Post by Delikado/J-Noble on Jan 22, 2011 22:15:48 GMT -5
The scene opens with Johnny Noble’s face peering toward what at first looks to be our camera, until it is revealed he is actually looking at a television a few feet away. On it is a match that is already under way between “Astonishing” Adam Abel and fella by the name of Keith Skyfire back in Pro Wrestling FIRE, September 6th of 2009. Johnny’s face is plain, practically emotionless, as he intently studies Abel as he vaults himself onto the top rope and then leaps onto Skyfire. He gets his legs around him and pulls him down with a hurricanrana to the mat.
Alex Avice: This was back when Adam Abel’s faction, The Collective was facing off with Skyfire’s unit called OMEGA in a big faction war. Many will say this was arguably when Adam was about to step up at the top of his game, a few months before he won the PWF’s World Championship.
As the Pride interviewer stands at Johnny’s side watching the tape as well, the younger Noble continues to watch the match with nothing short of intense interest. His focus practically seems to make Avice’s words a stiff mumble in the background. With his eyes narrowing just a smidgen, Johnny watches as Abel and Skyfire rise to their feet. He follows Abel as he hops to the middle rope and then vaults backwards with a springboard back elbow. Johnny blinks only once as the camera on the PWF video zooms in on Abel’s face. Meanwhile, Abel on video has begun get up and flip back in a way so that he catches Skyfire with a Pelé kick. Johnny nods, a quick grin crossing his lips and then fading away just as fast.
Alex Avice: He’s in no way going to just sit there and be bounced around like a football. The man gave power back to their World title and was voted in the top 5 best of the company. Many guys in Pride here were in that company then. They still remember and respond to that. Of course, I don't know about you...
Johnny reaches over and manually pauses the video before turning back to Avice, shrugging and lifting his eyebrow in response to that statement.
Johnny Noble: That’s fine. If anything, that’s perfect. Can’t say I have much fun watching people with no experience. I love a good veteran opponent with some healthy meat on their career, a little history.
He turns back to the TV and grins with a little excitement shining through as he watches the frozen frame.
Johnny Noble: He won that PWF title in December of 09, held it until late March of the following year. Roughly 100-105 days. He previously debuted about late February, early March of 09. Now…*chuckle* what kind of talent gets title shots, title wins of that caliber about nine or so months into their career?
Alex Avice: Umm…good talent…?
Johnny gives a little click and wink combination to show Avice has hit the mark he was going for.
Johnny Noble: Whereas me, the kind of person I am, the talent I would be classified as, I debuted last year in October and I have a grand total of 0 days to the non-existent title reign I did not have. My ranking among the company’s top athletes comes out to the high-rise number of…how many people would you say make up this roster currently, Avice? Just ball-park it.
Alex Avice: Uh…I dunno, 26-27?
Johnny Noble: Exactly.
Alex Avice: Huh?
Johnny Noble: Good little summary there, I reckon.
He smiles and makes a hand gesture that suggests dismissed amusement.
Johnny Noble: So that’s left me on one side of the ring with absolute zip on the “lay your cards on the table and show ‘em, boys” chart and a childish intellect on the business while Abel comes in with a scolding hot and impressive 105 day title reign, a whopping top 5 ranking of his talent, charisma, record, etcetera, and…oh, a nice wife, I don’t know. Let’s just put all that out there and make a game. Let’s say…
Johnny grabs the remote next to him and fast-forwards some of the match he was watching to a later point. He stops at one he wants, suggesting he’s already viewed the tape before and can recall certain moments. He views the footage as it plays out, giving the occasional commentary…
Johnny Noble: Let’s say I go for something like this later on in the evening at our match,
On video, Abel leaps up for a cross body in the ring, but Skyfire catches him and flips him back with a fall away slam. Johnny lightly grimaces in pain, but carries onward.
Johnny Noble: Ow, that was nasty. Poor guy, I made him skid across the ring like he just fell off a skateboard or something, haha.
Back to the tape, Abel quickly rolls up to his feet and makes an impressive move of clotheslining Skyfire so that he hits the mat. Again, Johnny grimaces.
Johnny Noble: Well, I’m certainly regretting not staying on top of him there. Even when I’m getting up…
Abel grabs Skyfire in a three-quarter face-lock before drilling his head to the mat with a Corkscrew Snapmare Driver. Abel then motions that it's over as he heads to the corner.
Johnny Noble: I’m just being set up…
Abel climbs to the top and leaps off with a Shooting Star Press, hitting the move perfectly! He hooks the leg…
1...
