Post by Vladimir Strife on Sept 20, 2012 4:18:38 GMT -4
The Solid Core gymnasium had seen many days. It's hallowed grounds were once the fertile breeding grounds for talent that would resonate throughout the annals of professional wrestling history. It had given rise to the age of Solid Core, who's ranks would take the world of Glory and Honor to new heights, before one day returning to it in controversy. Those infamous days and legendary moments were now faded, it's unkempt halls and the dusty ring within in all but abandoned. As the camera clicked on and began recording, one of it's most central and legendary figures had taken a place in the middle of the rather small venue that had amassed somewhat of a cult status within the industry. His attire was as ageless as the realty: black pants, steel toed boots, padded gloves, long trench jacket and a long sleeved raven blue shirt that constituted the only shade of the rainbow to be found within his wardrobe.
As Vladimir gazed out over the top rope of the squared circle, a microphone was clutched within his right hand, the letters 'EVPW' emblazoned upon the side of it. His face was littered with stubble and his beard had become scraggly, his distress highlighted even more so by the dark and sagging bags under his eyes. Much like the fabled arena he had helped to sell out week after week, the GodKing had seen better days and at last, time had begun to erode his cult-like status. In the end, noone and nothing was invulnerable to the passing of time. As he brought the mic up toward his chin, he gazed over it into the lens of the camera, the fervor and rage in his eyes seemingly drained from him. In contrast to the brash and revolutionary attitude he'd touted upon his rise, the man before whomever saw this seemed more mature and calculating, his actions and thoughts now guided by reason instead of passion. As he spoke into the foam covered end, meant to reduce feedback, the voice that came out through the speakers was calm and slightly raspy, a side effect from his decades of dependence on nicotine.
"I'm here tonight to speak up in regards to what is already obvious... The state of EVPW, as well as the state of myself."
The Barbarian Lord clears his throat, begetting a few coughs on his part. He dazes off for a moment, seeming to get lost in his own thoughts. A light voice can be heard in the recording, calling out his name to recapture his focus.
"Oh, yes, sorry. The fact of the matter is that the state of EVPW is dismal. Our once great company has gone from slumbering to comatose. While it appears that our industry in general has been stricken hard by the effects of the economic downturn, our little slice of heaven in particular has reached a critical point in which revenue is no longer exceeding expense. Put simply, the cost of running EVPW has become greater than what we are taking in. There are many reasons to this, such as the increasing cost of hiring stars with the high caliber it takes to entertain fans as well as the financial struggles of everyday Americans leading to less disposable revenues for them to spend on entertainment in general."
"No matter the reasons... EVPW has become unsustainable for the time being and we have been forced to, be it temporarily or permanently, close our doors. If the day comes when things change in such a way that this company can be made profitable once again, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that EVPW could return. We have had many great stars, amazing contests, and legendary moments in our history and I would not be so naive as to believe they are tarnished by this closing. If EVPW ever does return to a previous status as a leader in the world of Professional Wrestling, however, I regret to say that it will do so without my involvement.."
Taking a deep breath, the Czar of Scars rummages through his pocket before producing a pack of Winston full-flavored 100's and a lime green lighter. He removes a cigarette from the box before tossing the now empty container aside and lighting the tip of the stick. With a long drag, he exhales deeply, holding the smoke in for a moment before releasing it in a stream of fog. His nerves calmed mildly, he returns to his point and seems to speak a bit more candidly on the matter.
"The unfortunate truth is that the era of Strife is over. My time at the top is coming to an end and in fact, some would say it has been for some time now. A new generation has risen and men like Jaggeroth, Jack Tracks, Dustin Delta, and Hayden Hardkore have taken the center stage. I no longer have it within me... physically or emotionally... to compete week after week with what is increasingly becoming a young man's game. It is the price paid to compete in the type of brutal and physically demanding contests that I built my legacy from. I can no longer take my body to new limits every week, despite the joy I have taken in doing so to please the fans and it is time that I accept that and step away from this business with the legacy that I have been most fortunate to have had. A legacy that is, if I may be so bold, unrivaled."
With another long puff of his nicotine supply, the Hardcore King reflects upon his career nostalgically.
"I have beaten 76 different stars, many of them on multiple occasions. I've headlined countless shows. I won the original Abaddon's Pit and the first installment of the Hardcore Games. I'm a GHW Hall of Famer and the man who brought that very company to it's knees at one point in time. I'm a ten time champion with those reigns totalling 660 days, 377 of them consecutive. 4 times I held more than one title at the same time. I was undefeated for one month shy of 1000 days, garnering 59 wins before anyone could finally best me in this ring. I have 71 victories total throughout my prestigious career with only 2 instances of defeat. My name was once the most controversial and feared within these halls, as well as those of GHW... and I do not leave this business that I love with any sadness or regret within my heart because there isn't a thing more that I could ask for. I've been lucky far beyond what any man could wish for. I have been so influential and revered that many liken me to a God."
Finishing his cigarette, the Impaler drops it to the mat and steps onto it, twisting his foot to extinguish it's embers.
