Static.. The Arcade Fire's
Une
Annee Sans Lumiere is heard playing in the
background.
Hey!
The streetlights all burnt out.
Une
annee sans lumieres.
Je monte un cheval,
qui porte des oeilleres.
Hey,
my eyes are shooting sparks,
la nuit, mes yeux t’eclairent.
Ne dis pas a ton pere
qu’il porte des oeillieres.
Hey,
your old man should know,
if you see a shadow,
there’s something there.
So
hey! my eyes are shooting sparks,
la nuit mes yeux t’eclairent,
ne dis pas a ton pere
qu’il porte des oeillieres.
Hey,
your old man should know,
if you see a shadow,
there’s something there.
One of the biggest tragedies in the
history of our great sport happened this past week at
LoC's debut Glory PPV. Val Venis absolutely dominated
his opponents early in the show, clinching a spot in
the GAUNTLET FOR THE GOLD later that evening. He
outlasted every single man in the ring, except for
one.. Ric Flair. The same man who cost him the title
in SGWx and nEw.. The same man who has stopped him
from becoming World Champion too many times in his
career. Val Venis has always been unstoppable. He has
always been a man who is invincible. NO ONE can beat
him.. Except one.. Ric Flair. The dirtiest player in
the game. A man who never dies. A man who after all
these years just keeps winning. It seems like he'll
be on top of his game forever. It seems like now,
after winning his 19th World Heavyweight Championship,
that Ric Flair will continue his reign as a REAL
living, breathing, LEGEND!
Well, whoever developed that logic is
dead wrong.
That's right. Val Venis let it slip,
but this is not a sign on what is to come. Ric Flair
has captured his 19th championship, but it will be
his shortest lived reign. Val was caught off guard.
It was a night of celebration after being named TIME's
Man Of The Year and winning his first match as a
member of the League of Champions. Val let his
opportunity slip, and now he must pay for it by
watching a man twice his age flaunt a title that
should be his. Flair's victory was a fluke. And Val
has learned a lesson from this mishap.
It will only be a matter of time until
Val is standing over a broken Ric Flair, holding the
LoC World Heavyweight Championship high and proud.
..only a matter of time..
=
VAL VENIS versus MATT
BENTLEY
CHAPTER 122:
UNE ANNEE SANS
LUMIERE
Val is seen sitting on a
couch, with his head in his hands. Bischoff is pacing
in front of him, speaking to him.
Eric Bischoff:
Take my word for it Val, this whole
thing was unavoidable.. A contract is a contract..
Val looks up, shakes his head,
and replies.
Val Venis:
Well, what if I refuse? What the hell
can Steamboat do about it? I'm Val Venis, for Christ's
sake.
Bischoff sighs and comments.
Eric Bischoff:
Hear, read the letter.. It should
clear it up.
Bischoff hands the piece of
paper in his hand to Val. The camera turns to a shot
from over Val's shoulder. We see the typed letter in
front of us.
Dear Val,
As stated clearly in the
contract you signed with the League of Champions, you
are not allowed to forego facing an opponent unless
prior approval from the Championship Committee. In
light of the announcement you made in your last promo,
I have to remind you that you must face Matt
Bentley, who has now renamed himself Michael Shane,
at GLORY. If you remove, you will be stripped of
whatever status you have in this company and asked to
leave the promotion. Rules are rules, Val, and even
the most celebrated of superstars must follow them.
Do not make me take action,
Val. It won't be pretty.
Sincerely,
Ricky Steamboat.
Val crumples the paper and
throws it across the room. He speaks..
Val Venis:
Let me tell you, Bischoff. This is
absolute bullshit. Who does that old geezer think he
is, the Pope? He's talkiing to VAL VENIS here.. I'm
the man who's going to carry this company on my
shoulders, once he loses his hard on for Mr. Geritol,
Ric Flair.
Bischoff nods in agreement,
and speaks.
Eric Bischoff:
I agree, Val. But the man is signing
your paycheck, and you can't deny that if you lose
your spot in LOC, there really isn't much of anywhere
to go to.. I mean, you don't want to go to APWX..
Val gags at the thought of it.
Val Venis:
Oh God, I'd rather see Steamboat and
Flair naked in bed together.
Bischoff laughs at the joke.
By the way, if you all didn't notice earlier, Dean
Mason likes giant cocks stuffed in his ass. Val
continues to speak.
Val Venis:
Well, I guess I'll have to do a little
extra work this week. Matt Bentley really is unlucky.
He might have actually stood a chance of avoiding
serious injury had he fought our little fit in. But
now, he's got absolutely no chance.
Val's interrupted by a knock
on the door. Stacy peeks her head in, and comments.
Stacy Keibler:
Is it safe to come in, boys? You've
got a visitor..
Val casually waves them in.
Stacy walks in, with the faux Matt Bentley following
closely behind.
Matt Bentley:
How're my partners doing today. You
all ready to watch me kick some ass at Glory?
Val kicks Bischoff jarringly
in the foot, giving him the sign to do what is
necessary.
