The rope hit the ground, cracking like the buckling of skin against bone, again and again. With each slap, Ryan remembered each punch thrown, caught and received. The sound grew louder as the images surface, the last seconds of the fight. Knuckles white around the handles, he pushed himself harder and harder as the memory went on. The thought of having that championship title so close in his grasp, that in one more count it would have been his. His heart was racing like never before. One second away from victory... and then. Blank. The crowd's roars pulled him back to consciousness, blocking out anything else. His head hurt like crazy. Pain running through his face a million miles a second. And then... it was over.
Ryan had lost.
He could barely hear his own thoughts, nothing but the constant sound, the blood pumping through him, the chorus of voices... Suddenly, everything stops. The rope dropped as he stumbled a step, finding himself alone in the gym yet again. The only sound, the heavy pant of his own breath as he's taken his body to the limit again.
Taking a break from his incisiveness training, sweat soaked and heated, Ryan headed to the locker room so that he could clear his head. A cold splash against his newly healed face as he rubbed off the seat and cooled himself. The lights flickered on top of him as he inspected his facial features. It was back to normal. No scar nor sign of any damage in sight.Yet he can still see it. A fire burned inside him as he spoke.
Ryan Keys: Pretty little Ryan. That's all people seen. A showboat with a nice body which he reveals every time he steps into the ring. I really can't blame them. I am a sight to behold. Yet I can be more than that. And I've continued to show it time and time again. Ryan Keys is not just a pretty boy. That 4-way match in Japan I showed my skills, amazed the crowd at how close I was to winning. And I once again proved it in my last match. Guessing Shipman already found that out the hard way. For no matter how many times I get tossed around in that ring... I always find a way.
The brunette stepped back from the mirror and toweled off. Still admiring himself on it. Guess he really should be thanking Christian Underwood for giving him some time off to fully recover. Yet after a match like the one he had with Shipman he really needed a rest. That monster can hit hard. Sometimes he has to wonder how exactly he managed to pull off the win.
Ryan stripped off his shirt and inspected his healing body. Once he had heard that he was going to have the privileged of getting a one on one match against Tuscini, Ryan had walked away from the social world and began to train. Day in and day out he exhausted himself to reach new improvements. He was now faster, stronger, more agile and flexible than before. An impressive trait since he was already at top physical condition. Yet he wanted to be ready.And... he is ready.
Ryan Keys: Can't say that being off the air has been necessarily a bad thing. It gave me a chance to really work on myself to reach a new high. I have to give James some major props. I've never dared to take myself this far. But I can't really say that this wasn't necessary. No. In order to compete with Tuscini in the ring you need to be at your peak at all times. There's no argument about it. Changes have to be done. And I have.
His adoration continued as he displayed his new form. The change was slight but unavoidable. And Ryan enjoyed it. It's a whole new type of show coming from Ryan Keys for the crowd of Reno, Nevada. One that’ll being him up to new heights. Win or lose he would have proven that he can handle wrestling against the best. But let’s face it. He’s trained for this moment. He’s not going to lose.
Ryan Keys: For those of you that aren't in the know, or are unfortunate enough to not to catch the hotwire this week. Ryan keys gets his first one on one match against the one and only, SCW Roulette champion, James Tuscini. A summer blockbuster of a match put together for the LEX Nightclub to enjoy. This match has been one the people have been waiting for since we’ve set foot in the same ring.
Now James... I don't know how comfortable you are in the night life style of environment, but you're going to have to get used to it quick. Because I have a home field advantage over you. I know what the people in Nevada want to see. And that is a full blown exhibition. That's where I shine. Yet, I'm not going to take you lightly. Neon light and music aside I am 100% focused on you, James. I've taken 2 weeks dedicating my time only to get ready for you in this match. I've earned this match with you even if I was next on your list. I am not going to let you down. This is going to be a real dog fight.
And I really hope that James doesn't let his recent loss get to him. Not really fair of me to bring it up such a thing. I know. But one wonders if you're 100% ready for this match. Because I don't want to go into this match knowing that your head is not in it. This is my change to prove that I am capable of holding that title. Ryan Keys is a champion in the making. But I am not going to accept a free win. Whatever drama that's being going around has nothing to do without match. It's just one and me. You should get your head around that.
A change in tone was very visible. It’s been happening recently, a focused state of mind that the young man enters where little else mattered. Not even his precious face and body. Ryan Keys was serious about this match and it doesn't matter if he has to take down some anyone that gets in his way.
Ryan Keys: There is nothing stopping me from getting that win against you Tuscini. I don't care if I stepped away from the spotlight to get myself ready for it. They can call be burnt out, they can say that I haven't been around much all they want, it doesn't matter to me. Yes it pained me to be away from the spotlight for so long but it had to be done for me to be 100% in both mind and body to finally get what I deserve. A win. And I'm going to get it. No matter if I have to pull every trick in the book, or take down a few party crashers so that I can get to you.
Tuscini on #CC153 I'm finally gonna get revenge for what you did to me. Not only did you cause me to bust my face you had to rub insult to injury by showing up after the match to tell me how close I was. You may say that it was a show of sportsmanship, but every word you spoke was like a taunt. Seeing that title on you after I was so close to getting it almost broke me.... but that can't be done. I can't be taken down so easily. No amount of pain that you inflict on me is going to matter. I'll just keep coming back.
It doesn't matter if you take me lightly or not you're still going to fall. I'm going to beat you one way or the other. And once I do... once I get you at you best. There's not going be anybody out there that can compete with me. You are the high point of what a wrestler should be. And went I beat you I'll know that I'll be in the highest point in my career to date.
Ryan slyly smiled at himself in the mirror. This has all been a psych up for himself for the match. There is nothing keeping him from being focused on this match. No drama, no relationships, nothing. He is dedicated to take James down and get the gold. He knows that Tuscini is vulnerable. It pains him to know that. But this is his change to strike.
Ryan Keys: Tuscini could say that you're intimidating... I could. But I won't. There is nothing to you. You're a wrestler and a damn good one. But every wrestler has a weak spot. And in our last match in Japan. I found yours. It only came up for a second... but that's all I'll ever need to take you down. A shot. One short is all it takes. And I'm going to go for it. I could be nice, but where's the fun in that?
Keeping people guessing is what I'm good at. No one know what I'll do next. So people better keep their eyes open. Because this Sunday I am going to do what very few have done. I am going to beat James Tuscini one on one and take The SCW Roulette championship from him. So the LEX Nightclub better get the strobe light flashing, the neon light flaring and the DJ table spinning. Because I'm going to put on the best show Nevada has ever seen. And it only takes 3 seconds for me to cause a major uproar.
That's all folks.
An ominous sound blacked out the scene as the stage was set. Its Ryan Keys vs James Tuscini for the SCW Roulette title on #CC153. A match both men have been wanting for a long time. And it was finally going to happen. A dog fight for the ages where the real winner is the one that can still walk after it’s all over. And this young man is driven to be that winner.
