Reflection

[Dan Herrera]

Follow effective action with quiet reflection. 

From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.

~Peter Drucker~

[ Begin Scene I | Touring ]

[ Setting: Knoxville Wrestling Institute ]

[ Location: Knoxville, Tennessee ]

[ Cast: Dan Herrera, ‘Howlin Mad’ Murdock ]

(Walking around the Knoxville Wrestling Institute Facility, I thought back to the earliest days of Global Division of Wrestling. The training facility specifically came to mind. So long ago, but I can still remember the fresh batch of recruits coming in working their ass off in hopes of turning Global Division of Wrestling into something special. “Howlin Mad” Murdock was one of them. And here I am now, walking the training ground he was trained in and now turned around training others it. It was almost overwhelming how full circle we’ve all come in nearly twenty years. I saw Murdock up ahead and I walked over to him after thanking another long time friend, Jeremy Johnson, for the tour.)

Dan Herrera: Murdock!

(Walking over he turned around hearing my voice. I put my arms out wide as did he and we embraced patting each other on the back.)

Murdock: Well I’ll be damned. Didn’t expect you til later today man.

(I shrugged.)

Dan Herrera: Well, you know me. I like to be early, old business habits die hard.

Murdock: That they do. Especially for you huh?

(He reached over slapping me on the shoulder. I laughed before the thought of his newborn child popped into my head.)

Dan Herrera: How’s your little boy doing man? Cole right?

Murdock: Yep. The little man is doing great. Never thought I’d be a dad, but damn if it wasn’t worth it. He brightens my day. Little man’s gonna make a hell of a wrestler.

(He winked at me and we both laughed. I knew it was a joke, but the inevitability of it all made it even funnier. Wrestling was in his blood.)

Dan Herrera: I don’t doubt it, man.

(Murdock nods as I finish speaking.)

Murdock: So what are you doing here man? Kind of surprised me when you said you were coming down to visit and get a tour.

Dan Herrera: Well, you know, I’ve just been reminiscing on my career in professional wrestling as a whole lately.

Murdock: Oh?

(He seemed surprised. But I’m not exactly sure why considering the fact that I know him and that he does the same all the time. He’s always known to miss the ring and hear it calling him back, even as a new father.)

Dan Herrera: You know what I’m talking about. Don’t play coy with me.

(We laugh.)

Dan Herrera: But yeah, just been through a lot both as an owner and as a wrestler combined. Fighting in this Dynamic Duos tournament with Cordy Stevenson has been one hell of a ride so far. And it’s got me thinking about my own humble beginnings in the late 90s and everything that’s ever gone on throughout GDW and FGA.

Murdock: You could fill about four books with GDW alone.

Dan Herrera: Add another one or two from FGA in there as well and you’ve got a nice anthology going. But seriously, just been thinking about how long I’ve been doing this and wondering just how close to the end I have to be.

(Murdock shakes his head and raises an eyebrow.)

Murdock: Thing about that, Dan, is that you’re only as close as you’re willing to allow yourself to be.

Dan Herrera: Yeah?

Murdock: Take me for example. I could be in the ring right now doing what I love and fighting at the top. I believe that with all my heart. But outside forces and pulls kept me from pursuing that path. But could I be there right now, I believe so. You’re only as close to being done as you want to be or as things around you make you out to be.

(I stop, thinking about his words for a moment.)

Dan Herrera: Yeah, I guess that’s very true. I ‘retired’ for a bit before coming back for this tournament. Sure, there was a bit of ring rust, but once it’s been shaken off, I don’t feel myself slowing down or slowed from before at all. The thing that continues to drive me is the fact that despite the fact I’ve been through most situations imaginable from both sides of the equation, there’s always something else ahead that I’ve never been a part of. I’ve never been a tag team wrestler, let alone champion. The idea of going on in this tournament and possibly winning the championships drives me. It’s a new chapter to my story that I really hope is allowed to be written.

Murdock: Well I know you Dan. I know that you’re going to do everything in your power to make sure that happens. And with a bit of luck from all the outside forces working against and for you… you just may be there holding those titles above your head when all is said and done.

Dan Herrera: Things just continue to get harder and harder as we go down the line. But of course, that’s the way I want it. If it were easy, then there’d be no point in doing it right? Getting past the point I was last year in this tournament will be a great step in the right direction.

Murdock: Almost there right?

Dan Herrera: Got a few more steps to go, but yeah. Seems like it’s within reach.

Murdock: Then reach out and take it Dan. I know you can do it. I’ve seen you do a lot of things no one thought you could.

(Smiling and nodding, I think back to some of the more enduring situations I’ve been put in during my career.)

Dan Herrera: You’re right man. That’s definitely a point that deserves pondering. I knew you were the man to talk to.

