Post by ZƎRO on Aug 14, 2016 23:53:12 GMT
Project ZERO: Part I
I stand in the corner of the wrestling ring in Calgary, Alberta watching the trainer wrap his arms around the head of another student, flipping him down to the mat and following with a side headlock. He instructs everyone through the process, how it’s applied properly and so on. I shuffle a little bit, moving one foot up to rest on the bottom rope as I take in all of his words. He knows what he’s talking about, he’s been involved in this industry for years and has worked in several top promotions.
The trainer is Adam Blake.
The legend is a former GWA star. Two time International champion and once United champion. He’s competed in his fair share of battles and he was one of the few men that could bridge between showmanship and technical ability. That is why I looked up to Adam Blake. He was the embodiment of professional wrestling. Talent in spades and the ability to captivate audiences.
I’ve been under his tutelage for almost two and a half years now. He’s seen me grow from someone who couldn’t apply a headlock properly in my first few sessions - to one of his most talented students. There are things I lack in, of course. Every now and again Adam will bring in a guest teacher - Chris Chaos, Dio Goulet or someone of the like - and they will help in things such as getting a reaction from the crowd, tips on charisma and promo videos and such. The charisma I lacked, I’ll admit that. I was a modern day Lance Storm, Adam would joke sometimes. Full of talent, low on charisma.
That’s fine by me. I’m not in this industry to be known for a stupid catchphrase or crack corny jokes. I want to be known as one of the best wrestlers in the world. That required talent - not on the microphone, but in the ring. There were other students here that were skilled when it came to promos and oozed charisma. For example the man that Adam currently had in a headlock would be one. A scrawny fellow ‘sporting the undercut near twenty years before it became popular in society. After releasing the headlock and climbing to their feet, Adam patted him on the back and said “Thanks Gavin”.
I watched as Gavin walked back to corner where he stood previously before turning my attention back to Adam. He went over, again, the few pointers he displayed just a moment ago before pairing the majority of the group into pairs for this session. Majority except for myself, Gavin and a handful of other people. Upon his request, we all slipped outside of the ring and waited for him. Circling around the legend, he now held a stack of legal envelops in hand. One at a time, he would hand an envelope to each of us and saying a location. I stood behind this Gavin kid and overheard Adam tell him ‘Albany, New York’. And he had done this to every other guy here, as if they were reporting instructions for the military or something. No, Adam went out of his ways to get contracts for the few he thought were ready.
Me?
“Mississauga, Ontario.”
