~The picture comes up on a shot of the moon, shining through the night sky in-between the clouds. It gives just enough light to see, as the camera pans down, showing us the view of the land around the PMV Ranch. There are lights in the distance, separated amongst the land, moving back and forth as a search party is underway. In the distance, we can hear voices yelling, carrying over the west Texas landscape.~
Keith Cooper: Peter! Peter Vaughn!
Teddy Smitherman: Yo, Pete! Where are you! Boss!
~As the yells continue, carrying into the night, the camera slowly turns, showing another rider nearby. We see Sadie Anderson, Peter Vaughn's fiancé, dismounting her horse as she comes to a cliffside area. She quickly scans the ground, using a flashlight to get a better look. But she doesn't see what she's looking for, as she shakes her head.~
Sadie Anderson: Damn it, Peter... why were you covering up your tracks?
~Sadie sighs as she stands up, pulling off her cowboy hat as she stands there, thinking. She's shown in the past that she's a master tracker, having found Vaughn before when he's ridden off on his own. But this time, even tracing back the tracks of his horse, Midnight, Sadie's come up empty. There's no sign of a disturbance where the tracks stop. There are also no signs of where Vaughn went next, as the ground is too rocky there. Sadie has tried her best, but so far, she's come up short.~
Sadie Anderson: Please don't have done anything crazy, Peter... please...
~Sadie puts her hat back on, getting back on her horse. After doing a half-circle, the horse is directed forward by Sadie, on pure instinct. They head over a rocky incline and further down the land, with Sadie keeping an eye out for any signs. That's when she hears the noise of walking over near her left. She immediately directs the horse that way, breaking through a batch of brush and landing beside the startled man there.~
Cameraman: YEEEIIIII!!!!
~The man jumps back, afraid of getting trampled, as Sadie shines her flashlight on him.~
Sadie Anderson: Who are you? Wait... I know you...
Cameraman: Ummm, it's Ms. Anderson, isn't it? We met when Mr. Vaughn fell through the roof of his building?
~Sadie raises an eyebrow, remembering that scary experience, although it didn't turn out to be nearly as bad as it seemed at first. She jumps off the horse, landing next to him.~
Sadie Anderson: You're the cameraman who's always interviewing Peter, right?
Cameraman: I don't know if you'd call it "interviewing"... but I do what I'm told, yes.
Sadie Anderson: But what are you doing out here, in the dead of night??
Cameraman: Well, I... *ahem*... it's a funny story, see...
~The cameraman glances over his shoulder, back the way he came. The shot quickly shifts that direction as well...~
FLASHBACK
~And in a nice piece of camera switchery, we find ourselves at a long highway nearby the PMV Ranch. Headlights can be seen in the distance, making their way our direction. The van behind the lights finally stops close by, as we can see the cameraman sitting behind it. He stares again at his phone, before looking around again.~
Cameraman: Well, I guess this is the place. Spooky out here.
~The cameraman leans over to the passenger seat, getting his hand-held camera ready. He sets it up to record, knowing that he needs to be ready at a moment's notice. He then starts to step out of the van with it, only to reconsider.~
Cameraman: Nah, I've seen too many horror movies end that way.
~He sets the camera back on the dashboard of the van, before stepping out of the car and walking a few steps away. We can hear his voice as he yells out into the night.~
Cameraman: Mr. Vaughn? Are you here? I've gotta say, I've never been sent actual coordinates to meet for a promo before. I mean, I get it. There aren't many landmarks out here. But still... you are here, right? This isn't some prank, or something worse? Hello? Mr. Vaughn?
~There's no response. The cameraman comes back to the van, not wanting to get too far from it. After all, there could be coyotes out there. He reaches into his pocket, pulling out his phone again to text Vaughn that he's at the coordinates.~
Cameraman: The things I do for this business...
~After a few seconds, there's a ding on the phone, and the cameraman looks down at it.~
Cameraman: "Come to the light"? What light? There's no freaking... oh.
