MD 54: Sam Smith vs. Mr. Baller

[Phoenix]

The past month has been an interesting one for Sam Smith and Mr. Baller, varying results respectively, but they keep asking the question, will they make it to Kingdom Come? It was decided by Chuck Myles that these two face off in a standard showdown, he has noted that he will be watching this match carefully. Will this inspire Smith and Baller to shine knowing the boss will be watching?

Deadline is Tuesday 15th March 23:59 EST

 

[The Crock]

The scene opens up to a basketball court in an inner-city, obviously a bit more impoverished area. It is nighttime, a slight drizzle is pouring, and breeze is howling through the chain link fence surrounding the court. A single man is seen taking shots. As the camera cuts closer the man is revealed as none other than Sam Smith. Smith makes a deep three-pointer and turns to face the camera.

Smith: Much like basketball, getting in your opponent’s head is an integral part of wrestling.

Smith jogs over and picks up the ball. He dribbles back towards the camera slowly, yet methodically.

Smith: You see, I’ve been playing basketball here all day. Why, you ask? Simple. My opponent, Mr. Baller, LOVES the game of basketball. Hell, he grew up playing it! So, I needed to come and play some myself.

Smith pauses, continuously dribbling the ball. Between his legs, behind his back, with ease.

Smith: While it may seem like a bit of a pointless exercise, I assure you, it is not. To get inside your opponent’s head, you must take away something important to them. Much like Blade did to me last week, when he attacked me. By doing that, he took away my “comfort zone.” I felt vulnerable and it led to my defeat.

For a moment, Smith furrows his brow in anger, slowly, that evolves to the point where a maniacal scowl trickles across his face.

Smith: Well, this week, I’m employing that tactic myself, but I’m not a coward like Blade… I want my opponent at 100%, I want him at his best, so that when I beat him I can actually say I beat him like a man.

Smith suddenly turns and takes another deep three-pointer. Nothing but net. He keeps on talking as he jogs over to get the rebound, a broad smile of satisfaction across his face.

Smith: You see, I plan on taking away Baller’s comfort zone. He takes solace in basketball, he enjoys the fact that he can do all those fancy little tricks with the ball. He uses it as a crutch. Simply put, I’ll kick the crutch right out from underneath him.

Smith spins the ball on his right “pointer” finger.

Smith: That leads me to this: You were probably all wondering why I’m in this dangerous section of town, weren’t you? In this part of the city, many people love basketball. While the rest of the community may be in shambles, the basketball court is their sanctuary, much like Baller, these people are quite good at the game of basketball. So, I figured if I wanted to beat the best, I wanted to play with the best, didn’t I?

Smith drops the ball to the ground, putting his right foot on top of it, resting for a moment.

Smith: I’ve been here all day, playing with a plethora of people. Young, old, no matter… they all shared a common interest for basketball, one I myself enjoy as well. Growing up as a kid, I loved athletics. I played high school basketball, in fact, but coming here today was no easy feat. I had not played the game in ages, it was an intimidating experience, somewhat like stepping into the WZCW ring every week. Slowly but surely, as I played more, I started getting it all back, and only a few hours later I was back in form! Man, I was better than ever!

Smith pauses to wipe some sweat from his brow.

Smith: More importantly, I was on an even playing field with Baller. Sure, I won’t actually be facing him in a game of basketball, but it’s the principle, the thought that counts. If he knows for a fact that he can’t beat me on a basketball court, what can he do? We faced off two weeks ago - in the ring - and he couldn’t beat me there? I have the upper hand! I have the advantage! I’ve done it, haven’t I? I’ve gotten in his head!

The small grin Smith had been bearing disappears from his face, he becomes more serious.

Smith: All that being said, I cannot get too confident. While I may have beaten him two weeks ago, he could always beat me this week. Even though I picked up THAT win, I’m only defined by my NEXT win.

Smith clears his throat.

