EGO TRIP

An act undertaken to increase your own power and influence or to draw attention to your own importance.

* 2007. What an outstanding year. It saw so many amazing things. Sports. Steroids, need I say more? Besides the biggest black spot in sporting history, 2007 also saw many firsts in sports. Peyton Manning won his First Superbowl. 2007 was the first time that a college team won both the Football and Basketball National Championships by defeating the same School in both. Poor Ohio State. LOL. 2007 saw the first professional football player go to jail for dog fighting. Dog Fighting? That's crazy shit. And lest we forget Barry Bonds? Steroids or not, the man can flat out hit a baseball. No matter how many steroids you take, it still doesn't help you hit a little ball traveling around 90 miles per hour, no matter how you slice it. 2007 politics. 2007 saw the first legitiment african american candidate for president of the united states. Not to mention the first legit female candidate. 2007 weather. It was HOTT! Everywhere. Even on the remote continent of Antarctica it was rumored that the polar bears could be seen drinking ice cold Pepsi's. 2007 history. This Spice Girls reunited. Lip syncing never sounded so good. 2007 movies. Judd Apatow made us laugh. 300 made us want to fight. Spiderman made us wonder what all the hype was all about. And Harry Potter made us all want to rip those silly little glasses off his face and tell his to stop being such a pussy. And let's not forget Captain Jack Sparrow. Nuff said. But all this is fine and good. And basically all I could remember. But now is where we turn to what really mattered in 2007. Wrestling. More importantly, The SIW. I'm a little fuzzy about the first half of 07 where the SIW is concerned, but the second half of 07 officially started on July 13 when Johnny Ringo made his return to the SIW. Sure there were other returns in 07. Matt Uzi returned as Duane Doogan's Higher Power. Or at least that's the rumor, because between you and me, I haven't seen Uzi since he revealed himself as the higher power. SIW 07 also saw the return of Glen "Someday I wish to become a real boy" Kirby, as Darren Knight's manager and tag team partner. Sonny Smith, Maurice Badd and Brandon Gateman have had so many "returns" it's really hard to count how many. Ryan Johnson even poked his nose in the door. Airington, London, Natedawg the list goes on and on, but of those who have returned, only Johnny Ringo really made an impact in 2007. Ringo came back with a fury and set his sights on quite possibly the top star in the SIW, Darren Knight. Even though Johnny had what some would classify as a hard time with him. But in the end Johnny Ringo got the last laugh and ended up with Darren's North American Title.

Enough about 07 returns, let's speak on 2007 groups. 07 was chalk full of stables in the SIW, on Brawl and Carnage alike. Stables that have came and went, Definition. Damage Inc. Fight Knight. The Cartel. Elite Alliance. Heck, even Rated X made a small cameo. But it wasn't until the end of 07 was when the truly dominate forces aligned in the SIW. On Brawl, of course it was the Brawl Kings, C-Mac, TJD and Ashton Daniels. On Carnage it had to be EGO Trip, consisting of SIW's NA Champion, Johnny Ringo. CR Roberts and in a shocking twist ending to 2007, Miguel Cervantes. Who now is competing under the name of RC Aires. 2007 also had some bitter rivalries. I think the top on most peoples lists have to be Natedawg vs. Ragin'. Then there was TJD vs. Liana. Titan vs. The Cartel. DDHK vs. Brandon Gateman. DDHK vs. Johnny Ringo. The list could go on and on. That was 2007. That was the past. That shit is over. It's 2008 bitches. A brand new year. The year of Your F'N Hero, Johnny by god Ringo. 2008 will see an EGO Trip so big that it will threaten the very fabric of the SIW altogether. Just imagine Johnny Ringo's egomaniacal outbursts multiplied by 3. With CR and RC by my side there is only one way for Johnny Ringo to go and that is straight to the top of the SIW in 2008. Johnny Ringo came to the SIW with certain goals in mind. Goal 1: To return and make an impact. CHECK! Goal 2: To win DDHK's North American Title. CHECK! Goal 3: To prove to everyone that Johnny Ringo is better than Glen Kirby. CHECK! Goal 4: To become the greatest North American Champion of all time. STILL PENDING CHECK MARK!! Goal 5: Win the Road 2 Glory tournament and become the number 1 contender for the SIW World Title. UNCHECKED.... Goal 6: To become The SIW World Champion. Opportunity not available... Again, that was 2007. And not to toot my own horn, but Johnny Ringo accomplished damn near all of his goals, save one. Johnny Ringo did not win the Road 2 Glory. Johnny Ringo did not become the number one contender. Johnny Ringo didn't become the SIW World Champion in 2007.

