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SNW IN PROGRESS!
Topic Started: Nov 21 2013, 08:39 PM (695 Views)
Fatchop
Master Tree
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sychosys,Nov 23 2013
06:17 AM
So who isn't rooting for a Vasquez/Wright final?

I'm sure I can think of at least one person not rooting for that. :D
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BigPoppaBuyrate
Poppin' Buyrates Since 1996
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The RPs for the other semi!

***

[One swift cut to the back later reveals the current AWA Television Champion, a man fresh off a stunning upset two weeks prior, "The Doctor of Love" himself, Dave Bryant.  The words "EARLIER TONIGHT" appear under him as he prepares to speak. Bryant is already bedecked in his splendid robe and wrestling gear beneath, looking far more at ease than he did two weeks ago at around this same time, looking almost confident.  Again, conspicuous by its absence is the AWA Television title belt itself, and again, the champion looks somewhat odd without it sitting in its usual resting place.]

DB:  One down, two to go...that's what a lot of people standing in my shoes would be thinking, right?

[Bryant chuckles.]

DB:  Yeah, one down, three to go...one former World Champion, a part of the foundation of the AWA.  One man surrounded by some of the most devious, unsavory, ruthless men in the history of this organization or his opponent, a man with a chip on his shoulder the size of the iceberg that sank the Titanic.  When those are the potential obstacles you have to fight your way through to get merely a _chance_ to climb to the top of the mountain, to reach the pinnacle of your profession, to be the man who represents not only your company, but the industry as a whole...well, you better put a little more thought that, "One down, two to go," into it.

[Bryant's grin fades, and he paces around a little before continuing.]

DB:  What can be said about Juan Vasquez that someone hasn't said before?  He's a long-time veteran of the sport.  He's worn championship gold at every level of competition nearly every place he's ever worked, he is ultimately respected by his peers and he is still a man who feels like he has things to do, goals to accomplish, a man with many miles to walk before he sleeps, so to speak.  He is dangerous, vicious, capable of astonishing levels of violence.  His travels through the wrestling world have seen the highest of peaks and the rockiest of valleys, yet here he stands, still hungry, still wanting more.

[Bryant smirks.]

DB:  Now that I've told you all of that, you might be wondering why I'm even showing up tonight...or maybe, like Bucky, you're wondering who I upset to get this draw in the Chase.

[Bryant shrugs.]

DB:  I entertained that thought myself for a few minutes, until I saw it for what it was -- a trap.  A way for me to try to lay the blame on somebody else if I happened to lose to Nenshou two weeks ago, or if I get knocked out by the right cross tonight, or if the entire Unholy Alliance shows up to pummel me into an unrecognizable mass _right_ before I march out for the finals...and I don't want anything to do with that.  There's no grand conspiracy, there's not even bad luck.  The Chase was set up so that eight of the very best would fight it out to see which one deserved a shot at the title, nothing more, nothing less.  No matter where you found yourself in that draw, you were going to have to fight your way through some of the greatest the AWA had to offer in order to win the prize. Unless, that is, your name happens to be Johnny Detson.

[Bryant grins.]

DB:  That might be all the time I can afford to not speak on the subject at hand, but I can't just ignore what happened in the first round.  I did something that even I thought was impossible, something that anybody who knew me a decade ago would've laughed off as fantasy.  I held the easy way out, the simple answer, right here in my hands...

[Bryant brings his hands up, clenching them in a mockery of his grip on Percy Childes' cane.]

DB:  ...and against every one of my most base instincts, I threw it aside.  I threw it aside because Nenshou deserved better than that, because the _Chase_ deserved better.  It deserves better than some scumbag winning with a fake submission, deserves better than people like Percy Childes and Dave Cooper causing a disqualification, deserves better than some seedy former casino manager taking the cheap way out with an international object.

[Bryant lowers his hands, glaring into the camera.]

