are stretching for whatever they can find to reassure themselves that they'll do well against me. They keep reaching, and reaching, and struggling to grab at some misconceived notion that I'll actually take offense to what they say and let my guard down out of anger, so that they might capitalize on the advantage. I guess I'm going to have to spell this one out for the fine people who love to talk so much trash, yet seem so very afraid to back it up once their time in the ring begins: none of you, not a single, solitary one of you, could possibly deny me my dreams any longer. It's that simple, KB. You just... you can't. There's nothing left for you to do, I've already earned my dreams, I'm already living my dreams, and when all that's left for me to do is finish this chapter off on this story of mine, you can bet that I'm not about to let someone, especially not you KB, take the pen out from my hands. Writing out this final chapter is very important to me; you know... it really is the culmination of all my planning, the accomplishment of all my dreaming, and the fulfillment of a goal set long before my career ever truly began. I've already accomplished so much, but there's still so much left to be done, and to me... it's an honor to be able to do it all in the place that got me to where I am. That's why I'm entering into competitions where I can, that's why I'm accepting challenges and matches when they arrive, and that's why I'm going out cross-country for the CZW, spreading the name and the fame of the place that got me where I am today. It's because, for me, this is a dream come true... this is exactly where I never thought I could be in my career and yet somehow, here I am. Yet it is because of these accomplishments that still others criticize, claiming that I'm nothing more than a wrestler who lives through the titles he gains. Allow me to ask the question, however... how do you really think I gained these titles in the first place? How do you think I managed to reach all the success I have? It wasn't by luck or coincidence, that's for certain...and it certainly wasn't because of always being in hardcore matches because, hey, the majority of my matches in the CZW are standard singles. Yet because of success, they choose to judge. Because of accomplishments, they believe me to be a man only living through those accomplishments, and they stand by these beliefs because it's all they have to make themselves feel some form of moral superiority over a man they know they'll never truly be able to surpass. We have people like KB talking about how he's looking for revenge and how, despite his losses, despite what happened when we were a stable, he came out the winner in the end. He thinks people were talking about him more because he was the better man, the next hot star taking the CZW by storm... and it's sad, because he's only half-right and he's letting it get to his head. He is a member of this federation's future, there's no doubting that. KB has skills, a raw in-ring ability that makes him a serious threat to anyone who stands in his way, but that does not mean that he's already at the top of the federation because of it. The kid's headstrong, that's for certain, but the problem is that he's completely sober and rational when he says that he's at the top, and he truly believes that to the point of degrading those around him. Though, to be fair... I never believed I could function well with KB or anyone else back then, and look at how we turned out in X-ellence. Definitely not something I could have ever expected, KB makes a great partner and he's reliable in tight situations, even despite the history we've had with each other. In the end, however... to be honest? It doesn't matter who I team with, I'm going to work with them to the best of my ability, just because I know that we can excel if at least one of us has their heart into it. The problem with a lot of these critics is that they don't realize the heart that I still have for this thing, the burning desire I have to see this federation prosper and move forward just as each of us individually within it works hard to move forward with ourselves. They don't understand that a lot of this final chapter I'm writing here... it isn't just for me. It's for the fans I left behind prematurely, it's for the federation I had to stop fighting for awhile, it's for the people I left behind when I did what I had to do. Of course it's for me, there are things left from my last run that I want to experience and there are people left who I've never fought before that I would love to face one on one with someday... but I'm not the sole reason for what I'm doing here today. That's the whole point of this story I've been telling, the whole point of what I've spoke of up to this very moment. My family, my friends... the people who truly matter to me, they're who I do this for. For the fans who cheer me, who buy CZW products just because my name or picture is on them... these people who support me so fiercely, I refuse to let down. A guy can claim that I'm in it for myself, or that this humble attitude with confident bravado is nothing but a front to cover my gigantic ego... they can claim that I've never been a team player, or that I'm not cut out for the new breed of the CZW... But you know what? There's only ever been one person in my career here in the CZW who was right when they told me I wasn't a good team player, and it's because of that person that I decided to improve at it. Funny thing is, if she saw me today, I still don't know if she'd have forgiven me for the past... but at least she'd be proud of me for the present. She'd be proud because she knows at least that what she said before can't be said right now, and she'd be right there with me when I answered that I am a team player, and that right now, I'm out to help this place prosper more than anything. You see, kids... you all have your eyes on my past and see me in our present as if I'm trying to relive that glory. I'm not, those days are long behind me and I know there's no reliving