Post by freak on May 17, 2010 1:08:59 GMT -6
We return to Jack Clinton in the West Texas desert. Night has fallen and he is sitting in front of a fire he built- deserts tend to get chilly at night, after all. The glow from the fire lights his face and body so he can be seen while he talks.
Let's take a trip in the wayback machine to just before the Balance of Power match at Wrestlestock, back at Cowboys Stadium in March. Keep in mind the following- no one knew for sure who was going to be champion at the end of the night. For all we knew going in, Vincent Matthews might as well retain. Or Chris Angel might have been the one to take the title and restore honor to it. We knew not what was coming...just what was in front of us.
Then, six men took to the ring. James Jackson, Tyler Guevara, Matt Margera, Andy Lionheat, Versus Vince, and myself. And the future of SNW hung in a Halliburton briefcase from the roof, overhanging a scaffold which towered above the ring. And regardless of our abilities, our fears, and anything else that may have helped or limited us in that match, it didn't matter. Someone had to win the match.
Now, depending on who you ask you what you may believe, watching the match both Vinnie Schizo and Angel had to realize a few things. And all of those things were based on who was involved in the match and the possibility that they might win. I'll give you an honest analysis. Because that's my job. So pay attention, folks.
If Matt Margera won, then it would've just proven that the system doesn't reward the bold, or the best, or the brave. Just the absolute lucky. Lord knows Matt Margera hasn't been effective in a wrestling ring in about three years and him as the big dog in this company is not something I feel comfortable thinking about. Especially after he helped to destroy what Angel and I tried to build. Oh, was it sweet to power bomb his stupid ass off that scaffold.
If Andy Lionheart won...well, let's just put it this way. It might not have ended for him the prettiest possible way. It would be like putting Rey Mysterio in the ring with Yokozuna- not that I'm making a direct comparison between Vincenzo DiSchizo and Chris Angel and Yokozuna, but take it for the overmatching I would call it. He just wouldn't be able to get the job done.
If Tyler Guevara...Paco Mexicano...Tyler Guava actually put together enough of an effort to win- I mean, honestly, that was embarassing and would be retirement worthy in my book- but anyway. If he somehow, someway came away with a win and took the briefcase, it might've been the most boring period of time in history. We'd see him every week, in his t-shirt and Chucks sitting in front of a church, yammering about- oh wait, that's what we see from him every damn day here. Who are we kidding?
If Versus Vince won, that might've been interesting to watch. Because he's one of those people that have absolutely nothing to lose. I mean, after all, what else can you take from a guy who was willing to put his own safety- his own CAREER- on the line just to try to take people out so he can win a match? It only shows me that he would have what it took to be a champion- if only for a minute. I mean, we don't know for sure whether he'll be big in the end but he's well on his way.
Which leaves two people. Myself and James Jackson. I don't need to speak for Jackson. His actions and his words do enough of that for him. And if he won, well, it might not have been the worst thing that happened because he would not have succeeded. But me winning the match? Deep down inside themselves, as they walked to the ring for the main event, the soon-to-be former champ and the current champ had to know that was the worst possible thing that could've happened.
Vincent Matthews knew that I was still aching to take the Texas Championship away from him despite all of my failings- which I still contend to this day and will continue to do so until the day I die were not entirely of my own doing- and that, since I had the briefcase, it gave me an excuse to take him out at any time, in any building, on any day. And he knew that and it probably affected him so much that he lost the match.
And Chris Angel, he was there through all the successes and all the failings. That's what friends are- people who are there to pick you up when you're down. We fought together, and when he won the Texas Championship, I was one of the first people to offer my congratulations. Because if there's one thing I know about Chris Angel, he is still, even after being out of the picture for as long as he was, one of the best in the business today.
But at the same time, the history that we have had over the years- as friends, as foes, as opponents- is rearing its ugly head. And Angel knows that I've had all the missed opportunities that I'm going to tolerate. He knows what's coming for him- he's seen it from me before. The anger, the rage, and the frustration. All been there before. But who's to say that I'm only going to be showing Angel what he's seen before? Yes, we've basically come up in the business alongside each other since I broke into it...but remember, there was that little period where I went places while Angel sat on the sidelines. Was he paying attention to what I did while I was doing that or was he just content to rest his body from the beatings it took in arenas all over the United States and around the world, some of which no mortal should ever take?
To be quite honest I don't know if he has or he hasn't. Whether he did his studying or whether or not he's just going based on what he's known before. And truth be told, I'm not sure that I really want to. It would be crazy for him to think that things were the same and absolutely irresponsible for him not to have done at least a little study on the type of evolution that I've undergone over these last few years.
It may all come down to this simple thing- who wants it more. I hate to sound cliche here, but that may be the simplest answer to our problem. Who has more of a desire to take the title? Is it me, who's been starving for the Texas Championship for months and who is the hot hand right now? Or it it Angel, who has to realize that leaving the building beltless this Saturday is not the most optimal thing and may perhaps be suffering from a sudden panic attack upon realizing that?
Come Saturday night, all the questions will be answered. And the answer, quite frankly, is this. Chris Angel enters 4 Up with two championships around his waist. Chris Angel leaves 4 Up with nothing. And Jack Clinton leaves 4 Up with the one thing that would give his SNW career meaning...the one thing that has eluded him in his journey...the thing that he would fight and beat his best friend to take if he absolutely HAD to...the SNW Texas Heavyweight Championship.
There are no hard feelings of course, Angel...it's just what I gotta do. You know it, and you have to expect it. You had your time...and as much as it may haunt me, as much as I may not like it, it's up to me to make sure your time as champion ends.
