Meltdown 20 - Backstage. Entrance to the Gorilla Position
Once again the crown cheers.
The announcers voice is heard again.
Time passes.
Anoki and USA emerge though the curtain. Heads held high. They smile.
Anoki makes an excuse. He hangs behind.
Time passes.
Anoki is in better shape. He aches all over. It does not show.
His jacked lies dormant by the wall agian. He puts it on. He waits.
Time passes.
His smile fades slightly. He walks away.
Two Nights Before Meltdown 21 - Backstage.
Anoki walks the halls alone.
Is he looking for somebody?
He does not find them.
He turns the corner. No one there.
Voice: So you're the new boy wonder then?
He spins. Klamor is there.
Klamor looks him up and down, taking the young man in.
Anoki does not flinch under his gaze. He has been here before.
Klamor: Care to give me an answer then?
Anoki: I'm sorry. What was the question?
Klamor sighs theatrically. He asks again, slow and distinct.
Klamor: Are You The New Boy Wonder Around Here?
The young man frowns. He does not like the question.
Anoki: If by that you mean a boy experiencing wonders, then yes, that is me.
Klamor: Nice. Poetic. Has the added benefit of not answering the question.
Anoki: I'm sorry sir; I'm unsure what you want from me.
Anoki shifts. Klamor doesn't like him much. He wishes he was somewhere else.
Klamor: Look boy. The point you’re avoiding is this. You've shown up here out of nowhere, notched up a couple of low profile wins, and suddenly you've got a locker room full of guys shouting your name. And I, as a man paid to ask talent how they feel about things, would like to know how you feel about this.
Anoki is short. He hopes that if he doesn't respond, the man will go away.
Anoki: I wasn't aware that I had people shouting my name.
Klamor sighs again, this time even more theatrically.
Klamor: Please. You send four promising athletes packing from the company on your first night. Suddenly half of them are on the roster, and they don't sound best pleased with you. Then you go and score an upset victory over one of the most promising teams in the company, and I think the fact that Christiansen's put in for a rematch suggests that he's not too happy with you either.
Anoki: Christiansen. The man I pinned?
Klamor: Yes.
Anoki: I defeated him. He has a right to overcome that. Every man I've met in the ring walks the same path. We make the journey for different reasons. Fame and fortune, pride and honor, fear and redemption. We walk the path for different reasons, but we all have the same destination. To be the best.
At Meltdown I defeated Christiansen. If he feels he must defeat me to even the score, then that is what he must do. Inside the ring I must do everything to make sure he fails; but out here, I would never deny him a chance at success. I do not know Kyle Christianson. I have never spoken to Kyle Christianson. But I have fought Kyle Christianson. I have looked into his eyes, and I will respect his wishes.
Anoki stops. He is done. It seems she is not here today. He walks away.