Post by Johnny Gillmen on Mar 31, 2016 2:54:59 GMT
Episode I
“MORNING STAR”
“MORNING STAR”
March 21, 2016 – 7:00 AM
Somewhere, along the beaches of Corpus Christi, Texas...
...we find ourselves tucked away at a small beachfront villa located on Ocean Drive, just a short drive away from Ward Island, home to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. On the outside, the mostly concrete and steel structure features a balcony that overlooks a private beachhead along with a large, wooden front deck porch. On the inside, we see that the villa features a complement of black leather furniture in its living room, a fully-equipped stainless steel kitchen including an electric range, one master bedroom, and a second room that serves as guestroom for visitors. For the most part, the villa doesn't feature anything too out od the ordinary on its walls with just a simple chrysanthemum on the oak coffee table.
Toward the back of the villa, the sound of an alarm clock awakens the villa's sole owner and occupant, John Gillmen—a.k.a. “Johnny,” from his slumber in the master bedroom. He sighs to himself as he slowly crawls out of his bed, which features a Dallas Cowboy-themed comforter and silver linens. Reaching over to hit the “off” button on his alarm clock, John grabs his glasses and iPhone off the nightstand before stretching his arms out, gazing upon a large framed photo of his mother Linda, who died of cancer in May 2014. He ekes out a small, but loving, grin on his face before heading toward the kitchen.
Once there, he immediately opened up his fridge, grabbing a can of real-sugar Pepsi and opening it up. Before taking his first swig from his favorite drink of choice, John silently toasts the start of a new day before heading out to his front deck, where he is greeted by a spectacular sunrise on a balmy Monday morning on the coast. He sits down on his front porch swing, watching as a flock of seagulls pass overhead as he closes his eyes, meditating on the day's agenda.
This was Johnny Gillmen at peace.
----------
'Sup dudes and dudettes of VWS?!
I'm Johnny Gillmen, and I'm lookin' jacked up and ready to take y'all fans on a ride that will take ya to the most gnarly of places, fillin' your hearts and minds with somethin' that you'll truly enjoy for the rest of your lives, and I hope things are goin' radically swell for the millions and millions of folks who're gonna be tunin' into see this newest wrestlin' company get off the ground and reach for the stars above. It's always excitin' when somethin' totally new and fresh comes along and ya wanna be one of the first to partake in all the gnarly things an organization like the Valentine Wrestling Syndicate has to offer. On a personal note, I've waited for this day to come to pass ever since the last indy company I worked for shut its doors--with yours truly bein' one-half of its tag team champs. Ain't that a trip, huh?!
But enough of the hyperbole. Let's get a l'il serious here.
I've always considered myself to be a quiet man who loves enjoyin' the awesome serenity that Mother Nature provides us from time to time, but on my GREATEST passions in life has been the sport of professional wrestlin'. Ya see, wrestlin' has always been an integral part of my existence--the very fiber of my bein'--that was passed down from generation to generation on my mother's side of the family. As a l'il youngster, Saturdays were spent watchin' some wrestlin' promotion whose name I won't mention here, but I became instantly hooked thanks to all them outlandish gimmicks and brutish personalities. I once had a dream that, someday, I could be like one of them wrasslers I used to watch at the old Dallas Sportatorium on Friday nights durin' the late '80s. Except...there was just one minor problem.
I was born blind in my right eye.
Yet despite that issue, I've managed to do things that nobody else ever thought I'd be able to do. I got a good education--a Bachelor's in History from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi--but after havin' a hard time lookin' for good pay out in that field, I decided to get into the sport of wrestlin' and try it out for myself. Actually, I got my start in the business six years ago, chronicling my compadre Jack Gaither's tour of the Far East and turnin' those notes into a New York Times bestseller called The Golden Road. In return for me writin' for him, Jack put me through my paces, trainin' me in the artform of grappling 'til he thought I was ready to join the ranks. For the last six years, I've had to pay my dues in small independent tourin' companies--the last of which bein' Redemption Wrestling, a St. Louis-based organization that closed down a l'il over a month ago with me holdin' onto one-half of its tag time championship.
A title that I earned--just like the ones I'm gonna earn here in VWS--'cause I didn't let blindness overcome me. If I did, I wouldn't have been able to see Tokyo up close and personal. I wouldn't have had the strength to carry through with livin' an honest life after my mom took a trip up to Heaven two years ago. I wouldn't have had the courage--the will and desire--to work as hard as I've done in order to make my dreams come true.
But I did those things--'cuz I dared to dream.
----------
'Sup dudes and dudettes of VWS?!
