| It's a shame we had to wait 15 years to meet again. | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: May 15 2016, 11:32 PM (23 Views) | |
| Laura Seton | May 15 2016, 11:32 PM Post #1 |
|
It was arguably the most important match of her career—at least until the last couple of months. Laura Seton vs. Grady Smith. It wasn't exactly a headline match back when she was a rookie. To most fans, it seemed like a pushover, “take a night off” match for Grady. It was a June evening as they matched up. Her Television/Network Title run was still off in the distance. He was a legend. She was... … in need of something for fans to truly get behind her. Gates was in love with her, both looks and talent. She had shown plenty of potential in these first couple months of her career. But the fans? Understandably, they weren't sure what to believe. Was Gates just running her out there because he was dating her? Even with the ability she had shown her first handful of matches, was she really made out for wrestling? And in the early 00's... just what the heck was a woman doing in the ring anyways!? Why was she about to be sacrificed to Grady Smith? Was Gates stupid? With 20/20 hindsight—he knew exactly what he was doing. He was letting her learn by fire. Every time her career takes a step forward, this is the match Laura always points to, and its for good reason. But it wasn't the first time she had ever heard the name, “Grady Smith.” She wasn't a wrestling fan and she wasn't familiar with his entire pedigree as she stepped into the ring to face him back then, but the name wasn't one unheard. One of many memories she didn't want anymore. At the very least, not right now. She didn't want to think of him at the moment. Fences had begun to be mended three years ago, but if she had her way, this person wouldn't be in her mind at all. Certainly the situation, or whatever you want to call it, at least allowed for them to be in the same room and not have her want to take his head off—but heck, she hadn't seen him but once or twice since he extended an olive branch her way those three years ago. Still, he meant something to her. And he always would. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— February 11, 1999 Are you out of your mind? Why? Because I have an opinion? Because your opinion sucks! An average high school hallway. It would almost be wrong for one to never have arguments between boys, even petty ones. The wrestling boom was in full effect by this point, and two of America's top promotions were the light to this fire. Are you seriously taking his side? I don't think he has a side. Dube, do you have a side? No. So why am I wrong? Why is EWA not garbage? I don't get why you're so bull-headed that EWA is so meek compared to NYSWF. The three were standing in the lowest level of their school, between two classrooms, both currently empty—as if waiting for a teacher to show up. Aren't you the one that wants to join NYSWF once you're out of high school? Why stick up for the opposition? One time, Jason. Please, just one time let it go. Look, I watch both shows. New York is one style, EWA is a bit different. They don't have to be carbon copies of each other. If anything, I'm glad they're not. Sunday nights come around, I watch NYSWF Sunday Night Heat, then watch my recording of EWA. They're both good. Okay, I like NYSWF a bit more—that's why— Dube, you don't have to stick up for yourself. He doesn't want to buy your argument—that's that. Look for yourself, Smirt's in both— Smirt's a schyster! I personally cannot wait until he faces off against Grady again! Dude, Grady's like everything I want to be when I grow up. Even if he was supremely hated back then, he still had that quality. That “it” factor. The one guy most high school kids couldn't help but root for, even if they were partial to the good guys. Whether it was his catchphrases, the way he talked down to everyone and everything or simply how he could take over a match, he was like a magnet to the late-teen crowd. I have a shirt of his coming in the mail today... can't wait to wear it tomorrow. How are you gonna pull that off? Dress code says no shirts with graphics. No t-shirts with pictures. It's black, so all I do is wear a long-sleeved black shirt, wear the t-shirt over it... you can't see where the T's sleeves actually end. It's like I'm wearing a long-sleeved graphic shirt which IS allowed! If only you could put your thinking towards something actually useful... Maybe if Jason here would let his EWA hate drop. Is it like a problem with Gates or what? You have such irrational hate at times. Gates is clueless, yeah, but it's more than that. The only way— At that point, a door at the other end of the hall opens. Stepping out is someone that gets a big smile from Dube's face and a chuckle from Jason. ... the only I'll see EWA as something worthwhile is if Laura Seton wins the World Championship. Honestly?? You can't even come up with something at least possible like, “When Laura Seton reaches the WNBA?” Dube lets out a whistle, catching her attention. He gives a “come here” motion with his head before waving her towards them. Her backpack over her shoulder, she heads their way. I still cannot believe you're going out with her. You've been saying that since we were freshmen. Dude, she's a catch. Say, what's the best part about her? Definitely her cooking. Ever have any of her pie? Seriously?? She's halfway down the hall! Dube then rears back and slugs Jason in the arm. OW!!! What'd you punch me for!? Why do THINK? Still... … jerk. Should make a whole thing of this... Grady Smith with a shot to Smirt! And another! He gives a fake forearm smash, which Jason sells as Laura reaches them. Hello, boys. A kick to the gut! He's look for “Just Another Mark,”... No, no, no, wait a minute! HEY!! He picks up Laura Seton! He's got her... is it really time for a “Chokebuster?” Seton trying to... She kicks him as best she can from being on his shoulders. She knows he won't drop her, but it didn't hurt to play along. Unfortunately, a grown-up appears from one of the rooms a few doors down. In raggedy jeans and a worn shirt, it's obvious this isn't a teacher, but rather the school janitor. He simply shakes his head at what he sees. Dube, put her down... Mr. Harrelson... what are you doing here? Mr. Harrelson simply raises his eyebrows as if saying, “Did you hear what I just said” before walking up to the group as Dube lowers Laura. Look, you guys know and I know that you're just messing around, but what if another teacher saw this? Just keep it cool, okay? He begins walking away, only to shake his head. Friends beating up friends. What's this world coming to? Dube is about to open his mouth but Laura makes the “Shhh” sign. The janitor turns a corner and a few seconds later we hear a metal door clang shut. Don't you have somewhere to be? I'm getting my stuff right now. Good luck, honey! I don't need “luck,” but I appreciate it. You guys coming? In Racine, right? Exactly. I'm up for a drive tonight, you guys want in? Absolutely. Nope. Awesome. I'll see you tonight! She gives Dube a quick kiss on the cheek before heading around the same corner as taken by the janitor. Did she even hear you say no? And what's more important than watching your girlfriend's game? Bucks' home opener. Ah, that's right! That lockout really pissed me off. Still... she's letting this slide? She knows I've been waiting on this and besides, she's said if she didn't have her game tonight, she would go with me. Funny thing is, I think if you want to see a win, you're better off going to watch her than see the Bucks. And I think... YOU'RE DEAD WRONG! ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Thank you, Grady. I mean that with all sincere intention. It's not sarcasm. It's not anything to bait you into thinking I'm your friend before turning my back on you. I mean it fully. From the very bottom of my heart... … thank you! If it wasn't for you, who knows where I would be today? Fifteen years ago, you gave me a challenge. A challenge I had to have at that point in my career. Maybe you don't remember that match. I can't blame if you don't. You were in your prime. Everything was going for you. You were seemingly untouchable in New York and had become a living legend. There you were, with that entirely earned history of gold all over the place. Every time someone said, “Grady Smith,” a mention of a championship or two was sure to follow. Even my classmates back in high school were major fans of yours. Sorry if that makes you feel old. Still—there you were on one side of the ring... … and on the other side was me. A rookie. Someone so raw that I shouldn't have had any right to be in there with you then. Someone too stupid to even know what she was getting into with that match. “Grady Smith? Okay. Time to show the world...” And I almost did. Yes, wrestling is all about wins. If you don't win, you don't get very far. I may be about to learn that hard way considering last Fight Night, especially if I lose to you at Battlelines... … but I'll get to that in a moment. Everyone keeps wondering why I always talk about my match with you with such adoration like it's my own kid or something. It's because that's the match that made me. It showed I belonged here. Wrestling fans that wanted to doubt me had no choice but to shut their mouths. Fans that figured I could make it but were finding it hard to actually support me found their footing. Fans that shouted slurs and other mean things at me, to a large extent, quit doing so. Because they saw someone that was a wrestler. Not a novelty. Not someone just going somewhere because of who she was seeing. They saw what they had hoped to see from any other EWA wrestler. They saw someone that was going to give them their money's worth. People may have been wondering if you were going easy on me at first that evening. After all, I could understand. Why press yourself against someone so young and inexperienced? Save your energy for someone like Smirt or Haywood or Jack Daniels. Honestly, I don't know if that was your plan and it doesn't matter at this point. I pushed you to your limit. I went all-out against you and from what I've seen, both from my memory of that match, the actual tape and what you do against guys like those I've mentioned... …. you pushed me with everything you had. Maybe you realized you were going to have to go all-out in order to put me aside. For someone like yourself, I couldn't even imagine the blow to your ego if you had lost to me. So you did. You brought it all out. And yet I continued to fight. I fought when I likely should have stayed down. A smarter wrestler likely would have realized there was no way out and just called it a night. Ignorance is bliss. No, I did not beat you, but I defeated my critics—my initial ones anyway. This probably sounds like I'm trying to justify that the loss was okay. It's like I'm saying this was a “moral victory.” In a sense, it was since my confidence ballooned after it and people didn't look to me like I was a scrub from off the street. The harder you hit me, the more I attacked you. For all the words and mind games you said prior to our match and while we fought—I just kept going and going. There were no chants for me that evening. The name Laura Seton was still just the name of a rookie. It's not like this change in my stature happened in just one week's time. But that was the birth of it. If I have to honestly put my finger on the turning point of my career and when I decided I was going to be a wrestler for a vocation, that's it right there. It's all because of you, Grady. You brought out your best in order for me to show the very best that I had that night. I realized if I could almost beat you then, that with some refinement, I could actually knock you off. We never fought again. … … Now, we're in 2016. When I first saw you when I returned here, I wondered if you were just here for a final one or two shows. You disappeared. You came back and I wondered if you were going to settle the score that came up between you and your son. Then you disappeared for another short bit. Then... well, we all saw what happened last Battlelines. Then we heard the news. You were here for good. Or until you feel your body gives out. The wonderings came out all over the internet and the dream matches were floated. “Grady vs. Kage,” “Grady vs. Crippler,” “Grady vs. X...” … At the time it would have been absurd. Even to suggest what might happen to the competitors wouldn't have believed by more than two or three people. Seriously, back then, whoever would have thought a potential dream match could be... Grady vs. Seton. If we were in 2001 and someone came back in time to tell you Laura Seton would go on to a productive career, would you have believed that person? Would you have believed that person if they said that Laura Seton was the only one of us to win an EWA World Championship? I'm not trying to hold that over your head, by the way. I know it was only 10 days. You've held World Championships for seemingly 100 days. I'm not saying I'm this EWA goddess that can do no wrong against you and am forever impossible for you to beat again. I'm not an idiot. I'm just saying it's quite amazing that, while you're still a legend by any and all definitions, that little rookie you faced? That 20-year-old? She grew into something quite awesome in that ring. It's a match that should have happened numerous times just between that first time and the next two years. A classic or two should have taken place and perhaps Smith vs. Seton could have been up there as far as greatest rivalries. It's a shame we had to wait 15 years to meet again. |
| |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · The Warrior's Den · Next Topic » |






10:52 AM Jul 11