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Posing a Major Threat?
Topic Started: Jul 19 2009, 08:20 PM (25 Views)
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As the sweat poured off his brow after the exertion of the evening’s match, Punk was awash with a complex and bittersweet concoction of feelings.

There was bitterness a plenty. For truly – what tasted more bitter than defeat? Nothing at all if one was as fierce a competitor as Punk in fact was. After all his protestations on the previous Warfare about not being pinned at King of the Ring or the fact he had been screwed when they finally met one on one he had gone and been pinned one on one in the ring – by none other than Kendrick himself.

His lack of success against the Intercontinental Champion was quickly becoming a source of concern. After all that had happened – was it simply a fact that Brian Kendrick had his number? It was a worrying thought, but one that persisted to bother him nonetheless.

Yet there was a hope and hope that managed to somewhat sweeten the taste in his mouth. Despite his team’s defeat that night – there was still a second chance and hope for redemption. Not only was his Intercontinental Title rematch just over a week away, but, six days before that he had another chance at gold.

When he and Shelley first started discussing Punk in a canteen one evening he had not expected that only a month or so later the two would be competing side by side for the chance to be recognised as the EBWF’s premier tag team. It was in fact rather surreal and Wes Ikeda’s announcement had come as quite a shock. Yet however shocking or surreal; it was a chance to make amends for tonight and a chance to achieve success and glory.

And Punk knew that such chances would dry up very soon if he continued squandering them much longer.

****

Once more it was time for Punk to get in the zone and put his game face on as Todd Grisham stood by with a microphone in his face and a camera about to roll. With his Warfare main event only hours away, he really didn’t need to any acting when adopting the focused and intense glare that he now exhibited.

Grisham: CM Punk, tonight you alongside Alex Shelley will challenge for the EBWF Tag Team Championships – your thoughts ahead of this encounter...

Punk: Todd, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Alex Shelley and I have never actually competed in a traditional tag match together, our opponents have dominated the Tag Team division in recent months and in case you haven’t noticed, I’ve not exactly been on a role as of late. But I’m ready, I’m focused, and I’ve got my eyes fixed firmly on becoming an EBWF Tag Team Champ tonight and I don’t intend to let the chance to do that slip through my fingers.

Grisham: Are you concerned between the relative gulf in experience between the two of you as teams?

Punk: Again I can’t deny that while Storm and Jericho are undoubtedly a well-oiled machine that, despite our singles division accomplishments, are rookies. But perhaps therein lies the danger for Storm and Jericho. Their experience is unquestionable – but is there a danger of them underestimating the team of Alex and myself? I would say so. We’re the underdogs here, but then that’s how the two of us like it. I’ve never been the biggest or the strongest. I’ve never been the most chiselled or proficient in traditional techniques. People have written me off before and continue to do so now. They’ve already written off this team’s chances before it has even begun. But one thing I can assure you Todd is that if FedEx make the mistake of underestimating us tonight, they will be leaving Rochester without those pretty gold belts around their respective waists.

Grisham: You cannot argue though that, after Fed Ex’s triumph on Thursday Night that they carry a certain amount of momentum into this title defence?

Punk: Dude, what can I say? We are very much the underdogs, almost nobody is expecting us to win. As you might imagine, not being one for vices I am not a betting man. But I imagine that the odds in bookmakers across the country would not favour a Shelley/Punk victory tonight. But as I’ve said, this only works in our favour. Momentum is important, but I have something even more important than that on my side right now – desire and inspiration. First of all I challenge anyone who believes they thirst for success more than the two of us. With every defeat, every setback, that thirst becomes more apparent and the desire grows and grows. Secondly, I’m actually pretty pissed off right now – and feeling like that is a pretty decent fuel for competing. With everything that has happened between Shelley and I and Fed Ex and everything we’ve suffered – we are very much the wounded animals in this encounter. Just like any wounded animal we are at our most ferocious and most dangerous. Tonight Todd, you will witness these wounded animals take those titles from Fed Ex.

Grisham: There is no lack in confidence then?

Punk: I look at it this way. Are they more experienced than us? Yes. Have they had more success together than us? Yes. But are they more talented than us? No. Have Jericho and Storm proven themselves against the two of us? I’d say not. Are they going to win? Well, you can rest assured that neither myself nor Alex are going out there with any intention of letting that happen. An upset is on the cards my friend and I tell no lie when I say the EBWF Tag Team division could very well be on the cusp of a new era.

Punk smiled and walked away exuding a certain amount of confidence and doing so rather convincingly. Yet in actuality, he really didn’t know if he’d believed a single word of anything he had just said in the entire interview.

****

Despite the magnitude of the task the pair had to undertake that evening, Alex Shelley and CM Punk had spoken only once since Thursday Night and when they had, the match itself hadn’t even been discussed. Somehow, perhaps after being seen talking to Nicole, Punk had found himself feeling the need to give Shelley some advice about his love life. That being said, the last thing they needed tonight was distractions or even worse, his partner wondering about the relationship he had with his partner’s former lover. For that reason what he said had been for the best, but the match itself still needed discussing.

