The scene opens to Mark "The Dragon" Cross who is fiddling about with a camera that is sitting far from a cinematic angle as he tries to get it straight-ish, using an app on his phone as a viewfinder. From the scene behind him we realise he is behind the wheel of a car, stopped at traffic lights, hence the bravery to whip out the camera.
oooooo you know those times when a senior member of staff tells you you're not booked…so you plan your life accordingly, including skipping out of the show early to hit up the beach party you were given the heads-up about…only to miss the part where the much more senior, much more big-bollocked member of staff to announces that you are indeed booked after all. And have a warm up match a week later. We've all been there right? Thought so.
Well, that's what just happened to me. My schedule is so effed that not even Bob the Builder could fix it, and that's why you're getting a GoPro balancing in a cup holder this week while I drive to training. Apologies for that everyone. Does that mean my preparation has been less than perfect? Yes. Instead of spending 4 hours in the gym, then 4 hours in the video room watching tape every day, protein shake in hand, I've just done the gym work. With a protein shake. Have I still trained harder than a lot of professional guys? Probably...but I don't know my opponent's game nearly as much as I would do at this point in time. It's not impossible, it's just...not ideal.
So instead...let's skip the part where I dissect my opposition like a chicken wing at a BBQ and talk about some sporting theory, as after all it's quite relevant. Look through history and you'll find that a vast majority, when they've earned their chops and get some level of control over their career often fall into the singles category, or they become tag team guys. Often the two will mix and mingle, but predominantly they have their safe zones and they stick to it.
Wrestling isn't the only sport to have "tag team specialists" or "lone rangers". Tennis is another great example...and when you dig deep into the psychological side of things, some just can't handle the heat of being the only guy, having nobody to blame but themselves when things don't go their way out there. They NEED the team environment to stop themselves from crumbling mentally.
Talking of nobody to blame but themselves...imagine the conversation I'll be having with myself about preparation if the result isn't positive...
But back to the point. I mean, there's a lot to be said for singles competition. You have nowhere to hide. No chance to take a breather, and nobody to help keep your weaknesses hidden. Not for long anyway. It's no surprise that wrestlers who excel in tag format can struggle when it's just them on one other. One of my oldest friends in the business for example, "Deadly" Devinee Delaney...she's had singles success, won titles, still has the potential to do it now...but she has her Plan A and she sticks to it. The predictability that can cause her problems goes away in a tag match - She only has to slap a hand to freshen it up. For her partners? They value her 10+ years as a full-time pro wrestler, and they can hang their hat on her consistent performances. As a tag team competitor she's the first name on the team sheet.
Let me clarify that there's nothing wrong with that. My first matches as a wrestler? I looked like a barroom brawler out there...and the thing is? I still got wins. I wouldn't have been exciting, but I could have carried on that way. I didn't have to go to Japan to learn Strong Style. I DEFINITELY didn't need to add the high flying elements. Boxing classes, MMA sessions...yoga. Don't ask...but I made a commitment at the very early stage to learn everything I could. To have every possible trick in my locker. One thing I had when I left the NFL was time. For Devinee? Wrestling needed to put meals on the table for her. She couldn't learn new things, she just had to get better at what she knew, keep on wrestling, and now she's so set in her ways that trying to shake it up too much? It'd do more harm than good.
Don't sell yourself short, stick to singles, people would tell me from all corners. You have all the tools. Same thing I said to Faith, my young protege, and while she still has a lot to work on in regards to plans B, C and beyond, the kid is so damn fast that it's a struggle for anyone to get hold of her long enough to need a backup...including me, and I've watched her in a wrestling ring virtually every day for the last 4 years...and yet here I am disregarding my own advice...
...because then we have the Fire Dragons. I've spoken about this before, the doubters, the countless number of friends, fans, writers who have come to me and asked why. Why are you lowering yourself to tag team competition, willingly, and why oh why did you choose Valentina? I'm not going to dwell on that too much, I've covered it countless times before...but essentially it's because it works. It had something from minute one, and it's still developing really nicely.
