Post by ____ on Jul 31, 2010 22:52:31 GMT -5
The Cinderella story is the darling of the world at large. In the modern day rat race to achieve more, there is always someone who is willing to go an extra inch too reach a certain level. The underdog has become America’s sweetheart, they cheer no longer for the favourite but instead for the little engine that could. Perseverance, fortitude, valour, the traits needed to fight against the odds, to overcome every obstacle thrown in their path.
Yet could a Cinderella story emerge from the front runner, the constant favourite, the man who was expected to win? Although strictly in contrast with the idea of a Cinderella story, many could argue that come Return of the Kingdom it conceivably could happen. A man who at this time a year ago was an outcast of the wrestling world, blacklisted from every reputable organization and maligned by every wrestling fan, now found himself back in the spotlight. The favourite amongst the fans inside of the ring, the smart money on him to win the title. He had taken the road less travelled to stardom, but it was that road that created his Cinderella story.
---
With Return of the Kingdom set to air within the hour, the time of preparation has come and gone. Every thing is set, Kingdom of Pride ready to put it’s best foot forward. Not a person appears out of place and the general aura of excitement continues to linger. Despite the general racket coming through the thin walls, the locker room is deadly silent. Every man except for one in their own world somewhere around the Cookeville Community Center, save for the young blonde haired favourite for the main event.
Seated on a stool in front of an open locker, Chris Hart has his head bowed, looking down at the floors, the only movement the gentle falling and rising of his chest cavity as he breathes. Slowly sitting up, he runs his hands through the spiked hair and exhales deeply.
Chris - “Eight men will enter the ring tonight with aspirations of championship gold. They will have spent the entire week preparing for the chance to win the title, knowing that shots such as this come around once in a life time. Yet for seven though, those dreams will be nothing but, their time spent preparing wasted for what surely was an inevitability. The seven that fall though present an interesting concept, a number normally regarded as lucky by our society but for them it’s the opposite. Not only is seven representative of luck however, but throughout the entire world, each tradition, each philosophy can essentially be broken into seven.
‘The seven pillars of wisdom.’ A desire by each and every person entering this match to achieve. With seven other opponents to face the greatest thing many of them could possess coming into this match is knowledge. “Wit without measure is man’s greatest treasure.” The ability to know how to escape every move and what weaknesses to attack on each opponent. The ability to know where exactly everyone is in the ring, what they are doing at the present time and most importantly, how you’re going to walk out with the Valiant title.
Do I suggest I have the wisdom to do all of this? No, I do not and nor do I believe my opponents will either. Yet for all the other significances of the number seven, there is one that it is the most important coming into this match. There are seven deadly sins, one of which will be the cause for the downfall of each of my opponents in this match. They my try and repress it, to hide it from the world but when they are faced with the challenge inside the ring, their primal nature, one of sin will come through.”
Getting up from his stool opens up the locker and pulls out a dais, with a copy of Hieronymus Bosch’s “Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things” on it. Retaking his seat, he places the pin to point at the illustration of envy before looking back up.
Chris - “Invidiousness, “an emotion that occurs when a person lacks another ‘superior quality”. Otherwise known as envy, it is clearly representative of the person who wins the ‘Last Chance Battle Royal’ in our first of the evening. They must surpass again, seven other men, only to enter first and have to beat seven more to win the Valiant Title. As they enter the match, they will be riddled with envy. The fact that the opponents they look across at, the men who have yet to come down to the ring have all had a chance to rest for the entire evening. The wounded antelope has tried to reach the watering hole but instead, simply limped into the lions den.
Not only that, but he is also faced with the fact that the seven that proceed him won their qualifying matches to enter the gauntlet. They did not have to backdoor there way in, they went out and seized an opportunity presented to them, they did not need the favour of Kurt Noble or Jeremy Sterling to enter, they simply did what was expected of them, go to the ring and win a match. The superior qualities that powered these men on to victory earlier are still present in this match, the flaws that had cost them still existing. If they could only posses those traits then they would stand a chance. Just as the Islamic tradition states, ‘hassad’ will ruin their good, their opposition to maashallah ending any chance of success.”
