Post by Mark Storm on Feb 17, 2018 19:04:43 GMT -8
No longer was he just a man.
He was more than that or at least he convinced himself he was. Whether the world realized it or not wasn't any of his concern, but in due time the realization would finally dawn on them, he was sure of that. His rise to the top had been chaotic, controversial and mischievous. Nevertheless, he was at the top, and despite people's best efforts to knock him off of his high horse, they were constantly unable to. There was one man in particular who struggled to grasp this concept and that man was the next challenger to his throne. The same man he'd been battling for almost a year now; a battle of ego's, a battle of superiority, and a battle to proclaim themselves as the best.
But every time, the same victor had emerged and fortunately for Your Hero and Mine, it was him who had his arm raised on every occasion. Their rivalry was nothing short of historic and memorable, from the beginnings of Chris Crippler's reign as SKYFIRE Champion to now. And every time, Storm had managed to conquer him. This was, without a doubt, the greatest obstacle in the coveted career of Chris Crippler. One that if he didn't overcome, could perhaps tarnish his name and legacy. A legacy he worked so hard to solidify, would all of a sudden crumble into micro pieces, eroding into nothing but just memories of an old man who used to have the world in his hands, until he let it slip away.
"I used to believe we'd do this forever, Chris." his voice was calm and composed, like always.
Dressed in a black suit and tie with a white rose hanging from the pocket of his jacket, the camera fixating on it for a few minutes. Buckled around his waist, the championship belt that he would be defending in a matter of days. The same belt he made one of the most prestigious in all of professional wrestling.
He made it matter, not only had he raised it's stock but he brought in an audience who were interested in his defenses, especially his next one. Storm clasped his hands together before planting them on the sides of the podium, looking out at the reporters that filled the room, all eager to pose their questions to the champion. But he wasn't here to answer their questions like everybody else. No, he was here to make a statement and that was it. All they had to do was listen.
"But forever is a mighty long time. I think we both know that there's an end to our story. It's inevitable. We've been doing this for almost a year now and to say it's been one of the greatest rivalries I've encountered would be true. You are, one of the greatest inspirations for me Chris because you've pushed me like no other opponent ever has. On every occasion. You've forced me to give me one hundred percent and that's something that no other opponent of mine has ever done. But like I said Chris, all stories have an ending and we're approaching ours. It's been a long one and a tedious one because whilst it has been challenging, it's also been repetitive.
Time after time, after time - I've managed to best you in battle and it makes you wonder Chris. When is it enough? When will you finally realize that you're not going to beat me. You're good. You're one of the best in the world. But you are not better than me. You have never been better than me and that's what people are going to remember about our story, Chris. The story that we're creating right now, people are going to remember as the story where Mark Storm conquered the legendary Chris Crippler and made him nothing more, than just a name.
That's all you're becoming. A name. And somehow you've managed to beg your way to another championship opportunity against me and I'm wondering why? Why, would you put yourself through the misery and the pain and the anguish all over again? Nothing is going to change, Chris. I'm at the tippy top of the wrestling industry as a whole whilst you're just a name that's fading into the background. But you already know that, don't you?"
He asked rhetorically, chuckling to himself afterwards as flashes could be heard coming from a row of cameras below him.
"This is your last shot. Your last opportunity against me and it's going to go the same way it always goes. Chris Crippler, squanders yet again. You know, it's funny Chris. It's funny because last time round everybody wanted me to win. This time last year, I was the underdog. I was the guy who had everything to prove and you were the guy who had everything to lose. You were the star of our previous promotion, a star that seemingly was never going to let go of that championship belt. But now the tables have turned... you're the guy with everything to prove, whilst I'm the guy with everything to lose. You need to prove that you still belong here. That you mean something because at the moment, I look at you and I don't see the same Chris Crippler that I saw this time last year. No, I see a shadow of a man. I see a bitch who doesn't know what's next for him. Who's trying so hard to relive those glory days. But those glory days, they've been and gone and now, you're living in an era where Your Hero and Mine is the ruler of worlds.
