So In Love. [Vs The Blood Brothers]
May 12, 2016 11:43:26 GMT -5
Post by Cordy on May 12, 2016 11:43:26 GMT -5
April 30th, 2016
Louisville, KY
Be cool, man. He chastised himself in his head as he slowly let out a deep sigh. His heart lowkey fluttered and skipped about a few beats as he saw her casually strolling down the corridor towards him. One would think that after knowing someone for damn near a decade, you’d get accustomed to being around that person — but that just wasn’t the case for Gavin James when it pertained to his long time friend, Cordelia Stevenson. There was always this resounding uneasiness that settled in whenever he was in her presence, without a doubt the byproduct of the near decade crush he’d had on her. He’d hid it well over the years though. Mostly out of fear; and mostly due to his feelings of inadequacy.
Because Cordelia Stevenson was out of his league.
She’d never said anything of the sort, nor would she ever. Gavin knew her and he knew damn well that she wasn’t the type to. Yet some things didn’t need to be said, and just because they were never verbalized or acknowledged, didn’t mean they were any less valid. The truth of the matter was, this wasn’t a conclusion that Cordelia had drawn at all. If only he’d taken the time to truly decipher the signs… but in life, the most impenetrable walls are usually the ones constructed by our own minds, and Gavin James too was a victim of this, although his were more of a defense mechanism than anything. The mind is often heralded as man’s greatest weapon, inversely, it can also be man’s greatest enemy as well. Though he was a far cry from the unorthodox, scrawny and awkward youth that was constantly bullied and picked on during his days attending Freeport High, Gavin couldn’t shake the feeling that that was all he’d ever be in Cordelia’s eyes; the unpopular dork that she constantly had to stand up for and defend.
Cordelia always walked to the beat of her own drum, and it was what he’d always admired about her. Especially back during those days, when they were probably the most impressionable in their teenage years — it would have been so easy for her to simply go with the flow, and to pretend that he was nothing, just as everyone else around them did. But she hadn’t. She was an athlete, extremely popular and well known not only for her athletic feats, but her academic prowess as well but more than that she had the personable personality that everyone gravitated towards and wanted to be around.
To someone like her, Gavin should have been invisible, but she’d always let him know that he was seen — even when everyone else had made him want to disappear.
She saw the way that everyone else treated him and instead of following suit, she reached out to him. She stood up for him, and even more than that, she became his friend. She vocalized her disapproval and although the mistreatment never stopped entirely, their was a drastic change in the frequency in which it occurred. She’d made the rest of his tenure in high school tolerable and there would always be a soft spot in his heart for her because of that.
The years had changed him.
Time had been kind. He was a man of accomplishment now. A promising young lawyer fresh out of the NYU school of Law. The gym had definitely been his friend as told by his chiseled 6 foot, 200lb frame, that attracted its fair share of women. Most people probably wouldn’t even recognize him if they’d even cared to know who he was back then, but Gavin James felt that there was no changing the perception that Cordelia had gotten of him when they were younger; and it was because of that that he’d felt the need to suppress his feelings. He remembered the one time he’d almost been foolish enough to tell her how he truly felt about her. She’d just gotten back from a birthday trip to both Costa Rica and Panama and he’d invited her out, and he’d made the silly mistake of asking her if she’d gotten anything cool for her birthday.
There he was with a silly little Rose Gold bracelet from Kay’s in his pocket and there she was gushing about just how surprised she’d been when her friend Tj Jones gave her a Delorean. And how crazy the Bugatti that her friend Camila Martinez’s uncle had gotten her was. Cordelia wasn’t a materialistic woman. Gavin knew that, but it didn’t lessen the blow to his pride any. His soul had gotten crushed that night, and there couldn’t have possibly been a more harsh reality check, at least in his eyes. He surmised right then and there that there just wasn’t anything that he could do for her. He was a paralegal, struggling through law school, and she? She was upper echelon. He didn’t know what to do with that. If only he’d realized that none of that mattered to her… but instead he foxholed himself into the role of friend. If he could be nothing more then at least he could be just as good of a friend as she’d always been to him, right?
And that was exactly why he was there in Louisville.
