Post by T-Robosaurus Rex on Apr 20, 2024 17:57:05 GMT -5
Travis walks into the Laconia Buildings management office, finding Wrestley McWrestleface (the Laconia’s Owner and Travis’ landlord) sat behind his desk.
Travis: We need to talk.
WMcW: I completely agree, but first I think we should recap the events of the past few weeks.
Travis: Why in blue hells would we do that? I know exactly what’s happened, I lived it!
WMcW: Well, y’know it might be useful if some people aren’t keeping up….
He motions towards the camera with his head.
Travis: Why?
WMcW: Well some people don’t follow well and only seem to be able to retain information from the previous organizations they existed in…
Travis: Does this have something to do with your match last week?
Wretsley smiles and nods.
WMcW: Why, yes it does! I’m glad you asked about it…
Travis: OK, just for clarity, I don’t care, I’m here to talk about me.
WMcW: But the psychopath hit me with a brick after telling me how he was more technically proficient than me! At what? Bricklaying?
Travis: What part of ‘I don’t care’ don’t you understand?
El Flipp Loco shuffles in his seat in annoyance.
WMcW: Well, I just thought that now we know Deimos was pulling the strings all along, and that your career is now tied to your residence here at The Laconia, we’d be on the same page, allies, y’know?
Travis scrunches up his face in disgust.
Travis: It wasn’t that long ago I almost ended your career.
Wrestley smiles and shrugs.
WMcW: These things happen, there’s no need to apologise.
Travis looks at Wrestley like he has just sprouted a second head.
Travis: I wasn’t, I was, however, contemplating how I could have done a more comprehensive job.
Wrestley throws his head back and laughs.
WMcW: You’re a funny guy, Travis.
Travis just stares at him blankly. Wrestley shifts in his chair uncomfortably, pulling at the collar of his shirt.
WMcW: You wanted to talk about something?
Travis: If I have to stay here even as I reignite my career and head back to the top of the industry, I deserve far better accommodation.
WMcW: You already have one of the only two bedroom apartments in the building.
Travis: And I have my niece and her kids living there too, as fond as I am of them I need my own space. There’s only so much fanboying of Alan Wallace a man can take.
WMcW: Can’t they get their own place?
Travis: Are you suggesting I kick my family out?
Wrestley shakes his head frantically as he sees Travis’ eyes narrow.
WMcW: No…No…I just mean, none of them are wrestlers, so it’s not really MY responsibility to look out for them.
Travis: You’re right it’s mine, And do you remember who exactly I am?
Wrestley looks confused at the question.
WMcW: Well, you’re Travis Roberts.
Travis nods.
Travis: Also known as your only chance to make this social project of yours work, you know as well as I do the likes of yourself and X-Bro aren’t going to bring in the revenue from UGWC that I will, so it really is in your best interests to keep me happy.
WMcW: But we don’t have any empty units, we’re at full capacity.
Travis: No, we are not.
WMcW: I assure you we are, we had to turn away Mickey Dragon the other day, poor guy was looking worse for wear.
Travis shakes his head and then looks upwards.
WMcW: The Penthouse?
Travis: I think you would agree it would be a suitable residence for a resurgent legend of the industry, no?
WMcW: It’s not suitable for human habitation, it’s where we keep the Racoon traps!
Travis nods and smiles.
Travis: Well of course it would need some remodelling.
He reaches down to a bag he had carried into the office and produces a file which he puts on Wrestley’s desk.
Travis: I took the liberty of getting an architect and an interior designer to cost out a suitable estimate for the works.
Wrestley looks through the papers with wide eyes, when he gets to the end and looks at the estimate he falls off his chair, when he climbs back on he looks back at Travis,
WMcW: How do you think we can afford that?
Travis: I’ve seen the contract and know exactly how much this place is going to profit off of my success. Deimos may be able to put me in this position, but there is no way YOU are going dine out at my expense.
WMcW: To complete this in the timescale you are talking about, it would cost at least 80% of the revenue we’d make from the contract with UGWC.
Travis: And how much do you think you’ll make if I refuse to compete? I’m not sure Forewell and NBK’s Melee checks would come close to the 20% I am graciously allowing you to keep hold of.
Wrestley looks down at the file again.
WMcW: If you want to get all thai done, and in your timeline you know what that means, right?
Travis: What are you getting at.
WMcW: You’ll have to win…
He looks at the paperwork again and whistles.
WMcW: ...a lot!