~The cameraman looks off into the distance, apparently seeing something that we cannot. He grumbles to himself before walking that direction. We hear his feet crunching away as he gets further towards the light, leaving the camera behind. He'll regret that decision shortly. More footsteps are heard, and suddenly Peter Vaughn is sliding into the driver's seat. He looks down, making sure that the cameraman left his keys.~
Peter Vaughn: Perfect.
~Vaughn slams the door shut as he starts up the engine, pulling the van away and doing a U-turn. He heads back in the opposite direction, as we can heard yelling behind him, fading away.~
Cameraman: Wait! Mr. Vaughn! Don't leave me out here!!
~Vaughn doesn't look back. He's clearly got a goal in mind. He needed a ride to accomplish it, and so he made it happen. Sure, he could have tried Uber, but they can be unreliable out in the middle of nowhere. As he drives, Vaughn notices the hand-held camera sitting on the dash. He shakes his head, before turning it towards him.~
Peter Vaughn: Big mistake leaving your equipment running, boyo. Plus, of course, leaving the keys in the ignition. We're going to have a long talk about security concerns when I see you next.
~Vaughn smiles for a second, but his smile quickly fades away, as he can't seem to maintain the relaxed view he usually carries. He drives on for a minute, before beginning to talk to the camera.~
Peter Vaughn: You know, when I came to Sin City early in 2023, it was for one purpose: taking the wind out of Matthew Knox's sails. I wanted to make the third Raven pay, while also helping out one of my few friends, Mac Bane. If I'm honest with myself, I never planned on staying this long. But there's something about Sin City. It can get under your skin like nowhere else, keeping you invested in the competition.
~Vaughn continues on down the highway, heading to an unknown destination, although he doesn't seem hesitant at all in driving there. He's likely been there before.~
Peter Vaughn: Now, we're almost a year into my tenure here. During that time, I've become the two-time Thunder Pro Wrestling International Champion. I've become a two-time WGWF World Heavyweight Champion. And I've even won the Outsiders World Championship, a fed I never expected to make a return appearance in. And through all that, in SCW... I've been a Roulette man.
~Vaughn's phone lights up, presumably from the cameraman trying to call him. Of course, it could easily be one of the many people currently searching for him as well. Either way, he ignores it, intent on speaking to the camera.~
Peter Vaughn: Some would say I've had my best run of the year in Sin City. Others would say I've wasted my potential, never rising above the Roulette division. It's hard to say which side is right at this point. But here I sit, set to wrestle for the Roulette Championship at my fifth straight Pay-Per-View. By the time December 2 Dismember comes around, I'll have been champion for 225 days. That's a nice, round number, isn't it? Even if I didn't show, for some reason, they couldn't forfeit the belt until then...
~For a second, Vaughn looks away from the camera, seemingly considering what his future holds.~
Peter Vaughn: Have I done enough, do you think? Or do I have a lot more to do? That's the real question. I suppose some of the answers will come in the new year... and one will be answered at December 2 Dismember. One way or another.
~Vaughn's hands tighten on the wheel, as he turns his gaze back towards the camera.~
Peter Vaughn: I wonder what they'll have on the wheel. Anything I haven't done before? Maybe a Christmas-themed battle? Deck The Halls, where we have to put our opponent's blood on all four walls to win? Up On The Rooftop, where we fight until someone takes a more literal plunge than I'm used to? Or maybe we'll have to scale a line of Christmas lights to reach the title. All possible ideas. All probably a blast, really. There's an idea, an Exploding Gifts match! Then again, Eds might get seriously injured again, which isn't exactly what I'm looking for. I don't want to fully repeat history, after all.
~For a moment, Vaughn taps on the steering wheel, as if thinking it through. He makes a move on the highway, passing by a slow-moving vehicle, probably driven by a slightly inebriated soul.~
Peter Vaughn: I hope Eddie is ready. He's got a lot to live up to. But it could be his night. Then again, it could be mine as well... if I choose it to be.
~He then reaches out towards the camera with one hand.~
Peter Vaughn: Might as well save his battery. Give him one thing he doesn't have to worry about...
