Post by Roger Wright on May 3, 2015 13:05:00 GMT -6
When you think about it, it really shouldn’t come as all that much of a surprise. However when one takes into account those asking the same questions over and over, they soon come to the realization that those people may not be the sharpest knives in the drawer. It is not my decision to belittle the people around me, to be honest I have tried to be quite the standup guy over the years. Yet there is always, always, a negative to being that guy. Maybe it is a little bit sad, or just downright depressing, but the old adage that you either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain is so true.
The only thing people like more than a good hero story is a good fall from grace. There is something emotional about a man losing everything, falling from his perch to the bottom, looking up at what he had only to find he is just like the normal man. That story pulls at our heartstrings, makes us smile, and reminds us that no matter how good someone has it, they can lose it all. In a way it lets us as people have that feeling that we can ascend to the top, that we can hold our heads up high one day and proclaim that we are the hero, because when one hero falls, another must take his place.
Let me just say this, this hero hasn’t fallen. Now I know that may come as a surprise to some, may even make others laugh, and yes I know it sounded corny as hell. Then again, isn’t what most of us say actually rather corny and trite. For years I heard all the things people said about me, called me weak, my time was over and I had peaked and was on the downside of my career. There was a short time there I believed it, listened to it and let it get to me. But then I did what people said was going to be impossible, I climbed the mountain, and three years after my last title reign, I became the five time NEW champion.
What does all this mean you ask? Well let’s take a walk down memory lane, be given a glimpse into the reality that is the NEW. Like all great wrestling organizations the NEW has had its shares of ups and downs. Right now some might say it is down, I think the NEW is just waiting for someone to come a long and pull it up by its shirt and take it where it wants to go. This business is about who is at the top, who is putting people in the seats and what those people represent.
There once was a time like this, a time when the NEW needed someone to get it over the hump, to make it the great wrestling company it can be. That was back in 2010, oddly enough around this time of year. The NEW had just seen the NEW title fall into the hands of Kaden Cedrik. Terrordome was around the corner, and like today, the NEW was in desperate need of someone to put the company on their back and carry it to greatness. That someone was a little known man coming out of one of the best feuds the NEW had seen.
Yes that man was me, and yes I went to terrordome and won the NEW title, and yes I brought that title and this company the respectability that it needed. It is what I have always done, when this company needs someone to step up, someone to put it on their back, I am that man. Just like when Matthew Carter won the title from Molly Mayhem. This company was in danger of spiraling downward into the realm of being a mockery. Who stepped up, put this company on its back and won the NEW title? That’s right it was me.
Then there was the time that Ryan Pugh had his title reign come to an end, and in the place of his title reign Tristan Ambrose strode. Within a few days of him being champion this company was on the downward spiral again, and once again the NEW needed someone to step up and help it, pull it out of the muck and make it great again. That man, was me. I gave the NEW one last respectable moment before Jesse finally closed the doors because of the FBI investigation.
Now here we are again, the NEW is laboring under the reigns of a terrible champion. A man who wants only to surround himself with people he knows can beat him, people that when they are with him, can’t challenge him for his title. The genius that he is has used these people, these sheep to go after the top talent who won’t join him. You have seen this before, XXX did it, and he did it well, Nathan has only followed in the steps of what that man already did.
But we are not here to talk about Nathan, we are here to talk about what is before me, about the opportunity I have. When I beat Tristan Ambrose I will be given opportunity to pick the next entrant into terrordome, and of course, I will pick myself. Not because that’s what the fans want to see, but because it is what needs to happen. Terrordome without Roger Wright is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without peanut butter.
I could sit here and tell you all about how Tristan Ambrose lost the title to me after beating Ryan Pugh, about how Ryan Pugh was tired of being champion, or that Tristan Ambrose was the lucky man at the right place at the right time. But I won’t, instead I will tell you that Tristan Ambrose is the idiot standing on the train tracks, the moron staring into the beam of light as it charges forward at him. I am the train, the man pushing forward down the tracks, and Tristan Ambrose is the unlucky soul who stands before me.
