Post by Jayce Pierce on Jan 7, 2024 23:46:31 GMT -5
Cameras were slowly starting to open up in a very slow fading in manner. Only to find themselves being focused directly on a white board before them. Perhaps more specifically would be the word written on the board. . .
PARODY - Noun
par·o·dy
Definition:
-- a feeble or ridiculous imitation
par·o·dy
Definition:
-- a feeble or ridiculous imitation
Surely, there was going to be some confusion to what this meant. Well luckily for the people they weren't going to have to wait too long for the explanation.
“Attention class, attention!”
That booming voice happened to be mine. It did what it was meant to do and got the cameras attention onto me. Cutting right over to the sound of my voice. To reveal me sitting right there at a desk in what appeared to be a classroom setting. With a slight smirk on my lips I slowly stood up from my seat.
“It is I, Mr. Pierce. Your professor for the time being. And as you can see our word of the day is parody. The reason that’s today’s word of the day is because it perfectly describes a particular person. A person that I am very-unfortunately going to have to share the ring with come January nineteenth. Yes, I’m talking about you, John Blade.”
Slightly shaking my head from side to side. The expression on my face should have said more than enough. I was not exactly thrilled about the opponent of choice for my singles debut. However, that’s what was decided. And now it was up to me to make the best of it. Taking a few steps in front of the desk I had been sitting behind. Folding my arms across my chest peering forward.
“John. . . I have to keep it real with you here. I find it rather disrespectful that the powers that be decided that this was a match worthy of my singles debut to Thunder Pro Wrestling. I get that back at Winter Wrestleland. I didn’t come out on top, but I’d have to say that in my opinion. I had an impressive showing. Tossing out a couple people and lasting as long as I did. Hell, even when I came up short. I took an approach most weak minded men wouldn’t take. I blamed myself. I said I could have done better. But this is what they have decided for me? Putting me against a man that is one giant parody of someone else?”
I couldn’t help but shake my head once again. This was baffling to me.
“Maybe this is something I’m just meant to ignore. Maybe this goes against what pro wrestlers are sworn to when it comes to breaking kayfabe. Maybe just maybe I’m in the wrong for breaking the fourth wall here. But you can’t be serious right? You can’t expect anyone to take you seriously by stealing someone else’s entire gimmick. Their entire personality. Basically their entire everything and think it was going to work out for you. Especially not when you’ve done nothing but cheapen it and made it worse than what it was for that person.”
I get that maybe I wasn’t going to do myself any favors by refusing to ignore the obvious at hand. But so be it. I’ve never been one to turn a blind eye to things. Never been one to just let someone slide for x,y, and z. Not to mention, being in this business. You’re going to make way more enemies than friends. I’m just fine with that.
“If you can copy someone all the way down to the most minimal of details and it’s done nothing for you. Clearly, there’s something wrong with you. I could take the cheap route that many others would take. I could make fun of you for a learning disability. I could call you names that have no place in today’s world. I could truly take the low hanging fruit, but I don’t see any gain from that. That’s not going to get me anywhere. Just like facing you isn’t going to get me anywhere.”
In the world of professional wrestling. I had always been taught that you took every opponent you had seriously. You gave them respect and honor for learning the craft. You sympathize with the roads they’ve been down because you’ve been down them too. And that you always saw them as competition. However this situation. . . I couldn’t allow that in my mind. If that ended up costing me? Well, I’d have to live with being the biggest fool on planet earth. But, I just couldn’t do it.
“Honestly, if I have to really think about it. I’m more concerned for you in the sense that either a.) you find this to be a funny gag that no one understands or at least no one is invested in. Or b.) You’re just that delusional that you don’t see anything wrong with this. Either way, I firmly believe you need some legitimate professional help for your mental health. And whatever split personality disorder you might have. You get that help and you might be a functioning member to society. Which is far more important than being a functioning wrestler here in TPW. But that also could be a real possibility if you got the help you desperately need.”
Unfolding my arms and pushing myself off the desk from the leaning position I had been in. I took a couple of steps towards the recording cameras. I wanted to get up close and personal. For the simple fact, I needed John to understand me in full. Those eyes of mine narrowed while looking at the red light to the camera. Speaking with a tone that would command attention.
