JET: Accountability
Feb 26, 2023 2:06:58 GMT -5
Post by OrochiGeese on Feb 26, 2023 2:06:58 GMT -5
*We open up to a promo room with a UBL banner hanging on the wall. In front of it, JET Hamada is standing with his eyes closed while showing off his new attire. He inhales slowly than opens his eyes on exhale.*
[JET:] "I have a lot to say and I hope that you will all be patient. Everyone who knows me, really knows me, gets that I'm not big on serious speeches. I like to joke around, throw people around, and have a good time. I always let Barton handle laying down the hard truths for our opponents. Once I started teaming with Naja, I had to say a bit more for uh, let's just say 'reasonssssss' but I still preferred expressing myself in the ring than playing orator. However, last year I learned something: it actually feels good to tell the world what's on my mind. Sometimes it's even necessary. When I addressed all of you last summer, it was cleansing. And I think we all need some deep cleansing action after Continuum IV.
Look - we've entered a new era of accountability that demands group and personal reflection. To truly be a part of this league, I have to safeguard two things: the integrity of the competition and my own place in it.
With one exception, Continuum IV was a total embarrassment. Worse, it hurt the integrity of a barely formed Championship. Matt Rivers and Bak Fu put on an absolute war that saved the event from becoming a permanent stain on the Championship, as did the efforts of Corey O'Brian and Jason Hyde. However, the reactions to the rest of the show from the boys in the back and the fans, especially those internet ones, were harsh but legit.
We can't let this trend stand, guys. When THRASH gathered his handpicked soldiers to kick out Gauntlet, our job didn't end that day just cause we won. Everyone who joined in stepped up to claim responsibility for the future of the UBL. That duty requires us to protect it's existence and integrity against anyone who threatens it.
It doesn't make sense for us to remove a group that prevented us from having matches, breathe a sigh of relief, then accept the type of matches that we saw at Continuum IV as the best we can do. Why treat outsiders and certain groups on our roster differently if they want to ruin competition for their own selfish goals? Each member of 3 of a Kind has spent years undermining the values that define this promotion and the wrestlers that hold them. With what they did on Continuum IV... 3 of a Kind have sullied the league and it's trophy. And we all know it wasn't an accident.
Arthur - you need to issue a no tolerance policy for any outside interference in matches. Jason Hyde deserves better and so does Corey O'Brian. Had Woodruff not gotten in the way, Jason would have defeated Sanders and Corey O'Brian would have dragged Langford's worthless ass back into the ring for a beating and easy win. Everyone knows this: especially 3 of a Kind. As much as Langford may try to gaslight us, the result of his match with Corey was not up to chance."
*JET pauses for a second and takes another deep breath. He appears to be choosing his words carefully.*
[JET:] "The next thing I'm gonna say may be unpopular but out with it. Even though nothing illegal happened in the *pauses* 'encounter' between Wonderland and the Cosmic K*I*D* - it was still an embarrassment. I am well aware of the spacey history of this promotion but some things should remain buried light years in the past. As a man who has a prominent physics expert as a mentor, I laugh at the efforts of Cosmic K*I*D to summon a black hole in a wrestling ring. But as a man who wishes to hold the Infinite Continuum Championship, I am humiliated at what passed as a match.
The fact we know Wonderland is capable of so much more is what makes it even worse. The man defeated Orochi Geese for the FPCPP World Championship but his efforts in Block B have fallen short of credible. He beat Mills by untying his shoes! It's not just the efforts of the top seeds that determine the worth of this league. Everyone has to try their best to win for the Championship to be at its most prestigious. The fact is - Geese was right about a lot of the participants in this league. The matches that we have seen recently are proof of it. We all need to do better or replace those who refuse to."
*JET pauses and resumes his deep breathing exercises. A few seconds later, a smile appears on his face.*
[JET:] "The aftermath of the event wasn't all bad. Corey O'Brian paid me the biggest compliment of my career. I will repay it by promising him something that he already knew - I will go beyond my limits in our match. I have no doubt it will be my greatest trial and I will make sure that it is his greatest challenge in this league too.
Out of everyone in this league, Corey has the right to feel the most disappointed. 3 of a Kind wasted his time and spit on the Title he cares so much about. His match with Joachim was also incredibly frustrating. It was like watching a planet destroying battle between two giant robots with lasers in an five episode arc of Matsuki MECH. Send in the Chromedroids! Whatever Joachim's intentions were, he was another wrestler to treat our matches like a circus sideshow.
If you truly want the Championship, aim to elevate it with your behavior. That brings me to my second point."
*JET pauses and tilts his head down with a shameful expression.*
[JET:] "I must elevate my own behavior too."
*JET exhales and faces the camera again.*
[JET:] "I can't inherit any history in this Block. I appreciate all that Tetsu did in choosing me to replace him but it still does not feel like I have earned it. I do not like resting on Tetsu's dominant victory over Charles: one that I still believe Tetsu has no reason to feel an ounce of guilt for. The five points that he earned for that victory feel undeserved for me to claim as my own. It would make me a hypocrite to call out shenanigans if I didn't earn my points legitimately.