~With that, the picture cuts out, as Vaughn's drive continues.~
~We go back to the rocky plains where the cameraman finishes telling his story to Sadie Anderson, albeit without knowing anything about Vaughn's promo given there. All he knows is that Vaughn stole his ride.~
Cameraman: ... So with nowhere else to go, I started heading towards the ranch. I hadn't been there before, but I thought if anyone could help me, it'd be you guys.
Sadie Anderson: I'm sorry Peter did that to you. I can get you back to the ranch, just hop on.
~With one motion, Sadie is back on her horse. She extends her hand, with the cameraman giving her a dubious expression.~
Cameraman: Could you, I don't know, send a cart for me or something?
Sadie Anderson: Just get on. I don't want to waste any more time.
~The cameraman reluctantly grabs hold, managing to get up on the horse, although he looks distinctly uncomfortable behind Sadie. She starts riding, taking them back towards the main homestead.~
Sadie Anderson: So did your van have GPS installed?
Cameraman: Please. I work around wrestlers all the time. OF COURSE I have GPS. I could track exactly where the van is, as long as Mr. Vaughn doesn't disable it.
Sadie Anderson: Good. Then let's get back to my truck and we'll get after him. We need to find out why he's doing all this.
Cameraman: And also, I need my van back.
Sadie Anderson: That, too. Hang on!
~The horse moves from a trot into a gallop, as the cameraman hangs onto the saddle, desperate not to get bucked off as Sadie determinedly moves them along, her next move locked in her mind.~
Sadie Anderson: We're coming, Peter.
~The horse continues on, motivated by its owner, as we cut away.~
Well, Eddie Munster, here we sit. Two days away from what could be the biggest night of your career... or the worst. Or both. After all, you getting paralyzed would be a horrible day, but it would also be considered as a major event in your wrestling life... which would be over.
Not that I'm planning for that to happen. Actually, I'm a fan of Team Lyons right now. Does that surprise you? It shouldn't. As I said, I want someone worthy to challenge me for the Roulette Championship, and I admit, I was concerned about how much effort you'd be willing to put into it. But from what I've heard, you're training night and day for this match. When you're not blowing money in the Vegas casinos, that is.
Quick reminder, kid: the house always wins in the end. So if you're ahead, get yourself out of there and be glad you left with your money back.
Other that that, though, I'm glad you're taking this one seriously, just as I am. You're looking fairly fired up, and I can respect that. You've even latched onto a strong tool of our trade: vengeance. You've got that blood boiling, wanting to get revenge for me acting like Gallagher on you.
Oh, sorry, you're too young. He was a comedian, smashed watermelons at the end of every show? Yeah. Crazy son of a bitch. I don't know if there's anyone comparable to him in recent times.
And don't you dare say Carrottop, or it'll cost you a bruised kidney.
So you've got the motivation to give me the match I crave. But do you have the talent? I guess we'll find out at the PPV if you've truly improved so much as you believe you have. I mean, it's not like it's been years since we first faced off. It was near the end of August, so we're talking less than four months. Can someone make extraordinary gains in that period of time? Certainly. But it's not easy. It takes dedication. And there are usually signs to show it to the world.
You know, like getting lots of victories in recent months.
Now, I will say, Eddie, that on the surface, you're trending that way. I did a quick perusal of your recent history, and you have racked up some wins. The biggest one looks to be Helluva Bottom Carter, who gets credit for getting the last pin on the former heavyweight champion. I mean, I've beaten him too, but it's still a respectful win. Then you've beaten Tyler McCulligan, who, yes, I've beaten. And you took down Rodrigo Alfonso, who I've also taken down... twice.
Some might say that makes us equal, in some ways, huh?
And yet... I defeated the #1 Contender, Alexander Raven, and went toe-to-toe with the champ, J2H. At the same time, you lost to Austin James Mercer, not to mention which you were unable to stop Milo from retaining the Internet Title. So I'd say those are some points against you right there, as to signs for improvement.