A good tag partner elevates the other. It all started out as a bit of a joke...but I had way more fun with it than I ever planned to. It made me stay on here in Sin City even after Faith's injury healed. It makes me hit harder. It makes me want it more. It makes me want to bring home the bacon...and how many comments fly around about the newer, more focussed Val. From has this girl really got it to worthy number one contender. To a champion.
I'm staring down the barrel of two great opportunities on one show, and I can see the headlines now...just how focussed will The Dragon be on his High Stakes match when he has the Double Down tag title shot to worry about too? I'm going to surprise you all and avoid the political answer. That is my main focus. If I have to choose, I choose that match. It means more to me to bring home a title for my team than it does for a big win against main show opposition. There, I said it. Cue my opponents writing off my chances. Type out your headline, golden opportunity wasted by Mark "The Dragon" Cross. Do it now...and while you do let me clarify for anyone still watching.
I saw Mark Ward's press conference after Summer XXXtreme. Go back and watch that for context if you need to. Especially the part about the potential to win a World title in the future. For a start...it wouldn't be the first time...but let the words sink in. I appreciate the comments, the faith shown in me...and I hope that the consequences of my sloping off early to drink pina coladas after the last show doesn't dent that too much, but it highlights one thing.
A top ranking title? A huge chunk of any roster is automatically not worthy to challenge for it, yet. Others have the potential, but they don't train hard enough, they fail. Some do the hard work in the gym, but don't prepare their mind. A few are strong in body and mind but don't know how to handle an opponent tactically. Putting my name in contention for a shot at that belt elevates me to the Elite tier. That's not a statement for the body to make lightly. Will wrestling two big matches in one night be tough? Hell yeah it will. To any mere mortal that would be a worst nightmare. For a future World champion? It's the least Mark or Christian would expect.
I've beaten a Hall of Famer when I started the match with only one working arm. I've wrestled a match, sprinted to my car, driven to an airport, taken a 5 hour flight and defended a title. I've wrestled on no sleep. I've wrestled after being crammed on a bus for 8 hours. I've wrestled through muscle aches and pains and put in some of the best performances of my career. I have countless stories of success against pretty challenging odds. Wrestling twice in one night, in one of the most beautiful places on the planet? This isn't a job - It's just one hell of a good life to live.
Don't judge me on one performance. Don't write me off just yet. Bad days at the office happen in this game. Luckily, they're few and far between, and when "YOUR OWN STUPIDITY" and "WHEN THERE'S A PARTY INVOLVED YOU CAN'T EVER SAY NO CAN YOU?" are the reasons for a result, it's a pretty easy fix. I feel like I can probably adjust that before Honolulu. If my problem was "YOU. CAN'T. REVERSE. ANYTHING." then I think I probably have a bigger cause for concern.
Anyway guys, thanks for listening. Sorry this has been painfully short by my standards...I'm sure a lot of you will be glad of that...oh dammit…
The camera falls flat and we lose the sight of Mark's face for a moment. We hear the camera smack against the cup holder as a hand tries to adjust it, followed by a car horn, and some muffled swearing from the driver before The Dragon reappears.
...but I'm almost at the gym, and I nearly just died a little bit trying to pick up this damn camera, so it's time to call this. I fully intend to come away with two wins out of two at High Stakes. Besides, what better way to scout three opponents than take a front row seat, am I right? This is playing right into my hands after all. By the way...I hope Pussy likes her gift…
The scene cuts to a dressing room door with Pussy Willow emblazoned on it. The POV style shot shows the door being pushed open, walking slowly to a large, wood-framed picture. As we get closer, it shows a preliminary copy of the High Stakes card. Mark Cross' name is highlighted in yellow, circled three times, underlined, and pointed to by a number of arrows of different styles and lengths.
The image cuts back to The Dragon, who grins awkwardly at the camera.
See you in the ring!!