Murdock: I’m the man in general my friend.

(We both laugh.)

Dan Herrera: So I know I’m early, but how’s that lunch thing working out. You think you can go now?

Murdock: Sure thing. Bruce will cover classes for me. So we’re good. They could use a dose of Bruce’s “encouragement” today anyways. Little shits. Let’s go.

(We both began walking off towards the exit as Murdock yells out to Bruce letting him know he’s leaving. Bruce just waves him off as we head out the door. Murdock shakes his head and laughs as we head into the parking lot.)

[ End Scene I ]

---

[ Begin Promo I | Stutter ] 

Hold on, let me take off my jetpack before we get started here.

Okay, that’s better.

Here we are in the last of few evenings left before the third round of this dynamic duos tournament. Well… third round for some of us anyways. 

For others, they’ve only just warmed up to this tournament. After being allowed to watch from the sidelines the first week of the tournament, everyone appears to be in full swing now. Our opponent’s #RubyWay being one of those lagging behind are now warmed up and ready to go this week. 

But as I always said as a booker, you can’t make everyone happy. And as a wrestler, you have no say in booking. So as far as their time off, it’s not their fault. After all, they come into this tournament as an established team. One with the weight of the world on their shoulders to win a tournament like this. The kind of weight that me and Cordy are free of. The kind of weight that a team put together just before this tournament started doesn’t have to worry about contending with.

With the added pressure on your backs, and the freedom from expectation that we have working our way in that ring will be much easier for us. Plus the taste of victory, should we be able to lay out all our skills on the table and win, will be that much sweeter.

Kevin, Ruby, I know that you two are great wrestlers. I know you’ve done things in your careers that I can say that I have not despite the time that I’ve put into this sport. You two have found a way to work with each other in the ring and make tag team wrestling look like an art form. It’s not an easy feat to do, but you do it and make it look flawless.

But here’s the thing about that, in our two matches together… ever… me and Cordy have been doing the same thing. I’ve managed to look past the singles wrestling that I’ve always strived for and find a way to work well as a team. Cordy’s past experience as a tag team wrestler has brought me up to speed very quickly. It works. And as long as we both continue to stay on the same page, it will keep working. Which means that despite any belief from the outside that you two leave us as huge underdogs, this match will be much closer than many may believe. 

Put careers up against each other, and I believe that me and Cordy have the advantage. We’ve both done many things in FGA that have been applauded and the fans can attest to that by the very fact that when we show backup to an FGA arena they can’t help but cheer. They know us and they know our names. Kevin, you’re seen in a very similar fashion, I get that. You show up and your name is recognized instantly also. But what’s the crowd’s reaction to you showing up? I can sum it up for you. Mixed.

That’s because you’ve always straddled the fence on whether or not you wanted to be the good guy, or play the man crying foul at anything that hasn’t gone your way. 

I made a reference to a “jetpack” earlier. Why? Because you want to pretend that I somehow propelled myself to the top of this company without putting in the work to get there. You know what my record was or is in big PPV matches? 

Well, let’s just say it isn’t that great. 

But despite that fact, I still show up and show out everytime I get into that ring. And that fighting spirit and never quit attitude has endeared me to management and the fans alike. If you think me fighting Dom Harter and Jimmy Page for the World Championship was undeserved, I’d ask the 29 other people that were in that Gold Rush Rumble that I was a step away from winning if they felt I didn’t deserve the spot that I EARNED. 

You can envy the position I’m in and have been if you’d like. I won’t be mad about it. But don’t even try going around and saying that I haven’t worked for everything that I’ve ever fought for. I’m a businessman. I work. That’s all I know. That’s how I do business. Put in the work, get paid the dividends. 

Ruby, you seem like a decent person. So I don’t hold any grudge against you. Kevin, despite the fact you want to say that I’ve been babied, or close to it in so many words, I don’t dislike you. But I plan on doing everything in my power to show you both first hand just how much my hard work pays off.

To show why when I’m put into an enviable position, it’s because I’ve earned it. 

You both may be wishing that you’d not have been given that bye by the time this match is over. Because me and Cordy are a snowball rolling down the mountain already. You’re in the path, and you can try to stop us, but the momentum may already be too much for you. 

If it isn’t, then you’ll truly earn my respect. 

But until then, I’ll keep working and preparing for this match like I do every match. And in the end, I’ll put it all on the line and we’ll see just how much you two may or may not deserve to advance over us.

I look forward to meeting you two in Fayetteville. Don’t mind the noise either, my home state can be quite rowdy. I’ll try to let them know to keep it down so you can concentrate, but I can only do so much. See you at Vertigo. 

Thank You, That is All.

[ End Promo ]