By the way, for the record? There's no such thing as a "half-loss". When my tag-team partner gets herself pinned, I still have an L added to the record book. When I'm battling in a six-way contest and one guy gets a lucky roll-up on the jobber in the match, it still lands full marks on me. We don't do half-points in this sport. So toughen up on that, say you took the loss, and man up for the next one, okay?
So physically, have you improved? If you've kept constantly training, I'd hope so. Mentally, though? I'd say the jury is still out. I want to see if you can develop that killer instinct in the ring, or outside of it, depending on what type of match we're having. It's something you have to have, if you want to be great in this business. You know I've got a reputation for being willing to do anything to win. I do have to say, though, it annoys me to hear it brought up in Sin City, strangely enough.
Yes, in other federations, I've rigged up electric shocks to the ropes to 'surprise' my opponents. I've shot up some with tranquilizer darts, and others I've brought in enough troops to be my own army, stampeding over those standing against me. But in Sin City? This has really been the place where Peter Vaughn has stayed... pure. Oh, sure, I've done some major damage in the matches given to me, but everything I've done? It's been within the rules of that particular match. Just like it will be for this contest.
Hell, in my view, I've been damn well noble here.
But you can be a stickler for the rules of the contest, and still be ruthless against your opposition. In fact, for the Roulette Title, it pretty much demands that you have that merciless side, because you have to be willing to go the extra mile. For instance, if you're standing at the top of the turnbuckle, holding a sledgehammer, do you utilize it? Or do you toss it away and hope you can win with a simple elbow drop or something?
Obviously, you know my point of view on that one.
So yeah, Eds, I'm still intrigued to see what you bring to the table in this one. Especially if it's a tables match. Will you try to do things the 'honest' way, bringing in a table and setting it up, hoping to put me through it? Or will you be able to think strategically, and immediately try to put me through the announce table after a sneak attack? If you did that, I dare say I'd be proud of you.
I'd still fight like hell to piledrive you through that same table, but I'd still be proud.
So let's see what you've got, Eddie. Show me that a Lion can be cold-hearted and proud, and you could definitely become worthy in my eyes. Or be like Simba and just lay there, crying, while the ruthless lion does what he has to do.
Roar, boyo. Roar.
~As the shot comes back up, we see Sadie Anderson driving her well-ridden truck, bringing it down the road, as she looks to her side.~
Sadie Anderson: Well? How's it looking? Are we almost there?
~The cameraman is fiddling with his cell phone, pressing several places at once. He looks like he's scrolling through something.~
Sadie Anderson: Hello?? Do I need to turn soon or what??
Cameraman: Oh, uh, hold on a second...
~After a few more adjustments, the cameraman finally has a map on his screen, showing the blinking light up ahead.~
Cameraman: Okay. It should be coming up soon. We'll need to make a right turn about half a mile from here.
Sadie Anderson: And he's still stopped?
Cameraman: Yes, from what I see, the van is stationary.
Sadie Anderson: Thank goodness for small favors. But why is he here, outside of Dallas?
Cameraman: ... Well... he's kind of been here before. Recently.
Sadie Anderson: What?
~The turn-off is coming up on the right, so Sadie gets into the right lane, prepared. She then sees the sign sitting in front of them.~
Sadie Anderson: "White Rock Lake"? Wait... isn't this where Peter...
Cameraman: Yep. This is where Mr. Vaughn went for a swim and got arrested.
~Confused, Sadie pulls into the parking area for White Rock Lake. Nearby, we can see one other vehicle sitting there, parked. It's the cameraman's van. As soon as Sadie parks, the cameraman hops out and hurries over. He reaches under the back tire, pulling out a spare key and unlocking the van. Looking inside, he breathes a sigh of relief.~
Cameraman: I think everything's still here. Well, other than my hand-held. Mr. Vaughn must have taken that.
~The cameraman slams the van shut, as Sadie walks past him, a foreboding look on her face. She's headed straight towards the pier, with the cameraman hurrying to catch up with her.~
Cameraman: What do you think? Did he crack? I mean, it's even colder now than it was earlier...