Playing his part of the supportive friend. They’d grown a lot closer in the past few months. A big part of that stemmed from Gavin making it his business to check in on Cordy and her sister while Cordy was hurt. He knew that it was a big night for her. He’d never been too big a fan of the sport, but after learning of her involvement in it a few years ago, he’d made sure to keep up with her and he’d watched as her career blossomed over the years. He knew that she was a big deal and her return to the ring was a big deal as well. Not only for her fans, but for Cordelia also.
Most people didn’t know how badly she craved getting back in there, but he did. It was something she’d spoken of rather often during the conversations they’d had when he’d check in on her, her sister and the new baby. Most people didn’t know the internal struggles she dealt with, wanting to get back to her career but wanting to be there for her sister at the same time and helping Alyssa adapt to becoming a teenage mother. Most people didn’t even know that that was why she’d stayed away from the ring for so long in the first place, because Cordelia wasn’t really the one to put her or her sister’s business out there like that.
But Gavin knew, and he’d watched as she’d settled into the role of caretaker with relative ease. But there was just always something that seemed to be missing. Cordelia had long been healed but as she’d often told him, the timing for her return to the ring however just hadn’t been right. Cordelia was no longer solely responsible for herself. The carefree lifestyle that she’d grown accustomed to had changed dramatically since she’d moved her pregnant adolescent sister into her home. She’d become a guardian, a provider and she no longer had just herself to think of. It was something that she took very seriously. She’d unselfishly postponed her dreams and wants to make sure that her sister and newborn nephew, Corey, were good. She’d given up so much over the course of the past few months, and not once did she complain… but tonight was about her, and knowing what it meant to her, Gavin had promised her that he wouldn’t miss it for the world.
”What? You’re going to Kentucky?” He remembered her asking in shock, and giving him a disbelieving side eye. He’d only laughed and shrugged. ‘You really think I’d miss the great Cordy Stevenson returning to the ring?” He remembered asking. He’d been dead ass serious, but due to the nature of the conversation, he could tell by the look on her face that night that she hadn’t fully believed him. But as she made her way towards him, he could see her face light up when she saw him. It was definitely one of the most beautiful things he’d ever seen.
“Gaaaavvvv, you really came?!” She squealed, surprised that he’d kept his word.
“I told you I was, right?” He said with a smile as he opened his arms up to her for a hug. “And I see that someone hasn’t lost a step at all.”
Her cheeks flushed a bright red as she dipped her head down. “Dan was on it tonight, wasn’t he?” She replied, acknowledging her partner’s splendid performance.
Gavin nodded, smirking at her deflection of his comment. She did have her moments of modesty. “That he was, but that wasn’t who I was talking about, Cordy. He rebuttaled, playfully emphasizing her name as he embraced her.
”Oh, you were talking about me not losing a step? “ she inquired with a raise of her eyebrow, knowing damn well who he meant. “Maybe not, but I definitely wasn’t as crisp as I should have been.” She critiqued honestly with a shrug. “A whole lot of kinks that need to be worked out, but that’s to be expected after such a long time away from the ring, right?”
He shrugged. “Hell, you would know that better than I would. But how’d it feel though? Being back out there again?”
The question prompted the most radiant smile as she pondered it. Finally after a moment of contemplation, she let out a deep breath as a look of contentment washed over her. “It felt amazing. I really missed it.” She admitted, her voice low and sincere. “The energy from the crowd… there’s nothing like it, Gav.” she gushed, closing her eyes as if reliving the moment in her head and genuinely sounding like a woman in love with what she did. “It’s just so hard to explain.”
The crazy thing was that she didn’t even need to. The glow on her face said it all.
“Well, the fans definitely missed you guys. I swear I think I’m partially deaf in one ear now. They lost their damn minds when you guys came out!” He joked, covering up one of his ears.
“Oh they lost their minds? So you weren’t out there cheering too?” She questioned, giving him a side eye. Gav waved her off.
“Come on now, you know me Deal.” He said, calling her by his nickname for her as he grabbed her duffel bag from her as they started towards the exit of the Broadbent Arena. “I keep it calm, cool, and collected at all times.” He lied, with a smirk.
“So I guess that explains why you’re losing your voice then?” she noted, pointing out the hoarseness in it.
He tried to play it off. “Nah, I’m just coming down with a cold or something.” He quipped back causing both of them to laugh.
“A cold or something, huh? Now I feel all extra special.” she jested with a wave of her hand. “You’re sick and stuff and you came all this way for little old me? At least you got to see me and Dan pick up that W then. It would sucked if you came all this way just to see us lose.” She said, crinkling up her nose.
