Post by PANTHRO on Oct 19, 2013 21:33:59 GMT -6
Prologue: A Limit.
The Big L’s going to get right to it because he’s been through some shit for the past couple of weeks. See The Big L he’s been marinating in this little stew that was made by Magnus Gunner and Zack Lifer. The Big L and Wulf get taken out by two bastards who thought they deserved a chance at the straps The Turks are holdin’. So The Big L is layin’ there thinking to himself, “Damn my head in throbbing.” wondering what the Hell just happened. The Big L ended up getting checked into a hospital, that’s right they brought the One and Only down with a concussion. And I remember the doctor tellin’ me:
“Mr. Lenton, I advise you to postpone any appearances. You’re hurt, you are in no condition to perform.”
So The Big L looks at the doctor and tells him to write his big black ass a prescription for that strong ass aspirin they got layin’ around the place and put his ass back on a flight to D.C. so he can train and prepare for the upcoming shitstorm that is going to ensue for the Tag Team Championships. The Big L knows that we’re in for a fight, he knows that we’re going to be going up against some very dark forces that creeped from the ass crack of Exodus Pro. And y’know what, The Big L is ready. You worked him over good, you worked The Turks over good, you made your presence known. Good for you, congratulations. Your prize? A boot FedEx delivered STRAIGHT to Gods and Monsters’ ASS!!!!
I've been trying my hardest, The Big L has been trying to keep some restraint, because he wants to make this fair. But if they want a war, they've got a fucking WAR!! I've been here since Exodus came from it's infancy. I've watched great wrestlers come and go through that door, and I don't plan on being one of them. We got rid of one threat to Exodus, me and Wulf can get rid of another bunch of bad apples that have been sittin' sout for a little too long. So you can beat me up, scramble my brains, shit, turn me into a vegetable to get some self-satisfying kick out of it. But the Big L is gonna keep getting up, he's going to KEEP fighting and he's going to make sure that you don't walk out as champs, and either will The Turks!!!
While I'm on a roll, lemme talk to two guys I've faced, two guys I know, who I've respected, and in return have gained the respect of. Blake Jones, first off you've got almost all of the talent in the world and I damn respect you. I wish I could grow up to be just like you as a matter of fact, because you've got the attitude I've TRIED to perceive since I joined. The Big L knows how you fight, you ain't afraid of shit, in fact it would be disrespectful of me to say you aren't prepared, because you always got your guns loaded and ready to point at someone. But BJ, my dear friend? You can't match your peashooters to my shotgun, which LOADED. COCKED. And ready to FIRE in one single BURST!!!
I know we've got a friendship, we've met each other over dinner, we've shared stories, we've bonded. That friendship Blake, that's never...gonna change, because The Big L will forever be a friend of Blake Jones. But Blake, you and I both know, someone's gonna have to win. Shit it might not even be you and me, but someone's got to win, and when that time comes Blake we're going to have to make sure no one walks out of this match with that W. I want to stand toe to toe with you in that ring, I want that match to come down to the WIRE between us both. But that's only gonna happen if we don't fight past Savannah Taylor and Johnny Cannon.
Now Johnny Cannon I know, he's gotta loud mouth, he's cocky, dude knows he's packing a revolver in his knickers and he ain't afraid to swing it. I just hope he don't swing it at the newbie in Savannah Taylor. We don't want lil' mama gettin' traumatized. Savannah, welcome to the jungle, this big vast wild safari filled with nothin' but predators. Me, I'm King Kong around here surrounded by lions and hyenas wanting to state their claim as the king. Me, I'm trying to make my way to the throne.
And I know you are too, or else you wouldn’t be here. This is a tough one for you no doubt about it. They throw you in with a bunch of dudes because they’ve got confidence in you. I for one can’t wait to see what you do. The Big L’s heard the talk, people see this as your anticipated debut and The Big L wants to give you a big warm welcome to ExPro. HELL, with our string of luck the three of us might just give it to you if we aren’t payin’ enough attention in this match. I just want you to know one thing, debut or not, The Big L ain’t layin’ down for no one. He ain’t gonna let the new person come into his home and take his seat at the table. You’ve got the hype Taylor, you got people talkin’ you up. It’s time to live up to the expectations lil’ mama.
