ASN RP: A Second Chance

Part 1: Training Day

Soaring Eagle’s Wrestling School. The last time I was here, I had a nervous breakdown. It had been five years before that time since I had been there, so to say at that point I had a high amount of emotions running. But I’ve since calmed down since last month. I’ve visited the gym at least once a week since that visit, and have even opened the gym back up for business.

Today however, was a different day today. In the evening, I was scheduled to teach a clinic to teens. But here it was, 5 AM. And I’m here. I can only ask myself why, and at the same time, I’m the only one that knows the answer. It’s simple:

Ascension: Gateway to Opportunity.

It is the match that I am booked for at the PPV. I’m well aware of the circumstances. I’ve been in the match before. I know what I need to do. Last time, I wasn’t prepared. I’ll be damned if I get caught off guard this time.

The air was crisp, cool, but a sense better weather to come as I showed up at the gym. I was supposed to meet a partner of mine. After my visit, I looked up another one of Robbie’s former students, and a long time training partner of mine, Mark McMillian. Where he could be, it’s hard to say, but I awaited. It was kind of foggy but I could see a car park behind mine on the street. The car turned it’s lights off. Through the fog I couldn’t tell who it was as he stepped out of the vehicle.

Who the hell is this?

He walked up the street towards me. As the fog grew thinner, I was able to catch a better glimpse of who he was. He was a medium build man, about my height. He had long hair past his shoulders. He was walking toward me with a purpose. I clinched my fists and was looking for a fight. He stopped right in front of me. I was ready to fight. He had a look of anger on his face. Whoever this man was, he didn’t get very much sleep.

: You Josh Dean?

Yeah

: How the have you been?

Mark ?

Mark: Yeah er!

I smile stuck my hand out. Mark shook it and we pulled each other in for a hug. It had been five years since I’ve seen him. It was cool to be reunited with one of my old training partner. I took the keys out of my pocket and opened the door and Mark and I walked in the gym. I closed the door and turned on the lights. The room lit up and Mark was astonished.

Mark: Damn. The place hasn’t missed a beat. Five years since Robbie died and I figured that the place would’ve went down the ****ter, but you’ve done well to keep it up.

I knew that is what Robbie would’ve wanted.

Mark: So why did you call me to come train with you? And at five in the morning. The clinic isn’t supposed to be until two.

Because, I need to get my edge back, Mark. I need to go back to the basics. So come on, let’s get started.

Mark: Ok.

Mark and I first started out by doing some quick stretching. That helped get the blood flowing. I was using the time to think about things that had transpired, the last Gateway of Opportunity match.



It burned in my memory. It still haunted me to this day. So slow to recover from the pin. Reckless could’ve waited five more seconds, and probably still got me. I couldn’t think of that anymore. I had to think about my opponents for Ascension. Horror…………….Seraph……………..and Malice.

So old man, you ready to hit the ring.

Mark: Old man? **** son, I’ll show you a thing or two.

Mark and I climbed into the ring. Ah, it feels like the old days, I can tell. When both of us were so hungry. We wanted to be the best. We charged in and locked up. I quickly locked Mark in a headlock. Mark tried to fight out of the headlock, and got a reverse into a headlock. I lifted Mark and tired to back suplex him, but he reversed into a headlock takedown. I quickly headscissored he kicked and got to his feet and we were at a stalemate. We quickly locked up again, and caught him with a forearm. Mark caught me back with a forearm to the temple. My head snapped back, and it was slightly painful. Mark came in and caught me in the chest with a stiff knife edge chop. I held my chest in pain, and it woke me up. That is one thing I remember most from working with Mark in the past, was the stiffness of his chops. I needed that. As I was thinking about the first chop, Mark lit me up with a second knife edge chop.

This one didn’t hurt as badly, because I was so numb from the first chop. Mark came in and drop to his knees and attempt to give me a fireman’s carry. I quickly bent my knee. I have to block it. Mark struggled and I caught him in a front chancory and both of us went back to a vertical base. I thought to myself, I have him, where should I take him. I decided to go to the corner. I shoved him back to the corner and made a clean break. Mark tried to sucker punch me, and I side stepped and took him down with an arm drag. Mark pulled to his feet and charged at me. I reversed him into the corner and I came charging in. Mark dodged out of the way. Oh **** turnbuckle. I jumped and landed on the turnbuckle and backflipped off in front of Mark. He charged in for a clothesline. Instinctively I ducked it and hoisted him to my shoulders. Mark tried to fight, but I threw him up, and powered him down with the Derailer. I sat there for a minute.

