Post by Lochlyn Cade on Aug 21, 2021 6:39:57 GMT
"Rhodes in Chapter II of Tag Team Gold”
Repeat
It’s been a common occurrence a repeat trilogy multiplied by twenty five. It’s the equation which always sums up as calamity upon the career of The Promethean. It’s every company. It’s every dictator called company head, general manager, or however they prefer to be named. Regardless, it’s the same story. Let’s throw Dorian Rhodes in with some unreliable tag team partner. Chapter: Samantha Vox
It’s the night of Sin and Dorian Rhodes walks back through the curtain leading to the backstage area. He wildly kicks a large trashcan over spilling the contents. His hand clenched in fist as he pulls back to unleash savage rage upon the cement wall. Fortunately, his momentum is stopped by the voice of a “backstage” suit. Dorian releases the clasp of his closed fist. It had just been mere moments earlier that Championship opportunity was within his grasp and that had thought has to be released as well.
He falls backwards into the cement wall with one hand clenched around the HorrorCore Championship and the other wiping sweat away from his eyes. His ears rang with the voice of the business suit congratulating him on a hard fought match. Looking around Dorian realizes that he was so overwhelmed with anger and frustrations of defeat that Jace Myers hadn’t been noticed leaving.
If given the opportunity he would have defended the HorrorCore Championship against Jace Myers… right now. Dorian Rhodes wanted nothing more than to show his tag partner of circumstance real Championship aspirations. That’d be the best revenge… Using his Championship that he didn’t have to reply upon anyone else to extract revenge. Unfortunately that’s the opportunity that he’s not going to be given. A shot at revenge.
Cecilia Ortiz: The Horrorcore title’s rules clearly state that the champion gets to decide the stipulations of the match he or she defends their title in. But for Mr. Rhodes and his battle royal victory, we have decided to give him the choice of who he defends against.
It’s a slight grin of arrogance but it sits here on the face of the HorrorCore Champion. In week of defeat comes the shining light of singles competition and domination of opponents. It’s something to be admired and Dorian Rhodes knows exactly how he wants to bring his Nightmare to Revolution One. The Prince of HorrorCore knows exactly who he wants to stand across that ring from.
AND
THEN
The Bad Seed is again the prisoner of tag team circumstance.
THEN
The Bad Seed is again the prisoner of tag team circumstance.
The camera slowly begins to fade into an image of an individual wearing a hoodie and their head tilted downward. As the lights begin to become more prominent the scene reveals the HorrorCore Champion. His championship slung over his shoulder a snarl on his face and his eyes flashing with intentions of devastation. He clears his throat before his raspy voice cuts the silence with sharp commandment.
“Okay, Revolution One. You have my attention. I signed up for an opportunity at Tag Team Gold back in early December of last year. Unfortunately, my… partner of circumstance… was in some way at my choosing.
Samantha Vox…
It was some moment of… forethought… of management to toss Dorian Rhodes back into the tag team tournament. It’s not a request that I made nor was I given an argument to deny the opportunity. Is that a choice that Dorian Rhodes would have made? Denied yet again another chance at Revolution One gold?
Nah, it could be Jace Myers or Samantha Vox. In reality that choice of partner doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. This business is full of vocal hotheads berating management for straddling them with inept partners. That little win and lose column of career means a little more to them than a ‘what if’ opportunity.
That’s not my style. I’d take chance over that label of ‘playing’ it safe. I wasn’t handed participation trophies when I was a kid and my parents didn’t tell me I did good when I didn’t. I wasn’t raised to sit on the sidelines like those who are just happy to be part of the team. I’ve always been the take the opportunity and throw everything that I have into it.
In that moment my body, potential injury, playing it safe wasn’t a thought. I’ve grown with failure and that’s what ultimately keeps me ingrained in this business. It’s overcoming obstacle and allowing myself room for growth.
I’ll be the first to admit that my attitude until now has been cocky and arrogant. Brash. Assertive. That’s a huge part of the man behind The Bad Seed and The Promethean monikers. I’ll talk trash and then I’ll step into that Revolution ring and back it up. Night after night. Week after week.
There’s also part of that guy from this previous week who was on the losing end of competition. Yeah. I blame partner for that loss. There’s always that ‘what more’ could I have done aspect to losing with me. I’m always looking towards that perspective of ‘was it’ my best.
That’s the part of Dorian Rhodes that makes him Champion. That makes him that ‘draw’ that Revolution management sees in their HorrorCore Champion.
If I didn’t bust my rear and throw everything that I have into this sport… I wouldn’t be given these opportunities. Regardless of my allegiance or my rebellious words I’m not always the ‘bad’ guy I make myself out to be. Check the facts… My catch phrase consist of percentages.
