Post by Lord Hastings on Oct 26, 2019 22:48:35 GMT -5
Paying a visit to the doctor. West Point, New York. Tuesday, October 22nd October.
After Travis Roberts dropped Konrad on his head only five days earlier, there was concern Raab's advanced age, combined with the deadliness of the White Out, might result in Raab being pulled out of the match at Battleground. Those closest to Konrad were concerned that this couldn't have come at a worse time. Besides potentially losing out on a huge opportunity on Monday, he might not be around next year to try again.
Konrad thought about retiring a lot; he could train intensively all he wanted, but at his age, injuries took longer and longer to heal. His pride prevented him from entertaining the idea for too long though.
Fizz remained calm in the waiting room, as this wasn't the first, second or even 10th time she's had to wait around for her husband to finish dealing with medics.
Inside the doctor's office, Konrad too remains calm as he waits for Doctor Greenbaum's arrival. Left alone with his thoughts, he wondered if this would be the thing that would force him to retire before he was done everything he wanted to accomplish before he could retire on his own terms. Not much scared him, but the idea that moves like the White Out could be used to put him on the shelf made him contemplate a change in how he wrestled and how he could further protect himself.
He wouldn't be left with these thoughts that he didn't have much control over as Doctor Greenbaum knocked on the door before entering.
Doctor Greenbaum: "Mr. Raab, sorry for keeping you."
Konrad Raab: "It's okay, I know you're busier at this time of year. And please, just call me Konrad."
Doctor Greenbaum: "Alright, Konrad. Now, let's review your chart again."
Doctor Greenbaum looks through the chart, then the next page, then the next page. He raises an eyebrow.
Doctor Greenbaum: "Konrad, you're either a hockey player, a stuntman, or an MMA competitor."
Konrad softly chuckles.
Konrad Raab: "Close, I'm a professional wrestler."
Doctor Greenbaum: "That would do it. Now, I don't need to tell you that once you reach your 50s, you need to be extra careful with any physical activity, much less anything as high-impact as wrestling."
Konrad Raab: "I know, Doctor Greenbaum. I was caught off-guard, that's all."
Doctor Greenbaum: "Nevertheless, every injury never truly heals, and this was a potential doozy."
The doctor takes out the x-rays and places them on the illuminated reading panel: it's of Konrad's head and neck. The doctor points out a few areas of note.
Doctor Greenbaum: "See here, this is obvious trauma."
Konrad remains stoic but feels a bit uneasy inside.
Doctor Greenbaum: "But how you landed made the difference. You managed to strain your neck instead of breaking it."
Konrad exhales as if the stress was deflating from inside of him.
Konrad Raab: "So I'm okay."
The doctor sucks his teeth. He gives Konrad a look you would give a child who balanced on a chair's edge and fell and hurt themselves, but they just know the kid's going to do it again the next day.
Doctor Greenbaum: "Konrad, are you well off?"
Konrad looks at Doctor Greenbaum suspiciously.
Konrad Raab: "I... am?"
Doctor Greenbaum sensed that how his patient responded meant he might be seeing more of Konrad whenever he's wrestling in New York. He sighed.
Doctor Greenbaum: "I won't mince words with you: you should retire and retire immediately."
This is what Konrad was expecting to hear, he just knew it. Doctor Greenbaum is just like everyone else, telling him to quit, to give up. Wrestling's for younger bodies, but there's been plenty of success stories with wrestlers who have remained relevant and successful going into their golden years. If they could do it, why couldn't Konrad?
And deep down, he knows that at least people like Doctor Greenbaum are showing concern from a sincere place, unlike people like Sarah Lacklan who will say any mean-spirited thing they can to bring people down. Doctor Greenbaum could make a lot of money with Konrad's visits, so him telling Konrad to retire is coming from an honest place.
Konrad Raab: "I can't do that, Doctor Greenbaum."
Doctor Greenbaum: "And why not?"
Konrad Raab: "In less than a week's time, I'll be in the main event of Battleground. If I can survive, I can have any match I want at Horizons, the biggest UGWC show of the year."
The doctor nodded in understanding, but the truth was that none of what Konrad said made any sense to him, both in content and in context. He examines Konrad's expression, having a hard time reading the German. He takes out his clipboard, tapping at a sheet clipped into it.
Doctor Greenbaum: "You know, I could send this into your employer, saying you're not fit to compete, not on Monday, not next week, never again."