So I'm challenging Charles Langford to a match at the next Universal Access show. Consider it a replacement for his match with Tetsu. If I win, I keep the five points that I have finally earned. If he wins, he gets the five points. There will be nothing in between - it's 'all or nothing' as a gambler like Charles can appreciate.
Some would say I'm a fool for risking the 5 points and for giving Charles, of all people, a chance to gain them. But I'd rather be a principled fool than a hypocritical coward. I can't truly claim my place in this league if I don't do this. I'm fully confident that I will win and also want to ask what winning even means to Charles. Will he dismiss me out of fear or sarcasm? Corey's math for Charles was right: he's down and out of this league. So my challenge is one final chance for Charles to turn his fortunes around. So if Charles refuses to face me, doesn't that prove he's not in it to win the Championship? If so, I calls on Arthur to remove him from the league the second he refuses my challenge."
*JET's expression and tone is fierce as he points at the screen but he begins to soften it.*
[JET:] "I also wants to challenge THRASH to a replacement match. Just as Tetsu defeated Charles, he lost to THRASH. If it was anyone other than THRASH, this challenge would put them in an awkward position since it's not his fault that Tetsu left. I realize most people wouldn't accept my challenge and risk losing the 5 points that they legitimately earned."
*JET starts laughing.*
[JET:] "But c'mon! I think that, by now, we realize THRASH is not 'most people, right? The man's a fighting machine! In fact, I doubt THRASH was even listening to any of my rationale. He's probably already accepted the challenge. If you want to fight THRASH, you just come up and ask him. He's always ready to fight the second he sees you. THRASH would probably put his Universal Circuit Title on the line against me if I asked him to do that too. But I just wants this match to be for the Block points. If I am truly a member of this Block, I need do this and win or lose my own way.
Now, I'm not the only replacement in the Continuum League with a prior win and a loss transplanted onto my record. So I suggest that Darius Korvin does the same as I am and challenge both Bak Fu and Geese Walker. Then Darius can remove the stench of James Ward's matches against both of them. Ward cheated against Bak and cold quit against Geese.
I realize some people will say it's not my place to call Darius out. But I want to make this clear - I'm fighting for the Championship in every sense of the word: not just to claim it, but to elevate it. If you can't hold yourself accountable to your ideals, then you're of no use to this promotion or to yourself.
UBL - the era of JET may come with some turbulence for those whose careers are deadweight."
*JET walks off of the set and the scene fades.*
[JET:] "I have a lot to say and I hope that you will all be patient. Everyone who knows me, really knows me, gets that I'm not big on serious speeches. I like to joke around, throw people around, and have a good time. I always let Barton handle laying down the hard truths for our opponents. Once I started teaming with Naja, I had to say a bit more for uh, let's just say 'reasonssssss' but I still preferred expressing myself in the ring than playing orator. However, last year I learned something: it actually feels good to tell the world what's on my mind. Sometimes it's even necessary. When I addressed all of you last summer, it was cleansing. And I think we all need some deep cleansing action after Continuum IV.
Look - we've entered a new era of accountability that demands group and personal reflection. To truly be a part of this league, I have to safeguard two things: the integrity of the competition and my own place in it.
With one exception, Continuum IV was a total embarrassment. Worse, it hurt the integrity of a barely formed Championship. Matt Rivers and Bak Fu put on an absolute war that saved the event from becoming a permanent stain on the Championship, as did the efforts of Corey O'Brian and Jason Hyde. However, the reactions to the rest of the show from the boys in the back and the fans, especially those internet ones, were harsh but legit.
We can't let this trend stand, guys. When THRASH gathered his handpicked soldiers to kick out Gauntlet, our job didn't end that day just cause we won. Everyone who joined in stepped up to claim responsibility for the future of the UBL. That duty requires us to protect it's existence and integrity against anyone who threatens it.
It doesn't make sense for us to remove a group that prevented us from having matches, breathe a sigh of relief, then accept the type of matches that we saw at Continuum IV as the best we can do. Why treat outsiders and certain groups on our roster differently if they want to ruin competition for their own selfish goals? Each member of 3 of a Kind has spent years undermining the values that define this promotion and the wrestlers that hold them. With what they did on Continuum IV... 3 of a Kind have sullied the league and it's trophy. And we all know it wasn't an accident.
Arthur - you need to issue a no tolerance policy for any outside interference in matches. Jason Hyde deserves better and so does Corey O'Brian. Had Woodruff not gotten in the way, Jason would have defeated Sanders and Corey O'Brian would have dragged Langford's worthless ass back into the ring for a beating and easy win. Everyone knows this: especially 3 of a Kind. As much as Langford may try to gaslight us, the result of his match with Corey was not up to chance."