Make no mistake I am not saying that Tristan Ambrose is terrible, I am simply saying that I am better. Sure it’s not exactly modest, but it is the reality that he faces, the reality that everyone sees, the reality that we all know. Tristan Ambrose is in for a fight, and I know he will bring all he has to that ring, he will lay it out on the table, and I will be more than he can handle, because at the end of the day this won’t be a wrestling match, it will be a me whipping his ass match, and a me going to terrodome match.
I can see it in your esyes, that burning question, what happened to you Roger? It is a long story, actually it really isn’t that long, and to be honest we have plenty of time to talk about it today. It was right after the big Draft. You know the one I am talking about, the one that everyone got excited for, the one that left me the fuck out of it. Yeah right after that, I got a call, not a call from either of the men running the two brands, a call from an old friend, one of the few men I hold a great deal of respect for, even thru all the ups and downs we have had.
Of course that man was Al Envy, and of course what came next laid the ground work for what you see now. We met in a small diner in a small town in our home state of Texas. “You know it is rather jacked up how things went down.” Envy said before shoveling a fork full of Pancakes drenched in syrup into his mouth.
“Doesn’t really come as much of a shock.” To call my mood morose would be an understatement. There was a lot on my mind, the upcoming Seth Iser match and all. Somehow being there with a longtime friend, even one that had on many occasion been my enemy, felt good.
“Sounds to me like you need to remind these people just who you are!” Al smiled a wicked smile before shoving a forkful of pancakes into his mouth. “You know these new guys are trying to take over, to claim what people like you and I built, standing on our shoulders and not even having the good grace to piss with the wind.” A chuckle leapt from Envy as he took another bite of the pancakes.
“A truly descriptive image my friend.” The scrambled eggs swirled on my plate at the end of my fork. “What is it you propose?” The eggs still swirled at the end of my fork, my mind clear and yet distracted as I awaited the words from my friend.
“Help me restore to this company what we gave it. Show the world, show these new talents that Roger Wright is not just a name on the wall of the hall of fame, and show them why you were feared.” Al put the fork down and leaned forward. “Strike fear into the hearts of those that get into the ring with you, remind them just who you are!” Al smiled and sat back.
“Interesting.” His words were strong, but deep down inside I didn’t really want to go through the effort again, my heart was weak, betrayal having beaten me down.
“I know that look.” Envy stated with a smile. “You do not get to give up. If every time a girl left me, or I lost a title, or found out a family member mine was a giant fucking tool, well then I would have quit a long time ago.” Envy smacked the table to get my attention.
“I don’t know.” The fork continued to dance within my eggs.
“Main event, I am going to make sure that Matthew and Rob don’t win. It’s the chance you need, a chance to get to your brother, a man who wants to destroy everything you built, and strike an arrow into the heart of a new guy like Rob Riot. More importantly it is a chance for you to make a statement and tell me if you are with me.” Envy stood up, set his napkin on the table and smiled. “I’ll have your answer either way after that night.” He dropped a twenty on the table and left.
I would love to tell you my decision came quick and I got up from that table right after Envy left, but that would be a lie. Reality is nearly an hour passed before I got up, and more than that there was no decision made. Sure we all know the outcome now. As if it was really going to be a secret. It took me a day to get over myself, and then another day to set my mind the way it needed to be set.
Iser fell to me that night, Matthew and Riot fell because of me, and the entire NEW got reintroduced to just what I am capable of. The fans chose Iser, and they were wrong, just like the fans can choose Tristan, and be wrong again. The simple fact is this company, these fans, these new members to the NEW have taken for granted what I have built.
