Post by T-Robosaurus Rex on Jan 9, 2016 21:59:22 GMT -5
Directly after the Horizons Main Event
Travis sits on a bench in his locker room, drying his face with a towel as his agent eD cASe stands nervously in the corner of the room, daring not to even breathe at this point. 'The Blessed One' tosses the towel to the side and sits momentarily staring into the middle distance before turning to look at eD, who just looks back at him, not knowing what to say.
ravis also remains speechless, his face blank and giving no clue to what he is thinking, which makes eD even more uncomfortable or nervous, and with every passing moment he twitches uncontrollably, the stress of anticipation overwhelming him. eventually he can stand the silence no longer.
eD: I can't take much more of this, aren't you going to say something!
Travis: What is there to say?
eD: Well you are Travis Roberts, and given you can usually give us a few thousand words on the most mundane of subjects I would imagine there is a great deal to get off your chest right now.
Travis: Sure, I could talk about a lot of things, but what is there that needs to be said?
eD: You could start with how you're feeling right now?
Travis: I thought that would be obvious, I came here tonight to become World Heavyweight Champion, that didn't happen, obviously I'm disappointed.
eD: OK, that's a good start, admitting that it hurts. But what about the future, what's next? How are you going to respond to this disappointment.
Travis looks at him with wide eyes.
Travis: Seriously? Not even an hour after defeat in the biggest match of my career and you want me to start planning for the future? Can I just have a little time to let everything sink in?
eD: Sure, yes, of course, that makes sense.
Travis: I just need to decompress, that experience was something else. I'd forgotten what it felt like to compete for the biggest prize in the game, walking out with thousands of eyes on you, thousands of expectant fans wondering what the result will be. Not to mention this was at Horizons, nothing can prepare you for that moment when you walk through the curtain in the final match of the biggest show of the year, knowing the very last thing the industry will care about that year is the result of the upcoming match. Sure I did it years ago, but the mere memory doesn't do it justice, and every year Horizons gets bigger and more important.
eD: And you brought you’re a-game, I'm not convinced 'Vain' tapped before the end of the hour if I'm honest, I'm dubious that was the correct result.
Travis stands up abruptly.
Travis: Don't you dare demean what I just went through, or Alan's accomplishment. You said it yourself, I gave it everything I had, I gave Alan Wallace the very best of me, and it wasn't enough. I failed. But what a match to fail in, will UGWC ever see a match as monumental and defining as 'The Vain One' and 'The Blessed One' locked in a sublime battle for sixty-minutes to close out Horizons? Anything is possible I suppose, but what I do know is I will never be in another match that will eclipse that.
eD: I wouldn't say that.
Travis: Really? If so, you're a fool, sir. From the moment Alan Wallace returned just weeks before 'The Blessed One' it was obvious to anyone with an appreciation for high drama and artistry that a match between the two was inevitable. The obvious similarities in the two of us, especially at that time, made the fans excited and expectant about the potential. The fact it took so long to eventually occur made it even more monumental. If you think there is anyone on the roster that could elicit such a response from the crowd by stepping in the ring with me you're only lying to yourself. That is the match everyone will talk about when they look back on my career, and regardless of the result I can be proud to have been part of it.
eD: I've never pretended to be able to predict the future, and I'd assume despite all your talents that neither can you.
Travis: When it comes to my future in the business, I've got the advantage there. Trust me when I say it's extremely unlikely that I'll ever have another match like that. That was the high point of my career, and maybe that's not the worst thing.
eD: What are you saying?
Travis: Nothing, everything, I don't know. Like I said earlier we are barely an hour removed from the most monumental contest of my career, I'm probably not in the right place to make decisions.
Travis then turns and starts to pack his bag as eD stands looking confused.
eD: Decisions?
~~~
Travis Roberts' Beach-side Home, January 1st 2016, 00:00
Travis Roberts, eD cASe, Donovan Hastings, Victoria Jenson, NBK and Forewell Boding all raise glasses of champagne and celebrate the coming of the new year together before exchanging hugs and handshakes. As the revellery calms down Travis moves to the front of the room and motions for everyone's attention.
