Post by PANTHRO on Sept 21, 2013 22:58:48 GMT -6
Prologue: Singles or Tag Team, I Don't Give A Damn.
Lightning Don't Strike Twice.
May 20, 2001
Student: Stephen L. Lenton
Nothing...
Nothing...
Nothing...
You could say I can be a little tense when it comes to a big match. I'm not the easiest to be around when shit is on the line. I didn't even think I'd get another shot at the belt, but here came Wulf and his big smile convincing me this could work. I wasn't sure, in fact I thought I didn't want any part of The Turks. It was just a one time thing, nothing was going to change, they would be the champions and I was going to just accept that and swallow that reality hard. Wulf changed my mind, and here I was, prepping for this match like it was going to be my last. Sweat was really pouring down my face as I looked into a mirror inside of my loft. A few sit-ups would get the blood pumping, I was looking into this image of myself wondering if I had what it took--no--if me and Wulf had the recipe to actually WIN this match. He promised me it, he said we had the touch, that we were close, but I just...
Somewhere in my head right now I didn't think it was possible due to the fact that me and Wulf weren't really that good of friends. I remember him coming over here to D.C. for a bit where we trained and talked. But somewhere I felt it wasn't meant to be. And it hurt my conscious to THINK like this, it really did make me feel like that scared lil' chubby kid from Suffolk who didn't even have the balls to tell the teachers people were bullying him. I stopped and glared at Wulf who just watched me working. He watched like he was admiring which...didn't make me feel any better about this situation.
Which was code for, "People are starting to think my door knob swings open."
Wulf Erikssen: Like?
I didn't want to B.S. with him, didn't seem right.
I get up and walk over towards the dumbbells that were set up near the mirror. I picked up the heaviest ones and started to do some simple bicep curls.
I liked how he could try and turn this into something that wasn't such a big deal. I guess he was just hiding the same feels I had or maybe...just maybe...he actually believed his own talk. I suffered from that and I came up 0-2 when it mattered the most. Your mouth can write a few checks your ass can't cash and I was a prime example of that. I give Wulf a look and then look back at the mirror.
The Big L sat at his patio, looking on at the sunny skies of Washington D.C., contemplating. The Big L looked on, his feet kicked up, and his hands restin’ on his stomach. He kept his eyes glued to the skies, rocking lightly in his seat.
There's this thing going around lately, circulating like a damn fly around a turd. People believe me and my partner Wulf Erikssen aren't a team. They wanna say me and Wulf aren't compatible, we are going to win, we aren't going to be able to get the tag titles. But you wanna know something that bothers me, people...are skeptics. They don't believe and Wulf are going to have any chemistry in this match and it rubs me the wrong way in a sense because a lot of people didn't think we could make it to the finals because let's be honest, a lethal lottery match where teams are at random?
C'mon. That's crazy talk.
What people don't understand is that Wulf and I have a lot in common, we got a lot of things in that ring that make us the best fit in this division. Some people can't see it, albeit, I couldn't see it either. But for a month, I've sat and talked with this man, I've listened to his stories, I've learned a lot about him, and at the end of the day I can say I understand him a little bit more than I use to. This guy I have for a partner is a goddamn champion, a warrior, someone who's just as optimistic as me, and shares that same passion for this entire thing with me. So The Turks, they might believe their a well oiled machine, believing that this tag team division is there's and only there's. But here and and Wulf are, knocking loud as Hell on your front porch waiting for you to open the door just a bit so we can squeeze int.
WE...are not going to let another opportunity slip through our hands. We came far enough at the beginning and Sunday night is going to be THE night where we finally get our hands on those Tag Team Championships. You can say what you want, we haven't tagged for long, we--it's needless bullshit used to try and downplay two good wrestlers. You wanna know something about a tag team, this ain't fuckin' Pacific Rim. I don't need to read his mind to know what he's going to want to do, because knowin' Wulf he's gonna wanna put a foot up someone's ass. That's what it's all about at the end isn't it? The fight. No matter how hard you might try and put us down, no matter how much you try and make us seem like we don't belong. At the end of the day...we're going to keep standing tall. No Church in The Wild is going to be a the event...where we break the mold of what an ideal tag team is. You can say what you want, you can try and kid yourself into believing that you've got the advantage, but if you haven't learned anything since around last tussle in the semi-finals for those belts, let The Big L just say...
Lightning Don't Strike Twice.
May 20, 2001
Student: Stephen L. Lenton
School Counselor: Alright Stephen, this is just a record about what you want to do when you graduate next year.
Steve Lenton: Sooo, kind of like...a video school record?
