Post by Mark Hunter on Sept 7, 2021 10:17:09 GMT -5
KRATOS
“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.” - William Ellery Channing
Unaired Footage
San Jose, California
September 2nd, 2021
Mark was at his local MMA Gym, the Kratos MMA Gym, in downtown San Jose training again for what could be his defining moment as a leader of Proving Ground. He was booked to compete in a massive five on five match where one side at least would leave embarrassed, failure was not acceptable for Mark Hunter, he was the biggest star and the guy Proving Ground were relying on. Safe to say that Mark Hunter was looking forward to putting on an impressive performance as per expected, but in his language an impressive performance meant dominating everyone and every living thing inside that ring. If not, that performance would mean nothing. He was inside an Octagon practicing his strikes with a striking coach while everyone else continued doing cardio, strength, grappling or whatever was on their schedule.
Although he was scheduled for a ten person, five on five fight, he trained for single MMA fights. Already having that mentality of finishing his opponent down to a bloody pulp. Inside the Kratos MMA gym was a pretty large gymnasium featuring two Octagons in the center, multiple training facilities like swimming, strength, cardio, a sauna, massage room, health and fitness, nutrition, and many more to supply elite athletes from around the world. All now under the ownership of Steve Martyn and Markus Huntington. Sweating bullets through the striking training, he wore all Reebok tight gear to get that extra spring in his punches. Mixing his combinations with boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai, he would not rest until he perfected his technique in every way.
The bell rang signalling the sessions were over, Hunter was standing in the Octagon still practicing his Muay Thai for now. He leaned back against the cage wall after finishing his striking and controlled his breathing. The straight shooting warrior has never been so anxious for a fight, but when Indy Darling’s ringing on the line and asking for him to defend the whole damn show, what more can he do? It's been so long since he's actually had a match other than against Elena DeDraca where he really prepared for and put everything on the line especially with his family's disapproval, his twins were due and he was travelling around the world for this fight. He slumped down on the canvas onto his butt and continued to lean back against the cold cage mesh thinking about different ways to combat his enemies. Mark knew he was the leading wrestler to win the entire match in most people's minds and also the bookmaker's favorite to make a statement beyond what others could achieve. Lazarus Arjen, Charon Seede, Mason Destruction, Switchblxde, and Ellie Quinn were all big names in the jar but Mark Hunter was the jar itself. Eventually the coach talks to Mark.
“Hey. You okay boss?”
“Yeah. Just ugh...nervous.”
“Oh lord. Here we go. Talk to me dude. How you feelin'?”
The striking coach sat down beside him also in black Reebok gear concerned about his boss's mental state. Mark was always perceived as this indomitable willed combatant but those closest to him knew he was only human. He could only take so much but it's all weighing down on him emotionally. The promises to his family, the twins on the way, the fans awaiting to see the heartbeat of Proving Ground putting everything on the line, his world was changing, it was no longer just Mark Hunter going out there and fighting for Mark Hunter.
“I don't know man. Something is entirely different about this compared to the rest of the matches I’ve had. I'm fighting for something altogether bigger than me and even myself don't know if this is the right time for that fight. This is possibly the make or break situation everyone wants to see from me. I know deep in my heart that all eyes will be on me because I’m the one who means the most to either of these shows, I mean more to Proving Ground than any of the other nine mean to either show dammit.. I'm the one who has all the potential to drop the greatest performance of 2021... so why am I nervous?”
“I'm going to say this Markus. It's okay to be nervous, that's a good thing. It means you want this more than anything and you being nervous will push you to do better than you even know possible. You know why I chose to be your striking coach? You know why even before you opened this place I would follow you all over the world? You put it all on the line, you always give it your best and when you get cornered, you fire up and charge out. That's why I chose you. You always want to be better, do better and choose the right people to listen to. Be better Markus. I gotta go, the boss at home needs to see me. Peace brother.”
The two fist bumped each other and the striking coach left the Octagon leaving Hunter alone. His head thrown back, eyes closed, hands interlocking together along with his feet tapping on the canvas. Like it or not, Markus Lee Huntington really was nervous about his upcoming match, he was praying in his mind toward God to help him through this. If he failed, it could crush him hence why he needed to put everything on the line to have this match be his moment. No matter the pain, the struggle, this win would be his trophy... The guaranteed title shot wasn't needed to get him motivated, the prize of carrying a whole damn show then proving it was better… that was the ultimate prize for Mark Hunter!
“Fuck. Be better, be better.”
Words kept repeating over and over inside his head but he knew those words perfectly. He lived by that motto no matter what. This match may be about everything he did before. Yet now it is the beginning of a better, more mature Mark Hunter. A Mark Hunter that has grown over the last year and has finally realized the truth. A true competitor doesn't think about the past except learning from his mistakes, instead he focuses on the future to improve. A true competitor relies on the help of his family, friends, and colleagues to get better, he also fights for them when the time comes. No matter what happens, Mark will continue to do his best to be the greatest in the ring. Nobody in this match let alone in this company has the fighting spirit or skills to be more important than Markus Lee Huntington. This was his time, his time to restart.
