Post by Tyler Storm on Jan 31, 2016 23:56:42 GMT -6
PREPARING FOR IMPROVEMENT
Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.
-Benjamin Franklin
-Benjamin Franklin
Storm Residence - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
January 23rd, 2016
1:17 AM Central Time
January 23rd, 2016
1:17 AM Central Time
6 years as a professional wrestler. When you put your mind to it, even though it doesn't seem that long compared to the careers of some of the veterans I've shared the ring with, it really is a long time to be putting your body under so much stress and pain. Why the hell am I making such a big deal about this? Well, to be honest the only explanation I can come up with is just the linking my accomplishments with this amount of time and wondering if I've done enough so far. In my 6 years since I got out of high school,have I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish as not just a pro wrestler...but also as an everyday guy?
As an everyday guy, maybe so. I'm in the two careers I love most, pro wrestling and business. I own a pretty successful fitness company, something I was very proud to have time for, and along with that I work in VoW where I am among some of the best group of people every single day. And as if something needed to top those things, I have a beautiful wife, a girl I may not have initially seen myself with when I left high school, but I fell in love with Zelda and she is my everything. And now we are expecting a child, something I have accomplished once but sadly never got the time I wanted to enjoy of it due to life's ever mysterious and cruel curveballs. This time, not only different in that I am going to have a daughter, but different in that I am going to make sure she is safe and happy and loved so much. I'm doing it for her, for Zelda, and for...Cooper...you'll always be in my heart my little bundle of joy.
But then we go to my wrestling career. And to be honest, even though I've certainly not had a complete failure of a career, I wish things at points could go my way a bit better. I really can't complain though, I won a TV title in the first year of my career, follow that up around year 2 and 3 with 3 more titles, one of which was my first World Championship. Year 4...certainly could be forgotten. Yeah I won a title, but only for the purpose of saving my wrestling company at the time that I owned from being taken over by a manipulating competitor. Other than that, so many losses...so many times I wanted to give up, and...for a time...I did. But then year 5 arrived, and with that arrived this situation I am in now, VoW.
It is home to me, I finally found somewhere I could fit in again. Sure, may have lost my first match, may have lost my father while employed here...but I was kept up by my old friends and new friends I met in this great company. From there, I erupted. Sure, winning only half of my matches isn't something to really boast about, but in the 5 I won I qualified for a match that set off the previous winner's career to eventually become World Visionary Champ, won said match and as my prize was awarded my I4NI Championship which I see as the perfect symbol for what I've always stood for in this business, defended this title once, and won back the title after losing it in just a lapse of judgement to a woman more dangerous than most competitors I've taken on in my career.
Am I satisfied...no, I'll never be satisfied with my career. I know I can do better every single night, even if I have what many consider a flawless or match of the year worthy night, if I see one tiny mistake then I know I need to improve. As a champion, I need to keep that mindset, I need to keep getting better, rising to the occasion, proving myself more and more each and every match. I love this business too damn much to go easy at any moment, and I respect the fans too damn much to give them something that is mediocre.
"Are you still up Tyler?" Zelda says as she comes walking into the living towards me, her belly protruding through the blue silk night gown that covers her body.
I jump a bit to her voice, honestly I was so caught up in thought that I failed to realize I'm still sitting here in my living room examining some match tape of Dathyn's as I prepare for my battle with him at Double Jeopardy. As I look over to my sleepy-eyed wife, I smile seeing the ever changing shape of her stomach-region as the baby girl inside her develops more and more.
"Zel...sorry, you know I get very caught up in my match planning. Also just my mind wandering a bit around the usual topics."
"Well why don't you cut that off for tonight, even though I'm sleepy and want cuddling time with my champ, I wanted to talk with you about something." Zelda finally manages to make it to the couch I'm sitting at as she finishes her sentence and sits softly next to me, supporting her baby bump as she comes down.
Without much hesitation, I cut off the television, now the only light in the room coming from the lamp in the far corner. I turn to Zelda, placing a kiss on her forehead and wrapping my arm around her as we both prop our feet up against the coffee table.
"Alright, let's talk. What's on your mind love?"
"Well, you know that it's almost February and we are getting closer and closer to finally welcoming our baby girl into the world."