"And yet... while there is nothing more that a man in my shoes could reasonably ask for... there is one final thing that I desire. You see... only twice have I ever been beaten. The first time being against KingBear in this very ring in the twisted and diabolical creation of my own mind - the Asylum Cage. I had beaten him just a few months prior to that contest in the esteemed Abaddon's Pit and that Asylum Cage Deathmatch ended up being his final match... the injuries and wear induced by doing what he had to in order to beat me pushed him so far that he was never able to recover. I regarded, as I still do and always will, that the ending of my fabled streak and his legendary career along with my victory in the A.P. left my mentor and myself even. Simply being able to say that I had beaten the man who trained me and brought me into this business, who I still believe was the greatest legend of the generation before me, as well as being the end of his career... is a remarkable feat. Don't think that I'm proud of my behavior then, however... I'm truly not. I am proud though to know that I was the unstoppable force to his immovable object."
Vlad takes a deep breath and looks around the empty Solid Core gymnasium, a pang of sadness coming over him to see it so desolate.
"My second defeat came at the hands of another man who I have been no stranger to. An up and coming star who has now risen to the top and himself become steeped in legend. A man who was pitted against me in his debut to GHW and despite being savagely decimated and beaten, continued to come back for more. That man is, of course, Desperado. Like KingBear, I had beaten Desperado before he finally beat me... several times, in fact. The lengths to which he had to go to beat me, however, did not force Desperado out of this business. He competed the following week. And unlike that legendary showdown with my mentor.. I didn't look back on my fight with the Strife Slayer and feel proud of myself and at peace with the bout knowing that I gave it my all. I don't feel like I gave him my all in that contest... and that drives me insane. Not the idea that I could have beaten him.. I'm long past being concerned with the record I leave behind because I know that it is still one that will be respected and revered. Certainly not because I feel like Desperado is unworthy or incapable of that victory. He is one of the greatest men I've had the privilege to face and easily one of the most tenacious and ungiving stars of all times."
"No... what bothers me about that night are the questions lodged deep within my mind.. Did I give it my all? Did I lose because I didn't bring everything to the table on that fateful night... or because Desperado finally surpassed me in talent? If I didn't give it my all... then what if I would have? Certainly, that does not guarantee me a victory. For all my talents and traits, I have never been good at handling unanswered questions. I've never been able to just walk away and wonder 'What if?' And so, the only thing that I can ask for... before I finally leave this industry to the new generation.. is one last time. One final match to leave everything left within me in the ring.. One chance to answer those questions that plague me.. to find out if I can be the absolute best for one last night or if I've been on borrowed time since that loss."
Vladimir pulls a foot up onto the middle rope and presses up, leaning out over the top rope and looking straight into the camera's lens.
"Desperado... I want one final match with you to find out if I truly am the best in the history of this business or if I've been outshined once and for all. You provide the time and the place... and I'll bring the one thing that is unsurpassed in it's ability to lay rivalries and questions to rest... The Asylum Cage."
As the Barbarian Lord backs down off of the ropes, the camera shuts off and the screen cuts to black.
~End~
As Vladimir gazed out over the top rope of the squared circle, a microphone was clutched within his right hand, the letters 'EVPW' emblazoned upon the side of it. His face was littered with stubble and his beard had become scraggly, his distress highlighted even more so by the dark and sagging bags under his eyes. Much like the fabled arena he had helped to sell out week after week, the GodKing had seen better days and at last, time had begun to erode his cult-like status. In the end, noone and nothing was invulnerable to the passing of time. As he brought the mic up toward his chin, he gazed over it into the lens of the camera, the fervor and rage in his eyes seemingly drained from him. In contrast to the brash and revolutionary attitude he'd touted upon his rise, the man before whomever saw this seemed more mature and calculating, his actions and thoughts now guided by reason instead of passion. As he spoke into the foam covered end, meant to reduce feedback, the voice that came out through the speakers was calm and slightly raspy, a side effect from his decades of dependence on nicotine.
"I'm here tonight to speak up in regards to what is already obvious... The state of EVPW, as well as the state of myself."
The Barbarian Lord clears his throat, begetting a few coughs on his part. He dazes off for a moment, seeming to get lost in his own thoughts. A light voice can be heard in the recording, calling out his name to recapture his focus.
"Oh, yes, sorry. The fact of the matter is that the state of EVPW is dismal. Our once great company has gone from slumbering to comatose. While it appears that our industry in general has been stricken hard by the effects of the economic downturn, our little slice of heaven in particular has reached a critical point in which revenue is no longer exceeding expense. Put simply, the cost of running EVPW has become greater than what we are taking in. There are many reasons to this, such as the increasing cost of hiring stars with the high caliber it takes to entertain fans as well as the financial struggles of everyday Americans leading to less disposable revenues for them to spend on entertainment in general."
"No matter the reasons... EVPW has become unsustainable for the time being and we have been forced to, be it temporarily or permanently, close our doors. If the day comes when things change in such a way that this company can be made profitable once again, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that EVPW could return. We have had many great stars, amazing contests, and legendary moments in our history and I would not be so naive as to believe they are tarnished by this closing. If EVPW ever does return to a previous status as a leader in the world of Professional Wrestling, however, I regret to say that it will do so without my involvement.."