Sadie Anderson: We just need to find him. Nothing else matters.
~The duo makes it to the pier, where they see a stack of gear laying on the ground. It appears to be another of Peter Vaughn's coveralls, folded neatly on the deck. Sadie shakes her head in disbelief.~
Sadie Anderson: Did he really...
Cameraman: Hey, my camera!!
~The cameraman slips past Sadie, picking up the camera from the post it was sitting on. He brings it back over, quickly rewinding it, as Sadie steps in next to him.~
Cameraman: Thank goodness it didn't end up in the water!
~Sadie glares at him, with the cameraman doing a quick swallow.~
Cameraman: I'm sorry, it's just... it would come out of my salary... anyhow, let's see what it recorded.
~With that, the cameraman gets it playing.~
FLASHBACK
~The image comes up with Vaughn setting the camera in place on the post, making sure it's recording. He nods, seeing that it's on, although he struggles for a moment to get it centered.~
Peter Vaughn: That camera guy makes this look easier than it is. Guess that's why they pay him the small bucks.
~After a moment, Vaughn finally steps back, nodding towards the camera.~
Peter Vaughn: I'm recording this for whoever ends up watching this. Probably Sadie. Hey, darlin'. As you can see, I'm back here where I failed at my attempt to cross the White Rock Lake. Anyone who knows me will realize that I don't deal well with failure. I'm a completionist. It's in my blood. And I don't like to get denied when I've got a goal in mind.
~Vaughn shrugs, acknowledging his weakness, even while giving in to it here tonight.~
Peter Vaughn: When I start something, I have to finish it. I've started a great run in Sin City, even through a few bumps in the road, and I have to make sure I complete the journey, one way or another. I also have to complete this journey, here at the lake. Otherwise, it will gnaw at me for the rest of my life as something I failed at. I don't do failure. Not here. Not in Sin City. Not ever.
~With that, Vaughn begins to get out of his coveralls, even as he positions another bag nearby. Where did he get this bag? Who knows?~
Peter Vaughn: Sadie, I just want you to know, I do love you, more than I have anyone else. I'm not great on that front, you know that, but I still believe in it. I don't see anything going wrong here tonight, but just in case I turn out to be mistaken... I just want you to know that I'm glad to have been in your life. I'll see you soon. I promise.
~With that, Vaughn steps forward, in his swimming trunks, as he shuts off the camera.~
~Silently, the cameraman lowers his hand-held, looking over at Sadie with concern.~
Cameraman: You don't think he really... I mean, that water would be near freezing tonight, wouldn't it?
~Sadie looks over the lake, a mixture of emotions on her face.~
Sadie Anderson: How'd they get him out of the water earlier?
Cameraman: Uh, well, they used a speedboat over on the other side... but wait!
~Sadie is already heading around, intent on getting to the boat, as the cameraman follows behind her.~
Cameraman: You can't use the boat, Ms. Anderson! It'll bring security down here in a flash! They'll arrest us both, and then they'll go arrest Mr. Vaughn as well, and he won't just pay a fine this time!
Sadie Anderson: I don't care. They can lock me up for as long as they want, but first, I'm saving my fiancé! Now get out of my way!
~After a brief tussle, Sadie gets past him, hurrying over to the other side of the pier. The cameraman follows, looking around wildly, wondering how long they'll take to respond. Both come around to the speedboat, looking inside... and Sadie gasps out loud at what she sees.~
Sometimes it's hard to believe what's right in front of your face, Edward Furlong.
I mean, I'll give you the credit for admitting that you felt intimidated by me in our first meeting. I mean, why wouldn't you? You were a newcomer on the scene, trying to impress that all-star family of yours, and I'm one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Of course you'd be intimidated, and I'm sure that played a part, however small, in my victory over you.
But that's where the vision problems come into play, Ed. Because you're saying that now you're not intimidated, and that it won't affect you in our second contest.
The problem is, my friend, I don't think anyone out there believes it.