For the first time in a while, Konrad's expression softened. He looked at Doctor Greenbaum as if betrayed by someone he trusted, which was basically true. Would the doctor seriously do that? Would it stick? Is he bluffing?
Konrad Raab: "I won't beg you, doc, but I have to take this chance. Even if it kills me."
The doctor took a step back, surprised by the response he got. He was convinced the look Konrad gave him with his threat was going to be the turning point, but all it accomplished is strengthening the wrestler's resolve. He sighed again.
Doctor Greenbaum: "I don't think you need to go that far, do you?"
He puts down the clip board and shakes his head.
Doctor Greenbaum: "I don't WANT you to wrestling this match. I WANT you to retire."
He looks at the x-rays with concern.
Doctor Greenbaum: "And I understand you want to hang up your boots when you want to, not me."
He turns off the light of the x-ray reading panel.
Doctor Greenbaum: "Just don't wait until someone else takes that choice away from you. You're free to go; alternate ice and heat on your neck and shoulders, then do the recommended stretches of your neck muscles. Refrain from workouts that focus on your neck and shoulders UNLESS they're your stretches."
Konrad sighs and gets to his feet, shaking the doctor's hand.
Konrad Raab: "That I'll gladly do, doc."
Konrad then went to open the door, when he spots Fizz quickly backing away from it, trying to seem nonchalant. Konrad smirked.
Konrad Raab: "I thought you've gotten past the point of worrying about me."
Fizz: "You said it yourself: this is a huge match for you, and Travis' move looked scary."
Konrad Raab: "...You're right. I can't disagree with that."
Fizz: "I don't know if I could still love you if you were a quadriplegic."
Konrad looks annoyed.
Konrad Raab: "That's not funny."
Fizz: "It sorta is!"
Konrad rolls his eyes as they both laugh while they depart the doctor's office.
-----------------------------------
Konrad reflects on his big chance. Youtube.com shoot.
"Battleground is where one of six wrestlers will fulfill their destiny if they win, as they can move onto Horizons and reach the top of the mountain in style. Going into 2020 as the one who won both Battleground and say beat Sarah Lacklan at Horizons in the main event would shut her up forever.
But before I can even think about any of that, I have to survive Alan, Angelica, Hide, Travis and the man I teamed up with just last week, Zane.
Alan Wallace, I understand what you've been going through. Doubt is a wrestler's biggest weakness, but let me tell you, if you can turn your lowest moments into strengths, you can do most anything, including surviving the Battleground Match. I want to see the old Alan show up this Monday, even if I personally don't like it. Everyone else will.
Angelica Vaughn, You know I have nothing but the utmost respect for you. For YOU, but not so much your friends. I won't waste my time repeating how I feel about the other #CoolKids. You've been betrayed and hurt and I'm sure you hope that you can enter the new year back on top. That would be the best revenge on Dave Rydell.
Hide Yamazaki, don't think for a second I've forgotten what you and your manager Johnny did to my friends Camden Carrot and Peekatyou. I can't help but take this personally. If you wanted to get at me, you should have hurt ME! I don't want to seem petty, but out of everyone in this contest, I need to make you don't progress.
Travis Roberts, I know your intentions weren't to cripple me and to just win your match, so for that, I can't blame you. I really hope you don't blame me when I return the favour and take you to your limit. I won't break the rules to do it, no, and I won't use overkill, but if you think I won't come at you with my all, you're wrong.
Zane Scott, I let you down last week, and for that, I'm truly sorry. I know snags like these can be frustrating for you, but at least the Battleground Match, with all its implications, surely winning that will turn everything around for you. But you know I can't just let you do that, so I might need to apologize again. We'll cross that bridge when we reach it.
And finally, there's Konrad Raab. All he can do is what he does each and every week wherever he wrestles for, and that's give 110% even if he doesn't always feel like he's at 110% sometimes. Right now, you all obviously know about my close call with my neck thanks to Travis, but chances like these don't come but once a year, and I plan on making the most of things.
You know, this year I've been very lucky here in the UGWC. I had a rocky start of it earlier this year, but with hard work, a positive mindset, and an unrelenting style of wrestling, I'm proud to say that everything that's happened to me has been earned, SARAH, and as a result, if I can make it through the Battleground Match and stand tall amidst the usual suspects who want nothing more than to see me fail, I won't tell them 'I told you so'. I won't smirk or brag, because what's the point in all of that? No, all I'll do is continue to do what I've been doing all along:
Be the best Konrad Raab I can be.
