Post by Michael Smart on Jun 29, 2016 10:05:32 GMT -6
The scene opens in Robert Garland’s warehouse. Michael Smart is standing in the middle of Garland’s run-down wrestling ring. Garland himself is at ringside, behind the camera, as is evident by his voice coming off-screen.
Robert Garland – We’re rolling!
Garland throws a thumbs up, his thumb inadvertently coming into the camera’s view. Quickly noticing his mistake, Garland pulls his hand back. Michael stares directly into the camera, a stoic expression on his face.
Michael Smart – Karma does not exist.
Michael pauses for a few seconds, letting the words sink in.
Michael Smart – It is a pleasant idea, that good deeds will be rewarded, and bad ones punished. But it rids people of their responsibility, strips them of their agency, does it not? Allow me to explain. If a bad thing happens to a person, what could someone who believes in karma conclude? That the victim deserved it because of their bad karma. But this is false, because we know that bad things happen to good people.
Michael paces around the ring, thinking his next words through carefully.
Michael Smart – On the other hand, when confronted with the realization that another person has done terrible things, one who believes in karma might choose to ignore this fact. ‘They will get what’s coming to them,’ such a person might say.
Michael shakes his head.
Michael Smart – No. Good things can happen to bad people. That is why people have a responsibility. The responsibility to make certain that those who commit bad deeds get punished. Likewise, people have agency. Upon their knowledge of someone’s bad deeds, they have the ability to punish that person for what they have done.
Taking a few moments to scratch his chin, Michael lets the viewers think about his words.
Michael Smart – You may be wondering why I made a speech about karma, when I should be talking about my upcoming title match. But don’t worry, because the former is connected to the latter.
Michael takes a few steps forward to lean against the ropes. His eyes still locked onto the camera, Michael continues.
Michael Smart – You see, there is a reason I returned to MSW. I heard about what the Capital Crew had done, and I decided that someone needed to intervene. You’ve been running roughshod for far too long. If no one in MSW was capable of giving you the punishment you deserve, then it was time for someone outside MSW to come in. That someone is me.
Frankie Cocheese, you act like holding that title belt gives you a free license to do whatever you want. You think you’re above the law, you think you can’t be touched. I think it’s time someone brought you back down to Earth. Not only do you deserve to get the worst beating of your life, but you have proven that you don’t deserve to be called a champion. Now, as much as I’d like to hold that title belt myself, I’m going to be happy as long as one of the three of us takes that thing away from you.
Theo Vega, you’re nothing more than Cocheese’s lap dog. Everyone knows that your biggest accomplishment in MSW isn’t winning the Hardcore title, but hooking up with Frankie so you can call yourself a main eventer for being his back-up in important matches. However, you may just be a flunky, but you’re just as responsible as Frankie, and you will be punished just as much.
You know, I remember playing Street Fighter with my dear cousin, Daniel. Every once in a while, he would pick Vega. Thought he looked cool, apparently. But whenever he played as Vega, I would punish him by handing him a swift defeat. That’s what awaits you, Vega, a swift defeat.
Taking a few steps back, Michael stops leaning on the ropes to stand in the middle of the ring again. He raises his arms to his sides, as if to motion at the area around him.
Michael Smart – Outside this ring, I am a man of many flaws, but inside it, I am flawless. Ever since an early age, I dedicated myself to strict discipline and to becoming a master of technical wrestling. When you step into the ring with me, you are stepping into my yard. Here, I am the judge, jury and executioner. My judgment will be swift, I will declare you guilty, and your execution will be painful.
His arms falling to his sides again, Michael loses the bravado from his voice as he takes on a more thoughtful expression.
Michael Smart – You know how I know that not every bad person gets what’s coming to them? Because I’m a bad person. I’ve done so many terrible things to so many people that I can’t even keep track anymore. Just ask my tag team partner, Chris Williams. I’ve done things that can never be forgiven.
But every cloud has a silver lining. I’ve spent so long causing pain and suffering that I may never be able to change my ways. But even if I can’t change my actions, I can at least change my targets. I can choose to do bad things to bad people. I can punish those that others cannot. I can punish the two of you.
I claimed that karma isn’t real, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t make it come true. I will be the physical manifestation of an ideal, the living embodiment of karma. Cocheese, Vega, you have gathered far too much bad karma, and I’m coming to collect. This Saturday, you will get what you deserve. I’ve done so many bad things, what’s a few more? I may never be able to forgive myself for the things I’m about to do, but I guarantee you, you’ll never be able to forget it.