“Yeah it would’ve.” he retorted. “But I wasn’t even worried about that. From what I understand, you don’t lose much anyway.”
It was hard for her to contain her smile after hearing that. “Well, let’s just hope that pattern continues in two weeks. It’s definitely going to be a tough one.” She frowned, sounding a bit worried. “One of the dudes is a friggin giant.”
Gavin laughed. “You’re exaggerating.”
“Six ten, three hundred pounds.” She quickly blurted out Grendel’s stats to correct him. His eyes widened.
“Damn you weren’t lying.” He said, momentarily fearing for her safety. “But you got it.” he said, trying to be encouraging.
She nodded. “It’s definitely going to be a tall order.” A brief hesitation. “No pun intended.”
“Well, if there’s anyone that can find a way… it’s you. I’m pretty much convinced that you’re capable of doing just about anything.” he said warmly, momentarily gazing into those endearing pretty brown eyes.
She blushed, and averted his gaze. “Thanks, Gav.” They continued walking, finally hitting the exit. “Say, where are we even going anyway?” She asked, realizing that his surprise visit had spurned no set destinations.
“The hell if I know. I ain’t ever been to Louisville before.” The truth was he honestly didn’t care either. Just as long as it was time spent with her. “I’m following your lead. Just make sure that it has food and that I can wear this dope ass shirt there.” He said, unzipping his jacket and allowing her to see what he was wearing for the first time.
“Oh my God!” She exclaimed, covering up her face in embarrassment at the sight of the infamous “I was Friendzoned by Cordelia Stevenson” T-Shirt by XCVIII Apparel. Her extreme pickiness when it pertained to dating had become somewhat of a punchline over the years, and that T-Shirt company had run with it; generating what was indeed one of her most popular pieces of merchandise.
She laughed and Gavin did too on the outside. Only on the outside though.
Cause that shirt was just too damn real.
Louisville, KY
Be cool, man. He chastised himself in his head as he slowly let out a deep sigh. His heart lowkey fluttered and skipped about a few beats as he saw her casually strolling down the corridor towards him. One would think that after knowing someone for damn near a decade, you’d get accustomed to being around that person — but that just wasn’t the case for Gavin James when it pertained to his long time friend, Cordelia Stevenson. There was always this resounding uneasiness that settled in whenever he was in her presence, without a doubt the byproduct of the near decade crush he’d had on her. He’d hid it well over the years though. Mostly out of fear; and mostly due to his feelings of inadequacy.
Because Cordelia Stevenson was out of his league.
She’d never said anything of the sort, nor would she ever. Gavin knew her and he knew damn well that she wasn’t the type to. Yet some things didn’t need to be said, and just because they were never verbalized or acknowledged, didn’t mean they were any less valid. The truth of the matter was, this wasn’t a conclusion that Cordelia had drawn at all. If only he’d taken the time to truly decipher the signs… but in life, the most impenetrable walls are usually the ones constructed by our own minds, and Gavin James too was a victim of this, although his were more of a defense mechanism than anything. The mind is often heralded as man’s greatest weapon, inversely, it can also be man’s greatest enemy as well. Though he was a far cry from the unorthodox, scrawny and awkward youth that was constantly bullied and picked on during his days attending Freeport High, Gavin couldn’t shake the feeling that that was all he’d ever be in Cordelia’s eyes; the unpopular dork that she constantly had to stand up for and defend.
Cordelia always walked to the beat of her own drum, and it was what he’d always admired about her. Especially back during those days, when they were probably the most impressionable in their teenage years — it would have been so easy for her to simply go with the flow, and to pretend that he was nothing, just as everyone else around them did. But she hadn’t. She was an athlete, extremely popular and well known not only for her athletic feats, but her academic prowess as well but more than that she had the personable personality that everyone gravitated towards and wanted to be around.
To someone like her, Gavin should have been invisible, but she’d always let him know that he was seen — even when everyone else had made him want to disappear.
She saw the way that everyone else treated him and instead of following suit, she reached out to him. She stood up for him, and even more than that, she became his friend. She vocalized her disapproval and although the mistreatment never stopped entirely, their was a drastic change in the frequency in which it occurred. She’d made the rest of his tenure in high school tolerable and there would always be a soft spot in his heart for her because of that.
The years had changed him.
