Post by Hardcastle on Nov 22, 2005 22:48:28 GMT -5
<Sitting on top of a ledge, overlooking the busy streets of downtown, is "The Prodigal Messiah" Eric Hardcastle. His legs dangle over the edge and his hands grasp the edge for support. Overlooking the crowd, entering Eclipse nightclub, Eric begins to ponder this Sunday. His eyes roll slightly up, as he looks the heavens for guidance. Not even acknowleding the camera, Eric begins to speak.>
Eric Hardcastle: Armageddon is upon us. The day of reckoning is coming. A day for sinners to repent and honor to rise to glory. In five days, the entire face of Valor Wrestling Alliance will change. The face of professional wrestling will evolve. In this sport, we each strive for one goal. From guys like Anthony Shadows and Ethan Toxic to guys like Zmaster and Brandon Bailey, we each get in this business to become the number one guy in this business. And there is no greater measure of success, than the Valor World Heavyweight Championship. That's probably the only thing that Brandon and I, would actually agree on.
<Eric swings his legs from around the ledge and back around the roof top of Eclipse nightclub. He plants his legs firmly on the ground and looks to the camera for the first time.>
Eric Hardcastle: The lineage of the Valor World Title goes back over a decade. It goes back to a bitterly cold night in December. And on that night, thousands witnessed a historical bout. A match pitting two men, who would go on to become icons of this sport. Shane Michaels and Iron Curtain. Hollywood couldn't draft a better script. At the time, Iron Curtain......a 7 foot monster hailing from the Soviet Union faced off against Shane Michaels, a fireballer weighing in at just 227lbs. On that night, Valor.....which was once called UCWF, would crown its first World Heavyweight Champion. On that night, the mighty Russian proved to be too strong and too powerful for the youngster from Seattle, Washington. That was 1992. Fast forward to 2005. Fast forward to a new era. Fast forward to a new monster of professional wrestling, "The Assassin" Brandon Bailey. And a new fireballer, Eric Hardcastle. Brandon, you and I are a lot alike our counter parts. Iron Curtain ran through the competition. He destroyed wrestlers that came in between himself and that World Title. He proved, night in and night out, that he was the best in the world. He proved why he deserved to be World Champion. Every challenge was put in front of him and every challenge he knocked over like a cheap house of cards.
<Eric brushes the hair away from his eyes and tilts his head to the side.>
Eric Hardcastle: Shane Michaels and I were cut from the same mold. This industry has compared me to Michaels, since the day I broke into this business. The same desire.....the same sheer will to win......was seen in my eyes, like they were in 1992 in eyes of Shane Michaels. That passion for this business......that passion to be the best is what drove Michaels to become an icon in this sport. Its that same desire, that same passion that drives me to become the best.
<Eric stands up and smiles.>
Eric Hardcastle: Brandon, as much as you and I are like our counter parts........we are even more different. The biggest difference between you and Iron Curtain is not your height or your weight. The biggest difference is respect. The respect that Iron Curtain had for this business. The respect that Iron Curtain had for this company. The respect that Iron Curtain had for Shane Michaels. Despite their differences, they shared a mutual respect. Brandon, you don't have any respect. Not for this business. Not for this company. And especially not for me. You piss on everything you touch. You spit on the very fiber that makes this business so special. There is but one thing you care about in life and that one thing is yourself. Its always about Brandon. What's that little catch phrase you have?
<Eric pauses for a moment and scractches his head.>
Eric Hardcastle: Oh yeah...that's right. "What about me? What about Bailey?!" Its always about you. You put nothing and no one above yourself. The only thing you hold remotely close to yourself. The only thing you cherish in you life, except for yourself is the World Heavyweight Title. The World Title provides vindication for you. It provides self assurance for the fear of self loathing. Well, that's where Shane I are different. On that faithful night, all those years ago......Shane Michaels fell short of that dream. He fell short of closing down the Curtain. I WON'T!!! Brandon, look into these eyes.........
<Hardcastle points to his right eye and the camera zooms in. The piercing image is almost frightening. The camera zooms back out.>
Eric Hardcastle: Do these eyes look like they belong to a man, who is afraid of you?! Afraid of what is on the line?! On one side, I have the Valor World Heavyweight Championship. A title that I have never obtained. A championship, I have yet to gain. And on the other.........my career. Well, the latter is useless without the first. From moment I stepped into this business.....its been about being World Champion. Proving that I am the very best in this sport. This Sunday will be my vindication. It will be my opportunity, my final opportunity to realize that dream.
<Eric closes his eyes for a moment. He lets out a faint breath.>
Eric Hardcastle: They call this pay per view, Deadly Encounter: High Stakes. It couldn't be named any better, really. The encounter is deadly, by far. Inside the Hell on Earth cage. We are talking about a steel cage fenced in around the ring. A trap door hangs open from the ceiling. Climb out and enter the second level. There is no ring at your feet. Nothing but chained fence. Above you, a third cage. Climb out of the second and enter a cell. Literally, nothing more than a slightly enlarged cell. Escape the third cage and find yourself eye level with the rafters. There are no pinfalls. There are no submissions. Hanging above this third cage is the Valor World Heavyweight Title. Obtain and ladder, climb it and retrieve the title........survive and become World Champion. The list of names who have participated in Hell on Earth.......all but small. The list of names of active wrestlers in Hell on Earth...........blank. This match isn't like any other match. This match WILL shorten your career, possibly end it in an instant. The stakes have never been higher. And I wouldn't want it any other way. My chance, my opportunity comes this Sunday. The highest of highs or the lowest of lows. I'm gonna roll the dice this Sunday. And I expect to see a seven or an eleven. The stakes have truly........never been higher. Deadly Encounter: High Stakes, mark my words Brandon..........I WILL BECOME THE NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!!!
