Post by Markw on Nov 13, 2014 16:43:15 GMT -5
WFWF Black Friday – Dizzy With Success
I'm quite surprised that Lila is willing to be so blatant. That she's happy to show absolutely everyone how far she'll go to fix the results of matches in her favour.
This week I'll be going into a gruelling match with Axel Thornstowe, a match that on the face of it, based on the experience of the two competitors, should be an easy win. But in the WFWF there's no such thing, Lila Sleater knows that, she know that this match is going to take an awful lot out of me going into my clash with Dave Demento. That's why she's booked it. It's a match that could, if I'm not careful, have a detrimental impact on my title shot.
Dave Demento has the week off.
It speaks for itself really doesn't it?
Dave Demento gets the extra time to rest, prepare, train for our title match, to recover from his 'concussion' and it's conveniently short lived effects. I have to go through a tough match, against a guy with everything to gain and nothing to lose.
The fact is, this title clash is weighted in Dave Demento's favour. That's not particularly surprising, I am trying, along with my Final Revolution cohorts to bring down Lila Sleater's WFWF and take it back to its once great heights. So of course she wants me, and Trace Demon, Kyle Matthews and Jason Anders to fail. As I say, I'm just amazed that she isn't trying to be a bit more subtle. That she isn't even trying to present the façade that she books fair matches. I'm shocked that she's so willing to let the whole world know that she's debasing this sport.
But most of all, I'm flabbergasted that only four people seem to care enough to actually go out there and do something about it.
The rest of you, all seem happy to stroll past the ruins of the WFWF, pick up your pay checks and go home.
I, genuinely, just don't understand what's going on here?
Why does nobody care? Why are we the bad guys when we're the only people taking a stand against this tyranny? Why are so many good men going to stand idly by and watch evil triumph? I don't get it. I don't think I ever will get it.
I've asked these questions time and time again, and so far, I have received no satisfactory answers. Actually, I've received no answers. Nobody as far as I can tell, can explain their actions. Nobody can explain why I am the bad guy. Why I deserve the abuse and vitriol I receive up and down the United States.
But that's the reality. That's where we are.
Maybe I shouldn't let it bother me. Maybe knowing that I'm doing the right thing, should be enough. But honestly, it just isn't. I need answers, I need an explanation, and it's not forthcoming.
There's not a lot I can do about it, other than to make sure that I go into this match with Axel Thornstowe and I win. And that then, I go into that match with Dave Demento, and against all the odds, I win. It's all I can do. I may not be able to get answers, but I will at the very least do everything I can to make sure the WFWF survives long enough for me to find out.
All a viciously attacked Trace Demon, can do, is go into that match against Drakz and reclaim his WFWF World Championship, despite the mountain he's facing.
All we, as a movement, can do, is stand to up to Lila Sleater. Look evil in the eye, take on the seemingly insurmountable odds, and hope. Hope that we can save everything we love, and as unpleasant a job as it is, destroy everything that threatens it. The deck is stacked in the favour of the people who wish to destroy the WFWF.
A wise man, always backs the favourite. Or so I've heard. And there's no doubt that everything is pointing towards the success of the woman, who right now, has the power. Generally the people who have the power, are the favourites.
I've never been particularly interested in the odds.
David toppled Goliath. The Red Army turned the tide in Stalingrad and marched on to Berlin. The United States, once way behind in the space race, put a man on the moon.
Right now, everything is where Lila Sleater wants it. She has the power. She is in control. We are way behind.
But I believe, that we will turn it around. I believe we will turn the tide.
I believe the underdog can triumph.
And that's exactly why, right now, my focus cannot be solely on Lila Sleater and Dave Demento.
He may not be an enemy of this revolution, but my attention has to be on Axel Thornstowe. Because if it is not I will falter, on the eve of the most important battle of this war, so far. If I allow myself to become complacent, if I allow myself to believe that this match will be a walkover, then I will lose it. And that could tear The Final Revolution apart at the seams, just as we are on the brink of turning the tide.
We are not in a position of strength. Lila Sleater has the WFWF in the palm of her hands and it's our job to take it from her. She has all the cards in her hands, and it's our job to take them.
We can't afford to give Lila Sleater, to give the self proclaimed 'Saviors of Salvation', any cheap victories.
The Final Revolution may not have the power right now, but we are fighting on the right side. We are fighting to save the WFWF.
I'm not naïve enough to think that we can't fail. That The Final Revolution can't die. That good always triumphs over evil. That the underdog always topples the giant.
But if we do fail. If The Final Revolution does die, and in that scenario, the WFWF inevitably dies with it. It will not be because of complacency. It will not be because I, or anybody else, thought the job was done because of a little victory here and there.
If The Final Revolution dies, and I don't believe it will, it certainly won't be a coward's death. If the revolution dies, if the WFWF dies, if professional wrestling dies, it'll die like Rasputin.