Chris looks down at the dais on his lap and rips out the portion representative of envy, crumples it up and then drops it to the floor. He then moves the point to sloth before looking back up.
Chris - “Sloth, “the wasting due to lack of use.” Although many would say it takes a measure of talent to get to this level of wrestling, to earn a shot at the Valiant Championship. While that is entirely true, some waste that talent, none more so than Justin Kaard. Many have said that I am one of the most talented wrestlers in the industry, with my pedigree and abilities that winning the Valiant Championship is but the first of many for me. In this match, if there is a single person who is on par with me though, it is Justin Kaard, but you will find no one suggesting he stands a chance inside of this match.
Justin Kaard could be synonymous with the saying ‘flash in the pan.’ At certain times he appears to finally have figured it out, like his victory over Storm. He puts everyone on notice that he is coming, that no matter who they think will win he will push them to their limits and beyond, but then he goes and waists it. Kurt Noble goes and pulls him out of a bar, hoping to give him a chance, having witnessed first hand the potential but he wastes it away. He doesn’t mentally show up for a match against Christian Kane and loses handily. He refuses to work at, to hone his craft. Laziness, not superior talent or preparation is the reason that Justin Kaard will not win at Return of the Kingdom. Sloth, will be his downfall.”
The same as he removed envy from the picture, so to does he to sloth. Crumpling it up, it joins the paper wad already on the floor as the needle shifts to gluttony.
Chris - “Gluttony, “the act of over indulgence.” Judging solely based on the physical appearance of those in the match, it is fairly easy to assume that Tommy Hargrove will fail due to gluttony. Rotund is but a polite way to describe Tommy Hargrove, and though his story is inspirational to many, including myself, he is an example of what can happen. Hard as he may try, years of mindless indulgence will be his downfall, his inability to keep up with the thoroughbreds or over power the bulls will eventually cost him. His choices to try and right his life, to make an effort are admirable but does not a champion make.
He may in many respects have the sympathetic vote for many, they see a kid who has managed to hang with the best, managed to hold his own against three men and then two men. They also know that he only has to dispatch of two people to walk out, having been dominant in earning the last entry. While everything is stacked in his favour, he remains untested against the top. His lack of experience a detriment, the over indulgence of yester-year rearing it’s ugly head as for the first time, he is truly tested under pressure. Gluttony will cost him, having kept him from the fire that has hardened the iron he is too face in this match.”
Moving on from Tommy, Chris takes the painting portion of gluttony and throws it down with sloth and envy. He takes a pause for a moment and reaches behind him, grabbing a bottle of water. He takes a drink from it, before replacing the cap and moving the dial to greed.
Chris - “Avarice, “an inordinate desire to acquire or posses more than one needs or deserves.” More commonly known as greed, it is a sin of the Lords, and in our Kingdom, the Watson Carters. Rather than use his money for charity, for the betterment of this earth, Steven Watson Carter decided to hoard it, to use it solely for his own profit. While it may have given him the ability to enter this match trained by the best, with state of the art facilities to train, he lacks the ability to comprehend what exactly the Valiant Title means to the rest of us.
For him, it is simply another possession, if he fails then it is truly no-skin off his teeth. He will return to his life of luxury and set his eye on some other shiny bauble. When the time comes, he will be unable to reach deep into his body to achieve that second level needed to eventually over power. When Josh Eagles has him down on the canvas after nailing him square in the face, if Christian Kane has him locked in a submission hold, Steven Watson Carter will be unable to sacrifice his body to achieve the goal. Greed, his thirst for possessions will cost him, as he doesn’t crave a possession for it’s value, just for it.”
Ripping greed into pieces directly on the board, showing particular disdain for it, Chris eventually drops the shredded pieces to the floor below. With three men remaining, he moves the pointer to wrath and nods his head.
