GRIFT

Hero or Collateral

They call this stoppage time, they do it so the game can keep a steady pace, opposed to stopping and starting the clock over and over again.

My guess is he'll try his luck on the corner dressed in full drag... Yes, Brooke Lesnar will be turning tricks in your area soon.

I am convinced that Simon from Idol and John Walsh are the same people.

As far as old school games go, Mario and Sonic, but from gaming's silver age I have to say Golden Eye and Fifa... maybe even International Superstar Soccer. Finally from the new school, Halo.

Wow this is a neat idea. I wish I had thought of it...

OOC: This show is noticably shorter than others, based mostly upon my lake of time and the fact that I have been stuck on it for a while. In fact I booked the minumum 4 matches and used one angle... The reason I was so stuck on this show is because I have been so busy on planning for what happens after... Was this show a cop out? Kind of but I am really excited at where this diary is going and I have some new innovative ideas I am going to try and implement. I also have a unique idea I am trying to work out with another writer... but more on that later... for now enjoy the show. It is short but it serves as a bridge that leads us further into the Raven Mentor arch.

We showed up at the Amazura Concert Hall about two thirds the way through the show, which meant there was still an hour left. Have to love Goodman and his 20 match cards. When we got there Raven sat back and looked over some cue cards in the corner as I went over my spots with everyone I would be working with tonight.

The fans seemed a little rabid this evening, after all the line up had changed considerably due to injuries, and last minute Japanese commitments.

Frank did fill the card with title matches however, and whereas we were making it for the closing matches, we would see most of them, including this rematch from my last show with USA Pro.

USA PRO Tag Team Championship Match

The Christopher St. Connection vs Simon Diamond and Stryker

Just like at the last show Simon started the match for his team this time against Mase. Again, Mase tried to use his “unorthodox” style to force the Godfather of Cool to lose his cool.

However, Simon played a smart game on the mat that neutralized Mase early in the match and quick tags in and out by the champions kept the advantage on their side right up until Stryker missed a drop kick from the top rope.

Mase crawled slowly towards his corner, but made the hot tag to his partner Buff E. Buff came in and leveled Stryker with a clothesline, then Diamond, and started hitting moves on both. His momentum didn’t last long however as when he hoisted Stryker up for a powerbomb, he managed to flip out of it into a hurricanranna for the pin.

The match was received well enough, but something was missing and the crowd could tell.

Anyways, next up was an atrocious segment with Chris Candido on the mic. Wow imagine that? A bad Candido mic segment?

USA Pro United States Championship Match

Chris Candido vs Mike Tobin ©

I heard they were going to let Candido on the mic for a while at the start of this match, so I hid.

When I got back Chris reminded me why he still has a job in this industry, and that was by showing some solid in ring action against Tobin who is no slouch himself. The two traded hold for hold, and ended up toe to toe more than one time, causing the crowd to applaud in respect.

Suddenly Raven joined me as I sat by the curtains watching the match.

“Nice to see a couple of people who can tell a story in the ring isn’t it?” he said.

“Yeah, but that Chris has all the flavor of saltine cracker on the microphone.”

“Do you watch all the matches this way?” he asked

“I try to, I like to learn.”

“Then you’ll love the next match,” he added, “It is Balls Mahoney vs the Masked Maniac.”

“You are kidding right? That match is going to be awful. I am as big a fan of brawling as the next guy, but those guys have about the ability--”

Raven interrupted, “Luke, you will find that there is far more knowledge to be discerned in any bad match, than in any variable five star classic.”

With that Raven stood up and walked off to talk to Al Snow, leaving me to catch the finish of the Tobin/Candido affair. The end came when Candido telegraphed a backdrop, and found himself in the spike piledriver of Mike Tobin. After the match Sunny/Tammy came into the ring to nurse the frustrated Candido to his feet.

Balls Mahoney vs The Masked Maniac

As predicted this one wasn’t very pretty, but keeping Raven’s words fresh in my mind I watched every minute looking for flaws and believe me that was like looking for a hooker in the red light section of Amsterdam.

In all fairness, the two did get the crowd going for parts of the match, including the finish that, as per usual in a Mahoney match, included a chair.

Balls ended up bumping the referee, and when he did Maniac nailed him with a chair but opposed to pinning him, he laid it on Balls’ chest, and then laid down in the ring. When Mahoney came to, he grabbed the chair and stood up. At that moment so did the ref, who saw a chair wielding Balls, and a prone Maniac and came to the conclusion that he had attacked The Masked one, and Dqed Balls!