Fast Forward, bam! 2008. It's finally here. And yes before you even ask, Johnny Ringo does have his 2008 goals all ready in place. 2008 Goal 1: Continue being the GREATEST North American Champion of all time. I think this is self explanatory. I will out do, out last and out perform Sonny Smith in every single way. And Johnny Ringo will not only go down in history as Your F'N Hero, but also the greatest SIW NA Champion of all time. 2008 Goal 2: Since Johnny Ringo didn't win the Road 2 Glory to become the number one contender, my second goal is to WIN The Assault Rumble. Winning the Assault Rumble will guarantee my World Title shot at Wrestlefest. The Grandpappy of them all. 2008 Goal 3: On the biggest stage the SIW has to offer, Wrestlefest. I will defeat my long time nemesis, Darren "DirectHit" Knight and fulfill my life long destiny and become the SIW WORLD CHAMPION!!! 2008 Goal 4: For EGO Trip to run ruff shot over Carnage for the entire year and go down as one of, if not the Greatest Assemblage of Talent that all of Sports Entertainment has ever seen. Before 2008 is over, people will cower in fear at the mere mention of the name EGO Trip. Count on it. Johnny Ringo and EGO TRip have got to wear sunglasses because the future looks so bright. 2008. SIW get ready for the trip of your lives. We are about to embark on an..... *

* We open up just outside Johnny Ringo's mansion, where Bernardo Williams has just pulled up in his brand new 2008 Honda Acura. Bernardo steps out of the car dressed in a pair of khaki cargo pants and a thin maroon sweatshirt. Bernardo adjusts his glasses just before opening the door. As soon as Bernardo opens the door we are hit with a wave of sound. Tecnotronics' "Pump up the Jam" is playing at almost a deafening level throughout the house. Bernardo tries in vain to cover his ears from the sound. After having closed the door and made his way inside, Bernardo can see that the house is fully decorated for a party. There are balloons, streamers and confetti filling the house. The lights are dim with a disco ball hanging from the ceiling. There are strobe lights and smoke machines running on high as we can finally see in the middle of the room, dancing like there's no tomorrow, Johnny Ringo. Johnny is dressed to impress, donning a very nice charcoal grey suit. Johnny does a little spin move and out of the corner of his eye he notices that he's no longer alone. Johnny pulls a remote out of his pants pocket and mutes the volume of the music as he makes his way over to Bernardo.*

Johnny:
Bernardo, man glad you could make it. What do you think? How does the place look?

Bernardo:
It looks great Johnny. But why all the decorations?

Johnny:
For the New Year's party, duh. Why do you think?

Bernardo:
Oh no. Not again. Johnny, dude New Year's was last week. The party was last week. It was one hell of a night. Don't you remember? I thought you had your memory back?

Johnny:
Of course I remember last week. Why the hell do you think I want to do it again?

Bernardo:
Man, you had me going there for a second. But seriously Johnny, the holidays are over. You back at 100 percent and it's time to refocus on the SIW and our New Year Goals.

Johnny:
All in due time, my good man. But when you see the talent that I have got coming over here tonight, you'll blow a load on the spot. I'm talking smoking. Not all that bright, but let's not kid ourselves here. Who fucking cares how smart they are. Right?

Bernardo:
Good point. Only thing is you are scheduled to defend your North American Title this Friday night on Carnage.

Johnny:
And?

Bernardo:
Well, it's just that Asylum was kinda on a roll before the holidays and if he comes out in 08 like he finished 07, he could very well give you all that you can handle.

