Under Pressure
Apr 14, 2016 19:52:06 GMT -5
Post by Savannah Taylor on Apr 14, 2016 19:52:06 GMT -5
Have you ever watched a major sporting event, like the Superbowl for example, and watch how the players on the field perform under pressure? It is the biggest game of the year, and millions of people are watching twenty two men, eleven in each team, slugging it out on the field for just about an hour. The best teams from each conference playing for ultimate supremacy. But the closer you look at each team, it all boils down to how well the quarterback performs when all eyes are on him. When the pressure is on and the game is on the line, it is up to the quarterback to carry the burden for his team. There is no better example of coolness under pressure than Tom Brady. He is the type of guy that when the game is tied with under two minutes to play, you know he is going to do everything within his capabilities to drive down the field and win the game. How else do you explain Superbowl thirty six in his rookie year?
I’m no Tom Brady. I don’t claim to be God tier in my chosen craft. But I’d like to think I share at least a little bit of his cool-as-a-cucumber-under-pressure characteristics. I’ve been in matches before where the stakes have been pretty high. More often than not, I’ve come out on top, even when the detractors and naysayers have counted me out. It gives me a great ing as far as winning sense of pride and is a boost to my ego when I imagine them wiping the shocked expression from their faces. But this match Saturday, the Gold Rush Rumble, this is a completely different ballgame.
I’ve heard stories and seen past Rumbles to know that this match doesn’t mess around. If you fail to bring your A+ game, then you are done before you begin. To me, there is no greater pressure cooker situation to be in than that. Its why I have been a constant presence in the the gym and Crossfit centers. Its why I have been (fairly) quiet on social media. I am taking this entire event as seriously as the next person. I know that to do well in the Rumble, even going so far as winning the entire thing, that would be the best way to create a legacy here in FGA.
But I’m also something of a realist. I know that the chances of someone like me, a relative newcomer to FGA, winning the Gold Rush Rumble are fairly slim. Trust me, I want to win just as much as the next wrestler. I want to prove to these people that yes, I do indeed belong here. If I’m being honest with myself, then I would say that my efforts thus far in FGA have been adequate at best. I’ve got to double my efforts from here on out if I am going to do good by the people who have invested so much in my and who have supported me thus far.
I’m trying to stay calm under pressure, but my life outside of the ring isn’t really making things easier. The whole being paid to endorse a product bit is entirely new, and a little bit hectic. But it's the good kind of hectic. I’m finally in a place where I can actually start to have fun in this business and I can start to see just what else is out there for me. But that isn’t even the biggest thing going on in my outside life. I’m constantly worrying about how my mother is doing while I’m on the road. It’s been almost a year, this summer to be exact, since I found out about her cancer diagnosis. It’s been an emotionally draining ride thus far. She has her good days and her bad days, but recently the bad days seem to be growing in number. Not by much, but they are growing. I only JUST got my family back and am living under the threat that it could all be ripped right apart. It is a reason why I don’t seem to be getting much sleep at night. This situation coupled with the enormous amount of pressure I put on myself is driving me insane at times. But if I’m going to make my mark on the Gold Rush Rumble pay per view, I need to push everything to the side and focus on the task at hand. Sometimes, that is easier said than done.
Being a Las Vegas native, if there is one thing I am familiar with, it is dealing with odds. You walk into any casino or to basically any place on the Strip and chances are you’ll find a place where you can plunk down your hard earned money and bet on anything. Nine times out of ten people chose to bet money on sporting events. Everything from boxing to football to basketball to horse racing sees person after person giving someone their money and then promptly praying that they get the outcome they want.
Wrestling is another sport that seems to have crept onto the betting scene. People have their heavy favorites, those dubbed to be the underdogs, those who are the longshots and those who stand virtually no chance of winning anything anytime soon. Maybe that is why events such as the Gold Rush Rumble are popular. It is here where virtually ANYTHING can happen. It is the type of match that can turn an underdog or a longshot into a superstar with a blink of an eye.
Let me be the first to admit that I am anxious about this match. Not anxious in the traditional “Oh my God my nerves are shot” sense, oh no. I’m talking about looking forward to something so much that it slowly takes over everything you think about. Ever since arriving here in FGA a little over four months ago, people have been telling me to anticipate this event above all others. After watching previous Rumbles, I can see why they would tell me. Second only to wrestling in my hometown, this is something I’ve been looking forward to. Who wouldn’t relish the chance to step in the ring and slug it out against twenty or so of the best wrestlers in the world? Who wouldn’t want to walk away with a shot at the FGA World Championship?