It wasn’t the safest decision he ever made, however, as Balls retaliated with a stiff chair shot to the ref as Maniac got the hell out of dodge.

Next up was Raven’s match, it was a triangle match for the World title.

USA Pro World Title Match

Raven vs Al Snow vs CW Anderson ©

Before the match started Raven grabbed a microphone.

“Fate, and destiny are two irresistible forces. Whist following the paths that they have paved for me, I have seen many men rise, and even more fall. CW Anderson, you must know this– tonight you shall meet your waterloo. Not because I deem it to be, for I am only an agent of fate and you are simply a cog in the works of a greater master plan– Quote the Raven... Nevermore.”

Following that brief speech

The match was solid. The beginning saw a lot of back and forth action, most notably between Raven and Snow. CW almost took a backseat to the two veterans in the start, but he returned soon enough, refusing to sit out a match that would determine who walked out of the arena with his belt.

In the middle of the match, Raven looked to have things just about won after nailing a double Evenflow on his competitors and that is when I came running down and slid into the ring.

I more or less decapitated Raven with a clothesline, then as Snow came to his feet I gave him the Riptide, causing him to roll out of the ring and onto the floor. Next, I hit a rising CW with a dropkick that sent him reeling to the outside as well.

I again turned my attention to Raven, decimating him with an assault of assorted suplexes. I began to shout, “WHAT ABOUT YOU!!! WHAT ABOUT RAVEN?” before lifting him up and hitting his own Evenflow for emphatic measure.

Next a grabbed a microphone.

“Raven, you sorry sack of shit! Did you think that when Samoa Joe paid me to make you and Homicide’s lives living hells that I’d only be at RoH shows? Raven, from this day forward, every time you look over your shoulder you are going to see my face! Every time you step into this ring you are going to see me and you will see the horrors that lie in the Rainbow in the Dark, you will taste the Riptide, and most of all you will be left just like you are now FACE DOWN ON THE MAT.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? I’ll tell you what about your Raven? Your days are numbered, because I am making you my own person pet project. You used to talk about pain. You used to talk about a childhood lost and fraught with disenchanted memories of abuse and neglect! Well if you thought your past was bad Raven, wait til you see your grim future! WHAT ABOUT RAVEN!?!

I’ll show you what Raven! I’ll show you a true meaning of the word pain.”

By this point Raven is wrapped around my legs trying to pull himself to his feet. I send him back to the mat with some quick punches before closing my statements.

“Raven, you have now embarked on your final journey of your career. Fate is calling your name Raven, and it promises not glory, it promises only an inevitable end and know its name! Thy end is Darkhorse! Quote the Darkhorse Nevermore!”

With that I vaulted off the ropes and hit my Rainbow in the Dark spring board maneuver to close the show.

The Xmen animated series circa 1995

Conan O'Brien

Simpsons

Family Guy

South Park

RAW

Comedy Central Presents: *insert comedian

Aqua Teen Hunger Force

Angel

Buffy

Not to beat a dead horse, but I like this based on the sole fact that Snow is getting pushed.

To me he will always be the biggest 'missed hit' in wrestling. He had a pretty good chance of going big if they only pushed him right. Expressly when he had his mini program with Mick and The Rock in the Rock n' Sock Connection days...

Oh well.

My friends have a band called "Lord Acne Elf and The White Trash Mustache Attack." They are a pretty funny band all together and have had a bit of success. They are one of the feature bands at disasterbation.com and are pretty big locally, as well as on a few web boards.

Alrighty, here is the scoop: I am going to Ireland for 10 days and I am not sure if I'll be able to update while there.

I will be bringing my laptop but there is a solid chance that I wont be able to get on the internet. I will, however, be drinking myself into a beligerant stupor.

So it is more of a trade off for me. Oh and don't forget about old Luke Ripley, when it comes to your Diary Award Nominations.[/shamelessplug]

Anyhow please keep reading, same Darkhorse time, same Darkhorse topic.

Rambo...

Other than that I am the most cinematically versed man alive.

Not to mention modest...

and well hung.

Unsackable A-Train?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Good stuff here, I like the conept albeit a far fetched one. My major complaint isn't based in your content at all actually. It is based on your abuse of color; especially earlier on.

But, I like to finish on a good note, Fairplay's color is classic. Probably one of the minor things that make this diary stand out to me.

I think it might save the franchise. I think casting Christian Bale helps it alot, although, I have always seen Bruce as being older.

It seems casted well enough though. Gary Oldman + Bale + Morgan Freeman (sp) = Solid.