"Of course, and I'm so happy about that. She is going to be the best gift I've received in a long time."
"Same...but...but..."
I notice a few tears rolling down Zelda's face. Concerned, I wipe the little droplets off her cheeks and hold her chin between my finger and thumb.
"Hey, what's wrong Zel?"
"It's just...I'm beginning to feel scared. I don't know why, I mean I'm excited and everything...but it's just last time a baby came into your life you and Lacey got divorced shortly after and then lost both of them to a horrific accident. Maybe it's just my mind but I don't want to lose you or let you down."
"Hey hey...don't start talking all that crap Zel. Before Coop came around, me and Lacey had a lot of problems that stemmed from just a lot of differences. With her love was a lot different, it still meant something but how it was between me and her had a lot of flaws and in all honesty we both were to blame for that. We made the right decision when we split up, but what happened afterwards was a coincidentally bad situation...one that I've come to terms with for you and for our little girl, because I can't let that thought torment me anymore. And you shouldn't be letting it get to you either. I love you more than I have ever loved a woman, and that includes Lacey. I loved her and still care for her, but you bring out a part of me that knows life is worth living and you complete the holes even she couldn't complete."
"You...you promise?"
"Zelda I swear on my own dying breath I will love you till the end of time and I know you are my rightful soul mate, and we are going to give this little one all the love in the world and she will always be able to see her mommy and daddy together and happy and just as in love as the first moment we laid eyes on each other."
Zelda smiles as she hugs tightly onto me, burying her face against my chest as I feel the warmth of her breath and fresh tears seeping through my shirt.
"Hey, it's been a fun few years hasn't it? You and I sure have faced many a challenge together, quite successfully might I add. Why would I want to lose my perfect partner?"
"Well I don't want to lose mine, he holds me up and brings so much joy to my life even when I'm questioning so many things and getting myself all worked up like I am now."
"It just shows how real you are. You have all the right to be scared, but you know I'm right here and I swear I'm not going anywhere as long as you aren't."
"I'm not, I promise. You know, we need to start getting that room decorated for our little girl."
"Well I'll tell you what, after the Pay-Per-View if I'm not picking splinters out of my back, I'll get to starting on some things and you can go back to planning your baby shower. Tomorrow we will just need to go pick up some paint and other supplies so I'll have them ready for when I get time to do the decorating. Does that sound like a good deal?"
She nods as a soft kiss is laid onto my lips. This girl still knows how to bring the joy in my life better than anyone, and I love her for it. I get why she is scared though, deep down the thought of the events that occurred the last time I had this moment in life occurring again still makes me feel like I want to scream bloody murder. But Zel knows better, she doesn't need to get caught up in the fear I go through enough times as it is, I'm sure this time it was just the hormones spiking up, but it is a legit concern to have regardless so I don't blame her.
STRIKE! Fitness Center - Birmingham, Alabama
January 27th, 2016
2:11 PM Central Time
January 27th, 2016
2:11 PM Central Time
"Come on another one ya bitch! Hit the ground, jump back up, get those arms towards the ceiling! BOOM! Another one! And another one! Make DJ Khaled proud of you boy hit that ground!"
I have to say, having your own flesh and blood act as your trainer makes it a lot easier to hate him. But I got to admit, having Scott take control of my training regimen has brought out some of my best results, which says something considering I pay him as my head trainer for STRIKE! Fitness.
"Alright take 5 bro, nice job on the burpies. We'll be hitting the weights after this."
Scott throws me over a bottle of water as I slouch against the wall under one of the VoW posters we have hanging around the center. Scott grabs a fold-out chair and takes a seat next to me, smirking as always as he pats me on the back.
"You really are stepping up your game today, what's the occasion? Trying to pretty up those abs for Zel-Zel?"
"Hey, gotta look nice for the lady. But nah, this is about just improvement, I want to keep bettering myself. It's why I got you to take over my training schedule, you get our best clients going at their best, and I need to be the same way if I'm going to continue being the champ I am in VoW."
"Well I mean, I am pretty damn great. Somebody has to keep your bitch ass in shape I guess," Scott says with a giant smirk on his face. "But nah legit, you already prove yourself pretty good out there bro. Not like I'm gonna help you do any better than you already do."