51% Babyface 49% Villain
It’s not just a catchy thing that I say to sell merchandise. It’s what I believe is at the core of persona. It’s what I see when I look into that mirror on a daily basis. I’ve done things that everyone around me would say… ‘He’s a good guy’ and those moments of… ‘He’s a horrible human being’…
Isn’t that what life is really about? Play the hero in some people’s story while in others we’re the villain? This business isn’t any different than that of every day life. We can pretend that it’s more or even less than that. It’s perspective. I’m a little more rational than that. I see the bigger picture.
Perhaps it’s a little to late at night to ‘cut’ the promo that’s going to be sent out to the viewing world. Maybe, I should have taken a nap earlier in the day. Perhaps, I should have went to bed and done this little piece tomorrow.
I’m not a go to bed and call it a day kind of person. I’ve got a job to get done and I’m gonna do that job. Regardless if I’m paid a million dollars a year for fifty grand. That job is gonna get done by the end of the day.
Is Meghan Kelser or Drago Santiago those kind of people… Those kind of Champions?
Will they get the job done?
They accomplished that feat last week on Sin when they stood across from both Jace Myers and myself. They were the ‘better’ team on that night. I’ll give them that. I’m not above acknowledging the accomplishments of others.
It’s no different than me choosing my contender for this HorrorCore Championship that sits on my shoulder. I get that choice for this first defense. I’m not gonna sit on my laurels and take the easy way out and choose someone that isn’t Championship material. I’m not gonna take an easy week so I can handle ‘other’ things. I want the best this business has to offer on a nightly basis.
Is that a chance I’m taking? Is that a potential mistake on my part? Could it cost me Championship? Yeah. That potential is there. It’s always there though. Week after week. Month after month. Nobody is always on their game. Jace Myers had an off week. I knew he had a lot going on. That was communicated. Did I see that potential for defeat in that moment?
Yeah.
Did it piss me off… Yeah. I’m a competitor. I ALWAYS want to win.
Did it chance the effort that I put forth?
NO! It did not. My effort was the same with those thoughts my opponent wouldn’t be at 100%. What did it get me? Well. I’ve got another opportunity this week. What do you think it got me!?
Regardless if I disagree with management or some of their decisions. They took notice of Dorian Rhodes and they booked him again for Championship opportunity.
That question remains however in the back of some people’s minds. How would Dorian Rhodes have reacted if he wasn’t given that additional chance?
Let’s just say that Revolution saved themselves a nightmare of sorts this coming week. Instead of seeking revenge on Meghan and Santiago it would have been taken out elsewhere. Somebody would have paid… Somebody always ends up paying in the end…
I kicked Santiago in the head with a pele kick and he kicked out of the cover at the count of one. I’m not gonna lie that showed me something about the kid. He’s got heart. He tool kicks, punches, and my bionic elbow. He kept coming for more. He kept rising to the occasion. He got a tad bit lucky to be honest about it.
Meghan has a tad bit of gumption in her as well. She slapped Jace Myers across the face. Think about that for a moment. That is one big man and without forethought or fear she slapped him across the face. In that moment she had to know the anger that would bring out of the big man. She had to know that rage and fire would be brought out of that moment. She did it anyway.
These two aren’t going to be pushovers for Samantha Vox and myself. We’re gonna have to work for this victory. We’re gonna have to fight for that triumphant moment that sends us onward in this tournament. It’s not going to be given to us at the end of the night; we have to earn it.
Yeah. I hear those verbal jabs… ‘But’ Dorian you were given another opportunity. Let’s not forget those words I spoke earlier… I earned it… I fought for it… NOTHING was given to The Promethean. I take my opportunities and I demand nothing but the best in return.
This week I know that I’ll be getting that. I saw it last week and I know a little bit about what I’m gonna be getting in return. I’ll take that on any given night; the best this company has to offer.
We’ll see you at Sin Meghan. We’ll see you at Sin Santiago.
This business is fickle, volatile, and merciless. It’s an industry that the best changes from week to week and at times effort changes the same way. It’s the ups and downs of victory and loss. It’s a never ending cycle of competition. It’s frustrating and brings forth moments of extreme emotion.
Jace Myers effort this past week wasn’t up to par and yeah Dorian Rhodes was frustrated. He’d take it out on the man as well if given the opportunity. That doesn’t change that deep down in the back of his mind that he in some way understands. He liked Jace. As much as you can like someone in this business.
He signed onto Revolution for purpose and the long haul of those ups and downs. It’s with expectation that he’ll be let down at times when thrown into the pastures of wolves. Sometimes it’s the pack and sometimes it’s the lone wolf fight.