Chris - “Wrath, “intense anger directed at another” is in many respects a double edged sword in this type of match. The wrath of Obscene could power him to victory, giving him the edge that no one else is going to be able to get. Having profited from wrath, I personally can say that it is the most dangerous thing on this earth and it is for that reason that Obscene will fall.
Wrath becomes all consuming, someone angers you so intensely that they are your only focus. Tunnel vision ensues and you lose track of the second person you have to worry about. Where as he is focused on Josh Eagles, Christian Kane will sneak up, crack him in the head and end any of Obscene’s thoughts of walking out with the Valiant Championship. For the Kingdom of Pride faithful, he may be their choice, a throwback to when the company first existed, an original and former champion regaining his ‘rightful’ spot atop the Kingdom. In due course though wrath will succumb, his anger for the world and for his opponents leading to his failures.”
Chris throws his head back, showing signs of slight fatigue at the constant verbal berating he is delivering. As he tears the slip representing wrath though a smile comes to his face as he looks at the two remaining. He pauses for a moment before selecting lust as his next sin as the smile grows.
Chris - “Lust, “a craving for sexual intercourse which can assume a violent or self indulgent character.” Christian Kane has in many ways been vilified by the world at large because of his character. He is crass, lewd and the exact thing we desire to see washed from our society. Yet a certain sect make him out as some form of hero, his adulterous ways and edification of sin turning him into some form of cult hero. A philandering bum, he has made a name in Kingdom of Pride through his off the wall actions, offering a righteous preacher cocaine and instigating a three on two beat down.
Yet above all, lust is the downfall of Christian Kane, lust and by extension vanity. Unable to control himself, if the opportunity presents himself he will preen for those in attendance. He will take an opportunity to mock his opponents for not being a resident of the den of sin. His focus will be shattered as soon as someone goes near one of his two harlots. Lust will consume him, expediting his elimination as someone who is able to maintain a singular train of thought knocks him out.”
Finished with Lust, he moves the arrow to pride at the same time as tearing off the image. As it floats down, Chris takes one more drink before continuing on.
Chris - “Pride, “a high sense of ones personal status.” While Josh Eagles is my friend, tonight he is my opposition, a lethal opponent who rightfully so sits along side me as the favourite to win. He has earned respect where ever he has gone, and unlike me, has the experience of wearing championship gold around his waist. If there is a man I fear in this match, it is Josh Eagles and his ability coupled with his tenure.
Yet there is a downfall to that and it is pride. He has spent so many years in this business that he feels he almost deserves the title. That instead of earning things, he should simply be given them. In the past year, he’s continually lost every chance he’s had at a title. He’s proven that he’s not willing to devote his entire being to the task at hand, other things clouding his judgement. He’s content to sit on the sidelines, basking in the glow of his past accomplishments and is not willing to sacrifice future chances he perceives will be given, for a single chance at glory now.”
Chris tears off the last portion and now the dais is left blank, until Chris turns it over and a picture of Cinderella and her carriage is on the other side. Chris looks down for a moment, collecting himself before looking back up.
Chris - “There are all these reasons why my opponents will not win but that does not answer why I will. Quite simply, this is my chance, to return to prominence. For all my faults, for all my misdoings in the past I have done penance and a half, I have devoted my life to this business, to repair the damage I caused and to make amends for the bridges I burned. I’ve done everything in my power to make Kingdom of Pride a success and this is my crowning achievement.
I’ve gone from the best, to the worst, and now, with a victory back to the best. The seven deadly sins do not apply to me, I’ve kept myself pure. Return of the Kingdom is a celebration of the return of a glorious venture, but every kingdom needs a king. I’ve done everything possible to prove myself worthy of that title, now I simply must go out and get it done.
The story of Chris Hart’s return is almost concluded. No one said I could return to the wrestling world, let alone be a champion but it’s within arms reach. This is my Cinderella story and this evening, I’m going to make sure the clock never strikes midnight.”
