Post by dylanblack on Aug 8, 2023 23:11:25 GMT -6
February 17th 2019
On the court I was always in charge. That is easy. Knowing my assignments on offense and defense, knowing that I can control the pace, and then doing what I do best... I could do it with my eyes closed. This... this is different.[The scene opens inside a local gym in Worcester, England. New AXW signee, Tony Crew stands staring at the dusty ring in the middle of the room. He is no stranger to the gym as he made his living with the Worcester Wolves by training here at this facility. The ring though was rarely used. Sure, he would see people from time to time get in there and spar for boxing but never in his wildest dreams did he think he would ever be getting in there for a workout. For a wresting career at that.]
Me, wrestling? I mean, I've always been a fan but if you would have told me back in college that one day my basketball career would be over and I would instead be pursuing a wrestling career... at the age of 36 no less... I would have asked you what you were smoking. Yet, here I am training for a match. With huge implications at that.
[Tony walks over and sets his gym back down on the steps leading up to the ring. He opens the back to grab a water and looks down at his wrestling tights. He shakes his head, still not sure if he is making the right decision. When he decided to hang up the high tops and retire from the hardtop, he expected to do just that... retire. His competitive nature and his two young sons at home (Tony Jr and Aedan) had other ideas. They longed to see their dad perform and it was while watching an episode of Anonymous TV back last fall that the idea was formed.]
October 15th 2018
[Tony Crew sits in his living room with his two young sons, one on each side, as they watch the October 15th edition of Anonymous TV. The Crew boys were excited because they had been huge fans of AXW and this is right in the middle of the AXW touring the United States. The boys, while not born stateside, always love to hear their dad talk about what it was like to live in Florida. Their mom and dad take them at least once a year to Florida where they get to visit Disney World. Seeing their favorite wrestling company tour a country they would like to one day made them excited. Right after the opening of the show, it cuts to a podium where the members of AVA are there.]Tony Jr.: Oh man, not these guys.
Aedan: The are bad.
[Tony can't help but laugh as he boys have an aversion to AVA. He knows at least some of the inner workings of the wrestling business but enjoys the innocence that his sons when it comes to sports entertainment.]
Tony Crew: Yeah, those guys are insufferable. Someone should really take them down a notch.
Tony Jr.: You should do it dad!
Tony Crew: What?
Aedan: Yeah! You are way bigger and stronger than all of them. You could destroy Anthony Caffrey!
Tony Crew: I don't know boys, these wrestlers are some of the best athletes in the world. It takes a lot of training and fighting to be able to do what they do every night.
Tony Jr.: Yeah, but you train all the time. I bet you would do really good. You tell me I can do anything I put my mind to if I work hard enough...
Who knew that in my first match I'd be able to head towards doing just that. Maybe not taking down Caffrey directly but being placed in a match that if I win, provides me a chance at facing the Undisputed Champion.
[Tony smiles as he climbs up into the ring, thinking back to the conversation with his sons and then thinking back to their reactions when he told them that their dad was indeed going to be a wrestler in AXW. They jumped for joy and then immediate started to pretend that they were Tony Crew, champion of AXW!]
Champion of AXW. It definitely had a good ring to it. Still though, my inexperience is going to hurt me. I know this. My opponents know this. What they don't have though, is my desire to be the best at everything I do. My work ethic to put the hours, days and weeks in needed to learn. There aren't many out there that can match my will and positive thinking to know that I can do whatever I want to do.
Donny Knight: Holy hell man, you are much larger in person that I thought.
Yeah, my size helps too...
[Tony looks around and sees Donny Knight, an older man with graying hair who has agreed to train him. They had really hit it off over the phone. Donny is the one who asked Tony to meet him here today for a workout. Tony can't help but laugh at Donny's reaction]
Tony Crew: Thanks... I think?
Donny Knight: Sorry, just kind of took me by surprise. If we can get you on the right track, this may be easier than I thought. What do you say we start with running the ropes, making sure we have the stamina on pace with where we need then we will take some bumps. My goal is to get you as ring ready as can be by the time your match comes around.
Tony Crew: Sounds great.
It sounded great... sure. But running those ropes... hurts. I could feel the whelps forming. I'm not stranger to running. My conditioning is in great shape because of basketball. Hitting those ropes time and time again though? Well, I could feel myself getting winded pretty quick.
Donny Knight: Come on! Power through it! If you want to succeed in the ring you can't let your opponents blow you up. That is exactly what will happen if you aren't mental and physically prepared! Keep Running!
Part of me wanted to just give up and fall. Empty myself of what I had for breakfast right there in the middle of the ring. The other part though, the part that always wins out... knew that I would not be defeated. I have to keep running. Faster. Harder. No one can stop me.
Donny Knight: And Done! Great work Tony, really. Now its time for bumps. If you want longevity inside the ring, you have to master the flat back bump. The worst thing you can do is to fall on your head or twist your back on impact. I've seen plenty of wrestler's never be the same because of the way they landed. I don't want that for you.