Chapter 5: The Best Worst Moment of my Life

Pt 3. Culmination

I am not sure how long I had been in my room when it happened. I know that I was trying, to little avail, to take a shower. The damn thing wouldn’t give me any hot water. So I did what any upstanding, slightly buzzed, and disenchanted twenty something would: I set out to bitch and moan.

I called the front desk a 3 times and was put on hold for a total of 27 minutes before being told that there was absolutely nothing they could do. Their suggestion was that use the showers normally used for the pool. Never being a man who lived a life of glamour I prepared to venture to the pool but after asking the front desk where I could find it, they alerted me to the fact that the pool was closed for the evening.

That is right, they told me to do something that I could. Not. Do.

Needless to say I ended up taking a cold shower. I cannot stress enough how much I dislike cold showers, and furthermore how much I dislike those dinky portioned bottles of shampoo they give out at hotels. They are about as effective as an 20 minute Hunter Hearst Helmsley interviewuuuuh.

I was just about to turn in for the night when there was a knock on my door.

“If this is house keeping, I am going to kick your ass,” I wise cracked while laying on the bed.

“You are back on the USA Pro show, ” said a voice from beyond the doorway. I almost feel out of the bed on my way to the door to for elaboration. ‘This better not be a rib,’ I thought. When I opened the door Raven was standing at it.

“I’d like to come in if you’d permit me the prerogative. I have some things I would like to discuss with you; I have an offer to expostulate,” he said.

“How did you get me back on the card? What- what happened?” I frantically inquired.

“Are you going to invite me in or not?” a irked Raven asked

“Sure come on in, have a seat.” I replied.

Raven moved into the room and stood facing the large patio door styled window watching the rain bounce off the glass.

“It is beautiful isn’t it?” he asked without breaking his stare, “The way thousands of droplets are formed, each as individual and different from the other as imaginable. Each, constructed high above this earthly coil only to come crashing down instances later? A perfect parallel to our own existence.”

“Yeah– it is– beautiful I guess. But I guess I never really thought of it. Before now.”

“This business is one of many things Luke. It is a business of treachery, and it is a business built on lies, and the exploitation of men. But don’t let that disenchant you. It is also a business of love, and a business of dedication. I got you back on the next USA Pro show less for you, and more myself,” he added.

“Well I thank you either way.”

“But there is a price for this generosity. I wish to take you under my proverbial wing. I trust that this experience will not only be a lucrative one, but a valuable one for the both of us.”

“What do you mean?”

“In the nineteen thirties there was something called vaudeville. Essentially, it was a traveling variety show. A troop of vaudevillians would travel from city to city performing the same show every night in different cities. Eventually when they ceased to turn sales in one city they’d bring their act to a new venue and so on,” he elaborated all the while starring into the cold rainy night.

“And what does this have to do with us?” I asked.

“Just wait. Essentially I would like to start feuding with you. While you are not necessarily of a level of popularity on par to that of my own, I believe that it could be marketed very well and would be just what you need to propel you past your current road block on the path to stardom. You are on the brink of something larger than you are aware of, and I want to push you over it.”

I was shocked. Just as he put it, a feud with him could be all I needed to advance another rung on the ladder to stardom. But I was still utterly baffled as to why all of this was happening.

“Thank you... I– I don’t know what to say really,” I said.

“Just say that you will.”

“But how does feuding with someone like me help you? And how did you get me on the show again? And what about...”

“So many questions, and such simple answers,” Raven turned to me for the first time since entering the room. “Firstly, I shall start with the second question for it is far simpler to answer. Frank Goodman and I are extremely close friends. In fact he is my booker, or agent if you’d like. After arguing in your defense I managed to convince him that in leaving you off the card he’d be passing up a great opportunity,” he state. “As for why feud with you? Luke, you are an overwhelming talented performer. Your charisma and knack for psychology were apparent to me after only seeing you wrestle twice. I can tell by looking at you that you could wrestle almost any style, anywhere in the world and a good competitor is always hard to find. Furthermore your character is intriguing and a nice parallel for my own. But more than just my attraction to your work qualities I need a...”

Raven suddenly stopped himself before regrouping and starting over.

“Tonight marked a true turning point for me. In recent days, weeks, and months I have been striving to get back to my roots. I have returned to a traditionally more grunge styled garb, and I have been thinking a lot about the past. I am a firm believer that in order to enter the realm of the future you must first accept the past, and prepare in your present. You must accept the pains of your child hood, accept the angst of your teen years, accept the struggles of your maturity and turn it into motivation. I realize that my career is soon to enter what I consider its twighlight. I can still work at a high enough rate, but for how much longer?” Raven was now operating at a surreal level of emotion.

