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 Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 7:06 pm
Rise Against -- Re: Education Through Labor
The arena went dark and multiple flashing white lights filled the stadium. The lights synced up with the bass line until the pace picked up and all the lights went on, an white pyro display going off on the stage. When it died down, the returning Mike Landry appeared on the stage. The previously mixed reaction was now almost completely one sided with cheers towards the Innovater.
To the sound of a heartbeat pounding away
To the rhythm of the awful rusted machines
We toss and turn but don't sleep
Each breath we take makes us thieves
Like causes without rebels
Just talk but promise nothing else
We crawl on our knees for you
Under a sky no longer blue
We sweat all day long for you
But we sow seeds to see us through
Because sometimes dreams just don't come true
We wait to reap what we are due
"Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome, The Innovater, Mike Landry!"
Landry marched straight down the ramp with fire in his eyes and a microphone in hand. He stepped up onto apron with a single bound and slid between the ropes, signalling for his music to be cut so he could get to the point.
"BRODY!...BRODY! WHAT! THE HELL! WAS THAT?!"
Landry was visibly upset with something, though what exactly was still a mystery.
"BRODY! Last week I told you to give me EVERYTHING YOU HAD! And what happened? I beat you in the shortest match THAT WE'VE EVER HAD! What the hell is the matter with you? Usually, i'm lucky to get out of our matches without an injury! Or even Concsious! There is NO! DAMN! WAY! I should beat you that easily! I expected more from you! You were supposed to be the one who stepped up! You were supposed to be the one who could fight the good fight! You were supposed to be the one who helped me finish this fight!"
Landry lowered the mic and paced the ring for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts and cool his head.
"So what happened Brody? Was it just beginners luck? Do you need me to be the 'bad guy' in order to give it your best? Or am I just wasting my time with you?"
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 7:35 pm
As if it was answering him, Judas Priest's "One Shot At Glory" blared through the sound system as soon as Landry had ended his sentence.
"Let me hear the battle cry, calling on the wind.
Let me see the banners fly, before the storm begins.
Let me feel the spirits soar! Destroy the enemy.
Striking at the evil core, for all the world to see!
After leaving the song playing for a few moments, Brody Robinson stepped out onto the stage, a determined look stretched across his face. It wasn't angry, or at least it wasn't as angry as he had shown before. It was hard to read, but it was clear he had a few words for Landry, judging by the mic that took place in his right hand. Without stopping on the stage, Brody made his way down the ramp, slapping at a few hands has he moved.
As soon as he reached the ring, he slid in under the bottom rope and climbed up to his feet. He kept his place near the ropes, glaring right into Landry's eyes. Only a few sounds could be heard in the arena after his music died down, and the tension between the two was palpable. Lifting his mic, he decided to break the silence.
"Landry. Why did you feel the need to come out here and rub salt in the wound, huh? Do you think I wasn't the one who was in that ring last week. I know what I did, and I know where I failed. I don't need you coming out here, and pointing out what my problem was."
His face narrowed as his anger started showing up in his voice, though it didn't seem directed at Landry. He dropped his vision, turning his sight towards the mat.
"But maybe your right. Maybe there needs to be a 'bad guy' for me to fight at my best. Because facing a man who has no qualms with attacking those who don't deserve it? That's easy. At that point, it's simply punishment. But facing a good man? He's got nothing to pay for, nothing to regret. There is no reason to make him see what he's earned."
He stopped for a moment, thinking over his next words carefully. After all, he knew what he wanted to get across, but talking usually got in the way. Lifting his head once again, he caught Landry's eyes once more.
"But Landry, you're not a good man. You may be on your road to redemption, but you've got a long way to go before your back on my side. I'd forgotten about that last week. I gave you the benefit of the doubt. But at the end of the match, when you said to go all out, no matter the situation, I remembered what you were before you decided to turn your new leaf."
A smile curled at the edge of his mouth, but he couldn't track down the reason why in his head.
"So when we get our match at Wrestlemania, you will be my 'bad guy'. Because as good as you think you are right now, you don't understand one thing about being the good guy; There is always another way. You don't have to take advantage of an injured man to win. And if I have to prove that fact to you, than I will.
Stepped backwards against the ropes, Brody crossed his arms and waited for Landry to make a response.
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 9:10 am
Landry shook his head in shame, eyeing Brody in disgust.
"You don't seem to get it Brody! In this business, you're not always going to be fighting the guys you hate! Not everyone here is out to get you! And if you can't learn to defeat your friends, then you'll NEVER gain the strength necessary to defeat your enemies! You'll stay here in your little purgetory, being passed up by people less talented than you are. And you'll NEVER be a World Champion."