Johnny:
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Listen, it just looked like Asylum was on a roll. But the fact of the matter is this. Johnny Ringo was not running on all cylinders and it just looked like everyone was upping their game. But that's not the case. See and injured Johnny Ringo's skill level is down here. About normal for everyone else.~Johnny gestures with his hand~ And a healthy Johnny Ringo is here. ~Johnny moves his hand up above his head~ It only looked like Asylum was on fire because when you compare an injured Johnny Ringo to the rest of the pack, the rest of the pack starts to look a little better. But now that Johnny Ringo is back at full force, not to mention the fact that I have to of the finest the SIW has to offer watching my back, everyone else will just fade back into mediocrity. Asylum included. In Asylum's case, mediocrity is a step up for him. There was a time in the not to distant past that Asylum was so far below mediocre he was force to wrestle dark matches and was nearly fired several times for lack of talent. So just because he's shown a few flashes of discernable talent he thinks he's worthy enough to step in the ring with Your F'N Hero? For my North American Title, no less. I think not. Ok what is he, a former Extreme Champion? Yeah, that and fifty cents will get you a cup of coffee. Who cares? What have you done lately? A victory over Krazy J and a fluke win over Miguel, er I mean RC? Oh and you beat up Bernardo. Big deal. Who doesn't? Bernardo gets his ass handed to him by the SIW Diva's, I should hope that an actual wrestler on the roster should have no trouble defeating the most expendable manager in professional wrestling today.

Bernardo:
Yeah. HEY!!!!

Johnny:
Asylum, you don't belong in my ring. And this Friday when I beat you within an inch of you worthless life, you will come to realize that as well. Because I plan on ringing in the new year with my very first successful NA Title defense of 2008. This may be a new year, but I haven't forgotten about the previous one. Now the end of 2007 is a bit fuzzy in a few spots for old Johnny, but I do remember a thing or two. One of them being The Ringo 2 Glory. Now the Ringo 2 Glory started off really strong, by me winning the Carnage Brand Road 2 Glory Tournament. Defeating Asylum in the process, I might add. But then the Ringo 2 Glory hit a slight snag. A snag in the form of JD Xtreme. Now JD isn't stupid. He knew that he was getting a somewhat diminished Johnny Ringo and he did what any of would do. He took advantage of that and yes I would have done the exact same thing. So I can't blame the man for that. But I can ask, JD do you really think that you beat me? Do you think that the hospital visits and the memory loss didn't take it's toll mentally and physically on me? Don't you think that if I was at 100 percent I wouldn't have had a better plan coming in. Whoa, let me slow down here. I got carried away with the past. I'm not talking about the past. I am talking about the future. I am talking about The Ringo 2 Glory 2008. If not for the aforementioned snag, Johnny Ringo would be at this very moment the number one contender for the SIW Title, but that's not the case. You see the end game for the Ringo 2 Glory only comes when I, Johnny F'N Ringo, Your F'N Hero is standing in the center of the ring with the SIW World Title around my waist. How am I going to make that happen your ask. I'm glad you did. You see the first step in re-establishing the Ringo 2 Glory 2008 started at the end of 2007. Let me take you back, shall we to not to distant past. The night, December 21. The place, Riverside Centroplex in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The main event, SIW World Champion, Darren "DirectHit" Knight and the human peabody Asylum. Versus CR Roberts and since Your F'N Hero decided to start christmas vacation early, Roberts teamed up with none other than the human punching bag, Bernardo Williams. The turn that shocked the world. CR was out there giving it all he had, then he tagged in Bernardo. Bernardo, with his usual ring savvy, looking like a monkey fucking a football, took his usual beat down. Then the thinkable and unthinkable happened within a matter of moments. First, out came Your F'N Hero, just to show DDHK that I haven't forgotten about him. Then to the utter amazement of everyone out raced Miguel Cervantes in what looked to be a save making attempt. But looks can be deceiving and so can I. In one fail swoop Miguel Cervantes died and from his ashes did not rise a Phoenix, but instead gave birth to RC Aries. In doing to solidified the foundation of the group here and forever known as EGO TRIP.