This is my company, Jesse may own it, he may pay my check, but this company was built on my back, and I will be god damned if someone is going to stand on my shoulder and piss into the wind. Tristan has a wakeup call coming. Tristan is a former champ, he has shown some great talent, but he isn’t in my league. Let me leave you with one last question to ponder. If you are going to climb Mt Everest, do you want someone who has never made that climb leading you? Or do you want a man who has already scaled that mountain?
The only thing people like more than a good hero story is a good fall from grace. There is something emotional about a man losing everything, falling from his perch to the bottom, looking up at what he had only to find he is just like the normal man. That story pulls at our heartstrings, makes us smile, and reminds us that no matter how good someone has it, they can lose it all. In a way it lets us as people have that feeling that we can ascend to the top, that we can hold our heads up high one day and proclaim that we are the hero, because when one hero falls, another must take his place.
Let me just say this, this hero hasn’t fallen. Now I know that may come as a surprise to some, may even make others laugh, and yes I know it sounded corny as hell. Then again, isn’t what most of us say actually rather corny and trite. For years I heard all the things people said about me, called me weak, my time was over and I had peaked and was on the downside of my career. There was a short time there I believed it, listened to it and let it get to me. But then I did what people said was going to be impossible, I climbed the mountain, and three years after my last title reign, I became the five time NEW champion.
What does all this mean you ask? Well let’s take a walk down memory lane, be given a glimpse into the reality that is the NEW. Like all great wrestling organizations the NEW has had its shares of ups and downs. Right now some might say it is down, I think the NEW is just waiting for someone to come a long and pull it up by its shirt and take it where it wants to go. This business is about who is at the top, who is putting people in the seats and what those people represent.
There once was a time like this, a time when the NEW needed someone to get it over the hump, to make it the great wrestling company it can be. That was back in 2010, oddly enough around this time of year. The NEW had just seen the NEW title fall into the hands of Kaden Cedrik. Terrordome was around the corner, and like today, the NEW was in desperate need of someone to put the company on their back and carry it to greatness. That someone was a little known man coming out of one of the best feuds the NEW had seen.
Yes that man was me, and yes I went to terrordome and won the NEW title, and yes I brought that title and this company the respectability that it needed. It is what I have always done, when this company needs someone to step up, someone to put it on their back, I am that man. Just like when Matthew Carter won the title from Molly Mayhem. This company was in danger of spiraling downward into the realm of being a mockery. Who stepped up, put this company on its back and won the NEW title? That’s right it was me.
Then there was the time that Ryan Pugh had his title reign come to an end, and in the place of his title reign Tristan Ambrose strode. Within a few days of him being champion this company was on the downward spiral again, and once again the NEW needed someone to step up and help it, pull it out of the muck and make it great again. That man, was me. I gave the NEW one last respectable moment before Jesse finally closed the doors because of the FBI investigation.
Now here we are again, the NEW is laboring under the reigns of a terrible champion. A man who wants only to surround himself with people he knows can beat him, people that when they are with him, can’t challenge him for his title. The genius that he is has used these people, these sheep to go after the top talent who won’t join him. You have seen this before, XXX did it, and he did it well, Nathan has only followed in the steps of what that man already did.
But we are not here to talk about Nathan, we are here to talk about what is before me, about the opportunity I have. When I beat Tristan Ambrose I will be given opportunity to pick the next entrant into terrordome, and of course, I will pick myself. Not because that’s what the fans want to see, but because it is what needs to happen. Terrordome without Roger Wright is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without peanut butter.
I could sit here and tell you all about how Tristan Ambrose lost the title to me after beating Ryan Pugh, about how Ryan Pugh was tired of being champion, or that Tristan Ambrose was the lucky man at the right place at the right time. But I won’t, instead I will tell you that Tristan Ambrose is the idiot standing on the train tracks, the moron staring into the beam of light as it charges forward at him. I am the train, the man pushing forward down the tracks, and Tristan Ambrose is the unlucky soul who stands before me.