Time had been kind. He was a man of accomplishment now. A promising young lawyer fresh out of the NYU school of Law. The gym had definitely been his friend as told by his chiseled 6 foot, 200lb frame, that attracted its fair share of women. Most people probably wouldn’t even recognize him if they’d even cared to know who he was back then, but Gavin James felt that there was no changing the perception that Cordelia had gotten of him when they were younger; and it was because of that that he’d felt the need to suppress his feelings. He remembered the one time he’d almost been foolish enough to tell her how he truly felt about her. She’d just gotten back from a birthday trip to both Costa Rica and Panama and he’d invited her out, and he’d made the silly mistake of asking her if she’d gotten anything cool for her birthday.
There he was with a silly little Rose Gold bracelet from Kay’s in his pocket and there she was gushing about just how surprised she’d been when her friend Tj Jones gave her a Delorean. And how crazy the Bugatti that her friend Camila Martinez’s uncle had gotten her was. Cordelia wasn’t a materialistic woman. Gavin knew that, but it didn’t lessen the blow to his pride any. His soul had gotten crushed that night, and there couldn’t have possibly been a more harsh reality check, at least in his eyes. He surmised right then and there that there just wasn’t anything that he could do for her. He was a paralegal, struggling through law school, and she? She was upper echelon. He didn’t know what to do with that. If only he’d realized that none of that mattered to her… but instead he foxholed himself into the role of friend. If he could be nothing more then at least he could be just as good of a friend as she’d always been to him, right?
And that was exactly why he was there in Louisville.
Playing his part of the supportive friend. They’d grown a lot closer in the past few months. A big part of that stemmed from Gavin making it his business to check in on Cordy and her sister while Cordy was hurt. He knew that it was a big night for her. He’d never been too big a fan of the sport, but after learning of her involvement in it a few years ago, he’d made sure to keep up with her and he’d watched as her career blossomed over the years. He knew that she was a big deal and her return to the ring was a big deal as well. Not only for her fans, but for Cordelia also.
Most people didn’t know how badly she craved getting back in there, but he did. It was something she’d spoken of rather often during the conversations they’d had when he’d check in on her, her sister and the new baby. Most people didn’t know the internal struggles she dealt with, wanting to get back to her career but wanting to be there for her sister at the same time and helping Alyssa adapt to becoming a teenage mother. Most people didn’t even know that that was why she’d stayed away from the ring for so long in the first place, because Cordelia wasn’t really the one to put her or her sister’s business out there like that.
But Gavin knew, and he’d watched as she’d settled into the role of caretaker with relative ease. But there was just always something that seemed to be missing. Cordelia had long been healed but as she’d often told him, the timing for her return to the ring however just hadn’t been right. Cordelia was no longer solely responsible for herself. The carefree lifestyle that she’d grown accustomed to had changed dramatically since she’d moved her pregnant adolescent sister into her home. She’d become a guardian, a provider and she no longer had just herself to think of. It was something that she took very seriously. She’d unselfishly postponed her dreams and wants to make sure that her sister and newborn nephew, Corey, were good. She’d given up so much over the course of the past few months, and not once did she complain… but tonight was about her, and knowing what it meant to her, Gavin had promised her that he wouldn’t miss it for the world.
”What? You’re going to Kentucky?” He remembered her asking in shock, and giving him a disbelieving side eye. He’d only laughed and shrugged. ‘You really think I’d miss the great Cordy Stevenson returning to the ring?” He remembered asking. He’d been dead ass serious, but due to the nature of the conversation, he could tell by the look on her face that night that she hadn’t fully believed him. But as she made her way towards him, he could see her face light up when she saw him. It was definitely one of the most beautiful things he’d ever seen.
“Gaaaavvvv, you really came?!” She squealed, surprised that he’d kept his word.
“I told you I was, right?” He said with a smile as he opened his arms up to her for a hug. “And I see that someone hasn’t lost a step at all.”
Her cheeks flushed a bright red as she dipped her head down. “Dan was on it tonight, wasn’t he?” She replied, acknowledging her partner’s splendid performance.
Gavin nodded, smirking at her deflection of his comment. She did have her moments of modesty. “That he was, but that wasn’t who I was talking about, Cordy. He rebuttaled, playfully emphasizing her name as he embraced her.