With that Chris leans back on his stool, dropping his head back to focusing on the match and the scene fades away.
---
Edit: !
Yet could a Cinderella story emerge from the front runner, the constant favourite, the man who was expected to win? Although strictly in contrast with the idea of a Cinderella story, many could argue that come Return of the Kingdom it conceivably could happen. A man who at this time a year ago was an outcast of the wrestling world, blacklisted from every reputable organization and maligned by every wrestling fan, now found himself back in the spotlight. The favourite amongst the fans inside of the ring, the smart money on him to win the title. He had taken the road less travelled to stardom, but it was that road that created his Cinderella story.
---
With Return of the Kingdom set to air within the hour, the time of preparation has come and gone. Every thing is set, Kingdom of Pride ready to put it’s best foot forward. Not a person appears out of place and the general aura of excitement continues to linger. Despite the general racket coming through the thin walls, the locker room is deadly silent. Every man except for one in their own world somewhere around the Cookeville Community Center, save for the young blonde haired favourite for the main event.
Seated on a stool in front of an open locker, Chris Hart has his head bowed, looking down at the floors, the only movement the gentle falling and rising of his chest cavity as he breathes. Slowly sitting up, he runs his hands through the spiked hair and exhales deeply.
Chris - “Eight men will enter the ring tonight with aspirations of championship gold. They will have spent the entire week preparing for the chance to win the title, knowing that shots such as this come around once in a life time. Yet for seven though, those dreams will be nothing but, their time spent preparing wasted for what surely was an inevitability. The seven that fall though present an interesting concept, a number normally regarded as lucky by our society but for them it’s the opposite. Not only is seven representative of luck however, but throughout the entire world, each tradition, each philosophy can essentially be broken into seven.
‘The seven pillars of wisdom.’ A desire by each and every person entering this match to achieve. With seven other opponents to face the greatest thing many of them could possess coming into this match is knowledge. “Wit without measure is man’s greatest treasure.” The ability to know how to escape every move and what weaknesses to attack on each opponent. The ability to know where exactly everyone is in the ring, what they are doing at the present time and most importantly, how you’re going to walk out with the Valiant title.
Do I suggest I have the wisdom to do all of this? No, I do not and nor do I believe my opponents will either. Yet for all the other significances of the number seven, there is one that it is the most important coming into this match. There are seven deadly sins, one of which will be the cause for the downfall of each of my opponents in this match. They my try and repress it, to hide it from the world but when they are faced with the challenge inside the ring, their primal nature, one of sin will come through.”
Getting up from his stool opens up the locker and pulls out a dais, with a copy of Hieronymus Bosch’s “Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things” on it. Retaking his seat, he places the pin to point at the illustration of envy before looking back up.
Chris - “Invidiousness, “an emotion that occurs when a person lacks another ‘superior quality”. Otherwise known as envy, it is clearly representative of the person who wins the ‘Last Chance Battle Royal’ in our first of the evening. They must surpass again, seven other men, only to enter first and have to beat seven more to win the Valiant Title. As they enter the match, they will be riddled with envy. The fact that the opponents they look across at, the men who have yet to come down to the ring have all had a chance to rest for the entire evening. The wounded antelope has tried to reach the watering hole but instead, simply limped into the lions den.
Not only that, but he is also faced with the fact that the seven that proceed him won their qualifying matches to enter the gauntlet. They did not have to backdoor there way in, they went out and seized an opportunity presented to them, they did not need the favour of Kurt Noble or Jeremy Sterling to enter, they simply did what was expected of them, go to the ring and win a match. The superior qualities that powered these men on to victory earlier are still present in this match, the flaws that had cost them still existing. If they could only posses those traits then they would stand a chance. Just as the Islamic tradition states, ‘hassad’ will ruin their good, their opposition to maashallah ending any chance of success.”