2...
3!!!
Johnny Noble: To be royally screwed up. Match is over, top five wins. Now, the odds of me countering any of that, what with my “track record” is---and we’re going back to the game, Avice, keep track.
Alex Avice: Ok…
Johnny Noble: Right, so if we’re playing that game with a former World Champion of over 100 days, all the momentum on his side, all the fans and all the guys in the back, I figure the fractioning of that match plays out in 80-20. In his favor. That’s just off the top of my head and is not realistic math, as wrestling is not a math game. Usually. It is an odd thought, watching it as that, though...
Johnny grins as Avice just stands by in confusion, doing his best to follow Noble’s analogy of the match.
Alex Avice: But, uh, this IS tag match, you know. Abel’s only one part of a bigger piece in that Daevin Duschane is on his side while Stephen Callaway is on yours. Going by your, um, “game”, the odds have to improve at least a little, don’t they?
Johnny puts a finger to his mouth, thinking over that question before answering. Just like a regular interview.
Johnny Noble: Now tag team matches are a whole new story. A whole new game, Avice. Partners have to know they bring their own style and element and will likely clash with one another at some point or the next, as long as we’re our own different person and not a unique team of “one being” such as in cases like with The Krieg or The Angry Hobos or whatever they’re called, or even that British team that formed over in the Universal League. They both figure we’re a bunch of Yanks, don’t they, because it’s a team effort of one. One particular bonding, one mind, one everything else you can get. We are not that, Callaway or myself, in this case. Now, at the same time, as you’re likely thinking, Adam Abel and Daevin Duschane are not the same either. They’ve never so much as seen the other tie a boot. Right now, the game is even in the tag department.
He makes a similar hand gesture with both hands at the same time, as if he’s weighing something evenly.
Johnny Noble: 50/50. Nicely tied. But that’s only on a team basis. Singles basis, as all of us are going in this with our own separate thoughts and ideas on how to wrestle the match, is something you have to weigh in as well. So Pride has made it so that in this match, Daevin Duschane is the other team’s “underdog”. He has no real personal experience, only coming around this month. Now, that’s not a shot, that’s just a well-known fact that you can’t have legitimate experience only a month into your career. That makes Duschance the team of Abel and Daevin’s “weak spot.” But…I myself am my OWN team’s weak spot. You think I’ve gained as much experience as Stephen Callaway, having only been around for a few months myself? Callaway has been here since the 90s---late 90s mind you but still the 90s. His track record may not be as award winning and stupendous to examine as Abel’s, but it’s still there and it’s still very real. So real that it is also making me the “underdog” of the team I make half of.
Johnny leans back in his chair, his hands placed over one another in his lap, as he reflects on that ideal and allows Avice to ponder it as well.
Johnny Noble: I am the second to last man you would expect to see in control in that match, Avice. Maybe even the VERY last. Maybe Duschane has a trick that he isn’t showing off yet. After all, newcomers always bring in something to stir up the pot in some manner. Isn’t that interesting? Mine was being related to our present General Manager, but that’s an entirely different angle we’re discussing.
Johnny nods his head, twirling his head until his neck lightly pops.
Johnny Noble: The big boys at the desk in ties got it right, for a rare time.
Avice grins, but mostly only at how Johnny relays that previous comment, with a little hint of harmless sarcasm and humor.
Johnny Noble: Yes, we’re shooting for something here that will really stir up some pots. I’m hardly qualified to face World Champions, much less team with them, at least in Kurt’s eyes. Duschane is the same way. And meanwhile ,when you’ve got a war on your hands, you hardly want to focus on the new talent. Rather you want to test them, put them in a scenario where you see how useful they can be to your cause. After all, what good is a rookie to you when he’s as bland or useless as the previous guy? Well, that’s at least some people’s point of views. Hardly a selfless plan, hardly interested in the sport or the fans, but it’s not my business and therefore it’s not my business. Hmm?
Johnny closes one eye and ponders silently to himself for a few seconds.
Johnny Noble: With Callaway…from the 1990s versus the top 5 contender of a company all the PWF-to-Pride guys admire and know, you go…49-51. Not quite 50/50.
Alex Avice: Uh, excuse me, Johnny, but where are you coming up with these statistics?
Johnny lifts his head up and seems to be analyzing Avice now instead of the match. He blinks once and inhales slowly.
Johnny Noble: Perhaps one of us should go tell Callaway that he should deal in the contendership of facing Abel. After all, they are the most qualified to put together.
