Post by Tom Matheny on Jul 24, 2014 13:29:55 GMT -6
An EXODUS Reaction logo flashes before cutting to footage from Ascendancy. We see highlights from the match between Zack Lifer and Justin Brooks, the last scene showing Brooks landing a Hook N' Ladder from the top rope before leaving with Cleon Gray before fading away.
The feed now shows Tom Matheny, EXODUS' lead reporter and backstage interviewer standing beside Justin Brooks moments after his bout with Lifer. Matheny, already with a microphone I'm hand, looks to gain a few answers about Brooks' actions.
Tom Matheny: With Zack Lifer picking up the victory tonight, is your business with The New Iron Saint over with?
Justin can’t help but chuckle at the question as he reaches up and rubs the side of his face gently. It’s a strange sight to actually see a genuine smile on the face of the man dubbed as ‘The Monster on the Bay’ in Exodus. But yet, it’s short lived as he looks up with that smile, reserved only for a select few, slowly fading from his lips.
Justin Brooks: When it comes to Zack Lifer…this is far from finished. Zack only proved that when face with insurmountable odds, he’ll stoop to whatever depths he can to survive. That’s the problem with Mr. Lifer…he’s too busy trying to survive, he’s what I like to call a bottom feeder, he’s just looking to make it to the next day without getting his head knocked off. He’s not a predator by any stretch of the imagination, he’s just a scavenger looking to use whatever he can to make it through. He showed his true colors in the middle of that ring when he used the ropes as leverage. The business between me and Lifer isn’t over until I say it’s over. He wants to recruit his own band of misfit toys then let him, I came into this fight as a One Man Army and I plan on finishing it that way. When it’s all said and done, Zack Lifer is going to realize that he came to the battle completely outmanned and severely outgunned.
Tom nods, looking Brooks in the eyes, eyes that reveal a man who believes every single word he's saying.
Justin Brooks: The problem with guys like Lifer is he thinks he’s fighting for this noble cause because he –wants- to think that he’s fighting the good fight…but in reality, he’s only struggle to swim against the current that’s threatening to take him under regardless of how hard he swims. But I’m not the current, that’s Cleon, Tom…
Slowly shaking his head, Brooks runs his tongue slowly over the front of his teeth.
Justin Brooks: …I’m the shark waiting underneath the torrent waves above ready to swallow him whole.
Tom Matheny: Why would someone as successful as you feel the need to align himself with the likes of Cleon Gray? What happened to the Brooks who helped the Sekigun numerous times in the past?
Justin Brooks I’d be lying if said that I didn’t feel this question coming…but let’s be real for a minute, Tom. If I didn’t align myself with Cleon, would you be here even talking to me right now? I’ll answer that question for you.”
Justin wraps his large hand around Tom’s hand holding the microphone as he brings it closer to his lips.
Justin Brooks: No. No, you wouldn’t.
He releases the microphone and smirks slightly.
Justin Brooks: Cleon Gray came looking for me. He found me and he gave me something that Jonathan Collins, Darrin Stearns, or even Cleon’s brother Nicholas either couldn’t…wouldn’t…or didn’t think to give me. And that’s an opportunity to be who I am. Gave me the opportunity to do what I was built to do, do what I was blessed to do, do what I was designed to do when I first broke into this business with the likes of Jimmy Riley…and that’s be the biggest and baddest son of a bitch in between those ropes, who doesn’t take shit off of anyone. I don’t care how many World Titles you’ve held…I don’t care how many times you’ve been in the Main Event…I don’t care if you’re Collin’s wife…pet project…best friend…or worst enemy, I’m coming to knock your head off of your shoulders because I can.
Tom nods, seeing the conviction in Brooks' eyes as he continues to peel the layers.