”Oh, you were talking about me not losing a step? “ she inquired with a raise of her eyebrow, knowing damn well who he meant. “Maybe not, but I definitely wasn’t as crisp as I should have been.” She critiqued honestly with a shrug. “A whole lot of kinks that need to be worked out, but that’s to be expected after such a long time away from the ring, right?”
He shrugged. “Hell, you would know that better than I would. But how’d it feel though? Being back out there again?”
The question prompted the most radiant smile as she pondered it. Finally after a moment of contemplation, she let out a deep breath as a look of contentment washed over her. “It felt amazing. I really missed it.” She admitted, her voice low and sincere. “The energy from the crowd… there’s nothing like it, Gav.” she gushed, closing her eyes as if reliving the moment in her head and genuinely sounding like a woman in love with what she did. “It’s just so hard to explain.”
The crazy thing was that she didn’t even need to. The glow on her face said it all.
“Well, the fans definitely missed you guys. I swear I think I’m partially deaf in one ear now. They lost their damn minds when you guys came out!” He joked, covering up one of his ears.
“Oh they lost their minds? So you weren’t out there cheering too?” She questioned, giving him a side eye. Gav waved her off.
“Come on now, you know me Deal.” He said, calling her by his nickname for her as he grabbed her duffel bag from her as they started towards the exit of the Broadbent Arena. “I keep it calm, cool, and collected at all times.” He lied, with a smirk.
“So I guess that explains why you’re losing your voice then?” she noted, pointing out the hoarseness in it.
He tried to play it off. “Nah, I’m just coming down with a cold or something.” He quipped back causing both of them to laugh.
“A cold or something, huh? Now I feel all extra special.” she jested with a wave of her hand. “You’re sick and stuff and you came all this way for little old me? At least you got to see me and Dan pick up that W then. It would sucked if you came all this way just to see us lose.” She said, crinkling up her nose.
“Yeah it would’ve.” he retorted. “But I wasn’t even worried about that. From what I understand, you don’t lose much anyway.”
It was hard for her to contain her smile after hearing that. “Well, let’s just hope that pattern continues in two weeks. It’s definitely going to be a tough one.” She frowned, sounding a bit worried. “One of the dudes is a friggin giant.”
Gavin laughed. “You’re exaggerating.”
“Six ten, three hundred pounds.” She quickly blurted out Grendel’s stats to correct him. His eyes widened.
“Damn you weren’t lying.” He said, momentarily fearing for her safety. “But you got it.” he said, trying to be encouraging.
She nodded. “It’s definitely going to be a tall order.” A brief hesitation. “No pun intended.”
“Well, if there’s anyone that can find a way… it’s you. I’m pretty much convinced that you’re capable of doing just about anything.” he said warmly, momentarily gazing into those endearing pretty brown eyes.
She blushed, and averted his gaze. “Thanks, Gav.” They continued walking, finally hitting the exit. “Say, where are we even going anyway?” She asked, realizing that his surprise visit had spurned no set destinations.
“The hell if I know. I ain’t ever been to Louisville before.” The truth was he honestly didn’t care either. Just as long as it was time spent with her. “I’m following your lead. Just make sure that it has food and that I can wear this dope ass shirt there.” He said, unzipping his jacket and allowing her to see what he was wearing for the first time.
“Oh my God!” She exclaimed, covering up her face in embarrassment at the sight of the infamous “I was Friendzoned by Cordelia Stevenson” T-Shirt by XCVIII Apparel. Her extreme pickiness when it pertained to dating had become somewhat of a punchline over the years, and that T-Shirt company had run with it; generating what was indeed one of her most popular pieces of merchandise.
She laughed and Gavin did too on the outside. Only on the outside though.
Cause that shirt was just too damn real.
*****
Some things will just never get old to me.
Or at least that’s what I’d like to believe when it pertains to this business, but deep down in my heart, I know that isn’t true. Seeing Cindy retire made that real to me in so many ways maaannn, because if there was anyone that loved this business as much as I did, God knows it was her.
It was one of the many things that brought us together, that just made us click on an entirely different level. There was just always a certain enthusiasm that we shared for this business -- and maybe that was because it was all so brand new to us back then; a level of naivete if you will. The world always seems like a brighter place when you’re staring at it through Rose Colored glasses, right?
But the business changes, and as time goes on I realize that so do the people in it. And I saw the changes in Cyn. Maybe she didn’t know that I did, but all the conversations that we’ve had as of late… I could just tell that the enthusiasm had died out.
