Post by Joe Summers on Sept 20, 2024 11:32:12 GMT -5
Joe was tired. His body hurt.
And he just received word that he'd be getting that shot at the Xtreme Chaos Championship whether he wanted to or not.
"You know, I want the record to show that I didn't ask Brian for this. This is all him."
CPW interviewer Mia Torres turned away from the cameraman that she'd been talking to and nodded her head in agreement.
"I thought you did a good job of making it clear that you weren't demanding your rematch this month."
"The problem is, you just never know with him. The man does what he wants."
Joe sighed.
"Not that I should be complaining. We all want to be champ by any means necessary, whether we admit it or not. Any complaints I might have are gonna go away with a win."
The future challenger then glanced over at Mia before shaking his head.
“Don't worry, I don't expect you to complain about your boss, too. I'm just venting.”
“People venting is why I have a job, don't stress about it.”
Mia smiled and turned her attention back to her conversation with the cameraman. As for Joe, he rummaged through his gym bag for just a moment longer before turning and heading toward the arena parking lot.
Whether he liked it or not, he was just a few days away from getting back in the ring with Disturbed. If history was any indication, it was going to be violent. It was going to be painful.
And it was going to be one hell of an opportunity.
“I've always said that anyone can become champion. The real challenge is staying one…”
Unlike his attitude immediately following the last Pure Mayhem and the announcement of the Hardcore Heaven card, Joe’s voice and overall demeanor exuded a sense of confidence.
The time for venting was over.
He needed to be the best in the world once again.
“Of course, you've been down this road before so you get it, big guy. You know how hard it is to keep that belt around your waist. That's probably why you've spent more time talking about how annoyed you are that other people are spending time with your belt than you have actually being champion!”
Joe smirked.
“Listen, I get it. I once went a whole lot of years between title reigns. I really do get it!”
He shrugged.
“We're about to find out how much you really want to keep that championship of yours, Disturbed. Because you know as well as I do that we're just getting started. And if you had to work your ass off to beat me, well…”
“It's gonna be even harder this time around.”
Joe paused for a moment. He then frowned.
“Of course, these are all empty words to you, aren't they? There isn't a damn thing I can say that'll convince you that I've got what it takes to beat you. You're Disturbed! You're the most dangerous monster that CPW has ever seen! All is right in the world now that you're the Xtreme Chaos Champion again!”
“And I'm just the guy you managed to beat for the title. What do I know? I'm just jealous, I'm sure.”
He rolled his eyes and laughed.
“Do you know when I've been champ as long as I have since I came back to CPW, Disturbed? It's because I know how to win when it matters. It's because I stay on the same grind, night in and night out. I'm consistent, and I don't let the occasional loss to someone like you keep me from doing what I do best! I step up when it matters, and I have shown time and time again that I can win when I need to no matter what obstacles this company throws in front of me!”
Joe's eyes narrowed.
“And you've got that potential, too. I know you do. When you're locked in, you're as dangerous as it gets. You're driven. You don't let anything stop you. But here's the problem, big guy. History has shown that you're not quite as good at this part of the game. The focus slips a bit. All of that anger and rage disappears. You're just not the same when you've got that belt.”
He smirked.
“So I hope for your sake you manage to figure it out quickly. I really do! Because I'd hate to have to separate you from what you think is rightfully yours right after the two of you started getting acquainted again. It'd break my heart.”
Joe rolled his eyes once again, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“It's time to see what you're made of, big guy. I really hope you can live up to all the hype that you gave yourself. Otherwise, this really might be the end of the monster that we all called Disturbed…”
Joe smiled and nodded.
“But don't get me wrong, you're the champ for a reason. You can beat me. You've done it before, and you'll probably do it again. So I promise I'll give you my best shot, too! You deserve that.”
“And since it IS Hardcore Heaven, I'm thinking a street fight sounds like it might be a good way for us to show each other what we're capable of. But you're the champ, so…you tell me.”