I'm sick of tired of this game we play. This game where you challenge me and I beat you, over and over again and it's made me sick that you've somehow managed to wiggle your way into one last title opportunity against me. Because I can think of a dozen other names who deserve this shot before you but no, you wanna come out here and try to prove that you still got it. That you still matter! Let's be honest for a minute, the only reason why your name is ever mentioned is because of me! For the last several months, you've only been relevant because I've made you relevant! It's me who carried our matches to legendary status! It's me who took that SKYFIRE title away from you!
And it's me, who's prevented you at every championship success you've had since then! I'm the thorn in your life right now, I'm the itch that you can't get rid of even though you're scratching and clawing with everything you have. But it isn't enough. You, are not enough to beat me and when I beat you at the Global Heritage Festival - I want you to go away. I want you to go home to your wife and your kids and I want you to look into their eyes and apologize. Apologize for putting them everything you have for the last several months, chasing me. Apologize for trying to step up to Your Hero and Mine. And then I want you to look yourself in a mirror and be ashamed."
Murmurs began to linger around the room among the reporters. Were his words harsh? Of course. But he had to be harsh. Because he knew they'd get a reaction out of Chris Crippler, his greatest enemy. And whilst he felt their story was coming to a close, there was also a feeling of optimism - of whats to come in the near distant future.
"We've outgrown each other. We were once equals, but no more. Now, I'm more than just a professional wrestler. I'm more than just a man. When I lose this title, if I ever do - it's going to be against someone who's more than what they are, and right now - there's no one on that roster who surpasses average. Of course, Tony, but other than that, they're mere mortals. Chris Crippler, isn't special. He isn't the man who's going to knock me off my throne, I'm sure of that. He's the man who keeps chasing. That's his role in the story, ladies and gentlemen. Whilst he see's himself as the villain in my story, I see him as the child who doesn't stop pestering. In my story, the villain has already been defeated. I defeated him a long time ago. No, I must bury the hatchet and I'm all for it. It's the end for us, Chris. But it's the beginning of a new too. At Global Heritage Festival, you're not just going to lose, you're going to suffer. You're going to suffer more than you ever have and it's to be my pleasure inflicting their damage on you. I'm keeping onto this title." he holds the title above his head, "From Your Hero, and Mine."
Leaving the stage, the reporters are left wondering what Chris Crippler has to say for his press conference release. The scene then gradually fades to black.
He was more than that or at least he convinced himself he was. Whether the world realized it or not wasn't any of his concern, but in due time the realization would finally dawn on them, he was sure of that. His rise to the top had been chaotic, controversial and mischievous. Nevertheless, he was at the top, and despite people's best efforts to knock him off of his high horse, they were constantly unable to. There was one man in particular who struggled to grasp this concept and that man was the next challenger to his throne. The same man he'd been battling for almost a year now; a battle of ego's, a battle of superiority, and a battle to proclaim themselves as the best.
But every time, the same victor had emerged and fortunately for Your Hero and Mine, it was him who had his arm raised on every occasion. Their rivalry was nothing short of historic and memorable, from the beginnings of Chris Crippler's reign as SKYFIRE Champion to now. And every time, Storm had managed to conquer him. This was, without a doubt, the greatest obstacle in the coveted career of Chris Crippler. One that if he didn't overcome, could perhaps tarnish his name and legacy. A legacy he worked so hard to solidify, would all of a sudden crumble into micro pieces, eroding into nothing but just memories of an old man who used to have the world in his hands, until he let it slip away.
"I used to believe we'd do this forever, Chris." his voice was calm and composed, like always.
Dressed in a black suit and tie with a white rose hanging from the pocket of his jacket, the camera fixating on it for a few minutes. Buckled around his waist, the championship belt that he would be defending in a matter of days. The same belt he made one of the most prestigious in all of professional wrestling.
He made it matter, not only had he raised it's stock but he brought in an audience who were interested in his defenses, especially his next one. Storm clasped his hands together before planting them on the sides of the podium, looking out at the reporters that filled the room, all eager to pose their questions to the champion. But he wasn't here to answer their questions like everybody else. No, he was here to make a statement and that was it. All they had to do was listen.
"But forever is a mighty long time. I think we both know that there's an end to our story. It's inevitable. We've been doing this for almost a year now and to say it's been one of the greatest rivalries I've encountered would be true. You are, one of the greatest inspirations for me Chris because you've pushed me like no other opponent ever has. On every occasion. You've forced me to give me one hundred percent and that's something that no other opponent of mine has ever done. But like I said Chris, all stories have an ending and we're approaching ours. It's been a long one and a tedious one because whilst it has been challenging, it's also been repetitive.