If you answered “No” to anything said there, kindly find the nearest plastic bag, slip it over your head and take the deepest breath possible.
The more I look at the list of participants in the Rumble, the more I realize just how much I have my work cut out for me. People like Molly Reid and Nero Darling? People look at them and think they won’t amount to anything , but they couldn’t be more wrong. They could shock everyone come Saturday. The same could be said for Fujiko Mine, Sara Cochran, and just about everyone else that the mainstream wrestling media deems unworthy of winning the Gold Rush Rumble or dismissing them because they don’t have the notoriety or the pedigree that others in the match do. That doesn’t make them any less of a threat.
Well, except for Izzy and Annie. If everything goes according to how I hope, neither one of those two will be much of a factor. But ladies, if you somehow muster up enough internal fortitude and we all end up in the ring at the same time, then I will not hesitate to unleash everything I have on you two. Again. I get it. We will all be banged up, bruised and potentially bloody. We will all be sore after putting each other through hell mere moments before. But guess what ladies? None of that matters. If you walk down the aisle for the Rumble and aren’t filled with a sudden shot of adrenaline, then there really is no hope for you. Not that there was before, because what I have planned for you two in our Triple Threat may very well warrant a stay in the nearest asylum.
Speaking of people who should be locked away in the crazy house….
Jimmy Page. I’ve been looking forward to this. Oh, what’s that? You don’t know who I am? Well bitch, you are about to find out. You are about to find out that your actions as of late are going to cost you more than you probably realize. Don’t think I haven’t been paying attention, because I have. Are you feeling proud of yourself? Are you filled with a sense of calm and are smiling to yourself because of what you did to Emily? There is nothing to feel happy or proud about. All you did was prove to everyone watching just what a coward you really are. Did it make you feel like a real man, putting your hands on her the way you did? You are no man. A real man wouldn’t resort to such cheap attacks and hollow words just to get the attention of someone else. Your entire demeanor reminds me of the spoiled sixteen year old who didn’t get the Mercedes Benz she wanted for her birthday, so she is on one long and tiring temper tantrum.
Face it, Jimmy. Your chances of winning the Gold Rush Rumble are about as existent as a rainbow colored unicorn who farts glitter. You may as well just quit while you are ahead and save yourself any further embarrassment. Your focus on Chandler is going to eventually be your downfall. What are going to do when he comes back? Are you prepared for that, Jimmy? Methinks you aren’t. That reason and that reason alone is why I’m not going to go in on you like I am Annie and Izzy. I have to leave something for him to come back to. Then we can all sit back and watch you get your LONG OVERDUE comeuppance.Enjoy your moment of peace while you can, because it won’t last long.
Oh hey, look at that. I almost forgot that a couple of people were in this thing. Then again, it’s not exactly to forget the collective wet dream of every writer of fanfiction in the known world.
Ruby Tyler. Dear, sweet Ruby. How are you doing? Feeling good? Settling into school well? Good. I want you to be as comfortable as humanly possible, because I’ve been waiting for another chance at you. I’ve been waiting since we were in THAT place to finally go toe to toe with the “famed” Ruby Tyler. I have a question for you. What is it about you that has everyone going crazy for you? Is it the never say die attitude? Is it the fact that you can take a beating and keep on ticking? I guess I just don’t get the appeal of you. It certainly isn’t the fact that you are part of one of the unofficial/official couples that fanfiction writers touch themselves over. Do us all a favor and just fuck Kevin and get it over with, mmkay? Aside from being in possession of a championship from THAT company, a title that people will always and forever associate with ME instead of YOU, all you are going to be remembered for is being the bedwarmer of Jackie Fowler. You were the launching pad for Jackie before he quickly climbed up the ranks in the wrestling world. Bet that makes you feel pretty good inside….. Slippers.
But as fun as it would be to go another round with you, I am more interested in going toe to toe with your little boyfriend. At long last we meet again, Kevin. You are finally free from the toxic Kool-Aid and familial interferences and you are back to your regular self. Congratulations. Would you like a medal? I’ve been waiting for a long while to get my hands on you, Hardaway. Don’t think that I have forgotten what happened in San Diego. Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did to me, and to him. I made it a personal mission that I would go out and get some form of retribution for your actions. Saturday night, I finally get my chance. You can bet your ass I am going to make the most of it.