Justin Brooks:Cleon offered me a chance to do that. Offered me the chance to finally stop being what everyone else wanted me to be. I’m not for these fans…I’m not here for the anyone else for that matter, I’m looking out for my best interests because the only one looking for Justin Brooks is Justin Brooks. And right I’m fighting in Cleon’s corner because he’s got the best thing smoking. Not Gods and Monsters…not the Sekigun for that matter. I’m not here to fight someone else’s fight because they are too chicken shit to fight it themselves and then wonder why the folks they call friends despise them.
Brooks looks right into the camera now, his intensity seemingly increasing with each passing second.
Justin Brooks: Andreas Lasiewicz is in a goddamn wheelchair and Jonathan is too caught in his own bullshit to even apologize for what he did to him. Yeah…why fight for a guys who’s willing to throw the people he calls friends to the front lines while he and the Golden Girl, Fiona sit back from up high? Not me, Tom…I’ve played that role before and it got me nowhere. But the minute I stand shoulder to shoulder to Cleon Gray…the moment I put people on notice of who I am…shockingly enough, people tend to remember who the Big Bad Brooks really is. Imagine that.
Tom Matheny: What can we expect from the Big Bad Brooks going forward?
Justin Brooks: To continue a legacy that was started before EXODUS was even a thought. To continue a career that’s built on the broken backs of those put before me. I will lay destruction and devastation in my wake…and with it, I will capture the San Diego Bay Championship…I will capture the International Championship…and soon enough I will hold the EXODUS Pro World Championship around my waist. I’ve watched others leapfrog over me because of accolades past from sea to shining sea and it sickens me. I’ve watched pet projects get put on pedestals and treated as if sunshine flows from their asses…
With a snicker, Justin looks into Tom’s eyes as beads of sweat shine underneath the lights above them both. The camera zooms in slowly on the features of Justin faces, seeing his jaw clench tightly only to slowly relax as his nostrils flare out with each and every single breath he takes.
Justin Brooks: …but Tom, I’m here to show you and everyone else the other side of the tracks. Going forward I’m going to show you how far and how deep this rabbit hole goes... I’m going to show those fans of EXODUS who cheer for their heroes that they do bleed and yes, they do break. I’m not asking for a chance in EXODUS…I’m going to take what I want when I want and there isn’t a damn soul on that roster who’s going to stop me.
With that Brooks walks away, leaving Matheny pondering his words as the scene fades out.
The feed now shows Tom Matheny, EXODUS' lead reporter and backstage interviewer standing beside Justin Brooks moments after his bout with Lifer. Matheny, already with a microphone I'm hand, looks to gain a few answers about Brooks' actions.
Tom Matheny: With Zack Lifer picking up the victory tonight, is your business with The New Iron Saint over with?
Justin can’t help but chuckle at the question as he reaches up and rubs the side of his face gently. It’s a strange sight to actually see a genuine smile on the face of the man dubbed as ‘The Monster on the Bay’ in Exodus. But yet, it’s short lived as he looks up with that smile, reserved only for a select few, slowly fading from his lips.
Justin Brooks: When it comes to Zack Lifer…this is far from finished. Zack only proved that when face with insurmountable odds, he’ll stoop to whatever depths he can to survive. That’s the problem with Mr. Lifer…he’s too busy trying to survive, he’s what I like to call a bottom feeder, he’s just looking to make it to the next day without getting his head knocked off. He’s not a predator by any stretch of the imagination, he’s just a scavenger looking to use whatever he can to make it through. He showed his true colors in the middle of that ring when he used the ropes as leverage. The business between me and Lifer isn’t over until I say it’s over. He wants to recruit his own band of misfit toys then let him, I came into this fight as a One Man Army and I plan on finishing it that way. When it’s all said and done, Zack Lifer is going to realize that he came to the battle completely outmanned and severely outgunned.
Tom nods, looking Brooks in the eyes, eyes that reveal a man who believes every single word he's saying.
Justin Brooks: The problem with guys like Lifer is he thinks he’s fighting for this noble cause because he –wants- to think that he’s fighting the good fight…but in reality, he’s only struggle to swim against the current that’s threatening to take him under regardless of how hard he swims. But I’m not the current, that’s Cleon, Tom…
Slowly shaking his head, Brooks runs his tongue slowly over the front of his teeth.
