Breakdown 4-7-22
I just want to start off by saying one thing... everyone who thought I was crazy for challenging Tsunami and offering my United States Championship up for grabs? Are y'all okay?
Spencer chuckles a bit as he sits on a weight bench, the US Title belt draped over the bench next to him.
I'm just asking, cause it seemed like a lot of people thought I made a mistake. This dude been coming after me for months, attacked my friends, hurt one to the point that she still can't get cleared... and y'all really questioning why I wanted to fight him.
Spencer shakes his head.
What, did you think he was gonna hurt me like he hurt Marie Caedes? Did you think he was gonna be too strong for me? Did you think I wasn't nearly angry enough to overcome his strength? I'm happy to have proven all of that wrong. Like I said... monsters aren't monsters if they can't breathe.
I want everyone in SCW to understand that. I might not be the biggest man here, or the strongest in pure power. But no one, and I mean no one can lock in a choke and make you gasp for air like I can. When I came here, I was described as a submission specialist. The SCW brass looked at my college wrestling video and saw that I won almost all my matches with some kind of submission. I won championships with the armbar, but I won a whole lot of matches strictly choking dudes out. The difference between amateur wrestling and here? Most amateur wrestlers will tap rather than pass out, because they don't want their windpipes crushed. This business though? Is filled with pride. And I don't mean pride as in being proud of your skills or your accomplishments. Nah, I mean pride, as in ego. As in too many people think it's a shame, an embarrassment, to tap out. They'd rather pass out or be injured than be looked at as a person who gives up. I got one thing to say to everyone who thinks that way.
Spencer points at the camera.
You're stupid.
Yeah, I said it. You are goddamn stupid to let someone continue to pull your arm or elbow back to the point of injury, or cut off your air or blood flow to the point of unconsciousness, because you think you're too proud to tap out. That's how you shorten careers. And if that's how y'all want to be, then I'm here to put you in the position to take yourself out.
That's why I don't want to be called a submission specialist. I'm more calculated than that, I'm more precise than that. Call me the Submission Technician, instead. A specialist might know a hundred holds, they study every hold they can learn about. A technician though? Will perfect just a few, learn to use the proper technique and strength – every time – to make damn sure that no one does it better... and no one can escape.
Ask everyone in SCW I've submitted so far what they think. Especially Tsunami. Or I guess Martin Howe, since Tsunami doesn't really talk. After Breakdown, you might be able to ask Alexis Quinne.
Alexis knows something about submissions. I watched her for years, it was great to see her become SCW World Champion back when I was in college, just starting on my wrestling winning streak, when I was just getting comfortable making submission wrestling my style. Seen her make a whole lot of people tap, a few pass out. So I know she understands what I'm talking about. She has to, Alexis Quinne is one of SCW's legends. Storied and decorated career. Her own school out west. I did look into it back in the day.... before it became clear why I needed to go to BlackOut instead. Alexis took a good bit of time off, and when she returned? Man... the crowd lost it. Everyone was happy to see her back in an SCW ring, myself included. Some of the holds I watched her perform on her opponents are part of what inspired me to learn the art of submissions. I'm not gonna blow smoke up Alexis' or anyone else's ass and try to make it sound like she was my sole inspiration, I don't kiss anyone's ass and I never have. But she was one of them. And Alexis being back on SCW, not too long after I got here? It meant that I might one day have the chance to get in the ring with her.
I didn't expect it to happen so soon.
Spencer grins, and rests a hand over the belt laying at his side.
This one isn't with this gold on the line, but if it had been? I'd have been okay with that. Some might say it's too soon for Alexis to be mixing it up with champions, she only just came back in December. Me though? I say let her loose. She has the experience, she has the background. Some people just don't need to build themselves up, they don't need to work up from the bottom. They just earn whatever position they want, based on their body of work. Alexis Quinne is one of those people. She came back here after years and won her return match... a damn battle royal! It wasn't even one person, she outlasted all of them. And the last person she beat to get that win? A legend in his own right, Josh Hudson.
It hasn't been all perfect for her though, don't get me wrong. She's beat legends but then lost to rookies, such as Amelia Stone. A woman I personally didn't have too much trouble with. In fact, I'm pretty sure that Alexis has lost more times since December, than I have since my debut after Rise to Greatness. I have exactly one pinfall loss scarring my record, and that was because Tsunami got in my face and an experienced, opportunistic, legend in his own right took advantage of it. Tommy Valentine didn't beat me... I beat myself by losing focus.
Spencer shakes his head, clearly still annoyed at himself for the way that match had gone down.
I've seen enough Alexis Quinne matches to know I can't afford to let that happen in the ring with her. While losing to Valentine pissed me off, it also taught me an important lesson. Always keep your eye on the person trying to pin you, or submit you. That's why I'm not having my manager come to the ring with me anymore. I don't need the distraction. And I clearly don't need the help.
Spencer picks up the belt and holds it up a few seconds, demonstrating exactly why he believes he doesn't need anyone at ringside for him anymore. He smirks as he sets it back down.
For proof, just look at how I dismantled Tsunami. I'll admit the man tossed me around a bit and I was hurting the next day, not gonna downplay that. But in the end I put him to sleep, and that's all that matters... the end of the match.
Pausing a moment, Spencer stands up and crosses his arms, signaling a change in focus.
So, Alexis. I'm gonna talk directly to you for this last bit. I want you to know that I have a lot of respect for you, and all you've accomplished. I don't have one single thing against you, so I'm not going into this the same way I approached Retribution. I don't know how you feel about me, my recent so-called 'change of attitude,' how I put what some call a personal issue front and center. You might hate me for all I know, you might think I'm an asshole kid just acting out, or I'm an arrogant prick who hasn't earned the right to be arrogant.
On the first you'd be wrong, everything about what I've done was meticulously planned out. On the second? You'd be a hundred percent correct. I am arrogant, I love myself. I know how good I am, and I know I can beat damn near anyone on this roster, as long as I say focused and stick to my game plan.
As much as I respect you, Alexis, that also means I know I can beat you. All your experience, all your accolades, they don't follow you in the ring. They don't boost you up once the bell rings. At that point, it'll be just you and me. A skilled man against a skilled woman, clashing to see who's skills are better. I'm gonna prove it's mine. When I have you in a position where you're begging to breathe... I want you to remember that it's not personal. It comes from a place of utmost respect, because certain holds are reserved for those who I feel it necessary to go to those lengths to apply it to.
I just have one question for you, though. Once I got that choke locked on, or if I can't get there, end up with your arm bent backwards..... are you gonna be smart and tap?
Or are you gonna be stupid?
Spencer smirks, then turns and picks up his title belt before walking out of the shot.