The "Corey O'Brian Championship"
Feb 16, 2019 3:54:51 GMT -5
Post by OrochiGeese on Feb 16, 2019 3:54:51 GMT -5
*Thunder Strike is sitting in Arthur Wingate's office. That is a dull introduction so I'll mention the fact there is currently a lack of rabid, neon purple bears dancing the Charleston on the table to spruce things up a bit.
ALSO - mid-conversation promo start!*
[Thunder:] "It's the easiest answer, for now."
[Arthur:] "I don't want the easiest answer, I want the correct one."
[Thunder:] "You want someone to cleanly beat Rivers and legitimately capture his NEXUS Championship. Corey O'Brian is the most obvious candidate to do that. More importantly, he wants the opportunity."
[Arthur:] "Corey is already the World Heavyweight Champion."
*Thunder stays silent for a second then moves to get up.*
[Arthur:] "Have I said something to offend you?"
*Thunder sighs.*
[Thunder:] "When you offered me the Head of Security position, you said you'd shoot straight with me. But I don't know if you can do that on this issue: especially when you give '1984' responses like 'Corey is already the World Champion."
*Arthur looks offended.*
[Arthur:] "Are you excusing me of lying?"
[Thunder:] "But not to me, to yourself."
*Arthur is silent.*
[Thunder:] "Listen to me - really listen to me. Corey O'Brian currently holds the Corey O'Brian Championship."
[Arthur:] "I am afraid that you are not making any sense."
[Thunder:] "The Corey O'Brian Championship was the Title you gave specifically to Corey to occupy him with so that he wouldn't challenge Matt and almost certainly defeat him for the NEXUS Championship. In fact, you wouldn't even allow Corey to challenge Joachim for the NEXUS Championship because you wanted Matt to be the one to defeat him."
[Arthur:] "Are you implying that I have coddled Matt Rivers and not given him the best competition?"
[Thunder:] "No, I am not implying it. I am outright stating it. Your treatment of Corey is the evidence. It took you almost a year to come to terms with Corey to have him return. He was the undisputed NEXUS Champion when Geese sold UBL to you and yet you didn't fight hard enough to bring Corey over. And that is because Matt Rivers was a special project to you from the second you came to UBL and wrestled him in that 15 minute challenge match. You understood his talent more than you understood Corey's, because you are more similar in ring style and attitude to Rivers. Corey was an enigma to you, someone a little too rough around the edges, to represent UBL the way that you wanted your UBL to look. So you were relieved that he was out of the picture for Matt to become the NEXUS Champion. When Corey returned, asking for a NEXUS Title shot, you occupied him in a series with RYOMA then used the Destiny problem to crown Corey the "World Champion." That Title was primarily designed to keep him away from Matt. As much as I appreciated the gatekeeping against Destiny, it never sat right with me that Corey was trotted out to do that. However, since Rivers seemed as loyal to UBL as anyone, I tolerated it. Plus, it really wasn't my place to comment on Championship matters. Obviously, I was wrong in putting my trust in Rivers. But you were wrong in keeping Corey held at arm's length so that he wouldn't get in the way of Matt's legacy. Now is the time for you to make that right. Give Corey the Title shot that he demands and deserves."
*There is silence for a good two minutes.*
[Arthur:] "Drake and Geese were right about you in one respect. For someone that comes from a 'chain of command' military mentality, you really don't hold back against anyone."
[Thunder:] "It would be a disservice to you and the UBL for me to do so. Corey is the answer here."
[Arthur:] "I will consider your position. I must say, it seems genuine given how unselfish it is."
[Thunder:] "Unselfish?"
[Arthur:] "It seems incompatible with your other current project that we greenlit."
[Thunder:] "Just another legitimate means to the same end: Destiny's defeat."
[Arthur:] "So that other Title shot?"
[Thunder:] "After just one victory? Right now it's too far off from being earned which means its a security risk. Moreno will see right through it. This has to look credible for it to be effective."
[Arthur:] "Fine, let me think more about Corey."
[Thunder:] "Name someone else in the UBL, including in this room, who you'd give odds over Corey in beating Rivers."
[Arthur:] "What about Kyle Walker?"
*Thunder frowns.*
[Thunder:] "Personal feelings aside, he can't do it. Kyle was never a wrestler. His biggest 'success' in the UBL was jumping Geese from behind in a two on one situation."
[Arthur:] "He beat Barton."
[Thunder:] "Barton has had a career comeback recently but in 2010 he was on the decline. We all thought he was going to retire soon, including him. Plus, he had not wrestled a singles match at that point in years."
[Arthur:] "Fine, but Kyle doesn't have to be a wrestler to beat Rivers."