---
So far my search for answers hadn't been particularly successful. I still had no real idea why Lila Sleater's, frankly, evil tactics, have been so successful. I still had no idea how not only the wrestlers, but more to the point the fans, could stand by and let it happen. All I had ascertained, was that the vast majority of fans and wrestlers, still sing to Lila's tune.
I wasn't going to give up on finding those answers though, and I wasn't going to stop trying to convince people. As far as I'm concerned, winning the war, completing this Revolution and holding it in place, so that it can live up to its name, is dependent on winning over the people. We know that what we're doing is right, and that's enough, if Trace, Jason, Kyle and I remain focused, to snatch the WFWF from Lila Sleater. But what happens after that, although clearly a side issue, had been weighing on my mind more and more over the last couple of weeks.
And the fact is, we need the fans of the WFWF on side to hold this promotion together.
In some cases a regime can be held together with tyranny and fear, but in the case of the WFWF that just can't happen. Nobody can force someone to buy a ticket. So winning the propaganda war becomes increasingly important, and as Lila understands that, it becomes increasingly difficult. I think the WFWF's trip to Canada showed pretty clearly that we're winning it there, regardless of what Dave Demento thinks. But the heart of the WFWF is the United States of America, and the cold harsh reality is, we're losing there by a mile.
As much as I hate the media, I've been making a concerted effort to increase my media presence of late. To make sure that I can do my bit to aid this Revolution. It's all well and good putting a spike through Dave Demento's head, but if you can't win the war of the words, then people are just going to see it as an act of evil. If they don't understand why, then they won't support what we're doing.
They won't appreciate the positive steps we're taking to push this promotion in the right direction against a tsunami of negativity.
So once again, I find myself in the increasingly familiar, and increasingly uncomfortable position, opposite a cocky kid in a suit. Preaching to the world, what should be blatantly obvious.
Interviewer: “Thanks for coming on the show Joe, we're glad to have you.”
Bishop: “My pleasure.”
Ugh.
Interviewer: “We'll talk a little bit later on about your match with Dave Demento, and the general surge in popularity that professional wrestling has seen prior to the pay-per-view. But first, I've got to ask you about the last time the WFWF crossed the pond. The aptly named 'Revolution in the United Kingdom', you went into that show the number one contender to the International Championship, and despite a valiant attempt, you walked out with nothing. Are you worried that history is going to repeat itself?”
Ha!
Bishop: “In a word, no. I can see where you're coming from, because there are a lot of parallels. But the big difference that you're missing here, is the quality of the opposition. That night I took on one Trace Demon, who was in the middle of one of the most incredible undefeated streaks professional wrestling has ever seen. At 'The Clash', I'll be going up against Dave Demento, who... well... isn't. I don't want to sound over confident, because of course he has beaten me before. And I know that this match isn't going to be easy at all, but it's nowhere near as tough as the last time I went out in front of that Wembley crowd.”
Interviewer: “Is it fair to say that you have the momentum going into your match with Dave Demento? After his defeat to Daniel Kirkbride and your subsequent victory over the same opponent, surely you're in a strong position?”
Bishop: “My victory over Daniel, isn't proof of anything. My match with Dave Demento is going to be a completely different kettle of fish. It's going to be a very different match to our clash at Madison Square Garden, and I think I'm in a stronger position than I was, but I can't fool into the trap of thinking a win over Daniel, means a win over David. That's the kind of attitude that cost me last time I stepped into the ring with Dave Demento. As for momentum, it'll be in my favour only if I get the job done against Axel Thornstowe. You may have forgotten about that match, I certainly haven't, and I know it's going to be a very tough challenge. If I can pick up a victory there, maybe we can start talking about momentum.”
He shuffled through his papers, attempting to look like he knew what he was doing as I waited patiently.
Interviewer: “Now, I wanted to talk a little bit about the surge of popularity the WFWF has seen of late, the arenas are full, the fans are tuning in, things are on the up aren't they?”
Bishop: “No. I have no idea why that is, because things certainly aren't looking up. Lila is tearing this promotion apart, she's destroying everything that makes this company a sport and reinforcing everything that makes it a cold emotionless business. And only four people are willing to offer any legitimate resistance. I like to think that if I were a wrestling fan, the WFWF wouldn't be getting my money, I wouldn't be tuning in to watch the shows and I wouldn't be funding the crap I'm served up on a silver platter. Now maybe, people are tuning in to watch us tear Lila's empire down, that's understandable, what I'd say to those people is this. You can support The Final Revolution, without supporting Lila Sleater. Protest, tell people you aren't satisfied. But don't buy a ticket, don't buy my merchandise, by doing that you're telling the heartless businessmen, the machines in suits, that you're happy with the status quo. That you're happy with what this sport is becoming. Don't do that. Hit her where it hurts. Hit her wallet.”