Chris looks down at the dais on his lap and rips out the portion representative of envy, crumples it up and then drops it to the floor. He then moves the point to sloth before looking back up.
Chris - “Sloth, “the wasting due to lack of use.” Although many would say it takes a measure of talent to get to this level of wrestling, to earn a shot at the Valiant Championship. While that is entirely true, some waste that talent, none more so than Justin Kaard. Many have said that I am one of the most talented wrestlers in the industry, with my pedigree and abilities that winning the Valiant Championship is but the first of many for me. In this match, if there is a single person who is on par with me though, it is Justin Kaard, but you will find no one suggesting he stands a chance inside of this match.
Justin Kaard could be synonymous with the saying ‘flash in the pan.’ At certain times he appears to finally have figured it out, like his victory over Storm. He puts everyone on notice that he is coming, that no matter who they think will win he will push them to their limits and beyond, but then he goes and waists it. Kurt Noble goes and pulls him out of a bar, hoping to give him a chance, having witnessed first hand the potential but he wastes it away. He doesn’t mentally show up for a match against Christian Kane and loses handily. He refuses to work at, to hone his craft. Laziness, not superior talent or preparation is the reason that Justin Kaard will not win at Return of the Kingdom. Sloth, will be his downfall.”
The same as he removed envy from the picture, so to does he to sloth. Crumpling it up, it joins the paper wad already on the floor as the needle shifts to gluttony.
Chris - “Gluttony, “the act of over indulgence.” Judging solely based on the physical appearance of those in the match, it is fairly easy to assume that Tommy Hargrove will fail due to gluttony. Rotund is but a polite way to describe Tommy Hargrove, and though his story is inspirational to many, including myself, he is an example of what can happen. Hard as he may try, years of mindless indulgence will be his downfall, his inability to keep up with the thoroughbreds or over power the bulls will eventually cost him. His choices to try and right his life, to make an effort are admirable but does not a champion make.
He may in many respects have the sympathetic vote for many, they see a kid who has managed to hang with the best, managed to hold his own against three men and then two men. They also know that he only has to dispatch of two people to walk out, having been dominant in earning the last entry. While everything is stacked in his favour, he remains untested against the top. His lack of experience a detriment, the over indulgence of yester-year rearing it’s ugly head as for the first time, he is truly tested under pressure. Gluttony will cost him, having kept him from the fire that has hardened the iron he is too face in this match.”
Moving on from Tommy, Chris takes the painting portion of gluttony and throws it down with sloth and envy. He takes a pause for a moment and reaches behind him, grabbing a bottle of water. He takes a drink from it, before replacing the cap and moving the dial to greed.
Chris - “Avarice, “an inordinate desire to acquire or posses more than one needs or deserves.” More commonly known as greed, it is a sin of the Lords, and in our Kingdom, the Watson Carters. Rather than use his money for charity, for the betterment of this earth, Steven Watson Carter decided to hoard it, to use it solely for his own profit. While it may have given him the ability to enter this match trained by the best, with state of the art facilities to train, he lacks the ability to comprehend what exactly the Valiant Title means to the rest of us.
For him, it is simply another possession, if he fails then it is truly no-skin off his teeth. He will return to his life of luxury and set his eye on some other shiny bauble. When the time comes, he will be unable to reach deep into his body to achieve that second level needed to eventually over power. When Josh Eagles has him down on the canvas after nailing him square in the face, if Christian Kane has him locked in a submission hold, Steven Watson Carter will be unable to sacrifice his body to achieve the goal. Greed, his thirst for possessions will cost him, as he doesn’t crave a possession for it’s value, just for it.”
Ripping greed into pieces directly on the board, showing particular disdain for it, Chris eventually drops the shredded pieces to the floor below. With three men remaining, he moves the pointer to wrath and nods his head.
