Post by epitomeofperfection on Jun 14, 2016 19:06:43 GMT -6
RP Title:// Honesty (US25-1)
OOC:// I meant to have one up earlier this weekend, but was caught with wedding stuff. I'll have at least one more!
It wasn’t that Duke Andrews was just sitting back hoping to stay quiet during the weeks and just show up to get paid. Life was happening in every which direction. Was it any fault of his? Nah. Was it anyone elses? Nah. It was life. It was a bitch here and there but you buck up and do it.
“I’ve heard the people bitching about how ‘Duke doesn’t put in the effort’ and how ‘Duke Andrews can only get by on talent for so long’ for enough over the past few weeks. Frankly, it’s gotten to be enough.”
The picture of Duke Andrews, sitting with his bare feet up on the back of the boat, the scribbled name on the back reading ‘Bankrupt' on the back of the white, with black and neon green detailed Powerquest 380 Avenger. His black baseball cap was on backwards, a small white outline of the Michigan Buckmaster logo.
“People fail to understand that I’ve been thrown off the stage to the concrete floor. They fail to understand that I’ve taken Barrel’s oversized hoof to the chin more times than I’d rather recollect. Yet, because I’m not out there posting promo after promo…suddenly I’ve ‘lost it’ in the grand scheme of Missouri State Wrestling.”
A simple shrug of the shoulders as Duke reaches down, grabbing a brown bottle, a white arch of the Mackinaw Bridge with the words “Biere de Mac” written on them. Taking a long swell of the beer before setting it down.
“When management says “You’re not putting in the effort and we don’t know what to do” suddenly it sends you into that flashback….”
Duke strokes his hand across his dark brown beard.
“Let’s take a history lesson, so people can understand where Duke Andrews comes from. Back in my hometown of Grand Rapids, I was being pushed down, or so I felt. I was told that there was something missing. The drive wasn’t there. I wasn’t putting in the effort. Shit…there’s that term again. So I was send to Indianapolis to break it down and start from scratch. Finding out where I went wrong when I thought that I could get by on pure talent alone. Meanwhile, that was the blessing in disguise. For the next seven years, I went around the world with David Van Dam, collecting every major Tag Team title that was placed in front of us. The MidWest Wrecking Crew was born and become one of the most decorated tag teams in history. Then….like a slap in the face life happens. Our company closes its doors and we’re back on the road. Traveling the world until Van Dam can’t go anymore. His body needing the break, my body needing the break…we hang it up together. Walking away for six months to heal. And then comes in an offer to come back to work. Not because I need the money…but because I’m missing that extra motivation in life. When Danny Stevenson asks you to come to work, you don’t say no. When you’re offered from Isaac Cornelius, you don’t say no. And then when you expect to just come in and play by the rules and it kicks you in the face, over and over and over again, you begin to…you begin to start to put in a little less effort, and why? Because you get screwed over time and time again. I was the one who had Tommy Montana beat in that ring…and because the ‘boss’ gets a little nervous twitch…I get screwed. Which leads me into this battle with the Capital Crew…which leads into a concussion, busted ribs…and a don’t give a shit attitude.”
Duke pauses briefly.
“So then you’re called out by management in a behind closed doors meeting. You’re called out on your effort and all of a sudden you’re facing someone new, yet again. You’re put in a ring with another veteran that’s looking to get back on the rebound and you have to care once again. Almost as if it’s as simple as flipping a switch. Almost as simple as waking up and feeling motivated and it’s not. So let me be the first to apologize to Nikki Venom. I’m not staying quiet in any way to be offensive towards you or the people that fill that arena to watch us work. It’s on me. It’s on Duke Andrews to become that guy once again.”
Duke sighs briefly. Reaching back for the bottle as he takes a long swig.
“Let me also thank you Nikki. For the first time since I’ve been back in the ring I feel at home. I feel like once again I have the chance to become the man that I have always been. I am that guy that fills that arena. Like you said, for so long you and I have been traveling the road together, yet never together. So here we are, opening the show and that’s the best form of motivation that you and I need. You and I are not the ones meant for the first match of the night. But now we’re the table setters. We’re the ones that are out there to set the tone for the rest of the night.”
Duke clears his throat.
“And as for what you said about showing IC3 what we’re about. I’ll continue the honest theme of this little video. Until he realizes that his band of clowns, the Delvin Oswald’s, the Tommy Montana’s, the everyone he’s hired can’t get the job done, and that’s not happening anytime soon, you and I are on the outside looking in. We’re the outcasts in this situation. And trust me…going after Barrell…that’s the top of my list. That’s the next target. It’s just that you’re the first. And when I’m locked in on the target, I don’t miss. And when I’m focused on what’s going down….”
Duke taps the outline on his ballcap.
“It’s open season Nikki. Respect aside, because I know what you’ve done in your career. I know you and I share that same born in blue collar never stop working mentality. I know what to expect in that ring come Unstoppable 25, and I promise you that you’re going to get the Duke Andrews that you remember.”
The scene fades to the choppy waters of Lake Michigan….The Fresh Coast.