FRONTIER Files: If First You Don't Succeed [5-5-13]

[Chandler Scott]

I can remember a time when I was viewed as a failure...

Madison's father would always make his little smart ass remarks about how I was wasting away the prime of my life. He couldn't quite seem to figure out why a Harvard educated man would take that degree and put it on the backburner for the sake of professional wrestling...

It was because it was what I loved. I came from affluence, so I was handed pretty much everything in life. But wrestling didn't come naturally to me. Nothing was given to me from wrestling. I had to earn it. I had to fight my way onto my college team. I had to scratch and claw my way to the top of our roster. It's was partially the physicality that drew me to it. And part of it was the adrenaline rush. But the fact that I had to work so hard at it made me want to that much more...

He told me that it was fake. Nothing more than a bunch of carefully choreographed stunts that you would see on an TV show...

But there was nothing fake about this sport. There was nothing fake about having your body slammed, suplexed, driven, planted and bombed onto that cold, unforgiving canvas. There was nothing fake about cramming into a van and driving 3000 miles to the next show. There was nothing fake about waking up in the morning with aches going up and down your body...

He said that I was nothing if I didn't make it in the big leagues. To him, If I weren't wrestling out of that company in Stamford, Connecticut, then I was wasting my time...

Little did he know that over the past two years, I was carving a name for myself in this industry. Intiially with my tag team partner, Preston Blake, as The Harvard Connection. And eventually on my own when the opportunity came. I helped make Frontier Grappling Arts what it is now. A former FGA Champion, I now looked to another Frontier to gain gold. Pro-Wrestling Frontier. It was a little over a month ago when I challenged Jay Pride for his championship...

I failed. I became what him and so many others thought...

I promise to never be a failure again. When it is all said and done, this industry will know the name of Chandler Scott. I may not be on television screens across the globe, but the true wrestling fans will put aside their personal beliefs about me and respect me for the athlete that I am. And soon, very soon, Pro-Wrestling FRONTIER will know me as their new World Heavyweight Champion.

~H~

[ The scene fades open to Chandler Scott, who can be seen in a conference room at a local hotel. He walks back and forth, waiting impatiently for someone to pick up on the other end. Once someone does, his demeanor perks up. ]

Chandler Scott: Mr. Montell's office please.... Thank you...

(Chandler smiles as he waits for Matt Montell to pick up on the other end after the secretary rerouted the call to his office.)

Chandler: Ah yes. Mr. Montell. Can I call you Matt? …. Who is this? What do you mean “Who is this”? You can't recognize this golden voice? It's me, Chandler Scott! Anyways, Matt.... Hello? ….. Hello? Hmmm.

(Chandler pulls the phone away from his ear. After glancing at the screen, he sees the “Call Ended” notification. With a perplexed look on his face, he redials the number.)

Chandler: Mr. Montell's office please

(Chandler again waits. Hopefully this time, the conversation lasts a little longer than ten seconds.)

Chandler: Mr. Montell, Matt! It's me, Chandler Scott again. Hey listen, I know you wanted Kevin Hardaway to show up in Blackburn. But I think that's a really bad idea. You should reconsi... Hello? H-h-hello?

(Chandler pulls the phone away from the ear. He checks the screen and sure enough, the “Call Ended” notification flashes. Chandler shakes his head.)

Chandler: Hmm, must be a bad connection. There's no way that Mr. Montell would intentionally hang up on me. I'm his next GFC World Heavyweight Champion for crying out loud.

(Chandler looks over to his right. He then does a double take as he notices the cameraman there recording.)

Chandler: Oh hey there! I didn't even notice you there. You must want some last words before my big victory in Blackburn?

(Chandler smirks as he saunters over towards the camera.)

Chandler: You know, there's been a lot of buzz around Pro-Wrestling FRONTIER these days. There's been an influx of fresh talent. The Commonwealth Championship, after years of being on the shelf, has finally been activated. Someone will be having their last match ever this weekend. A man that was fired and banned from this promotion will be making his one night return. The energy, the excitement.... there's so much going on around FRONTIER these days. But there's one news item that trumps the rest. There is one note that is THE topic of discussion around these parts. And that, of course, would be my quest for the GFC World Heavyweight Championship. A quest that will be fulfilled in a little under 24 hours from now.

(Chandler nods as he agrees with his own statement.)

