Phantom vs Cajun Flames

[Mr. Mischoff]

You two RP here.

[cajunflames]

Respect Or Fear?

{{After a some what successful opening event, where he won
his first round TV tournament match before losing in the semi-final to Mark Force. Cajun Flames has seen that he is
due to step into the ring with Phantom. Its an honor for him, as Phantom was part of the winning team in the main
event for the opening card. That guarantees this match will
have top-level billing this week. Thats something which Cajun is looking forward too.}}

{{Right now, he is sitting in his locker room. He's in deep
thinking mode, trying to put the peaces together in his head. In short, he's reviewing his performance in the
opening card. Its something he likes to do, so that he
can keep himself focused on what HE needs to work on to be
even more successful in the big leagues. He is wearing
a black shirt, his red and white wrestling tights and
black leather cow boy style boots. Its the same attire
he wore in his matches this event.}}

//Cajun Flames//
"Mark Force showed he wanted the win more than i did in
our match but i know thats not an excuse. I should have gone
into the bout with the same level of focused drive that
i did in the match against Divine but wasnt able too.
Yes, it was a closely-fought contest, but to be successful
you HAVE to FINISH the job. Getting CLOSE to winning isnt
the same as actually winning and it still goes down as a
loss in the record books.

Am i upset about loosing? Id be lying if i said i wasnt,
because i wanted to win. Everyone wants to win and losing hurts for those who really have the passion i do. Those who
tell you to ACCEPT losing, are usually those who are loosers
them self. They dont understand that the aim is to WIN and
think as long as you give a good fight, its all good and well. It truly aint if you want to push through that glass
ceiling this business supposedly has."

{{Cajun then bows his head slightly. Although he IS
disappointed in losing, he sees himself as no different to
other wrestlers when they lose. He knows winning is what
earns you respect in this business and what you SHOULD
strive to do every time you step between the ropes.}}

//Cajun Flames//
"Its that ceiling which separates the men in this business,
from the kids acting like men. Its also that ceiling which
separates the bona fide main eventer's from those who are
faux main eventer's and those who have no reason being in
comparison to the elite talent. Thats what the staff have
said there trying to figure out in these first few weeks
of the promotion and thats why im striving to get as many
wins as i can. To prove that im not just a boy, but one
of the men who can mould this federation for the future.
Thats why last week i beat Robert Divine. It was to prove
my point.

I fell short of proving it once more in the semi-finals,
but that was enough for management to see what im capable
of and put me in a match against a man who got the pin fall
in the main event this week. That being Phantom."

{{Cajun then smiles. He knows EXACTLY how to get inside the
head of this man, even though he seen Mike C try and FAIL
this past week. Thats another example of Cajun using his
analysis to his advantage.}}

//Cajun Flames//
"Phantom. A man who from what i could gather, is a highly
regarded wrestler in this business. A man who seems to have
done it all before and done it well. Someone who alot of
people look up to and admire, something i dont blame them
for doing. You know what? Im one of those guys who holds
him in VERY high regard. Even though ive only seen him in
the ring once, he looked in impeccable shape and was more
then prepared for the challenge in front of him. It seems
like wrestling is in his psychology and he set's his mind
to whats expected of him each and every time he does
battle.

I can respect that alot more than most as that was how
i was taught to step into the ring. I was taught to go
out there with a purpose and stick to that single purpose
until the end of the match. I was also taught to make sure
i didnt allow myself to be thrown off-guard by what my
opponent might be thinking. By that, i mean the fact Phantom
has admitted he has problems in his head. It does leave him
a little weaker in some peoples heads, but not mine. As much
as he has those problems, he switches them off in the ring
and goes into his zone. It a zone which im going to have to
adjust to VERY quickly this week and itll be a mental test.
One that im up for, but still a test non the less.

The reason why its so different, is because ive NEVER stepped into the ring against an opponent with a mind
like Phantom. Ive never had the chance to step into the
ring with someone who has been threw there own emotional
hell and felt fear's that no one can claim to have felt.
Its something which makes Phantom a little darker than most
yet doesnt change the fact that i feel more then ready for
this match-up."

{{Ready yet also knowing its going to be a different test
to ANY he has faced before. Thats how Cajun feels about
the match, even though its not until next week. He stands
up and walks over to his white and black gym bag, rummaging
through it for something. He then pulls out a white towel
with "CF" on the right hand top corner in red. He wipes it
across his face before sitting back down.}}

//Cajun Flames//
"Im ready for this match-up, because its something i have to
do, if i am to consider myself a top-tier talent. I have to
adjust to ANY circumstance and especially if my opponent
is as unstable as Phantom. I have respect for him, but i
also know that this week i have to throw that aside and make
sure he gets EVERY ounce of what i can give him. Just like
i did against Divine, im going to leave it all in the ring
and allow the psychological advantage he seems to have
become what is defined as his downfall. Why? Because i have
one thing he has yet to face: an unwavering desire to win.