I watched as this business went from being her passion… to just another job.
And when she’d first mentioned the thought of retirement to me way back when… I knew that the fire was gone.
This business just didn’t look the same to her anymore. Somehow it lost its luster and it just didn’t give her the same feeling that it once did. Somewhere along the line things had changed.
I’ve often heard that it’s something that most of us will go through. One day we’ll step back and we’ll see the business as something other than what we fell in love with. It’ll be like a fading relationship, and the realization that comes the moment the blinders of love are removed. One minute you’re so in love and the next you’re left wondering just exactly what the hell were you thinking in the first place and what took you so long to leave.
Will I ever fall out of love with this business?
Will it eventually rear an ugly head that I will no longer care to face.
I’ll be completely honest. There was a point when I thought that it had.
Maybe it was the workings of a frustrated soul. Or the conjurings of a heavily medicated mind. But I remember so clearly being laid up in Massachusetts General Hospital thinking that I was done. Not because of the disheartening words that the doctors had for me; and not because I’d once again fractured my ankle and knew the long and grueling recovery process that awaited me. No, I thought that I was done simply because I felt no desire to rush back.
And that was a big change for me. Considering how things had panned out the first time I broke my ankle back in 2013? There was nothing I wanted more than to get back into the ring. It drove me absolutely crazy knowing that I couldn’t. Cindy and I had just made it through a tumultuous time in our friendship and had regained our tag team titles, and it absolutely killed me to know that I couldn’t get back to fight beside her. I was eager to get back. But as I laid there in Massachusetts General last September…my return to the ring was not my highest priority, and sadly enough I misconstrued that initial feeling of indifference for something that it wasn’t.
You see, the woman lying in that hospital bed was not the same woman from 2013, and at first — that was what I failed to realize. Back then? The only thing I had to worry about, the only concern I had, was my career. But that isn’t the case anymore, and the realization that I loved something just as much, if not more than this business made me believe that this business wasn’t in my heart the way that it used to be.
But I was wrong.
It didn’t take me long to figure it out, and Louisville only solidified what I’ve come to understand. My love for this business is just as strong as it has ever been, and that rush I usually get whenever my music hits? Well it was just as potent as ever. A high like no other. It hasn’t gotten old to me yet and truthfully I don’t think that it will for a very long time.
But do you know what else hasn’t gotten old to me yet?
Humbling narcissistic assholes that think they’re re-inventing the wheel with their mere existence.
Newsflash, Aries Reed… you are now what Tony Carmine was in 2014.
That only means you’ve got a long way to go before I can ever take you seriously.
Confidence is sexy. I love that in a man. But arrogance where it’s not at least warranted only makes you look extremely foolish. But then again, that’s not something completely unfamiliar to you, is it, Aries? I mean, isn’t that what Nero made you look like for about two months straight? Truth be told, you seem to play the role quite well and it’s apparent you’ve got no intentions of shirking it anytime soon. And here I was under the assumption that you were looking for a fresh start… well ain’t much changed from San Diego, amigo.
You’ve fallen right back into the same routine it seems. The same old song and dance but that performance still ain’t quite up to par like it was hyped to be. That bothers me. You know why? Because it’s not as if you’re lacking talent. Physically, you’re one of the most gifted athletes I’ve seen step into the ring in quite some time, but your hubris prevents you from making the necessary changes to be great, because you’re under the false impression that you’re already a finished product.
You’re far from it.
And you best believe that Dan and I are going to make it apparently clear at Vertigo.
But I’m not here to belittle you, Aries. I only want to bring out the best in you. Let me be your motivation. This is a ‘show me’ business, sweetheart. Do you know what that even means? It means you can talk the talk all you goddamn well please, but you get nowhere if you can’t walk the walk. Your mouth has run a full on marathon from the moment you first walked in through the FGA doors, but you’ve barely even begun to crawl. Actions speak louder than words. The things you do ring far louder than the any of the words that precede them, and quite frankly you’re on mute right now.
If only your mouth could match.
You’re a vat of potential that I’m just hoping doesn’t eventually go to waste amidst the self-perpetuated hype and propaganda that you continuously fail to live up to. I want you to be the best you can be, Aries, and I only want to bring out the best in your partner as well, because competition, true competition will bring out the best in any true competitor. Many have heralded you guys as the tag team that will lead this company’s tag division for years to come, and I can definitely see it.
