Post by josephwhite on Apr 26, 2018 20:06:26 GMT
(A small cramped room of journalists. It's all sweat, cheap cotton and the hum of electronics. Joseph White enters in a green and white matching Adidas tracksuit, the top slightly open revealing his hairy chest combined with gold rimmed sunglasses, and shuffles his way into a metal chair behind a table. White clocks a name card for Craig Anderson - he grimaces. White looks around and can't see one of him. He chuckles.)
WHITE: Okay, aye... I expect that. No harm done.
(White takes a sip from a bottle of water.)
WHITE: The Gold Standard is back in Japan, and I'm here to force the eyes of the world onto NJFC. You want 5 star matches? The Gold Standard has got them. You want untested levels of charisma? The Gold Standard has got it. You want to transcend the very nature of this art form? The Gold Standard is here for that too. I am one of the best, forget me being just one of the best junior heavyweights in the world, The Gold Standard is one of the best wrestlers in the world. When you sign The Gold Standard you raise the level of your promotion, they call me The Gold Standard for a reason. You want me to prove that? You don't believe that? You watch the final night of Tag-Team-Tropolis! You won't be leaving Nippon Budokan thinking about any of the tag teams, you won't leave thinking about Chandler Scott, Anastasia Hayden or Craig Anderson - I'm calling it now - remember it now because you won't be able to forget the performance of the Gold Standard!
(White looks off-screen, gestures to an assistant - making a wrapping-up gesture followed by a thumbs up. The Assistant rushes over and leans over the table muttering something to White before leaving. White sits back and takes a deep breath.)
WHITE: I'd like to field some questions...
(White looks out at the room of assembled press. He points haphazardly at a journalist.)
LOUD GERMAN REPORTER: Mr. White, you have recently been accused of exploiting the rise in support for LGBT rights as a way of piggybacking on...
WHITE: Aye, no. I meant the wee lass behind you.
TIRED JAPANESE REPORTER: Joseph, you were a semi-finalist in NJFC's Fighting Spirit Tournament. What chance do you think you have of defeating the winner of that tournament?
WHITE: What chance? Aye, well, I'm no mathematician but I like my chances against the Junior Heavyweight Champion. I'm not going to tired out from wrestling two other matches earlier in the night. I'll be whole lot more fresh than I was in that tournament. It's one on one. One match. It could go either way, that's what I love about it. There's a special energy when it comes to a Championship bout - you combine that with the je ne sais quoi of The Gold Standard? Well... who knows what sort of chance I might have. Next.
YOUNG JAPANESE REPORTER: Will The Gold Standard go into this sort of fight with a strategy?
(White smirks to himself as he ponders the question.)
WHITE: Look, I don't want to give too much away, but...
(White leans in, gestures the young reporter to join him with a gesture of the hand, cups his mouth and answers in a mock-whisper)
WHITE: I'm going to kick his fucking head in.
(White chuckles as he leans back, looks down at his feet, his face slightly straightens.)
WHITE: Truth is, I'm gonna have to try and stop his high-flying moves. That's what I gather, I've been watching tapes all week - prepping like a football manager. I'm not ashamed to say I'll do whatever I have to do to win. If that means keeping this thing mat-based. If that means keeping this match slow and methodical. it's what I'm going to do. I'm going to do what I have to do.
(White blows air through his mouth. He returns to his audience.)
WHITE: Last question.... you there. Gaijin.
BRITISH INTERNET JOURNALIST: Joe, I want to ask, and no offence here, but are you afraid of developing a reputation as a bottler?
WHITE: Sorry, what?
BRITISH INTERNET JOURNALIST: Um, well, last we saw you in NJFC you were Revo Pro Wrestling Television Champion over in italy. Since then you lost the title less than a week later, you've failed to reach the final of The Fighting Spirit Tournament and also this week you and the two of your fellow Dogs of War were knocked out of Kamikaze's Lords of the Ring Tournament in the first round. Are you the Golden Standard for bottlers in the wrestling world?
(Joseph White looks inwardly as he slowly gathers to his feet and takes off his glasses, throughout his response growing redder in the face as he does)
WHITE: Aye, first off, mate, it's The Gold Standard. I am Joseph White, The Gold Standard. Check your facts. Also, what have you ever done? I've seen your Youtube channel, mate. You ain't that special, you ain't that funny and you certainly couldn't do half the things I've done in this ring. I would like to see you try! I would like to see you fucking try, mate!
(White takes a moment to himself, takes a deep breath and an even bigger gulp before returning his attention to the journalist.)
WHITE: Here's the thing... I wasn't picked out of a hat. I am here based on the merit of my talent. I am going to do out there what I do every time I get into a ring. I am going to prove why I am the Gold Standard. You ask any opponent I've faced, they will attest to that. I may not have won all of my matches, but I have proven that i am a worthy opponent. The Gold Standard is no mere nickname.
