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Post by REDEFINE Pro on Jul 19, 2015 3:20:22 GMT
Showcase Match: Declan Black vs John Pariah
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Post by declanblack on Jul 22, 2015 16:37:55 GMT
(The following is a blog post from DeclanBlack.com, dated July 22nd, 2015.)
I can't describe to you, I can't tell you in words, what I felt eleven days ago at Youth Gone Wild. When I not only lost the 2CW Heavyweight Championship and failed to becone the first ever 2CW World Heavyweight Champion, but was also defeated in singles competition for the first time in nearly a year. It's like Joe Montana being the best quarterback there ever was, and going out and throwing three pick-sixes in a row. It's like Wayne Gretzky going out, and not being able to make a shot. It's like Michael Jordan...well, basically Jordan's entire run with the Wizards.
Not in an egotistical way, but I always considered myself an elite pro wrestler, one of the best. And I couldn't look in the mirror and do that after what happened. No matter how good I was, Ajax was, even just on that night, that much better. I couldn't lay claim to being the King of the Second City...because Johnny Ajax earned that from me. But unlike Johnny, who, he's got his friends, he's got all his stuff, and wrestling's just a component of his life...being the best was my life. Not all of it. I have my wife. My lovers. My fans and admirers. I have my sports interests and my business interests and my love of food and movies and a million things...
But without that win...I was worthless. I AM. Worthless. Excuses are things that losers say. I lost, and I accept the consequences of my loss. But this match means everything in getting back my validation, my raison d'etre. Many argue that my championship reign was the greatest in 2CW history. Many records set, much dominance had. The only reign that compares...is the first. John Pariah's. My old friend. So, it logically follows that the best way to prove I'm the greatest 2CW Heavyweight Champion there's ever been is to challenge and defeat my only challenger to that throne.
I can only be the greatest champion of the future, or even be worthy to challenge the champion of the present, by decisively proving that I am the greatest champion of the past. John, I love you like a brother, and you know I've always had your back, always been there when you needed me. And now I need you. For one night...maybe one last night...I need you to be at your best. I need you to lay into me as you've never laid into anyone before. Because I need to prove something. To the fans...to the boys and girls in the back...to Johnny Ajax...and to myself. I need to prove that I'm still elite. I need to prove that I can be the best again. That I deserve a rematch for the successor to the title I REdefined, the title I brought back to prominence. I took 2CW on my back once...I need to know that I can do it again.
-DB
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Post by John Pariah on Jul 22, 2015 22:35:09 GMT
The dark arena is dimly lit up, and John Pariah sits in the corner of a ring, looking the arena over.]
Pariah: A king surveys his kingdom. He analyzes the land, and plans accordingly. This ring is my Kingdom, and I am her king. Its the only thing I have left now, and the only thing that matters to me.
[He stands up, and leans on the ropes toward the camera.]
Pariah: For the last three months, there has been a thorn in my side. A thorn named Grayson Shaw. A plague that has destroyed my family, my friends-and has tried to end my very livelihood. At Youth Gone Wild, I put his head into the windshield of a car, and I put that demon to rest. Now, I have my sights set on the ultimate prize…
[He looks up, and see’s the 2CW banner in the rafters.]
Pariah: The 2CW World Championship. I was the first champion in this company, the first person to carry it on his back. The greatest-champion this company has ever seen. Not Jason Aries, not Ryan Kidd, Adam Stryker, Damian Cole, Troy Stone or even you Declan..
[He chuckles, and leans back.]
Pariah: My good friend, brother in arms. Declan Black. You and I will meet this week on REDEFINE for the first time ever. Little known fact, a year ago-when 2CW brought the World Grand Prix over to our side of the fence, Declan and I were supposed go one on one. That obviously didn’t happen-but now, right here in Chicago-it finally happens. Rocky vs Creed, Tyson vs Holyfield, Kirk vs Skywalker. Declan Black vs John Pariah. One night only, one time only. There is no title on the line-but for me Declan? It’s all to much more important. It’s pride. You see for the last three fucking months I’ve been living under the heel of someone else, now I’m free, I’m vindicated, and I have a new lease on life. There is nothing holding me back, there is no demon on my back, no chains around my feet. There is the sky, and there is a race to the top of that mountain-and Declan Black, my friend-you are at the foot of that mountain. I will begin my ascension back to my throne-and when it all is said and done-I will be World Champion again. Sorry Declan, it isn’t personal brother, but the King is taking back his crown…
[He smiles, and makes a gun motion with his hands to the camera, as we fade to black]
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Post by John Pariah on Jul 23, 2015 15:19:40 GMT
The following is an except from John Pariah appearing on WKQX Chicago’s Alternative to promote the REDEFINE tapings at the 2CW Arena. Dated Thursday, July 23rd 2015-hours before the actual taping.