I plopped down and sat on my bed as he began to walk around the room as he spoke.

“Alex and Mikey Whipwreck’s promo struck me somewhere tonight. Sure, I have a strong basis of fans, and yes on the independent circuit I make three times as much, and work half the dates but I miss the grand exposure of the WWE, or WCW and the sad truth is that I have never been able to perch atop a federation as champion.”

“You were the ECW champion, and the champion...”

“Barbed Wire City? ECW all though be it a brave endeavor will never be looked at as anything more than a failed experiment. A footnote in wrestling history. I have yet to solidify my name as an icon. I know that I am close, I know that I am one who has sat just on the outside of the title picture his entire life in the bigger companies but thus enters the aforementioned betrayal, and treachery that acts as a foundation to this business of ours. Bischoff told me my shot was coming. He lied. Vince told me I’d be given my shot. He lied. Instead, I was the only HeaT exclusive wrestler in the company. The Jarret’s have yet to live up to their promises and even if they did, it would mean little. Atleast now it would. The reason I have worked so hard in NWA/TNA has been to establish one more company in which I can attempt a run of iconic portions, but sadly I can’t know if this will ever come to be,” he continued.

By this time I was overwhelmed by this out pour. It was almost like the walls built as a separation between Raven and Scott Levy had dissolved into each other completely as he scornfully and passionately spoke out to me. They seemed so inextricably intertwined as if one was only and extension of the other.

“Once I'm done, I have no interest of being behind the scenes. I wont be the wrestler who starts his own promotion with the ambitions of dethroning the McMahons. I wont be the wrestler who spends the rest of his life screwing young hopefuls out of their money with a wrestling school. I'm a performer. I want to perform. When I'm done with this, I'll go into something else where I can perform. So I have always believed that my legacy would be one built soley on my own shoulders through what I do in the ring– until now,” he continued, “Tonight I decided that it would be you who would help me to carry my legacy. It would be you who placed the finishing brush strokes to my oil canvas masterpiece.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“I am asking you to accept me as your mentor and yourself as my protege; as my prodigy. I will be your guide on this twisting road of sorrows and joys. I will steer you away from the excessive debauchery that has left me the way I am, while allowing you to indulge in them just enough to understand. I wish to be your mentor less for your sake, and more for my own legacy. I want for you to be everything that a life of drugs, ring rats, and depression has prevented me from being so that I might experience your successes vicariously,” he concluded.

I sat in awe at the emotional display that had just taken place before me in that dank Comfort Inn. I couldn’t have asked for more of a break in my life. I was speechless at first. My mind began to paint countless pictures of Raven and myself battling in the ring to the delight of the fans before packing up and listening to his veterans wisdom.

“What do you say?” he prompted.

I tried to answer but still no words would flow. I was too enamored with ideas, and pictures of my future. Finally I was able to say.

“Yes.”

For those interested I started Ripley with 45 over (established from his past) and he has risen with every show and is currently at 68.

Would anyone be interested in his other stats? I kinda neglected to post them because I didn't think anyone would care.

I will be updating his overness stat regularly from now on.

Chapter 5: The Best Worst Moment of My Life.

Pt 1: The Call

“Listen I didn’t think it was that big of deal! I am not well known enough for this to hurt anyone,” I argued to USA Pro promoter and diner waffle enthusiast Frank Goodman over a pay phone in the lobby of a Comfort Inn after the RoH show.

Frank was upset because I turned heel in RoH while playing the role of face in his company.

“I don’t think you understand this Luke, but you are on the brink of stardom. NWA/TNA called me about you today. You are hardly as obscure as you like to think. Further more--”

“NWA TNA called?” I interrupted.

“Yes. They inquired about you but they weren’t all that impressed with your professionalism when they found about this little stunt of yours.” He said.

Shit. I pissed off than man who could have given me the reference that would lead to an incredibly profitable and high profile series of jobs. Great.

“Frank, I am sorry but I doubt anyone in New England even knows about the RoH shows it is really not a--”

I noticed Raven at the counter checking into the hotel looking over at me. I turned my back to the counter and shied away.

Goodman interrupted me, “Luke, Damian Carvil did a piece covering you on EWRevenge.com. It high lights your role in RoH, and even calls you, and I quote ‘a true rising star who given a year will have set the proper foundation to become wrestling’s next big thing.’ ”

Wow. That is fantastic I thought. EWRevenge.com is currently, more or less, the biggest wrestling website on the net.