DB:  It deserves better, and tonight, you and me, Vasquez, we'll _give_ it better.  I'm not going to stand here and bray about how I'm going to beat you, I won't pretend I have every confidence about walking out of our matchup the victor.  I won't denigrate you, what you've done, what you still want to do, I will simply say that tonight, Juan Vasquez, you and I are going to give the Chase for the Clash greatness, we will give it a match that will live on in the memories of those folks in the stands and the boys in the back, and most importantly of all, Juan Vasquez, you and I...

[Bryant takes a deep breath.]

DB:  ...you and I...you _OR_ I...will move on, will seize this Chase, will move on to SuperClash, and will finally excise the cancer we call "champion".

[Bryant stalks out as the picture fades...

...into a shot in the Coliseum parking lot, as the words "Earlier Today" flash across the screen. There, we see Juan Vasquez standing by with Jason Dane. Juan is holding a duffel bag and dressed in his street clothes: a black skeleton hoodie and an old school LWC Tex Violence t-shirt. Dane turns to the camera and begins to speak.]

JD: Juan, tonight you face the AWA World Television Champion, Dave Bryant, in one of the semifinal matches in the Chase for the Clash. With a shot at your old nemesis Calisto Dufresne hanging in the balance, what are your thoughts going into this match?

[The former National Champion strokes his chin for a moment, deep in thought.]

JV: You know, I've heard it everywhere I've ever been.

"Dave Bryant is a liar."

"Dave Bryant is a cheater."

"Dave Bryant is scum of the Earth."

[Juan makes a low whistle.]

JV: And when a man spends a decade hearing and seeing just exactly that, when he sees Dave Bryant go out there and prove that he IS a liar, a cheater and scum of the Earth...it's not a huge shock that he starts to believe that every terrible thing he's heard about the man is true.

Hell, up until a few months ago, every terrible thing WAS true.

But then August rolls around, Royalty sticks their nose where it doesn't belong and suddenly everything I've ever seen, heard and known about Dave Bryant's been turned upside down.

[He frowns.]

JV: Dave Bryant suddenly ain't just a liar, a cheater, and scum of the Earth. Now he's a man searching for redemption. Now he's a man fighting for respect. Now he's the enemy of MY enemy

So that would make him...

...my friend?

[There's a slight look of confusion on Juan's face, before he smiles and shakes his head.]

JV: Not even close.

[Dane gives him a questioning look. Juan shrugs.]

JV: Hey...just being honest.

[A sheepish grin.]

JV: Dave Bryant...you said you wanted something good and pure. You said you wanted to leave behind a legacy filled with something greater than betrayals and misdeeds. And I want to believe you. I want to be able to walk into our match tonight and believe in my heart of hearts, that Dave Bryant is trying to redeem himself. I want to believe Dave Bryant is trying to change his evil ways...

[His expression turns serious.]

JV: ...but I can't and I won't.

JD: Dave Bryant's shown tremendous resolve to redeem his past actions. Why would you be so quick to dismiss him?

JV: I'm not dismissing him. But you have to understand, it's just not that easy.

[Juan looks around and makes a small sigh.]

JV: A kid like Ryan Martinez might be naive enough to do it, but this ain't my first rodeo, amigo. A couple of months of playing nice doesn't buy you redemption and being pissed off at Royalty doesn't earn you forgiveness. It doesn't suddenly allow me to trust and respect you.

[He deadpans.]

JV: That's the sort of mistake that can get you a roll of silver dollars upside the head.

JD: I see your point.

JV: And with a shot at the World Title on the line...with a chance to get back at Calisto Dufresne once and for all...and with Royalty and The Unholy Alliance out for blood...it's a risk I can't take.

[He crosses his arms over his chest, glaring straight into the camera.]

JV: You want redemption, Bryant? You want respect?

[Juan's eyes narrow.]

JV: Then show me.

Show me that it's not just lip service. Show the WORLD that this ain't just another batch of lies and deceit courtesy of Dave Bryant. Prove to us that Dave Bryant is a man WORTHY of  respect and forgiveness by stepping into the ring and GIVING us his all.

