Over the last few days. I had taken it upon myself to get out and go sightseeing. I had taken the chance to actually enjoy the city. Not very often that I even left my own house, let alone left the state I lived in. Might as well soak it in while I can. But even with all the sight seeing and being able to unwind a little. There was that part of the back of my brain that's keeping me focused on what I was here for anyway.

Sin City Wrestling’s High Stakes event and the Rumble. That’s what this entire journey was for. Forty eight hours from now I would be inside the TCC Arena under all those bright lights. Hopefully, I would be competing at a high level and not gasping for air. Only time would tell though. However, it was time for me to check in on all those wonderful SCW faithful.

I had my phone in hand while I sat there at the pool side area of the hotel I was staying at. With the camera app opened up on it. I hit the record button and began to address everyone.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Man!

A slight smirk began to form on my lips while shaking my head from side to side.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
I would have never thought that by announcing that I was going to be in the High Stakes Rumble would be something that ruffled feathers. After all, I already said it about myself once before. It’s not like I ever did anything of any significance. My time in Sin City Wrestling was very forgettable. I realize that, but it seems like it’s a little bit of a problem for some that I’ve decided to throw my name in the hat.

I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t say this was a little bit of a shock. I didn’t expect anyone to bat an eye when it came to my announcement of being in the match. I fully expected everyone to ignore me, but I guess I had more motion than I thought I did. Or at least that’s the way it appeared.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
I guess more than anything it’s a problem for you, Eddie. You had quite a bit to say about me being part of this match. You seem like you are very offended that I chose the High Stakes Rumble as a chance for me to knock off some ring rust and see exactly what it is that I am made of after all these years. Not once did I flat out say that I was going to win the thing. Not once did I really throw any shade towards you. I didn’t throw any dirt on your name. Nothing like that. I didn’t have a reason to do that.

Not to mention if I am being honest with you here. I wasn’t even familiar with who you were, what you stood for, or what you can do inside the ring. I have since done a little bit of studying. Done my research if you will. Something I wouldn’t have done regardless, but with how offended you were. It sounded like I was stepping in the ring with THEE champion. Sounded like I was getting in the ring with some kind of LEGEND. You made it sound like you were the TOP DAWG in Sin City Wrestling these days.

Letting my eyes narrow some. That was a telling sign that I was about to really buckle down and let this man have it. It had been far too long since I had dug into my bag. Eddie was about to play the fuck around and find out game in the worst way.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
However, in doing my research I am starting to find out that’s not true. Not even close to being true. At no point have you ever held the Heavyweight Championship. At no point have you reached a certain pinnacle where you are considered to be the top guy around here. You are certainly by no means at all a legend. Got a long way to go before that’s a status that you ever claim Mr. Eddie. And that’s not me trying to sling shade in your direction. It’s just a fact.

But you want to know the one thing that really stuck out to me when it came to doing my search, bud? You have a specific little catchphrase that you like to repeat like a parrot in every promo you cut. I believe it’s something along the lines of Honor Before Glory. And the way I interpreted that as you are a man with great respect. Respect for the business. Respect for the art of professional wrestling. Respect for any and every man that may get in the ring with you.

Because while your backgrounds, views, and all of that. It may be different from one another. There’s still respect for a man to be able to get in the ring and do what we do. You value having great matches with fantastic opponents over competing for championships against the shadiest of individuals. You value the integrity of what we do over cutting corners and taking shortcuts just for the sake of having some type of glory to your name. Now like I said that’s how I took it, but clearly I’m wrong.

Taking a second to pause. I wanted that to sink in a little. I wanted the man that I was addressing to really start to think about the path he was heading down. I saw things that most people didn’t. There were cracks in his armor and it was about to be exposed.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Because if you were a man that was about honor. Then you wouldn’t have been as offended as you are. It’s not like I tried to blindside anyone by tossing my name into the match. I’m not being a coward and waiting till the day of the event to show up. No, I let it be known I’d be there. I am giving everyone a fair shake to do their research on me. To understand what I am about and to have knowledge of what I am capable of between those ring ropes.

If you were a man that was about honor. You wouldn’t have met with so much blatant disrespect. You wouldn’t have taken some cheap jabs. You wouldn’t have made fun of me for being old and trying my hand at this one last time. No if you were about honor. You’d been one of the first to want to shake my hand. You’d been one of the first to welcome me back. You would have been one of the first to tell me what an honor it would be to share the ring with me. Regardless of what I have or haven’t done.