Landry whiped his hand over his face to try and calm down, but his frustration was clearly visible.
"But you've made your choice. You want me to be the bad guy? Fine. If that's how you need to see me then so be it. I'll continue to see you as the Big Fish in a Small Pond. And until you can seperate your feelings from the job you have to do, that's all you'll ever be."
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 1:55 pm
Brody actually cracked a smile when Landry finished speaking. It was actually rather funny to see Landry tell him to listen, when he seemed dead set against following his own advice.
"Landry, you're not understanding me. I never said that I can't 'defeat my friends,' as you put it. But when I'm in the ring with people like that, it's not about winning anymore. At that point, it's just about pleasing the crowd, and giving people what they paid for. I'm not out to show them the error of their ways. And yeah, that can lead to being me being softer in those cases, but that doesn't mean I can't win."
The smile that had taken it's place on his face quickly melted away, as a more appropriate look of disdain took it's place.
"It also doesn't mean I don't have the strength to beat any challenge that comes my way. You see, I don't have a compulsion to be the best. Sure, a little acknowledgement is nice now and then, but it has never been a driving force behind my actions. I don't need to beat on my friends for a quick self-esteem boost. I don't need a shiny belt to remind me how good I am or how well I fight. I've got my fans to help me with that."
As if on cue, he lifted his mic to the sky, and about half of the crowd began to cheer, showing what kind of people he had behind him.
"They don't stick behind me because I ruthlessly beat down everyone who enters my line of sight. They do it because I'm human, and I know when I can afford to back off. So you can keep your belts, and your top tier matches. Because if I have to give up who I am just to make it somewhere in this business, then I'll gladly stew here in mid-card hell. You may be cheap enough to sell your humanity for empty fame, but I know where I stand, and I like it here."
He briefly noted how cheesy that last sentence was, but he decided to let it slide. He also wasn't sure if his point was going to get to Landry or if it was just going to set him off into a gibbering rage, so he readied his body to move, just in case.
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 9:11 am
Landry nodded along respectfully to Brody's explanation. He looked dissapointed, but accepting.
"Brody, if all you want to be is a crowd pleaser, then you're doing it. These people cheer the hell out of you every time you come out to do your job. I just think it's a shame, because you can be so much more than that. When you really get going, when you turn it on, you're damn near unstoppable and that's the God's honest truth."
Landry paused as the audience applauded Landry's aknowledgement of Brody's skill, Mike himself was too applauding, before he continued.
"I'm not saying you have to change who you are outside of this ring in order to be truely great, but you DO need to learn to be ring-smart if you're going to have any sort of career longevity. I can teach you that, if you'd only listen to a damn word i'm saying."
Landry sighed and shook his head.
"Brody Robinson. You and I have a match at Wrestlemania. That is going to happen whether we like it or not. But what we can control...is how loud we make these people cheer, because you and I could tear the roof off of this, or any other building in the world! You said you wanted to make these fans happy! That's fine! Make em' happy! Bring the REAL "Big Bad Bruiser," Brody to Wrestlemania!"
Landry pointed up at the Wrestlemania logo hanging up on the ceiling and stared right into Brody's eyes, wondering what his responce will be.
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 7:24 pm
Brody's mouth curved back into a smile as soon as he noticed Landry wasn't hostile. It surprised him, considering he'd just accused him of selling his soul, but he was happy to see it nonetheless. He quickly thought over Landry's words, leaving the crowd in relative silence. Neither man was willing to admit they were wrong, and he knew if he pushed it, this could very well end up in a blow for blow beatdown. He didn't want that and he didn't think Landry did either. And he agreed with Landry's statement about Wrestlemania. He knew they would put on an amazing match, and if he took Landry's advice, it would be better. Settling on that idea, he finally lifted his mic again after switching it over to his left hand.
"I just have two things to say, Mike. First, Don't call me 'Bruiser' or anything relating to it. Bruiser Brody was a different man, and it's out of respect that I haven't taken the name for myself. But everything else you said, from the me listening to you, to making the roof fall of the arena at Wrestlemania, sounds like a damn good plan to me."
Brody stretched his right hand out towards Landry, showing he respected Landry, and that he wanted to make the match the his best yet.
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 7:42 pm
Landry accepted the handshake and pulled Brody in, pressing his forhead into his opponent's and staring right into his eyes. He then said without the assistance of a microphone.
"There's a difference between 'selling your soul,' and doing what needs to be done for the good of the business. I'm going to teach you that."
And with that Landry let go and exited the ring, walking back up the ramp and leaving Brody to think on his words.
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