Ok, I already know what you are going to say and just let me stop you right there. I know that in 07 Your F'N Hero was involved in shall we say some lesser talented groups that for whatever reason didn't seem to take off. First there was the debacle that was The Elite Alliance. A ticking time bomb that ended up exploding in the face of the so called leader, Brandon Gateman. Seems like that happens to Gateman a lot these days. The Elite Alliance didn't have the experience nor the leadership to compete with the likes of Damage Inc. or Definition. So, I acted on my gut and ended the Elite Alliance before it could make Johnny Ringo look like more of a tool. But in my hast to regroup, I made a fatal mistake and decided to take a rookie under my wing. And with Micheal Gaze at my side, I decided to open the closet, reach way in the back and dust off the moth balls and bring out the NEW Rated X. At first it looked like everything was going to come up X's. But the unpreparedness of Micheal Gaze started to cost me matches. And I decided that it was time for yet another change. So I then proceeded to make the biggest mistake of them all and I reached out to an old friend. It was time for the NEW Rated X to be destroyed and time for the the ORIGINAL RATED X to make their long awaited return. So in came Ryan Johnson. Primetime had time to take off his coat and have a cup of coffee before he took it upon himself to return to his self imposed retirement. This left Johnny Ringo on his own for the first time is a long while, not counting Bernardo of course. To be honest I think I did a better than average job out on my own. But when I took it upon myself to singlehandedly cost Team Carnage the Brand Elimination match at Unhallowed Desire and most of the lockerroom wanted my head on a pike, I started thinking that I might need someone other than Bernardo watching my back. But where would the most hated man on Carnage look for someone to have my back? The only place I could think of, the second most hated man on Carnage, CR "Call me Drako and I'll rip off you ball" Roberts. Why Roberts? Simple, he was SIW Champion for the frist half of 2007. He was the brains behind Damage Inc. And it was CR Roberts, not Glen "I love it when the underwear rides up the crack of my ass" Kirby that is responsible for the meteoric rise of Darren "DriectHit" Knight. Plus CR is just about the only SIW "superstar" that I didn't totally despise at the time. So it made him the most logical choice.

Then I started to think. What would both shock and enrage wrestlers and fans alike. And then it came to me. A little swerve action. But who would be willing to turn their back on the fans? Who would be willing to stab a friend in the back? Who would be willing to sell their soul? It was as if a lightbulb suddenly switched on in my head. It was so obvious. His brother had be suspended. His tag team partner was paralyzed. His so-called "friends" didn't give him the proper respect he deserved. No one was really taking him serious. Sure, everyone was saying that he has all the "potential" to become a superstar someday. That he was showing why he could be a main eventer "one day". That he could be a "future" World Champion. But I don't think they were looking closely enough. Because when I stopped and really to a close look at the man who would become RC Aries. I could see that the "Futures, one days and somedays and could be's" was already here. All he needed was just a point in the right direction. A little voice to whisper in his ear that he need not wait for the future. Not to wait to be given his rightful spot in the main event. All that he needed to do was to take it. What better way to take the main event spot light than to brutally attacking the World Champion? What better way to actually make people stand up and really look at you, then to viciously decimate a man that you once looked up to. That you once admired. Darren Knight would have never even thought to give Miguel Cervantes a World Title match. But when RC Aries gets right up in your face and slaps the taste out of you mouth, how are you going to deny that? My point exactly. So with a little nudge from me and a little whisper from that little devil that sits on his shoulder The Phoenix ceased being Miguel Cervantes and became RC Aries. When that happened the good man in him was destroyed. In his place was a man that I can respect. A man that I trust to watch my back. A man that I can call friend.

Ringo 2 Glory 2008, step one. Check! Now on to step two. Step two is a little more difficult and requires a little bit of luck to boot. Ringo 2 Glory 2008 step 2, Win the Assault Rumble. Step 2 has many sub parts. First, I must enter the Assault Rumble. So here and now I would like to announce that I will be the first SIW superstar to offically enter the Assault Rumble.

Bernardo:
Uh, Johnny. Duane Doogan has already entered the Rumble. So that would make you the second superstar to enter the Rumble.

Johnny:
Why do you have to do that? Why do you always have to rain on my parade? Huh? Every damn time that I have a great idea, you have to sprinkle your negativity all over it till it turns to crap. But never the less, I guess that I will be the SECOND SIW superstar to offically throw my name in the hat for the Assault Rumble. Now, before I was so rudely interrupted I was explaining step 2 in the Ringo 2 Glory 2008. Step 2, sub-step 1. Enter the Assault Rumble. Check! Here in Step 2 sub-step 2 is where the luck comes into play. To be able to win the rumble it helps to have a decent starting number. Step 2 sub-step 3. Win the Assault Rumble. Now I know that everyone says that they are going to win the Assault, but come on. Let's be honest with ourselves. There are only a hand full of guys here in the SIW that can actually withstand and outlast 29 other SIW Superstars. Take that for what it's worth. But if there is anyone in the SIW that has the brain power to outsmart 29 other wrestlers, it's definatly Your F'N Hero. So to recap, Ringo 2 Glory 2008 step 2 sub-step one, Enter Assault Rumble. Sub-step two, get a good entry number. Sub-step three, Win the Assault Rumble.