Then we got Johnny Cannon in this match to see if he can go back to rekindling that fire he had in the pit of his gut when we faced off for the International Championship months back. Cannon, all I can say is WAKE...UP!! I don't know what happened, I don't know where that fire went, but I better see that shit in this match. I better see Cannon, the guy who shows up for this matches, the man who beat me for the belt make some moves!! You lost your belt, boo-hoo, I lost, I got back up, and I'm still fighting my way to another belt. We don't sulk as former champs, we get back in that driver's seat and we try and get things back in order. The odds are stacked against you, and there's a small window of hope that you'll win this match.
Has that stopped you?! No.
All I know I don't want to fight an unmotivated Johnny Cannon, because the unmotivated Johnny Cannon sucks. What I want is the guy who's not gonna hesitate to kick my goddamned head off. I want the guy who's willing to scrappy, get down and dirty, take them licks, and pull out a win from out of his ass!! I WANT the Johnny Cannon that's going to SHUT ME UP THIS MATCH!!! Cannon, I respect the HELL out of you, more than anyone in this company in fact, and I know the sacrifices and the strides you've made to become one of the best wrestlers in Exodus Pro Wrestling. The Big L is always humbled when he faces you because Cannon you're that damned good. But I better see some light in those eyes behind those $15 glasses you got from Macy's. Because if you don't show up, The Big L wins, he moves on, he gets that needed push to get his hands on Magnus Gunner and Zack Lifer, while winning the Tag Team Championships with his boy Wulf!!! The Big L's just SHIVERING at this match, the adrenaline is oozing from his pores, he's ready for a fight!!
Get Your Popcorn Ready.
October 6, 2013
San Diego, California
This light the doctor was flashing in my eyes was getting annoying fast. He stopped and wrote something down on his clipboard and glanced up at me, adjusting the glasses on his face slightly.
Steve Lenton: ….No.
Doctor: Just tell me what you can recall.
Steve Lenton: I was getting worked over pretty good in the match, I’m fighting back. Next thing I know everything goes black and I wake up 2 minutes later and my partners and I are getting checked out by the medical staff….
Doctor: ….Can you remember where you are?
Steve Lenton: San Diego, California….
Doctor: Okay, ahem, Steve we ran a CT scan on your brain, you have a mild concussion…and we recommend that you take your next show off so you can heal up. With the condition you’re in right now we suggest that you rest and also.
Steve Lenton: There’s no way I can do that, not with what happened. Look, doc, I appreciate you givin’ me the rundown, but I’m coming back here….and I’m NOT going to let them dictate my well being. Now, can’t you give me some….medicine or something?
Doctor: I take it you’ve never suffered a severe injury. So let me put it bluntly, you risk shortening your career. The whiplash effects of that clothesline from what your company’s medical team had stated to us were critical, meaning if ANYTHING like that were to happen again you’re going to end up back here as a vegetable.
Steve Lenton: ….Can I go now?
I get up off of the table and put my shirt back on glaring at the doctor. He sighs and shakes his head.
Doctor: You’ll need plenty of sleep. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin, take Tylenol if you have any headaches.
Steve Lenton: Thanks.
I was having trouble buttoning up my shirt, my hands were shaky and I began to blink a few times. The doctor noticed this and looked back at me.
Steve Lenton: I’m fine.
Doctor: Look, at least let us call you a cab. You are not driving, not on my watch.
I couldn’t say no, because he actually made sense. I shrug my shoulders and give a slightly nod.
A few minutes later a taxi van pulled up and I got inside of it. The driver looked at me for the directions of my hotel.
Steve Lenton: Uhm.
The words weren’t forming, I snapped my fingers trying to think of the street name and the hotel. It took me a good two minutes before I spat something out.
Driver: Alrighty.
He drove off, and as soon as I left that hotel I knew something was wrong….
A Week Later
Washington D.C.
“We are now a week into the government shutdown and families working for the government are trying to figure out how they’re going to feed their family. As the GOP and White House continue their stalemate, many wonder if this looming cloud will turn into the government defaulting next week--”
I turn the volume of this garbage down as I walked around my loft with the phone glued to my ear.
….
