Post by George Duke on Apr 16, 2007 15:59:45 GMT -6
There are no Wawas in Kansas City. There are no Wawas outside of the tri-state area where Duke is from. He has to wander around, asking for directions to the Quick Trip. At least there is always 7-11, in all it's ratty glory. Duke is damned hungry after a long training day, and at least wants to eat something before he continues. Coffee would be nice...
George scans the isles for something eatable, but settles on some pretzels and coffee. He grimaces as the clerk speaks to him in broken English. George doesn't look him in the eye, only handing him exact change and walking out the door.
"Oh, Shawn. I wasn't avoiding it at all. Yeah, you've beaten me before in POW. I never said you were a schlub. You've done so much in such a short time - not just because you are talented, though. You were pushed to the top because you're marketable - the disease of the industry today. I never got those chances, no matter how well I did. You sell T-shirts and have your cute catch phrases - so you were brought in to be on top. I'm sure your successful brother had something to do with it as well. However, unlike most people in your position, you can back it up. You got the shots because of your market value - but you won them because you were good. Yes, you have beaten me before. It was a tough bout, and you got the best of me. However, the good part about that is - I learned from my mistakes. I got a better understanding of how you work, and I learned how I should work. Losing can be a valuable lesson to a man - I hope to teach you that very lesson."
Duke settles down at a broken bench, sitting on the side without holes. He takes a bite of his pretzel and nearly spits it out. It's not a Philly pretzel - lord only knows why it makes a difference, but it does. He settles on dunking in his coffee. He takes a bite of the soggy pretzel, dripping black coffee back into the cup.
"As I've said, you pissed me off. You're going to get hurt, win, lose or draw. If I win - I want to make damn sure you won't be coming up behind me for a return match - if I take care of that now, it won't be a problem later. The extra hurt has a dual purpose."
Bits of soggy pretzel fly from the man's mouth as he continues.
"This could go either way. I've said you were a talent - you show a lot of promise for the future, but you don't want to burn yourself out too quick. That's the path you're on. Burning bridges with a man like me isn't the way to help yourself out. You've got an ego the size of Silverdome, and it's gotta be cut down. I've been around the block more than a few times. Success didn't come easy to me - and we already discussed why. My looks and personality aren't marketable as a fan favorite. Besides, when I got into this business, there wasn't national TV coverage or the giant fanfare there is now. McMahon was still Sr., and he was well behind the NWA and AWA. Japan was a mysterious frontier - and I worked in a d**n carnival. That's the way it was - it was rough and brutal, not like today. It is that tough conditioning that gives a vet an advantage over a rookie. Working in a carnival and taking on all comers, you learn to adapt your style. You learn how to take down any man - but you gotta get a feel for it fast. I failed to do that last time, and I paid for it with the match. This time, there will be no mistakes. This time, George Duke leaves as the winner."
Duke gives up on the pretzel and tosses it aside. He dumps the rest of the coffee on the ground and hands the cup to a homeless man, smiling at his own 'bastard-osity'. Back to the gym and then back home - the same routine week in and week out. George Duke is a wrestler, and it's the life he leads. It's about time it pays off in Kansas City. He's held plenty of gold before, everywhere he's gone. But POW is going to be big - and he wants in. He's already in the books as the First Valor Champion. But if POW is still growing and thriving long after he is gone, Duke wants his name on the list of big gold holders. He wants to be part of history - he's worked for it all his life. SCCW is gone, GCW is gone, he's blacklisted from the NWA and WAS has only a few shows a year.
George Duke grins as he makes his way down the cold streets. He knows he's ready, he knows he's due.
George scans the isles for something eatable, but settles on some pretzels and coffee. He grimaces as the clerk speaks to him in broken English. George doesn't look him in the eye, only handing him exact change and walking out the door.
"Oh, Shawn. I wasn't avoiding it at all. Yeah, you've beaten me before in POW. I never said you were a schlub. You've done so much in such a short time - not just because you are talented, though. You were pushed to the top because you're marketable - the disease of the industry today. I never got those chances, no matter how well I did. You sell T-shirts and have your cute catch phrases - so you were brought in to be on top. I'm sure your successful brother had something to do with it as well. However, unlike most people in your position, you can back it up. You got the shots because of your market value - but you won them because you were good. Yes, you have beaten me before. It was a tough bout, and you got the best of me. However, the good part about that is - I learned from my mistakes. I got a better understanding of how you work, and I learned how I should work. Losing can be a valuable lesson to a man - I hope to teach you that very lesson."
Duke settles down at a broken bench, sitting on the side without holes. He takes a bite of his pretzel and nearly spits it out. It's not a Philly pretzel - lord only knows why it makes a difference, but it does. He settles on dunking in his coffee. He takes a bite of the soggy pretzel, dripping black coffee back into the cup.
"As I've said, you pissed me off. You're going to get hurt, win, lose or draw. If I win - I want to make damn sure you won't be coming up behind me for a return match - if I take care of that now, it won't be a problem later. The extra hurt has a dual purpose."
Bits of soggy pretzel fly from the man's mouth as he continues.
"This could go either way. I've said you were a talent - you show a lot of promise for the future, but you don't want to burn yourself out too quick. That's the path you're on. Burning bridges with a man like me isn't the way to help yourself out. You've got an ego the size of Silverdome, and it's gotta be cut down. I've been around the block more than a few times. Success didn't come easy to me - and we already discussed why. My looks and personality aren't marketable as a fan favorite. Besides, when I got into this business, there wasn't national TV coverage or the giant fanfare there is now. McMahon was still Sr., and he was well behind the NWA and AWA. Japan was a mysterious frontier - and I worked in a d**n carnival. That's the way it was - it was rough and brutal, not like today. It is that tough conditioning that gives a vet an advantage over a rookie. Working in a carnival and taking on all comers, you learn to adapt your style. You learn how to take down any man - but you gotta get a feel for it fast. I failed to do that last time, and I paid for it with the match. This time, there will be no mistakes. This time, George Duke leaves as the winner."
Duke gives up on the pretzel and tosses it aside. He dumps the rest of the coffee on the ground and hands the cup to a homeless man, smiling at his own 'bastard-osity'. Back to the gym and then back home - the same routine week in and week out. George Duke is a wrestler, and it's the life he leads. It's about time it pays off in Kansas City. He's held plenty of gold before, everywhere he's gone. But POW is going to be big - and he wants in. He's already in the books as the First Valor Champion. But if POW is still growing and thriving long after he is gone, Duke wants his name on the list of big gold holders. He wants to be part of history - he's worked for it all his life. SCCW is gone, GCW is gone, he's blacklisted from the NWA and WAS has only a few shows a year.
George Duke grins as he makes his way down the cold streets. He knows he's ready, he knows he's due.