(White is staring a hole through the journalist.)
WHITE: Good Night.
(White leaves the room.)
WHITE: Okay, aye... I expect that. No harm done.
(White takes a sip from a bottle of water.)
WHITE: The Gold Standard is back in Japan, and I'm here to force the eyes of the world onto NJFC. You want 5 star matches? The Gold Standard has got them. You want untested levels of charisma? The Gold Standard has got it. You want to transcend the very nature of this art form? The Gold Standard is here for that too. I am one of the best, forget me being just one of the best junior heavyweights in the world, The Gold Standard is one of the best wrestlers in the world. When you sign The Gold Standard you raise the level of your promotion, they call me The Gold Standard for a reason. You want me to prove that? You don't believe that? You watch the final night of Tag-Team-Tropolis! You won't be leaving Nippon Budokan thinking about any of the tag teams, you won't leave thinking about Chandler Scott, Anastasia Hayden or Craig Anderson - I'm calling it now - remember it now because you won't be able to forget the performance of the Gold Standard!
(White looks off-screen, gestures to an assistant - making a wrapping-up gesture followed by a thumbs up. The Assistant rushes over and leans over the table muttering something to White before leaving. White sits back and takes a deep breath.)
WHITE: I'd like to field some questions...
(White looks out at the room of assembled press. He points haphazardly at a journalist.)
LOUD GERMAN REPORTER: Mr. White, you have recently been accused of exploiting the rise in support for LGBT rights as a way of piggybacking on...
WHITE: Aye, no. I meant the wee lass behind you.
TIRED JAPANESE REPORTER: Joseph, you were a semi-finalist in NJFC's Fighting Spirit Tournament. What chance do you think you have of defeating the winner of that tournament?
WHITE: What chance? Aye, well, I'm no mathematician but I like my chances against the Junior Heavyweight Champion. I'm not going to tired out from wrestling two other matches earlier in the night. I'll be whole lot more fresh than I was in that tournament. It's one on one. One match. It could go either way, that's what I love about it. There's a special energy when it comes to a Championship bout - you combine that with the je ne sais quoi of The Gold Standard? Well... who knows what sort of chance I might have. Next.
YOUNG JAPANESE REPORTER: Will The Gold Standard go into this sort of fight with a strategy?
(White smirks to himself as he ponders the question.)
WHITE: Look, I don't want to give too much away, but...
(White leans in, gestures the young reporter to join him with a gesture of the hand, cups his mouth and answers in a mock-whisper)
WHITE: I'm going to kick his fucking head in.
(White chuckles as he leans back, looks down at his feet, his face slightly straightens.)
WHITE: Truth is, I'm gonna have to try and stop his high-flying moves. That's what I gather, I've been watching tapes all week - prepping like a football manager. I'm not ashamed to say I'll do whatever I have to do to win. If that means keeping this thing mat-based. If that means keeping this match slow and methodical. it's what I'm going to do. I'm going to do what I have to do.
(White blows air through his mouth. He returns to his audience.)
WHITE: Last question.... you there. Gaijin.
BRITISH INTERNET JOURNALIST: Joe, I want to ask, and no offence here, but are you afraid of developing a reputation as a bottler?
WHITE: Sorry, what?
BRITISH INTERNET JOURNALIST: Um, well, last we saw you in NJFC you were Revo Pro Wrestling Television Champion over in italy. Since then you lost the title less than a week later, you've failed to reach the final of The Fighting Spirit Tournament and also this week you and the two of your fellow Dogs of War were knocked out of Kamikaze's Lords of the Ring Tournament in the first round. Are you the Golden Standard for bottlers in the wrestling world?
(Joseph White looks inwardly as he slowly gathers to his feet and takes off his glasses, throughout his response growing redder in the face as he does)
WHITE: Aye, first off, mate, it's The Gold Standard. I am Joseph White, The Gold Standard. Check your facts. Also, what have you ever done? I've seen your Youtube channel, mate. You ain't that special, you ain't that funny and you certainly couldn't do half the things I've done in this ring. I would like to see you try! I would like to see you fucking try, mate!
(White takes a moment to himself, takes a deep breath and an even bigger gulp before returning his attention to the journalist.)
WHITE: Here's the thing... I wasn't picked out of a hat. I am here based on the merit of my talent. I am going to do out there what I do every time I get into a ring. I am going to prove why I am the Gold Standard. You ask any opponent I've faced, they will attest to that. I may not have won all of my matches, but I have proven that i am a worthy opponent. The Gold Standard is no mere nickname.
(White is staring a hole through the journalist.)
WHITE: Good Night.
(White leaves the room.)
