Post by Christian Kane on Apr 26, 2015 8:00:47 GMT -6
KANE VICE: FOR THE PEOPLE
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March 30th 2015,
Repetition of Hatred,
Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
✠ Dick Morosi: Seth these two have given their all tonight, what a match we’re witnessing.
Seth Ericson: This is history in the making! Wait, what’s this?
Dick Morosi: That’s Christian Kane’s love interest, (R)Evolution wrestler Venus!
Strutting out down the ramp is indeed Venus, both men glance at her making her way around the ring to cheer the International Champion on as he just about manages to make it to his feet, as does the challenger, Justin Brooks. The big man points at Venus on the outside of the ring and exchanges some words with Christian Kane about her presence there. Kane shrugs before lunging forward for the SSK, hoping to catch Brooks unaware! The challenger ducks however and Kane clocks referee D’Artis Johnson flush on the jaw! The pair of them look in shock at the referee for a moment before going for each other, both catching each other with huge shots, swaying back and forth wildly whilst doing so. Finally, Brooks ends it with a huge elbow to the side of the temple which sends Kane to his knees and marches towards him to go back on the offensive only to be met with a poke in the eyes followed by a low blow!
Dick Morosi: Christian Kane taking advantage of the referee being incapacitated! That’s the veteran in him.
Seth Ericson: I’m sure Brooks would have liked to do so as well but The Handsome Drifter got there first!
Dropping to all fours Brooks scrunches his face in pain as he moves to the corner of the ring to regain his breath. Meanwhile Kane who is still reeling from that elbow has crawled to the edge of the ring and is inaudibly asking something of Venus as he leans through the second rope, using it to keep himself upright as he does so. With that Venus rushes off to where the timekeeper is sitting and snatches the EXODUS Pro International Title!
Seth Ericson: Trouble for Brooks! Kane is making Venus grab him his title belt!
Kane outstretches his arms, a look of relief on his face as Venus rushes towards him SMASHES him with the title belt! The force of the blow has caused Kane to stumble back into the ring, blood dripping down his face, the belt opening a nasty gash on his forehead. The Canadian drops to a knee before regaining his footing, stumbling backwards a little more...right into the Hook N’ Ladder!
Dick Morosi: THE HOOK N’ LADDER! THIS COULD BE IT!
Venus slides the belt under the bottom rope and rushes around to the other side of the ring to wake up the referee from the outside as Brooks goes into the pin! Referee D’Artis Johnson crawls beside the cover before counting as ably as he can!
1!
2!!
3!!!
David Zinkus: Ladies and gentlemen your winner...and NEWWWWWW EXODUS Pro International Champion…“THE MONSTER OF THE BAY”...JUSTIIIIIIIN! BROOOOKKKSSSSSSSSSS!!! ✠
The events that occurred just a few moments ago were on constant repeat in Christian Kane’s head, accompanied by a nasty headache. The Handsome Drifter sat on a stool in his locker room shower, head bowed, watching the water circle the drain along with his blood before disappearing. The EMTs had tried to get him into the medical room but the Canadian refused, requesting that he be left alone, albeit not as politely put as that. A face that should have been wearing a smile was now a mix of blood, water and tears...and it was all Venus’ fault. No...it was all Ceahna Sullivan’s fault.
He had been betrayed. Did he deserve some form of punishment? Yes, of course he did. But not that.
Christian Kane was working under the assumption that she knew about his night in Miami with Valentina Rodríguez. Something that Kane did not want to do, but was forced to do. No matter the pounding headache he had, he racked his brain trying to think of who had told her...who knew. Valentina? Well, what did she stand to gain from it? Not much. Delikado? He’d never do something like that, he knew how much Ceahna meant to Christian. By process of elimination, it had to be James McKinely - the government agent Kane had been forced to covertly work under.
The corner of his mouth from a slight smirk as he shook his head in disbelief. From a man who had everything he now sat alone with nothing. The International Title was more to him that just a title belt. Not only did it signify his rise in EXODUS Pro, but it stood for redemption. Both professionally and personally. It was all Christian Kane had ever wanted since he stepped foot in EXODUS Pro. To fail to win the International Title in 2013, only to return in 2014 and break the winning streak of Lexy Chapel just to gain the title? It made it so much sweeter...now it was all gone.
The future was now unknown. He wanted to talk to Ceahna so much, but he knew now wouldn’t be the best time. She’d already smashed him in the face with 10 pounds of solid gold, who knew what else she’d do? And even still, the rage that was building up inside of him could honestly explode outwards at any minute. He figured he’d already hurt Ceahna enough.