You're coming into this contest trying to hide what should be as plain as the nose on your face: that you're even more intimidated by me now that I nearly killed you with a sledgehammer. Again, who wouldn't be? I certainly wouldn't be that confident if someone tried to squash my brain and almost succeeded. I've had battles before with guys like Supreme Machine who nearly slaughtered me, and I tell you, that stays in your mind when you have to face them again.
I'm man enough to admit it, kid. There are some guys that will absolutely be in my head before a contest even begins. Guys like Alias, who floored me in the XWF. J2H will probably maintain a place in my mind for a while, until I clear that hurdle eventually. The trick is that you have to use that intimidation as a weapon itself. Forge it so that you can use it against your opponent, turning the weakness into a strength.
The problem is, to do that, you have to acknowledge that it exists.
So do your best to see me in the correct light, Edds. You're frightened of me in some ways, and that's okay. Channel that into your psyche. Use it as fuel. Terror can add a lot of adrenaline into the mix, after all. It might even help you get over the hump, although I don't exactly need that kind of motivation myself. As soon as the night's wrestling begins, I'll be overflowing with energy, that'll fuel me just fine in the heat of battle.
But you could use it, Eds. Just be honest with yourself. Can you do that?
I'm not sure you can. After all, you really believe in that Honor Over Glory nonsense. I've never been too big on the 'honorable' part. I mean, okay, I have my limits. I won't go out and hit a kid, or beat up an elderly guy, or set fire to someone's house. I don't see the point to any of that. But if you have an advantage that's built into the rules of the match, why NOT exploit it? There's nothing impure about that, in my view. Of course, that could be the devil in me talking.
But who knows? Maybe you can prove that it's still possible to be honorable AND relentless at the same time. Anything's possible.
Seriously, though, for this to be match of the night, I truly need you to realize that you've got a bit of fear in your heart regarding me. You probably have had a nightmare or two from that night, waking up after the impact, wondering if you were going to make it through the evening. You have to acknowledge it to move past it. To be the man that I DO see you can become.
You can be great in this business, Eddie Lyons. You CAN be Unbreakable.
You just have to admit to yourself that even unbreakable elements can have flaws.
~Both the cameraman and Sadie stare with their mouths agape, looking down into the speedboat as the man down there acknowledges them.~
Peter Vaughn: Hey, Sadie. Hey, camera dude. Nice enough night for you?
Sadie Anderson: Peter... you're... why are you...
Peter Vaughn: Hold on a second. I think I almost have the hang of this. If I just cross these two wires...
~Vaughn finishes crossing what he's working on, tying them together. And... nothing happens. Vaughn looks at them, scratching his head, before leaning over again.~
Peter Vaughn: Okay, maybe those were for the headlamps. Let me try these two.
~Sadie, still shocked, opts to climb down into the boat, as the cameraman stays above. He's already shifted into work mode, recording the two inside the speedboat.~
Sadie Anderson: I... I thought you were going to swim across the lake? Wasn't that the whole point?
~Vaughn looks up, surprised. He's wearing a different outfit now, but it's more like a sailor's suit top with his swim trunks underneath.~
Peter Vaughn: No, no. The point was CROSSING the lake. I thought you understood that.
Cameraman: Hold on a second, Mr. Vaughn. You tried swimming it earlier today and got arrested. I thought you were trying it again.
Peter Vaughn: Well... I'll admit I thought about it. But I tested that water, and you know what? It's pretty cold now. So taking this speedboat seemed like the smarter alternative. Unfortunately, they're not quite as lax as you are, so the keys to start it weren't here.
Cameraman: Hey, I'll have you know I don't normally leave my keys behind...
Peter Vaughn: Yeah, and I bet you do it even less now. You're welcome.
~Through all this, Sadie's shock is wearing off, being replaced by a wave of anger.~
Sadie Anderson: So... you snuck out away from me. You stole this man's van. And all because of your insane need of completing something??
Peter Vaughn: I... well, I don't think of it as 'insane', per say... but essentially, yes. I'm sorry, Sadie, but you wouldn't have let me drive out on my own to come back here, would you?