"Maybe you won't, but in my mind every bit of training is betterment. I just...the other night I had this kind of mental talk."
"You mean like you always fucking have if someone lets you be silent for more than 5 minutes?"
"Alright, I get the memo. But yeah, just kind of sat down and I guess in a way I'm not satisfied with where I stand in VoW. Yeah I'm the I4NI Champion and have a world of things to be happy for, but let's face it, 5 wins and 5 losses isn't good enough when you got people like Casanova English dominating as the World Champ and Ryder Blade boasting about his big undefeated streak and what have you. It hurts even more knowing 2 of my fucking losses came to them, not to say they are less skilled than I am, but it's damn obvious I could have done better when I took them on."
"Maybe you could have, and honestly it's good you are taking this kind of initiative to get better results out there. But don't down on yourself too much bro, end of the day you've proven your name to those VoW guys. You are a champion for a reason, you fight hard for that belt when it matters the most. Sure, you've lost as many times as you have won, but that can be fixed. You got the right mind for this business, certainly better than I did for it. If anyone can always believe in you, I promise you I will."
Scott holds out his hand as he stands up from his chair, and smiling I take his hand to stand up, hugging my brother as I reach my feet.
"Thanks for that bro. It's nice knowing I got your support."
"Well, I figure since when I started in this business I spent that year or two kicking your ass around LA, you deserve a bit of kindness from me. Now come on, let's go pump that iron like we are Arnold Schwarzenegger, just without the cheating on an ugly ass maid when you already got a hot piece of momma as a wife."
Shaking my head and chuckling, I follow Scott to the weight area to get some lifting in. He is right though, I shouldn't down myself too much. But I gotta get better, I gotta keep making my name worth something. I don't want the name Tyler Storm to be associated with a one hit wonder, it's time we volt things up to 11 and see what kind of success we can really make happen.
Four Points Caguas Hotel & Casino - Caguas, Puerto Rico
January 29th, 2016
6:48 PM Central Time
January 29th, 2016
6:48 PM Central Time
Judas Dathyn.
Funny enough, he ended up being the one that answered my challenge at Breakthrough. To be honest, I'm not sure if I should feel surprised by that at all, even if an open challenge usually implies surprise in who answers the opportunity. But let's face it, Dathyn has been stuck in my cross-hairs since my first days with VoW, so it only makes sense for the two of us to get this chance to put each others bodies to the limit.
As I set up my camera on the balcony of our hotel, adjusting it to get a great view of the sunset going over the Puerto Rican sky, my thoughts continue to race about what I've been trying to figure out about myself this past week. To be honest, I don't know how much I even learned through it all, but I gotta take what I've been given as I prepare for this battle with Dathyn. My mentality needs to stay set on my goal, not stuck in this questioning state of if I am doing enough as a competitor.
...I'm ready for what's in front of me, what is beyond can be taken care of later.
*RECORDING
"Hola mis Testigos! Tyler Storm here for another little chat as we prepare for VoW to take over Puerto Rico for the Double Jeopardy Pay Per View. I figured since we were getting a chance to have a show here, I'd wait till I got here in Caguas so we could have a good view for the background while I talked a bit with you guys."
"So, as I figure a few of you got to see, at the last Breakthrough I found a way to talk the VoW management into letting me send out an open challenge to the roster to challenge me at this upcoming show for my I4NI Championship in a Tables Match. And from that open challenge, we saw a man by the name of Dathyn come out and pretty much accept it. The same Dathyn who at the Breakthrough before this previous one actually pinned me with a roll-up during a tag match between the Cutthroat Corps and myself and Seth Iser, and also the same Dathyn who I pinned in a triple threat match that also included Yeshua which got me qualified in the Quest for the Case match which I won and from it became the I4NI Champion. So, it's safe to assume that there is some equal history between us, wouldn't you say Judas."
I grab hold of my championship laying in front of me and sit it in my lap.