[Thunder:] "Yes he does. Geese proved it. When he went back under the Bolt mask and concentrated on cleanly beating Kyle, he did so decisively. Walker isn't beating Rivers and, even if he did, we may be in worse shape. The level of anger Kyle would need to possess to somehow compensate for his lack of wrestling ability against Rivers would make him an even worse Champion to represent UBL than Rivers is. It would be bringing lions in to chase out wolves."
[Arthur:] "Speaking of animals, what about waiting for Geese to heal?"
[Thunder:] "Look, I'm sure Drake has been in touch with Holly. So you should know why that isn't an option right now. Frankly, I'm as confused about that situation as you probably are."
[Arthur:] "Yes, I'm not optimistic about his 'full' recovery."
[Thunder:] "Between Jinchuu, his retirement, and what just happened, I'm not even angry with him anymore. He's no longer even remotely the same Geese as he used to be. I'm more concerned about him and his family than anything."
[Arthur:] "So what are your thoughts on Robin and Kyle coming to our next show?"
[Thunder:] "I can't believe I'm saying this, but Robin has my full support. Moreno and Rivers didn't completely execute on their plan but what they tried to do to Geese gives Robin credibility to confront and challenge Moreno. The only question to me is whether Kyle is going to be there to just support and protect her, or if he has an agenda himself. It wouldn't surprise me if he tries to literally kill Moreno for the pain she tried to cause Robin. I will be thoroughly searching him before he goes out to the ring. But since the attack on Geese happened during a UBL event, and since Moreno dragged UBL into this war for years against Robin, it's only fair that Destiny answer for it here. I'll be very close by as will be my team."
*Arthur is silent for a few moments.*
[Arthur:] "About what you said before..."
[Thunder:] "I didn't hold my tongue but no disrespect was intended. I believe you have always had the best interests of UBL in mind since purchasing it."
[Arthur:] "I did, but I believe there is a kernel of truth to what you said even if I haven't admitted it to myself. That is one reason I have taken Matt's betrayal so hard: I believed in him the most out of everyone. To do that at the cost of other people's potential advancement, and the credibility of the Championship, was not my intention but I realize it may have been an effect. But Corey's World Championship may still help us against potential invaders."
[Thunder:] "If you give Corey the NEXUS shot and he wins, I'll gladly take Corey's position against invaders."
[Arthur:] "Then I'll start designing the TST."
[Thunder:] "The what?"
[Arthur:] "The Thunder Strike Title."
*Thunder grins, shakes hands with Arthur, then leaves.*
ALSO - mid-conversation promo start!*
[Thunder:] "It's the easiest answer, for now."
[Arthur:] "I don't want the easiest answer, I want the correct one."
[Thunder:] "You want someone to cleanly beat Rivers and legitimately capture his NEXUS Championship. Corey O'Brian is the most obvious candidate to do that. More importantly, he wants the opportunity."
[Arthur:] "Corey is already the World Heavyweight Champion."
*Thunder stays silent for a second then moves to get up.*
[Arthur:] "Have I said something to offend you?"
*Thunder sighs.*
[Thunder:] "When you offered me the Head of Security position, you said you'd shoot straight with me. But I don't know if you can do that on this issue: especially when you give '1984' responses like 'Corey is already the World Champion."
*Arthur looks offended.*
[Arthur:] "Are you excusing me of lying?"
[Thunder:] "But not to me, to yourself."
*Arthur is silent.*
[Thunder:] "Listen to me - really listen to me. Corey O'Brian currently holds the Corey O'Brian Championship."
[Arthur:] "I am afraid that you are not making any sense."
[Thunder:] "The Corey O'Brian Championship was the Title you gave specifically to Corey to occupy him with so that he wouldn't challenge Matt and almost certainly defeat him for the NEXUS Championship. In fact, you wouldn't even allow Corey to challenge Joachim for the NEXUS Championship because you wanted Matt to be the one to defeat him."
[Arthur:] "Are you implying that I have coddled Matt Rivers and not given him the best competition?"