It felt strange, being betrayed like that. It had hurt him more than any other betrayal he had ever experienced. It pained him more than anything else had ever pained him. And why should he be so surprised? You’re never betrayed by your enemies. It’s your friends who betray you. Your loved ones who betray you.
Ever since the night with Valentina happened Kane has been dreading this moment. Dreading feeling the same feelings that he’s been exposed to right now. He had gone through all the scenarios in his head so he’d be ready for when she eventually find out, because he knew she’d find out, but you never know how you’re going to feel until it actually happens. That’s the odd thing about life. It’s been said that it’s moments like these that make you feel alive, but watching droplets of blood fall from his face and splatter on the ceramic tiles only reminded The Handsome Drifter of his own mortality.
Oddly enough, it had reminded him of his run in 2013 as The Deformed Drifter. A spin on his nickname coined after Chris Strike had taken a railroad spike to Kane’s face, forcing the Canadian to wear a gold plated mask whilst he wrestled. It was the first time he had really bled since that night at No Church In The Wild 2013 - and similarly both instances of blood loss happened on nights where Christian Kane lost it all. The Deformed Drifter was a dark time is Kane’s life both in the ring and out of it - and it’s a place where he has vowed never to go again. Late 2013 there was a fork in the road and Kane took the wrong one. This time the scenario is scarily similar, but he was going to take the right one, he was sure of it.
As he sat there, moving his wet, drooping hair out of his face, he had come to a realisation. He has a choice. He has always had a choice. He didn’t have to be bitter about this. He didn’t have to be angry about this. What has happened, happened - there’s nothing he can do to change it. Christian Kane needs to pick himself up and move on. His moment of redemption did not rely on the International Title...it relied on himself. Redemption occurred within The Handsome Drifter. The fans who had once booed him now cheered him - the RIMAC erupts during the first few bars of “You Give Love A Bad Name”...and that was not because of the International Title. That was because of Christian Kane.
It was a small epiphany on the surface, yet it carried so much weight in potential. Christian Kane was a man made by the people, and it was about time he began to repay them for that. He didn’t have to carry 10 pounds of gold around his waist to be their champion. Someone that represents them with honour and integrity. Someone that they deserve. A individual who would let the fans vicariously live through him - each and every one of them who’s dream is being fulfilled by Christian Kane right now. The ups, the downs, all of it - for them.
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March 25h 2015,
Unknown,
Unknown
James McKinely slowly meandered about a large meeting room, the cogs in his brain beginning to turn as a colleague of his was reading aloud from a file. McKinely likes to be in control, and honestly, he has been his whole life. He is meticulous in his work, a micromanager if there ever was one, and thus is extremely upset when things are out of his control. He raises a hand to silence the voice in the room before taking a seat.
“Enough of that,” he stated bluntly, “what’s the status of Miguel Díaz, close associate of Valentina Rodríguez?”
He shot his cuffs before leaning forward on the glass table, hoping for good news, yet knowing he wouldn’t find it here. The man across the table from him looked up, defeat noticeable in his eyes.
“Reported missing. Likely dead.”
McKinely throws his hands up into the air, sighing heavily as he leans back in his chair.
“FUCK! Another informant dead. How many of our guys on the inside is that Cuban whore going to murder? And don’t give me that look like we both don’t know it was her. She controls the city, she controls the crime and she controls the drugs.”
“Look, I know. But we’ve still got a good group of people close to her, close enough that the case we’ve been building for years is almost complete. Another murder charge is good but...the man had a wife, three kids. Three young kids. It’s sad.”
McKinely waves a dismissive hand.
“Fuck it. He was a delinquent all the same. The only reason he agreed to help us was because he was too much of a pussy to do time for his crimes. Fuck his wife and his fucking kids! I couldn’t give a fuck about them. She’s a sick fuck, is Valentina. I’ll give her that. Probably would have put a few bullets in their heads if they were around. So she did this alone, huh?”
There’s a noticeable hesitation in the other man’s voice as he debates whether to speak or not, McKinely stands from his chair, expecting bad news.
“What? Spit it out.”
“I’ve heard mumblings that Kanensson went with her.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“I wish I was. You want to bring him in?”
McKinely shakes his head as he turns to look out the window.
“No, fuck that. No need. As much as I hate the prick he has too many uses. He’s in with Valentina now. It’s the closest anyone is going to get.”
“In? What? They’re friends?”
The agent turns around and slides his right index finger in a hole made by the thumb and index finger on his left hand.