What did dad say about it? ….Yep, sounds just about right. Listen, I’m fine, just a few headaches here and there, but ain’t anything serious. They can’t put me down that easily, not yet anyway. Look, mom I gotta go, I’m gonna work out for a little bit okay? I love you, tell dad I said hello….okay, yes I love you too mom, bye bye.
I sigh and shake my head at my phone before putting it back on the hook. My mom was really worried, it wasn't like I died. I understood her concern, but I was a grown ass man. I'd take my lumps and give some right back. that's the way it was. In this business I couldn't let some concussion handicap me. Plus, I had a match, a big one too. It was the first singles match I had since teaming with Wulf and this was the perfect chance to try and get my legs back underneath me. We needed some sort of momentum and with this four way dance, this was the perfect chance to get some of that. Even though it was gonna be tough, I needed to pull through. I looked around the house, the eerie sound of silence. I sigh and walk towards my sound system. I looked through my vinyl collection looking for something to listen to. Many people would say I was a nerd for listening to old songs on a record player no less. Me, I liked my jams, what could I say. The digital age with these crazy kids and their iPod Nanos. I was an old school kind of cat. I looked through my records trying to find something.
I found my Kenny Loggins record. I was in a Kevin Bacon type of mood. I put the record on. "I'm Free" by Kenny Loggins played. I nod my head to the song...
If there's anything worth my love it's worth a fight...~"
I sang along, there's something about Kenny Loggins that gets you in that right frame of mind for a big moment. I nod my head a bit more as I went towards my little workout area I set up near the living room. I warmed up a bit, stretching, pulling, getting loose; Though I was a bit lightheaded after my routine warm ups, I just thought I hadn't been working out a lot since coming back to D.C. The doctor told me to relax, sleep, get rest...but I can't. I'm too wound up over what Lifer did to me. That fire in my eyes began to blaze as I laid down on my bench and picked up my barbell and started to lift.
I did about two reps of ten, not wanting to push myself too hard. I sat up and continued to listen to the song, staring off into the distance, not day dreaming or visualizing my match. Everything was blurry, not only that Kenny Loggins was beginning to echo, a hallow echo, with no music, just his voice...all I could hear was his voice. Maybe I did go a little too much, I wiped my face as I continued to listen. I mumbled singing to myself....
Steve Lenton: Heaven Helps The Man Who Fights His Fear...Love's the only thing that keeps...me here...
The room was spinning. Water, maybe I needed some water. I stood up and walked to the kitchen. I ran the water and went to get a glass, my hand was shaking terribly. I dropped the glass on the floor. I sighed glaring down at it, I staggered to get a broom. I tripped and fell down slouching against the refrigerator.
I tried to pull myself up. Everything I had I put into my right arm which I used to pull myself up. I slowly walked to my table and sat down and rubbed my head. My phone went off, I ran through my pocket and pulled it out. It was a message from Wulf asking me if I was ready for my match. I shook my head trying to get some bearing. For whatever reason I texted back:
Maybe it was a bad move on my part, and maybe I was crazy for doing this in my state. But if I didn’t they won. I wasn’t gonna let them see that I was wounded. They weren’t gonna put this bronco down, and I was gonna show them that they could put me through the ringer...but I was still here. I stood up and got my things ready for my flight to California. I knew I could do this, I was still me, I was The Big L. I can do this….
…
I can still fight.
Saturday October 19, 2013
San Diego, California
The doctor looked over my X-rays. He looked back at me as I awaited the results. The company made it mandatory to make me see a doctor, whether I wanted to or not. He checked his charts and then looked back up at me.
Steve Lenton: I feel like I can fight, I think that I’m feeling a little better.
Doctor: Alright a simple test: What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Steve Lenton: Two egg whites with lean ham, and two slices of gluten free toast, with a glass of water.
Doctor: Impressive.
Steve Lenton: So can I fight?
Doctor: Yes, you're clear. But you may have some signs of the concussion lingering. I suggest you stay out of harms way in your big endeavor this Sunday please. Anything that may cause your symptoms to come back could prove to be severe. This is a warning...
Steve Lenton: I know doc, I'll be extra careful. I promise I won't jump off of a ladder or get beaned in the head with a chair.
He looked up at me with concern in his eyes. I laugh and stand up off of the bed.
