Post by Dave Rydell on Apr 30, 2022 16:43:09 GMT -5
April 25, 2022
Dave Rydell is backstage packing his bag and getting ready to head out. As he exits the locker room, Donovan is standing in the hallway, leaned against the wall, waiting for him.
Donovan: Was that wise?
Dave: What?
Donovan: You bit the hand the feeds.
Dave: So? Isn’t that what you do all the time?
Donovan: You aren’t me. You’re navigating down a very dangerous path. And this isn’t something you want to do.
Dave: You don’t know what I want.
Donovan: Dave, if you go down this road, there’s not going to be a lot of wiggle room for you to turn back.
Dave stares off down the hallway, then gives a side glance to Donovan.
Dave: Look at the last 12 years. This is all you’ve done. I’m not even going back to LWF. Or whatever this place was before it became UGWC. Look at all of that and look at what you’ve accomplished.
Donovan: I paid a price for it.
Dave: Being a multiple time World Champion seems like a pretty nice price to pay.
Donovan: Is that what this is about?
Dave: You know what I’ve wanted since No Holds Barred 2010. You know what I’ve done in this company and how I’ve fallen many times. I am the definition of insanity. I have tried the same shit over and over again, Donovan. I even went as far as to make a promise to two people. And I’ve now broken that promise.
Donovan: Like I said, are you sure you want to go down this road? It’s full of prices to pay… Just be sure you’re sure you want to go down this road. Nothing has been done that can’t be undone yet.
Dave: I appreciate the concern, but it’s time for me to do what I should of done years ago. Two decades in this business, and the one World Title I have is something that goes unnoticed. It’s time to bring the rage.
Donovan: Just be ready to pay the price.
Dave hesitates for a moment but then just continues to walk off leaving Donovan behind. Once Dave is out of sight, Donovan stands there, still against the wall.
Donovan: A heavy price to pay…
Donovan goes into the locker room and the scene fades to black.
April 28, 2022
And just like that. My actions have consequences.
Fading in on Dave Rydell in his office/den with boxes packed up for his move. He used to have all of his titles on the wall, but all that remain are his UGWC Titles. Cross-Hemisphere Title, Co-Operative Title, Chaos Title. One spot remains empty. The World Title. Dave is looking up at the empty spot on the wall, then directly to the camera.
Actions have consequences. I made promises. And on Monday night, I broke those promises. And I am paying the price. Maybe this is what Donovan was referring to. Angie has decided that I am unworthy. And that is fine. Mary has terminated our relationship. And that is fine. I love that woman, but unfortunately, I cannot move forward with the rest of my life yet.
Being destined for greatness has it’s downfalls. We make choices on these paths, and now I’m paying that price. It is what it is and now we do what we must. We move forward.
Dave pulls the belts off the wall and packs them in a box. He tapes it up. He looks around and all that’s left is his desk and his laptop. He sits down and checks his email, seeing the current booking for Synergy on May 2. He has a surprised look on his face but goes back to serious.
I carried on the same way in this company for years. For YEARS. And it has not exactly bore the fruit that I intended. Yes, I’ve accomplished a great many things. I’ve defeated some incredibly formidable opponents. I have knocked top guys off their pedestal and laid waste to many of their paths at the time.
But one thing that has always eluded me? My moment in the sun. My moment on the top of the mountain.
That time will come, however. For now? For now, apparently there was a bit of a pay off for socking the creative director in the face. A shot at the Conquest Title and it’s champion, Zane Scott.
Zane… we meet again. Our paths seem to have this weird intertwining set of intersections.
Alas, this is once again a match for me for the Conquest Title. You beat the man who beat me to retain it. Phrixus. So that makes this challenge a bit higher stakes. You, Zane, are someone who I don’t hold a victory over. Am I crossing you off the list this time?
You bet your ass I am.
I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention, but the winds are changing around here and I’m not the same “by the book” schmuck that does what he’s told. I’m losing all that is dear to me for the one thing that has eluded me.
I will say, I do have the upmost respect for you. I have for some time. Lord of Trios many years ago, you gave some sound advice. Advice that you have since forgotten. But advice that I am still using to this day. Advice you have forgotten, but will see it come back to bite you in the ass.
I’m not going to take it easy on you. I’m not trying to curry any favor with you in our match for Outlast. I don’t care if you join our team or not. If you want in, join us. If you don’t, then keep it moving. I have my own damn goals here and you are standing in my way.
Speaking of Outlast… if Donovan had any wits about him, he would’ve fought you bell to bell like he should’ve. You’re a grown man. You’ll leave it all in the ring. Which I expect you to do even though at the end of the night, you’ll see me standing over you with the Conquest Title in hand. Bring everything you got, because I’m making good on promises this time around. Just like I told Konrad and Dixon. I’m taking the wins this time. I’m done being the fucking joke around here.
Konrad felt it. Dixon felt it. Jet Somers felt it. And now you’re going to feel it. This loss is going to sting more than any other loss. You’re on a path to get back to the top. And just like you stand in my way, I stand in yours.
This is my conquest, and your journey ends here.
Dave gets up and exits the room as his cell phone rings.
Fade out.
April 30, 2022
A text conversation between Dave and Donovan; followed by a conversation between Dave and Hank.
Donovan: I told you there was a price.
Dave: I got it. I’m paying it. I know what I want and what I’m doing.
Donovan: Just keep your head above water. You haven’t been in this realm before.
Dave: Stay out of my way. We co-captain at Outlast. And then we have nothing tying us together. Get on board with what I’m doing, or consider this the beginning of the end.
Donovan: Dave…
Dave: I’ll see you Monday.
Donovan: Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
The message goes on read and never to be acknowledged again.
Conversation with Hank.
Hank: Everything is a go for South Carolina.
Dave: Things have changed. Focus on Texas.
Hank: I’m in Chicago for the weekend. Do we need to talk?
Dave: Just focus on Texas. South Carolina can take it’s time.
Hank: Understood. Anything I need to know about?
Dave: Keep watching on Monday’s.
Hank: …Are you losing it again?
Dave: I’ve got to run. Until further notice you’re just handling my real estate involvements.
Several minutes go by and Hank calls Dave, but Dave ignores the call. Another call, another ignore. A text comes in.
Hank: What is going on? Fill me in so I’m not being treated like a mushroom.
After another several minutes, Dave replies.
Dave: I’m focused. You have a job. Handle the real estate. I need to do the job on my own though. I’ve got to run.
End.