Sadie Anderson: Certainly not!
Peter Vaughn: Exactly. So I improvised. Just as I'm used to doing in my career, and just like I'm doing now. Sometimes there are multiple ways to skin a cat, although I've never understood why someone would ever want to do that. Ahhh, here we go.
~Vaughn puts together another set of wires, and miraculously the boat's engine starts up. Sadie looks down, surprised that Vaughn was able to pull that off. The cameraman, meanwhile, is already looking back the way they came.~
Cameraman: That engine's too loud. They'll be coming.
Peter Vaughn: Yeah, we can't wait around. So Sadie... care to join me on this adventure, now that you're here?
~Sadie looks up at the cameraman, who is shaking his head no, and then back to Vaughn. She lets out a deep breath.~
Sadie Anderson: Well, it's not like I can let you out of my sight now, can I?
Peter Vaughn: Heh. Nope. You're stuck with me.
Sadie Anderson: Then... let's get across this lake.
~Grinning, Vaughn makes sure the speedboat is untied from the dock, before looking up at the worried cameraman. He tosses him his set of keys, with the cameraman barely catches with one hand.~
Peter Vaughn: Thanks for the ride, my brother. You might want to get out of here. They'll probably recognize the van. See you next time.
~With that, Vaughn slams the accelerator forward, sending the speedboat flying away from the pier. The cameraman watches them go, then turns, startled, as he can see lights coming on at the nearby ranger station. He gulps, then grabs his camera and makes a run for the van. The final shot goes to Peter and Sadie, as the boat jets across the lake, with Sadie reaching over to hold Peter's hand. He smiles, as we slowly fade out.~
Some would say it's about the journey and not the destination.
I personally consider them both equally balanced, as all things should be.
You're going on another journey with me, Eddie. And I may give you a hard time about our competition, but far be it from me to take away from what you're becoming. Sure, I take a little pride in having started you on that path, as you had literally two choices after I tore you down: either stay broken or build yourself back up. You chose to reconstruct the Unbreakable Eddie Lyons, and while you haven't been tremendously successful since then, you've at least shown that you're better than the average competitor.
Of course, I'm exceptional myself, and we've yet to see if you can reach my level. But you're still better than Barnhart or the Troll, and even better than Rodrigo or Carter.
That's a good thing, boyo.
Now, we're still in my element. The Roulette Wheel can bring up so many things that you might be unprepared for, while I'll have had some experience in something similar. I mean, I've fought in basically every kind of match you can think of. I've gone from high-flying multi-platform affairs to exploding C4 barbed wire death matches. And between you and me, I hope that one doesn't come up on the wheel, because it tends to be messy for both competitors. That said, if it does, it does, and I know how to roll at the right time.
Something tells me your coach might have been lax in instructing you on that particular knowledge.
So experience still plays a factor, boyo, even if you don't want to believe it. You may be closer to me now than you were, but that's like a son being closer to his grandfather's talent level because he learned how to play Uno. That won't stop his grandfather from blasting him continuously with Draw Fours until the kid can't even hold up all the cards. It just means that maybe he's learned to play a wild card at the right time to try and stay alive.
I know all about this game of ropes & rings, Eddie. I've been through it all. And I still have a long way to go before I'm hanging it up in the future. My journey is far from over. Yours is still, really, in its beginning stages. And you can still be great. You can still make your way up to the top of the Sin City roster. But that's your future destination.
For now, your journey goes through me... and I guarantee a lot of bumps in the road.
So make your choices, Eddie. Choose your decisions carefully. Challenge me how you think you must, knowing that it might be a handicap that you can't overcome. Prove yourself a worthy successor to my championship reign. Or get out of my way, because I'll still be on the hunt for the best of the best to hold this Roulette Title above their head.
It could be you. It could also be your downfall.
All journeys have an end, after all. And sometimes the end comes much sooner than anyone ever expects.
And if it goes that way, kid, then I'm sorry. But you'll be taking the Plunge all the way back to the starting line.
See you in Arizona, boyo.