Eric Bischoff:
Yeah Matt, something kinda came up..
Steamboat wrote us a letter.. There are some contract
disputes about the match.
Bentley is happy, for some
reason, as he obviously is interpreting this wrong.
Matt Bentley:
Oh hell, are you telling me they're
gonna give me a contract? Hell yeah!
Val bursts with laughter, and
comments immediately.
Val Venis:
Oh God, that's just classic.
Bentley looks confused, as he
replies.
Matt Bentley:
What's so funny, Val?
Val shakes his head, and
stands up. He looks right at Bentley, and speaks.
Val Venis:
You really don't see it, do you?
Dipshit. It's as simple as this: YOU'RE FIRED!
Steamboat got a stick up his ass and is making me
waste my time fighting the real Matt Bentley, so you're
no longer needed. And hell, you were pretty useless..
Bentley is fuming. He steps
up right into Val's face, and speaks.
Matt Bentley:
We had a deal, Val..
Val puts his hand out, pushes
Bentley right in the heart of his chest. He speaks,
half laughing while he does it.
Val Venis:
Well buddy, deal's over. Get over it,
and leave this to real professionals. Get lost.
Bentley lunges out and
punches Val square on the jaw. Val doesn't even
flinch, takes the hit, and immediately grabs Bentley.
He knees him sharply in the guy, puts his head in
between his legs, lifts his stomach up and DRILLS a
piledriver into the tile floor. Bentley is laying
their motionless, as Val stands up and wipes some
blood from his lip. He spits on the unconscious body
as he walks away, speaking.
Val Venis:
Go home, rookie.
Val walks past the body.
Bischoff follows, giving Bentley a little kick to the
gut, as the scene cuts away.
The scene reopens in Val's bedroom. He's
packing a duffel bag with some miscellaneous clothing
and atheltic gear. Stacy is sitting on side of the
bed, looking up at him. She speaks.
Stacy Keibler:
Aren't you sick and tired of all this
disrespect, Val? Steamboat signed you to a
multimillion dollar contract, and now he's treating
you like you're on the same level as Matt Bentley..
Val doesn't even show an expression. A
deadpan voice is all we hear, right now, as he speaks.
Val Venis:
I've had just about enough of it. If
Ricky Steamboat and the Championship Committee can't
take me seriously, then they're in for a big shocker.
There will be no more of this soft-hearted bullshit.
I know in my heart that I'm the greatest man to step
into a wrestling ring. And as far as I'm concerned, I'm
the only thing worth half a damn in the League of
Champions. But if that's not enough to prove to
Steamboat and company that I deserve to be the
headliner of this company, then I'll just have to
prove it with ACTION..
Val zips up the bag in front of him,
and starts to pace around the room as he speaks.
Val Venis:
Steamboat is wasting the most talented
man on his roster by pitting me against that punk,
Matt Bentley.. Hell, he's such a reject he got sued
to change his name from Michael Shane.. And now, he
thinks he's some sort of rebel because he's changing
it back.. He needs to get it through his thick skull
that he is not GOOD ENOUGH to have any sort of
authority on his name. He's worth nothing more than
an easy victory for a true legend, like myself..
Bentley, since that is your REAL name, you are going
to be kicking yourself all night long for not just
walking away. You've got no chance against me,
absolutely none at all.
Stacy looks on admiringly, as Val
works up his anger a bit.
Val Venis:
And you know what the best part of all
of this is? Steamboat is convinced that his old
friend Ric Flair is untouchable. He pinned me, he
caught me off guard, and now, now he's on cloud nine.
Since Steamboat won't give me the shot I rightfully
deserve, I guess I'll just have to step up and take
it. Flair is so busy basking in the glory of his
undeserved victory, that he's forgotten about me.
Since that night, all I've done is watch that match
over and over, wondering how in the world I let a man
twice my age beat me. And as I watched the match over
and over, I noticed something surprisingly forgotten
about.. If it weren't for me eliminating so many damn
people, and paving the way for you to face a tired
opponent, then I'd be carrying that title right now.
I don't deny your talent, Flair, and I won't
underestimate how good you are, because I am not a
stupid man.. But I will recognize that one on one,
just the two of us, no other fighting, no other
matches, and I'd tear you down, I'd shatter you into
pieces.
Stacy smiles and makes a comment.
Stacy Keibler:
I love to see you get worked up. No
one has any idea what they're going to be running
into at GLORY.. It's only a matter of time before LoC
is all yours..
Val turns and faces Stacy, he speaks.
Val Venis:
That's exactly what I'm talking about..
I'm done playing around here, and whoever stands in
my way at GLORY will not walk away safely. I've got
Matt Bentley in my radar, and once I've made an
example out of him, I'm coming for Ric Flair.. NO ONE
has anywhere to hide.. Bentley, Flair, and anyone
else who wants to deny Val Venis the glory he
deserves..
=
Val has a sadistic look on his face,
as Stacy claps her hands softly.
