Up The Rivers
Oct 19, 2020 10:56:45 GMT -5
Post by October Raven on Oct 19, 2020 10:56:45 GMT -5
::Corey O'Brian is in a hotel room in New York, sitting on the bed legs folded.::
Corey: Before I bring up the reason why I'm making this first public address since the Pandemic hit, I'm going to address the elephant in the room. Yes, I have been effectively living in New York City for the last few months. It's very unusual for me to do, but these circumstances are pretty unusual. I haven't had any signs of illness, in fact I'm being tested regularly just to be safe. The reason why I'm staying in New York long term, instead of my usual driving up and down I-95 when I need to, is the travel restrictions invovled. Two weeks isolated, without a way to train, is two weeks I cannot afford. As to how I'm keeping fit during these times well, I'm playing that close to my chest. Back when I was in my series with RYOMA, I let him know I was training with Monster Takeshi because I knew it would make no difference. My training partner is someone I've worked with closely in the past, that's all I'm willing to say right now. Now, to business.
Corey O'Brian: What I'm about to say... needs context. With Joachim, if you look at him and look at him back when he first captured the NEXUS title, you can see someone who has grown as an individual. Not the same as he was before, but not to the point where philosophically speaking he's an entirely different person.
Corey: He did not change in a literal flash, nor did he change back without a trace of what he became. While unforseen changes of attitude have happened many times in wrestling's history, those who have eventually had remorse or a change back still carry their experiences with them. They did not become a different person, then revert to who they were. They revealed a masked side of them, and bare those changes to their selves even as they continue to grow.
Corey: I say this so that nobody tries to paint what I'm about to say as an inconsistency, because the subject of who I speak of, his situation is wholly different from Joachim's. Joachim has always been Joachim. This person has not always been themselves.
Corey: Matt Rivers... I believe you.
Corey: I believe him with a strong certainity. More than my read of Joachim, which required both gut instinct and intuition to draw a conclusion. I don't trust him, I do have suspicions, but I acknowledge that my read of him may just be down to old wrestler's paranoia. With Rivers... he's either the greatest goddamn actor that's ever lived, ThunderStrike is lying or wrong about being deprogrammed, or Rivers is back to the man we all respected. And well, I know which side I'm firmly in the camp of.
Corey: Matt... I know that these words are of small comfort to you, if any at all. And you may have heard the words I spoke about the thing that Moreno turned you into. Rest assured those words were aimed at that thing, not you. If you are hurt by my words from that time, I do sincerely apologize. But, we have interacted in person from time to time... as most people are aware, I do not train in UBL's dojo system but I do drop by from time to time. And when I had, I always saw Matt Rivers, working harder than anyone else, and doing everything he can to help his peers grow as wrestlers and as people. And that's the Matt Rivers I see today. And I see him hurting, which saddens me.
Corey: Matt, I want to propose to you three things. You don't have to respond to them now if you don't want to. And I don't intend to talk you out of your retirement. It's clear that you thought long and hard about it, and you've made up your mind. It's a hard choice you made, and I respect it.
Corey: My first proposal is that we finally have a match, one on one. Now, this may of course already happen with how the Continuum tournament plays out, but in the event that we don't meet in that tournament, I'd like to have a match with you after. Non-title, if either of us win it, since either it'll be your last match or I am no longer chasing championships anyway. I think we could both do with that closure and, win or lose, it'd be an honor to face you.
Corey: My second proposal... you may have already thought about what you're going to do after your retirement. But if you haven't, I can talk to the DRAGONSUPLEX Corporation to see about getting you a job. I'd offer to hire you for the Dojo, but I really don't have need for any more hands right now and at any rate it might not be good for your post-career psyche. But the clothing company that sponsors my Dojo well... I'm technically an executive there, so while I can't promise you a job, I can promise to put a word for you. Even if you don't want this, feel free to consider me a reference.
Corey: Thirdly, and this is probably what you need the most. Matt, what I really think you need more than anything else, more than career closure, more than a post-career plan... is someone you can talk to. Feel free to contact me through my Dojo's website. I'll give you my personal contact info through there. Whether you're looking for advice, you need to let something off your chest, or just want to talk to someone. I'm not a therapist, but I can help you find one too. Though I've heard good things about Dr. Holt.