He found Shelley sitting down on a bench in the locker room, looking pensive and nervous. This was a fairly accurate mirror of how Punk had been looking and feeling all day.

Punk: Hey man, what’s up?

Shelley: Ah you know, just the usual - main events and gold belts, that’s how I roll...

Punk: Oh yes, that’s how you play the game. Speaking of which, you feel ready for tonight then?

Shelley: Well I guess so, all things considered.

Punk: All things considered?

Shelley: Well with us never having tagged together before, barely even knowing each other and all that and, the fact they whooped us last week et cetera...

Punk: Ah yes, I suppose those are things you would consider.

Shelley: Do you actually think we can do this?

Punk: Honestly I don’t know – on paper they seem pretty long odds. But you know what, gambling and odds relies for too much on luck. And we all know what I think of that.

Shelley: Ha, well yes, I guess. But seriously, do you think we have a shot?

Punk really did not know and in fact he more than had his doubts. But he knew that it would help neither of them if he was negative right now. As Shelley voiced his doubts, Punk needed to be there to offer some confidence and encouragement.

Punk: Well dude, I’d be the first guy to say that you are one hell of a talent – as the title you hold proves. I like to think that I’m no in ring slouch myself. We’re both talented, our styles complement each other. We share the same passion for the industry and insatiable desire to win and be successful. Those my friend are extremely good foundations for a very good and very successful tag team. Trust me, if we stay on our toes and stay on the same page – whoever we face we’ll be a major threat....

For the second time that day he was unsure of how strongly he believed the words coming out of his mouth. He was not one for being liberal with the truth, but it was one of those times when being brutally honest really wouldn’t have been productive. Even if he wasn’t convinced himself, he needed his partner at least to believe they had a chance going into tonight even if it meant lying to his partner and himself. What else could he do?

Shelley: Hmmm... Major Threat eh...

Punk: Yeah that’s right... don’t you believe that?

Shelley: Oh no rest assured I believe it... it just gave me an idea.

Punk: Oh?

Shelley: Well I guess this might not be the most pressing matter, but, that sounds like a pretty good name for our tag team.

Punk: A name for the team... erm, do we need one?

Shelley: I suppose we don’t but, think about it for a second. Apart from sounding pretty dangerous, it’s also something of a reference to Minor Threat.

Punk: Ooh yeah, now that I do like.

In fact he really liked it. Had someone told him five minutes ago that, in the wake of what faced them they’d be discussing names for a tag team he would not have been pleased. The notion was similar to the irksome trend of groups of friends forming bands to spend hours discussing a name before writing any music. Yet there was something about this that seemed inspiring.

Shelley: I thought you might and, wasn’t that like the subject that first got us talking?

Perhaps that was it. The name and the reference in particular seemed to encapsulate what had resulted in their friendship and partnership in the first place. Not only that but something about having a name made him (and he suspected this was the case for Shelley as well) feel like they were an official team. It bound them tighter if you would. That was something that could prove surprisingly valuable when competing with one and other.

Punk: Ha yes it was actually, that’s a pretty apt name then. Well then, I guess we can forget just being Punk and Shelley. Tonight, Fed Ex will defend their Tag Team Title’s against Major Threat!

With this Punk extended his hand, which Shelley grabbed in return, without hesitation. As if to emphasise their friendship and unity, they embraced in a brotherly fashion and patted each other heartily on the back.

Shelley: You know what dude?

Punk: What?

Shelley: I do believe we can actually do this.

Punk: So do I my friend, so do I.

With that Punk slapped Shelley on the shoulder again before making his way towards the locker room exit. Finally, he was beginning to believe it himself.

****

Deliberately and methodically, Punk wrapped the tape around his arms complete with the straight-edge symbol – more nervous than usual before a match. He was breathing steadily and, as he stretched and sought to loosen up, he couldn’t quite calm his nerves as he usually did when he prepared.

Yet despite this, he still felt a great deal better than he had done only hours previously. His conversation with Shelley had helped him come to a realisation that, what their team lacked in experience it made up not only in talent, but something that he believed Lance Storm and Chris Jericho lacked – a true bond of friendship.

He didn’t pretend to be privy to the inner-workings of the deadly machine that was FedEx, but there seemed to be no sign that the men were anything other than convenient allies. Of course there was no doubting that Jericho and Storm shared a certain Canadian bond – but did anything else draw them together apart from their shared nationality and desire for success.

Punk and Shelley shared the same drive and desire that their opponents did, but they also shared a real and true friendship. They had not known each other long, but already they were forming a friendship and already Punk was beginning to feel like Shelley’s older brother. This could only stand them in good stead when it came to teaming together.

Perhaps this may yet need to develop and success would elude them soon. But if not straight away Punk was convinced that win, lose or draw tonight – there was a bright future for Major Threat.
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