Chandler: Jay Pride, this is not our first dance. We are certainly no strangers to each other. It was just a couple of weeks ago that you and I did battle in the center of the ring over your GFC World Heavyweight Championship. And on that night, you beat me. No ifs, ands or buts about it. You beat me as clean as a whistle right there in the center of the ring. I would love to make all sorts of excuses. It would be so easy to feign an injury. It would be so easy to chalk it up to a fluke. But who would I be fooling? After all, I'm a man who tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So I figured why lie to the masses and just admit the truth. And the truth of the matter is on that fateful night, you beat me. But since I'm in the truth telling me, let me tell you another truth. Tomorrow night in Blackburn, it will be you who is going be on the losing end of a GFC World Heavyweight Championship Match.

Make no mistake about it, you beat me on that night. You were the better man on that night. Key phrase being “on that night”. Because for all the remaining days of the year, I can not only wrestle circles around you. But I can wrestle circles, trapezoids, parallelograms and rhombuses around you and everyone else here in FRONTIER. Oh it's true! It's a scientific fact, actually. You should try looking it up sometime.

(Chandler snickers at his made up facts.)

Chandler: The last time we met up in the ring, I underestimated you. I CAN admit that. I took you lightly. I didn't view you as a significant threat to me. I didn't give you the respect that a GFC Champion deserves. It was a humbling loss, to say the least. Now I'm sure you must be asking yourself... “If I underestimated you before, then why am I even more cockier now than I was before”. You can call it cocky. You can call it smug. Dress it up however you want. But what I'm displaying now isn't reckless, arrogant behavior. No, what I'm in right now is a man that's in the zone. I am in the mindset right now of a winner. Isn't there some old saying about “if you don't believe in yourself, then who will?” Isn't that how it goes? Plus, I've reviewed the tape. I've made my notes. I know the mistakes that I made in that match. I also know the mistakes that you made in that match. Mistakes that I was not able to capitalize on. I let that golden opportunity slip through my fingers. I can't, and won't let that happen again. I don't necessarily have to wrestle a mistake free match. I don't have to wrestle the perfect match. I just have to capitalize when the opportunity arises. And as long as I do that, then your belt is as good as mine.

(Chandler moves his hands around his waist, making the belt motion.)

Chandler: Besides, there's a reason I'm brimming with confidence. Get a load of this bad boy...

(Chandler walks out of the camera's view. When he comes back, he's sporting a champion belt across his shoulder that glistens in the overhead lights. After knocking on the center plate a few times, he smiles as he continues speaking.)

Chandler: Now for those of you not familiar with the Frontier on the other side of the pond, this prestigious title is called the Pride Championship. It represents pride, honor and excellence. The matches that this title is contested over are held under something called Pride Rules. And these Pride Rules matches are arguably the purest form of wrestling around. And at the end of these Pride matches, there's is no doubt left over who is the better man. Think of this belt right here as a similar, yet vastly superior version of the Commonwealth Championship.

(Chandler snickers over the low blow he took at Madman Szalinski and the Commonwealth Championship.)

Chandler: Now why would I bring this belt onto the FRONTIER airwaves? It's because I just won this belt six days ago. From who, you ask? I'll get to that person in a second. But you see, by me winning this belt, I made history. I became the first and only man in FGA history to win both the Pride Championship and the FGA Championship. And just like I'm universally regarded as the greatest Heavyweight Champion in that company's history, I'll go down in the annals as the greatest man to grace this belt here. And this is where you come in, Jay. See, I'm kind of getting used to this whole “making history” thing. I'm even thinking about making it my new favorite pastime! And what a sight it would be to make history not once, but twice in the same week! See, no one has ever held both the FGA Championship and the GFC World Heavyweight Championships before.

That is until tomorrow night, when I do exactly that.

(Chandler grins from ear to ear as he nods his head.)

Chandler: Sorry if you didn't get the memo, Jay, but it's true. Tomorrow night in Blackburn, after I win the GFC World Championship, I will make history by becoming the first and only man to win THE top titles in both Frontiers! How cool is that? And even better, you and me will forever be linked because of it. You'll go down in the history books as the man I beat to become champion. So don't take this upcoming championship loss too hard. Cheer up, old chap. Years from now, you can tell your children.... well, adopted children (Chandler winks at the camera).... that you were apart of history. And you can pull out the record book and show them the pictures of me celebrating over your unconscious body. So don't think of this as the end of your championship reign. This is only the beginning. After I make history tomorrow night, you and I will be the talk of the wrestling world. Reporters from far and wide will be flying in to talk to us. I'm going to make you a star, Jay.

You're welcome, by the way.

(Chandler snickers.)