Chris - “Wrath, “intense anger directed at another” is in many respects a double edged sword in this type of match. The wrath of Obscene could power him to victory, giving him the edge that no one else is going to be able to get. Having profited from wrath, I personally can say that it is the most dangerous thing on this earth and it is for that reason that Obscene will fall.
Wrath becomes all consuming, someone angers you so intensely that they are your only focus. Tunnel vision ensues and you lose track of the second person you have to worry about. Where as he is focused on Josh Eagles, Christian Kane will sneak up, crack him in the head and end any of Obscene’s thoughts of walking out with the Valiant Championship. For the Kingdom of Pride faithful, he may be their choice, a throwback to when the company first existed, an original and former champion regaining his ‘rightful’ spot atop the Kingdom. In due course though wrath will succumb, his anger for the world and for his opponents leading to his failures.”
Chris throws his head back, showing signs of slight fatigue at the constant verbal berating he is delivering. As he tears the slip representing wrath though a smile comes to his face as he looks at the two remaining. He pauses for a moment before selecting lust as his next sin as the smile grows.
Chris - “Lust, “a craving for sexual intercourse which can assume a violent or self indulgent character.” Christian Kane has in many ways been vilified by the world at large because of his character. He is crass, lewd and the exact thing we desire to see washed from our society. Yet a certain sect make him out as some form of hero, his adulterous ways and edification of sin turning him into some form of cult hero. A philandering bum, he has made a name in Kingdom of Pride through his off the wall actions, offering a righteous preacher cocaine and instigating a three on two beat down.
Yet above all, lust is the downfall of Christian Kane, lust and by extension vanity. Unable to control himself, if the opportunity presents himself he will preen for those in attendance. He will take an opportunity to mock his opponents for not being a resident of the den of sin. His focus will be shattered as soon as someone goes near one of his two harlots. Lust will consume him, expediting his elimination as someone who is able to maintain a singular train of thought knocks him out.”
Finished with Lust, he moves the arrow to pride at the same time as tearing off the image. As it floats down, Chris takes one more drink before continuing on.
Chris - “Pride, “a high sense of ones personal status.” While Josh Eagles is my friend, tonight he is my opposition, a lethal opponent who rightfully so sits along side me as the favourite to win. He has earned respect where ever he has gone, and unlike me, has the experience of wearing championship gold around his waist. If there is a man I fear in this match, it is Josh Eagles and his ability coupled with his tenure.
Yet there is a downfall to that and it is pride. He has spent so many years in this business that he feels he almost deserves the title. That instead of earning things, he should simply be given them. In the past year, he’s continually lost every chance he’s had at a title. He’s proven that he’s not willing to devote his entire being to the task at hand, other things clouding his judgement. He’s content to sit on the sidelines, basking in the glow of his past accomplishments and is not willing to sacrifice future chances he perceives will be given, for a single chance at glory now.”
Chris tears off the last portion and now the dais is left blank, until Chris turns it over and a picture of Cinderella and her carriage is on the other side. Chris looks down for a moment, collecting himself before looking back up.
Chris - “There are all these reasons why my opponents will not win but that does not answer why I will. Quite simply, this is my chance, to return to prominence. For all my faults, for all my misdoings in the past I have done penance and a half, I have devoted my life to this business, to repair the damage I caused and to make amends for the bridges I burned. I’ve done everything in my power to make Kingdom of Pride a success and this is my crowning achievement.
I’ve gone from the best, to the worst, and now, with a victory back to the best. The seven deadly sins do not apply to me, I’ve kept myself pure. Return of the Kingdom is a celebration of the return of a glorious venture, but every kingdom needs a king. I’ve done everything possible to prove myself worthy of that title, now I simply must go out and get it done.
The story of Chris Hart’s return is almost concluded. No one said I could return to the wrestling world, let alone be a champion but it’s within arms reach. This is my Cinderella story and this evening, I’m going to make sure the clock never strikes midnight.”
With that Chris leans back on his stool, dropping his head back to focusing on the match and the scene fades away.
---
Edit: !
