Post by knight on Mar 4, 2007 17:03:49 GMT -6
~Scene 1~
People often times ask me how my nickname came to be. The answer is simple. Some jerk off yelled it out during a local
show after I beat my opponent and made the sign of the cross over his body. The booker of the fed liked it so much, that for my next match I was booked as "The Last Crusader" Chris Knight.
At first, I hated the name, because I knew that the asshole who shouted it was just trying to be rude. However, soon, it seemed that the name became detatched from what it originally meant. A few months later, I was reading a newspaper article about local atheletes and they did a whole two paragraphs on me. The journalist (who obviously knew nothing about wrestling) said: "The reason for his nickname is clear. Chris Knight fights as if he is the last man alive at the Alamo. Even when things look hopeless, he will give his opponents 110 percent." I found it strange because I remember seeing her at a match in which I won rather easily, but I took the compliment anyway.
It was a few months after that when I first met Matteo, freshly retired with is wife Giovanna and their two year old son. Everyone who's really into wrestling in New York City knows who he is, and I recognized him during my match. He was sitting in the front row with his family, seemingly studying every move that was happening. I paid no mind to it until I felt a hand on my shoulder as I waited for the bus to take me home. I turned around and looked into the eyes of a man who had the career I wanted. The man who had done everything except win a World Title.
Needless to say, I was scared. Here I was, a punk ass 17 year old kid with a slight talent for wrestling and a dream, being approached by a local hero. And of course, instead of saying something professional or even something nice, I open my mouth and let out a prehistoric grunt.
Well, to make a long story short, I went over to his midtown apartment and had dinner with his family. I've got to tell you, for as young as she is, his wife can cook. It really was the most delicious meal I've ever had. Anyway, dinner isn't the important part. The moment that changed my life was when he and I went outside to the balcony for a smoke. I'll never forget that night.
Matteo: Chris, I've been following your career for the past two, three months. And I've got to tell you, I like what I see.
I smiled. That was quite a compliment coming from him.
Matteo: You're good, but you're not THAT good. You could be so much better.
I took a pull and exhaled over the railing, looking down at the people scurrying around.
Matteo: Listen, I'm offering you the chance of your life. I know that you want to go to college, but what I can give you is something college never can. What would you say if I offered to train you personally?
Looking back on it now, I realize that there were so many things I could have said that would have been more appropriate than what actually came out of my mouth.
Chris: f**k yeah!
Oh, what I would change if I could go back in time. Well, Matteo laughed and put his arm around my shoulder. It could've been worse. He could've pushed over the railing, 30 stories to my demise. But instead he told me that he would do it and that starting the next day, I would be his protoge. I found that way too cool for words and quickly thanked him.
I thought it would be cool being the pupil of a man people around here grow up idolizing. How wrong I was. Sure it was awesome to say "Yeah, guess who I'm being trained by." But when it came time for actual training... yeah, it was hell. The stuff he put me through, no man should ever have to go through it, but it worked. I began to see results during practice, and during a few indy matches I was booked in. I was faster and stronger than before, but most importantly, I was smarter. In knew what to do in the ring from where I was. I knew which grapple to use on my opponent by just looking at him. I knew where my foe was going by looking at the positioning of his arms. That's what mattered according to Matteo who would say "You could be the strongest, fastest, most badass guy in the world. But if you're a f**king retard, you'll get pinned every time!" Well spoken advice.
It was four months later when Matteo came up to me, throwing a clipboard at me with a ball point pen attatched by a string. It was a contract.
Chris: What's this for?
Matteo: I got you a deal.
Chris: What? How?
Matteo: A man who I used to work with. His name is Tito. I convinced him to give you a chance in his promotion. He said yes as a favor to me.
I took the pen and quickly signed my name on the space provided.
Chris: Oh man. Thank you so much!
Matteo took the clipboard back and removed the papers from it. He produced a manilla envelope from his desk and slipped the papers in it.
Matteo: Don't mention it. Just do me a favor and don't mess this up, ok?
Chris: Don't worry, I'm not about to screw up an oppertunity like this.
~Scene 2~
A few days later I found myself seated at the dinner table in Matteo's apartment. We had just feasted on a wonderful meal of pasta and meat and Giovanna was now in the kitchen behind me as we smoked at the table. I took a pull and ashed in the tray provided to me.
Matteo: You know, you have your first match this week.
I exhaled and looked at him across the table.
Chris: I know. I saw the briefing on my desk.
Matteo: Do you know where the match is taking place?
I shook my head.
Matteo: Kansas City.
Chris: Wait.. that's the city that's NOT in Kansas, right?
Matteo: Yeah... something like that.
Chris: That's pretty cool. I've never been there before.
Matteo: You saw who you're facing?
Chris: Yeah, it's a tag team match. I also saw some of the peliminary predictions.
Matteo: I know...
He started to laugh. Asshole...
Chris: Yeah...
Matteo: I saw that no one thinks you have a shot in hell. Not only that, but the one guy who predicted you did it because he randomly guessed!
Chris: Thanks for rubbing it in man.
Giovanna: Dai, Teo. Leave him alone!
Matteo: Aww... Giovie, it's funny!
Chris: Well let me tell you something, this may be my first real match, and it may be against a tag team that I've never seen before, and I may have a partner which I know nothing about, but I am certain of one thing.
Matteo: Oh? And what is that?
Chris: When I step into that ring, and I hear the crowd cheer for the other team, my blood is going to start pumping. My adrenaline will spill out. I am going to show them why I'm called the Last Crusader. I'll show them that I'm not just soe punk form the street who got a lucky chance. I'm going to show them that Chris Knight is for real. That I'm not going to take my first match lying down.
Matteo: Really... Chris, I've been in this buisiness for a long time, I've heard people talk the toughest talkk and then when they show up to the ring, nothing. They get laid out in a few seconds. Hell, it's happened to me a few times before. You can say whatever you want, but until you prove it in the ring, all it is is talk.
Chris: My partner, Midnight Felon, he seems like he's in this to win, as much as I am. I have no intention of becoming his friend, but the only way that we can win this is if we work together. I honestly know very little about him, but two sticks tied together are tougher to snap than just one stick.
Matteo: This is true. This is very true. Don't forget that out there. Don't go out there for glory. Don't be blinded by the crowd chanting your name. Don't be distracted! Keep your eyes on the prize. Victory. Do that and you'll be fine.
I nodded. Giovanna came over to the table and whispered something in Matteo's ear. He smiled and nodded.
Matteo: By the way, when we come back from Kansas City, I want to introduce you to a few friends of mine. They're your age and I think you'll get along well with them.
Chris: Oh! Ok!
Giovanna took the ashtray to empty it and the tablecloth.
Matteo: We still have work to do. There is much preperation to be done before your debut.
I nodded. The road was going to be a hard one, but I already saw it paying off. Matteo and I got up from the table, ready to prepare for whatever may lie in wait.