Travis: I just wanted to say thank you for all being here tonight. 2015 was one hell of a year for us all, there have been ups and downs all over the place, some relationships ended, others were repaired, and I'm truly grateful that we all got back on the same page by the end of the year. Personally it's been a challenging year, but it wasn't without it's high points such as holding gold with my best friend, winning the Battleground Match for the third time and returning to the Main event at Horizons. When I returned to the ring the main goal was to prove myself relevant again, and this year I did that.
His friends all nod their support.
Travis: With that said, I can't imagine a set of circumstances where it isn't anything but downhill from here, so I wanted to let you all be the first to people to find out that Horizons was my final match, and I shall not step foot in a ring to compete again.
There is a general look of shock aroud the room, everyone exchanging glances at one another, except eD, whose stares slack jawed at Travis before dropping his champagne glass, shattering it on the floor.
eD: Wh...What?
Travis looks at him quizzically.
Travis: I thought you'd be the leats surprised, we spoke about this on the night.
eD: You were emotional, I just figured you weren't thinking clearly.
Travis: I've never been clearer about anything, there is no topping that match, so whats the point in continuing.
eD: There are plenty of moments that can top that, like actually winning the World Heavyweight Championship for a start!
Travis: Which I failed to do, I took on one of the greatest World Champions of all time, that'swho I wanted to beat, I don't want to take it from some transitional champion when it will mean a lot less.
eD: Then challenge Vain again at Infinity, you have the purse!
Travis: Didn't you pay attention? I couldn't beat Vain before with all the hype and adrenaline that comes along with Main Eventing Horizons, I can recognise when I'm beaten, I'm not 'The Mainstreamer'.
eD turns to everyone else.
eD: I've only myself to blame for abandoning him for so long, but what the hell have you guys done to him?
before anyone can respond Travis replies.
Travis: What are you talking about?
eD: Everything! This isn't Travis Roberts, this isn't 'The Headliner', I don't know what it is but this isn't you.
Travis: I thought you were aware that I decided it was time to change my attitude and demeanor. If I hadn't you'd probably still be in a drug den somewhere and I'd be on my own.
eD: Yeah, I get it, you’re one of the good guys now, and you'll probably win some kind of award for being the nicest person in UGWC in some pointless year end celebrations that no-one cares about. That's not the sort of 'gold' the Travis Roberts I know would be satisfied with.
Travis: Welll you've been gone a while, no-one can blame you for not really understanding right now.
eD: Oh no, I completely understand, you've turned into a pussy.
Travis: I have not. Do pussies win Battleground?
eD: There have been a variety of Battleground winners, but only pussies let their drug addled friends turn them out of their own home and convert into a crack house for the majority of the year.
Travis: You needed your space, I tried to respect that.
eD: That's my point! I got your respect, your home and your fcking dignity! And that's exactly how you act with everyone nowadays.
Travis: If that's the price for being a more well balanced individual I'm fine with that, at least I can live with my actions nowadays.
eD: You don't have to be a pussy to be able to live with yourself. I'm not suggesting you go back to being a cheating son of a bitch, but it might be nice if you somewhat resembled the guy I used to know who dominated this industry.
Travis: Just because I'm less self-obsessed doesn't mean I'm any less effective in that ring.
eD: I disagree wholeheartedly. Passion is a vital ingredient in this game, and you seem to have lost yours.
Travis: You think I've lost my passion? You think I didn't want it at Horizons?
eD: I think you've been more bothered by your public image than winning. I think you've lost sight of why people used to fill stadiums just to see you wrestle. It wasn't because you forgave petulant little girls like Eden Morgan for trying to destroy your life, it was because you would have responded to such an attack by showing her how it's really done. As for Horizons, what I saw was you spending weeks telling the world how much you respected Wallace's accomplishments, how proud you were to be in the Main Event, how that was a prize in itself. You were getting yourself ready for defeat.So don't give me this shit about giving everything you got, the old Travis would have made Wallace question himself at every turn, not try to ensure a defeat looked like a victory before he even stepped in the ring.
Travis: That's...not what I was doing...
eD: You don't sound convinced, and the man I stood by the side of as he became the most influential icon in sports entertainment this millennia was conced of everything that came out of his mouth. You neutered yourself in 2015, Travis. 2016 isn't the year that should retire in, it's the year you should grow a set.
Travis turns to the rest of the room, who all look away.
Travis: You're all awfully quiet, do you agree with him?
Everyone looks down and shuffles their feet, apart from Donovan.