But see that’s the problem with the younger generation. You will say one thing. Yet do the complete opposite. You will say you have respect, but the moment that someone or something doesn’t align with what you want for yourself. You are quick to disrespect them. As long as everyone is willing to put you on a pedestal and grovel at your feet. You’re willing to be their best friend. Because it benefits you, but if they won’t do it. If it doesn’t benefit you. Then it’s to hell with them.

My words were coming off stronger and stronger with each one. No doubt I wanted them to sting and hit the man right at his core as they were spoken.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
And I hate even being one of those old heads that say this type of shit. I never wanted to be one of those ‘back in my day’ kind of guys. Never wanted to be that dude that looked down on a different generation or say certain generations were self entitled. Hated hearing it when I was younger and coming up in this business. However, I am someone that digs into the facts and that’s what it is. You have allowed yourself to become a disrespectful self entitled prick.

Sad part about it is. You didn’t always used to be like that. I’ve watched some of your older matches. I’be listened to quite a few of those earlier promos Eddie. You were a respectful man. You were truly about honor, but as time went on. You started to change. As you started to take major loss after major loss. As you started to fade away from the Roulette Division as one of its promising stars. As you continued to be passed up for certain opportunities. You started to become bitter. You started to become angry.

You started to abandon everything you once stood for. You became a little less about honor. You became more about glory. And if that’s the way you want to be these days Eddie. That’s fine. No one can tell you otherwise. At least have the balls to admit it. Have the balls to admit to everyone that did support you. That you’re a changed man now and you are like everyone else. Quick to jump off a sinking ship instead of being a captain that goes down with it. That’s some punk bitch shit if you ask me.

There was a little shrug that left my shoulders. Nothing would piss a man off more than to question their manhood and to call them a bitch. I fully expected Eddie to lash out over that, but at the same time it’s exactly what I wanted. I needed him to lash out so I could shut him down.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Though now I understand why I was catching so much shade. You are actually afraid of what I am going to bring to the table. You are afraid that when you step into the ring with me. You might find your teeth getting kicked down your throat. You might find yourself getting tossed out of the ring on your ass and being forced to come face to face with reality. That once again you just aren’t as good as you think you are. Once again have to see an opportunity slip right through your fingers.

And once again you’ll be humbled by being forced to accept that you’re not good enough to face the Heavyweight Champion. You’re not good enough to compete on the level of Finn Whelan. You’re not good enough to be the one to take that championship out of that man’s grasp. Because let’s face it. Even if you did win this thing. He’s got a stranglehold on that championship. Hell, he’s got a stranglehold on this entire company. What the hell makes you think you are any different?

What is going through your mind that makes you believe you can be the dude, my guy? Cause the way I see it. If you’re so threatened by me. Someone who essentially never did a thing around here worth mentioning. If you’re that afraid of me that you are willing to lash out like a teenager with anger issues. Then trust me when I tell you. You’re just as unprepared mentally and emotionally as you are physically to compete for the Heavyweight Championship!

Once again shaking my head from side to side. I didn’t feel in my heart of hearts that I was wrong for what I was saying. I may not have reached the level I wanted to in SCW. However I had been around wrestling for a long time. I knew when someone was built differently and Eddie wasn’t one of those guys.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
It’s alright to be threatened by me. It’s alright to be scared of me. I understand why you decided to lash out at me. However, let me go ahead and tell you. That making that mistake has officially put a major target on your back. See not only am I lacing up my jordans just to see if I can still do this. Not only am I hitting that ring on Sunday to see how I will fair in today’s atmosphere. I am not hitting that ring with every intention of handing you your ass on a silver platter, kid. You are about to find out. I might be an old man but I am still very much about that life. Talk shit. Get hit.

The reality is I was a thirty five year old man. I had no business trying to legitimately scrap with someone. Especially someone that happened to be younger than men, but I didn’t tolerate disrespect. That’s how I was raised and that wasn’t going to change about me. Eddie just better hope for his sake that he’s able to back up his words.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
I have a feeling that maybe just maybe Eddie might be the only one willing to make that type of mistake and come at me with that type of disrespect. However, if there happens to be anyone else that feels some type of way. If there’s anyone else that is offended by the fact that I decided to come out of retirement for this match. If any of you feel so strongly about the fact that I want to try my hand at this and see where I stand. Then go ahead and speak up, but do so in the right manner. Cause I ain’t got no problem kicking others right in their mouth!

