2014.06.17: PWN - LEGACY - Everyday Man

"I'm tired of having people like you crash the dreams of my people-- the guy who gets his hands dirty, the everyday man.” Those words of Christian Othniel stood out to Bobby Langford more than any other leading up to the triple threat match on Friday the 20th. Christian Othniel refers to himself as the everyday man but in the mind of Bobby he was the exact opposite of an “everyday man”. Othniel was the type of guy who was no better than a street thug or some bandana waiving, card carrying member of the Bloods or Crips, he was similar to the very men he despised and wished to “purge” from his hometown. With the malicious intent Othniel carried with him he would probably end up in and out of prison many times if it weren’t for the protections and sanctions of a professional wrestling event. In the end Christian Othniel was a statistic, one of many wayward youth who fell onto hard times and bought into the wrong crowd. Bobby Langford could sympathize to a point, it’s not like Christian Othniel chose to live and grow up under those conditions and it was a plight that effected millions around the world. What pissed Bobby off was the fact that he was proud of the suffering he inflicted upon others and enjoyed taking people’s livelihoods away from them; he was a bully. Professional wrestling was just like soccer, football, MMA, or any other contact sport; it was a competition of skill and iron will to reach the top of your profession but it should never be anyone’s aim to take their health and their job away.

Bobby Langford could be seen sitting at a mom and pop diner late at night eating a large plate of hashbrowns, fried eggs, bacon, toast and a stack of pancakes with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. After flying out to the Emerald Academy at the request of Drew Stevenson and putting in another hard day’s work at the gym he was looking to unwind from the daily grind. Normally a night like this would end the day on a good note but he had one more piece of business he had to address. He gently placed his fork and knife at the edge of his plate as he nodded to the camera to give the signal he was ready to get this out of the way.

Bobby Langford: Christian Othniel, an “everyday man”.

Bobby pauses for a moment as he lets the irony set in as his warm smile was noticeably absent this time around.

Bobby Langford: That’s the largest load of bull I’ve ever heard in my life, brother. Do you know what you remind me of Christian? The schoolyard bully who tries his best to justify his actions with the conviction of a saint but constantly brings up his past to say “see, I’m this way because life is hard.” Nobody said life was easy and nobody ever claimed it was fair but you have to make the best of the hand you’re dealt.

Bobby Langford takes a drink of his orange juice to quench his thirst before setting the glass back down.

Bobby Langford: Sometimes life throws trials and tribulations our way and we can either stay down and let the demons win or we can pick ourselves up and use the circumstances to better ourselves as people. Right now after your last video all I see in you is a broken, defeated man clinging onto a flawed sense of logic, enthralled in the illusion of superiority. You think I had it easy growing up like was born with a silver spoon in my mouth? My father worked overtime in the steel mills and a second job just to provide for our family! He had to work long and hard hours just to make ends meet, so we could have food on our tables and a roof over our head. He earned himself a promotion after enduring hardship and he became stronger because of it. My father didn’t have time to feel sorry for himself and when we came of age in that household we learned the value of a dollar and blue collar work ethic.

Bobby shakes his head several times as he was clearly frustrated raising his eyebrows. His meal was getting cold but he needed to get this off his chest before he could wrap this night up.

Bobby Langford: Yet you have the nerve to say that I’m a one percenter? That I don’t even have to try or show any effort? I didn’t exactly achieve the physique I have by sitting on the couch throwing a pity party and I certainly wasn’t born with it, it took years of hard work and dedication to reach the point I’m at now. I’m the man I am today because of all the hard work and sacrifice I’ve put myself through, doing without many things people take for granted to have a fighting chance and if at least one person can be inspired by my struggles? Then that’s one less person that had to join up with a gang to find a sense of belonging, one less person who had to turn to crime trying to make ends meet, one less person that had to drown their sorrows in their vices - and one less person that had to travel the path of Christian Othniel. Honor and integrity are very alive in this day and age and the only way this world is going to change for the better is if we lead by example.

Bobby lets out a heavy sigh, almost as if there was a sense of pain radiating from his gaze.

Bobby Langford: Honestly Christian I pity you. You were a man full of promise despite your struggles but you let your demons win. I have no intentions of losing to you and one way or another I’m going to teach you the meaning of respect by the time our bout is done. Bring your bag of tricks, try your very best to win through “Evil Ways” and take any and every shortcut you can. But in the end? It’s no substitute for what hard work and good ole fashion determination can achieve. I only hope you can find a way to get your life back on track once we’re done.

With his last solemn words he goes back to eating his meal knowing that the dawn of a new day was fast approaching. All Bobby could do was stay true to himself and show the world through his actions that integrity wasn’t dead. The mantle of a hero wasn’t one he asked for but if it’s something he had to do to show the world that there was always another way other than the path of “Evil Ways”? It was a mantle he was willing to take; it was about time someone in professional wrestling took a stand. With that the scene fades to black.