Justin Brooks: …I’m the shark waiting underneath the torrent waves above ready to swallow him whole.
Tom Matheny: Why would someone as successful as you feel the need to align himself with the likes of Cleon Gray? What happened to the Brooks who helped the Sekigun numerous times in the past?
Justin Brooks I’d be lying if said that I didn’t feel this question coming…but let’s be real for a minute, Tom. If I didn’t align myself with Cleon, would you be here even talking to me right now? I’ll answer that question for you.”
Justin wraps his large hand around Tom’s hand holding the microphone as he brings it closer to his lips.
Justin Brooks: No. No, you wouldn’t.
He releases the microphone and smirks slightly.
Justin Brooks: Cleon Gray came looking for me. He found me and he gave me something that Jonathan Collins, Darrin Stearns, or even Cleon’s brother Nicholas either couldn’t…wouldn’t…or didn’t think to give me. And that’s an opportunity to be who I am. Gave me the opportunity to do what I was built to do, do what I was blessed to do, do what I was designed to do when I first broke into this business with the likes of Jimmy Riley…and that’s be the biggest and baddest son of a bitch in between those ropes, who doesn’t take shit off of anyone. I don’t care how many World Titles you’ve held…I don’t care how many times you’ve been in the Main Event…I don’t care if you’re Collin’s wife…pet project…best friend…or worst enemy, I’m coming to knock your head off of your shoulders because I can.
Tom nods, seeing the conviction in Brooks' eyes as he continues to peel the layers.
Justin Brooks:Cleon offered me a chance to do that. Offered me the chance to finally stop being what everyone else wanted me to be. I’m not for these fans…I’m not here for the anyone else for that matter, I’m looking out for my best interests because the only one looking for Justin Brooks is Justin Brooks. And right I’m fighting in Cleon’s corner because he’s got the best thing smoking. Not Gods and Monsters…not the Sekigun for that matter. I’m not here to fight someone else’s fight because they are too chicken shit to fight it themselves and then wonder why the folks they call friends despise them.
Brooks looks right into the camera now, his intensity seemingly increasing with each passing second.
Justin Brooks: Andreas Lasiewicz is in a goddamn wheelchair and Jonathan is too caught in his own bullshit to even apologize for what he did to him. Yeah…why fight for a guys who’s willing to throw the people he calls friends to the front lines while he and the Golden Girl, Fiona sit back from up high? Not me, Tom…I’ve played that role before and it got me nowhere. But the minute I stand shoulder to shoulder to Cleon Gray…the moment I put people on notice of who I am…shockingly enough, people tend to remember who the Big Bad Brooks really is. Imagine that.
Tom Matheny: What can we expect from the Big Bad Brooks going forward?
Justin Brooks: To continue a legacy that was started before EXODUS was even a thought. To continue a career that’s built on the broken backs of those put before me. I will lay destruction and devastation in my wake…and with it, I will capture the San Diego Bay Championship…I will capture the International Championship…and soon enough I will hold the EXODUS Pro World Championship around my waist. I’ve watched others leapfrog over me because of accolades past from sea to shining sea and it sickens me. I’ve watched pet projects get put on pedestals and treated as if sunshine flows from their asses…
With a snicker, Justin looks into Tom’s eyes as beads of sweat shine underneath the lights above them both. The camera zooms in slowly on the features of Justin faces, seeing his jaw clench tightly only to slowly relax as his nostrils flare out with each and every single breath he takes.
Justin Brooks: …but Tom, I’m here to show you and everyone else the other side of the tracks. Going forward I’m going to show you how far and how deep this rabbit hole goes... I’m going to show those fans of EXODUS who cheer for their heroes that they do bleed and yes, they do break. I’m not asking for a chance in EXODUS…I’m going to take what I want when I want and there isn’t a damn soul on that roster who’s going to stop me.
With that Brooks walks away, leaving Matheny pondering his words as the scene fades out.