Donovan: Don't look at me. I'm never nice to anyone, not on purpose anyway.
Everyone nods in agreement. Donovan looks at Larry whose nod transforms into a shake of the head swiftly as the scene fades out.
~~~
January 9th 2016, UGWC.com
Victoria Jensen stands with a microphone next to Travis Roberts.
Vix: I'm with Travis Roberts for an exclusive interview for the UGWC Network, the first question I have is how would you sum up 2015 on a personal level.
Travis: Honestly I'm still not too sure, will I look back on 2015 as the year that Travis Roberts finally re-emerged as a true Main Eventer? Or will I look back on that as the beginning of a stuttering fall from grace? I faced numerous challenges last year, some I overcame, others I did not, I'll only be able to honestly assess it's true impact on my career further down the line.
Vix: You'll be starting the year much as you ended the last in the Main Event where you'll be facing Jet Somers and long time friend Donovan Hastings in a triple threat match, what are your thoughts on starting 2016 this way?
Travis: Well it'll be a good indicator of my earlier dilemma. If 'The Headliner' is once again cemented at the top of the card this match shouldn't pose any problems at all. I've got a great deal of respect for the achievements both of my opponents have accrued between them in the past, but if 'The Blessed One' made any progress over the past 12 months he should be sweeping them aside with ease. Over the past twelve months 'The TWiSTeD Icon' has been wrongly accused of kidnapping, spent months in a holding facility, won Battleground for a record breaking third time and challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship in the most anticipated main event in Horizons history. What have my opponents done in that time?
For all of Donovan's skill and guile he had a quiet 2015, his highlights were being carried to a Cooperative Title reign with 'The Headliner', his protégé winning the Chaos Championship and a one sided feud with Dave Rydell who may or may not have been aware he was even involved. Of course Donovan is capable of sublime works of art inside of that ring, but he also requires momentum, which is sorely lacking after last year.
Then there is Jet Somers who has been struggling ever since he felt the sting of betrayal at Sin City in 2014. A man who once prided himself on being a lone wolf, has gone from leading the charge to being happy and eager to follow. He no longer feels secure enough in his own abilities that he has retreated into the safety of numbers. No longer a 'Stable Breaker' and more of a 'Stable Chaser'. Some may point to the fact he is once again on an impressive Cooperative Championship reign, but much like the other occasions he has held the titles the lack of any interest in them by anyone else has helped secure another lengthy reign.
If, after everything I experienced in the last 12 months, I cannot overcome Donovan and Jet after the most underwhelming years in both their careers, it may be a sign I'm on the decline.
Vix: So are your expectations for the coming year somewhat subdued?
Travis: Far from it, Vix. I ended 2015 in the Main Event of Horizons, and it had been so long I'd forgotten what it felt like to have the weight of expectation on my shoulders. The electricity and the excitement in the weeks that lead up to that were something I had longed for and obsessed over ever since I decided to return. But a friend pointed out to me that somewhere along the way I made a miscalculation, and confused being in the Main Event of Horizons with being successful.
Vix: Do you think that cost you the match against Alan Wallace?
Travis: Vain beat me because he was the better man on the night. Could I have been better? I'd like to think so. Maybe I got overwhelmed by the occasion and the nostalgia, maybe I was flattered by Alan's 'Travis Roberts circa 2009 Tribute Act' and wanted to reward him for the effort he put into the almost flawless reproduction of my GIW Global Heavyweight Championship reign. Who knows exactly what was the cause? What I do know is next time we cross paths, Alan Wallace will face a very different challenge?
Vix: So given the opportunity you'd challenge Alan Wallace again?
Travis: I'm here to be as successful as I can, and as long as Vain has the World Heavyweight Championship around his waist he will be the ultimate goal. I'm under no illusions that it will be tough, I saw first hand just how talented Alan Wallace is at Horizons, but Alan Wallace did not see everything I am capable of.
Vix: Are you saying that you held back at Horizons? That seems unlikely and frankly rather stupid.
Travis: Not at all, at Horizons Alan Wallace took everything Travis Roberts had and beat him. He did not, however, see everything that 'The Blessed One', 'The Headliner', 'The TWiSTeD High Commander', 'The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia' or 'Battleground's Very Best' has to offer. Next time he'll get the whole package.
With that Travis turns and walks off screen and the scene ends.