“I am happy for you in a lot of ways Luke, but you have really put me in a spot here. I don’t know if it would be a good idea to have you back for the rest of your scheduled shows.”

Shit. Article or no article– I need that money. Words don’t buy food.

“Come on Frank! Is that really the only way we can do this? I already bought my bus ticket back up fo the show! I can’t afford any unnecessary expenses,” I pleaded.

Again I saw Raven peak over at me with a look of mixed concern, and intrigue plastered to his continence.

“Luke, I am sorry the plans you made are ruined, but so are mine. I was going to push you on the next card and give you another confrontation with the Xtreme Champion. I am afraid we are both out of luck. Give me a call in two or three months and maybe I we can start over... but for now, goodbye--”

“Two or three months?! Frank I need that money!”

Suddenly I heard an all too familiar click of a phone hanging up.

I in turn hung up, furiously slamming the receiver into place. I grabbed my stuff and stormed off into the lounge and preceded to order a few beers as Raven walked over to the pay phone and used it in the background.

Pt. 2: Great Bar

About half an hour later I had drank 6 beers and was slightly buzzed when I realized that Raven was still on the telephone in the lobby. “God that is a lot of quarters,” I thought out loud.

“What was that champ?” asked the barkeeper.

“Uh, nothing. Just out... Just thinking out loud,” I managed to get out. “I’ll take another,” I added.

“Maybe you have had enough, sport.”

“Please don’t make me go use that damned cliche,” I sardonically begged.

The barkeeper sighed and grabbed my mug replacing it with a bottleneck of some local brewery’s beer. “Atleast just take this one up to your room and get some rest. If you do we’ll say your drinks on the house. How about that stranger?”

Now, I am not one who likes to be told what to do. But as I sat there drinking, I remembered why I was drinking in the first place: I lost a potential paycheck. And how did I react to losing money? By running a bar tab that was almost on par with what I had lost in the first place.

I took the beer and grinned, “Deal. You are not that– not that bad of a.. a.. um... of a guy. Yeah, you aren’t.”

I stood up and grabbed my baggage– both literal and emotional– and made my way across the lobby and into an elevator noticing that Raven seemed to be in almost as adamant of an argument as I was only 45 minutes prior.

“Don’t worry they have got a great bar,” I cracked before passing by and heading for my room.

OOC: Decided to drop the small text all together. Oh and Pt 3 will be up shortly.

They changed the code in real life too.

http://www.rohwrestling.com/newswirearchiv...&intArticleID=5

As far as Steamboat goes look at it this way, CM was cheating the whole match... he couldn't stomach to watch anylonger.

Thanks for the feedback, as you may have guessed I am not the biggest RoH buff... so any critism helps.

ROH Red, White, and Blood

The RoH has revamped its Code of Honor. It is now less like a code, and more like a string of polite suggestions. The bookers told me it is supposed to develop more distinct boundaries between heels and faces. Personally, I am not completely sold on the idea. The “Code,” asks opponents to shake before and after every match, respect officials, and keep the playing field fair. It seems like the company is sliding away from the purist attitude that has brought them into focus.

Well the show is about to start. The opening match is a continuation of Ted Hart’s push. This time against a more capable opponent in the form of Trent Acid.

Ted Hart vs Trent Acid

The match started with some solid mat work. These boys are both solid in that aspect but I am more excited to see them take to the air.

Midway into the match Hart hit a spinning bulldog in the corner and stepped out to the apron. Once Acid got back up to his feet Hart nailed a springboard dropkick to his back, that looked pretty cool. Trent Acid took the advantage back with some quick suplexes and nice springboard moonsault.

Seeing the success that came from his springboard moonsault Acid went to the top to attempt another with a little more impact, but was taken down by a show stealing maneuver from Ted who managed to scale the turnbuckles ala Angle and nail a reverse brain buster from the top!

Ted gained some overness from that performance, and to be honest I was quite wowed by the finish.

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The Dragon with a fiery show of emotion

Next up, Ricky the Dragon Steamboat came down to the ring marking his first appearance since the horrendous attack he suffered at the hands of Second City Saints leader CM Punk. When he gets into the ring he is met with the biggest pop of the evening. Before he begins to speak a video is shown highlighting the feud he has been involved in on and off for months.

It starts by reviewing when he was selected as a special referee for a bout between CM and AJ Styles. Punk spends most of the match trying to intimidate the Dragon, only to receive a few of his famous chops when he attempts to jump the legend.