*JET pauses for a second and takes another deep breath. He appears to be choosing his words carefully.*
[JET:] "The next thing I'm gonna say may be unpopular but out with it. Even though nothing illegal happened in the *pauses* 'encounter' between Wonderland and the Cosmic K*I*D* - it was still an embarrassment. I am well aware of the spacey history of this promotion but some things should remain buried light years in the past. As a man who has a prominent physics expert as a mentor, I laugh at the efforts of Cosmic K*I*D to summon a black hole in a wrestling ring. But as a man who wishes to hold the Infinite Continuum Championship, I am humiliated at what passed as a match.
The fact we know Wonderland is capable of so much more is what makes it even worse. The man defeated Orochi Geese for the FPCPP World Championship but his efforts in Block B have fallen short of credible. He beat Mills by untying his shoes! It's not just the efforts of the top seeds that determine the worth of this league. Everyone has to try their best to win for the Championship to be at its most prestigious. The fact is - Geese was right about a lot of the participants in this league. The matches that we have seen recently are proof of it. We all need to do better or replace those who refuse to."
*JET pauses and resumes his deep breathing exercises. A few seconds later, a smile appears on his face.*
[JET:] "The aftermath of the event wasn't all bad. Corey O'Brian paid me the biggest compliment of my career. I will repay it by promising him something that he already knew - I will go beyond my limits in our match. I have no doubt it will be my greatest trial and I will make sure that it is his greatest challenge in this league too.
Out of everyone in this league, Corey has the right to feel the most disappointed. 3 of a Kind wasted his time and spit on the Title he cares so much about. His match with Joachim was also incredibly frustrating. It was like watching a planet destroying battle between two giant robots with lasers in an five episode arc of Matsuki MECH. Send in the Chromedroids! Whatever Joachim's intentions were, he was another wrestler to treat our matches like a circus sideshow.
If you truly want the Championship, aim to elevate it with your behavior. That brings me to my second point."
*JET pauses and tilts his head down with a shameful expression.*
[JET:] "I must elevate my own behavior too."
*JET exhales and faces the camera again.*
[JET:] "I can't inherit any history in this Block. I appreciate all that Tetsu did in choosing me to replace him but it still does not feel like I have earned it. I do not like resting on Tetsu's dominant victory over Charles: one that I still believe Tetsu has no reason to feel an ounce of guilt for. The five points that he earned for that victory feel undeserved for me to claim as my own. It would make me a hypocrite to call out shenanigans if I didn't earn my points legitimately.
So I'm challenging Charles Langford to a match at the next Universal Access show. Consider it a replacement for his match with Tetsu. If I win, I keep the five points that I have finally earned. If he wins, he gets the five points. There will be nothing in between - it's 'all or nothing' as a gambler like Charles can appreciate.
Some would say I'm a fool for risking the 5 points and for giving Charles, of all people, a chance to gain them. But I'd rather be a principled fool than a hypocritical coward. I can't truly claim my place in this league if I don't do this. I'm fully confident that I will win and also want to ask what winning even means to Charles. Will he dismiss me out of fear or sarcasm? Corey's math for Charles was right: he's down and out of this league. So my challenge is one final chance for Charles to turn his fortunes around. So if Charles refuses to face me, doesn't that prove he's not in it to win the Championship? If so, I calls on Arthur to remove him from the league the second he refuses my challenge."
*JET's expression and tone is fierce as he points at the screen but he begins to soften it.*
[JET:] "I also wants to challenge THRASH to a replacement match. Just as Tetsu defeated Charles, he lost to THRASH. If it was anyone other than THRASH, this challenge would put them in an awkward position since it's not his fault that Tetsu left. I realize most people wouldn't accept my challenge and risk losing the 5 points that they legitimately earned."
*JET starts laughing.*
[JET:] "But c'mon! I think that, by now, we realize THRASH is not 'most people, right? The man's a fighting machine! In fact, I doubt THRASH was even listening to any of my rationale. He's probably already accepted the challenge. If you want to fight THRASH, you just come up and ask him. He's always ready to fight the second he sees you. THRASH would probably put his Universal Circuit Title on the line against me if I asked him to do that too. But I just wants this match to be for the Block points. If I am truly a member of this Block, I need do this and win or lose my own way.
Now, I'm not the only replacement in the Continuum League with a prior win and a loss transplanted onto my record. So I suggest that Darius Korvin does the same as I am and challenge both Bak Fu and Geese Walker. Then Darius can remove the stench of James Ward's matches against both of them. Ward cheated against Bak and cold quit against Geese.
I realize some people will say it's not my place to call Darius out. But I want to make this clear - I'm fighting for the Championship in every sense of the word: not just to claim it, but to elevate it. If you can't hold yourself accountable to your ideals, then you're of no use to this promotion or to yourself.
UBL - the era of JET may come with some turbulence for those whose careers are deadweight."
*JET walks off of the set and the scene fades.*