Legacies...
It's what so many get in to wrestling to build, although very few manage to do it and the one's that do sit back and think about it all for the rest of their lives, living on their achievements, living on the fact they used to be someone, that they used to matter. It's wrestling, it's a business where so many take out and not many give back. They win their World championships, get put in a Hall of Fame, appear every now and again and think that is giving back.
Fucking idiots.
We all know the type, the type that think they're a big deal where ever they go, yet we all can see that they had it easy, that they had become a big fish in a puddle. They come in from all over to try and prove they have something good to offer because they were big in a shit box federation in front of twenty people in a barn, and soon come to see they're not that good before rushing off to quit and spreading bad shit about companies.
Those are the types that put every ounce of stock in to their legacies, and run and hide when they see their legacies will get damaged in an ocean.
These are the clowns who take take take and never give back.
I refuse to link that to Casey Williams because we all know win or lose, Casey stuck around, Casey made good on his career in that sense. We know the big man has been knocked down but got back to his feet every single time.
He will give back after Sunday...
But most do not. Most hold up bars telling anyone that wants to listen, who they used to be, who they once were. Wrestling gave them a life, put money in their banks and food in front of them, yet when people found it too tough, the word retirement was bounced around.
Seriously, how many twenty five year olds have you seen randomly retire... especially after losing a belt... Hmmm?
Retire and don't look back, just tell the stories of the past.
You kinda people don't deserve a legacy.
I gave back when I left the ring. No, I didn't retire, the Hall of Fame spot bittered me from wrestling again.
Seriously, who gets in the Hall of Fame after leaving, only to return and wrestle regular? Oh, pretty much everyone.... My bad.
I didn't need to wrestle after that, but I owed a great debt to wrestling, not only because it put money in my bank, not only because it put food on my table. It gave me a family, two families to be exact, my brothers and sisters in The Seven Deadly Sins, but my wife, son and daughter. I owed wrestling a debt, fuck, I owed SCW a debt, so I repaid them.
I repaid them with interest.... I gave back and that is why I will never be the drunk at the bar reminding people I won titles.
My legacy continued without me lacing up a pair of boots...
A dull light shines down on a wrestling ring set up in the middle of my very own gym, just lighting up the ring, the rest of my gym in complete and utter darkness. My footsteps echo through the building as I edge ever closer to the ring. My shadow can be seen in the ring as I pull myself on to the apron, my hands gripping the bottom rope and pulling, allowing me to comfortably roll under the bottom rope. I shuffle to the corner, my back against the turnbuckle as my narrowed eyes look directly in to the ring.
This is the place my legacy continued, not in some city in front of a crowd, far from it. When I stepped away from wrestling, I instantly bought what was an old, disused warehouse before turning it in to a place where dreams get started. I turned this place in to a gym with the help of my wife and of course, Synn - yes, he owns just the smallest piece, probably in case we sell it for millions, who knows, but this is where dreams came to start. My wife and I had a young son, yet we had to be more active. We wasn't the run away on vacation every chance we got kinda couple, we were active. We could be family people and still help another generation of people realize their dreams.
It started with one...
As if a hologram image appears before me, the ring lights up with the hologram of Evie Baang. Evie raises the SCW Bombshell World championship above her head and walks to the corner opposite me, raising the belt higher as she climbs on the ropes.
The Australian with a heart of ice and a temper of fire, Evie Baang. She was the template for each and every person we trained. She was the first to be instilled with what wrestling was all about, what it was like to be a winner. Having someone like Evie to be our first was perfect for Odette and I. She had mental strength like no other. We knew we could push her to her limits and watch her flourish and she did just that. Former Bombshell World Champion, Former Bombshell Roulette champion, Former Tag Team champion, Blast From The Past Winner and on Sunday, could add Mixed Tag Team Champion to her impressive list. Trained perfectly from day one.
The image in the ring changes again to O'Malley with his head down, disappointed look on his face.
O'Malley, the man who had the talent, yet wasn't mentally ready for wrestling. He got in to it for the wrong reasons. I believe he will return someday to the ring and show the world what he was capable off. You can't teach everyone everything, you can not teach people who are distracted, but again, another roster member for SCW.
Another switch of the image occurs as Devona is seen clutching a championship belt to her chest, a proud look on her face.
The success of Devona was out of the blue for many. Not many took her seriously, they thought she was too nice, too respectful, wouldn't cut it, yet she was wrong. This was her life long dream to step in to a wrestling ring and Odette and I helped her achieve that. She worked harder than most people. She gave it her all and was rewarded with the Bombshell Internet championship and she earned it. She was a breath of fresh air in SCW.
The hologram changes to Daniel J Morgan, Osbourne, Charlotte Elliot and Mackenzie Page standing getting advice from Odette Stevens, her hand pointing in different directions, the four listening closely.
A challenging foursome if ever I've seen it. Daniel, Charlotte, Osbourne and Mackenzie had zero wrestling dreams, and I feel maybe little interest in wrestling before they discovered it days before I first met them. They were unmolded clay, waiting to shaped in to something special. There was more than a few sleepless nights as Odette and I tried to come up with a way to maximise their potential. It wasn't sightly to try and turn Osbourne in to a high flyer. Each member had to be tailored differently and we did just that. Mackenzie beat Mikah for fucks sake! That's success alone, but they took home the Tag Championships, the Bombshell Tag championships and the Mixed Tag Team championships... Their star is on the rise to the point I believe any of them can go and capture solo gold.
Another switch of the hologram shows an emotional Dani Weston holding The Bombshell World Championship in her arms, bringing a smile to my face.