<Hardcastle stares intently into the camera. His eyes fixated on the lens, as his nostrils flare. Hardcastle begins to walk past the camera man, as the screen fades to black.>
Eric Hardcastle: Armageddon is upon us. The day of reckoning is coming. A day for sinners to repent and honor to rise to glory. In five days, the entire face of Valor Wrestling Alliance will change. The face of professional wrestling will evolve. In this sport, we each strive for one goal. From guys like Anthony Shadows and Ethan Toxic to guys like Zmaster and Brandon Bailey, we each get in this business to become the number one guy in this business. And there is no greater measure of success, than the Valor World Heavyweight Championship. That's probably the only thing that Brandon and I, would actually agree on.
<Eric swings his legs from around the ledge and back around the roof top of Eclipse nightclub. He plants his legs firmly on the ground and looks to the camera for the first time.>
Eric Hardcastle: The lineage of the Valor World Title goes back over a decade. It goes back to a bitterly cold night in December. And on that night, thousands witnessed a historical bout. A match pitting two men, who would go on to become icons of this sport. Shane Michaels and Iron Curtain. Hollywood couldn't draft a better script. At the time, Iron Curtain......a 7 foot monster hailing from the Soviet Union faced off against Shane Michaels, a fireballer weighing in at just 227lbs. On that night, Valor.....which was once called UCWF, would crown its first World Heavyweight Champion. On that night, the mighty Russian proved to be too strong and too powerful for the youngster from Seattle, Washington. That was 1992. Fast forward to 2005. Fast forward to a new era. Fast forward to a new monster of professional wrestling, "The Assassin" Brandon Bailey. And a new fireballer, Eric Hardcastle. Brandon, you and I are a lot alike our counter parts. Iron Curtain ran through the competition. He destroyed wrestlers that came in between himself and that World Title. He proved, night in and night out, that he was the best in the world. He proved why he deserved to be World Champion. Every challenge was put in front of him and every challenge he knocked over like a cheap house of cards.
<Eric brushes the hair away from his eyes and tilts his head to the side.>
Eric Hardcastle: Shane Michaels and I were cut from the same mold. This industry has compared me to Michaels, since the day I broke into this business. The same desire.....the same sheer will to win......was seen in my eyes, like they were in 1992 in eyes of Shane Michaels. That passion for this business......that passion to be the best is what drove Michaels to become an icon in this sport. Its that same desire, that same passion that drives me to become the best.
<Eric stands up and smiles.>
Eric Hardcastle: Brandon, as much as you and I are like our counter parts........we are even more different. The biggest difference between you and Iron Curtain is not your height or your weight. The biggest difference is respect. The respect that Iron Curtain had for this business. The respect that Iron Curtain had for this company. The respect that Iron Curtain had for Shane Michaels. Despite their differences, they shared a mutual respect. Brandon, you don't have any respect. Not for this business. Not for this company. And especially not for me. You piss on everything you touch. You spit on the very fiber that makes this business so special. There is but one thing you care about in life and that one thing is yourself. Its always about Brandon. What's that little catch phrase you have?
<Eric pauses for a moment and scractches his head.>
Eric Hardcastle: Oh yeah...that's right. "What about me? What about Bailey?!" Its always about you. You put nothing and no one above yourself. The only thing you hold remotely close to yourself. The only thing you cherish in you life, except for yourself is the World Heavyweight Title. The World Title provides vindication for you. It provides self assurance for the fear of self loathing. Well, that's where Shane I are different. On that faithful night, all those years ago......Shane Michaels fell short of that dream. He fell short of closing down the Curtain. I WON'T!!! Brandon, look into these eyes.........
<Hardcastle points to his right eye and the camera zooms in. The piercing image is almost frightening. The camera zooms back out.>
Eric Hardcastle: Do these eyes look like they belong to a man, who is afraid of you?! Afraid of what is on the line?! On one side, I have the Valor World Heavyweight Championship. A title that I have never obtained. A championship, I have yet to gain. And on the other.........my career. Well, the latter is useless without the first. From moment I stepped into this business.....its been about being World Champion. Proving that I am the very best in this sport. This Sunday will be my vindication. It will be my opportunity, my final opportunity to realize that dream.
<Eric closes his eyes for a moment. He lets out a faint breath.>
Eric Hardcastle: They call this pay per view, Deadly Encounter: High Stakes. It couldn't be named any better, really. The encounter is deadly, by far. Inside the Hell on Earth cage. We are talking about a steel cage fenced in around the ring. A trap door hangs open from the ceiling. Climb out and enter the second level. There is no ring at your feet. Nothing but chained fence. Above you, a third cage. Climb out of the second and enter a cell. Literally, nothing more than a slightly enlarged cell. Escape the third cage and find yourself eye level with the rafters. There are no pinfalls. There are no submissions. Hanging above this third cage is the Valor World Heavyweight Title. Obtain and ladder, climb it and retrieve the title........survive and become World Champion. The list of names who have participated in Hell on Earth.......all but small. The list of names of active wrestlers in Hell on Earth...........blank. This match isn't like any other match. This match WILL shorten your career, possibly end it in an instant. The stakes have never been higher. And I wouldn't want it any other way. My chance, my opportunity comes this Sunday. The highest of highs or the lowest of lows. I'm gonna roll the dice this Sunday. And I expect to see a seven or an eleven. The stakes have truly........never been higher. Deadly Encounter: High Stakes, mark my words Brandon..........I WILL BECOME THE NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!!!
<Hardcastle stares intently into the camera. His eyes fixated on the lens, as his nostrils flare. Hardcastle begins to walk past the camera man, as the screen fades to black.>