Smith: As any good basketball player would do, I can only assume that Baller has been studying me extensively. He probably knows the ins and outs of my game, if his ego didn’t get in the way that is. What Baller doesn’t know is that I’ve studied him too. I saw his last match and I adjusted myself accordingly. Bluntly put, this win will make or break my career.

Smith looks off into the sky for a moment.

Smith: The one and only, Chuck Myles will be watching this match. This match is my ticket to Kingdom Come! I must perform well this week. That is yet another reason why I came here. The wise old “basketball court sages” of this neighborhood were out in full force today.

Smith beckons to a series of broken down and dilapidated bleachers on the sideline.

Smith: They sat and scrutinized all of the players’ moves. These men were once impressive athletes themselves, they undoubtedly grew up playing basketball on this very court. They come here, day in day out, a regular routine. In the morning, at the crack of dawn, they get their morning newspapers and head to the neighborhood barbershop. After some routine chatting amongst the men, they head to the court the second any life can be seen there. They sit and watch… and watch… and watch. They stay here all day. Whether it is sweltering hot, freezing cold, snowing, raining, what have you… these men are main stays on those bleachers every day until dinnertime. Some nights, they’ll even drive over their jalopies and park them on the street and shine their headlights on the court to provide the players with nice conditions to play. I myself was a bit bewildered by this, until I realized one thing: They do it as a labor of love. They do what’s best for these players, they want to see them succeed, much like Chuck Myles.

Smith pauses for a moment, but quickly plows on.

Smith: Chuck Myles will do what’s best for WZCW, he’ll give me a spot on the Kingdom Come card, he’ll give me my chance… as long as I’ll do my damndest to prove that I’m worthy. You see, these old men that watch these basketball games love seeing the players try hard. They’ll encourage the worst player on the court, as long as they see that he loves the game and tries his hardest. Well, I love wrestling, I love WZCW, and I will try my hardest to come out the winner against Mr. Baller.

I learned a valuable lesson today, in coming here. Even though this side of town is labeled as dangerous, there is a great core of people here. They would rather give you the food off of their dinner table and go hungry, than see you starve. These are hardworking, blue collar people. I’ll base my actions in WZCW off of them. I realize that even though I may not be main eventing, and I may be a minor ripple in the water in WZCW, but if I work hard… maybe someday I’ll be headlining the biggest show of the year, nay, biggest EVENT of the year, Kingdom Come.

Smith kicks the ball back up to his hands and takes another shot, making it yet again.

Smith: Consistency will take me places. Hell, it’s just like basketball. Even in this community, even on this basketball court where most players play because everybody around them does - they’re born into it, they love it, they grow up with it - there are a few star players. Every so often, a spectacular player arises and makes it big, playing college ball and maybe even making it to the NBA. They break through.

This is MY break through. This is MY opportunity to make it big. Come Meltdown 54, I’m writing MY story, I’m getting MY ticket to Kingdom Come.

 

[Baller]

The camera fades into the backstage area of WZCW, and Mr. Baller, wearing his typical jumpsuit and basketball in hand, has a furious look on his face. He walks to Chuck Myles office and repeatedly bangs on the door.

Chuck Myles opens the door, and has a sour look on the face.

Myles: What the hell are you doing? Banging on my door like that.

Baller: We need to talk. NOW!

Myles: About what?

Baller: Me? What the hell do you think?

Myles rolls his eyes.

Myles: Get your ass in here, and make this quick, I don’t have all day with this crap.

Baller quickly rolls into Myles’ office.

Myles: Now what do you want to talk about?

Baller: This travesty.

Myles: What travesty?

Baller: I just beat the living daylights out of Sean Cruz, and I still haven’t got a spot on Kingdom Come yet.

Myles: What’s your point?

Baller: We have one set of shows left, thats my point. I am the one of the oldest members on the roster, and I deserve a god damn spot. Did you not see that ass whooping I just laid out there?

Myles: Yeah I did.

Baller: Then what are you waiting for, Christmas?