Next, it shows the two clashing at ROH Reborn: Stage One, followed by the leg drop through a table at Round Robin Challenge III that many thought would aggravate the back injury that retired Steamboat from wrestling in the first place but much to the crowds amazement, The Dragon returned later that night to hit his famous cross body from the top rope.

Finally it shows the two at Generation Next in a war of words that escalated into a physical confrontation culminating in a hellacious attack on Steamboat who seemed moments away from hitting the cross body before Colt Cabana interferes for his tag partner. The attack was punctuated when Punk grabbed a ring bell and leaped off the top rope driving the bell into Steamboat’s throat exactly like Randy Savage did before their classic clash at Wrestlemania III.

When the video has ended Steamboat begins to speak.

“This company, has long stood for one concept– Honor. This is a concept, a principle, that I hold dearly. So when someone like CM Punk makes such a cowardly act as the one he did at Generation Next– When someone like CM Punk besmirches an entire evening of sportsmanship with one solitude act I tend to react with a sense of fury,” the Dragon said.

“When someone like Punk blasphemes that ring with such a dishonorable act, it takes away from the legacy of wrestling established by honorable men,” Ricky begins to get more emotional with each name.

“Honorable men like Bruno Samartino, Lou Thesz, Joe Stretcher, Buddy Rogers, Andre The Giant! When someone like Punk does that it makes me think about doing things that I might regret. Things that I must beg my family to forgive me for. Things like, for JUST ON NIGHT COME OUT OF RETIREMENT. Things like, go against doctors orders or risk living out the rest of my life as a cripple, all to personally reeducate CM Punk in the art of honor!”

The crowd has now erupted with applause but the mood was dampered when CM Punk appeared at the end of the ramp way. Ricky motioned and called for him to come down into the ring.

“You want me to come down there and fight you right now?” he asked as Ricky furiously shook his head. Punk shrugged his shoulders and began to walk towards the ring much to the satisfaction of the fans who had watched this feud grow for months on end. Suddenly he stops dead in his tracks, “You know what? This town doesn’t deserve the masterpiece I intend to paint with your old carcass! Besides I have a match tonight. How about this? At the very next, RoH event you and I will tango Steamboat.”

“You have got a date!”

With that CM disappeared to the back, as the fans in attendance started a Steamboat chant.

Low-Ki vs Hotstuff Hernandez

Next up Low-Ki was fed another victim. This week it was Hotstuff. Most of this match consisted of Hernandez getting smacked around like a little bitch. Ki destroyed him with the usual combination of blistering chops to the chest and brutalizing kicks.

This was a glorified squash match– heck it was a squash match. The Ki-Krusher 99 was what ended the match but it was by no means where the action stopped. After the match Hotstuff found himself in the same position the Michael Shane was in on our last card.

He was draped in the corner in a tree of woe taking some pretty legit stiff kicks to the abdomen before Ki charged up and delivered a decapitating baseball slide dropkick. The announcers called the move the The Ki of Low.

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Quote The Raven Bitch

Our attention is drawn to the backstage area where Raven and Homicide are standing with an interviewing personel.

“Tonight, in the main event you Homicide and you Raven will team together to take on World Champion Samoa Joe and the vicious Darkhorse Luke Ripley. Can I get your thoughts on the match up?” He pried

“Well I’ll spell it out plain and damn simple for your busted ass. Joe wasn’t man enough to get the job done himself so he brought in his hired gun to fight his battles for him. This cowardly little bitch won’t be able to hide behind the

Darkhorse tonight though. Tonight we will put the hurt on them!” Said Homicide as Raven listened intently.

“Indeed, it seems as though the plan that Joe devised to safe gaurd his title reign shall ultimately be his Waterloo. You see he has lulled himself into a false sense of security and in this world there is no greater treachery than that perpetrated unto one’s self. I look at the Darkhorse and I feel sorry for him. I can see his pain. I can see something I know all too well. Sadly I cannot offer Ripley the easy way out. He will be baptized in the flame, along with his employer.”

“Man what the hell are you talkin’ ‘bout? Speak some English you dictionary bustin’ dick,” reacted Homicide.

Raven sighs heavily.“Fine, allow me dumb down my message for you enough that even the most simple of minds may comprehend my message: Tonight we’ll ‘busta cap’ in their ‘bitch asses.’”

The crowd laughs as the segement wraps up. And we segway into the RoH tag team title match.

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Second City Saints III vs The SAT

The SAT came out to a mild allotment of applause followed by the Second City Saints who were bathed in boos. CM is quite possibly the single most hated man in the ROH. The match saw the champs dominate for nearly 3 minutes before the SAT looked to have firm control.

