(Originally written in January 2008)
Once again, we return to the End of Nowhere, this time in
the middle of the day. The sun is at
its’ zenith, and the first sounds we hear is that of a person running. Sure enough a moment later, The Phoenix
enters the camera shot as he crests the hill in the background. As he nears the camera’s position, we hear
him in a voice-over.
Phoenix (VO): Two
opponents, two different styles of wrestling, one title to win. I have no choice but to train to combat both.
By now, Phoenix has reached and passed the camera, as it
pivots around to watch him run off into the distance. A transition fade follows, keeping up with Phoenix as he continues to
run. Further ahead of him, we see what
looks to be a valley between two small plateaus, which seems to be his
destination. The voice-over continues.
Phoenix (VO): Having
to transition from keeping pace with a speedy lightweight to dealing with a
heavyweight powerhouse is going to be difficult in its’ own right. But I do not want to be so exhausted dealing
with one that I become ripe pickings for the other. Building my stamina on these long runs
throughout the entirety of the End of Nowhere can only serve to help me in the
end…and may yet turn out to be the difference-maker at the end of the contest.
Another transition fade at this point finds the camera atop
the valley that Phoenix was running to.
The camera is shaking just a bit due to the wind that is blowing in the
area. As Phoenix approaches one end of
the valley, one can see him slow just a bit as the winds buffet him, yet still
he presses on as the voice-over carries on.
Phoenix
(VO): I realize that a man my size will
be unable to fully keep up with the quickness and speed that Annie Alvarez
has. But in the same vein, she will be
unable to match the power that all of this weight can put behind a punch or a
weapon. To best combat her, I must be
able to predict where she’s going to be and catch her unaware…and having even
the slightest bit of additional speed could be the catalyst for doing just
that. It will be no easy task, of that I
am certain. But no one ever said that
this wrestling business was easy at any rate.
By now, Phoenix has exited the valley and run up another
hill, where there is a pile of stones about half his height. Each of the stones appears to be large enough
to need both hands to lift and carry, and if one looks, one can see a circle
cut away in the ground, about fifty feet to Phoenix’s right side. Without nary a pause, Phoenix picks up the
first stone and begins to carry it to the circle as he speaks in the voice-over
once again.
Phoenix
(VO): Ah, yes…the “rock-and-roll”
exercise. Another opportunity to work on
my stamina, and also physical strength. This
will come in handy when the no-holds-barred match degenerates into the anarchy
befitting the title we fight for, and the weapons are introduced. Of course, that’s bound to happen at some
point, so best to be prepared for it as an eventuality.
Phoenix continues this rock-carrying exercise for a few
moments, before yet another transition fade occurs. We can tell that it’s some time later because
the large pile of rocks has been moved entirely into the circle Phoenix was beginning
to fill, and also because the sun has definitely started its’ descent. Nodding at his work, Phoenix turns and begins to run again, towards
his cabin that can barely be seen in the background. The camera moves to keep up with him as the
voice-over continues.
Phoenix
(VO): Speaking of weapons...I would be
remiss if I didn’t focus at least part of my time to that discipline as
well. That leads me to my strategy
against my second opponent, Mario Maurako—the so-called “Marvelous” one.
The camera swings wide at this point, showing a pair of
kendo sticks on the ground a few feet away from the tree near Phoenix’s
cabin. As he nears the weapons, Phoenix tucks into a roll,
manages to grab a weapon in each hand, and returns to his feet with barely a
stutter. Nearing the tree, he begins
attacking it with both sticks, in what seems to be a rather unorthodox style
that focuses on what would be the human equivalent of the torso and legs.
Phoenix
(VO): I make no secret that I prefer the
technical and submission arts of wrestling…and one of the first things a
technician learns is that if a powerful wrestler has a weakened base to work
from, much of his power is lost. If
Maurako thinks I’m going to let him use his power against me, he’s sadly
mistaken. After all…if one can’t stand,
how is one going to throw his opponents around the ring, much less crack them
in the skull with whatever weapon may be handy?
There is a harsh crack as one of Phoenix’s kendo sticks
strikes the tree with authority.
Phoenix
(VO): By the time Uprising comes, I will
be ready…physically, mentally, and emotionally.
It will not matter to me if Annie Alvarez shows up without a stitch of
clothing on for this match…I will not be swayed by her feminine charms. It will not matter if “Marvelous” Mario Maurako
has enough power to bench press a gorilla...I will not back down. This is MY time, and nothing short of
becoming the Anarchy X champion will satisfy me.
Alvarez…Maurako…this “unknown” will be waiting at Uprising. The question is…will you be ready? So is it written, so shall it come to be
known…
At this, Phoenix stands at the open doorway to his cabin,
back turned to the camera to show the image of a phoenix rising from the flames
that is on his t-shirt, and speaks without the voice-over.
Phoenix: …and so shall The Phoenix see it done.
With that, the door quickly shuts, as the camera fades to
black.
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