After Travis Roberts dropped Konrad on his head only five days earlier, there was concern Raab's advanced age, combined with the deadliness of the White Out, might result in Raab being pulled out of the match at Battleground. Those closest to Konrad were concerned that this couldn't have come at a worse time. Besides potentially losing out on a huge opportunity on Monday, he might not be around next year to try again.
Konrad thought about retiring a lot; he could train intensively all he wanted, but at his age, injuries took longer and longer to heal. His pride prevented him from entertaining the idea for too long though.
Fizz remained calm in the waiting room, as this wasn't the first, second or even 10th time she's had to wait around for her husband to finish dealing with medics.
Inside the doctor's office, Konrad too remains calm as he waits for Doctor Greenbaum's arrival. Left alone with his thoughts, he wondered if this would be the thing that would force him to retire before he was done everything he wanted to accomplish before he could retire on his own terms. Not much scared him, but the idea that moves like the White Out could be used to put him on the shelf made him contemplate a change in how he wrestled and how he could further protect himself.
He wouldn't be left with these thoughts that he didn't have much control over as Doctor Greenbaum knocked on the door before entering.
Doctor Greenbaum: "Mr. Raab, sorry for keeping you."
Konrad Raab: "It's okay, I know you're busier at this time of year. And please, just call me Konrad."
Doctor Greenbaum: "Alright, Konrad. Now, let's review your chart again."
Doctor Greenbaum looks through the chart, then the next page, then the next page. He raises an eyebrow.
Doctor Greenbaum: "Konrad, you're either a hockey player, a stuntman, or an MMA competitor."
Konrad softly chuckles.
Konrad Raab: "Close, I'm a professional wrestler."
Doctor Greenbaum: "That would do it. Now, I don't need to tell you that once you reach your 50s, you need to be extra careful with any physical activity, much less anything as high-impact as wrestling."
Konrad Raab: "I know, Doctor Greenbaum. I was caught off-guard, that's all."
Doctor Greenbaum: "Nevertheless, every injury never truly heals, and this was a potential doozy."
The doctor takes out the x-rays and places them on the illuminated reading panel: it's of Konrad's head and neck. The doctor points out a few areas of note.
Doctor Greenbaum: "See here, this is obvious trauma."
Konrad remains stoic but feels a bit uneasy inside.
Doctor Greenbaum: "But how you landed made the difference. You managed to strain your neck instead of breaking it."
Konrad exhales as if the stress was deflating from inside of him.
Konrad Raab: "So I'm okay."
The doctor sucks his teeth. He gives Konrad a look you would give a child who balanced on a chair's edge and fell and hurt themselves, but they just know the kid's going to do it again the next day.
Doctor Greenbaum: "Konrad, are you well off?"
Konrad looks at Doctor Greenbaum suspiciously.
Konrad Raab: "I... am?"
Doctor Greenbaum sensed that how his patient responded meant he might be seeing more of Konrad whenever he's wrestling in New York. He sighed.
Doctor Greenbaum: "I won't mince words with you: you should retire and retire immediately."
This is what Konrad was expecting to hear, he just knew it. Doctor Greenbaum is just like everyone else, telling him to quit, to give up. Wrestling's for younger bodies, but there's been plenty of success stories with wrestlers who have remained relevant and successful going into their golden years. If they could do it, why couldn't Konrad?
And deep down, he knows that at least people like Doctor Greenbaum are showing concern from a sincere place, unlike people like Sarah Lacklan who will say any mean-spirited thing they can to bring people down. Doctor Greenbaum could make a lot of money with Konrad's visits, so him telling Konrad to retire is coming from an honest place.
Konrad Raab: "I can't do that, Doctor Greenbaum."
Doctor Greenbaum: "And why not?"
Konrad Raab: "In less than a week's time, I'll be in the main event of Battleground. If I can survive, I can have any match I want at Horizons, the biggest UGWC show of the year."
The doctor nodded in understanding, but the truth was that none of what Konrad said made any sense to him, both in content and in context. He examines Konrad's expression, having a hard time reading the German. He takes out his clipboard, tapping at a sheet clipped into it.
Doctor Greenbaum: "You know, I could send this into your employer, saying you're not fit to compete, not on Monday, not next week, never again."
