The Debut of a Champion

The screen begins enveloped under a pitch black enigma. Slowly, a golden flame emblazons the emblem accustomed to the American Patriot Jordan Rattler. The Bald Eagle emblem with the head pointed at the arrows. A sign of War rather than peace. The emblem blazes on the screen in a golden flame, with embers dancing their way around. “Jordan Rattler” slowly etches itself on the bottom. Then, flames engulf the entire screen.

The scene is now in the gym, Jordan training with his ALPHA Zenith Championship in view. Leg presses are on the agenda for the day. Light weight high reps is his philosophy. Being a high flier and all. The beads of sweat roll down from his bro, as he clenches both handles to his side and his breathing grows heavy with every heave he gives his legs. Finally, he finishes the set and turns to the camera.

“A champion never takes the day off.” He instructs the camera.

“A champion always works to better himself. A champion’s work is never perfect. There is always room for improvement. But what is perfect? My record when it comes to ladder matches. I have yet to suffer defeat, they are… My domain. My territory. They unleash a whole new side to me, the artwork that comes in my arsenal only expands with death defying maneuvers. While I’m at the top of my game.”

He cracks a smug smile.

“It’s only fitting that my debut match for Wrestling World comes in my home territory, a ladder match with high stakes on the line for an opportunity at the championship that was made for me to brandish on my shoulder. The American Dream Championship. The American Patriot. Symbolic. Poetry in the making.”

He pauses momentarily to take a swig of water and put a cool towler across his bare and smoldering shoulders.

“A long time in the making. The hoops I’ve had to jump through in my career, and the ones I continue to hurdle through. The shit platters I’ve had to eat with a smile on my face. The blood, the sweat, the injuries. Management overlooking me. The climb to get to where I am. It’s been a hell of a ride. These are the things that define me, made me into who I am. When my back is up against the wall? I say fuck you and blast on right through it. As Jon Jrygin, ask Orion Ramsey. They know. I’ve had the deck stacked against me on numerous occasions. But the end result has always remained constant.”

He grabs his coveted championship belt, staring down at it before placing it on his shoulder, in place of the towel.

“Jordan Rattler remains a constant. I’m not to be fucked with. I’m not here to fuck around and I’m sure as hell not here to be walked over and looked over by the pissants that remain below me. You see, this match comes in in a high pressure atmosphere. And pressure? I thrive in while I make others crumble like dust.”

His face gets smug again as he stands up, the camera following him.

“Pressure. Adversity. Where others die while I thrive. Next week in my debut I will not only be victorious, extending my reign over the ladder match stipulation. But I will move on to conquer yet another legacy as I add another Championship to my collection and give it meaning. As I have done in the past, as I will continue to do so in the future. Now...”

He stops and looks in disbelief at what he’s about to say.

“I’m sorry but WHO the fuck are you Jimmy Johnson? Some family reject comedy act? What’s the actual point of the message you tried to get across? That no one ever takes you seriously? Well have you looked in the mirror and realized that it’s not us taking you seriously but it’s you being a chump? Actually now that I think about it? They did make a movie about you recently. Came out last Friday and grossed over $200 million in the box office. You must be proud! Set an October box office record even and is surely there in the talks of a possible Oscar. Is this the attention you so desperately wanted Jimmy? The outcry you made because ‘Poor me my family hates me I must persevere through and change their minds!’”

He leans back just shaking his head after mocking the Australian with exasperation having crept across him.

“You best tell them to just not watch, even though from seeing what I have already, I can tell you… They weren’t going to anyways. At least, not for you.”

“Zayne. Zayne…” He pauses nodding slightly as he contemplates his next words.

“Where to begin. What is this for you? Some sort of Hallmark movie? Some feel good shit? Nah homie that ain’t it. While you’re busy discussing your inner-self lazily lounging around a classroom in a beanbag, people are out here putting in the work to get the results. How do you expect to make it in this industry sitting there second guessing yourself as if your life was on the line? And then you want to compare yourself to being on the same level as me? This is downright delusional…”

Pausing for more water, Jordan then continues.

“I can tell you right now that your mentality alone is not that of a champion. If you have to second guess yourself on an opportunity to have a chance of being fleeced away from your grimy hands then you shouldn’t have that opportunity in the first place. I’m in a fight for my championship against my current employer. You think I’ll just sit there and let them take what I rightfully deserve. Something I went out of my way to earn. I don’t timidly sit around ‘Man what if I actually suck and they notice.’ And that Zayne? That’s why your chance of winning this ladder match, your favorite type of match, is close to none. Zero. Zilch. Nada.”

He smiles with a sinister grin.

“As to our Architect who decided to throw a jumble of seven men together for a potential title match. I hope you informed their families of that you were the cause of their careers being cut short.”

He smugly smiles again, nodding his heat with satisfaction and hold his championship high in the air, proudly.

“Let’s see what you got.”

Black screen… The emblem returns with his name as the video ends with a flash of fire sending us to the void.