Mike Corral
01-04-2010, 04:40 PM
*The sounds of Vampire Weekend's "Oxford Comma" fill the otherwise empty house here in South London's poorest section. Outside we see many of the unfortunate walking the streets, their heads hanging down, almost to the point that their faces are invisible to the public. On the corner of a sidewalk, a rather overdressed hooker can be seen talking to a potential client, looking for a bit of company to keep them from realizing that they're lonely. As the camera turns back, Michael Hayden is seen sitting in a rather luxurious chair, contrasting the rest of his otherwise damp house.*
You'll have to excuse me if I continue to sit in this chair while we do this. Believe it or not, this chair is the only thing that made it through Customs when I first arrived. The rest is still being looked through as potential "hazards", so I tend to spend quite a bit of time simply relaxing in this chair.
It seems almost forgettable, sitting in a chair. But then you look around at the rest of this miserable dump I call my house, you're able to see why I like it so. It's a reminder that even though the rest of my world is about as cheerful as a funeral, there exists a bright light which I can escape to, even if it's only once every week.
Look around, look outside. Whereas I'm fortunate enough to have an escape from this wretched place, practically everyone else here in these slums doesn't. And that fact alone is enough to keep my head held high. Sadly, it seems like I'm the only one. Look around.
*The camera once again looks to the outside, where South London's residents slowly shuffle to and fro, heads downward as if to prevent their faces from being seen. As the camera continues scanning, it's apparent the hooker and the man she was talking to have left their corner.*
It's sad, it really is. These people are embarrassed to be here, to call this slum their home. Rather than accept their fate and try to move on as best as they can, they look towards the ground with apathy. They hide their faces as if to avoid being seen by anyone. They refuse to risk being noticed, being revealed as residents of this area. They've painted a picture of what they want their lives to be to the outside world, but keep their faces hidden from it. Shameful, yet pathetic.
Now, what does this all have to do with wrestling, you may ask? Once you look past the scene, it becomes clear. Wrestling gives me a reason to keep my head up. It gives me a reason not to give a damn about living in this dump, it gives me a reason to make people believe. And trust me, people will believe.
Now, I may not be as eloquent with words as JMC, and I may not drink until I've forgotten my name like One and 2 seem to do as of late, but I can put on a show when I need to. I can give my opponent one hell of a fight when I need to. And Cole, on January 4th I plan on giving you that fight.
Now, I'm not going to focus on your partnership with JMC. No, I prefer to focus on you. A mystery man to be sure of, but this is not the first time I've had no clue as to what my opponent would bring to the table. And since I've already gone through this routine, I'm not worried in the slightest about our match. True, you could surprise me and win, but I don't think that will be the outcome. Not because I doubt your abilities or your skill, but simply because I refuse to lose to someone like you. Call it arrogance, call it cockiness, call it whatever you want to, but Michael Hayden is not going to be the loser. And why?
Because I'm entering Awakening with the same goal I've had my last two outings. I'm going to make you believe Cole, even if only for a few moments, that Michael Hayden is for real. That I'm not simply pretending to be a wrestler just so I can pay the bills to keep the lights on, I'm in this because I love this sport. Maybe you're in it for monetary wealth Cole, I can't say for sure. But what I can say is this,
I want you to give me the same kind of fight I'm going to give you Cole. I want you to go out there with the intent of winning and give me a battle, you got that? I won't accept anything less from you. You make this worthwhile... or I'll end you right then and there in that ring.
Good Night Cole, and Good Luck. You'll need it.
*Hayden relaxes in his seat, eyes closed as he sings along to the music. The sounds of The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights" plays in the house as we fade out.*
You'll have to excuse me if I continue to sit in this chair while we do this. Believe it or not, this chair is the only thing that made it through Customs when I first arrived. The rest is still being looked through as potential "hazards", so I tend to spend quite a bit of time simply relaxing in this chair.
It seems almost forgettable, sitting in a chair. But then you look around at the rest of this miserable dump I call my house, you're able to see why I like it so. It's a reminder that even though the rest of my world is about as cheerful as a funeral, there exists a bright light which I can escape to, even if it's only once every week.
Look around, look outside. Whereas I'm fortunate enough to have an escape from this wretched place, practically everyone else here in these slums doesn't. And that fact alone is enough to keep my head held high. Sadly, it seems like I'm the only one. Look around.
*The camera once again looks to the outside, where South London's residents slowly shuffle to and fro, heads downward as if to prevent their faces from being seen. As the camera continues scanning, it's apparent the hooker and the man she was talking to have left their corner.*
It's sad, it really is. These people are embarrassed to be here, to call this slum their home. Rather than accept their fate and try to move on as best as they can, they look towards the ground with apathy. They hide their faces as if to avoid being seen by anyone. They refuse to risk being noticed, being revealed as residents of this area. They've painted a picture of what they want their lives to be to the outside world, but keep their faces hidden from it. Shameful, yet pathetic.
Now, what does this all have to do with wrestling, you may ask? Once you look past the scene, it becomes clear. Wrestling gives me a reason to keep my head up. It gives me a reason not to give a damn about living in this dump, it gives me a reason to make people believe. And trust me, people will believe.
Now, I may not be as eloquent with words as JMC, and I may not drink until I've forgotten my name like One and 2 seem to do as of late, but I can put on a show when I need to. I can give my opponent one hell of a fight when I need to. And Cole, on January 4th I plan on giving you that fight.
Now, I'm not going to focus on your partnership with JMC. No, I prefer to focus on you. A mystery man to be sure of, but this is not the first time I've had no clue as to what my opponent would bring to the table. And since I've already gone through this routine, I'm not worried in the slightest about our match. True, you could surprise me and win, but I don't think that will be the outcome. Not because I doubt your abilities or your skill, but simply because I refuse to lose to someone like you. Call it arrogance, call it cockiness, call it whatever you want to, but Michael Hayden is not going to be the loser. And why?
Because I'm entering Awakening with the same goal I've had my last two outings. I'm going to make you believe Cole, even if only for a few moments, that Michael Hayden is for real. That I'm not simply pretending to be a wrestler just so I can pay the bills to keep the lights on, I'm in this because I love this sport. Maybe you're in it for monetary wealth Cole, I can't say for sure. But what I can say is this,
I want you to give me the same kind of fight I'm going to give you Cole. I want you to go out there with the intent of winning and give me a battle, you got that? I won't accept anything less from you. You make this worthwhile... or I'll end you right then and there in that ring.
Good Night Cole, and Good Luck. You'll need it.
*Hayden relaxes in his seat, eyes closed as he sings along to the music. The sounds of The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights" plays in the house as we fade out.*