School Counselor: Yeah, nothing serious. It's kind of liiike....a compilation.
Steve Lenton: Alright, cool.
School Counselor: Alright state your name and grade.
Steve Lenton: Stephen L. Lenton, 11th grade; Junior.
School Counselor: Okay, Stephen first question: What do you plan to do when you graduate?
Steve Lenton: Well...I got visited by coaches...they say they like my skills in football. Dad and mom said not to get too deep though because they can make some promises that they can't keep to get me.
School Counselor: Really? What schools have contacted you...?
Steve Lenton: Hampton University, Virginia, Maryland, Virginia Tech. I personally like Tech, I heard they gotta big campus...although Maryland's looked nice too from the pictures. But my parents want me to stay in the state, they said they would miss me too much.
School Counselor: So you want to be a football player?
Steve Lenton: YEAH, it's been a big dream of mine really. I love the game, I mean it's been apart of my life since I was a kid. I don't want to give that up...not when it's so close. I've studied hard, I've worked hard, and this opportunity is coming my way and I can't pass it up.
School Counselor: Don't you have a back-up plan? Anything at all?
Steve Lenton: Not really.
School Counselor: I see. Listen, Stephen...the chances of getting into the NFL are 1 in a million. I mean, are you ready for that road?
Steve Lenton: Listen, I've been told I couldn't do things because I was overweight. I worked two summers and I lost over one hundred pounds and I feel amazing. What my dad told me is that, "Rather than telling people what you're going to do, show them." Hard work, dedication, and humility. There's going to be obstacles, there are going to be people who say I don't have what it takes, I'm not fit for this or that, people who are going to want to try and change me. But to be honest, those people can go stick it up their butts, because no matter what I do, whether I play football, work as a engineer, or become a pro-wrestler...I'm not going to give up because you told me to. I didn't get this far for that, and I will fulfill my dreams.No matter what, I'll keep fightin', what I was meant to do. Because who else is going to fight for me? No one. My parents, my little brother, my aunts and uncles...they can't hold my hand. So I owe it to them to man up, and take these risks....it's no fun not knowin' what's out there...in the WILD...y'know. Tigers, lions, and bears don't scare me. What scares me the most is not doing your best...
I'm going to do my best to matter what.
No matter where I am.
No matter who I meet.
No matter what stands in my way...
I'm going to do my best to matter what.
No matter where I am.
No matter who I meet.
No matter what stands in my way...
Nothing...
Nothing...
Nothing...
You could say I can be a little tense when it comes to a big match. I'm not the easiest to be around when shit is on the line. I didn't even think I'd get another shot at the belt, but here came Wulf and his big smile convincing me this could work. I wasn't sure, in fact I thought I didn't want any part of The Turks. It was just a one time thing, nothing was going to change, they would be the champions and I was going to just accept that and swallow that reality hard. Wulf changed my mind, and here I was, prepping for this match like it was going to be my last. Sweat was really pouring down my face as I looked into a mirror inside of my loft. A few sit-ups would get the blood pumping, I was looking into this image of myself wondering if I had what it took--no--if me and Wulf had the recipe to actually WIN this match. He promised me it, he said we had the touch, that we were close, but I just...
Somewhere in my head right now I didn't think it was possible due to the fact that me and Wulf weren't really that good of friends. I remember him coming over here to D.C. for a bit where we trained and talked. But somewhere I felt it wasn't meant to be. And it hurt my conscious to THINK like this, it really did make me feel like that scared lil' chubby kid from Suffolk who didn't even have the balls to tell the teachers people were bullying him. I stopped and glared at Wulf who just watched me working. He watched like he was admiring which...didn't make me feel any better about this situation.
Steve Lenton: Do you mind?
Wulf Erikssen: What?
Steve Lenton: You've been staring at me for five minutes now, and it's breaking my focus.
Which was code for, "People are starting to think my door knob swings open."
Steve Lenton: Look we're suppose to be training. I've been sweating my nuts off worrying about this match.
Wulf Erikssen: Yeah, I can see that, you've been zoned out for a good minute bud. Just wondering what's going on inside of your head?
Steve Lenton: A lot of things.
Steve Lenton: Are we going to lose again.
Wulf Erikssen: Of course not! You and me, we got this, we just gotta be on the same page.
Steve Lenton: Yeah?
Steve Lenton: Justin Brooks and I thought we were on the same page. Johnny and I thought we were on the same page. And not too long ago me and YOU thought we were on the same page, which end up with us losing in the semi-finals. ONLY for you to come to me when I had my 20-inch python out and about, to tell me you got Nick Gray to get us a title shot because of a favor...? Yeah, I'm not liking our odds, and I'm usually optimistic about this type of shit Wulf...