them, so why bother trying when I can shape and define new moments in this life and career of mine? Hell, for all I know, the best of the best is still yet to come, and all that I've done up to this point in time has been in preparation for it. In this business, you never can know what to expect. The best you can do is study the tapes and prepare for anything. My past is secure and it's something I'm proud of, it's something I can look back on and say that I lived to the fullest of my potential during. There are people I've met along the way and friends I've made that today I couldn't give up even if I wanted to, and all because of the decisions I made and the person I was back then. The person who grew into who I am today. My present was planned out for a very, very long time... and those plans are what saw me find the success that I have. I'm proud of my present, because it took a lot of effort just to reach this point... and this point is something that even with all my planning I still didn't expect to reach in the end. My present is something I can live in and be happy, knowing that all I've wanted to accomplish I have, and all that's left to do now is tie up what loose strings still remain from before. Ah, but my future? Aside from looking as bright as it does, what do I know about it to say that it's secure? My past dictated my present, and my present dictates my future... and right now, the ball seems to be eternally in my court, doesn't it? Despite people somehow still underestimating me, despite me somehow being some messed up kind-of underdog even after all I've done... I still maintain clear control over the situations that surround me, and I don't let myself get sucked into the pettiness and the politics of the federation that so many of these newcomers get tangled in. Simply put, everything's gone according to plan up until now, and the plans I have for my future? Well... let's just say that although I'm already a legend today, this story of mine's only about to get better at its end, and my family? Heh... trust me, there will be more than enough little McNeil’s running around when it's all said and done. The legacy I leave behind in wrestling is something that's very important to me, something I hope can inspire others when they come in to build on their own careers... and to be honest, I think I'm doing a damn good job so far. Ah, but don't take my word for it. See for yourself, won't you? A sense of dread and foreboding rumbled on in the sky, a clear contrast to the happiness that seemed to radiate across the countryside where a single farmhouse sit among the hills. The land below the chaotic sky seemed completely peaceful, as a gentle breeze blew through, well ahead of what were sure to be stronger gusts of wind from the passing storm. The farmhouse itself is very elegant, more of an actual full-fledged estate in the countryside than anything else, and the yard that surrounded the home was expansive and beautiful, the estate itself very well kept. Neighboring homes were roughly 400 feet away from the estate, spaced out somewhat evenly, and the land the farmhouse resided on was roughly six acres large. A winding road cut through the countryside and ran along a fair distance from the homes themselves, with natural driveways stretched out from the homes themselves up to the passing road. A group of vehicles drives down the road itself-- four, to be exact-- and in each appeared to be a multitude of people. In front of the estate sits an older man on a chair, staring out with a smile at the approaching cars. He picks himself up off the chair and calls inside for someone, before making his way down the front porch of the home. Soon, another figure emerges from within the house, an older woman with a smile on her face as she comes down after him and the two go, hand-in-hand, a short distance down the driveway. The cars themselves eventually pull up and park along the side of the natural road, car doors opening up and the sound of excited children filling the air. "Grandpapa! Gramama!" Laughter fills the air as the older couple crouch down, catching the flood of oncoming children in their arms and hugging them all to the best of their ability. A fair number of the children pile on top of the older man and bring him down to the ground, laughing as they try to keep him pinned, the older man feigning fright at the prospect of being pinned. The older woman laughs happily, placing a kiss on one of the children's heads as they watch their siblings wrestle with their grandfather. "Mom! Hey!" Standing now, the older woman turns and embraces one of the young men coming forward, a large smile on her face as she does so. She hugs the man close and laughs softly, as he returns the hug and shares the laugh, before pulling back and smiling at her directly. "You look great, kiddo," the older woman says happily, before looking past him to the young woman stepping forward, "Samantha! How are you, sweetheart?" The young man's wife comes over and gives the older woman a hug, the two sharing in pleasantries as the older man eventually gets back up, the children dissipating around him and running off to go play around in the yard some. The remaining adults come over and greet the older man as well, as everyone shakes hands, hugs, and just enjoys one another's reunited company once again. "Cedric! I'm so glad you could make it," smiled the older man, hugging his eldest son close, "I thought with your schedule you wouldn't be able to." "I pulled some strings," the young man grinned, "It's not difficult when you’re a majority shareholder for the company, after all. I'm on tour right now, but I wouldn't miss this for the world." "What about Cesar? Where's he at?" "He'll be here, James's bringing him and Andrea along, the rest of the family's going to be a bit late though... it's just, James insisted upon driving apparently, so it may be awhile. You know how he is, loves making a grand entrance." The older man laughed, a grin spread across his face. Soon, the older man's two daughters, as well