Then I stood up. I helped Mark to his feet. He was out of breath. So I grabbed a water bottle and tossed it to him. He looked at me with a smirk.

Mark: You are sharp man. Just like you always were. But why do you need to get your edge back?

It’s complicated. I guess you can say, when I’m on my game, I’m alert of all surroundings. The last time there was a Gateway to Opportunity match, I lost because I wasn’t aware that Reckless was behind me. I forgot my surroundings for that moment. I needed to regain my focus. Sometimes I guess you can say, an old friend can help you do that.

Mark: Yeah, they can. Look Josh, I’m gonna be honest. Why didn’t you come to Robbie’s funeral?

I thought about it for a minute. There was more than one reason of why I didn’t go to my trainer’s funeral. Reason’s I didn’t want to talk about. But I knew that I had to.

Mark, I was there with him, when he died. Robbie was like a father figure to me. He raised me. And we were fifteen at the time. Fifteen. Things like that aren’t supposed to happen to us. But it did. I guess you can say that there is a part of me, that don’t want to believe it’s real. That he is really gone.

I looked at my long time friend. He can tell that talking about our former trainer bothered me. He can tell that no matter how much I tried to hold it back. I can’t.

Mark: Look Josh, we were fifteen at the time, yeah. But we couldn’t prevent what happened. No one could’ve. And trying to suppress it inside isn’t going to help. Josh you eventually need to go. Go to his grave. Get some closure. Heal. This anger that you hold on yourself is not good.

I held my head low. I knew that he was right. But I didn’t want to go. I just wish this was a bad dream that I can wake up from. But it isn’t. We are in Robbie’s gym, but there was no Robbie there. Maybe it is time that I let go. Maybe it is time I heal. Maybe then I can move on.

Message to High Horror

Horror, you must have me mistaken, alas, I have only been here for a few months. But Horror, mistake aside, you have caught my attention with what you have said about me. Fruit cake, boy. I got admit, it made me laugh. Horror, I have been in a match of this caliber before, and I was unsuccessful. But it has only made me stronger. It has only made me more hungry. I need this win. I need it to make things right. You and I, we are more alike than you think. We both are riding a lot with this match. We both are on the cusp of being full time members of Felo De Se.

I’ve had a few matches on Felo De Se, and it only make me crave more. Horror, when you signed the clipboard Horror, you had to ask yourself this: “Do I have enough to get it done?” Can I make it through three other hungry competitors and gain a spot. You asked yourself that, because you have a 25 percent chance of winning this match, just like any of the others in this match . You are right as well, someone’s fortune will change in this match. What can you do to make it happen for you?

Message to Seraph

Seraph, I don’t know you. But from what I’ve been told, you like to make people pay for their sins. Well, my recollection of the past should really make you want to make me pay for my sins. Did I kill my trainer, no I didn’t. But I’ve held a grudge with myself for too long. I’ve held hatred in my heart for so long against my own self that I can’t sometimes sleep. But I’m coming to terms with the fact that I couldn’t help what happen. No one could.

But this isn’t about you making me pay for my sins. It’s about the match. Seraph, no one has seen or heard from you in weeks, what you are doing. It’s hard to say really. But think about what’s at stake here. Are you really focused? Are you really focused on the match, and getting a golden chance to shine on world wide pay per view. God wants his children to use their talents to glorify him. I learned this from church sermons that my aunt had me go to with her, before she died. God has given you a gift, a gift of being a good athlete, but it is up to you, what you use it for. What will your choice be?

Message to Johnny Malice

Malice, I look at you, and I see a man, chomping at the bit to make himself known the masses. I’ve watched the film on you, and I must say, you are very talented indeed. But talent can only get you so far. There has to be the part of you that is got that confidence to be able to make a bold move, take that risk to get what you want. Do you have that? Or do you sit at home and doubt yourself. That is something you got ask yourself.

In conclusion gentleman, this Gateway of Opportunity is a chance for all of us. For you, it is a first chance. For me, it is a second, and possibly, a last chance to make an impact. To get myself on Felo De Se. This is MY SECOND CHANCE, to make that ever lasting first impression. I have tasted defeat in WFWF before, and I didn’t like it. It made me crazy. It set off something inside of me that I should’ve let stay buried. I will win this match, not because I’m necessarily better than each of you, but because I have to win this match. Failure is not an option at this point for me. Which means that failure is something that you three will just have to accept. Think about it, because the Franchise has SPOKEN!