Post by AJ Knight on Dec 4, 2022 2:03:20 GMT
It always comes back to those damn chickens doesn’t it?
Sitting across from Laura Heeley that was all that could go through AJ’s head. He’d become a common guest on her show, and since the brackets for the Hijo Memorial cup were announced there was one first round match everybody was talking about: AJ Knight Vs. Pollo Dorado II. Not that the rest of the card wasn’t buzzworthy. Veterans, the stars of today, and the future of the sport all wrapped up in one tournament. But of any single first round match this was the one with future implications, not even connected to the tournament…
Laura Heeley breaks him from his thoughts.
“So AJ, what is going through your head being matched up against a Pollo, in the first round of a tournament dedicated to honoring one of the fallen members of the Pollo Family?”
A hell of a lot was going through his head to be honest. It was no secret that AJ Knight was more associated with the Pollo brand than anybody not named Pollos. In many ways, he had truly been the Ace of the Pollo brand, and perhaps their biggest homegrown name.
But across the ring from him was the young man the Pollo family hoped would be the Ace of their family. It was inevitable that the two of them would find themselves across the ring sooner or later, and of course they’d prefer it be sooner that the ace of the family and the ace of the brand be one and the same…
AJ answers with a somewhat pleasant grin.
“I think honestly it’s smart match making, Laura. In this sport the people you’ve fought matters just as much if not more than the result. I’m a name, a multiple time world champion. Being in the ring with me gives him a bump whatever the result. Obviously, they have their horse in the race. Or Chicken more accurately. They want this to be the coronation of their boy. It’s just my job to ruin their plans.”
The tone of AJ’s voice as he says this has a passive aggressive edge to it. Laura quickly picks up on this.
“It sounds like there's a bit of bad blood here.”
AJ shrugs.
“Not really. I think he’s a good kid, he’s got talent and I do think he has the potential to be what they want him to be. I should know what it takes, because I have been what they want him to be. Let’s be clear, my name isn’t Pollo but I am the face of the Pollo brand of professional wrestling. But I didn’t get the privilege of walking the Pollo Road like he did. I walked the Lion’s Road.”
AJ leans in, takes a sip from the mug on the table between him and Laura Heeley. Room temperature water… Couldn’t have sprung for some ice? His voice finds new intensity.
“See, on the Lion’s Road, there were no shortcuts. I didn’t get where I was because of who I was related to, no headstarts, and no favors. Every inch I got I took by force. Until it was undeniable that I was everything I claimed to be. He’s good, he’s talented, but he hasn’t earned a damn thing yet. And if he’s looking to be what his family wants him to be, then he’s going to have to learn, and on the road we’re on, lessons HURT.”
Laura starts to be enthralled with AJ’s monologue.
“You know how you learn where I come from? You go until you run into somebody better than yourself. And then they beat your ass until you learn to be better. So Pollo Dorado II, allow me to be your first real teacher. Let me teach you how to become the person you’re trying to be, kiddo. On the 12th I’m going to beat your ass. I’m going to twist your joints, drop you on your head, and leave you battered and bruised. It’s going to suck, believe me I know it. But you’re young, you’ll bounce back. And if not? Well you were never going to be what your family hoped anyways.”
AJ takes another sip from his mug, takes the mic off from underneath his shirt. He’d made his point. To sit here making small talk, would only ruin it. He hoped the kid heard him. He hoped he took it to heart. Maybe the kid could be the Ace…
… Once AJ was done.
Sitting across from Laura Heeley that was all that could go through AJ’s head. He’d become a common guest on her show, and since the brackets for the Hijo Memorial cup were announced there was one first round match everybody was talking about: AJ Knight Vs. Pollo Dorado II. Not that the rest of the card wasn’t buzzworthy. Veterans, the stars of today, and the future of the sport all wrapped up in one tournament. But of any single first round match this was the one with future implications, not even connected to the tournament…
Laura Heeley breaks him from his thoughts.
“So AJ, what is going through your head being matched up against a Pollo, in the first round of a tournament dedicated to honoring one of the fallen members of the Pollo Family?”
A hell of a lot was going through his head to be honest. It was no secret that AJ Knight was more associated with the Pollo brand than anybody not named Pollos. In many ways, he had truly been the Ace of the Pollo brand, and perhaps their biggest homegrown name.
But across the ring from him was the young man the Pollo family hoped would be the Ace of their family. It was inevitable that the two of them would find themselves across the ring sooner or later, and of course they’d prefer it be sooner that the ace of the family and the ace of the brand be one and the same…
AJ answers with a somewhat pleasant grin.
“I think honestly it’s smart match making, Laura. In this sport the people you’ve fought matters just as much if not more than the result. I’m a name, a multiple time world champion. Being in the ring with me gives him a bump whatever the result. Obviously, they have their horse in the race. Or Chicken more accurately. They want this to be the coronation of their boy. It’s just my job to ruin their plans.”
The tone of AJ’s voice as he says this has a passive aggressive edge to it. Laura quickly picks up on this.
“It sounds like there's a bit of bad blood here.”
AJ shrugs.
“Not really. I think he’s a good kid, he’s got talent and I do think he has the potential to be what they want him to be. I should know what it takes, because I have been what they want him to be. Let’s be clear, my name isn’t Pollo but I am the face of the Pollo brand of professional wrestling. But I didn’t get the privilege of walking the Pollo Road like he did. I walked the Lion’s Road.”
AJ leans in, takes a sip from the mug on the table between him and Laura Heeley. Room temperature water… Couldn’t have sprung for some ice? His voice finds new intensity.
“See, on the Lion’s Road, there were no shortcuts. I didn’t get where I was because of who I was related to, no headstarts, and no favors. Every inch I got I took by force. Until it was undeniable that I was everything I claimed to be. He’s good, he’s talented, but he hasn’t earned a damn thing yet. And if he’s looking to be what his family wants him to be, then he’s going to have to learn, and on the road we’re on, lessons HURT.”
Laura starts to be enthralled with AJ’s monologue.
“You know how you learn where I come from? You go until you run into somebody better than yourself. And then they beat your ass until you learn to be better. So Pollo Dorado II, allow me to be your first real teacher. Let me teach you how to become the person you’re trying to be, kiddo. On the 12th I’m going to beat your ass. I’m going to twist your joints, drop you on your head, and leave you battered and bruised. It’s going to suck, believe me I know it. But you’re young, you’ll bounce back. And if not? Well you were never going to be what your family hoped anyways.”
AJ takes another sip from his mug, takes the mic off from underneath his shirt. He’d made his point. To sit here making small talk, would only ruin it. He hoped the kid heard him. He hoped he took it to heart. Maybe the kid could be the Ace…
… Once AJ was done.