Johnny flashes the TV a look and then looks to change his mind.
Johnny Noble: No, no, let’s not do that. I prefer a challenge myself. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right, Avice?
Avice, dumbfounded, stands where he is and sheepishly looks around, trying not to lock eyes with the somewhat riddle-speaking young Noble. Johnny licks his lips, as if the spirit of the competition to be has already started to get him excited.
Johnny Noble: I’m thinking…Abel will be my mentor here, and Callaway will tutor Duschane in the meanwhile on how the 90s “roll.” You like that, Avice? Tell me if that sounds like a good summary in your magazine article.
Johnny tilts his head at Avice, practically forcing the two to make eye contact. Once Johnny gets a good look into Avice’s eyes, he grins and rises to his feet.
Johnny Noble: Alright, I like what we got here. Mr. Cameraman and interviewer, you’ve done your job, now go and make some magic in the editing room.
The camera begins to move backward as Johnny walks past it. Suddenly, Avice steps forward, looking just as confused as ever.
Alex Avice: So wait, you’re saying you and Callaway have this wrapped up in terms of who’s winning later on in the evening? You did say the end result was 49-51, so I’m guessing you still have faith in your team’s odds…
Johnny stops and turns back, looking a bit puzzled himself.
Johnny Noble: What are you talking about, Alex?
Johnny nudges his head to the frozen TV screen back in his room where Abel is still stopped in time with Skyfire’s leg hooked for the successful three-count.
Johnny Noble: Those odds are for the other team. Go for them.
Alex Avice is REALLY unsure of what to think now. Johnny realizes this, grins a little bit, and then walks away, vanishing around the corner. The interviewer turns to the camera and shrugs somewhat with embarrassment.
Alex Avice: Well, I, uhh, I’m not sure if he just admitted his opponents were better…or if HIS team’s better…or…I don’t know. That kid just fried my brain with whatever he did, that’s for sure.
The scene freezes in place with Avice standing there preparing for an incoming headache in the center of the room while his cameraman looks on with a still-filming camera…
Johnny Noble <v.o.>: I walked out of that room with all kinds of thoughts going through my head. I knew that many people would not really get what I was trying to say, to particularly convey in that instance during the interview with Avice. Luckily, I didn’t want them to, not yet anyway. When I set up this inner-game, playing out fractions with my chances versus my opponent’s chances, I probably present a certain ego, some case of narcissism, if I place it in my favor or my team’s favor. Now, what is “it”? Why, “it” is victory. If I say that we will win, I am instantly the narcissist everyone can understand and likely come to not appreciate all that much. Common case, as everyone usually wants to view themselves in a positive light. Even if you’re the “bad guy”, you think you’re doing yourself a good deed here. But no, I do not go for the bias, the easy way out, and say they we are going to “destroy” them, “defeat” them, or even “dominate” them as some other clown might have once talked like.
What I go for, you see, is the brief moment of giving everyone a shock, stirring up that pot as I said before. It’s called being humble by a dictionary standpoint, but I’m not showing deferential or submissive respect. This is a game in the end, after all, and why bother playing the game if you don’t foresee any kind of “win” at the end of the night? Not just a victory win, though. Because that’s no fun, just getting the victory and walking away with a smile. No, no, three-counts over former World Champions and possible future World Champions don’t fill any quota, they don’t give me anything a three-count over a retired wrestler in their 80s wouldn’t.
Because that’s not what I’m all about here. I am not narcissistic to the point it’s made me a bad person. I am not modest to the point I will lie down for anyone who can throw a punch. I am not even in the middle, some athlete who you can respect and yet still find moments you disagree with a statement I make. For now, everything that has been said, whether it involves my in-ring opponents on January 23rd, 2011 or not, can be classified as a “baby opinion” in that it is so small, it can hardly do damage to one’s reputation, and yet it’s still big enough to give the listener input on what’s going on in someone else’s mind.
My opponents, Mr. Abel and Mr. Duschane, will no doubt have some questions on what I’m secretly going for during these final moments before we square off, but you are not alone. Everyone has questions, and when it’s all said and done, there will be answers. There’s always a plan in this mind, coming from this Noble, and it is a plan that can benefit anyone and everyone. All you have to do is look between the lines.
It doesn’t take a key figure, a big-shot of our time, to tell you what can and will happen. 2011 is going to be big. Mark the words and keep your eyes peeled for the clues. This is Johnny Noble, pondering their next move…
<END OF FEED>
