The Champions review: Elite X.
So it has been decided. Austin Reynolds vs Chris Beckford at Apocalypse will see the Ratings Winner take on a familiar face. He does it with massive momentum on his side, having pinned Blade, who goes into the pay-per-view facing Eurasian Big Dave.
That is not to say Beckford is stumbling. He sealed his contendership with a confident and hard-fought win over Scott Hammond. The Leeds-born high-flyer will be as determined as Austin will to finally get a decisive victory in their encounters.
Reynolds demonstrated all his qualities on Ascension and he heads to Apocalypse determined to put his stamp on the mid card. In recent weeks, we have seen his brash style is redefining the division and his ethics put him above his competition. He is now the figurehead of the future and he knows it.
He appears immune to critics, who choose to pick holes in his personality. He knew that it was easier to pick at him than address their own failings.
The title he treasures is a bulls-eye, just like it was when he was chasing it. But as a figure head of the company, it is his responsibility to thrive upon its pressure.
Beckford will pose a threat. The guy has no quit in him and will match Austin in the high-flyng stakes. But in every other department, Austin has the charisma vacuum beat.
“There are five simple rules that I adhere to, that means I can call myself the Ratings Winner. They are traits, rules that I live by to ensure I am the most thrilling entity on your television.”
Austin frames the picture with his hands.
“Do not adjust your television fans. I am Austin Reynolds, the Ratings Winner and I am the WZCW Elite X champion.”
Austin, dressed smartly in a sharp black suit, appears to be standing on a stage. There is a bright spotlight focussed solely on him.
“I am the draw in this division and a highlight of the entire company. My name is in lights at every venue that we go to and spectacular entertainment is guaranteed to follow.”
“Chris Beckford cannot match this. He is exactly the kind of wrestler that I make look fantastic every night. I have done that twice with him before in matches and I will do it again.”
“This is one reason why I am superior to Chris Beckford.”
Suddenly the area lights up and we see everything in clear detail. The audience is nothing than cardboard cut out heads of Chris Beckford. The curtain behind him is scarlet red and has one bright star shaped spotlight on it’s centre.
“The Elite X title is why I am in WZCW. I targeted this title and it was inevitable that it would end up in my possession. I make impacts and fulfil my promises. Chris Beckford flies on a wing and a prayer. He has no idea what lies in wait for him. He does not know what it takes to fulfil potential and make a splash. He is a tiny fish in a small pond.”
“That is one more reason why I am superior to Chris Beckford.”
Austin’s mannerisms are all present. Smiling and confident, proud and cocky. His pinfall victory over Blade has done nothing but boost his ego. A second spotlight star appears and Austin’s standing in between the two.
“Every night that I go out with the Elite X title around my waist, I am only furthering my legacy in the company. That I have a legacy after such a short time in the company is testament to my abilities. I am now the definition of a star, I am the present and the future and my face is what will be propelled to main event status.”
He prowls the stage slowly, followed by the spotlight.
“And as much Chris Beckford wants to dump me on my ass and take my title, he just isn’t good enough to get it done. He fell short at Redemption and Apocalypse will see my finest hour. I have made more people take notice of me in a couple of short months than he has his entire career. I will take Beckford’s potential legacy and stomp it into the dust.”
“My legacy and my future is one more reason why I am better than the flop that is Chris Beckford.”
His attitude is focussed and he is centred now by three stars, forming a neat triangle above his head.
“There is no one more exciting to watch in the ring than myself. I have rung rings around everyone that I have stepped in the ring with and made them look like a million quid. Beckford will come out of this weeks pay per view looking like a star with an exciting future, but the real excitement will be yours truly. This match is going to demonstrate why I am so highly thought of, why I am pure electric entertainment who can put on a show like no other.”
“I guarantee to do all that and the Elite X championship will be around my waist after I have done it.”
“Beckford is the epitome of the anti-climax. He lets the crowd die during his matches and nobody tunes in to just see him. It makes me sick. The heat, excitement and anticipation that I bring to each and every show that I appear at, is one more reason why I am better than Chris Beckford.”
A fourth star appears and Austins’ confident smile dissipates to be replaced with a firm, determined stare.
“And if there was any doubt in your mind about, the fifth and most crucial factor of being a Ratings Winner is the ratings. I thrive on being the one who people want to see get beat. Millions have tuned in to see me in recent weeks and not only have I become a fantastic champion in front of their very eyes, but I improve the show when I am involved.”
“I made Chris Beckford look good by just showing up before his match at Meltdown.”
Something in Austin has changed. His tone is fierce, defensive and he spits out Beckford’s name every time the Leeds-born flier is mentioned. It seems like the mention of ratings in the same sentence as Beckford has irked him considerably.
“Ratings are a champion needs to garner in order to be seen as credible. I have everything that Beckford does not and am everything that he wants to be. The Elite X title will haunt his dreams because he will never get closer than he will on Sunday. Because acknowledging its presence around my waist will be as real as it gets for him.”
As much Beckford annoys him, the Elite X title pleases him and his pride is clear.
“He will be in the best match of the night and then he can return to irrelevance. And all the while, he can remember what it was like to be so close to greatness.”
“You may not like it, but I am must-watch television, guaranteed buy-rates and a permanent fixture in the match-of-the-night. I am the irresistible, irrepressible first name on the card and I am the five-star future of the main event in WZCW.”
Austin looks forward as if to the heavens for some divine intervention. Instead he steps forward and reaches out for the Elite X title as it drops from the rafters.
On the curtain behind him, a fifth star appears. They rotate before forming a shape that resembles the Olympic logo. Five stars, just like the tattoo Austin has on his right shoulder, is a sign of quality, an approving judgement and a sign of surety on Austin’s part.
“I am everything that Chris Beckford is not. I am the Ratings Winner, the Elite X champion and that is the fifth reason why I am better than Chris Beckford and It’s why I will survive Apocalypse as the Elite X champion.”
The light on the stage fades to nothing and Austin is soon engulfed by the darkness.
