Post by sss on Apr 16, 2007 18:34:19 GMT -6
The scene opens up at Midway Airport on Chicago's south side. Shawn Stevens is still wearing his jeans, bandana, sun glasses and leather jacket but is now sitting in the terminal listening to music on his iPod. In the background outside, a plane is pulling up to the gate. Stevens checks his watch and is minding his own business when a young man comes up and sits next to him. The young man tilts his head and raises an eyebrow as he looks at Stevens. Triple S adjusts his sunglasses as the man points a finger at him.
Man: You're Shawn Stevens, aren't you?
Stevens notices the man talking to him and removes the headphones from his ears.
Shawn: Pardon?
Man: Shawn Stevens, Power On Wrestling's Heavyweight Champion. He's you right?
Stevens looks exasperated but nods his head.
Shawn: Well look at that, I guess I am.
The man reaches out and grabs Stevens hand and shakes it.
Man: I'm a big fan Mr. Stevens.
Shawn: Please, call me Shawn. And you are?
Man: Oh, Jackson Williams, people call me Jack. I guess you're waiting for your plane to fly to the show huh?
Shawn: Yep. It's ten minutes late already....
Jack: Well it's Chicago, we run on our own time here.
Shawn: Yeah I know, I grew up here......
Stevens looks frustrated and trying to get out of making small talk with his fan.
Shawn: Look no offense, but I have a lot on my mind and I will sign an autograph or something for you but I really just need time to think.
Jack's face lights up for a brief second when Stevens said "autograph", but then drains to disappointment after being told to leave him alone.
Jack: An autograph would be cool. Uh....let me find something for you to sign.
Stevens flips open his carryon bag and pulls out a "Triple S" shirt and a permanent marker.
Shawn: Here, this should do.
Jack's face lights back up seeing what Stevens is giving him.
Jack: Thanks a lot Shawn! This is awesome.
Stevens tosses the freshly signed shirt to Jack and goes to put his headphones back into his ears when Jack holds up his finger.
Jack: Can I ask you one thing though?
Stevens sighs and lowers the headphones from his ears again.
Shawn: Sure, one thing....
Jack: What are you thinking about? Because everyone knows you have George Duke's number. You're still gonna be the POW Heavyweight Champion. So what's on your mind?
Shawn: Well you're one of the few but the majority of people are still calling me an underdog in this match. Duke is a grizzled veteran. Not gonna lie that he's tough, but the critics and everyone else are calling for me to lose. I'm starting to doubt myself.
Jack: But that's not the Shawn Stevens we all know and love. I'd take the cocky over arrogant son of a bitch Shawn Stevens any day. That kind of attitude is what brought you to the championship to begin with.
Shawn: Yeah, I agree, but it's hard to stay with that mindset while everyone and their brother is saying that I'm not that same Shawn Stevens.
Jack: Come on, snap out of it. Duke is a veteran yes, but he's old. You're young. He has experience, but YOU have the title. You earned that shot and you beat Rich Morrison....not an easy task. Morrison guarenteed victory back then and you beat him. Another veteran. You can't believe Duke is that much of a threat. He may have the years of experience, but you can be considered a young veteran. Look at what you've done in one year. Yeah I know, I heard about you from UWL too. Come on Shawn. You know you can do it.
Stevens looks down at his hands, nods and then snaps up.
Shawn: You're right Jack. Shawn Stevens isn't worried about anyone. Josh Eagles, Jason Daniels, Mad Max, Flap Flanagan, Teddy Davis, Flying Diamond Cutter Man, Jay T. Nitro, Danny Danielson, Rich Morrison......the list goes on. Veterans of this sport for years and years and I beat them all in one year. Some numerous times. And hell, I have already beat Duke. He can't control the pace of the match, it's my match, my title. I'm the veteran in this case. He can watch all the tapes of me that he can get his hands on. If that's the case I'll just change my style and throw him off. He won't know what to expect. Hell if he's watching tapes of my entire career he shouldn't know what to expect anyways. Every match has to be worked differently and I have done that. I was taught that from day one when I first laced up my boots. Duke thinks he knows my every move and how to stop or counter it, well I too know the same. If that's the case the match would go on forever, but no. I won last time....rather quickly. Yes maybe his motivation is higher because it is now for the POW Heavyweight Championship, but he can't beat me. If it's in ring prowress he wants to display.....then I can put on a show like the best of them. Duke's only claim that he can truely best me on is that he has about thirty to fourty years on me. His mindset that he can best me in every other catagory is an immense fantasy. He obviously hasn't done his homework.
Jack: I doubt he has, I've heard the stuff he has said.
Shawn: Yeah if he was actually doing what a true veteran does he would see everyone else has made the exact same claims against me when it has come to beating me. The so called veterans that have said they could control my every move, counter every step I took, slow me down from working the match how I wanted it to be done......none of them were able to do what they've claimed. Why does Duke think he will be any different? He can make idle threats of injuring me like some face from his past. Is that supposed to make me worry? I have no worries that I will be injured in a match by anyone. That's not a mindset to have while working in this business, let alone being the champion. Murderous Entertainment tried to take me out, four on one and they STILL couldn't get the job done. Four YOUNG guys nonetheless. Old man Duke isn't going to be able to inflict one eigth of the damage Murderous Entertainment tried to inflict on me. And they obviously didn't do a good enough job because I am still breathing, still standing, and most of all STILL the POW Heavyweight Champion. So Duke can attack 'normal' people and put them into hospitals, he went to jail for breaking some poor sap's legs because he was blacklisted? Maybe he was blacklisted because he wasn't all he was claiming to be.
Jack stands up and yells.
Jack: YEAH! DUKE SUCKS!
Shawn: He can try to injure me, break the rules however he wants. Brass knuckles, cheap shots, choke holds....nothing I haven't experienced before....and nothing I haven't overcome. Eagles tried his hand at cheating, he fell. Davis made his attempt and he also attacked me from behind after an hour long two out of three falls match and cashed in his title shot only to lose. Danny Danielson attacked me from behind every chance he could with that steel chair and he too was put down for the one, two three. Rich Morrison sent my protege and friend Jason Lee out on the disabled list and we haven't seen him since. A way to try and get in my head, but Jason told me to not worry about him so his mind game attempt failed. So what else does Duke have that I haven't already beaten....nothing.....hell he thinks he's gonna conquer both territories in POW, Midwest and New England, but he will be lucky if he can even conquer the Valor title division. While he has been focused on me, his challengers have been stacking up. Once I beat him he's gonna turn around and see a dozen fresh faces all wanting that Valor title because once he loses to me he won't even be deserving of that championship he already has. Let alone winning all of the belts in both POW territories.
There is an announcement over the PA system announcing that a flight is ready for boarding. Stevens stops talking and hears, he picks up his carry on bag and begins to walk. Jack walks alongside him.
Shawn: Thanks Jack.....you really helped snap me out of my funk.
Jack: Thanks for the shirt Shawn. Good luck!
Stevens laughs as he reaches his gate.
Shawn: Who needs luck when you're Simply Sensational!
Jack gets a huge smile hearing the trademarked line from Stevens. Triple S walks to the ticket girl and flashes his boarding pass. He walks into the tunnel as the scene fades to black.