After Maximo hit a rolling kick on Punk he tagged out to Joel Maximo and The SAT hit a double suplex. More standard double teaming continued until the ref seperated forced Jose back to his corner allowing Punk a chance to deliver a low blow and take control back.

When all looked lost for the SAT and CM was setting up for the Pepsi Plunge an enraged Ricky Steamboat came running down the aisle and into the ring to clean house on the Saints! This prompts the Ref to throw out the match and Ricky Steamboat went on to hit blistering chops that lit both Cabana and Punk’s chest up. He then dismantled them with his signature arm drags before climbing to the top rope and hitting the Flying Cross Body on Punk! Steamboat sold his back extremely well showing that he is still an injured man as he got back up to the cheers of the crowd who gave him a standing ovation when he finally made his way to the back.

The ROH Tag Team titles have gained in image.

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Gen(who’s)Next

Alex Shelley led the group on the microphone again tonight. This time completely. When they got to the ring they taunted the crowds and used stereotypical heel interaction. Kind of bland really but what can you expect from a batch as green as these.

“There was a certain, quote un quote, ‘unstoppable’ wrestler who came out of Atlanta a few years back. Now this guy– SHUT THE HELL UP,” Alex berates a fan, “As I was saying, this guy set off quite the legendary streak of wins and after each match he’d ask the same question.” The crowd says it with him, “Who’s Next?”

Alex jumps back almost looking startled, “Very good, so your spinal chords do connect to your brain stem. Anyhow, that is the question all the experts have been asking us. Who is next for GenNext? Who is the next to be taken down? Well tonight my man Roderick Strong is going to cut some of the fat here in RoH by ending the career of a man whose career never really started, the veteran Mikey Whiplash! This man is like a cancer eating away at this company and the sport of wrestling in general. Mikey Whip--” Suddenly he is interrupted by Whipwreck’s music.

When Whipwreck makes it out he looks incredibly focused, and very angry. “Mikey how nice of you to join us. We were--”

“SHUT THE HELL UP. I have busted my ass for years and you punks have the nerve to accuse me of being a cancer to this business? This business is my life!” Mikey retorted

“Mikey, you are just a has been who never was. A nobody! Why, you are nothing more than a footnote in Mick Foley’s life story! To paraphrase Marcellus Wallace, ‘If you were going to make it, you would have made it by now.’ Your career may as well be over– no it is over you are just to stubborn to accept it!”

“I have more than paid my dues in the business boys! And if you knew a damned thing about this business, this company, this sport or life period you’d know that it wouldn’t matter if I never won a title again. It wouldn’t matter if I never won a single god damned match again in my career just to come out night after night and do what I love– good or bad– it is worth it. That is what wrestling is about! IT IS ABOUT HEART!”

“Well in that case maybe we ought to rip your heart out Mikey. Maybe we should end your career right now. You are GenNEXT”

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Mikey Whipwreck vs Roderick Strong

This match never even happened. Before a single bell could ring, Generation Next swarmed poor Whipwreck and dismantled him piece by piece and inch by inch. Whipwreck fought valiantly but the force of GenNext was too much for him to handle.

As if the 4 on one advantage wasn’t enough, Shelley went to the outside and grabbed a chair and simple waited on the outside keeping a watchful eye on the destruction on the inside of the ring. Suddenly Roderick Strong pressed Whipwreck high over his head and the stables violent intentions became crystal clear. Roderick stepped towards the ring ropes and tossed Whipwreck out of the ring, over the top towards Shelley who used the chair to spike Mikey into the ground.

Medics immediately rushed the ring area as GenNext sauntered off to the back very proud of their actions.

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My Segment: Darkhorse Rising

The segment starts with me in a very dimly lit room playing with a lighter, staring intensely at the flame even when speaking at first.

“To be, or not to be that is the question. To fight, or make peace. Love or hate, good or bad. For life is a sequence of choices we make in order to better justify our existence. I am not of that kin. I am a man who doesn’t live for to make the world a better place. I am a man who lives in and for a moment.

I look up from the flame and directly into the camera.

“Who lives to make MY world a better place for ME to live in. I am simply a hired gun. I am a man of an extinct trade. I am a bounty hunter of sorts; a desperado.

But why am I in RoH? Is it because I am a man of honor? Not likely.”

I smirk quickly before moving on, “Is it because of a personal vendetta? No,” again I crack a playful yet sadistic smirk as the fire continues to dance in the reflection of my eyes.