Yeah, I don't want that for me either.
[Tony watches as Donny shows him the proper way to take a bump. He stands up and motions for Tony.]
Donny Knight: Alright, you're up. Give me a hundred.
[Tony nods and readies himself in the middle of the ring.]
A hundred? This guy is trying to kill me. Trying to make me second guess being in this business. It won't work. Here goes nothing.
[BOOM]
That first bump sounded like a shotgun in my ears. Seeing the look on Donny's face though, the approval that I did it right was all I needed. I will not give up.
[Tony continues to stand up and drop over and over again as Donny cheers him on. A hundred flat back bumps in a row after running the ropes. Tony know he will be sore tomorrow. This doesn't deter him though as he keeps on. Even though he gets slower getting up each time he focuses on taking each bump to as close to perfection as he can. Donny counts him down on his last few.]
I can't breathe, but one thing is for sure, I will make sure I am ready for this match.
Donny Knight: ONE MORE! Let's do this!
Easy for you to say...
[Tony takes the last bump and just lays there. Breathing heavily. He looks over and sees Donny clapping.]
Donny Knight: Great work Crusher. Great work! Let's take a break and get you some water.
Now that is music to my ears.
[Tony rolls over and gets up to his feet. He has worked out all of his life it seems but just that initial workout with Donny was harder than anything he's ever done. Tony gets out of the ring and goes to his back to get his water bottle out. Through a heaving chest he tries to take a deep breath and takes a long drink from his bottle.]
Donny Knight: I want you to do that ever day starting out. No matter what you plan on working out each day you should always start with running the ropes and taking bumps. It will become second nature to you and you will be able to do it with ease when the lights are on you.
Ever day huh? No one ever said this would be easy.
Tony Crew: Right, no problem. I have a lot to prove and if you think that will help, I'm definitely on board.
Donny Knight: Oh, it will help, no question about it. So, this first match you are in... what is it again? Multiple opponents right?
Tony Crew: Yeah, it is a four way match. Two falls. The first fall earns a future number one contender shot for the AXW Undisputed Championship and the second fall, the European.
Donny Knight: Oh, so either way you win something big.
Tony Crew: Yeah, if I win.
Donny Knight: If? If? Come on now, that's not the Tony I've talked to on the phone.
Tony Crew: Yeah, you are right. I will win. I will win the first fall and be the man to take down AVA and Anthony Caffrey, just like my sons want me to do. Still though, its an odd assortment in that ring. Not sure what to think.
Donny Knight: Oh yeah?
Tony Crew: Yeah, from what I gather you have Anomoly, even though I'm not sure what it's spelled wrong on paper. He is, I'm sure, everyone's favorite to win. He has achieved the most in the fed. Then you have Darlene who people say is crazy in that ring. I don't know how I feel fully about possibly having to a fight a female but if it's what I have to do to succeed so be it. I'm one of equal rights. Lastly there is a guy in the match who isn't really in the match because he uses someone else to fight his battles for him.
Donny Knight: King Edmund right?
Tony Crew: Yeah that's him. Knowing what I know from previous shows though is he will have his muscle, Mutt, in the ring for him.
Donny Knight: Well, you know what you have that they don't?
Tony Crew: What's that?
Donny Knight: A 6 foot 8 frame. Wow...
[The two of them laugh as Tony takes some more water.]
Donny Knight: Okay, let's hit some weights shall we?
Tony Crew: Let's do it.
[Tony and Donny walk over towards the bench and begin setting plates on the bar. Tony takes his place on the bench as Donny walks behind him to spot.]
Donny Knight: Tony "Crusher" Crew... number one contender for either the Undisputed or the European Title... can you see that?
Can I see that? That is what this is all about isn't it? It doesn't matter who is in the ring with me. I will always give a hundred percent leading up to the match and during the match. I'm not naive. I won't sit here and pretend I am the best. That way of thinking is already taken even if it is not warranted. Everyone on this roster is here because they are a professional. Anyone on any given night can win, nothing proves that more so than the history of the Undisputed title. I know I am strong, I know I am larger than most on the roster. There is no room for egotistical thoughts though. Conceit leads to defeat, I've seen it time and time again whether it is in basketball or being a fan of wrestling. Now, I am the wrestler. I face three opponents who equally want to win this match. We will all fight for that first fall. Then once that is settled the three remaining will have even that much more fire to prove themselves for the second fall. I will not be outworked in that ring at Anonymous TV. I will not fall in my debut match. The only question though is which fall do I win? Two fall of not two fall... that sounds good. So yeah, I do see it. Tony Crew, your next number one contender for the AXW Undisputed Championship.
Tony Crew: I can see it!
[Tony pushes up the bar as he continues his set. Donny nods his head in approval. He knows Tony will do great things in the AXW, and he will help him. As the workout continues, the scene comes to a close.]