UGWC Backstage interviewer Roxy Malone is stood with Travis Roberts.
Roxy: Travis, last time we spoke you were coming off the back of defeat at Infinity in your first appearance in years. Today however, circumstances are different as you stand here and can rightly call yourself the Alhpa Travis after defeating Travis Pierce at Alchemy, how are you feeling?
Travis: It’s good to see you Roxy, and while ‘The Headliner’ did indeed emerge victorious at Alchemy, he does not stand before you complacent. You see that was tough match, and I am not too ashamed to admit I got lucky, and therein lies the problem. On my last run a match against Travis Pierce would have been considered a formality, ‘the Blessed One’ would have barely broken a sweat defeating him. But this time round I faced a Pierce who is as irrelevant and predictable as he has ever been, and barely squeezed out a win. It shows that there is a long road ahead, Roxy.
Roxy: Last time we spoke you were looking to win for the first time, and your opponent was the same as you face this week, Ezra Wolf. Given your comprehensive victory last time out, you must be hoping for more of the same.
Travis shakes his head.
Travis: Roxy, last time was a freak result, Ezra is the current Chaos Champion only a fool would take such a challenge lightly, he has far more to lose this time around given his status. Believe me no Champion wants to lose any match, regardless of whether their title is on the line, because it exposes vulnerability. Any good Champion knows that one of the main advantages they have is an air of superiority to whoever is challenging them, suffering defeats, even in throwaway Synergy matches, diminishes that aura and the benefits it provides them with.
Roxy: But surely you have confidence in yourself to pick up the win?
Travis: Confidence isn’t something I lack, I think that much is obvious. Can the man with longest UGWc World Heavyweight Championship reign in this company's storied history beat a kid who was mentored by Ezekial Pax? Of course.
Can one of UGWC most experienced stars use those years of knowledge and ring awareness to combat the useful enthusiasm and endurance of one of its fastest rising stars? It’s a genuine possibility.
Can one of the most resourceful minds in the business expose and manipulate an opponent that has been known to perform at the highest level one week only to follow it with a John Blade like performance the next, into falling into the bad habits that so often cost him? I’ll certainly try.
There are many compelling arguments for why ‘The Headliner’ should be walking out victorious, but there will be just as many advocating for the success of Wolf.
Roxy: What do you think will be the deciding factor?
Travis: It’s rarely the case in this sport that the winner is not the person who wants it the most. The competitor with the most drive and passion tends to the one who is left standing when all is said and done.
Is Ezra Wof going to be as focused on beating me as I am on him? He is already the Chaos Champion, and seems to have inexplicably developed the world’s first known obsession with Trent Steel, of all people. He walked out on live TV last week and practically begged Steel for a third, decisive match, between the two of them. I’m not going to say that he came across a little desperate, but given Steel’s eyes have been firmly set elsewhere, I’d forgive anyone else who made the suggestion.
Is Ezra going to be focused on the chance to add a name as historically significant as Travis Roberts to the list of people he has beaten? Is he going to recognise that his next match is always the most important, and this time it could be something he talks about to his grandkids about in years to come? Or is he going to be looking past the opportunity to prove himself against a future UGWC Hall of Famer, willing to brush off a defeat as inconsequential to his greater plans?
I don’t know how he’ll react. He has accumulated plenty of accolades in UGWC in his relatively brief tenure, so he is no doubt a dangerous and capable opponent, but that could well mean he wants it less than ‘The Blessed One’.
Because at this point in my career, finding myself stuck firmly in the middle of the card, facing groundhog day opponents in only my 4th match back, every match is the most important of my career to date. Travis Roberts needs to be back at the top of the card, he needs to be facing the very best of the best, week in week out, and to stand any chance of achieving those goals, I have to win.
If Ezra Wolf loses on Monday, he will still be the Chaos Champion, he will still be able to look ahead at his path with confidence. If I lose, then I’m looking at a bleak future of facing Travis Pierce ad infinitum.
Roxy: That’s quite the motivation.
Travis: Tell me about it, Roxy. But I will say this, I genuinely hope that Ezra Wolf is as motivated as I am, that he does not treat this match like our last encounter. I have made clear wins matter to me, but they are even more impactful if I can come out victorious against an opponent that's at the top of their game, and giving ‘The Blessed One’ everything they have got.
I may not be the best I have ever been, but I can guarantee I will give everything I have got on Monday, and Ezra, I’m pleading with you to give me a performance I can truly judge myself against, make me your primary focus this week, because you sure as hell are mine.