No shortcuts.  No silver dollars. No Yuma Weaver.

Just _Dave Bryant._

[A beat.]

JV: Redemption isn't a given. Forgiveness isn't certain. Respect isn't guaranteed.

But it's all there for the taking.

No one ever said it was going to be easy, but if you truly want it...then you're going to have to EARN it.

[And with that, Juan walks off, leaving Jason Dane behind.]
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JRuss
Sharko
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Man, that's good work by all involved. But, if I'd be forced to choose, I think we'd see a Detson/Vasquez final.

And then someone would end up with hypothermia fighting off of a pier; which is why I don't book anymore.
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BigPoppaBuyrate
Poppin' Buyrates Since 1996
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Part 1...

http://www.e-warchive.com/AWA/Resources/snw11-9-13.pdf
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sychosys
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Would be interesting to know how many tournament matches were determined by strat/promo quality as opposed to one handler stratting to lose.
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BigPoppaBuyrate
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sychosys,Dec 2 2013
06:43 PM
Would be interesting to know how many tournament matches were determined by strat/promo quality as opposed to one handler stratting to lose.

Maybe we'll chat about that after it's over!
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BigPoppaBuyrate
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One final pair of promos to ponder! It's almost time!

---

[We crossfade into a shot backstage. There, we see Supreme Wright, standing alone in the dressing room still in the half-black and half-gold wrestling attire he was seen wearing earlier tonight. His torso is now wrapped in white tape, covering the ribs that Johnny Detson had assaulted during their match. Supreme tries to maintain his usual stoic expression, but there's an obvious level of discomfort etched on his face.]

SW: Don't mind the tape...I've been through worse.

[He shifts his stance, wincing slightly in pain as he does so.]

SW: Some people might think I'm putting a huge bullseye on my back by taping up these ribs, but that doesn't exactly change anything, does it?

I've been making myself a target ever since I got here.

[A slight smirk. The faintest tinge of a chuckle.]

SW: Why?

Because I've never been good enough.

[The smirk disappears.]

SW: Not in my eyes or anyone else's.

I was the student that wasn't good enough to be the first graduate of the Combat Corner. I was the challenger that wasn't good enough to defeat Mr. Monosso last year at SuperClash. And now I'm the number one contender that isn't good enough to challenge for the World Heavyweight title based on his own merits.

[The tone in Supreme's voice begins to become excited, rushed, and harsh. He stops himself, trying to maintain control.]

SW: I'm never good enough. I'm never worthy. Every time I'm facing adversity, every time the odds are against me...I'm counted out. I'm given no chance. I wasn't suppose to defeat Jeff Matthews, I didn't stand a chance in the Rumble, I wasn't capable of choking out Alex Martinez, I wouldn't be able to stop MAMMOTH Maximus...

...until I stepped into MY ring and SHOWED the world that I could.

[Deep breaths. Maintain control.]

SW: I've had to scratch and claw every inch of the way. I've had to fight and bleed and struggle just to prove that I belong.

I guess...that means I'm not good enough to be a "golden child", either.

[He rolls his eyes in disgust as he spits out the words "golden child".]

SW: My every success is dismissed. Ignored. Forgotten. I've become a man completely defined...

...by his failures.

[He lowers his head and shakes it slightly.]

SW: And truth be told, it doesn't bother me one damn bit.

I always knew my destiny wasn't to walk a path paved with gold. My road to the World title was never going to be simple. If I was going to ever reach the land of milk and honey...

...I would have to march along a trail of tears.

[He turns his head away from the camera, a thousand-yard stare on his face.]

SW: I'm not gonna' say how much I "need" to win this.

It should be obvious to everyone by now that I _NEED_ to win every time I step into MY ring.

[A drawn in breath. A beat. A colder, more intense look forming on his face.]

SW: I'm not gonna' say how much I "want" the world title.

If you don't understand how much Supreme Wright wants the World Title, then you just haven't been paying attention.

[He turns his attention back towards the camera.]