With a long, intense stare into the camera, the scene slowly fades to black.
Robert Garland – We’re rolling!
Garland throws a thumbs up, his thumb inadvertently coming into the camera’s view. Quickly noticing his mistake, Garland pulls his hand back. Michael stares directly into the camera, a stoic expression on his face.
Michael Smart – Karma does not exist.
Michael pauses for a few seconds, letting the words sink in.
Michael Smart – It is a pleasant idea, that good deeds will be rewarded, and bad ones punished. But it rids people of their responsibility, strips them of their agency, does it not? Allow me to explain. If a bad thing happens to a person, what could someone who believes in karma conclude? That the victim deserved it because of their bad karma. But this is false, because we know that bad things happen to good people.
Michael paces around the ring, thinking his next words through carefully.
Michael Smart – On the other hand, when confronted with the realization that another person has done terrible things, one who believes in karma might choose to ignore this fact. ‘They will get what’s coming to them,’ such a person might say.
Michael shakes his head.
Michael Smart – No. Good things can happen to bad people. That is why people have a responsibility. The responsibility to make certain that those who commit bad deeds get punished. Likewise, people have agency. Upon their knowledge of someone’s bad deeds, they have the ability to punish that person for what they have done.
Taking a few moments to scratch his chin, Michael lets the viewers think about his words.
Michael Smart – You may be wondering why I made a speech about karma, when I should be talking about my upcoming title match. But don’t worry, because the former is connected to the latter.
Michael takes a few steps forward to lean against the ropes. His eyes still locked onto the camera, Michael continues.
Michael Smart – You see, there is a reason I returned to MSW. I heard about what the Capital Crew had done, and I decided that someone needed to intervene. You’ve been running roughshod for far too long. If no one in MSW was capable of giving you the punishment you deserve, then it was time for someone outside MSW to come in. That someone is me.
Frankie Cocheese, you act like holding that title belt gives you a free license to do whatever you want. You think you’re above the law, you think you can’t be touched. I think it’s time someone brought you back down to Earth. Not only do you deserve to get the worst beating of your life, but you have proven that you don’t deserve to be called a champion. Now, as much as I’d like to hold that title belt myself, I’m going to be happy as long as one of the three of us takes that thing away from you.
Theo Vega, you’re nothing more than Cocheese’s lap dog. Everyone knows that your biggest accomplishment in MSW isn’t winning the Hardcore title, but hooking up with Frankie so you can call yourself a main eventer for being his back-up in important matches. However, you may just be a flunky, but you’re just as responsible as Frankie, and you will be punished just as much.
You know, I remember playing Street Fighter with my dear cousin, Daniel. Every once in a while, he would pick Vega. Thought he looked cool, apparently. But whenever he played as Vega, I would punish him by handing him a swift defeat. That’s what awaits you, Vega, a swift defeat.
Taking a few steps back, Michael stops leaning on the ropes to stand in the middle of the ring again. He raises his arms to his sides, as if to motion at the area around him.
Michael Smart – Outside this ring, I am a man of many flaws, but inside it, I am flawless. Ever since an early age, I dedicated myself to strict discipline and to becoming a master of technical wrestling. When you step into the ring with me, you are stepping into my yard. Here, I am the judge, jury and executioner. My judgment will be swift, I will declare you guilty, and your execution will be painful.
His arms falling to his sides again, Michael loses the bravado from his voice as he takes on a more thoughtful expression.
Michael Smart – You know how I know that not every bad person gets what’s coming to them? Because I’m a bad person. I’ve done so many terrible things to so many people that I can’t even keep track anymore. Just ask my tag team partner, Chris Williams. I’ve done things that can never be forgiven.
But every cloud has a silver lining. I’ve spent so long causing pain and suffering that I may never be able to change my ways. But even if I can’t change my actions, I can at least change my targets. I can choose to do bad things to bad people. I can punish those that others cannot. I can punish the two of you.
I claimed that karma isn’t real, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t make it come true. I will be the physical manifestation of an ideal, the living embodiment of karma. Cocheese, Vega, you have gathered far too much bad karma, and I’m coming to collect. This Saturday, you will get what you deserve. I’ve done so many bad things, what’s a few more? I may never be able to forgive myself for the things I’m about to do, but I guarantee you, you’ll never be able to forget it.
With a long, intense stare into the camera, the scene slowly fades to black.