I'm Johnny Gillmen, and I'm lookin' jacked up and ready to take y'all fans on a ride that will take ya to the most gnarly of places, fillin' your hearts and minds with somethin' that you'll truly enjoy for the rest of your lives, and I hope things are goin' radically swell for the millions and millions of folks who're gonna be tunin' into see this newest wrestlin' company get off the ground and reach for the stars above. It's always excitin' when somethin' totally new and fresh comes along and ya wanna be one of the first to partake in all the gnarly things an organization like the Valentine Wrestling Syndicate has to offer. On a personal note, I've waited for this day to come to pass ever since the last indy company I worked for shut its doors--with yours truly bein' one-half of its tag team champs. Ain't that a trip, huh?!
But enough of the hyperbole. Let's get a l'il serious here.
I've always considered myself to be a quiet man who loves enjoyin' the awesome serenity that Mother Nature provides us from time to time, but on my GREATEST passions in life has been the sport of professional wrestlin'. Ya see, wrestlin' has always been an integral part of my existence--the very fiber of my bein'--that was passed down from generation to generation on my mother's side of the family. As a l'il youngster, Saturdays were spent watchin' some wrestlin' promotion whose name I won't mention here, but I became instantly hooked thanks to all them outlandish gimmicks and brutish personalities. I once had a dream that, someday, I could be like one of them wrasslers I used to watch at the old Dallas Sportatorium on Friday nights durin' the late '80s. Except...there was just one minor problem.
I was born blind in my right eye.
Yet despite that issue, I've managed to do things that nobody else ever thought I'd be able to do. I got a good education--a Bachelor's in History from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi--but after havin' a hard time lookin' for good pay out in that field, I decided to get into the sport of wrestlin' and try it out for myself. Actually, I got my start in the business six years ago, chronicling my compadre Jack Gaither's tour of the Far East and turnin' those notes into a New York Times bestseller called The Golden Road. In return for me writin' for him, Jack put me through my paces, trainin' me in the artform of grappling 'til he thought I was ready to join the ranks. For the last six years, I've had to pay my dues in small independent tourin' companies--the last of which bein' Redemption Wrestling, a St. Louis-based organization that closed down a l'il over a month ago with me holdin' onto one-half of its tag time championship.
A title that I earned--just like the ones I'm gonna earn here in VWS--'cause I didn't let blindness overcome me. If I did, I wouldn't have been able to see Tokyo up close and personal. I wouldn't have had the strength to carry through with livin' an honest life after my mom took a trip up to Heaven two years ago. I wouldn't have had the courage--the will and desire--to work as hard as I've done in order to make my dreams come true.
But I did those things--'cuz I dared to dream.
----------
12:30 PM
Later that day...
...Johnny stepped off the #5 bus at a small covered stand on the campus of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, his alma mater and old stomping grounds, for some lunch at the University Center. The campus itself is quite tranquil, with most of its classroom and athletic facilities built upon a 240 acre island, which also features its own beach. For Johnny, this was the place he wanted to go to get his history degree—for it featured a delicate balance of a relaxed atmosphere and challenging curriculum.
”God, this joint was one-of-a-kind,” Johnny thought to himself as he looked around at the palm trees that dotted this unique institution, the only university in the United States that is based on its own island.
He smiled as he strolled down a sidewalk on the campus's “spine” area, passing by the entrances to the Bell Library and full-service Subway as he approached a quartet of male students who were singing some random tune.
JOHNNY GILLMEN: Yo, you dudes are gettin' better every day!
Johnny high-fived the thankful gentlemen before walking into the main entranceway of the recently-expanded University Center. Walking through its doors, he stepped onto the first floor plaza and food court known as the “The Cove” and walked toward the Pizza Hut Express, joining a small line of eager, hungry students looking to go for a little deep dish action between classes. The TAMUCC alum walked up to the counter, where he's greeted by Mitch, a a senior from Houston and one of Gillmen's final roommates prior to his departure in 2012.
JOHNNY: 'Ey, Mitch! How're ya doin'?
MITCH: J.J. my main man—doin' swell, workin' hard! Would ya like your usual?
Gillmen grinned, for most of his family and friends often call him by his nickname.
JOHNNY: Sure thing, bud.
MITCH: A'righty...that'll be $8.47, good sir.
