Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2016 5:17:53 GMT
Underestimation.
I really abhor that word. It is something that everyone likes to throw out when an opponent claims to be better and then proceeds to rhyme off your flaws. They trap you into thinking that they have these narcissistic views on their own wrestling skills and next thing you know, you are sweating it because you yourself are starting to believe that they are better than you.
Classic intimidation.
My father was an expert at it and more times than not, he won a match simply because he had successfully gotten into their heads, making them doubt themselves.
You will waste time trying to counter their claims, prove you are better than they give you credit for. One thing I have learned is that talk is certainly cheap. I know this not from growing up with wrestling bred in my DNA but by being exposed to the upper crust society. People will say whatever they want to your face, but once the doors of the gilded cage are shut, no one is immune.
Wrestling is no different than any other institution. You have your cliques and you have your outsiders and then you have me.
I can --and have-- successfully infiltrated all the groups. Showing people exactly what they want to hear. The perfect illusion.
One thing people don't seem to realize is that most people are hypocrites. Everything you try to accuse people of, in some way you have your own flaw you are trying to distract from. That is essentially how this works after all.
I don't deny what or who I am. I point out the flaws in others to play a type of.. sleight of hand.
No one is perfect, not even me but you’ll never hear me admit that. We're all perfect here in our own version of Olympus. All Gods fighting for dominance. We all want to be Zeus.
But...
No one knows the real me, they can claim to. Make accusations or best guesses but the point is that no one gets inside. At least, not anymore.
***
:::OFF CAMERA:::Present Day
“I got you a place at EOW.”
My father says this, almost in passing as we sit at his custom designed dining table. It was something to do with recycled wood, or whatever. Honestly speaking I hadn't paid much attention when he had rattled on about it six weeks ago when it had been ordered.
We were enjoying brunch, but it was laughable that my father would do something so cultured. No, it was more that Martin Riley still enjoyed the late night hospitality his name brought. His taste of the night had done her walk of shame from the apartment, not more than an hour ago. There was no doubt that she was beautiful and probably younger than I was, but those women were never more than a flight of fancy for dear old daddy.
He hasn't even put down his paper to say it, but I have nearly choked on my tea. I had a fondness for Earl Grey, with so much creamer I might as well just pour a glass of it to drink instead.
“I hope you don't screw it up and embarrass me. Like your brothers have.”
Hayden, my spoiled older half-brother had been more interested in seducing the not only the interview staff but the valets and other female wrestlers. He hadn't lasted long and the result was that my father had basically disowned him. I occasionally talked with him but honestly, if I got a three am call from the police of his untimely death due to overdose I actually would not be surprised in the least.
Holden, however, my younger brother by only eleven months was the gem in my father's collection. Strong, handsome and talented. However, most of the strong part had been due to abuse of the company's health and wellness policy and currently he was fishing for a new one.
As for me, well I knew how risky the wrestling business was. Yes from the days of pigtails I was enthralled with the industry. Watching my father decimate helpless people enacted that cruelty within myself and the need to see someone laid out beneath me that had nothing to do with sexual gratification. There is a certain power that comes with holding someone down and ‘winning’. However it was not a suitable career choice for the society girl my mother wanted to be, so a compromise was made, I finish college with honors and I could pursue a wrestling career. I suppose my mother either thought I would fail or, maybe meet a man and start a family. Perhaps she hoped that I would lose interest.
Currently, she wasn't impressed and had barely talked to me since I finished my training.
I look at my father after managing to swallow back the tea. “When have I ever failed, at anything?”
My father chuckles, finally folding the paper down in front of him. “That's why I think that you're going to be successful at this, and in EOW. Mind you, I don't expect you to win every time, I even lost a few in my early days but I expect you to make it hard for your opponent to get.”
I stand, walking over to kiss his cheek.
“Don't worry Daddy, I will make you proud. Even if you did have to buy my spot.”
He looks up at me, mouth opening and closing and his eyes wide in shock.
“I know you think I wouldn't find out, but it's not as if you are a vault. With how ‘excited’ they were on the phone, it was pretty obvious they didn't know who I was. It's fine, though, I will be at the top before long.”
“That's my girl, you might be new and need polishing but the skills are definitely there.”
I reply with a smile, patting his shoulder as I walk toward my room. Not much got past me and if I was going to win, I had to play a little differently than the rest. I had to play smarter.