But first, we’ll see how you fare against the Status Quo.
I said that I came back for a challenge right? Well there isn’t a doubt in my mind that you guys will provide one for us. According to the overall consensus, you two are the biggest obstacles in our path. And holy hell, taking one look at Grendel? I think they may have meant that in a literal sense. He just might be the biggest challenge that I or Dan have ever had to stare down in the ring, but you won’t see us backing down, nor will you see us running. I guarantee it. It’s just not in our DNA.
Lord knows we’ve got our work cut out for us, but you want to know something? Dan and I? We're up for the task. If there’s any team that can solve the problem that you present, then it’s Dan and myself. And I personally look forward to bringing you to your knees. It won’t be the first time that a woman has brought forth the downfall of a strong man.
Word to Samson and Delilah.
I’ve said this countless times before, but allow me to reiterate this for ya. I ain’t ever been afraid of the boogeyman, and I was taught to never fear a man if he can bleed just like you. There’s no denying that you’re a monster, Grendel. But a monster just isn’t as scary if it doesn’t put fear in your heart, and there’s clearly a vacancy where that fear is supposed to be, sweetheart.
Keep looking for it though. The only thing you’ll find is disappointment.
Shades of San Diego all over again.
It seems that our road through the Dynamic Duos tournament will be painted with a lot of FGA’s youngblood. I don’t mind it at all to be honest with you. It’s a test that will only benefit us all in the long run. I guess you can consider it an initiation of sorts for them. Team Nox went through it, and now the Blood Brothers will too.
But I will say this now, all this talk of REVOLUTION and change and the ushering in of new eras… I’m not even trying to hear that noise.
Grendel, Aries? You may very well be the future of this company gentleman, but Dan and I?
We’re the here and now.
And I highly suggest you, Get Familiar.
Or at least that’s what I’d like to believe when it pertains to this business, but deep down in my heart, I know that isn’t true. Seeing Cindy retire made that real to me in so many ways maaannn, because if there was anyone that loved this business as much as I did, God knows it was her.
It was one of the many things that brought us together, that just made us click on an entirely different level. There was just always a certain enthusiasm that we shared for this business -- and maybe that was because it was all so brand new to us back then; a level of naivete if you will. The world always seems like a brighter place when you’re staring at it through Rose Colored glasses, right?
But the business changes, and as time goes on I realize that so do the people in it. And I saw the changes in Cyn. Maybe she didn’t know that I did, but all the conversations that we’ve had as of late… I could just tell that the enthusiasm had died out.
I watched as this business went from being her passion… to just another job.
And when she’d first mentioned the thought of retirement to me way back when… I knew that the fire was gone.
This business just didn’t look the same to her anymore. Somehow it lost its luster and it just didn’t give her the same feeling that it once did. Somewhere along the line things had changed.
I’ve often heard that it’s something that most of us will go through. One day we’ll step back and we’ll see the business as something other than what we fell in love with. It’ll be like a fading relationship, and the realization that comes the moment the blinders of love are removed. One minute you’re so in love and the next you’re left wondering just exactly what the hell were you thinking in the first place and what took you so long to leave.
Will I ever fall out of love with this business?
Will it eventually rear an ugly head that I will no longer care to face.
I’ll be completely honest. There was a point when I thought that it had.
Maybe it was the workings of a frustrated soul. Or the conjurings of a heavily medicated mind. But I remember so clearly being laid up in Massachusetts General Hospital thinking that I was done. Not because of the disheartening words that the doctors had for me; and not because I’d once again fractured my ankle and knew the long and grueling recovery process that awaited me. No, I thought that I was done simply because I felt no desire to rush back.
And that was a big change for me. Considering how things had panned out the first time I broke my ankle back in 2013? There was nothing I wanted more than to get back into the ring. It drove me absolutely crazy knowing that I couldn’t. Cindy and I had just made it through a tumultuous time in our friendship and had regained our tag team titles, and it absolutely killed me to know that I couldn’t get back to fight beside her. I was eager to get back. But as I laid there in Massachusetts General last September…my return to the ring was not my highest priority, and sadly enough I misconstrued that initial feeling of indifference for something that it wasn’t.