I licked my lips. Feeling myself becoming a little more motivated with every word that was coming out of my mouth.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
I would love nothing more than to get in the ring with Ben Jordan and throw hands. Just an old fashioned fist fight amongst two men. Showing this young generation that fists go a lot farther than all these flashy moves. As well as just showing there’s nothing wrong with two men fighting each other out of respect and out of the spirit of competition. But if you want to take it farther than that my guy? Then, I will come prepared. I’ll make sure my old ass is ready to drop you on your head if that’s what it takes.

Being in the ring with someone as different and unique as Guy. That’s a challenge that I welcome. It’s something that makes me feel like I really have to be on my A Game. I have to be someone that’s going to expect the unexpected. Type of dude to try and give you a wedgie or make you fall onto legos. A wild and creative person from what I gathered. But if ol’ boi thinks he’s going to be slick with it. Rest assured I can take that cape and shove it right up his ass. While sending him backing from the ring.

Bill Barnhart might be a man that not too many people respect. He’s a man that ends up being the butt of people’s jokes. People take every chance they can to push that man around. So, I am sure he is just looking to unleash some of that pent up frustration. Got no problem being that man to punch him in the face to let him know it’s alright to lash out and let it go. Got no problem getting tossed around by the big man for the sake of him standing up for himself. As long as he knows I’m going to get back up.

It’ll take a lot for someone to keep me down. Even someone of his power and size. But if he wants to take the other route. If he wants to try and make jokes at my expense. If he wants to try and push me around. If he wants to try and bully me the way people have bullied him. Then bet your ass homie. You’re going to bet in for a very rude awakening. Aint nothing you can say that’s ever going to make me feel bad about myself. However it’ll be hard for you to say anything with a broken jaw.

I could see myself having a good competitive back and forth with someone like Justin Smith. Not very many people put a lot of stock into the man. But wins and losses aren’t everything as I’ve said before. Sometimes just being a fighter at your core and being someone that can take a good punch but stand back up goes a long way with me. I can see that man hitting me with the same type of energy and same type of fierceness I’d hit him with. I welcome that type of thing man.

But if he wants to try and cut my legs out from under me. If he wants to be the type of man that tries to make it appear as if I’m nothing special because I’ve been gone too long or because I’m old. Then you can bet your ass. I’ll take this grandpa looking dude out behind the shed and put him down just like they did old yeller. Point, I am trying to make here folks. I might be older, I might be slower, and I might not be who I was ten years ago. But push me enough and you’ll find out who real I can still be when a line is crossed!

Once again I let a little shrug leave my shoulders. I had all the respect in the world for the men that were going to be in this match. I had no intention of crossing a line that couldn’t be uncrossed or coming off as someone that people weren’t going to like. However, at the same time they needed to understand. I was the type of man to stand on business. They wanted to make their own mistakes and I’d be on their ass over it from start to finish.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
You know it’s crazy to think about where I have come from and everything I have allowed myself to become. Growing up in the southside of Chicago. Having a father that was a high ranking man of the military who instilled respect into me and taught me what it was to be a man. Stern and ruled with an iron fist. Made sure that I understood he expected nothing other than my best. There was no excuses. I wanted something. I had to work for it. Despite how things were I’d change nothing about my pops.

And my mother was a lawyer and had to make some of the most difficult decisions ever for the future of people. Something that she constantly reminded me of. She always taught me to have love and compassion for people. Because the people she dealt with didn’t have that. But at the same time she made sure I understood that one mistake. One time of acting on emotion or not thinking an action through was the difference between being behind bars or being free.

Sometimes it was the difference between life and death. Values that the two of them taught me is why I turned out to be the man that I am. It’s why I carry myself a certain way and don’t judge people, but it’s also why I let people know I’m not a pushover. I’m not someone you’re going to look down on or disrespect. You have to stand up for yourself to achieve success. You have to fight with everything you have for success. And you can’t make excuses if you want success.

Each word that was coming out of my mouth had my eyes glowing a little bit with a sense of pride in them. Whether or not people understood where I was coming from. That wasn’t really for me to make a statement on, but at least they knew what to expect.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
There’s no denying that these stakes are as high as they can possibly be. It’s truly going to come down to which one of us men are willing to go all in on ourselves and see to it that we walk out on the other side the first ever High Stakes rumble winner. I don’t know about y’all but I know I don’t plan on coming this far just to let it all slip through my fingers. Good luck gentlemen. You’re all going to need it!

Throwing up the deuces with my right hand. I proceeded to hit the end record button on my phone causing the video to end and save right into my galley. That was something that I could get out to the people in a few hours. For now I wanted to spend this last little bit of being able to relax and take the time to soak in the experience. After all, in forty eight hours. It would be officially go-time and time to show everyone what A-Matt was all about.