“He’s fucking her. The scumbag. If he wants to play games with me, he wants to undermine me? I’ll play games right back. His whole life is in my hands, I could crush him if I wanted to.”
The man stands up, holding the file out to McKinely as he approaches him.
“You know, maybe he went just to get in with her? Killing someone...it doesn’t really seem like something he’d do. Either way, it’s a win for us.”
Snatching the file away, McKinely responds with a look and tone of disgust.
“I’ll let it slide, but I’m going to have my fun in the meantime. He’s like a lost little puppy.”
“Alright...well...”
The man shrugs before exiting the room. With a smug grin plastered across his face McKinely reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cell phone. He taps in a number and waits for it to be picked up as it rings.
“Hello, Miss Sullivan?”
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The camera fades in to the shot of Christian Kane stood just in front of an EXODUS Pro on FX promotional banner. The Handsome Drifter is wearing a red ‘#STUDLIFE’ tee, along with black leather slacks and blacked out hightops. His focus is aimed off camera for a few moments, a contemplative look about him before he slowly directs his vision into the lens. He pats his shoulder a few times before speaking.
“I’m not going to lie. It feels odd to be standing here in front of an EXODUS Pro on FX banner without the International Title. I had gotten used to the weight of it so much it almost feels like my equilibrium is way off, heh.”
He shakes his head before continuing.
“But everyone saw what went down and now Justin Brooks is your new EXODUS Pro International Champion and that’s great for him. He’s paid his dues and he deserves the title. I won’t say he deserves more than I do, but that’s a different matter for a different time. Personal stuff aside, I sat down and had a long thing about what I wanted to do, and activating my rematch clause is honestly not one of them. Now I know that may surprise a lot of people. I know some people may not like that, but allow me to explain. If you go back and look in the EXODUS Pro history books, there is always one constant. Four times out of ten, a former International Champion has gone on to become the World Champion and that’s a tradition that I wish to continue. Look at the list of names who’ve gone on to win the ultimate prize in this company after holding the gold that I won on the 17th of November: Fiona Collins, Heather Halliwell, Johnny Cannon, Andreas Lasiewicz. They’ve all won the International Championship then gone on to win the World Championship and that’s the same thing I’m hoping to do if afforded the opportunity. I have a vision for this company and I hope to carry out that vision as it’s leader - because I know I’m capable of doing so. My demons are well behind me now, and they have no chance of catching up to me ever again. With the exception of one of my poor imitators who is Johnny Cannon, no one wins the International Title twice because it’s supposed to be a stepping stone towards the World Title. That’s how this business works. Anybody who has won the International Title and has either gone on to capture the World Title or has simply left the company. I have no intention to leave anytime soon and I have no intention of being the one to buck the trend.”
Kane then raises a finger, pointing into the camera.
“But speaking of imitators, I’ve been booked against my most prominent one in the main event of EXODUS Pro on FX #32. Finally back home in the RIMAC, it’s Christian Kane versus Aries Reed. The brash loud mouth...against the ORIGINAL brash loud mouth. Now Reed, unlike most of these people, I don’t personally have a problem with you. I think you’re a bright kid and a good wrestler. But professionally? I do have a problem with you, and I’ll tell you why. You’re going around breaking down walls and acting like you’re the first one to ever do it when the reality is I’ve been breaking down walls since you were still suckling on your mother’s teet, boy. The age of shock value is over and you won’t make many beneficial friends by going about things the way you do.
You’re pushing the envelope but it’s already been pushed. You’re breaking the chains but they’ve already been broken. You’re getting your mics cut off and you’re bragging about it like you’re the first one it’s happened to. You’re basing your career off of this bad boy persona but the idea is old, tired and worn out. I don’t know why these people react to it, because I certainly don’t. But I do understand your viewpoint, in professional climate where there are so many talented kids coming up to the main roster, you need to stand out, you need to be heard and you feel like the only way you can do that is through rebelling. That’s human nature. What frustrates me about you Reed, is that you don’t need that. You have more natural talent than the man who brought you into this business and by acting the way you do, you only hold yourself back. You talk about bringing your A-game to me but you’re more worried about grabbing a microphone and cussing and ranting until they cut it and go to commercial. It’s 2015, Reed - not the 1990’s. No one cares about you trying to be this rebel because it’s been done before you to death.”
The Handsome Drifter stares intensly into the camera for a short few seconds, clearly riled up by Reed’s approach to the business. After a few seconds he regains his composure and continues.