Make no mistake I am not saying that Tristan Ambrose is terrible, I am simply saying that I am better. Sure it’s not exactly modest, but it is the reality that he faces, the reality that everyone sees, the reality that we all know. Tristan Ambrose is in for a fight, and I know he will bring all he has to that ring, he will lay it out on the table, and I will be more than he can handle, because at the end of the day this won’t be a wrestling match, it will be a me whipping his ass match, and a me going to terrodome match.
I can see it in your esyes, that burning question, what happened to you Roger? It is a long story, actually it really isn’t that long, and to be honest we have plenty of time to talk about it today. It was right after the big Draft. You know the one I am talking about, the one that everyone got excited for, the one that left me the fuck out of it. Yeah right after that, I got a call, not a call from either of the men running the two brands, a call from an old friend, one of the few men I hold a great deal of respect for, even thru all the ups and downs we have had.
Of course that man was Al Envy, and of course what came next laid the ground work for what you see now. We met in a small diner in a small town in our home state of Texas. “You know it is rather jacked up how things went down.” Envy said before shoveling a fork full of Pancakes drenched in syrup into his mouth.
“Doesn’t really come as much of a shock.” To call my mood morose would be an understatement. There was a lot on my mind, the upcoming Seth Iser match and all. Somehow being there with a longtime friend, even one that had on many occasion been my enemy, felt good.
“Sounds to me like you need to remind these people just who you are!” Al smiled a wicked smile before shoving a forkful of pancakes into his mouth. “You know these new guys are trying to take over, to claim what people like you and I built, standing on our shoulders and not even having the good grace to piss with the wind.” A chuckle leapt from Envy as he took another bite of the pancakes.
“A truly descriptive image my friend.” The scrambled eggs swirled on my plate at the end of my fork. “What is it you propose?” The eggs still swirled at the end of my fork, my mind clear and yet distracted as I awaited the words from my friend.
“Help me restore to this company what we gave it. Show the world, show these new talents that Roger Wright is not just a name on the wall of the hall of fame, and show them why you were feared.” Al put the fork down and leaned forward. “Strike fear into the hearts of those that get into the ring with you, remind them just who you are!” Al smiled and sat back.
“Interesting.” His words were strong, but deep down inside I didn’t really want to go through the effort again, my heart was weak, betrayal having beaten me down.
“I know that look.” Envy stated with a smile. “You do not get to give up. If every time a girl left me, or I lost a title, or found out a family member mine was a giant fucking tool, well then I would have quit a long time ago.” Envy smacked the table to get my attention.
“I don’t know.” The fork continued to dance within my eggs.
“Main event, I am going to make sure that Matthew and Rob don’t win. It’s the chance you need, a chance to get to your brother, a man who wants to destroy everything you built, and strike an arrow into the heart of a new guy like Rob Riot. More importantly it is a chance for you to make a statement and tell me if you are with me.” Envy stood up, set his napkin on the table and smiled. “I’ll have your answer either way after that night.” He dropped a twenty on the table and left.
I would love to tell you my decision came quick and I got up from that table right after Envy left, but that would be a lie. Reality is nearly an hour passed before I got up, and more than that there was no decision made. Sure we all know the outcome now. As if it was really going to be a secret. It took me a day to get over myself, and then another day to set my mind the way it needed to be set.
Iser fell to me that night, Matthew and Riot fell because of me, and the entire NEW got reintroduced to just what I am capable of. The fans chose Iser, and they were wrong, just like the fans can choose Tristan, and be wrong again. The simple fact is this company, these fans, these new members to the NEW have taken for granted what I have built.
This is my company, Jesse may own it, he may pay my check, but this company was built on my back, and I will be god damned if someone is going to stand on my shoulder and piss into the wind. Tristan has a wakeup call coming. Tristan is a former champ, he has shown some great talent, but he isn’t in my league. Let me leave you with one last question to ponder. If you are going to climb Mt Everest, do you want someone who has never made that climb leading you? Or do you want a man who has already scaled that mountain?