You see, the woman lying in that hospital bed was not the same woman from 2013, and at first — that was what I failed to realize. Back then? The only thing I had to worry about, the only concern I had, was my career. But that isn’t the case anymore, and the realization that I loved something just as much, if not more than this business made me believe that this business wasn’t in my heart the way that it used to be.
But I was wrong.
It didn’t take me long to figure it out, and Louisville only solidified what I’ve come to understand. My love for this business is just as strong as it has ever been, and that rush I usually get whenever my music hits? Well it was just as potent as ever. A high like no other. It hasn’t gotten old to me yet and truthfully I don’t think that it will for a very long time.
But do you know what else hasn’t gotten old to me yet?
Humbling narcissistic assholes that think they’re re-inventing the wheel with their mere existence.
Newsflash, Aries Reed… you are now what Tony Carmine was in 2014.
That only means you’ve got a long way to go before I can ever take you seriously.
Confidence is sexy. I love that in a man. But arrogance where it’s not at least warranted only makes you look extremely foolish. But then again, that’s not something completely unfamiliar to you, is it, Aries? I mean, isn’t that what Nero made you look like for about two months straight? Truth be told, you seem to play the role quite well and it’s apparent you’ve got no intentions of shirking it anytime soon. And here I was under the assumption that you were looking for a fresh start… well ain’t much changed from San Diego, amigo.
You’ve fallen right back into the same routine it seems. The same old song and dance but that performance still ain’t quite up to par like it was hyped to be. That bothers me. You know why? Because it’s not as if you’re lacking talent. Physically, you’re one of the most gifted athletes I’ve seen step into the ring in quite some time, but your hubris prevents you from making the necessary changes to be great, because you’re under the false impression that you’re already a finished product.
You’re far from it.
And you best believe that Dan and I are going to make it apparently clear at Vertigo.
But I’m not here to belittle you, Aries. I only want to bring out the best in you. Let me be your motivation. This is a ‘show me’ business, sweetheart. Do you know what that even means? It means you can talk the talk all you goddamn well please, but you get nowhere if you can’t walk the walk. Your mouth has run a full on marathon from the moment you first walked in through the FGA doors, but you’ve barely even begun to crawl. Actions speak louder than words. The things you do ring far louder than the any of the words that precede them, and quite frankly you’re on mute right now.
If only your mouth could match.
You’re a vat of potential that I’m just hoping doesn’t eventually go to waste amidst the self-perpetuated hype and propaganda that you continuously fail to live up to. I want you to be the best you can be, Aries, and I only want to bring out the best in your partner as well, because competition, true competition will bring out the best in any true competitor. Many have heralded you guys as the tag team that will lead this company’s tag division for years to come, and I can definitely see it.
But first, we’ll see how you fare against the Status Quo.
I said that I came back for a challenge right? Well there isn’t a doubt in my mind that you guys will provide one for us. According to the overall consensus, you two are the biggest obstacles in our path. And holy hell, taking one look at Grendel? I think they may have meant that in a literal sense. He just might be the biggest challenge that I or Dan have ever had to stare down in the ring, but you won’t see us backing down, nor will you see us running. I guarantee it. It’s just not in our DNA.
Lord knows we’ve got our work cut out for us, but you want to know something? Dan and I? We're up for the task. If there’s any team that can solve the problem that you present, then it’s Dan and myself. And I personally look forward to bringing you to your knees. It won’t be the first time that a woman has brought forth the downfall of a strong man.
Word to Samson and Delilah.
I’ve said this countless times before, but allow me to reiterate this for ya. I ain’t ever been afraid of the boogeyman, and I was taught to never fear a man if he can bleed just like you. There’s no denying that you’re a monster, Grendel. But a monster just isn’t as scary if it doesn’t put fear in your heart, and there’s clearly a vacancy where that fear is supposed to be, sweetheart.
Keep looking for it though. The only thing you’ll find is disappointment.
Shades of San Diego all over again.
It seems that our road through the Dynamic Duos tournament will be painted with a lot of FGA’s youngblood. I don’t mind it at all to be honest with you. It’s a test that will only benefit us all in the long run. I guess you can consider it an initiation of sorts for them. Team Nox went through it, and now the Blood Brothers will too.
But I will say this now, all this talk of REVOLUTION and change and the ushering in of new eras… I’m not even trying to hear that noise.
Grendel, Aries? You may very well be the future of this company gentleman, but Dan and I?
We’re the here and now.
And I highly suggest you, Get Familiar.