Time after time, after time - I've managed to best you in battle and it makes you wonder Chris. When is it enough? When will you finally realize that you're not going to beat me. You're good. You're one of the best in the world. But you are not better than me. You have never been better than me and that's what people are going to remember about our story, Chris. The story that we're creating right now, people are going to remember as the story where Mark Storm conquered the legendary Chris Crippler and made him nothing more, than just a name.
That's all you're becoming. A name. And somehow you've managed to beg your way to another championship opportunity against me and I'm wondering why? Why, would you put yourself through the misery and the pain and the anguish all over again? Nothing is going to change, Chris. I'm at the tippy top of the wrestling industry as a whole whilst you're just a name that's fading into the background. But you already know that, don't you?"
He asked rhetorically, chuckling to himself afterwards as flashes could be heard coming from a row of cameras below him.
"This is your last shot. Your last opportunity against me and it's going to go the same way it always goes. Chris Crippler, squanders yet again. You know, it's funny Chris. It's funny because last time round everybody wanted me to win. This time last year, I was the underdog. I was the guy who had everything to prove and you were the guy who had everything to lose. You were the star of our previous promotion, a star that seemingly was never going to let go of that championship belt. But now the tables have turned... you're the guy with everything to prove, whilst I'm the guy with everything to lose. You need to prove that you still belong here. That you mean something because at the moment, I look at you and I don't see the same Chris Crippler that I saw this time last year. No, I see a shadow of a man. I see a bitch who doesn't know what's next for him. Who's trying so hard to relive those glory days. But those glory days, they've been and gone and now, you're living in an era where Your Hero and Mine is the ruler of worlds.
You need to understand that. You need to accept that.
I'm sick of tired of this game we play. This game where you challenge me and I beat you, over and over again and it's made me sick that you've somehow managed to wiggle your way into one last title opportunity against me. Because I can think of a dozen other names who deserve this shot before you but no, you wanna come out here and try to prove that you still got it. That you still matter! Let's be honest for a minute, the only reason why your name is ever mentioned is because of me! For the last several months, you've only been relevant because I've made you relevant! It's me who carried our matches to legendary status! It's me who took that SKYFIRE title away from you!
And it's me, who's prevented you at every championship success you've had since then! I'm the thorn in your life right now, I'm the itch that you can't get rid of even though you're scratching and clawing with everything you have. But it isn't enough. You, are not enough to beat me and when I beat you at the Global Heritage Festival - I want you to go away. I want you to go home to your wife and your kids and I want you to look into their eyes and apologize. Apologize for putting them everything you have for the last several months, chasing me. Apologize for trying to step up to Your Hero and Mine. And then I want you to look yourself in a mirror and be ashamed."
Murmurs began to linger around the room among the reporters. Were his words harsh? Of course. But he had to be harsh. Because he knew they'd get a reaction out of Chris Crippler, his greatest enemy. And whilst he felt their story was coming to a close, there was also a feeling of optimism - of whats to come in the near distant future.
"We've outgrown each other. We were once equals, but no more. Now, I'm more than just a professional wrestler. I'm more than just a man. When I lose this title, if I ever do - it's going to be against someone who's more than what they are, and right now - there's no one on that roster who surpasses average. Of course, Tony, but other than that, they're mere mortals. Chris Crippler, isn't special. He isn't the man who's going to knock me off my throne, I'm sure of that. He's the man who keeps chasing. That's his role in the story, ladies and gentlemen. Whilst he see's himself as the villain in my story, I see him as the child who doesn't stop pestering. In my story, the villain has already been defeated. I defeated him a long time ago. No, I must bury the hatchet and I'm all for it. It's the end for us, Chris. But it's the beginning of a new too. At Global Heritage Festival, you're not just going to lose, you're going to suffer. You're going to suffer more than you ever have and it's to be my pleasure inflicting their damage on you. I'm keeping onto this title." he holds the title above his head, "From Your Hero, and Mine."
Leaving the stage, the reporters are left wondering what Chris Crippler has to say for his press conference release. The scene then gradually fades to black.
