2014.07.14: PWN - LEGACY - Man in the Mirror Part 1
Cowardice; if there’s one thing Bobby Langford couldn’t stand it was a coward, a man who was unable to fight his own battles face to face like a man. Against his better judgment on Independence Day he came out to the ring for what appeared to be Christian Othniel’s retirement announcement to bury the hatchet only to be blindsided by a low blow by Ruby Red. Othniel tried to hit Bobby Langford with his crutch but was thwarted, causing the leader of “Evil Ways” to retreat and live to fight another day. Later on after sealing a clean sweep for Frank Washington’s Emerald Alliance against WASTE by defeating Matt Ward however Christian Othniel made his present felt as he aided WASTE and cracked Bobby Langford with “Father Karras”, a kendo stick of The CO. It wasn’t clear yet if the remnants of Natural Selection merely formed an alliance with WASTE or joined into the fold to form a super group but as far as Bobby Langford was concerned he had a job to finish and a purge to end before he could focus completely on WASTE.
Bobby Langford could be seen standing outside the trainer’s room inside the Carson Community center shortly after the show ended as Noah Adelaide was being checked on by medical staff from the injuries he suffered at the hands of Cameron Kaiser. Frustration was apparent in his eyes as there was no trademark smile to be seen on the face of the Steel City Dream.
Bobby Langford: I should’ve expected this from the guy who preaches about “Evil Ways” right? Despite the bitterness and malice and despite all the pain and suffering you’ve inflicted on others… I wanted to believe beneath it all was a man deserving redemption if he chose to change his ways. When you came out and gave your speech to the crowd I wanted to believe you. I wanted to believe that you received your wakeup call from such a life changing injury, I wanted to believe that you decided to FINALLY do the right thing and begin to mend fences and burned bridges on your way out….
Bobby shakes his head solemnly, a rage was bubbling inside him begging to reach the surface not unlike a month ago when Othniel callously attacked a young cancer patient, a little girl he personally considered a friend. He knew he had to keep his cool and keep his head clear because if he gave into his rage and his anger Othniel could claim a moral victory over him but more importantly it would make him prone to committing a fatal error in the ring.
Bobby Langford: But all you proved is that you’re a man without redemption, rotten to the very core. As much as I despise WASTE and everything they stand for at least Matt Ward fought me like a man from bell to bell and proved to the world that he can go on his own. But you Christian Othniel, you’re willing to go to deepest, darkest depths that even WASTE alone won’t go to and that makes you a special kind of evil. You had to resort to feigning retirement and working the entire crowd and locker room and for what? Just so you could pull a fast one because it’s eating you up inside that your “purge” took off with a great whimper? That’s the problem with guys like you Christian Othniel, you’ve never worked a hard day in your life but you expect to have the world handed to you. Instead of applying yourself and being the best you can be you look for every single shortcut towards the top and complain when you fail to reach the top and you know why?
Bobby’s gaze pierces through the camera with a stern steely resolve. He meant business as he stood outside the trainer’s room while Frank Washington was ensuring Noah Adelaide was getting the medical treatment he needed for his shoulder. There was certainly no love lost between Christian Othniel and Bobby Langford in a rivalry that quickly turned personal before they even first faced off yet Bobby took no pleasure in delivering his words of truth aimed at the very man who would love nothing more than to end his fledgling career. He was speaking from a heavy heart as the story of another wayward youth had taken center stage only it as in the world of professional wrestling and not on the news, a story he was for better or worse entangled in.
Bobby Langford: Because you haven’t made peace with yourself, you haven’t made peace with your past! You’re a broken man haunted by his own insecurities who folded to and let his demons win instead of picking yourself up and fighting to make things right! You threw your arms up and said “I give” at the first sign of trouble because taking a stand was “too much work”, you weren’t willing to put forth any shred of effort to play the hand you were dealt. You’re unhappy, bitter and absolutely sadistic; you’d rather drag the whole world down with you instead of looking at the man in the mirror and taking responsibility!
The usually calm and respectful Bobby Langford was absolutely fired up as his words had a fiery passion behind them. He spoke with true conviction as he continued without missing a beat.
Bobby Langford: “Evil Ways” may be a way of life for you but it’s nothing more than a security blanket that you cling to in order to compensate for your own insecurities. At Break On Through we’re going to war Christian. Call it psychological Vietnam all you want, try to play your mind games and use the possibility of outside interference to grasp for any edge you can get your hands around because you’re going to need it once we face off one on one; nothing’s going to save you from the Steel Curtain dangling over your head.
Bobby flashes his trademark warm smile at last as he holds up his arm with his hand balled up into a fist.
Bobby Langford: Preach about how “Evil Ways” is the wave of the future and the only way to truly achieve success, tout it as the great steam drill that will revolutionize the industry. I’ll wield my hammer and carry myself with the values instilled by hard work and dedication and stick to conducting my business the right way without shortcuts… we’ll see who wins.
As if on cue his “hammer” swings upward as if to go through the motions of his finisher, Driving Steel. Satisfied having said his piece Bobby Langford walks down the hallway and out of view of the camera.
Having to now fight a war on two fronts against the remnants of Natural Selection and WASTE he knew he was in for a challenge especially when his relative inexperience is factored in. For a normal rookie it would certainly be biting off way more than he could chew but through his upbringing and training at the famous Emerald Academy he knew he was well equipped to handle whatever challenges came his way in Legacy Wrestling. With guys like Frank Washington in his corner and friends like Noah Adelaide to watch his back the landscape isn’t overwhelmingly stacked on one side and with recent Emerald Academy graduates looking to get called up who knows how large the Emerald Alliance could become. While this upcoming battle may not necessarily win the war it was crucial none the less in terms of setting the tone and pace and it wasn’t a battle Bobby Langford planned on conceding without a fight. The war in the trenches has begun. With that the scene fades to black.