Corey: Whether you take me up one or all or none of these offers, I wish you the very best in this tournament and after. You'll be missed in UBL, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Corey: Before I bring up the reason why I'm making this first public address since the Pandemic hit, I'm going to address the elephant in the room. Yes, I have been effectively living in New York City for the last few months. It's very unusual for me to do, but these circumstances are pretty unusual. I haven't had any signs of illness, in fact I'm being tested regularly just to be safe. The reason why I'm staying in New York long term, instead of my usual driving up and down I-95 when I need to, is the travel restrictions invovled. Two weeks isolated, without a way to train, is two weeks I cannot afford. As to how I'm keeping fit during these times well, I'm playing that close to my chest. Back when I was in my series with RYOMA, I let him know I was training with Monster Takeshi because I knew it would make no difference. My training partner is someone I've worked with closely in the past, that's all I'm willing to say right now. Now, to business.
Corey O'Brian: What I'm about to say... needs context. With Joachim, if you look at him and look at him back when he first captured the NEXUS title, you can see someone who has grown as an individual. Not the same as he was before, but not to the point where philosophically speaking he's an entirely different person.
Corey: He did not change in a literal flash, nor did he change back without a trace of what he became. While unforseen changes of attitude have happened many times in wrestling's history, those who have eventually had remorse or a change back still carry their experiences with them. They did not become a different person, then revert to who they were. They revealed a masked side of them, and bare those changes to their selves even as they continue to grow.
Corey: I say this so that nobody tries to paint what I'm about to say as an inconsistency, because the subject of who I speak of, his situation is wholly different from Joachim's. Joachim has always been Joachim. This person has not always been themselves.
Corey: Matt Rivers... I believe you.
Corey: I believe him with a strong certainity. More than my read of Joachim, which required both gut instinct and intuition to draw a conclusion. I don't trust him, I do have suspicions, but I acknowledge that my read of him may just be down to old wrestler's paranoia. With Rivers... he's either the greatest goddamn actor that's ever lived, ThunderStrike is lying or wrong about being deprogrammed, or Rivers is back to the man we all respected. And well, I know which side I'm firmly in the camp of.
Corey: Matt... I know that these words are of small comfort to you, if any at all. And you may have heard the words I spoke about the thing that Moreno turned you into. Rest assured those words were aimed at that thing, not you. If you are hurt by my words from that time, I do sincerely apologize. But, we have interacted in person from time to time... as most people are aware, I do not train in UBL's dojo system but I do drop by from time to time. And when I had, I always saw Matt Rivers, working harder than anyone else, and doing everything he can to help his peers grow as wrestlers and as people. And that's the Matt Rivers I see today. And I see him hurting, which saddens me.
Corey: Matt, I want to propose to you three things. You don't have to respond to them now if you don't want to. And I don't intend to talk you out of your retirement. It's clear that you thought long and hard about it, and you've made up your mind. It's a hard choice you made, and I respect it.
Corey: My first proposal is that we finally have a match, one on one. Now, this may of course already happen with how the Continuum tournament plays out, but in the event that we don't meet in that tournament, I'd like to have a match with you after. Non-title, if either of us win it, since either it'll be your last match or I am no longer chasing championships anyway. I think we could both do with that closure and, win or lose, it'd be an honor to face you.
Corey: My second proposal... you may have already thought about what you're going to do after your retirement. But if you haven't, I can talk to the DRAGONSUPLEX Corporation to see about getting you a job. I'd offer to hire you for the Dojo, but I really don't have need for any more hands right now and at any rate it might not be good for your post-career psyche. But the clothing company that sponsors my Dojo well... I'm technically an executive there, so while I can't promise you a job, I can promise to put a word for you. Even if you don't want this, feel free to consider me a reference.
Corey: Thirdly, and this is probably what you need the most. Matt, what I really think you need more than anything else, more than career closure, more than a post-career plan... is someone you can talk to. Feel free to contact me through my Dojo's website. I'll give you my personal contact info through there. Whether you're looking for advice, you need to let something off your chest, or just want to talk to someone. I'm not a therapist, but I can help you find one too. Though I've heard good things about Dr. Holt.
Corey: Whether you take me up one or all or none of these offers, I wish you the very best in this tournament and after. You'll be missed in UBL, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so.