Everyone's little sister, the current SCW Bombshell World Champion. I can tell you that every single person in the world was proud to see that little lady with the big heart win that title, toppling Mikah, a woman who could be SCW's biggest bombshell in the history of SCW, to get that championship. Like Devona, everyone thought she was too nice to be a wrestler, she even doubted herself losing her first few matches but the underdog in her wouldn't let her give up. She thought she would never get to the top of the mountain but she got there and she headlines Inception III. She brought what no one thought she had and deserves the spot she's in now.
The hologram of Dani turns in to Fenris looking serious.
Fenris, the man who thought he knew it all, but knew nothing when it came to pro wrestling. Ego would be an understatement, so Odette and I broke him down till he was willing to listen... Shame the man who can seemingly learn a tough language in a day, Ty West, wasn't around at the time, being as he seems to be making Fenris a little soft. Would have made our job a lot easier, yet we managed to get through to him eventually. We showed him the light and showed him what it took to be successful here. A Blast From The Past win and a World Championship doesn't lie.
The hologram of Fenris disappears and I continue to stare towards the center.
Do you see where I'm going with this whole thing? Odette and I never stopped giving back to SCW, or legacies continue through everyone we trained that has signed for SCW. We have given SCW champion, after champion after champion and we're not done yet.
The image of a woman with long platted hair, almost touching the floor can be seen.
We will always give back to what gave us something. We wasn't building our legacies in the ring, but others were continuing it. That's why we will never be those barflies talking about past glories, our glories haven't stopped, our legacy continued without having to lace up a boot... It will continue till the day I take my last breath...
I lift my head, looking deep in to the camera and smile before the lights above the right switch off, leaving the place in complete darkness.
Legacies Casey, the things we leave behind...
I know what you're leaving behind, you're leaving a life time of memories, you're leaving an example that SCW should follow. No matter how many times you get knocked down, you get back up again and you fight. You get back on your feet, shrug it off and go again and again. You eave behind a backstage legacy of not bitching and quitting after a loss.
How many people are gonna bitch after Inception III and quit. I reckon four or five.
You won't be one of them because even if you wasn't hanging up those boots, you'd have just taken this upcoming loss with a shrug and got on with things. That's an example most need to follow because shit, we know it's gonna happen this Sunday. We know this sport well...
Fuck, we even know that Lucien Castle is never gonna even debut in SCW, we're not stupid.
You leave behind that example of seeing this business for what it really is Casey, kudos to you for that. If the rest of SCW could be like you, the staff would have a lot less headaches. That is what you leave behind for people to ignore, but Sunday Casey, we give them something to remember you by even more. I know everyone wants to go out with a bang, everyone wants that show stealing retirement match and that is what you're going to get, it's what you deserve and it's what you have earned and I am going to help you give them that, but let's be reasonable about this, there can only be one winner and I intend it to be me.
I don't use the retired phrase myself, but if this is the last chance I get to step in to this ring, I'm glad it will be against you.
This isn't a love in, far from it, but for the years of work Casey Williams put in to helping build SCW should be remembered, it should be respected, it should be appreciated. If I didn't appreciate it Casey, I wouldn't be stepping back in the ring with you, but I will be bringing it all, my tank is not on empty, it's fairly full, it's like those three years left a hole I know I can fill on Sunday night. There is nothing sweeter than victory Casey, yet you will not taste it this time around. You will never taste it again.
You started my legacy, now I get to end yours.
It will end on a sour note, but I know you won't dwell on that, I know it's not in your nature, but it's been three plus years since I had my arm raised in victory and come hell or high water, this Sunday, it will happen again. My arm will be raised, people will cheer my name, but they won't forget to cheer yours too. The only difference is mine will be because for one last time, I will pin those shoulder to the canvas, I will make a winning return, and put you on the golf course before you know it.
It will be a sad occasion, but a joyous celebration of you, the man that you are, the man who has entertained SCW fans in the past, the present and the future when they look back at your matches, when they look at the career you've had. I appreciate the fact that you have been here through thick and thin. I appreciate that you've help SCW become the place it is today and a place the people who continue my legacy get to thrive in.
You will be a big loss to SCW Casey.
More than people will realize, but all good things come to an end. Everything eventually stops because change is inevitable. You laid the groundwork, it's time for others to continue the good work.
I wish you the very best in your retirement Casey, you have indeed earned it with pride and dignity. You have no retired due to a bad result, you have not retired cause you're upset. You will be retiring with class and grace.
I wish you well my friend...
May God have mercy on your soul.... Cause I will not.
With my promo recorded, it was time to make the short drive between the gym and my own, even shorter when you're in a Bugatti Veyron...
I pulled up to my house, looking towards the front door, I can't help but notice a man pacing up and down outside the door. He raises his hand to knock on the door but stops his hard before his knuckles can strike the wood. The man seems in his own would, not even heard the roar of the engine of the car. I quickly turn off the car engine and open the door, shutting it behind me as I walk towards him and standing behind him.
"Something I can help you with...." I trail off.
The man turns around, instantly recognizable as Aron, Fenris' brother. His eyes look sad and his face puffy.
"Aron?" I can't help but say in a questioning tone. "What are you doing here?"
"I... I...." He responds in a stumbling tone.
"Take a breath." I instruct him. "Then tell me what the hell is going on."
He does as instructed, breathing deeply before looking in my eyes.
"I did something really bad." He mutters out.
"How bad?" I have to ask.
"I told Ty something I shouldn't have." He explains. "And now Kristjan hates me."
I could hear the tremble in his voice, looking at the visibly shaken man. I quickly point to the door.
"Better come in then." I tell him.
And if you want to know what, I suggest you watch Fenris' week one promo. Until Sunday...
