HGH RP #1: "A Winner's Shadow"

{In the middle of an onslaught of sunlight filtering in through the poorly maintained blinds, Lawrence Cage sits in a chair in his "trophy room". A room apt for a man with an ego like Cage's, it documents all his "former glories". Replica belts, articles, and photos line the wall, spanning the years Cage spent before the WFWF. Days where he was winning more. A look around the room tells you that titles and wins flowed like wine, and now with a losing record in the WFWF, Cage is still trying to figure out what to do to get a win. This week, at Haters Gonna Hate, he teamed up with Chris Jackal again to take on some familiar foes, Johnny Albright and Lightning of the Hardcore Horseman. If it is any consolation to Cage, at least on his three match skid, he's never actually lost to any of the Horseman. If he can finally pull off a win, a #1 Contendership match will be on the horizon for the WFWF National Championship. But can he find a way to win?}

The way the sea reflects the sun, long gone
And all the miracles of love, long gone
You hold your heart out in your hand
One last long sigh gone.

Lawrence Cage: I really feel like I'm reaching the end of my rope. Week after week, I find myself being embarrassed. Can't beat anyone to save my life. I'm amazed I'm even being on the cards still. F*ck. Just. This is killing me. I could play the blame game. I could pretend I'm perfect and that Jackal is holding me down...but I can't. I know it's me. Instead of trying to make a real name for myself, I'm too busy trying to come off as the next big thing for the WFWF. How about instead of resting calmly in the past, I just start anew? Why can't I bring myself to do it?

{Cage gets out of his chair, grabbing a glass of water as he walks around the room examining everything he has hung up throughout the years. Near the door, a much younger looking Cage stands on the top rope of a ring, yelling and holding up a title as high as he can. Underneath the picture, you can see the text NYWA Light Heavyweight Championship - 2/11/01. Cage looks so care-free and happy, like a man living out his childhood dream. A bead of condensation falls off the glass, landing on a dingy carpet, which catches Cage attention, breaking him out of the trance of this picture.}

Lawrence Cage: This is where it all started. My first title. What's changed since then? I got older. I got cockier. I saw the world. I just lost focus of everything. I had fun back then, and now that I'm in the big leagues, this is a real job. I can't just show up to work expecting to wrestle a guy they just grabbed off the street in exchange for a $20 and mediocre sandwich. This is where I'm up against the cream of the crop. Nothing is the same anymore.

{From the perspective of the picture, the silhouette of Cage on the opposite is equally elegant and terrifying. While it looks nice with the filtered sunlight, it really shows Cage on the inside. The losses are piling up, and it's draining him. Although in this moment of clarity, he nears the point where he begrudgingly accepts reality, and realizes the changes he has to make to win.}

Lawrence Cage: That's it. Nothing is the same. I'm too busy living in the past amongst these pictures and articles of things that don't even matter, and I never pay attention to the people I'm actually wrestling. God, I'm so f*cking stupid. Luckily I have another chance against the doormats of the WFWF to fix my troubles. And yeah, Jackal isn't the problem. It's me. I wasn't bringing my A-game, and any team I'm on would have deserved a loss to carry me. But now....but now things are changed. No longer will I hold on to this. No longer will I bring myself down. Starting at Haters Gonna Hate, I'm gonna get on that road to get another shot at the National Championship, and the only person that can stop me...is myself.

{Cage finishes his glass of water and slowly backs away from the picture he was looking at. He seems to mentally block the picture off, and then reels back and chucks the glass right at the picture. Some of the water clinging to the outskirts of the glass land on the photo as the glass shatters, creating a mess on the wall as well as the floor. This moment of release seems to set off a spark in Cage, as he just begins to ravage the room. Throwing items on a desk, ripping up the adornments of the wall, yelling, kicking. Seemingly childish and silly, this moment of catharsis could be the change Cage needs. Re-fueled with a seemingly insane aggression, perhaps he can channel this angst of Horseman-like levels into Haters Gonna Hate. In the midst of all this chaos, Cage freezes as something on his desk catches his eye. A shot from Consequences, where he lost his match to have a shot at the National Championship. He grabs the picture and collapses in his chair, exasperated at the site of his failure. Now sitting in a room thrashed with ripped paper, broken glass, and everything else you can imagine, you get the idea of how Cage is right now - a broken man. He stays on the photo in a trance, seemingly re-living that moment of anguish. His face grows more contorted and red, and after a minute he rips the photo in a surprisingly calm and collected manner.}

Lawrence Cage: It's done. The losing. The bad feelings. It's done. Albright. Lightning. I know despite being a young, fresh, losing face, I'm infinitely better than you. With my head on straight, I'd be surprised if you could even last five minutes in a ring with Chris Jackal and someone like myself. But Jackal or not, the road to the National Title calls my name, and anyone who gets in my way...well, there's going to be hell to pay. You two piss-ants have always been in my way, and this is where I finally take you to the glue factory, because when I start winning, I got no time for losers. You're done.

{Cage leans back, taking in what exactly just happened. Is this revolution for real? Will Cage come in a new man, with some wins on the horizon? Luckily, he has any easy matchup. Up against some of the weakest talent in the company, one can't help but think Cage could be turning a new page...}