"Dathyn, what I am going to enjoy a lot about our match-up for this belt is the fact that we both can boast some pretty good past accomplishments. I mean you are a successful competitor in this industry, you took New Edge by force and won pretty much every singles title there along with being a Hall of Famer for the company. I am very much aware of the New Edge past that a lot of this company holds, so I definitely can respect you being one of the most successful to come out of there. Along with that and a few other big championships, you and Cera were the Twin City Champions. You guys dominated as a team, and I can certainly say you 2 probably helped revitalize the tag division here in VoW, now we have teams like The Requiem, The Neon Babes, Bellis Street Socialites, and certainly not least Chaossworn walking around here in VoW and that shows a lot of growth from what I understand the tag division used to be. Fact is, it started with you and Cera, from there it was a big chain reaction, and VoW is surely grateful for what you 2 did to help."
"But the thing is Judas, we aren't here right now to talk about tag team wrestling are we? Even though this PPV is meant to highlight said division of this company, and deserving of the spotlight they certainly are, me and you aren't going out there with any partners really. The closest I have to a partner at Double Jeopardy are the thousands of Witnesses that will be cheering me on as I walk into Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares ready to fight for them as I do every night, ready to give them something to remember as I go face to face with a man that everyone knows is anything but sane. In fact when I found out we actually are getting to open this event, other than the pre-show match of course, I was actually ecstatic. I find it funny that so many of our talent can easily complain about being at the top of a card because we are in some kind of time where you should assume if you aren't near the main event or the actual main event then your match doesn't matter. See, I think you and I can agree here Dathyn that it doesn't fucking matter where on this card you and I are placed cuz we can steal the show wherever we are. So to open the show, it just means we set the initial standard that the rest of the VoW roster should match or improve on."
Leaning in towards the camera, I smile as throw the I4NI belt over my shoulder, edging it a bit towards the camera so it gets a good look at.
"At Breakthrough, you and I got to have a fun little chat in the ring Dathyn. And even though I did learn in some ways you really don't like me, and honestly I don't blame you because I expect a lot of people on this roster not to like the guy who is super fan favorite 3000, I also learned though that there is respect between the both of us. We both have similar ways of going about our lives in this business, each path is another way to prove ourselves and better our position among a group where we stand among some of this business' greatest competitors. At the end of the day, we both love this and commit to this. So to be able to go out there in front of that crowd, take some time to beat each other up, then see who has the strength to put the other through a table and hold this title up high, we live for that shit brother. And because of that, I feel honored to face you Dathyn, and I know that whatever way this match goes I can feel justified knowing we both exhibit the qualities that a champion should have and if you indeed take home my prize, well honestly I'll know that you deserve it."
"For the past week I've talked with myself a lot about if I am doing what is right with my career. And honestly, I'll never know. But what I do know is that if I am able to still be seen as a top competitor in this company, then that's all that matters. I'm out there to push people to their limits and I'm out there to be pushed to my own limits. I want you to know Dathyn, I'm not going easy on you but then again at this point I'm sure you know that. You and I are going to war, and from that war will be a lot of carnage. Whomever stands tall, well they damn better make sure they stand proud. I may not know where my path goes after this event, I don't know what I should lead myself to if I do lose my title, but whatever opens up win or lose, I am ready for it. Tyler Storm has, believe it or not, barely made his imprint on VoW. And one day, that imprint is going to find it's way on the top prize of this company. But for this event, I only plan to leave an imprint on your body Dathyn, one you will never be able to unsee, one that will prove to you and everybody in this company that I am ever improving and it won't stop anytime soon. So Costa Rica, VoW, and all my Witnesses, y'all better know this is only...the beginning. And Judas, good luck to you and for however this may end at the Pay Per View, I look forward to seeing where your path takes you next and to maybe see our two paths to cross yet again in the future. We have had some great battles, at Double Jeopardy we break this out of the safety box and show the world what it means to go to our greatest limits. But until then, get ready because it's time...you be witness...to The Hybrid. Peace out my family, and stay awesome."
As I shut off the camera and look out at the sunset nearing its end, I feel as if my mind is finally at ease for where I am at in my career now. I'll never know if this is the right path for me, but if it's making some kind of positive impact, it's right enough. I just gotta keep growing...keep improving...and one day that mountain peak is gonna look real nice with The Hybrid placing his flag right on it. And when it's there...I don't plan on taking it down without a fight.