And whether you like it or not...that's my intent. I hope we can live with what happens.
FTB.
Let's take a trip in the wayback machine to just before the Balance of Power match at Wrestlestock, back at Cowboys Stadium in March. Keep in mind the following- no one knew for sure who was going to be champion at the end of the night. For all we knew going in, Vincent Matthews might as well retain. Or Chris Angel might have been the one to take the title and restore honor to it. We knew not what was coming...just what was in front of us.
Then, six men took to the ring. James Jackson, Tyler Guevara, Matt Margera, Andy Lionheat, Versus Vince, and myself. And the future of SNW hung in a Halliburton briefcase from the roof, overhanging a scaffold which towered above the ring. And regardless of our abilities, our fears, and anything else that may have helped or limited us in that match, it didn't matter. Someone had to win the match.
Now, depending on who you ask you what you may believe, watching the match both Vinnie Schizo and Angel had to realize a few things. And all of those things were based on who was involved in the match and the possibility that they might win. I'll give you an honest analysis. Because that's my job. So pay attention, folks.
If Matt Margera won, then it would've just proven that the system doesn't reward the bold, or the best, or the brave. Just the absolute lucky. Lord knows Matt Margera hasn't been effective in a wrestling ring in about three years and him as the big dog in this company is not something I feel comfortable thinking about. Especially after he helped to destroy what Angel and I tried to build. Oh, was it sweet to power bomb his stupid ass off that scaffold.
If Andy Lionheart won...well, let's just put it this way. It might not have ended for him the prettiest possible way. It would be like putting Rey Mysterio in the ring with Yokozuna- not that I'm making a direct comparison between Vincenzo DiSchizo and Chris Angel and Yokozuna, but take it for the overmatching I would call it. He just wouldn't be able to get the job done.
If Tyler Guevara...Paco Mexicano...Tyler Guava actually put together enough of an effort to win- I mean, honestly, that was embarassing and would be retirement worthy in my book- but anyway. If he somehow, someway came away with a win and took the briefcase, it might've been the most boring period of time in history. We'd see him every week, in his t-shirt and Chucks sitting in front of a church, yammering about- oh wait, that's what we see from him every damn day here. Who are we kidding?
If Versus Vince won, that might've been interesting to watch. Because he's one of those people that have absolutely nothing to lose. I mean, after all, what else can you take from a guy who was willing to put his own safety- his own CAREER- on the line just to try to take people out so he can win a match? It only shows me that he would have what it took to be a champion- if only for a minute. I mean, we don't know for sure whether he'll be big in the end but he's well on his way.
Which leaves two people. Myself and James Jackson. I don't need to speak for Jackson. His actions and his words do enough of that for him. And if he won, well, it might not have been the worst thing that happened because he would not have succeeded. But me winning the match? Deep down inside themselves, as they walked to the ring for the main event, the soon-to-be former champ and the current champ had to know that was the worst possible thing that could've happened.
Vincent Matthews knew that I was still aching to take the Texas Championship away from him despite all of my failings- which I still contend to this day and will continue to do so until the day I die were not entirely of my own doing- and that, since I had the briefcase, it gave me an excuse to take him out at any time, in any building, on any day. And he knew that and it probably affected him so much that he lost the match.
And Chris Angel, he was there through all the successes and all the failings. That's what friends are- people who are there to pick you up when you're down. We fought together, and when he won the Texas Championship, I was one of the first people to offer my congratulations. Because if there's one thing I know about Chris Angel, he is still, even after being out of the picture for as long as he was, one of the best in the business today.
But at the same time, the history that we have had over the years- as friends, as foes, as opponents- is rearing its ugly head. And Angel knows that I've had all the missed opportunities that I'm going to tolerate. He knows what's coming for him- he's seen it from me before. The anger, the rage, and the frustration. All been there before. But who's to say that I'm only going to be showing Angel what he's seen before? Yes, we've basically come up in the business alongside each other since I broke into it...but remember, there was that little period where I went places while Angel sat on the sidelines. Was he paying attention to what I did while I was doing that or was he just content to rest his body from the beatings it took in arenas all over the United States and around the world, some of which no mortal should ever take?
To be quite honest I don't know if he has or he hasn't. Whether he did his studying or whether or not he's just going based on what he's known before. And truth be told, I'm not sure that I really want to. It would be crazy for him to think that things were the same and absolutely irresponsible for him not to have done at least a little study on the type of evolution that I've undergone over these last few years.
It may all come down to this simple thing- who wants it more. I hate to sound cliche here, but that may be the simplest answer to our problem. Who has more of a desire to take the title? Is it me, who's been starving for the Texas Championship for months and who is the hot hand right now? Or it it Angel, who has to realize that leaving the building beltless this Saturday is not the most optimal thing and may perhaps be suffering from a sudden panic attack upon realizing that?
Come Saturday night, all the questions will be answered. And the answer, quite frankly, is this. Chris Angel enters 4 Up with two championships around his waist. Chris Angel leaves 4 Up with nothing. And Jack Clinton leaves 4 Up with the one thing that would give his SNW career meaning...the one thing that has eluded him in his journey...the thing that he would fight and beat his best friend to take if he absolutely HAD to...the SNW Texas Heavyweight Championship.
There are no hard feelings of course, Angel...it's just what I gotta do. You know it, and you have to expect it. You had your time...and as much as it may haunt me, as much as I may not like it, it's up to me to make sure your time as champion ends.
And whether you like it or not...that's my intent. I hope we can live with what happens.
FTB.