The problem I was finding was that, actually, it's difficult to keep myself under control. Every time I'm put in front of a camera I want to tell people what's wrong with the WFWF, I want to tell them how to help put it right. Perhaps a more conservative approach would help me win round the masses, perhaps they need something slightly more palatable. I can only hope, that they can tell it comes from the heart of a genuine wrestling fan, a man just like them, I can only hope that's enough to win them round.
Interviewer: “Passionate words from the number one contender to the International Championship there, thanks for your time Joe, do you have anything else you want to get off your chest?”
Bishop: “I think I've said it all there really. I suppose all I can add is, for those fans in London, if you don't want to line Lila's pockets, then you're in luck. I've got my clash with Axel to focus on now, but after that's done, I welcome you all to The Clash. Please, feel free to line Wembley Way, because I fully intend to drag Dave Demento out of that arena, kick ten types of crap out of him, and reclaim my belt. The Final Revolution will take a big step to reclaim the WFWF at The Clash, and I intend to do it not in the arena, but in the streets of London. The Revolution is coming to the people of Britain, and I hope from the bottom of my heart, that what happens at Wembley, can win round the Americans as well. Someone needs to stand up to Lila Sleater, and we intend to do just that.”
I wonder if Dave Demento's ever got through an interview without lying. Ah before I forget.
Bishop: “Oh and Dave, I heard your little interview. 'When was the last time Joe Bishop was ever a threat?', was I believe the phrase you used. I wonder if after Monsters & Men came to a close, when I beat the man who had your pants down a week earlier, you started to regret those words? I can't know for sure, but believe me, after The Clash, you will regret them. No matter who walks out with the International Championship, I think it'll be pretty obvious that I am a very real threat to you. To everything you stand for. In this business, it's wise not to let the success get to your head Dave, because it's only a matter of time until someone smashes it in.”
---
I know what it's like to be a relative newcomer to the WFWF. Feeling a little bit overawed, desperate to make an impact, to make people stand up and take notice. It's not an easy thing to do. My own path, at first, shared some similarities with my last opponent, Daniel Kirkbride. I too got off to a fairly promising start, I strung together a slightly less impressive, though you can only beat what's in front of you, winning run. And it ended because I got complacent against an opponent good enough to make me pay for it. My response to that defeat, was woeful, I gave up, I spent two years on the sidelines, I blew my chance in the WFWF because I didn't know how to respond to defeat. I was lucky that I got a second chance.
Your path Axel, has been slightly different, yes. But it's probably a lot similar than people realise. It's safe to say that you too have made something of an impact. Ripping, in a matter of speaking, a limb off 'The Saviors Of Salvation', is going to get you noticed. And I suppose, I owe you a debt of gratitude. Demento's little club are certainly, thanks to the legitimacy that comes with being Lila Sleater's lap dogs, a threat to me. So taking out one of their number is not only impressive, but it's an enormous help to me.
For me it was a very useful attack on one of the armies that stands on the other side of no man's land. For you, let's be honest here, it meant very little. It meant very little because you didn't follow it up. You lost to Ante, you lost your shot at becoming the National Champion.
Right now, you're exactly where I was, when I suffered my first loss, to Jon O'Deeves. I failed to respond, I came up with excuse after excuse. I sulked away. I left myself with nothing. You have had a little boost, and you've come back down to earth with a bang.
It'd be difficult, for you to respond quite as badly as I did. You just need to show up to top that.
But it's also going to be difficult for you to bounce back. Because at this stage in your career, you don't want losing to become a habit. The most relevant example I can think of, is a man who made losing an art form in his first few months in the WFWF, Dave Demento.
You don't want to follow the path Dave did at the start of his career. You don't want to go into every match, believing that you can't win, because if you do, then you will lose every single time.
So bouncing back is vital, and when it's so important , it's often ten times more difficult to achieve that win. One would assume, that you'll come into this match with me, all guns blazing. That you'll respond a lot better than I did. That you will do everything in your power to get back to winning ways.
I know that you're going to give me a real fight, in some respects perhaps more of a fight than Daniel Kirkbride did, because right now you need it so much more.
But on the eve of 'The Clash', where I'll have a shot at reclaiming my International Championship, a chance to drive The Final Revolution forward, I can't afford to lose either.
I have no intention of losing this match.
So what this match is, really, is a clash between two men desperate to win. Two men, who can't afford to be complacent. Two men who need to either rebuild, or keep up, the momentum.
Some will say that because I'm experienced, I should be able to handle the situation better. I don't buy that. I don't think that matters too much. Experience makes you better, it doesn't make you any calmer when the pressure is on.
When you get a match between two competitors who really need to win, it usually comes down to just one thing. Not who has more experience in the situation, but simply, who is better?
Let's find out.
I dont know good luck 
