Post by David Troy on Dec 11, 2022 4:07:14 GMT
“Hello, AJ.”
Cold open.
David Troy greets us once again, sitting on that backwards-facing chair and staring daggers into our souls.
“It’s been quite some time since we’ve last locked up, old…”
A sigh, as he tilts his head and looks in contemplation towards the ceiling.
“...well, ‘friend’ would be a stretch. We never really did like each other, did we, AJ? We were just two completely different people with the same goals, but different ideas on how to achieve them. But I’m going to let you in on a little secret, just because I have no idea when we’ll ever get this close to facing off again.”
The Fox Among the Lions looks back at us, the camera zooming in just a little on his face.
“I never liked you, but through it all? Through all the times I would call you names like fuckboy, and questioned your backbone in situations where it really mattered?
“I always respected your talent as a wrestler.”
He turns his head to the side.
“And that’s what made facing you so damn frustrating. Especially in the early goings in Lion’s Road, when it felt like you had my number every time. And even when I DID become a world champion, and even when I DID start getting wins over you?
“That frustrating specter simply never left.”
He turns back to us, that frustration clearly showing on his face.
“And truth is, I don’t expect that frustration to go away if we meet in the finals. I just hope that the years apart have matured you, made you self-aware. Because for somebody with your skills to step in that ring, but without your head in the clouds like it always seemed to be? That would probably be what a bunch of terminal nerds would call your final form, and you’d be down right DANGEROUS.
“Of course, I’m not vain enough to think of myself as that superpowered protagonist on some kind of character-building journey, whereas you… might not be quite so modest.”
The three-time King of Lions World’s Heavyweight Champion can only chuckle.
“But things have changed in the world of the Pollos, AJ. I know you have all the talent in the world to hang with this roster. And I know that if you won this tournament, and got that shot at Old Man Ojima and his World Cruiserweight Title, you’d definitely give him a run for his money.
“But at the same time, I feel like I have some kind of… obligation, to stop you from going that far on your first night on the job. For the Pollo Dorados, the MEZAs, the Red Tiger Kings… hell, even the Luke Marshalls and the Reo Ojimas.”
David shakes his head and scoffs.
“David Troy, making it all about him? I’m sure somebody’s gonna say that, and maybe they have a point. But I never tried to make myself out to be the good guy, AJ. In my eyes, ‘good guy,’ ‘bad guy,’ those kinds of descriptors are in the eye of the beholder, the color of your hat ultimately just a matter of perspective and lighting. I was just a guy. A guy who believed in himself and pushed himself as far as his limitations would allow him, and if it made things better for wherever I was working, then all the better.
“But from where I sit, all I can think of is that possibility, however minute, of facingb you in the finals in that tournament. I know I have to be at my absolute BEST, because I know van der Roost won’t be an easy battle. Nor will Hunter. Pollo. MEZA. Marshall. King. They are all dangerous opponents in their own way, and I know I have to prepare for each and every possibility. But I’ll be ready. Because I’ll be ready for YOU.”
David grits his teeth and tenses his fists on the back of his chair.
“2022 will go down as one hell of a year for Pollo’s return. And the Hijo Memorial will set the stage for 2023; a challenger for the cruiserweight belt. And maybe more chapters in our rivalry, AJ Knight. Who knows?”
A grin.
“Maybe we’re prophesied to do this forever after all. But I will tackle any obstacle. ANY obstacle, opponent, whatever, to face you once again. This isn’t over. And I don’t think it will ever be over.
“I’ll be watching, just as I’m sure you’ll be watching me.
“Let’s go.”
CUT.
Cold open.
David Troy greets us once again, sitting on that backwards-facing chair and staring daggers into our souls.
“It’s been quite some time since we’ve last locked up, old…”
A sigh, as he tilts his head and looks in contemplation towards the ceiling.
“...well, ‘friend’ would be a stretch. We never really did like each other, did we, AJ? We were just two completely different people with the same goals, but different ideas on how to achieve them. But I’m going to let you in on a little secret, just because I have no idea when we’ll ever get this close to facing off again.”
The Fox Among the Lions looks back at us, the camera zooming in just a little on his face.
“I never liked you, but through it all? Through all the times I would call you names like fuckboy, and questioned your backbone in situations where it really mattered?
“I always respected your talent as a wrestler.”
He turns his head to the side.
“And that’s what made facing you so damn frustrating. Especially in the early goings in Lion’s Road, when it felt like you had my number every time. And even when I DID become a world champion, and even when I DID start getting wins over you?
“That frustrating specter simply never left.”
He turns back to us, that frustration clearly showing on his face.
“And truth is, I don’t expect that frustration to go away if we meet in the finals. I just hope that the years apart have matured you, made you self-aware. Because for somebody with your skills to step in that ring, but without your head in the clouds like it always seemed to be? That would probably be what a bunch of terminal nerds would call your final form, and you’d be down right DANGEROUS.
“Of course, I’m not vain enough to think of myself as that superpowered protagonist on some kind of character-building journey, whereas you… might not be quite so modest.”
The three-time King of Lions World’s Heavyweight Champion can only chuckle.
“But things have changed in the world of the Pollos, AJ. I know you have all the talent in the world to hang with this roster. And I know that if you won this tournament, and got that shot at Old Man Ojima and his World Cruiserweight Title, you’d definitely give him a run for his money.
“But at the same time, I feel like I have some kind of… obligation, to stop you from going that far on your first night on the job. For the Pollo Dorados, the MEZAs, the Red Tiger Kings… hell, even the Luke Marshalls and the Reo Ojimas.”
David shakes his head and scoffs.
“David Troy, making it all about him? I’m sure somebody’s gonna say that, and maybe they have a point. But I never tried to make myself out to be the good guy, AJ. In my eyes, ‘good guy,’ ‘bad guy,’ those kinds of descriptors are in the eye of the beholder, the color of your hat ultimately just a matter of perspective and lighting. I was just a guy. A guy who believed in himself and pushed himself as far as his limitations would allow him, and if it made things better for wherever I was working, then all the better.
“But from where I sit, all I can think of is that possibility, however minute, of facingb you in the finals in that tournament. I know I have to be at my absolute BEST, because I know van der Roost won’t be an easy battle. Nor will Hunter. Pollo. MEZA. Marshall. King. They are all dangerous opponents in their own way, and I know I have to prepare for each and every possibility. But I’ll be ready. Because I’ll be ready for YOU.”
David grits his teeth and tenses his fists on the back of his chair.
“2022 will go down as one hell of a year for Pollo’s return. And the Hijo Memorial will set the stage for 2023; a challenger for the cruiserweight belt. And maybe more chapters in our rivalry, AJ Knight. Who knows?”
A grin.
“Maybe we’re prophesied to do this forever after all. But I will tackle any obstacle. ANY obstacle, opponent, whatever, to face you once again. This isn’t over. And I don’t think it will ever be over.
“I’ll be watching, just as I’m sure you’ll be watching me.
“Let’s go.”
CUT.