The black-haired gentleman took Johnny's “usual” order, a personal-sized pan pizza with pepperoni and onions with a large Pepsi, and rang up his debit card. The Islander alum took his meal, which was placed on a small green tray, and proceeded towards a staircase. He climbed up to the UC's 2nd floor and walked into a quiet lounge and quietly found himself a place to sit. Just as he's about to start on his meal, he's approached by a young woman, around 27 years of age and sporting brunette hair with a modest collegian outfit. Johnny turned his gaze toward the hazel-eyed student, who was carrying a white backpack full of textbooks and other essential supplies.
JOHNNY: How can I help ya, ma'am?
The lady eked out a sly smirk before speaking to the pizza-eating man in a German accent.
WOMAN: I wanted to apologize for disrupting your lunch, but I...I need some help with a paper.
Gillmen nodded, looking to put his education to good use. The woman sat down in the seat across from him, pulling out a ten-page term paper and setting it down.
JOHNNY: Not a problem. What's your topic?
WOMAN: It's about the French Revolution and how it shaped European society as a whole—for Dr. Sanos's class.
JOHNNY: (under his breath) ”The Evil Empress...”
The German student laughed out loud.
WOMAN: You've had her before?
JOHNNY: Yep...had her when I was a student here years ago. Don't get me wrong, I respect the livin' hell outta her—with an Oxford pedigree, she definitely knows her stuff. But there's a catch—ya gotta do a ton of readin' or she'll ding you hard when it comes to writin' term papers.
Johnny's guest chuckled as Johnny looked over her paper, adjusting his glasses so he can properly read its contents.
JOHNNY: Hrmm...looks promisin', but you might wanna find just a few more secondary sources—ya know, like books and other things. They'll help you expand on your argument and show her that you're critically engaged in the topic at hand.
WOMAN: That's the problem—I'm having trouble finding what I need, and the library hasn't been much help in recent days.
Johnny sighed as he started munching on the first of four slices of his pizza.
JOHNNY: I've got plenty of books on the French Revolution at my place; I could let ya borrow some for awhile before I head to Las Vegas.
The stranger perked up both of her brows.
WOMAN: Las Vegas? You must be a gambler.
JOHNNY: Not exactly...I'm a wrestler---goin' there for a tour.
The woman smirks, noting Johnny's smallish stature.
WOMAN: You don't look like the type of person that has a job like that.
JOHNNY: Spoken from someone who wanted to come up to a 34-year-old college-grad dude who's blind in one eye to ask for help with a history paper.
The two giggled at each other as the woman placed her paper back into a red folder and stuffed it into her bookbag.
HELENA: I'm Helena.
JOHNNY: And I'm Johnny...but most of my friends and family call me “J.J.”
Helena checked her wristwatch before standing up, collecting her belongings before making a quiet exit, but not before turning her head slightly.
HELENA: Your home, you say?
JOHNNY: Yeah...I got a villa on Ocean Drive.
The slender German woman, standing at around 5'11”, writes a note on a small index card.
HELENA: I will see you later.
Helena leaves, and Johnny gets back to the task at hand—finishing his lunch. Yet as he takes a sip from his second favorite soda of choice—the first being Dr. Pepper—he stars to blush just a tad, thinking about the overall allure of the woman who needed some help with her term paper. After all, he never mixed business with pleasure--at least, that was the idea. But something in his heart made him believe that, perhaps, he liked her.
And his smile grew wider as a consequence of that.
JOHNNY: Definitely...
~TO BE CONTINUED...~
----------
In order for me to continue livin' the dream, I gotta be prepared to sail into the unknown...
...including a five-way elimination match that's gonna be as unpredictable as Texas weather.
You see Landon, I don't know a whole helluva lot about ya just as much as ya don't know me, but I'm gonna let it all hang out right here and now--I'm GLAD I'm your exact opposite. Quite frankly, I wasn't born with a silver spoon up my butt and never had everything I've always wanted in my lifetime. I've had to work, scratch, and claw my way through a society that sees blindness as a perpetual stigma that oughta be damned from the face of this planet. I've striven to overcome them challenges, fashionin' myself into a well-educated man who always had class and respect for my peers. Those are the things that make me tick buddy, and after this week's match is over, perhaps you'll get a firsthand lesson on the importance of leavin' that cocky nature of yours at the door.
Duke, it's a cryin' shame that I have absolutely zero clue as to what your strengths and weakness are--the things that make ya tick--and ya know what? That's wicked awesome! I hope that you're able to go out to the wrestlin' ring and find your own strengths while learnin' your own weaknesses--after all, those are things that I can't teach ya. Perhaps you'll have the desire and heart to dream big and think big...but unless if you can figure out who you are and who you wanna be as a competitor, you're gonna wind up goin' nowhere faster than you can say "GO ISLANDERS!!!"