Chandler: With all that being said, I'd be remiss if I didn't speak on the other happenings going on in FRONTIER. There have been a lot of detractors of your truly. Certain members of this roster like to get smart and take thinly veiled shots at the Varsity Villain. Of course, I'm referring to Madman Szalinski and CJ Osborne. First off, Madman, you may be the Commonwealth Champion. You can try and endear yourself to all these British purists all you want. But everyone with a brain knows that the GFC World Championship is the belt that symbolizes who truly is the best wrestler in FRONTIER. And once I win that belt tomorrow night, you will have no choice but to refer to me as your superior.

Or I could just beat you up in the ring again. Either or is fine with me.

Oh, and by the way. You seem to be the one that's leading the “Chandler Scott Gets Handed Title Shots” campaign. Which is kind of ironic, since you're the one that's constantly passing them up! Hey, there's no shame in admitting that you're too scared to fight over THE top prize in Frontier. No one will judge you for being hesitant about competing on the biggest stage this company offers. Some people just aren’t meant to be the big fish.

COUGH you COUGH. Excuse me, soar throat.

(Chandler smirks)

Chandler: As far as this “getting handed title shots” business goes, I'll just chalk this up to yet another one of your pot inspired rants. While I have been handed wealth, education and material items, I've earned everything that I've gotten in this ring. I was chosen to challenge Jay the first time after my impressive performance in the Open House Battle Royal. And the only reason I'm getting this second shot against Jay is because I beat you. Do you remember that? Or can you not recollect because you're as high as a kite? It was your bright idea to put your GFC World Title shot up for grabs against me. If I beat you, I got your shot. Those were the terms of the deal. And you lost. Just because you now regret settling for the second place prize doesn't mean you have to get an attitude with me. I'll tell you what. Why don't you do everyone a favor and stick to what you're good at. Like ripping bong loads or something. Because when it comes to me, you clearly end up looking like a fool.

(Chandler wags his index finger at the camera.)

Chandler: And then there's you, CJ Osborne. Ever since I stepped foot in this company, you and your equally useless wife have always had some little slick comment to say about me. You much more than her, though. Well thankfully, I won't have to listen to your rhetoric anymore. Because apparently tomorrow night is going to be your swan song. The so-called great CJ Osborne finally bids adieu to FRONTIER. And allow me to be the first one to tell you that you won't be missed! You've shown me nothing but disrespect. You've thrown your little jabs my way. But despite all of that, I still plan on giving you one hell of a going away present. And that present, CJ, will be the sight of me winning that GFC World Heavyweight Championship! Oh, and here's the kicker. I'll bring that belt to heights that you could never achieve when you were champion. Since luck is for losers, here's me wishing you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

(Chandler gives a halfhearted wink and two thumbs up.)

Chandler: Finally, I can't talk about tomorrow's event in Blackburn without mentioning the return of the prodigal son. If rumors are to be believed, FRONTIER's former white knight Kevin Hardaway will be making his grand return to the company that rightfully fired him nearly six months ago. Now of course, when you people see Hardaway, he may appear a little under the weather. He may look a bit shaken up. He may not have the same “swagger” that he usually does. And why is that? Because yours truly was the one who took this Pride Championship from him last Sunday! That's right, me, Chandler Scott, broke the unbreakable. And I didn't just snap his arm like a KitKat bar. Oh no. I broke his spirit. I broke his will to continue on in FGA. He'll never set foot in that company again. I won't make it an issue to find you, Hardaway. But for your sake, I advise you to go well out of your way to avoid crossing paths with me. In fact, I suggest you book the first flight back to the states. That is, unless you to be spoon fed for the next couple of weeks after your other arm gets snapped.

(Chandler makes a crunching sound before chuckling.)

Chandler: Don't think I've forgotten about you, Jay Pride, because I haven't. Pardon the interruption, but sometimes you just have to put people in their place. Sort of like how I'm going to do to you tomorrow night. Make no mistake about it, I respect you, Jay. No really, I do. You're one of the few people in this promotion that has treated me with the respect that I deserve. And I'll return the favor by doing the exact same to you. I initially thought you beat Gambino due to Hardaway's interference. I chalked it up to a fluke. But I've seen you wrestle since then. I've seen the way you carry yourself. I've studied your character. You are the real deal. We're both going into this match red hot. We're both going into this match with momentum. But I'm the one with history making moment behind him. I'm the one who has everything to gain and nothing to lose. You? Well, you're all in. Pride-Scott I was something else. The rematch will be even better. Jay, come tomorrow night in Blackburn, I will give you one hell of a fight and prove exactly why I will become the next GFC World Heavyweight Champion.

Veritas!

[ The scene fades to crimson, followed by the Harvard “H”. ]