as his youngest son, come up to hug him as well. Their spouses and significant others come up soon after to greet the older couple, and before long everyone has gotten their hellos in, the large group of people now mingling out in the front of the home as the grandchildren run about and play while they can, the still looming storm in the distance making its way forward. "Hope James makes it here before the rain comes," the older man sighs, "Didn't expect a storm today... figures though, it's always rained when things are going well, I've started taking it as a sign of good times beyond anything else." One of the daughters laughs, throwing an arm over her father's shoulder and looking up at the approaching storm, "I'd say there's a difference between rain and an all-out thunderstorm though dad... one's just water and the other's electric death." The older man smirks, shaking his head, "Funny, Crystal." The sound of screeching tires fills the air, as a luxury car peels down the road and the driver honks well in advance of pulling into the long driveway, signaling the arrival of a man who's been just as much a part of this close-knit family as any blood member, and that man's family with him. The car turns sharply into the driveway and proceeds down it before coming to a screeching stop, facing sideways in the middle of the driveway with the driver-side door facing the family. There's a pause, and then suddenly the door opens slightly... and is kicked the rest of the way open. An older James West, huge grin on his face and music blaring from inside the car, leaps his way out from the vehicle as the children in the background begin cheering excitedly. The wrestling legend and family man strikes a triumphant pose as his wife and son exit from the vehicle as well, shaking their heads in amusement. "I HAVE ARRIVED!!!" A thunderclap sounds in the distance, the children squealing as James pumps his fist into the air, that grin never leaving his face. "That's right! The heavens themselves quake beneath my might!" "Hey kids, first to pin James gets ice cream." the older man suddenly speaks up, smirking directly at his oldest friend. Suddenly, the air is filled with the war cry of an army of determined grandchildren, as James's grin falters and he glances at the man, his jaw dropping. "Chief, you traitor!" Ronnie McNeil laughs, the children swarming James and bringing him to the ground as Andrea and Cesar watch on with smiles of their own. Toya stands beside Ronnie, their children watching their own children beat up on a man who's been like an uncle and a second father to each of them. A second grandfather to their own children. "It never gets old," laughs Cedric McNeil, before turning and making his way over to Cesar, the two touching fists, "And how goes it, partner? You guys make the trip alright?" "Absolutely fine. The rest of the family's on their way from the airport right now, the wife'll be arriving with them." Cedric nods, before turning to hug Andrea and then turning again to glance over at the still struggling James, shaking his head in amusement. "Looks like they're giving him a harder time then you ever did, dad." "I am not defeated so easily!" James shouts out over the laughter of the kids, struggling to pick himself up. "I'm not surprised, Ced... James IS getting old." "Wh-- Chief, I am going to end you for this!" The family would be completely together again soon enough, a large reunion to catch up on the past and check in on each other, to enjoy each other's company, and to relive the days that had passed them by all too long ago. For some, it was a vacation well needed and a chance to get back with their family again for the first time in quite some time. For others, it was a chance for relaxation and a chance to bond with some members of the family they'd not seen in seemingly forever. Ultimately, every member of this gathered family had a story to tell, every member was busy writing the next important chapter of their lives, and every member was collaborating with each other to reach those all-too important climaxes in the lives they lived. The fulfillment of their dreams, their hopes, their ambitions... it was a story that continued on for each generation, a story that never died out and would never die out to begin with. It was a story that began long before Ronnie McNeil and James West, a story that was set into motion before either man had ever met each other, let alone knew for certain that they themselves would choose the career paths that they did. In the end, however, it was the story of every individual member of that family, and the story of how their stories came together. For each of them, they found themselves in control of how their story went... and they commanded that control against the odds set in front of them, with the same determination that those before them had in commanding their own. For every challenge set before them in life, an ultimate goal had been reached and an ultimate happiness had been attained. For Ronnie McNeil, a man who had experienced both dream and nightmare, who had lived both a storybook life and a fairytale horror story, it was the most perfect way for things to have turned out. For all his planning, for all his trying, for everything he had ever aspired to get done... somehow, he'd always managed to surpass his own expectations. A legend of the game, a proud father and grandfather, a loving husband and friend... in the end, Ronnie finished his story exactly as he wanted, and no-one who wished to stop him in his tracks was ever able to, despite each and every one of their efforts to do so. In the end... there was nothing that was able to stop him. And that, Krimson Blaze, is just how the story goes. There's no changing it. No avoiding it. No stopping the inevitable. I'm a dreamer, a storyteller, a planner and a believer. So tell me KB, because I really do want to know now... ... just who the hell are you? See you at the PPV, old friend. Edited by R. McNeil, Jan 6 2011, 07:48 PM.
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