WATCH THE THRONE.

[C]

"By any and all means necessary".

That is what I said the last time I spoke to everyone, and I meant those words that came out of my mouth. Not a promise or a wish, but a declaration. A defined, concrete, clear, unmistakable guarantee that I won't tolerate not seeing come to fruition. People were taken aback by how blunt I was, but honestly, there was no better way for me to get my point across. I told all of you that this time around, I wasn't going to sit on my ass and let everyone else continue to pass me by and further stagnant everything I have been working towards. For a year, I have stood by and watched as my own dreams came spiraling down. I had enough of it. I inadvertently pushed myself into a corner all because I wanted to be righteous, but there is no righteousness that comes with this business. I held myself back due to the fear of becoming just like everyone else, but you know what? I have to say that it feels great being able to shed that restraint off of me. I sought to change, to make an impact upon Infinite Pro returning, and I sure did do that, didn't I?

I said that I was going to get a pinfall, and I did it.

I got my National Openweight match, and now, I'm one step closer to making everything work out for me in the end.

It feels good to get some tangible results, and it definitely felt good as hell being able to shut those three up and prove that I wasn't going to let another opportunity go to waste. Still, the satisfaction is only temporary. At the end of the day, I'm not at the finish line just yet. My main goal is to ultimately become the new National Openweight Champion, and at this rate, I'm just bidding my time until the inevitable comes. A part of me wishes that The Mighty Don't Kneel was already here so that I can go after Alastor Touchdown and be the only person here who can definitively put that conniving, entitled, piece of shit away for good. I'm not going to be pleased with anything else. He is far, far too cocky for his own good and it's about time someone is able to knock him down a few pegs. It honestly mystifies me how so many of the talents here have fallen to him, but either way, I don't plan on joining that bunch. I'm coming for the gold, and I'm definitely coming after him. Still, the crazy part is that my match could've easily been different. I wouldn't have to be dealing with that rampant egomaniac. In fact, I could've been fighting my opponent for this week for that very same title.

Yet lo and behold, that isn't happening.

There's a reason why I said I'm going to be the person to definitively put Alastor Touchdown away.

Nate Price, at the end of the day, just couldn't get the job done. Sure, he won the title. He has beaten Alastor. Yet, right on into the next show, he already lost the championship back to him, and that is the reason why that asshat is back to his usual, gloating ways. A part of me was expecting him to actually beat Alastor the second time around and humble him for good. Nate made a believer out of many people at Discovery, just like how I did, and he was one of the few people here I genuinely respected. He was able to thwart JGR and Tuna Meltzer and didn't let the games and antics get to him that night. It was a much-needed breath of fresh air. Or, at least it should've been.

One match later, and he's no longer the champion.

And honestly? I don't feel bad. Not a damn bit.

Perhaps if this was still the old me I'd give my sympathies, but after seeing the odds Nate had to go through and how he was ultimately still able to surpass them the first time around, I'm not exactly ready to host a pity party for him. Perhaps it stems from my own personal experiences as well, seeing as how I had to deal with the two men who sought to cost me the Sovereign Cup and spent the whole match trying to mess with me, only to still come out of it in the end victorious. The sport is a cruel place, where many people are going to try and win through any means they can. And it sucks. It's annoying as hell, but at the very least, some of us can rise above it. Some of us can get past it and fight back. We've seen the same song and dance many times throughout the years. Nate should've known better. He should've done better. It's a dog-eat-dog world, and if you aren't prepared to bite back, then you're going to get screwed in the worst way possible. It doesn't make it right, but it's a sort of world you just have to brace yourself for. Call me jaded, call me an asshole, but it is what it is, and seeing as how I already had my fair share of that but am still standing in a far better spot than those who tried to cut me down, I like to think that there is some weight to my words here.

But hey, if anything, that whole ordeal at Paramount has given me quite the lesson for me to study up on before I have to face off against Alastor.

Nate, you probably don't even care to hear what I have to say, but I'm disappointed. Things could've been far different had you been able to keep your guard up and not let Alastor pull one of his signature tricks on you. In fact, I'm pretty sure he explicitly warned you about what was going to go down. "By leverging the assets that I have" were his exact words, so how anyone can act surprised is beyond me. Besides, Alastor is never going to give anyone a fair fight. He's coasted on long enough to find some kind of loophole or fuckery to use to his advantage. He's as slimy as they can come, and you of all people should know that. You should've been more aware. You should've been more careful. Now, he gets to be a two-time champion, and now everyone has to look at you out of pity. Then again, that just seems to be the case with you almost all the time, isn't it? You get so close to solidifying yourself, only to end up falling short.

A part of me really wanted to see you beat him, but after everything I saw, you were never the right person to beat him.

You are incapable of changing this place, and in turn, this sport for the better.

There's no other way to cut it.

You definitely aren't capable of beating Alastor again for the title. I'm sure you're ready to come in our match, get a win, snap back, and redirect your focus on him and that championship, but not only is it going to be another foolish errand run on your part, you aren't going to be beating me of all people. Not when I'm just as determined if not more so than you. Not when I've woken up and am ready to be unrelenting when it comes to what I wish to achieve here. Because I'd hate to be like you and make the same mistakes, costing me everything. That title is going to be mine, and when the time comes for me and Alastor to stand toe and toe, I want him to be nervous. I want to show him that he is not going to fuck around with me of all people and get away with everything he has done in this promotion for the longest time. No one else can get the job done, and that includes you. Maybe you can have fun with your revenge tour after I'm done with him, but Nate, you aren't going to kickstart it at my expense.

I'm coming for everything, and I won't be denied much longer.

Not anymore.

Not ever again.

And if I have to beat you in order to prove that, then so be it. By any means necessary, Nate, I am going to be the one with my hand raised at the end of the night. Then, I'm going on to The Might Don't Kneel and I am going to beat Alastor Touchdown. Then, and only then, will some form of hope return to this godforsaken sport. All in no small part thanks to me.

I mean, it might as well be me because it sure as shit isn't going to be you.

You had your chance, and you blew it.

One Trick Whaler, indeed.