Now the realization of the end of step 2, brings us to Step 3 in the Ringo 2 Glory 2008. Step 3 is to become the number one contender for the World Title and go to Wrestlefest to compete for the biggest prize in this sport. Johnny F'N Ringo in the main event of Wrestlefest. I like the sound of that. But let's talk about the number one contendership for just a few moments, shall we. Now let's recap just a little bit if you don't mind. First, Natedawg was the Champion with Darren Knight challenging him as the number one contender. Then in a blink of an eye, Darren is champ and Nate is no where to be seen. So that left Darren as champ with no number one contender. So who should have been the new number one contender? The current North American Champion? The last man to defeat Darren Knight for a singles title? NO! Your F'N Hero is passed over. No, not just passed over. I was totally skipped. To make matters worse, who do they name as the new number one contender? NuTz. Are you kidding me? That last time we saw this lunatic, he was stabbing his own wife, live on pay per view. Ok, I didn't say anything. Which is hard for me, but I went along with it. I just sat back and worried about taking care of my own business. Namely the North American Title. So then we have the World Title match. A match that I'll admitt was a little closer that I would have originally guessed, but in the end it turned out like we all though it would, with Darren coming out the victor and still the SIW Champion. Challenger defeated, new number one contender needed. Where do they turn? Do they name the Current North American Champion the new number one contender? No. Do they name the Extreme Champion the new number one contender? NO. Do they name the man who took Darren Knight to his physical limits just a few months back, inside of a steel cage? NO. So who do they name the new number one contender? Well, I guess we'll find out this Friday night when NuTz once again gets a chance to become the number one contender when he steps in the ring with James Airington. WhO!? James Airington? Are you kidding me? What's this guy done in the last six months to even be considered for any title shot, let alone the SIW World Title. Now to be honest, I don't know all that much about this Airington cat, but come on, could he really be a better number one contender then Your F'N Hero? I think not. Could James Airington really stand in the ring toe to toe with Darren Knight and have the faculties to actually defeat him for the World Title. Doubtfull. Very doubtfull. So there you have it. The next number one contender for the SIW World Title is either going to be a physcopath or a dude that's been on the shelf for the better part of a year. Boys, let me drop just a little bit of knowledge on the two of you before I finish. You see, EGO TRIP has a pretty full night Friday. But after Roberts and Aires defeat The Bad Assassins and after I dispatch this Asylum, we may just have to come out and get a ringside seat for the big number one contenders match. I want to wish each of you good luck. You're going to need it, becasue when EGO TRIP is in the building, ANYTHING can happen.

Speaking of EGO TRIP. I believe that Ego Trip will become in 2008 larger and more dominate than any stable/grouping/tag team/softball team/bowling league/fantasy football league or anything else you can think of. Gone are the days of Damage Inc., Definition, The Cartel, The Dawg House, I-9, I-4, The Outlaws, The UWWE, The Elite Alliance, Rated X, Collision Course, The Bad Assassins, The Bad Breed, The Super Patriots, Fight Knight, Forbidden Extreme and even The Brawl Kings won't be able to hold a candle to EGO TRIP. Sure, some of them were good. Hell, Rated X may have even been great. But when all is said and done they will barely be remembered as a footnote in the history that will be known as Ego Trip. RC, CR, JR, and B-Dizzle have only begun to show what we are capable of. This is just the tip of the iceberg. 2008 is going to be our time. Your best bet is to stay off of our radar and stay out of our way. See this Friday, our first outing of the new year will begin the way I like it. With Gold. Roberts and Aires will become the World Tag Team champions when they defeat Sonny Smith and Maurice "Not so" Badd. Then I will once again defend my North American Title against Asylum. If I've said it once, I've said it twice, someone is going to have to kill me to get my North American Title away from me. So Asylum you had better be ready to kill, because I am ready to die to keep the NA title around my waist. That's a fact. You can write it down, take a picture, google it and put it up on youtube, the it doesn't change the fact that I am The North American Champion and there's only two things you can do about it. Nothing. And Like it!!!

Bernardo:
Nice!

Johnny:
You know something B-Dizzle, I think you were right. Party time is over. It's time to get serious. It's time for The Ringo 2 Glory 2008. It's time for a trip. It's time for AN EGO TRIPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bernardo:
B-Dizzle? You mean I finally get a nickname?

Johnny:
For now. Just don't fall in love with it.

*Johnny starts to laugh as we.....*

F A D E T O B L A C K