8:56am – Off Camera
*Maniac sits quietly at the table in the kitchen of his New York home. The morning is already growing hot and humid, the sun shining brightly in the morning sky, its rays unobstructed by the thick bands of clouds floating across the heavens. A warm breeze blows in from the west, bringing with it towering thunderheads and the scent of rain. Maniac stares out the windows in silence, watching the approaching storm. How appropriate, he thinks, his mind drifting to the coming storm of Havoc, and the possible end of his journey for championship gold. Paige sits across from him at the table, watching him intently as his mind wanders. She knows what occupies his thoughts, but she remains silent. Even three and four years ago, before his injury, it was always the same. Once his mind took a grasp on something, he could not let it go. It became his sole focus, possessing his every thought until he had finally completed the task at hand. With Havoc rapidly approaching, Maniac's mind is focused on the HWA World Heavyweight Championship and nothing else.*
Maniac: Is everything ready?
*The sound of Maniac's voice is unexpected, and she jumps slightly.*
Paige: Ready for what?
*Maniac smiles, shaking his head.*
Maniac: Ready to leave tomorrow.
*Paige chuckles.*
Paige: Getting a little anxious?
*A smile crosses his face.*
Maniac: Something like that. You know how I am, Paige. I'm ready to get in the ring. I hate this waiting around bullshit. I can't help it.
*Paige chuckles, standing up and crossing over to stand next to him, leaning in and kissing him warmly.*
Paige: It'll come, Antonino. You've been waiting for this chance for a long time. What are a few more days?
*Maniac sighs, nodding his head. He stands up, kissing Paige on the cheek before turning and walking down the hallway, pausing in front of the door that leads to the basement. He gazes at her, a smile on his face, before disappearing inside, closing the door gently behind him.*
HWA Website Video Post
Monday May 16, 2011
11:04pm
*The scene fades in as Maniac walks a beaten path through the forest surrounding his home. He is wearing a pair of blue jeans and a black shirt, his face unpainted, his hair pulled into a ponytail. Thick clouds roll along the sky overhead, sending a sprinkling of rain down on the area. As Maniac walks, the cameraman stumbles occasionally keeping up with him, causing the frame to bounce and shake periodically. Smiling as he looks into the camera, he begins.*
Hello, everyone. That's right! The time has come once again for all of you to be graced by my by presence.
*He chuckles, glancing from the camera to the path at his feet from time to time.*
So here we are, less than three days away from Havoc. As this event unfolds, I will step into the ring, given the opportunity to get one step closer to the HWA World Heavyweight Championship. In order to do that...I've got to go through Butch Parker.
*He pauses, sighing and shaking his head.*
I wish that I could stand here and say that I'm going to have my hands full at Havoc. Unfortunately, based on what I've seen so far, I think I'd be lying. Frankly, I find the lack of give-a-damn that Butch Parker is presenting to be...well...pathetic. As this week has toiled on and on, I've found myself more and more pondering the upcoming match...the competitor involved, what it will take to achieve victory, and the ramifications of that victory. Sadly, I gave to confess that there hasn't been much to keep this particular endeavor of mine on track. Why, you ask? I thought you never would. You see, this match was announced nearly two weeks ago. In that time, only one warrior has made their presence known. That one...you guessed it...is me. The other, of course, is Butch Parker. Oh, yes. I've got a few things to say about him, but we'll get there later on. For some unknown reason, Butch Parker seems content to sit back in the shadows somewhere until Havoc rolls around.
*He pauses; scoffing as he slowly makes his way down a short, but somewhat steep incline. The cameraman follows along as best he can, audible grunts and panting sounding from behind the camera as the two continue their trek. Finally, Maniac continues as his voice takes on a slightly sarcastic tone.*
You know, considering exactly what's at stake at Havoc, Butch Parker would have something to say. Sadly, though, it seems that I was wrong about that. After all, how could I possibly think that someone faced with the possibility of getting a HWA World Title shot would house any sort of excitement or pride at such a prospect? Just who the hell am I to entertain such a foolish train of thought?
*He pauses for a moment as he continues along the path. The sun is beginning to fade below the horizon, and the camera's light now shines brightly on Maniac's face. He stops for a moment, blinking rapidly as his eyes adjust to the light. Finally, he begins to move along the path once more and continues.*
I have to apologize, as I misspoke just a moment ago. You see, I said that for some unknown reason, Butch Parker has remained silent.
*He starts to chuckle.*
I think it's oh, so obvious. It seems that at last, Butch Parker realizes just what he’s stepping into the ring with. He finally understands the horror of the thing that he will face. Like so many before him, he finds fear gripping at his very soul, and he seeks to run away...to stay hidden from the source of that fear. That is the position that Butch Parker now finds himself in. For all the garbled talk of being driven to survive...well, it seems that those vaunted attributes are taking a back seat to raw, unchecked emotion.