SW: But understand this. If Mr. Bryant loses, he'll still have won the respect that he wanted. He'll still have gained the admiration that he desired. And he'll be able to walk away with his head held high and with the Television title around his waist.

He'll still have EVERYTHING he's fought so hard for.

But what am I left with if I lose?

[Supreme's face darkens with a frown.]

SW: Another lost opportunity. Another failure. Another year of struggle and sacrifice with nothing to show for it.

[Blink. Beat. Stare.]

SW: I _have_ to win.

[Silence. He lets the weight of those words settle, before continuing on.]

SW: Some would have you believe that this journey is about Dave Bryant's redemption.

[Supreme closes his eyes...]

SW: I respectfully disagree.

[...and reopens them. They're open wide. Wild. Vibrant. His voice, suddenly cutting with a hardened edge.]

SW: It's about MY validation.

[And then, his expression completely changes. The stoic mask shatters. The careful control falls away. The emotions finally pour out, and what we see...is bare-naked rage. ]

SW: I AM GOOD ENOUGH!

I AM WORTHY!

I WILL DEFEAT YOU, MR. BRYANT!

AND I WILL...

[Supreme stops himself, squeezing his eyes tight. The desperate, barely-contained look fades, replaced once again by a stoic mask. The rage, receding back below the surface and simmering beneath. His wild eyes, now narrowed, but still filled with life, now once again, focused on the task at hand. His voice controlled, measured and filled with conviction.]

SW: And I will be...

...your next AWA World Champion.

[Fade out...

...and then back to Jason Dane, standing by with the one of the finalists, the AWA World Television Champion, Dave Bryant. Bryant hasn't even bothered to put his robe back on, TV title belt draped hastily over a shoulder, still in his ring gear and ready to go.  There's some light bruising on the Doctor of Love's ribs, evidence of both the matchup against Nenshou two weeks ago and the beating Juan Vasquez put on them tonight, and the TV champion seems to be moving just a bit gingerly.]

JD:  We've got one of the Finalists back here, folks, a man who -- with all due respect -- I don't think anybody picked to be here by the end of the night.

[Bryant raises an eyebrow, then laughs.]

DB:  I'd like to say you're wrong about that, Jason.  I'd like to stand here and say that I knew I'd be here all along, but I'm trying to be an honest man nowadays.  I wouldn't have picked me against Nenshou, nor would I have given me the nod against one of the foundation stones of this company, yet here I stand.  Beaten, bruised, but still standing here.

JD:  ...and ready to go against Supreme Wright this very evening?

[Bryant grins wryly.]

DB:  Well, that's the thing, isn't it?  Can you really be ready for something like this?  Four of us arrived here tonight, all four believing that we'd have to win two matches to make it to SuperClash, all four believing that we COULD win twice tonight. None of us really knew what might happen tonight, with Royalty sticking its nose in everybody's business and the Unholy Alliance always lurking, but we knew that no matter what kind of nonsense happened tonight, whoever made it to the main event would be beaten up, either by their opponent or by whoever hasn't got it in them to respect the Chase and respect the people competing in it.

[Bryant's grin has faded by now, replaced by a scowl.]

JD:  Speaking of which, Dave Cooper has tried to interfere with your matches in particular, showing up two weeks ago and again earlier this evening.  Both times, between Alphonse Green's appearance and your opponent's unwillingness to accept any aid have kept him at bay.  Do you think he'll show up again during your matchup against Supreme Wright?

[The scowl deepens.]

DB:  Of course he will, Jason!  After all, the lowlife holding his leash is going to be seated ringside, waiting to see which of the two of us is coming to beat him silly at SuperClash V.  I'm sure Cooper believes in that tired old adage about the third time being the charm as much as the next man, and maybe the third time he tries to screw me out of the Chase, he'll succeed.

[Bryant shakes his head.]

DB:  Don't ask me anything else about that piece of crap, Jason.  He has no respect for this business and is willing to do things that would've made me sick to my stomach before I made any attempt to change how I go about my business.  He's a stain on this organization and a stain on professional wrestling as a whole...