Gabriel, I like your style. Really, I do. We've got some common ground between us--we're mellowed out, honorable, respectful of the people around us in society. Those are all good things to keep within your heart and mind, but as my mentor Jack once said to me, "wrasslin' ain't no friendly bidness." I didn't come to VWS so I can be buddy-buddy with anyone--despite the advice I tried to give Trixie on the Twits pages the other day. It's every man fo rhimself--or as Captain Kirk would say, "the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many." So do me a favor dude: learn to channel that pent-up rage ya might have into gettin' in front of a camera and tellin' the entire globe EXACTLY how ya feel. Trust me...I've had my fair share of problems doin' just that, but with practice...I know ya can overcome that deficiency.
Avery...good grief, we both love takin' risks out there, don't we? It's okay to do that--for its the hallmark of professional wrestling. I mean holy crow, we share the same styles, the same maneuvers, etc. Just remember though: the key to survivin' in a five-way like this is just to BE YOURSELF--a l'il tidbit I learned from goin' to eleven different tapings of my favorite game show, The Price is Right. Don't fake your enthusiasm for the gig--for the other folks in the ring will see through ya like the $150 rangefinder, and always know that your focus determines your reality.
Welp, I've said everything there needs to be said when it comes to this here five-way shindig. I might've not known a TON about y'all here tonight, but I do know one thing--someone's gonna win, and the other four will lose. No matter what, this debut match in the VWS is gonna be the funnest thing that any one of us will ever have the courage to undertake.
Let's all have ourselves a radical time out there, shall we?
See y'all on April Fools Day dudes--and keep dreamin' those dreams.
In order for me to continue livin' the dream, I gotta be prepared to sail into the unknown...
...including a five-way elimination match that's gonna be as unpredictable as Texas weather.
You see Landon, I don't know a whole helluva lot about ya just as much as ya don't know me, but I'm gonna let it all hang out right here and now--I'm GLAD I'm your exact opposite. Quite frankly, I wasn't born with a silver spoon up my butt and never had everything I've always wanted in my lifetime. I've had to work, scratch, and claw my way through a society that sees blindness as a perpetual stigma that oughta be damned from the face of this planet. I've striven to overcome them challenges, fashionin' myself into a well-educated man who always had class and respect for my peers. Those are the things that make me tick buddy, and after this week's match is over, perhaps you'll get a firsthand lesson on the importance of leavin' that cocky nature of yours at the door.
Duke, it's a cryin' shame that I have absolutely zero clue as to what your strengths and weakness are--the things that make ya tick--and ya know what? That's wicked awesome! I hope that you're able to go out to the wrestlin' ring and find your own strengths while learnin' your own weaknesses--after all, those are things that I can't teach ya. Perhaps you'll have the desire and heart to dream big and think big...but unless if you can figure out who you are and who you wanna be as a competitor, you're gonna wind up goin' nowhere faster than you can say "GO ISLANDERS!!!"
Gabriel, I like your style. Really, I do. We've got some common ground between us--we're mellowed out, honorable, respectful of the people around us in society. Those are all good things to keep within your heart and mind, but as my mentor Jack once said to me, "wrasslin' ain't no friendly bidness." I didn't come to VWS so I can be buddy-buddy with anyone--despite the advice I tried to give Trixie on the Twits pages the other day. It's every man fo rhimself--or as Captain Kirk would say, "the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many." So do me a favor dude: learn to channel that pent-up rage ya might have into gettin' in front of a camera and tellin' the entire globe EXACTLY how ya feel. Trust me...I've had my fair share of problems doin' just that, but with practice...I know ya can overcome that deficiency.
Avery...good grief, we both love takin' risks out there, don't we? It's okay to do that--for its the hallmark of professional wrestling. I mean holy crow, we share the same styles, the same maneuvers, etc. Just remember though: the key to survivin' in a five-way like this is just to BE YOURSELF--a l'il tidbit I learned from goin' to eleven different tapings of my favorite game show, The Price is Right. Don't fake your enthusiasm for the gig--for the other folks in the ring will see through ya like the $150 rangefinder, and always know that your focus determines your reality.
Welp, I've said everything there needs to be said when it comes to this here five-way shindig. I might've not known a TON about y'all here tonight, but I do know one thing--someone's gonna win, and the other four will lose. No matter what, this debut match in the VWS is gonna be the funnest thing that any one of us will ever have the courage to undertake.
Let's all have ourselves a radical time out there, shall we?
See y'all on April Fools Day dudes--and keep dreamin' those dreams.