Wulf Erikssen: Is that all?
I liked how he could try and turn this into something that wasn't such a big deal. I guess he was just hiding the same feels I had or maybe...just maybe...he actually believed his own talk. I suffered from that and I came up 0-2 when it mattered the most. Your mouth can write a few checks your ass can't cash and I was a prime example of that. I give Wulf a look and then look back at the mirror.
Steve Lenton: What did you get us into...?
Wulf Erikssen: Well, maybe I thought we could get the job done. I mean we've got the tools, we know what has to be done, and I think we can win. Plus, it might do you some good to pick up a win...you've been moody.
Steve Lenton: Not moody...cautious.
Wulf Erikssen: You're cautious?
Steve Lenton: Yes, cautious. Cautious at the fact that if we lose...where do we go from here? We go our separate ways? After this it's IT. There ain't no third time's the charge.
Wulf Erikssen: Then we make this the last time. We don't let stuff like this get to us, we're suppose to be better than that. You and I both know that we had The Turks beat. We didn't pull the trigger, granted, we were still new at the idea of tag teaming. It took nearly FIVE Skype calls to convince you Steve I don't see the problem now.
Steve Lenton: The problem...is that ever since I was a kid I always made good on my promises. I always did what I SAID I was going to do, I never went back on my words. When I said I'm gonna do it, that's what I mean, I don't second guess my actions, I don't think twice about shit, I DO IT. And ever since I stepped into a ring, I don't even know who the fuck I am anymore. Like there's another big brown Incredible Hulk out in that ring that's afraid to go the distance. Maybe it was the shit that happened in my life back in the day, and maybe it was just me not keeping my eye on the prize. But something...is wrong...with me Wulf.
Wulf Erikssen: YEP, sounds like you gotta major delimma mate.
Steve Lenton: See you aren't taking this seriously...
Wulf Erikssen: Well what am I suppose to say? I don't have a doctrine in therapy or anything now do I? But what I do know is that all of that stuff you're feelin' deep inside of the pit of your stomach, is just nerves. Been in this business for a loooong time, and I can tell when someone's got the shakes. Believe me, when you get out there and have that adrenaline pumpin' through your veins, you'll feel like you could turn over a fucking building! I believe in ya Steve, we can win this.
Wulf Erikssen: Hey, when we win the belts, what do you wanna do afterwards?
Steve Lenton: ...What?
Wulf Erikssen: Me? I'm going to go and party like it's 2000! Beer, food, more beer, and even MORE beer! I might make a pool of beer and set it up in my house. Kind of a Scrooge McDuck type of pool, diving board and all.
Steve Lenton: ...I don't know...I got bills I gotta pay--
Wulf Erikssen: REALLY?! The Big L, worrying about the water bill. HA!! C'mon from what I've seen on your Twitter, the bills aren't on your mind.
Steve Lenton: ....Food.
Wulf Erikssen: Anything that you really wanna sink your teeth into?
Steve Lenton: My lifelong dream's been to get a giant rack of ribs like in the Flintstones. I wanna get enough money for that...
Wulf Erikssen: And you WILL get it when we win the belts!
Steve Lenton: You...are annoying as fuck.
Wulf Erikssen: Which is why you want me as a partner.
I didn't have anything to say to him. I just stood there and thought about it. He didn't have to say anything to me honestly...he came to me, I was worried about W's and L's I forgot I got into this because I wanted the challenge. I wanted to face the best, I GOT the best. Wulf might have been kind of wonky, but he had the right mindset. He was prepared to face anyone and anytime. I think he was going to start growing on me soon.
Wulf Erikssen: Alright, enough of all of this training. BAR! Point me to it!
I chuckle and think about it for a moment. I shrug lightly.
Steve Lenton: Alright, but I'm gonna have ONE drink.
Wulf Erikssen: Well, maybe I thought we could get the job done. I mean we've got the tools, we know what has to be done, and I think we can win. Plus, it might do you some good to pick up a win...you've been moody.
Steve Lenton: Not moody...cautious.
Wulf sat up a little on the bench he was sitting on and rose his left eyebrow up at me with a tooth grin.
Steve Lenton: Yes, cautious. Cautious at the fact that if we lose...where do we go from here? We go our separate ways? After this it's IT. There ain't no third time's the charge.