What his opponents had going in the six-man tag was a fact
that they felt like they had something to prove and felt
forced to win, thus leading to there failure. I dont feel forced to beat Phantom at all. I WANT to beat him. I dont
feel like its something that has to be done, but something
that will benefit me in a massive way. Its something which
will earn the respect of others and show that i am NOT someone who treats loosing as the end of momentum. A loss
is just another chance to gather thoughts and learn more
about yourself."

{{A pause. Not one out of fear, but confidence. Cajun is
using his respect for Phantom to his advantage with the
mind-battle his instigating. He know that Phantom will
have something to say, but its the psychological aspect
which defines Cajun.}}

//Cajun Flames//
"We can all learn about our self, yet people choose not to
in there blind thoughts of thinking that they know everything about them self. In all honesty, you learn about
what truly defines you as you move along and even though im
twenty-four, i dont even think i know all about myself yet.
Age isnt what defines knowledge. Knowledge is defined by
one's willingness to accept that they need to always
learn and the desire they have to keep learning about
not only themself, but the world around them. Thats
something ive learnt and will always keep learning where as
Phantom seems like he's trying to come to grips with that.
Its almost like theres pestering seed of doubt, lingering
in the corner of his mind. Itll be THAT, which turns the table's into my favor this week."

{{Cajun then smiles. He knows that fear lays inside of Phantom and that it IS a weakness of his. Even though
no one else may see it, its obviously there and with
his psychology background it has given Cajun an advantage.
It may only be slight at this stage, but it exists.}}

//Cajun Flames//
"Fear is something we all have and we all need to accept it.
Its not like we have a choice on whether or not we have it.
I know i have fear, but i choose to use that to my advantage. I chose to allow it to be apart of my psyche but
ALWAYS am alert as to not allow it consume me. Phantom on
the other hand, is a perfect example of someone who HAS let
the fear consume them. Whilst most people are afraid of him,
im welcoming him. I personally think he's an interesting specimen and whilst it will be a challenge to face him,
i know that my mental toughness combined with my
psychoanalytic style of wrestling WILL be his down fall.
It will be ONE mistake that he makes.

Whether that mistake be in his mind or physical, i WILL notice and i WILL isolate it. I wont allow him to think
im like Mike C or the other two in the six man tag-team
he beat. Im definitely not like Chris Gibson who he pinned.
Im different to them. I know what i have to do in order to
take down someone with the mystique as him and i know
where i went wrong last week. Does that mean i dont respect
him? No it doesnt because respect and fear are two different
things.

Its like this. You can respect a certain person as in an
authority figure or a elite wrestler, but that does NOT mean
you're afraid of them. It means you hold them in high regard
for what they have done. TO fear someone is to PHYSICALLY
and EMOTIONALLY try to escape them at every opportunity.
Its like you dont want anything to do with them, because
they have some sort of grip over you.

Before people think this is all a ploy to get Phantom to fear me, its not. I know that I havent earned the right to
be respected at he's level, nor have i done anything to
make him afraid of me. Its human psychology to know that
you HAVE too know you're enemies weaknesses and there
strengths, as well as knowing yours. Its basic wrestling
to know what you are going to do before you step into the
ring. One thing that stops us from doing that, is fear.
Trepidation and nervousness leads to people being caught
up in there pre conceived fear, that they forget about
what they where going to do in the ring. It leads to them
losing and having to realize there mistakes."

{{Cajun smiles, as he stands up again. He knows all about
the impact of fear and what its capable of doing to someone,
when they allow it to control them.}}

//Cajun Flames//
"I know we all make mistakes, but these people make them
when they KNEW how to avoid them. Its inevitable that if
you're afraid of someone, youll end up losing to them
when you're forced to FINALLY face them. Respecting
someone means that you hold them in a high regard outside
of the ring yet you go into the ring and try and earn there
respect back. You go in there hungry and with a point to
prove. Phantom is in that position for me this week.
I respect what he has done, but i know just where to strike
this week to gain the victory i so richly desire.

Its all about proving a point even if it doesnt exist to me.
We all have a motive for our win and mine is to prove that
to respect someone, means you have to do something that will
make them respect who you are and also keep them learning."

{{Cajun then pick up his gym bag. He places it on his left
shoulder and walks out of the locker room with a smile on
his face. He knows what this week has in store and is
eagerly awaiting the challenge.}}

[Phantom]

The scene opens as Chris Gibson gets laid out by Mike C with a steel chair shot to the head. Phantom grabs Chris Gibson and performs his new finisher, Crucifixion. Phantom slams Chris Gibson’s head into the mat. If Gibson had been even the slightest bit awake after the chair shot Phantom put his lights out for the end of the night. Hunt You Down by Saliva begins to play over the speaker system as the referee hands Phantom his belt of the 6-man tag team championship. Phantom glances over at AJ Johnson and Stardust as they look at the belts and then at each other. Phantom had never had any experience with AJ, though he was very much like Phantom. They had just missed each other as their careers progressed. He had walked Stardust rise in prowess while he was in RCW even at one point becoming the world heavyweight champion. These three men were at the top of the roster of USPW at that moment. And Phantom knew what was on each of his teammate’s minds at that very moment.

