Post by "HBK" Shawn Michaels on Jun 28, 2009 15:59:15 GMT -5
Darkness covers the room. Silence fills the air. As time seems to stand still, a tension builds, unbalancing the flow of energy in the environment. With a quick click, a bright, shining light glares down, casting the shadow of a man upon the cold, tiled floor. He stares down, as thoughts provoke his mind into a mindset that it hasn't be in for quite some time. A deep breath goes in, expanding his lungs. And seconds later he releases it, exhaling the carbon dioxide from within his lungs. He clasps his hands together, squeezing them tightly. He then lets loose, as he takes in yet another deep breath. His eyes close, as a flash comes through his mind. He releases his breath and opens his eyes. His eyes look up, as if staring right into our very souls. With a familiar face, known by millions of people across the world, it is seen that he is a legend... An icon... Shawn Michaels.
"It's been quite a while, huh? It's just not the same, is it? For nearly a year, I've had close to nothing to do with this business. Saturday Night's Main Event... It was all over. My love. My passion, they all went with it. As I stepped out of the lime light and back into my home for the first time in years, something was lost. I wasn't me. I wasn't the Shawn that my wife and children knew. I wasn't the Shawn that my fans knew. And I wasn't the Shawn that I myself knew. I figured stepping away was what I needed. I figured it was what my family needed. But it apparently wasn't... This business... This monster, this beast... It held something over my head. It held it over my head and raised it high enough out of my grasp... Where I could never get it back, unless I gave into the beast. And what do ya' know... Here I am. Mixed up in the same old emotions I had been for my entire career. Feeling that same anticipation before every match that came my way. I wasn't going to give in. I wasn't going to come crawling back... But the phone rang... And I was given an offer that I just couldn't refuse. Of all the people it could have been, it was someone that never saw eye to eye with me. It was someone who, maybe at some time, even hated me. Kammy. And what did she want? She wanted me... I told her I just didn't know if I had it in me anymore... I... I just didn't feel like I could give the people what they wanted to see. But Kammy told me. She told me exactly what I wanted to hear. 'Shawn, you're the Showstopper. You're the Icon. You're the Main Event. You're the Heart Break Kid!' And once those words came from her mouth, it was like that darkness... That deep depression in which I sat in for nearly a year... Was gone. I was wanted. I was needed. And I damn sure wasn't about to let this opportunity pass me by. I'd already given it up once... And this time, it wasn't happening again. Nobody and nothing was gonna' keep the Showstopper down!"
Shawn, feeling a rush of emotion and energy mixed into a shot of excitement, cracks his neck from side to side. He cracks his knuckles and then slaps his knees. With a sudden change of composure, he stands up.
"As word got out that I would be stepping back into the squared circle for one more time... People began to do what they always do. Doubt. Doubt quickly filled my mind, along with everyone else's. But I'm not letting it get to me. I'm letting it come to good use. Motivation. The doubt is what keeps me standing. The doubt is what keeps the blood flowing through my veins. The doubt is what keeps the air rushing into my lungs. And the doubt is what keeps me giving the people who pay to get into these shows what they want to see. The Main Event. I've main evented more shows than I can remember, but this one... I'm not even main eventing. Or so they think... They can claim this match won't be the main event, but as far as I'm concerned... No matter what goes down after my match... Nothing... And I mean nothing, will be able to top it. It's who I am. It's what I do. It's what I've always done. And I assure you... I guarantee you... The world will not be let down when I step back into the ring at the Bash. I've been given a second chance in a world that isn't so giving. And I'm gonna take that second chance. With God as my witness and as my guide... I won't be steered wrong. This second chance... It's helped me to see... Where I truly belong."
Shawn looks over his shoulder and slowly turns. His eyes turn cold, as his posture stiffens. He stares straight into the darkness that extends past the light, almost looking into the eyes of someone...
[/i] "It's been quite a while, huh? It's just not the same, is it? For nearly a year, I've had close to nothing to do with this business. Saturday Night's Main Event... It was all over. My love. My passion, they all went with it. As I stepped out of the lime light and back into my home for the first time in years, something was lost. I wasn't me. I wasn't the Shawn that my wife and children knew. I wasn't the Shawn that my fans knew. And I wasn't the Shawn that I myself knew. I figured stepping away was what I needed. I figured it was what my family needed. But it apparently wasn't... This business... This monster, this beast... It held something over my head. It held it over my head and raised it high enough out of my grasp... Where I could never get it back, unless I gave into the beast. And what do ya' know... Here I am. Mixed up in the same old emotions I had been for my entire career. Feeling that same anticipation before every match that came my way. I wasn't going to give in. I wasn't going to come crawling back... But the phone rang... And I was given an offer that I just couldn't refuse. Of all the people it could have been, it was someone that never saw eye to eye with me. It was someone who, maybe at some time, even hated me. Kammy. And what did she want? She wanted me... I told her I just didn't know if I had it in me anymore... I... I just didn't feel like I could give the people what they wanted to see. But Kammy told me. She told me exactly what I wanted to hear. 'Shawn, you're the Showstopper. You're the Icon. You're the Main Event. You're the Heart Break Kid!' And once those words came from her mouth, it was like that darkness... That deep depression in which I sat in for nearly a year... Was gone. I was wanted. I was needed. And I damn sure wasn't about to let this opportunity pass me by. I'd already given it up once... And this time, it wasn't happening again. Nobody and nothing was gonna' keep the Showstopper down!"