[Bryant trails off for a second.]

DB:  I'd much rather talk about the man I'm facing this evening, a man who has repeatedly proven himself to be a man with character, with pride in this business, and with the dignity to treat it, and the Chase, with the respect they both deserve.  Sure, he's a ruthless, vicious competitor, a man who wouldn't bat an eyelash about injuring his opponent if he had to do so to win...but at least he'll do it in the ring, and he won't sneak around behind your back to take you out.  He'll stand up, look you in the eye, and then chop a wheel right out from under you.

JD:  I've talked to a handful of people about the potential matchups for the finals, and there were a lot of them who had a lot to say about a potential Bryant/Wright final.  They seem to think the two of you might be able to put on a clinic, a match people watch years from now in order to better learn their craft.  Stylistically, it seems like the two of you could use each other for shaving mirrors. You've faced some of the best the AWA has to offer and prevailed, but how do you like your chances against Supreme Wright?

[Bryant takes a deep breath, then winces slightly.]

DB:  You remember how I described Wright, Jason?  Talking about the size of the chip on his shoulder?  It isn't any smaller now than it was then, and if anything, I'd guess that being one match, one three count or a few taps of my hand on that mat from another shot at Calisto Dufresne is going to take that desperation and give it a razor edge.  Twice he's been on that edge, on the cup of capturing the golden grail of professional wrestling, and twice Dufresne has managed to turn him aside.  That kind of thing can do two things to someone.  It can turn them into a bitter, resentful wreck...

[Bryant smirks.]

DB:  ...or it can make them into an unstoppable monster bent on obliterating everything in their path to greatness.  From the looks of things, from what we've seen in the Chase, Wright isn't busy wallowing in self-pity, he's not going behind the backs of his friends to complain to the office, drowning his sorrows in whatever bottle he can get his hands on.  He's taken that desperation and turned it into raw, unadulterated hunger, Dane, because he's been so close and just not quite gotten there.

[Bryant's smirk fades.]

DB:  I know that feeling.  I know what it's like to be told by everybody you know, hear from every analyst, everybody in the business whispering in your ear that you should be the one, that you should be champion, you should be the face of the business.  I knew it more than a decade ago, and it got into my head so deep that I burned every bridge I could find until there were no paths left back into the business for me but to wait, to watch, to look in from afar and take whatever wrestling gig I could get, working bingo halls and high school gyms for the seediest people you'll ever meet in your life.  I know what Supreme Wright is feeling right now, Jason. Hunger.  Desperation.  Anxiety...and excitement.  This is the biggest night of his life, the biggest night of OUR lives, and we're both so desperate to prove ourselves that it's a surprise neither of us has snapped from all the emotion we've keeping bottled up inside.

[Bryant lets the TV title belt fall to his side, clutching it in his hand.]

DB:  I hold this title now, as much respect as I have for it, and I know it's just not enough anymore.  After they told me I was going to be in the Chase, I thought okay, that's pretty cool.  I swore I'd leave everything in that ring, that I'd put on a good show, but deep down I never believed I'd make it here tonight.

[Bryant pauses after that admission, his lips tightening into a grimace.]

DB:  Now that I'm here...I can't lose this, Jason.  I can't climb this far up the mountain and fall again.  I have to take the Chase, have to go on to SuperClash and beat that scumbag Dufresne into the dirt, claim what he believes is his and finally realize all the potential my career had before I threw it all away.  Supreme Wright, you said something that rang in my ears earlier tonight, and it rings even louder now.  You said, and I quote, "...there isn't a man in this world, that desperately wants to hold the World Title more than I do..."

[Bryant stares at the camera, his eyes narrowing slightly.]

DB:  You're wrong.

[With that, the Television champion turns his back on Jason Dane and strides out of shot as we fade from the backstage area to a panning shot of the Crockett Coliseum crowd which is buzzing in anticipation.]
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