For the first time in a while, Konrad's expression softened. He looked at Doctor Greenbaum as if betrayed by someone he trusted, which was basically true. Would the doctor seriously do that? Would it stick? Is he bluffing?
Konrad Raab: "I won't beg you, doc, but I have to take this chance. Even if it kills me."
The doctor took a step back, surprised by the response he got. He was convinced the look Konrad gave him with his threat was going to be the turning point, but all it accomplished is strengthening the wrestler's resolve. He sighed again.
Doctor Greenbaum: "I don't think you need to go that far, do you?"
He puts down the clip board and shakes his head.
Doctor Greenbaum: "I don't WANT you to wrestling this match. I WANT you to retire."
He looks at the x-rays with concern.
Doctor Greenbaum: "And I understand you want to hang up your boots when you want to, not me."
He turns off the light of the x-ray reading panel.
Doctor Greenbaum: "Just don't wait until someone else takes that choice away from you. You're free to go; alternate ice and heat on your neck and shoulders, then do the recommended stretches of your neck muscles. Refrain from workouts that focus on your neck and shoulders UNLESS they're your stretches."
Konrad sighs and gets to his feet, shaking the doctor's hand.
Konrad Raab: "That I'll gladly do, doc."
Konrad then went to open the door, when he spots Fizz quickly backing away from it, trying to seem nonchalant. Konrad smirked.
Konrad Raab: "I thought you've gotten past the point of worrying about me."
Fizz: "You said it yourself: this is a huge match for you, and Travis' move looked scary."
Konrad Raab: "...You're right. I can't disagree with that."
Fizz: "I don't know if I could still love you if you were a quadriplegic."
Konrad looks annoyed.
Konrad Raab: "That's not funny."
Fizz: "It sorta is!"
Konrad rolls his eyes as they both laugh while they depart the doctor's office.
-----------------------------------
Konrad reflects on his big chance. Youtube.com shoot.
"Battleground is where one of six wrestlers will fulfill their destiny if they win, as they can move onto Horizons and reach the top of the mountain in style. Going into 2020 as the one who won both Battleground and say beat Sarah Lacklan at Horizons in the main event would shut her up forever.
But before I can even think about any of that, I have to survive Alan, Angelica, Hide, Travis and the man I teamed up with just last week, Zane.
Alan Wallace, I understand what you've been going through. Doubt is a wrestler's biggest weakness, but let me tell you, if you can turn your lowest moments into strengths, you can do most anything, including surviving the Battleground Match. I want to see the old Alan show up this Monday, even if I personally don't like it. Everyone else will.
Angelica Vaughn, You know I have nothing but the utmost respect for you. For YOU, but not so much your friends. I won't waste my time repeating how I feel about the other #CoolKids. You've been betrayed and hurt and I'm sure you hope that you can enter the new year back on top. That would be the best revenge on Dave Rydell.
Hide Yamazaki, don't think for a second I've forgotten what you and your manager Johnny did to my friends Camden Carrot and Peekatyou. I can't help but take this personally. If you wanted to get at me, you should have hurt ME! I don't want to seem petty, but out of everyone in this contest, I need to make you don't progress.
Travis Roberts, I know your intentions weren't to cripple me and to just win your match, so for that, I can't blame you. I really hope you don't blame me when I return the favour and take you to your limit. I won't break the rules to do it, no, and I won't use overkill, but if you think I won't come at you with my all, you're wrong.
Zane Scott, I let you down last week, and for that, I'm truly sorry. I know snags like these can be frustrating for you, but at least the Battleground Match, with all its implications, surely winning that will turn everything around for you. But you know I can't just let you do that, so I might need to apologize again. We'll cross that bridge when we reach it.
And finally, there's Konrad Raab. All he can do is what he does each and every week wherever he wrestles for, and that's give 110% even if he doesn't always feel like he's at 110% sometimes. Right now, you all obviously know about my close call with my neck thanks to Travis, but chances like these don't come but once a year, and I plan on making the most of things.
You know, this year I've been very lucky here in the UGWC. I had a rocky start of it earlier this year, but with hard work, a positive mindset, and an unrelenting style of wrestling, I'm proud to say that everything that's happened to me has been earned, SARAH, and as a result, if I can make it through the Battleground Match and stand tall amidst the usual suspects who want nothing more than to see me fail, I won't tell them 'I told you so'. I won't smirk or brag, because what's the point in all of that? No, all I'll do is continue to do what I've been doing all along:
Be the best Konrad Raab I can be.
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