[Thunder:] "No, I am not implying it. I am outright stating it. Your treatment of Corey is the evidence. It took you almost a year to come to terms with Corey to have him return. He was the undisputed NEXUS Champion when Geese sold UBL to you and yet you didn't fight hard enough to bring Corey over. And that is because Matt Rivers was a special project to you from the second you came to UBL and wrestled him in that 15 minute challenge match. You understood his talent more than you understood Corey's, because you are more similar in ring style and attitude to Rivers. Corey was an enigma to you, someone a little too rough around the edges, to represent UBL the way that you wanted your UBL to look. So you were relieved that he was out of the picture for Matt to become the NEXUS Champion. When Corey returned, asking for a NEXUS Title shot, you occupied him in a series with RYOMA then used the Destiny problem to crown Corey the "World Champion." That Title was primarily designed to keep him away from Matt. As much as I appreciated the gatekeeping against Destiny, it never sat right with me that Corey was trotted out to do that. However, since Rivers seemed as loyal to UBL as anyone, I tolerated it. Plus, it really wasn't my place to comment on Championship matters. Obviously, I was wrong in putting my trust in Rivers. But you were wrong in keeping Corey held at arm's length so that he wouldn't get in the way of Matt's legacy. Now is the time for you to make that right. Give Corey the Title shot that he demands and deserves."
*There is silence for a good two minutes.*
[Arthur:] "Drake and Geese were right about you in one respect. For someone that comes from a 'chain of command' military mentality, you really don't hold back against anyone."
[Thunder:] "It would be a disservice to you and the UBL for me to do so. Corey is the answer here."
[Arthur:] "I will consider your position. I must say, it seems genuine given how unselfish it is."
[Thunder:] "Unselfish?"
[Arthur:] "It seems incompatible with your other current project that we greenlit."
[Thunder:] "Just another legitimate means to the same end: Destiny's defeat."
[Arthur:] "So that other Title shot?"
[Thunder:] "After just one victory? Right now it's too far off from being earned which means its a security risk. Moreno will see right through it. This has to look credible for it to be effective."
[Arthur:] "Fine, let me think more about Corey."
[Thunder:] "Name someone else in the UBL, including in this room, who you'd give odds over Corey in beating Rivers."
[Arthur:] "What about Kyle Walker?"
*Thunder frowns.*
[Thunder:] "Personal feelings aside, he can't do it. Kyle was never a wrestler. His biggest 'success' in the UBL was jumping Geese from behind in a two on one situation."
[Arthur:] "He beat Barton."
[Thunder:] "Barton has had a career comeback recently but in 2010 he was on the decline. We all thought he was going to retire soon, including him. Plus, he had not wrestled a singles match at that point in years."
[Arthur:] "Fine, but Kyle doesn't have to be a wrestler to beat Rivers."
[Thunder:] "Yes he does. Geese proved it. When he went back under the Bolt mask and concentrated on cleanly beating Kyle, he did so decisively. Walker isn't beating Rivers and, even if he did, we may be in worse shape. The level of anger Kyle would need to possess to somehow compensate for his lack of wrestling ability against Rivers would make him an even worse Champion to represent UBL than Rivers is. It would be bringing lions in to chase out wolves."
[Arthur:] "Speaking of animals, what about waiting for Geese to heal?"
[Thunder:] "Look, I'm sure Drake has been in touch with Holly. So you should know why that isn't an option right now. Frankly, I'm as confused about that situation as you probably are."
[Arthur:] "Yes, I'm not optimistic about his 'full' recovery."
[Thunder:] "Between Jinchuu, his retirement, and what just happened, I'm not even angry with him anymore. He's no longer even remotely the same Geese as he used to be. I'm more concerned about him and his family than anything."
[Arthur:] "So what are your thoughts on Robin and Kyle coming to our next show?"
[Thunder:] "I can't believe I'm saying this, but Robin has my full support. Moreno and Rivers didn't completely execute on their plan but what they tried to do to Geese gives Robin credibility to confront and challenge Moreno. The only question to me is whether Kyle is going to be there to just support and protect her, or if he has an agenda himself. It wouldn't surprise me if he tries to literally kill Moreno for the pain she tried to cause Robin. I will be thoroughly searching him before he goes out to the ring. But since the attack on Geese happened during a UBL event, and since Moreno dragged UBL into this war for years against Robin, it's only fair that Destiny answer for it here. I'll be very close by as will be my team."
*Arthur is silent for a few moments.*
[Arthur:] "About what you said before..."
[Thunder:] "I didn't hold my tongue but no disrespect was intended. I believe you have always had the best interests of UBL in mind since purchasing it."
[Arthur:] "I did, but I believe there is a kernel of truth to what you said even if I haven't admitted it to myself. That is one reason I have taken Matt's betrayal so hard: I believed in him the most out of everyone. To do that at the cost of other people's potential advancement, and the credibility of the Championship, was not my intention but I realize it may have been an effect. But Corey's World Championship may still help us against potential invaders."
[Thunder:] "If you give Corey the NEXUS shot and he wins, I'll gladly take Corey's position against invaders."
[Arthur:] "Then I'll start designing the TST."
[Thunder:] "The what?"
[Arthur:] "The Thunder Strike Title."
*Thunder grins, shakes hands with Arthur, then leaves.*