DJ: And in studio with us really quick, is the former Second City Wrestling Champion, “Chicago’s Finest” John Pariah.
Pariah: Thanks guys.
DJ: Now John, tell the folks listening exactly what Second City Wrestling is.
Pariah: 2CW is the premiere professional wrestling promotion in the Chicago market. We air a weekly television show called REDEFINE. It airs Saturdays on WGN.
DJ: I hear 2CW is working with the Art Institute?
Pariah: We employ a good percentage of Art Institute Students, as well as use their facilities for pre tape and post production work.
DJ: Why REDEFINE?
Pariah: Honestly? It’s because 2CW is redefining what professional wrestling should be. We’re not sports entertainment. We’re professional wrestling. We put everything out in the ring, and leave it there.
DJ: Like your match you had two weeks ago against Grayson Shaw?
Pariah: Exactly. I beat Grayson Shaw, and I am now free from that burden. Free from that curse. I’m free to focus my attention on what matters most. The 2CW World Championship.
DJ: Tell me about your match this week-against the former Champion Declan Black?
Pariah: Declan and I go way back, and we’re actually meeting for the first time as opponents. It’s crazy-we’ve both traveled the world together and never once squared off in the ring. Well thats all about to change-because after I beat Declan Black-I’m pointing my crosshairs at Johnny Ajax, and the World Championship.
DJ: Declan had some pretty choice words to say about you John. He questioned whether or not he’d see John Pariah at his best when you two faced off at REDEFINE.
Pariah: He’s going to step into the ring with the Archetype of 2CW, Chicago’s Finest-in Chicago. He’s going to see a John Pariah that is fueled by passion, energized by desire, and prepared to do whatever it takes to walk out with the championship. I’m fighting for myself now-and I’m not sure if Declan understands that. I don’t have anyone to hold me back anymore. Lilith is focused with the launch of the ICONIC Academy Showcase events. I took down Grayson Shaw on my own-and you better believe that Declan Black will fall too. The king is reclaiming his crown kid…
[Pariah stands up, before taking the interview off.]
Pariah: and there isn’t anyone who can stop me…
[He takes the headset off and walks out of the studio, as the DJ throws to a commercial break]
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Post by declanblack on Jul 24, 2015 3:35:57 GMT
*The following is a blog posted to DeclanBlack.com, early on July 23rd, 2015.*
The first isn't the best. Those things don't equate.
The formula for Coke or Pepsi or your favorite beer isn't the same as it was the original. Over a long period of time, it changed, it evolved, it became better. If that formula stayed the same, you'd think that sucked.
Wrestling's even more that way. Even in a month, the business changes a lot. What entertains people changes, and wrestlers change too. Most relevant to this little lecture, is that what it takes to be a champion rapidly changes. Longevity's just not a thing anymore. 2CW isn't the place it was just twelve short months ago, when John Pariah had his inaugural title reign. The SECOND greatest title reign in the history of Second City Wrestling.
That's not to say he had less competition or anything like that. Two of his three title defenses were against guys still very much on the roster as threats. One, Jordan Caliban, is one half of the 2CW Tag Team Champions today. But his three title defenses were spaced out over eight days. His entire reign was four weeks. Mine was nearly three months. I went into the first #REvolution, got busted down to semi-main on a show I was in the fucking name of, and still defended the title. I beat Grayson Shaw, and not only did I do it in a no disqualification match, that wasn't announced as such until about thirty minutes before the match, but I also beat his ass in a steel cage.
Twice, I beat a man that destroyed John Pariah at #REvolution:Owyns vs. Black. That he had to put through a car windshield to beat at #REvolution: Youth Gone Wild. But no. My reign is second to John Pariah's.
If you honestly believe that, you're honestly a fool.
John is one of my best friends, and yeah, he did set the bar for me. But the fact is, I raised it higher than I think anyone, even him, can reach. I brought the 2CW Heavyweight Championship back to honor. John Pariah laid the foundation, but Declan Black built that house, and can't nobody say different.
But hey, if John Pariah really wants to say he was a better champion than me, hey, that's cool. Because come #REdefine, there's not going to be any doubt. One of us is going to go to that Number One Contender's match, and one of us will conclusively be the greatest champion that Second City Wrestling has yet produced.
And hey. Spoiler. It's going to be me.
So I sincerely hope that John doesn't take it personally when I beat him. Because win or lose, John's always gonna be one of my best friends. He's always gonna be the man that personally made the call to me to come to 2CW when he heard of NAPW's implosion.
Thing is...I'm always gonna be the bullet in the chamber.
-DB
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