*He steps out of the cover of the tree tops into the small clearing just before his home. He remains silent for a few moments as he slowly completes the walk, coming to a rest on his front porch and taking a seat on the top step. Wiping his brow with a sigh, he turns back to the camera.*
I think by now everyone knows that I pride myself on being an honest man. I call it like I see it, period. I'm sorry to say that, looking at this little scenario as I have been for the last week and some change, it's rapidly looking like I don't have much to be concerned about from Butch Parker. By and large, people who brand themselves as Crazy and Insane and whatever other form of those words they wish to market...well, they're exactly what I said they are. They're worthless. They're afraid. They're abominations to this great sport of ours. They're unable to compete at the necessary level, or they lack the drive and determination to climb into the ring and do what we do every night and every week. Once they realize the unfortunate niche they fit into, they immediately grasp at straws, throwing as much shit at the wall as they can, hoping and praying that something will stick. Something that will make them marketable in the eyes of a booker, something that will make them valuable. Now that's a word that carries quite a bit of weight, don't you agree? All of us are here because, albeit to varying degrees, we're all valuable to this company. We're assets, plain and simple. Having us inside that ring and on this program brings fans into the seats and brings sponsors to the website. Unfortunately, every once in awhile some of the members of a roster will fall into a trap. Over time, even in the face of their absolute lack of skill, determination, or any combination of attributes, they start to believe their own hype. It's the same principle as spreading falsehoods. You see, one person tells a lie to someone they know. Big or small, it doesn't matter. The second person then tells someone they know, and so on, and so on, and so on. Before you know it, that lie has spread to all corners, and even those who know it to be false begin to have their doubts. The basic truth is that if you tell a lie long enough, even you will start to believe it. All indications are that Butch Parker is in that particular pickle as we speak. He’s fallen into the trap of believing his own hype, thinking that he’s actually capable of the things he’s built up for.
*He sighs, shaking his head.*
Don't get me wrong. That would be all well and good if he would actually act on these beliefs. Clearly, though, that's not the case. Instead of at least pretending to give a shit about fulfilling his contract, he'd rather sit in the shadows somewhere, out of sight and out of mind, convinced that his status as HWA’s “superstars” alone will be enough to pull him through this match and possibly even to a victory. Of course, the rest of us know better, and I'm going to thoroughly enjoy proving that at Havoc.
*He pauses, standing up and stretching for a moment. He glances at the front window of his home before turning back to the camera and motioning for the cameraman to follow him.*
Let's head inside before the storm gets bad, shall we?
*The cameraman mumbles an affirmative as Maniac turns and opens the front door, stepping inside as the camera follows him. He steps into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator before crossing into the living room and sitting down on the couch. Taking a swig from the bottle and leaning back in his and lounging comfortably.*
Now I would like to give a message to the champ himself, Hans I hope that you are feeling better since Havoc because you are set to defend your HWA World Title against Fallen at this coming Havoc. I just want you to know Hans that I am rooting for you because when it comes time I will be taking that HWA World Title from you. There is no doubt in my mind that I can do it and when it comes my turn in this lottery of yours I WILL show you humility, I WILL show you defeat, and I WILL become the NEW HWA World Heavyweight Champion.
*He stops, setting his bottle of water down on a table beside him, leaning forward and clasping his hands as if in prayer, sighing as he glares into the camera for a moment.*
When it first came to my attention that you'd finally became HWA World Champion, I admit that I was more than a little anxious to see it for myself. Although I'm a little embarrassed to admit that you failed miserably to live up to my own expectations. Now I'm sure that doesn't bother you. After all, you're a big man, you're your own man and you answer to no one, so what do you care if I don't like what you have to say? Well, that's all well and good, my friend, except for the fact that all you did was prove that you know absolutely nothing about me. That your words in the past, while I'm sure they took you weeks to assemble, were completely empty and meaningless. That you understand nothing of me outside of what you can see with your own eyes. Your vision, my friend, is sorely limited. Now, I understand that you can't be blamed completely for your ignorance regarding me and the true nature of the universe and all things within it. All but a few have long since forgotten the true rulers of the realm, and even fewer profess their loyalty as I do. Ah, but that's the kicker, so to speak. But I'm getting off point, as your ignorance has little bearing on the outcome of this battle, save for the fact that I can't wait to see the change in your eyes when you finally stand face to face with a god. But that's neither here nor there.
*He leans back in his seat once more, resuming a more comfortable position.*
Back to you Butch, you see when it comes down to it there is nothing that you can say or do that will stop what is happening. I truly hope you try though Butch because I will take GREAT pleasure in dismantling you and leaving you lay in a pool of your own blood. Until then, my friends remember this...VIOLENCE IS GOLDEN!!
*With that, Maniac stands and gives a nod toward the camera, turning away and crossing the open area connecting the living room with the kitchen. He ascends a set of stairs in the middle of the area, turning to give the camera a final smile before turning and disappearing up the stairs as the scene fades to black.*
Message Thread
« Back to index