Wulf Erikssen: Then we make this the last time. We don't let stuff like this get to us, we're suppose to be better than that. You and I both know that we had The Turks beat. We didn't pull the trigger, granted, we were still new at the idea of tag teaming. It took nearly FIVE Skype calls to convince you Steve I don't see the problem now.
Steve Lenton: The problem...is that ever since I was a kid I always made good on my promises. I always did what I SAID I was going to do, I never went back on my words. When I said I'm gonna do it, that's what I mean, I don't second guess my actions, I don't think twice about shit, I DO IT. And ever since I stepped into a ring, I don't even know who the fuck I am anymore. Like there's another big brown Incredible Hulk out in that ring that's afraid to go the distance. Maybe it was the shit that happened in my life back in the day, and maybe it was just me not keeping my eye on the prize. But something...is wrong...with me Wulf.
Wulf scratched the back of his noggin at me and stood up. He pats me on the shoulder glaring through the mirror.
Steve Lenton: See you aren't taking this seriously...
Wulf Erikssen: Well what am I suppose to say? I don't have a doctrine in therapy or anything now do I? But what I do know is that all of that stuff you're feelin' deep inside of the pit of your stomach, is just nerves. Been in this business for a loooong time, and I can tell when someone's got the shakes. Believe me, when you get out there and have that adrenaline pumpin' through your veins, you'll feel like you could turn over a fucking building! I believe in ya Steve, we can win this.
I suck my teeth and continue to lift, staying quiet. Wulf sighs and shrugs his shoulders. I didn't know how he did it, how he kept his cool. But it was starting to make me think I chose a crazy person to tag with. Wulf picked up some weights and started to lift himself. Wulf stops and thinks for a moment.
I stop and glare at him.
Wulf Erikssen: Me? I'm going to go and party like it's 2000! Beer, food, more beer, and even MORE beer! I might make a pool of beer and set it up in my house. Kind of a Scrooge McDuck type of pool, diving board and all.
Steve Lenton: ...I don't know...I got bills I gotta pay--
Wulf Erikssen: REALLY?! The Big L, worrying about the water bill. HA!! C'mon from what I've seen on your Twitter, the bills aren't on your mind.
Steve Lenton: ....Food.
Wulf Erikssen: Anything that you really wanna sink your teeth into?
Steve Lenton: My lifelong dream's been to get a giant rack of ribs like in the Flintstones. I wanna get enough money for that...
Wulf Erikssen: And you WILL get it when we win the belts!
I smirk and look at him placing the weights down and give him a content glance.
Wulf Erikssen: Which is why you want me as a partner.
I didn't have anything to say to him. I just stood there and thought about it. He didn't have to say anything to me honestly...he came to me, I was worried about W's and L's I forgot I got into this because I wanted the challenge. I wanted to face the best, I GOT the best. Wulf might have been kind of wonky, but he had the right mindset. He was prepared to face anyone and anytime. I think he was going to start growing on me soon.
Wulf Erikssen: Alright, enough of all of this training. BAR! Point me to it!
I chuckle and think about it for a moment. I shrug lightly.
Steve Lenton: Alright, but I'm gonna have ONE drink.
One drink my ass.
The Big L sat at his patio, looking on at the sunny skies of Washington D.C., contemplating. The Big L looked on, his feet kicked up, and his hands restin’ on his stomach. He kept his eyes glued to the skies, rocking lightly in his seat.
Steve Lenton: September 22nd, The Big L’s gotta mission. It ain’t about doin’ his best; Fightin’ that good fight, trying to bring the fans to their feet. No, The Big L has notice lately when the opportunity rises, when the pressure is on he chokes. So The Big L, he goes into this tag team tournament not too long ago, about a month ago, and he makes it to the semi-finals with his partner Wulf Erikssen. The Big L, he was primed and ready, he was willing to go the distance, even though he lost the International Championship, The Big L didn’t become distraught, he didn’t kick himself in the goddamn ass. He went out there, head held high, and he wrestled, and we could have won it all, we could have been the champs NOW, we could have been this or that, but the fact of the matter is, would of...could of….don’t mean jackshit in a business where anything can go. And I keep tryin’ to kid myself this is like football, that my drive alone is going to allow me to strive here.
I lean forward, taking my feet down, grabbing the corners of my mouth as I look at the camera lens.
Steve Lenton: This ain’t football, you ain’t gotta tell The Big L that. The Big L...wants to tell ya somethin’ personal, real personal. He’s shared…..everything with you guys and told you many stories. The Big L however….wants to let you know somethin’ about himself: All of that shit I talk, sometimes….I don’t think I can back it up. In that heat of the moment, I say certain things that could get my ass in trouble. But you know something, wanna know something REALLY personal about me?