Roxy: Thanks Travis, and good luck on Monday.
Travis: We need to talk.
WMcW: I completely agree, but first I think we should recap the events of the past few weeks.
Travis: Why in blue hells would we do that? I know exactly what’s happened, I lived it!
WMcW: Well, y’know it might be useful if some people aren’t keeping up….
He motions towards the camera with his head.
Travis: Why?
WMcW: Well some people don’t follow well and only seem to be able to retain information from the previous organizations they existed in…
Travis: Does this have something to do with your match last week?
Wretsley smiles and nods.
WMcW: Why, yes it does! I’m glad you asked about it…
Travis: OK, just for clarity, I don’t care, I’m here to talk about me.
WMcW: But the psychopath hit me with a brick after telling me how he was more technically proficient than me! At what? Bricklaying?
Travis: What part of ‘I don’t care’ don’t you understand?
El Flipp Loco shuffles in his seat in annoyance.
WMcW: Well, I just thought that now we know Deimos was pulling the strings all along, and that your career is now tied to your residence here at The Laconia, we’d be on the same page, allies, y’know?
Travis scrunches up his face in disgust.
Travis: It wasn’t that long ago I almost ended your career.
Wrestley smiles and shrugs.
WMcW: These things happen, there’s no need to apologise.
Travis looks at Wrestley like he has just sprouted a second head.
Travis: I wasn’t, I was, however, contemplating how I could have done a more comprehensive job.
Wrestley throws his head back and laughs.
WMcW: You’re a funny guy, Travis.
Travis just stares at him blankly. Wrestley shifts in his chair uncomfortably, pulling at the collar of his shirt.
WMcW: You wanted to talk about something?
Travis: If I have to stay here even as I reignite my career and head back to the top of the industry, I deserve far better accommodation.
WMcW: You already have one of the only two bedroom apartments in the building.
Travis: And I have my niece and her kids living there too, as fond as I am of them I need my own space. There’s only so much fanboying of Alan Wallace a man can take.
WMcW: Can’t they get their own place?
Travis: Are you suggesting I kick my family out?
Wrestley shakes his head frantically as he sees Travis’ eyes narrow.
WMcW: No…No…I just mean, none of them are wrestlers, so it’s not really MY responsibility to look out for them.
Travis: You’re right it’s mine, And do you remember who exactly I am?
Wrestley looks confused at the question.
WMcW: Well, you’re Travis Roberts.
Travis nods.
Travis: Also known as your only chance to make this social project of yours work, you know as well as I do the likes of yourself and X-Bro aren’t going to bring in the revenue from UGWC that I will, so it really is in your best interests to keep me happy.
WMcW: But we don’t have any empty units, we’re at full capacity.
Travis: No, we are not.
WMcW: I assure you we are, we had to turn away Mickey Dragon the other day, poor guy was looking worse for wear.
Travis shakes his head and then looks upwards.
WMcW: The Penthouse?
Travis: I think you would agree it would be a suitable residence for a resurgent legend of the industry, no?
WMcW: It’s not suitable for human habitation, it’s where we keep the Racoon traps!
Travis nods and smiles.
Travis: Well of course it would need some remodelling.
He reaches down to a bag he had carried into the office and produces a file which he puts on Wrestley’s desk.
Travis: I took the liberty of getting an architect and an interior designer to cost out a suitable estimate for the works.
Wrestley looks through the papers with wide eyes, when he gets to the end and looks at the estimate he falls off his chair, when he climbs back on he looks back at Travis,
WMcW: How do you think we can afford that?
Travis: I’ve seen the contract and know exactly how much this place is going to profit off of my success. Deimos may be able to put me in this position, but there is no way YOU are going dine out at my expense.
WMcW: To complete this in the timescale you are talking about, it would cost at least 80% of the revenue we’d make from the contract with UGWC.
Travis: And how much do you think you’ll make if I refuse to compete? I’m not sure Forewell and NBK’s Melee checks would come close to the 20% I am graciously allowing you to keep hold of.
Wrestley looks down at the file again.
WMcW: If you want to get all thai done, and in your timeline you know what that means, right?
Travis: What are you getting at.
WMcW: You’ll have to win…
He looks at the paperwork again and whistles.
WMcW: ...a lot!
~
UGWC Backstage interviewer Roxy Malone is stood with Travis Roberts.