I could go on and on about certain others in this Rumble, but why bother? Why bother repeating things that have been said by countless others? I’ve made my intentions clear. I’ve marked out my targets, those that I want for one reason or another. Saturday night is the night that I leave my mark on this company. It is a company that I plan on calling my home for a long time to come. May the odds be ever in your favor.
Auf Wiedersehen
I’m no Tom Brady. I don’t claim to be God tier in my chosen craft. But I’d like to think I share at least a little bit of his cool-as-a-cucumber-under-pressure characteristics. I’ve been in matches before where the stakes have been pretty high. More often than not, I’ve come out on top, even when the detractors and naysayers have counted me out. It gives me a great ing as far as winning sense of pride and is a boost to my ego when I imagine them wiping the shocked expression from their faces. But this match Saturday, the Gold Rush Rumble, this is a completely different ballgame.
I’ve heard stories and seen past Rumbles to know that this match doesn’t mess around. If you fail to bring your A+ game, then you are done before you begin. To me, there is no greater pressure cooker situation to be in than that. Its why I have been a constant presence in the the gym and Crossfit centers. Its why I have been (fairly) quiet on social media. I am taking this entire event as seriously as the next person. I know that to do well in the Rumble, even going so far as winning the entire thing, that would be the best way to create a legacy here in FGA.
But I’m also something of a realist. I know that the chances of someone like me, a relative newcomer to FGA, winning the Gold Rush Rumble are fairly slim. Trust me, I want to win just as much as the next wrestler. I want to prove to these people that yes, I do indeed belong here. If I’m being honest with myself, then I would say that my efforts thus far in FGA have been adequate at best. I’ve got to double my efforts from here on out if I am going to do good by the people who have invested so much in my and who have supported me thus far.
I’m trying to stay calm under pressure, but my life outside of the ring isn’t really making things easier. The whole being paid to endorse a product bit is entirely new, and a little bit hectic. But it's the good kind of hectic. I’m finally in a place where I can actually start to have fun in this business and I can start to see just what else is out there for me. But that isn’t even the biggest thing going on in my outside life. I’m constantly worrying about how my mother is doing while I’m on the road. It’s been almost a year, this summer to be exact, since I found out about her cancer diagnosis. It’s been an emotionally draining ride thus far. She has her good days and her bad days, but recently the bad days seem to be growing in number. Not by much, but they are growing. I only JUST got my family back and am living under the threat that it could all be ripped right apart. It is a reason why I don’t seem to be getting much sleep at night. This situation coupled with the enormous amount of pressure I put on myself is driving me insane at times. But if I’m going to make my mark on the Gold Rush Rumble pay per view, I need to push everything to the side and focus on the task at hand. Sometimes, that is easier said than done.
“I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win.” - Arnold Palmer
Being a Las Vegas native, if there is one thing I am familiar with, it is dealing with odds. You walk into any casino or to basically any place on the Strip and chances are you’ll find a place where you can plunk down your hard earned money and bet on anything. Nine times out of ten people chose to bet money on sporting events. Everything from boxing to football to basketball to horse racing sees person after person giving someone their money and then promptly praying that they get the outcome they want.
Wrestling is another sport that seems to have crept onto the betting scene. People have their heavy favorites, those dubbed to be the underdogs, those who are the longshots and those who stand virtually no chance of winning anything anytime soon. Maybe that is why events such as the Gold Rush Rumble are popular. It is here where virtually ANYTHING can happen. It is the type of match that can turn an underdog or a longshot into a superstar with a blink of an eye.
Let me be the first to admit that I am anxious about this match. Not anxious in the traditional “Oh my God my nerves are shot” sense, oh no. I’m talking about looking forward to something so much that it slowly takes over everything you think about. Ever since arriving here in FGA a little over four months ago, people have been telling me to anticipate this event above all others. After watching previous Rumbles, I can see why they would tell me. Second only to wrestling in my hometown, this is something I’ve been looking forward to. Who wouldn’t relish the chance to step in the ring and slug it out against twenty or so of the best wrestlers in the world? Who wouldn’t want to walk away with a shot at the FGA World Championship?
If you answered “No” to anything said there, kindly find the nearest plastic bag, slip it over your head and take the deepest breath possible.
