The Challenge
Sept 10, 2018 20:12:29 GMT -5
Post by James Edwards on Sept 10, 2018 20:12:29 GMT -5
OOC: This was supposed to be an AfterBurn seg that went up a few weeks ago to set the wheels of the Stryker/Edwards feud going. I know it is late, but it gives the feud it's proper context at least.
A grainy, ill-lit room hosts the face and shoulders of James Edwards. The room shakes as he reaches up to make sure the recording equipment is properly in place, and a moment later his eyes momentarily shift south. He mouths a few words and shakes his head, crinkling his brow. He mumbles, the barest hint of his Kentucky twang registering with the microphone. Finally, he nods approvingly, clears his throat and locks eyes with the audience.
"There ain't any need for me to rant about this shit, so let's get the obvious outta the way. I lost the four-way on the last Flashpoint. I lost my chance to make history. I lost in a fight where I couldn't afford to lose, again. I'm sure y'all saw my tweet that bad luck follows me around like a shadow, which is damn accurate no matter what anyone may try to tell me. The difference between this time and all the others was that I had this one, man, I pinned Chandler Scott. I beat the smug bastard, and it got taken away from me. All because of that fuckin' rope! He got lucky and..."
James purses his lips till they are pencil-thin and picks up a sheet of paper. He eyes it for a moment, then sighs.
"Sometimes being lucky is all you need to be in this sport. It pisses me off what happened. It pisses me off that he won that fight. I can't dwell on it, though. Not movin' past something is how I wasted so many opportunities over the last year. If I learned anything from sufferin' through the whole Team Flashpoint deal, it's that focus is the key to success. I kept the goal of us winning in the back of my mind every time I got the urge to break Chandler or our asshole captain's teeth, and I'll be damned if that won out over my base instinct. I gotta fight that urge again if I wanna accomplish my new goal."
And for a brief moment, Edwards smiles.
"I may not be able to become the first International Heavyweight Champion but I sure as hell get the first shot at the new champion. I know there is gonna be a crowded field for that slot. Five others fighters lost on the last show just like I did. We all gotta a good case, at least in our heads, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna go through another eight thousand man war just to sniff a title shot. I wanna be the only one considered; I wanna be the undisputed number one contender for the belt. Of course, I ain't gonna demand it; I'm gonna earn it."
He pauses again to look down at his notes.
"I'm undefeated in singles competition since I signed with Flashpoint. I haven't been pinned or submitted since Fujiko beat me earlier in the year. I've more than held my own with the best this company has to offer. I say all that because the way I figure it, to challenge for a world title, a fighter needs beat former world champions. That's why I'm puttin' out a call here and now to any former FGA World Champion, come and face me at 'Above and Beyond.' Prove you've still got it against me. Beat me, and you may get another shot at glory. Neither of us has anything to lose and everything to gain. So get in contact with Hadley Herrara and let's get this fucker set up!"
Bravado becomes Edwards at this moment. He eyes the camera with the gaze of a young bull challenging the leader of the herd, ready to fight to the death for his chance at the throne.
A grainy, ill-lit room hosts the face and shoulders of James Edwards. The room shakes as he reaches up to make sure the recording equipment is properly in place, and a moment later his eyes momentarily shift south. He mouths a few words and shakes his head, crinkling his brow. He mumbles, the barest hint of his Kentucky twang registering with the microphone. Finally, he nods approvingly, clears his throat and locks eyes with the audience.
"There ain't any need for me to rant about this shit, so let's get the obvious outta the way. I lost the four-way on the last Flashpoint. I lost my chance to make history. I lost in a fight where I couldn't afford to lose, again. I'm sure y'all saw my tweet that bad luck follows me around like a shadow, which is damn accurate no matter what anyone may try to tell me. The difference between this time and all the others was that I had this one, man, I pinned Chandler Scott. I beat the smug bastard, and it got taken away from me. All because of that fuckin' rope! He got lucky and..."
James purses his lips till they are pencil-thin and picks up a sheet of paper. He eyes it for a moment, then sighs.
"Sometimes being lucky is all you need to be in this sport. It pisses me off what happened. It pisses me off that he won that fight. I can't dwell on it, though. Not movin' past something is how I wasted so many opportunities over the last year. If I learned anything from sufferin' through the whole Team Flashpoint deal, it's that focus is the key to success. I kept the goal of us winning in the back of my mind every time I got the urge to break Chandler or our asshole captain's teeth, and I'll be damned if that won out over my base instinct. I gotta fight that urge again if I wanna accomplish my new goal."
And for a brief moment, Edwards smiles.
"I may not be able to become the first International Heavyweight Champion but I sure as hell get the first shot at the new champion. I know there is gonna be a crowded field for that slot. Five others fighters lost on the last show just like I did. We all gotta a good case, at least in our heads, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna go through another eight thousand man war just to sniff a title shot. I wanna be the only one considered; I wanna be the undisputed number one contender for the belt. Of course, I ain't gonna demand it; I'm gonna earn it."
He pauses again to look down at his notes.
"I'm undefeated in singles competition since I signed with Flashpoint. I haven't been pinned or submitted since Fujiko beat me earlier in the year. I've more than held my own with the best this company has to offer. I say all that because the way I figure it, to challenge for a world title, a fighter needs beat former world champions. That's why I'm puttin' out a call here and now to any former FGA World Champion, come and face me at 'Above and Beyond.' Prove you've still got it against me. Beat me, and you may get another shot at glory. Neither of us has anything to lose and everything to gain. So get in contact with Hadley Herrara and let's get this fucker set up!"
Bravado becomes Edwards at this moment. He eyes the camera with the gaze of a young bull challenging the leader of the herd, ready to fight to the death for his chance at the throne.