Taking a deep breath, the Czar of Scars rummages through his pocket before producing a pack of Winston full-flavored 100's and a lime green lighter. He removes a cigarette from the box before tossing the now empty container aside and lighting the tip of the stick. With a long drag, he exhales deeply, holding the smoke in for a moment before releasing it in a stream of fog. His nerves calmed mildly, he returns to his point and seems to speak a bit more candidly on the matter.
"The unfortunate truth is that the era of Strife is over. My time at the top is coming to an end and in fact, some would say it has been for some time now. A new generation has risen and men like Jaggeroth, Jack Tracks, Dustin Delta, and Hayden Hardkore have taken the center stage. I no longer have it within me... physically or emotionally... to compete week after week with what is increasingly becoming a young man's game. It is the price paid to compete in the type of brutal and physically demanding contests that I built my legacy from. I can no longer take my body to new limits every week, despite the joy I have taken in doing so to please the fans and it is time that I accept that and step away from this business with the legacy that I have been most fortunate to have had. A legacy that is, if I may be so bold, unrivaled."
With another long puff of his nicotine supply, the Hardcore King reflects upon his career nostalgically.
"I have beaten 76 different stars, many of them on multiple occasions. I've headlined countless shows. I won the original Abaddon's Pit and the first installment of the Hardcore Games. I'm a GHW Hall of Famer and the man who brought that very company to it's knees at one point in time. I'm a ten time champion with those reigns totalling 660 days, 377 of them consecutive. 4 times I held more than one title at the same time. I was undefeated for one month shy of 1000 days, garnering 59 wins before anyone could finally best me in this ring. I have 71 victories total throughout my prestigious career with only 2 instances of defeat. My name was once the most controversial and feared within these halls, as well as those of GHW... and I do not leave this business that I love with any sadness or regret within my heart because there isn't a thing more that I could ask for. I've been lucky far beyond what any man could wish for. I have been so influential and revered that many liken me to a God."
Finishing his cigarette, the Impaler drops it to the mat and steps onto it, twisting his foot to extinguish it's embers.
"And yet... while there is nothing more that a man in my shoes could reasonably ask for... there is one final thing that I desire. You see... only twice have I ever been beaten. The first time being against KingBear in this very ring in the twisted and diabolical creation of my own mind - the Asylum Cage. I had beaten him just a few months prior to that contest in the esteemed Abaddon's Pit and that Asylum Cage Deathmatch ended up being his final match... the injuries and wear induced by doing what he had to in order to beat me pushed him so far that he was never able to recover. I regarded, as I still do and always will, that the ending of my fabled streak and his legendary career along with my victory in the A.P. left my mentor and myself even. Simply being able to say that I had beaten the man who trained me and brought me into this business, who I still believe was the greatest legend of the generation before me, as well as being the end of his career... is a remarkable feat. Don't think that I'm proud of my behavior then, however... I'm truly not. I am proud though to know that I was the unstoppable force to his immovable object."
Vlad takes a deep breath and looks around the empty Solid Core gymnasium, a pang of sadness coming over him to see it so desolate.
"My second defeat came at the hands of another man who I have been no stranger to. An up and coming star who has now risen to the top and himself become steeped in legend. A man who was pitted against me in his debut to GHW and despite being savagely decimated and beaten, continued to come back for more. That man is, of course, Desperado. Like KingBear, I had beaten Desperado before he finally beat me... several times, in fact. The lengths to which he had to go to beat me, however, did not force Desperado out of this business. He competed the following week. And unlike that legendary showdown with my mentor.. I didn't look back on my fight with the Strife Slayer and feel proud of myself and at peace with the bout knowing that I gave it my all. I don't feel like I gave him my all in that contest... and that drives me insane. Not the idea that I could have beaten him.. I'm long past being concerned with the record I leave behind because I know that it is still one that will be respected and revered. Certainly not because I feel like Desperado is unworthy or incapable of that victory. He is one of the greatest men I've had the privilege to face and easily one of the most tenacious and ungiving stars of all times."
"No... what bothers me about that night are the questions lodged deep within my mind.. Did I give it my all? Did I lose because I didn't bring everything to the table on that fateful night... or because Desperado finally surpassed me in talent? If I didn't give it my all... then what if I would have? Certainly, that does not guarantee me a victory. For all my talents and traits, I have never been good at handling unanswered questions. I've never been able to just walk away and wonder 'What if?' And so, the only thing that I can ask for... before I finally leave this industry to the new generation.. is one last time. One final match to leave everything left within me in the ring.. One chance to answer those questions that plague me.. to find out if I can be the absolute best for one last night or if I've been on borrowed time since that loss."
Vladimir pulls a foot up onto the middle rope and presses up, leaning out over the top rope and looking straight into the camera's lens.
"Desperado... I want one final match with you to find out if I truly am the best in the history of this business or if I've been outshined once and for all. You provide the time and the place... and I'll bring the one thing that is unsurpassed in it's ability to lay rivalries and questions to rest... The Asylum Cage."
As the Barbarian Lord backs down off of the ropes, the camera shuts off and the screen cuts to black.
~End~