Myles: Watch your tone around me boy, or I’ll fire you ass on the spot. Now, onto this week. You are facing Sam Smith, and I will have a close on eye on the match, and then I will make my decision on what to do with you at Kingdom Come.

Baller: Sam Smith?!?! Did you not see him get his ass kicked out there. He just got destroyed, he doesn’t belong at Kingdom Come.

Myles: And he also kicked your ass a few weeks ago.

Baller: That was before the road to Kingdom Come, this is the time where the big boys play, not some dumb rookies.

Myles: Well this dumb rookie, if he beats you, will be at Kingdom Come, unlike you.

Baller quickly begins to storm out of his office.

Myles: Now where are you going?

Baller: To the park. I need to calm down.

Baller slams the door, as the camera fades out.


___________________________

The camera fades into a beautiful open land, full of lush trees, and a tiny creek. The creek noticeably has 3 stones on it, and there is something on each stone, but the camera can not get a good view of what is on each stone. Next to the creek is a big palm tree, and sitting under it is Mr. Baller. Baller has a green leaf in his hand.

Baller: Spring. The changes are over, everything is back to normal with these trees. Just like in WZCW, the changes, the surprises, there over. Sam Smith, a few weeks ago, you picked up a fluky win against me. It was pure luck. Everybody has an off game, but now it is the road to Kingdom Come, a time when all the stars bring their A game every single night. No more slacking off. No more joking around. No more losing to bums. Chucky Myles says this match will determine who gets a spot on Kingdom Come, then Sammy boy, you can just give it up now. You ain’t nothing but another stepping stone on my way to Kingdom Come.

Baller then gets up, and heads to the creek where the three stones are. As Baller continues to get up to the stones, you see a piece of paper on each one. The first one can be identified as a picture of Sean Cruz.

Baller: Sean, I told you last week, that Madison Square Garden, it’s calling me. You were nothing but the first step on my road to Kingdom Come. Maybe next year, you’ll get a dark match at Kingdom Come, but until then go sit you ass on the couch and watch the stars at Kingdom Come, and look you even get it for free.

Baller then steps on to the stone with the picture of Sean Cruz, and the second stone has a picture of Sam Smith on it.

Baller: Sam, you don’t belong on the card, you belong with Sean Cruz, a rookie watching the veterans do their thing at the grandest stage of them all. I saw your basketball skills, and there almost as bad as your ability in the ring. You try to get into my head, but you fail miserably. Stick to the courtroom, and I’ll stick to the basketball court as well as the ring.

Baller squishes his foot on the head of Smith’s face.

Baller: Sam, as was Sean, is nothing but a stepping stone to my spot at Kingdom Come. You are just step 2 on the 3 step plan to glory to fame. At Kingdom Come, one year ago, I was moments away from winning the Mayhem Title, holding it the longest during the match, only to be screwed by James Baker choking to Scott Hammond in the final two minutes. You see this year, this year will be different. Last year, I was inexperienced in the big time, however, this year, is the year of the Baller. The year I breakthrough, and dominate the rest of WZCW.

Now Chucky, the fact that I even have to have a match the week before Kingdom Come just to get on the card manifests how big of a tool you are. How you got put in charge of running the show is beyond me? You have a terrible vision of true talent, and have been holding me back since I got here. Denied opportunity after opportunity, I am one of the oldest people in this company, and I am still stuck opening Meltdown vs Sean Cruz instead of main eventing with Ty Burna and Showtime. Gordito, had done nothing in his first two months here, but no lets just throw him in the main event some more, and have him continuously lose, while I am stuck doing nothing. It is a travesty, how much you are wasting my talent.

However, Chucky this time you can hold me back. I am going to beat the living hell out of Sam Smith and when I do, you will have no choice to put me on Kingdom Come.

Baller then jumps onto the third stone which has the poster of Kingdom Come on it.

And I will claim victory at Kingdom Come, and show you the mistake you made Chucky when you force me through this crap. I’ll see you at Meltdown Sammy, for your last show for a while.

And you better believe that.

Baller raises a clinched fist into the air as the camera fades out.