“You’re a talented kid with a lot of confidence, but there’s a fine line between being brash in your words and being ignorantly stupid in them. You haven’t found that line yet, so you say a lot of stupid things. All that really does is make your words so much less credible than they should be and that’s no one’s fault but your own. You run off at the mouth but it just makes you look like a bigger idiot to all of us than you could ever make us look with your words. For a kid in the position that you’re in you should be grateful. You should know when to speak your mind and when to shut your damn mouth. You don’t get to break the status quo, because this business doesn’t owe you anything. You haven’t put anything worthwhile into this business or this company that affords you the right to go off the script and act like a rebel with your immature stablemates. As long as your keep this little act up, you’re nothing in my eyes, and you never will be something.
You make a mockery of this company. You and GRENDEL destroyed the EXODUS Pro Tag Team Titles that so many great teams have won over the past few years and for what? To be edgy? To make a statement? All it did was make you look even more immature and stupid than we ever thought you and that big idiot could be. I recognise your talent, but your attitude will be your undoing, that much has become painfully clear.
And may I add, I’m extremely happy to do it. Because you know what, Aries? You get on my nerves. You dismiss me like I’m nothing when the fact of the matter is that you’re not good enough to lace my boots on your best day. You overlooked me when you started talking shit about Andreas Lasiewicz and for what? To pick on the biggest dog in the yard? I should drop you on your head for that, but luckily for you, I’ve turned a new leaf. Losing my title has made me aware of what’s important. It’s made me aware of the people that deep down have always supported me, and at this point in my career it’s vital that I acknowledge that fact and embrace them.
I’m talking about the fans, if you were too slow to follow that. The same people that are against you, are with me - and one of the reasons they’re against you is because you don’t let them cheer for you, just as I didn’t let them cheer for me for a good part of my career. It’s unhealthy, it’s not good for you, or them - but that’s your business. I’m trying to help new talent grow. It’s one of the reasons I’m mentoring Caleb Storm down in (R)evo, but some people can only help themselves, and you’re one of those people, Reed. You can’t be helped because you don’t want to be helped. You want to act like this kid who thinks the world owes him something, and by all means, you go ahead, but it’s not going to get you anywhere significant in your career. You’re in big leagues now, kid. The main event. The bright lights. And there’s no one that knows all of that better than me, Christian Kane.
You’re the perfect first opponent on my road to the World Title and I’ll explain why. Now I’ve said that this company needs a leader. This company needs a role model. And it’s not going to be you, and it’s certainly not going to be our current World Champion Chris Strike. EXODUS Pro deserves a poster boy who bleeds this company. And I am that person. I am that poster boy. There is no one better to embarrass on EXODUS’ return to the RIMAC than a loudmouth little brat from developmental who refuses to step in line. And trust me, I’m so thrilled to be the one to do it. For all the boys and girls in the back who’ve bled for the business you’re disrespective, for the owners who have to deal with you, for the network who cringes every time you get on the microphone and for the people who you’ve ostracized.
This isn’t going to be a showcase match for you, Reed. You’re not going to push me to the limit and I’m not going to narrowly defeat you and pick up the victory. The narrative isn’t that you’re a young kid with a bright future who almost the wily veteran in the main event. I’m going to beat you, and I’m going to beat you decisively to prove not only to you that I’m better, but to prove to these people that I am worthy of leading them for the rest of 2015 and beyond. It’s about time I picked up the ball and ran with it and that starts with you.
In the past I had trouble getting motivated for matches like these. Matches against people who had no right being in the same ring with me. But now? With the state of this company? With the locker room leadership up for grabs? I have a chip on my shoulder. For all the times I was overlooked. For all the times that people said I was done. For all the times people thought that I wasn’t good enough to be here. To become not only one of the greatest wrestlers this company has ever seen, but to become THE greatest wrestler this company has ever seen. I won’t quit, I won’t back down and I won’t stop until I get to where I want to be. Until I get to where these fans know that I belong. When you go up against me Aries Reed, you’re not just taking on Christian Kane. You’re taking on every damn person who buys a ticket to see me perform in the RIMAC on Monday night. I feed off their spirit, their passion and their love - and you’re going to find out just how much damage I can do with that.
A revolution is a forcible overthrow of a government or a social order in place of a new one. But some social orders...they’re just not tangible. And if you don’t know that by now, you stand no chance.
#STUDLIFE.”
The Handsome Drifter runs his index finger along his t-shirt as he says that, beating his chest afterwards before walking off camera - satisfied with what he’s had to say. The camera then focuses in on the EXODUS Pro on FX banner for a few moments, then fades to black.