The more I look at the list of participants in the Rumble, the more I realize just how much I have my work cut out for me. People like Molly Reid and Nero Darling? People look at them and think they won’t amount to anything , but they couldn’t be more wrong. They could shock everyone come Saturday. The same could be said for Fujiko Mine, Sara Cochran, and just about everyone else that the mainstream wrestling media deems unworthy of winning the Gold Rush Rumble or dismissing them because they don’t have the notoriety or the pedigree that others in the match do. That doesn’t make them any less of a threat.
Well, except for Izzy and Annie. If everything goes according to how I hope, neither one of those two will be much of a factor. But ladies, if you somehow muster up enough internal fortitude and we all end up in the ring at the same time, then I will not hesitate to unleash everything I have on you two. Again. I get it. We will all be banged up, bruised and potentially bloody. We will all be sore after putting each other through hell mere moments before. But guess what ladies? None of that matters. If you walk down the aisle for the Rumble and aren’t filled with a sudden shot of adrenaline, then there really is no hope for you. Not that there was before, because what I have planned for you two in our Triple Threat may very well warrant a stay in the nearest asylum.
Speaking of people who should be locked away in the crazy house….
Jimmy Page. I’ve been looking forward to this. Oh, what’s that? You don’t know who I am? Well bitch, you are about to find out. You are about to find out that your actions as of late are going to cost you more than you probably realize. Don’t think I haven’t been paying attention, because I have. Are you feeling proud of yourself? Are you filled with a sense of calm and are smiling to yourself because of what you did to Emily? There is nothing to feel happy or proud about. All you did was prove to everyone watching just what a coward you really are. Did it make you feel like a real man, putting your hands on her the way you did? You are no man. A real man wouldn’t resort to such cheap attacks and hollow words just to get the attention of someone else. Your entire demeanor reminds me of the spoiled sixteen year old who didn’t get the Mercedes Benz she wanted for her birthday, so she is on one long and tiring temper tantrum.
Face it, Jimmy. Your chances of winning the Gold Rush Rumble are about as existent as a rainbow colored unicorn who farts glitter. You may as well just quit while you are ahead and save yourself any further embarrassment. Your focus on Chandler is going to eventually be your downfall. What are going to do when he comes back? Are you prepared for that, Jimmy? Methinks you aren’t. That reason and that reason alone is why I’m not going to go in on you like I am Annie and Izzy. I have to leave something for him to come back to. Then we can all sit back and watch you get your LONG OVERDUE comeuppance.Enjoy your moment of peace while you can, because it won’t last long.
Oh hey, look at that. I almost forgot that a couple of people were in this thing. Then again, it’s not exactly to forget the collective wet dream of every writer of fanfiction in the known world.
Ruby Tyler. Dear, sweet Ruby. How are you doing? Feeling good? Settling into school well? Good. I want you to be as comfortable as humanly possible, because I’ve been waiting for another chance at you. I’ve been waiting since we were in THAT place to finally go toe to toe with the “famed” Ruby Tyler. I have a question for you. What is it about you that has everyone going crazy for you? Is it the never say die attitude? Is it the fact that you can take a beating and keep on ticking? I guess I just don’t get the appeal of you. It certainly isn’t the fact that you are part of one of the unofficial/official couples that fanfiction writers touch themselves over. Do us all a favor and just fuck Kevin and get it over with, mmkay? Aside from being in possession of a championship from THAT company, a title that people will always and forever associate with ME instead of YOU, all you are going to be remembered for is being the bedwarmer of Jackie Fowler. You were the launching pad for Jackie before he quickly climbed up the ranks in the wrestling world. Bet that makes you feel pretty good inside….. Slippers.
But as fun as it would be to go another round with you, I am more interested in going toe to toe with your little boyfriend. At long last we meet again, Kevin. You are finally free from the toxic Kool-Aid and familial interferences and you are back to your regular self. Congratulations. Would you like a medal? I’ve been waiting for a long while to get my hands on you, Hardaway. Don’t think that I have forgotten what happened in San Diego. Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did to me, and to him. I made it a personal mission that I would go out and get some form of retribution for your actions. Saturday night, I finally get my chance. You can bet your ass I am going to make the most of it.
I could go on and on about certain others in this Rumble, but why bother? Why bother repeating things that have been said by countless others? I’ve made my intentions clear. I’ve marked out my targets, those that I want for one reason or another. Saturday night is the night that I leave my mark on this company. It is a company that I plan on calling my home for a long time to come. May the odds be ever in your favor.
Auf Wiedersehen