He paused for just a moment longer.
“See you Sunday, champ.”
And he just received word that he'd be getting that shot at the Xtreme Chaos Championship whether he wanted to or not.
"You know, I want the record to show that I didn't ask Brian for this. This is all him."
CPW interviewer Mia Torres turned away from the cameraman that she'd been talking to and nodded her head in agreement.
"I thought you did a good job of making it clear that you weren't demanding your rematch this month."
"The problem is, you just never know with him. The man does what he wants."
Joe sighed.
"Not that I should be complaining. We all want to be champ by any means necessary, whether we admit it or not. Any complaints I might have are gonna go away with a win."
The future challenger then glanced over at Mia before shaking his head.
“Don't worry, I don't expect you to complain about your boss, too. I'm just venting.”
“People venting is why I have a job, don't stress about it.”
Mia smiled and turned her attention back to her conversation with the cameraman. As for Joe, he rummaged through his gym bag for just a moment longer before turning and heading toward the arena parking lot.
Whether he liked it or not, he was just a few days away from getting back in the ring with Disturbed. If history was any indication, it was going to be violent. It was going to be painful.
And it was going to be one hell of an opportunity.
==========
“I've always said that anyone can become champion. The real challenge is staying one…”
Unlike his attitude immediately following the last Pure Mayhem and the announcement of the Hardcore Heaven card, Joe’s voice and overall demeanor exuded a sense of confidence.
The time for venting was over.
He needed to be the best in the world once again.
“Of course, you've been down this road before so you get it, big guy. You know how hard it is to keep that belt around your waist. That's probably why you've spent more time talking about how annoyed you are that other people are spending time with your belt than you have actually being champion!”
Joe smirked.
“Listen, I get it. I once went a whole lot of years between title reigns. I really do get it!”
He shrugged.
“We're about to find out how much you really want to keep that championship of yours, Disturbed. Because you know as well as I do that we're just getting started. And if you had to work your ass off to beat me, well…”
“It's gonna be even harder this time around.”
Joe paused for a moment. He then frowned.
“Of course, these are all empty words to you, aren't they? There isn't a damn thing I can say that'll convince you that I've got what it takes to beat you. You're Disturbed! You're the most dangerous monster that CPW has ever seen! All is right in the world now that you're the Xtreme Chaos Champion again!”
“And I'm just the guy you managed to beat for the title. What do I know? I'm just jealous, I'm sure.”
He rolled his eyes and laughed.
“Do you know when I've been champ as long as I have since I came back to CPW, Disturbed? It's because I know how to win when it matters. It's because I stay on the same grind, night in and night out. I'm consistent, and I don't let the occasional loss to someone like you keep me from doing what I do best! I step up when it matters, and I have shown time and time again that I can win when I need to no matter what obstacles this company throws in front of me!”
Joe's eyes narrowed.
“And you've got that potential, too. I know you do. When you're locked in, you're as dangerous as it gets. You're driven. You don't let anything stop you. But here's the problem, big guy. History has shown that you're not quite as good at this part of the game. The focus slips a bit. All of that anger and rage disappears. You're just not the same when you've got that belt.”
He smirked.
“So I hope for your sake you manage to figure it out quickly. I really do! Because I'd hate to have to separate you from what you think is rightfully yours right after the two of you started getting acquainted again. It'd break my heart.”
Joe rolled his eyes once again, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“It's time to see what you're made of, big guy. I really hope you can live up to all the hype that you gave yourself. Otherwise, this really might be the end of the monster that we all called Disturbed…”
Joe smiled and nodded.
“But don't get me wrong, you're the champ for a reason. You can beat me. You've done it before, and you'll probably do it again. So I promise I'll give you my best shot, too! You deserve that.”
“And since it IS Hardcore Heaven, I'm thinking a street fight sounds like it might be a good way for us to show each other what we're capable of. But you're the champ, so…you tell me.”
He paused for just a moment longer.
“See you Sunday, champ.”