I love the thrill.
I love the fact that my plans could blow up in my face. I love the fact that people have the power to prove me wrong, and I LOVE...the FACT...that people take my shit to heart because it shows me that they care more about the match than I do. That thrill, the thrill of the unknown, the WILD...that we’ve been thrown into...is vast...and dangerous. So I open my mouth I say a few things that might get me in trouble. But at the end of the day it’s going to pay off and Sunday night is going to be the night my talk pays off. Because a lot of people see me and Wulf as underdogs, due to the fact The Turks ain’t had a decent contender in awhile. They’re use to being in this spot, they’re use...to being the top in their division, and they are use to being this because no one has been able to put a foot in that small gap between them and The Turks.
I look at The Turks, I see them as legit, ain’t got a problem with them, ain’t got no beef with the way they do business which is hard-nosed and gritty. They do what they gotta do to win and The Big L ain’t got nothing but respect for this team. But let The Big L let you know something, and let it be known, he still respects you. But he isn’t going to let someone tell me and Wulf and I aren’t a team based off of semantics. Lemme tell you something, me and Wulf...we got a understanding. That is we win the belts, we become the new champs, and you have to RESPECT what the hell we're trying to sell. You wanna know where the viciousness is? Where that BARK is?! Let me tell you somethin' Sal, I didn't have a problem puntin' all one hundred and forty five pound of you across a ring. You wanna talk vicious?
I stand up and glare at the lens, the intense aura began to form around me.
Steve Lenton: See it's one thing to say I don't got the goods to hold your belt? But it's another when you insult my fucking manhood and think I'm going to be okay with it. You think you understand what it takes to BE the best. You think you understand what it's like to put your life, heart, and well being on the line?! I've been in sports since I could write in cursive. I know what it's like to lose, I know what that EDGE is and I've jumped off of it plenty of times. I've shown people up who think I ain't got what the Hell it takes to bring out the animal. Believe me Sal, YOU...don't wanna see The Big L in Beast Mode, because once it's on lil' mama you don't just turn it off. Viciousness, that bark, and snarl you want? Is what's going to get you and your man Andreas in trouble if you keep thinking that you've got a killer instinct. You don't just produce it you're born with it......like me. It's been dormant since I I lost the International Championship, yeah. But seeing as you wanna pluck my nerves and shit, I think I found the motivation.
The Big L knows you feel a certain type of way about getting shafted for the titles. But you wanna know something, you won'em. You beat the odds, albeit, when you put a few names in a hat and shuffle it around, yeah...a cocktail of luck on your end. You wanna say I've become the afterthought, well, The Big L's going to leave a bit of history behind: The Big L is going to kick your asses, take your straps, post a photo on Instagram of a selfie WITH the belt. The Big L knows he can do this because Sal and Andreas, he TRUSTS Wulf. Wulf might have had people fooled, but deep down this guy's got all the makings of a champion. You can think what you want, put your noses up in the sky. In fact, I want you to do it. I want you to get a BIG WHIFF of the air in that arena, big, big inhales of it. Because the Big L's going to have something for you. A BIG ASS helpin' of humble pie, baked with love, and filled with intensity that's gonna blow the Turks AWAY!!! The Big L is ready for a fucking war. THE WILD, better be ready, because SIMBA'S comin' home!!! NOTHING is going to hold me back again. Not The Turks, not my doubts, nothing....nothing.......
Steve Lenton: ....NOTHING.
The Big L knows you feel a certain type of way about getting shafted for the titles. But you wanna know something, you won'em. You beat the odds, albeit, when you put a few names in a hat and shuffle it around, yeah...a cocktail of luck on your end. You wanna say I've become the afterthought, well, The Big L's going to leave a bit of history behind: The Big L is going to kick your asses, take your straps, post a photo on Instagram of a selfie WITH the belt. The Big L knows he can do this because Sal and Andreas, he TRUSTS Wulf. Wulf might have had people fooled, but deep down this guy's got all the makings of a champion. You can think what you want, put your noses up in the sky. In fact, I want you to do it. I want you to get a BIG WHIFF of the air in that arena, big, big inhales of it. Because the Big L's going to have something for you. A BIG ASS helpin' of humble pie, baked with love, and filled with intensity that's gonna blow the Turks AWAY!!! The Big L is ready for a fucking war. THE WILD, better be ready, because SIMBA'S comin' home!!! NOTHING is going to hold me back again. Not The Turks, not my doubts, nothing....nothing.......
I nod my head with a determined stare.
The scene begins to fade away...and then.
Fade. Static. End.