*We are going to have to fight each other for the right to be World Champion.*

Phantom was the first to leave the ring and begin making his way to the back. While this one of the highlights of Phantom’s career it was not a moment the three time world champion felt he needed to celebrate with his “team”. He didn’t even spend that much time in the arena after the match making his way back to his hotel room within ten minutes of the matches end.

****

The scene opens back up as Phantom sits in the backroom of a bank. He is completely alone with no windows to see what he had decided to do. He had made his way to one of the most secure banks within Washington DC. Phantom had stopped by earlier and had decided to rent out a safe deposit box. He had something that desperately needed to be locked away in order for him to move on with his career.

Phantom reaches down into the duffle bag that he had brought with him and pulled out an object wrapped in a rag. It was slightly bigger than a softball but Phantom’s gaze was unmoved from the object. So many emotions ran through his mind, so many memories, triumphs and disasters. This object had been through both incidents where he had his arms lit on fire, once by Kane and the other time by Scorch. Sparks of pain twitched through his arms as the memories of the flames burning his skin off of his arms. He slowly began to unwrap the object to reveal the mask that he had worn for countless matches, the mask that was given to him after he completed his training with the Undertaker. It had caused him to be called Mini Undertaker, and for him to be constantly compared to the legend. Though in six months time he did more than his mentor could have ever dreamed. Phantom had become a world champion within two months of entering RCW and then put on a match of ages against the original RCW World Heavyweight Champion, Jason Tombs. He had beaten a who’s who in four months and would leave GWA/RCW with a record of 28-8.

Voice- Are you really going to lock it away? After all the success you have had with it you really want to lock that mask away?

Phantom glanced over his shoulder to see a man standing right over Phantom’s shoulder. He had jet black hair, a white suit with a black shirt and white tie, and had the same face as Phantom.

Phantom- Hades…just leave me alone…

Hades- Why? To let you wallow in self-pity and shame over your accomplishments? To let you allow a no one to walk over you? Ha. You let me out of the prison I was in order to watch you wimp out now.

Phantom- The boy has everything going for him. He has met some success so far in USPW and shows potential. He highlighted that as he competed for the chance to win the TV title.

Hades- Yet he lost. He was beaten and was laid out in the middle of the ring before Shawn Starr took the TV title for himself. Meanwhile you won your match and you are now a champion. It has not even been a year yet but you have held three world titles, a North American title, a cruiserweight champion that was so dominant they just dropped the belt because no one could beat you and now you a 6-man tag team champ that got the pin for the win. He claims that he respects you and that he does not fear you. I call him an idiot then. The people that have “respected” you and not feared what you could do ended up broken under your foot. Dravaka Drimstone didn’t fear you, Jason Tombs didn’t fear you, Mike C didn’t fear you and Twice Night didn’t fear you. Cajun Flames should fear you!

Hades’ voice reverberated around the room at a deafening level. Phantom just sat in silence as Hades continued to move closer to Phantom.

Phantom- I will admit that your technique has worked in the past. I am starting over. I will do things honorably this time. I will be a fan favorite that puts on the best matches that anyone could ever dream of. Just like I always have week in and week out.

There was a low growl which sent chills down Phantom’s spine as he got the sense of danger from Hades. Yet Phantom knew the best way to take power away from Hades and the other images that plagued him was not to give them acknowledgement.

Hades- He claims to know how to beat you. We have heard that time and again. He claims that you having a problem, being unstable, is what will make you weak. Little does he know that it is one of your best strengths you are able to be unpredictable always keeping your opponent off balance. Now just let me lend you my power to finish your preparation for this new wrestling federation…

Hades lightly put his hands on Phantom’s shoulders. They slowly began to sink into Phantom’s body sending waves of cold sensations throughout Phantom’s body.

Phantom- NO!

Hades was repelled off of Phantom and staggered back several feet. Phantom slowly placed the mask inside of the safe deposit box. Phantom closed it and turned to face Hades eye to eye. Hades’ eyes glowed with destructive anger.

Hades- Icarus…you not what you do…

Phantom- I do. I am fully aware of what I am doing. I will beat Cajun Flames on my own; I will win the World Title on my own. You and the others are going to become distant memories to me on my road to becoming the greatest ever.

Phantom picked up the safe deposit box and turned to walk out of the room. As he opened the door he glanced over his shoulder to see that the room was completely empty. Just as it had been when Phantom arrived.

The scene fades to black as he goes to place the safe deposit box in the vault.