“The reason I am in RoH is because Samoa Joe pays me to be here. I am not an employee of RoH and as such I am not subject to her rules or the foolish code. I am the ultimate outsider who found his way in, and now I am taking over. Tonight I fight a fellow outsider, the man they call Raven. Raven you have often been quoted for your references to a pain that no other could understand. You have been quoted for saying that the world will pay defrayal for the wrongs it has done unto you.

Well Raven, I am just here to remind you that the world has a lot more pain in it and as long as Joe keeps me on here, I intend on making a bulk of it yours. Oh, and Homicide I have not forgotten about you, you were after all the man I was brought in to take care of and I will do just that, because those are the choices I have made– not to justify my existence but to end yours.”

The camera zooms out of my soliloquy as I blow out the flame and all fades to black.

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I burnt my fucking thumb in that segment. Stupid Zippo.

Raven and Homicide vs Darkhorse Luke Ripley and Samoa Joe

Raven was the first to the ring, followed by Homicide and both were met with pops second only to Steamboat’s from earlier in the night. I was excited for this match. I was almost completley absorbed in my character. Next up Joe and I made our entrance together cowardly circling the ring locked in a stare with the competitors.

When we finally got into the ring Samoa started the match off against Homicide, much to the delight of the crowd I might add. The two circled each other and Homicide attempted several clotheslines only to see Samoa evade and tag out to me only moments into the match. Smart move, make the people wait and give Homicide something to be angry about. Brilliant psychology really.

Now I was circling H and attempting to shoot in on his knees. This time he evaded and nailed a few boots to the back of my head. I sold them pretty well before he pulled me to my feet and hit and Irish Whip. When I have back he telegraphed a back body and I frogleaped him and hit the other side of the ropes and nailed a dropkick to the chin on him.

I went back to work on H’s knees with a rolling series of three dragon leg whips.

After a few more standard leg maneuvers I tagged out to Samoa Joe and we hook up Homicide for a text book double suplex. Raven came in at this point and leveled me Joe with a clothes line but when he went for me the ref stepped in the way and tried to force him back into the corner as I pointed to my chin begging him to hit me.

Raven continued to struggle to help his partner but ultimately only caused him more strife by distracting the ref as we worked him over in our corner. When Raven finally gave it a rest and the ref came back Joe went for the pin only to get a 2 count.

The match continued with more basic heels working over the face in distress and Homicide sold the work on his knee exceptionally well but the tide was turned when Joe went for a brainbuster only to see it turned into a reverse suplex when Homicide dropped in behind him.

Both men made a slow crawl for the corners as the crowd began to fever pitch. Homicide made it to Raven first and tagged out. I was next in but Raven came in on all cylinders hitting a flying shoulder tackle that sent me to that mat. Next Joe walked into a slam. Soon I was being irish whipped, and found myself on the receiving end of a drop toehold that sent me face first into the groin of Joe.

After this I rolled out of the ring and Raven went to work on Joe, but it wasn’t long before I was in the ring again with a chair delivering a hard shot to the crown prince of hardcore himself! Sensing that he has lost control the referee calls for the bell, and all four of us end up in the ring brawling. Next Homicide comes in and Joe, nails him with the belt.

He calls for me to hold up Raven, and I do just that so he can nail a shot from the belt to his face. Soon after Homicide receives the same treatment. Then I start pulverizing both of our bloodied opponents as they lay prone on the mat like a mad man. I continue until a host of referees run down the aisle and subdue me as Joe looks on approvingly.

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I'd say that they are evenly matched. If you have seen Heat, in that movie Pacino out shines by far. But DeNiro's early work with Scorsesse is priceless. Infact, if it was a battle between their earliest work I'd hand this one to DeNiro but I think the decider in this on will be the fact that Pacino produces top caliber performances, everytime all the time even after years on top. DeNiro however hasn't been in an overwhelmingly good role in a while.

In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 by Coheed and Cambria.

yeah I realized he died after that first post show... I felt stupid and hoped no one would realize the blunder but you caught me.

On a side note I should have the next show up soon... I will probably edit it into this post. I wrote it last night but lost it due to my own stupidity.

WTF...

A fat lantern?

Patrick Bateman... he was so evil it was fun.

One of my favorite moments was when Lindsey came home from work and hopped in the shower and Darla said something like, "Why do you shower when you come home? You aren't even dirty," and he responded, "When I am home I am always dirty. I always need to wash off the filth." Or something to that extent...

Probably my favorite moment of the show.