Roxy: Travis, last time we spoke you were coming off the back of defeat at Infinity in your first appearance in years. Today however, circumstances are different as you stand here and can rightly call yourself the Alhpa Travis after defeating Travis Pierce at Alchemy, how are you feeling?
Travis: It’s good to see you Roxy, and while ‘The Headliner’ did indeed emerge victorious at Alchemy, he does not stand before you complacent. You see that was tough match, and I am not too ashamed to admit I got lucky, and therein lies the problem. On my last run a match against Travis Pierce would have been considered a formality, ‘the Blessed One’ would have barely broken a sweat defeating him. But this time round I faced a Pierce who is as irrelevant and predictable as he has ever been, and barely squeezed out a win. It shows that there is a long road ahead, Roxy.
Roxy: Last time we spoke you were looking to win for the first time, and your opponent was the same as you face this week, Ezra Wolf. Given your comprehensive victory last time out, you must be hoping for more of the same.
Travis shakes his head.
Travis: Roxy, last time was a freak result, Ezra is the current Chaos Champion only a fool would take such a challenge lightly, he has far more to lose this time around given his status. Believe me no Champion wants to lose any match, regardless of whether their title is on the line, because it exposes vulnerability. Any good Champion knows that one of the main advantages they have is an air of superiority to whoever is challenging them, suffering defeats, even in throwaway Synergy matches, diminishes that aura and the benefits it provides them with.
Roxy: But surely you have confidence in yourself to pick up the win?
Travis: Confidence isn’t something I lack, I think that much is obvious. Can the man with longest UGWc World Heavyweight Championship reign in this company's storied history beat a kid who was mentored by Ezekial Pax? Of course.
Can one of UGWC most experienced stars use those years of knowledge and ring awareness to combat the useful enthusiasm and endurance of one of its fastest rising stars? It’s a genuine possibility.
Can one of the most resourceful minds in the business expose and manipulate an opponent that has been known to perform at the highest level one week only to follow it with a John Blade like performance the next, into falling into the bad habits that so often cost him? I’ll certainly try.
There are many compelling arguments for why ‘The Headliner’ should be walking out victorious, but there will be just as many advocating for the success of Wolf.
Roxy: What do you think will be the deciding factor?
Travis: It’s rarely the case in this sport that the winner is not the person who wants it the most. The competitor with the most drive and passion tends to the one who is left standing when all is said and done.
Is Ezra Wof going to be as focused on beating me as I am on him? He is already the Chaos Champion, and seems to have inexplicably developed the world’s first known obsession with Trent Steel, of all people. He walked out on live TV last week and practically begged Steel for a third, decisive match, between the two of them. I’m not going to say that he came across a little desperate, but given Steel’s eyes have been firmly set elsewhere, I’d forgive anyone else who made the suggestion.
Is Ezra going to be focused on the chance to add a name as historically significant as Travis Roberts to the list of people he has beaten? Is he going to recognise that his next match is always the most important, and this time it could be something he talks about to his grandkids about in years to come? Or is he going to be looking past the opportunity to prove himself against a future UGWC Hall of Famer, willing to brush off a defeat as inconsequential to his greater plans?
I don’t know how he’ll react. He has accumulated plenty of accolades in UGWC in his relatively brief tenure, so he is no doubt a dangerous and capable opponent, but that could well mean he wants it less than ‘The Blessed One’.
Because at this point in my career, finding myself stuck firmly in the middle of the card, facing groundhog day opponents in only my 4th match back, every match is the most important of my career to date. Travis Roberts needs to be back at the top of the card, he needs to be facing the very best of the best, week in week out, and to stand any chance of achieving those goals, I have to win.
If Ezra Wolf loses on Monday, he will still be the Chaos Champion, he will still be able to look ahead at his path with confidence. If I lose, then I’m looking at a bleak future of facing Travis Pierce ad infinitum.
Roxy: That’s quite the motivation.
Travis: Tell me about it, Roxy. But I will say this, I genuinely hope that Ezra Wolf is as motivated as I am, that he does not treat this match like our last encounter. I have made clear wins matter to me, but they are even more impactful if I can come out victorious against an opponent that's at the top of their game, and giving ‘The Blessed One’ everything they have got.
I may not be the best I have ever been, but I can guarantee I will give everything I have got on Monday, and Ezra, I’m pleading with you to give me a performance I can truly judge myself against, make me your primary focus this week, because you sure as hell are mine.
Roxy: Thanks Travis, and good luck on Monday.