Shawn, feeling a rush of emotion and energy mixed into a shot of excitement, cracks his neck from side to side. He cracks his knuckles and then slaps his knees. With a sudden change of composure, he stands up.
"As word got out that I would be stepping back into the squared circle for one more time... People began to do what they always do. Doubt. Doubt quickly filled my mind, along with everyone else's. But I'm not letting it get to me. I'm letting it come to good use. Motivation. The doubt is what keeps me standing. The doubt is what keeps the blood flowing through my veins. The doubt is what keeps the air rushing into my lungs. And the doubt is what keeps me giving the people who pay to get into these shows what they want to see. The Main Event. I've main evented more shows than I can remember, but this one... I'm not even main eventing. Or so they think... They can claim this match won't be the main event, but as far as I'm concerned... No matter what goes down after my match... Nothing... And I mean nothing, will be able to top it. It's who I am. It's what I do. It's what I've always done. And I assure you... I guarantee you... The world will not be let down when I step back into the ring at the Bash. I've been given a second chance in a world that isn't so giving. And I'm gonna take that second chance. With God as my witness and as my guide... I won't be steered wrong. This second chance... It's helped me to see... Where I truly belong."
Shawn looks over his shoulder and slowly turns. His eyes turn cold, as his posture stiffens. He stares straight into the darkness that extends past the light, almost looking into the eyes of someone...
"This Sunday I've been given an opportunity to take a trip down memory lane. A road I've traveled many, many times before has been layed before me. And on that road two men stand before me. The first... Chris Jericho. Chris and I have always had history. We got along when need be... But once he found out that he'd never be as great as me... His jealousy got the best of him. And what did he do? He challenged me. He layed down a challenge before me to prove that he was the better man. And what happened that night... His attempt to prove to be the better man was put to a sudden stop. Me... The 'Has Been Kid' gave Chris Jericho what he'd been wanting all along... Me at my best. And he got it. Ya' see, I didn't want to step back in the ring. I was content running things from behind the scenes and letting the men who were the future of this business take their glory. But that just wasn't enough, was it, Chris? No... You couldn't take the spot at the top, could you? You couldn't take all the title shots and be happy, could you? And I know why, Chris. It wasn't that you didn't want all that. No. You knew deep down that even if you were the champ. Even if you were the man at the top of the ladder, there would always be me. Above you. Chris, you want to redeem yourself? You want one more shot? One more opportunity? Well, here it is. But this time... Don't mess up. Don't underestimate me. And don't you think for one second that I won't get up after everything you put me through. You know who I am... You know what I can do... And you damn well know... That the "Heart Break Kid" isn't going down without giving you the fight of a lifetime!"
A cold shiver runs down Shawn's spine, causing him to quiver for an instant. He quickly shakes his head, clearing whatever he saw before him. As his eyes focus once more, he seems to gaze into another pair of eyes, faced with something he's never encountered before possibly...
"As I said that two men stand before me... One familiar to me. And one completely unknown and never before encountered. That man... That beast... That devil... Is Scott Levy. The man known as the Raven. His darkness lurks upon men like no other, and his words will drive any many to the brink of insanity. The pain he has caused... It's all his pleasure. Scott, we've known each other for far too long to have never stepped into the ring together. You've brought about too much evil, for me not to have put an end to you. I've been brought here by your wife... Because you couldn't do the one thing a husband could do. Protect her. She's stood by your side and supported you from the start, Scott. And what have you done? Abuse her? Use her? Shove her to the ground? Deny her the love she desires from you? I've traveled every road placed before me, and I've seen everything there is to see. And this is the last time I'll see something such as this. Kammy should not have to suffer heart break. She should not have to suffer the harsh abuse you lay upon her every night. And I'm here... To put an end to it. This way of life you live, my friend... It's not working. Trust me. I've been there. I've drank my sorrows away. I've downed all my regrets with pills. But I saw a new life. I saw a new road. And Scott, that's the road I'm on. The enlightened one. The one where every man and every woman should be. A road without darkness. Raven, you will stand before me, eye to eye. And I assure you... Before another moment passes by, one of our ways of life will die. Whether it be yours, or whether it be mine. Only in this time will we define that which will survive."
Shawn clenches his fists together and turns to face us. With a passion in his eyes and a fire that has been missing for some time, he brings his fists up, ready to fight.
"Kammy, you gave me a second chance. You gave me life again. And I'm not gonna let you down. I'm gonna do what you asked of me, and that is guarantee victory. I will put this abuse that you've gone through for so long to an end. No longer will you have to deal with the heavy weight of this one-sided marriage. Chris Jericho... Scott Levy... I ask of you. I beg of you. Stand in that ring. Look into my eyes. And face me. Face me with everything you've got, and don't hold back. I want what you've got to offer. And I want everything you can give. I am who I always was... I am the 'Heart Break Kid' Shawn Michaels!"
The light revealing Shawn to us slowly fades away, as darkness engulfs the room.[/center][/size]