“The writing's on the wall John. Everything about you screams parody. Everything about you screams a joke. Everything about you says, this is a walk in the park for me. You’re not someone I take seriously. You’re not someone I see as competition. You aren’t a threat to me. In fact John, you’re so soft and so damn pathetic. Back where I was at before I came to TPW. You’d be passed around for two hunnybuns with no hesitation. You couldn’t survive there. Just like you aren’t going to survive here.”
There was a chance that I was the wrong person to be passing any kind of judgment as far as survival goes in TPW. After all, I didn't even have my own feet truly under me. But at the same time someone had to tell the man the truth. Someone had to point him in the right direction. No matter how blunt it might’ve been.
“If there was ever a time for you to learn John. Now is the time, cause school is in session The moment you step into the ring with me at Friday Night Fury. You’re going to find out very quickly. No matter how much you copied someone that actually had success. No matter how much you rely on your so-called ‘chain gang’ and no matter how good that delusional brain makes you believe you are. You will end up with a loss. But more importantly you will understand: I’m A Bad, Bad Man!”
With a cheeky little grin crossing my lips and a wink leaving my left eye. I found those words being the last I needed to share with the man. Truth be told he could talk all day long. I could talk all day long. In the end all that mattered was what you did in between those ropes of the squared circle. While it appeared that maybe my value wasn’t seen or maybe I wasn’t appreciated based on how this decision came to be. One thing I would guarantee is by the end of Friday Night Fury. Thunder Pro Wrestling would truly begin to know the name Jayce Pierce.
THUMP!
That was the sound of my trunk after I slammed it shut. My twenty-twenty four was starting off with a trip to Memphis. Thanks to Thunder Pro Wrestling’s Friday Night Fury being held there. Got a chance to debut in a singles match, despite how I might have felt about it personally. It was still an opportunity and one I wasn’t going to let slip through my fingers. I simply had to make the most of it and hope it led to more down the road.
Reaching into the pocket of my jeans to pull out my keys. However before I could do anything else I heard a voice very clear as day behind me. “Mr. Pierce.” It made my heart sink. For no reason other than I could just tell by the tone. This wasn’t going to be a pleasant visit. I slowly turned myself around and found myself staring right at a police officer. Full on outfit. That badge of his shining bright. A stone face on his expression. I sighed heavily.
“What? What could I possibly have done already? I haven’t been out for a few weeks. I’ve kept my nose clean. I don’t even have probation!”
“Calm down sir. No need to be all defensive.”
He looked at me with a suspicious look. All while reaching into his back pocket. Pulling forward what appeared to be a vanilla-colored envelope. Extending it in my direction.
“I’m simply here to do one job. You’ve been served with an order of protection.”
I was taking the envelope out of his hand. I’m sure my face said it all. I was confused.
“An order of protection? From who?!”
Before he could answer me. I ripped open the letter and right there in bold letters I could see the name MADELYN PIERCE and that hit like a ton of bricks. This wasn’t something I would have expected. I understood that I wasn’t in her life. I understood I made mistakes. I understood that things weren’t going to be easy when I got out. But I was determined to be a present father. . . this on the other hand was going to make that difficult to do. With rage setting in I looked up at the officer trying to hold back tears.
“Is this even legal? Like I’ve done nothing wrong? I’ve done nothing to put her in any kind of danger? How can someone just be granted an order of protection without something criminal going on?”
“Listen sir. I don’t write the laws. I don’t pass the laws. I just carry out and uphold the laws when duty calls.” There was a shrug from his shoulders. All that did was irk me more in seeing it. “Clearly you did something to push this person into taking out an order of protection against you. If you want to fight this. I’m sure you know what you need to do. Just like I’m sure you know what will happen if you don’t uphold this order of protection.”
“I’m more than aware of how the law works as far as that goes.”
“As I expected. Now you have yourself a good day.”
“Yeah, thanks for nothing, asshole.”
It was clear that my comment made him pause and think about saying something else. Maybe even taking further action, but ultimately he turned and started to walk back down my driveway leaving me be. I slammed my hands down on the top of my car with the order of protection in my hand. There were so many emotions running through me at this moment. I was angry. I was sad. But more than anything I was disappointed and that seemed to hurt more than anything else.
What could I do though? Other than fight it. Of course I had to question if that was even worth it. It would just make the situation worse. She didn't want anything to do with me. Pushing back wouldn't end well. Sighing once again, I gripped the driver's side door and climbed inside. Slamming the door shut with force. It was time for a long road trip.