I shut the door behind me and stood there with a frown. I heard a ringing in my ear and those echoes of voices rang through the hospital corridors. I glanced down at my hands as they shook slightly. If I didn't pass those little tests I don't think I would be in this match. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, the shaking stopped and I slowly and carefully walked towards the elevator. They thought they had taken care of me, they thought they could put me down...?
We'll see about that.
I pace back and forth down the corridors of the hospital on an empty floor. I roll my neck and rub it, an intense amount of body language radiated from me. I point towards the camera with a stoic expression on my face. I blink a few times and raise my hand towards the camera.
Steve Lenton: Magnus, Zack, I want to make something clear. You hurt me, you put my lights out last week. The Big L was hurt, they carted him off to the UC San Diego Health System right here in San Diego, where The Big L stands right before you. They told'em, "Mr. Lenton, you have a concussion, you need rest, you need to heal your wounds." The Big L didn't listen, the Big L started to go right back to work. But then, The Big L noticed something.
I raised my hand and began to reenact the shivers I felt.
I smack my right hand into my left hand with force with a determined face plastered on.
What you did was open up a flood gate. Inside of this flood gate exists a hand….that saaame hand that was shakin’; Shiverin’ and quiverin’. Now that hand, is balled into a fist, and this fist, The Big L is going to shove down your THROATS! You want in the match, you wanna be relevant, you want a chance to be the top dogs, then I welcome you, step right up, let’s see what you got. Because that statement you made at ExPro 4….we got a retort for it.
I stop and calm down for abit and glare at the lens once more.
But what you need to do BJ is stop feeling like people are calling you the underdog. FEEL PROUD OF WHAT YOU ARE!!! You've faced opponents people thought could run over you, thought could make light work out of you, but you spat in their eye and showed them why you're a future champion in this company. No matter what was thrown at you dammit Blake you fought!! DO THE SAME AGAINST ME!! Show that HEART against me, against Cannon, against Taylor!! SHOW US THE BLAKE JONES WHO WOULD HAVE CLAWED HIS ASS OUT OF HELL AND HOT WATER TO WIN!!! THAT is the Blake I know, THAT is the Blake I joke with on my Twitter, and that ladies and gentlemen is the favorite going into our match.
The second being Johnny Cannon, the British Daniel-san himself!! Cannon, you got swagger, makes The Big L seem like Urkel when it comes to your persona. But The Big L's seen better from you! That Johnny Cannon, the guy who pinned me ONE, TWO, THREE for that belt. That same son of a bitch who told me straight out he was better than me, NEEDS to show up. Because if you don't The Big L is gonna do what he told YOU when we fought for the belt, lace up his boot and shove it RIGHT down the middle!!! You got the desire to do something, so but down that bottle, stop smoking that last Benson & Hedges and step into this ring, and do some work!!
The two of you have all of the potential in the world, so don't SQUANDER it in this match!!! So shut me up, show The Big L a lil' something-somethin' and let the world see why Exodus Pro Wrestling has the best wrestlers in the entire WORLD!!! Show them that you're fighters, competitors, lions in a cage full of wild animals willing to LOCK fangs and see who's willing to come out on TOP!!! See The Big L, he's had his share of fights, he's gone toe to toe with tough ass motherfuckers, and he's always had that one little thing holdin' him back, himself. He's told himself over, and over, "Maybe next time! Or this time! That time wasn't just my night!"
I pound my fists against my chest with a proud expression, my body POURING with bravado.
Win Sunday Night on ExoPro 5! ☑
Get his hands on Gunner and Lifer! ☑
Lace up his boots nice and tight!! ☑
Proceed to forming a Human Centipede with said boot by shoving it up both Gunner and Lifer's ass! ☑☑
Do so while Wulf and Big L win the Tag Championships from The Turks!! ☑☑☑
See Taylor The Big L's got big moves goin' on. And even if you're talked about, even if the hype is real, it's The Big L's job to derail that hype and plunge it into a deep RIVER. See The three of you know The Big L is ready. You know that Sunday is when the real task comes, not all this talk!! The Big L, is gonna WIN!!! For the fans, for himself, for Wulf, and for his PEOPLE!!! If you don't know....now....you know.
I shrug my shoulders and march towards the elevator. The camera stays in place as the scene fades to black.
Fade. Static. End.