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” - G.K. Chesterton
Aired Footage
Unknown Graveyard
September 4th, 2021 - 23:02
Wrestlers on Proving Ground who were never even given a chance to shine had broken out from the shell where they found a new power. To become stronger and evolve during the leadership of Mark Hunter. It was truly something to witness. Ever gazed upon a flower born in the bosom of a desolate desert that had no meaning to breathe life? It wasn't a conquest to flourish under the sun's terrible rays designed to breathe fire upon the scorched sands. However, through the sheer pressure of being free, the flower grew to be the foundation of turning a barren wasteland into a beautiful forest of Eden.
Whilst creating an environment for others, that flower, the flower that grew most was none other than Mark Hunter. When one thinks of Proving Ground, only one name has achieved and led like no other. From capturing all of the audience's eyes by knocking off a respected champion on debut, to defeating nine others at Unbreakable Resolution in the inaugural Purge match, to being the first person to not only stand up to but dethrone Dickie Watson as Grand Champion, the heartbeat of the whole show in the words of his own boss Indy Darling, Mark Hunter is the foundation that Proving Ground has been built on. Less than a year in the company and the Proving Ground Hall of Fame only has one name ready to be perched upon the mantle. Only one has achieved so much. Mark Hunter. Reasons to which he was even considered the best was partially due to the fact of his sudden uproar to be the distinguished face of the show. Hell, it was true. Project Honor but more specifically Proving Ground was his eternal home. His greatest home in all of his professional wrestling career.
And now the proverbial home of Proving Ground has been threatened by the sheer outrageous and callous recklessness of the Fallout opposition. A death sentence shall be carried out under the leadership of Mark Hunter, a man who has been awakened by the attack on HIS show. If there is one thing to be learned, do not wake the beast in his humble abode where tranquility is nothing more than a mere shadow of the mind.
Under the wind's terrible plea, the scenery of the nightly graveyard leads to eerie and mysterious darkness to where the openly dug graves with marked tombstones are seen. Lightning crackled across the dampened skies as rain poured on a figure cloaked in darkness; Surrounded himself with nothing but hatred. Under the hoodie, his own eyes stared towards each name on every tombstone with a grave perfectly designed.
The names were:
Lazarus Arjen. Charon Seede. Mason Destruction. Ellie Quinn. SWITCHBLXDE.
"So it comes to this. War at the doorstep of my humble abode, that abode being Proving Ground, a place where you insolent motherfuckers from Fallout thought you could turn up and tear down what has always been the foundation to YOUR opportunities over on Fallout. Have you never even stopped to check the history books? How even Fallout was born from the clutches of thin air thanks to the pillage of artists in their past glory who have laid down the very foundation to your household where you don't even have the gall to paint with your own blood? Fallout only exists due to the success of Proving Ground! It truly sickens me to understand that I have to be taken away from my family at a time when we are expecting the birth of my children. I will bring my anger at the situation with me to Night Of Honor. When the ring calls, you must answer but don’t think if I miss the birth of my children because you created this fight that I won’t fucking destroy you.”
“I was invited into the house of Fallout and hit DeMarco in a way he could see coming, I simply kicked him once to send a message, I didn’t start an invasion or beat someone down from behind. So to those on Fallout who have dared to bring war upon the most feared doorstep in professional wrestling, the doorstep of my house, it’s a house you lot broke into without realizing who has been the de facto owner all this time."
Mark slowly removed the hoodie from the top of his head revealing the face of his caucasian skin almost showing obvious menace. He doesn't look pleased nor happy to be standing at the bed of these dug graves. The rusty and almost ruined shovel dressed with murky mud was held in contempt under the ruined soil from the heavy rain. Hunter remained stagnant in his stance of confidence, arrogance, and authority. His eyes diverting from each name on the tombstones where he believed his enemies would end up after the Project Honor civil war.
"Proving Ground. It is a show where the very best have performed. Where men and women have evolved and transcended into legendary tales for your children and children's children to tell of their parents. The very mountain where wrestlers have built their houses on to describe how much they have sacrificed it all to rule at the very kingdom. And yet, that mountain has been threatened at the hands of ignorant fools that the world has turned into a mockery of this very sport. The Fallout crew really don’t understand; They have truly thought they could go back in time and rewrite history. To dispose of us as if we were mere vessels that didn't mean anything to them. Why does anything new always seek to go to the past when the future has yet to be written? Are these idiots so blinded in their ways that they have to try and remove us when we are just on the verge of stepping into paradise? Well, let's give them a lesson.”
“All these names from Fallout do not even combine together to form the potential to beat the overly-talented athletes on MY team. Arata Asakura, Ulf Hednir, Swindle Shelldrake, TJ Thompson, and myself. Hell, my history only is the ultimate wildcard in desolating the idiots from Fallout whose names I even refuse to speak. The young children who need to learn that the adult has stepped into the building where I have completely shattered all the expectations and put food on their table to eat. Isn't that funny? How we were so pleased to witness the next generation of wrestlers take out the puzzle to complete it but were ultimately shocked to see them throw the pieces off the table and demand a new one to place. It's almost as if they have no respect for what Proving Ground and guys like me have done, but I don’t blame them. They are ignorant, foolish and reckless. They don't understand that this Civil War already belongs to us for they are simply too remnant of the pain.”
“They don't know pain. They don't know what it means to step into the ring and put your body to the absolute limit. They don't understand the meaning of sacrificing your friends, family and everything you ever knew to carry shows and hold the most important titles. No. They will never know because they are afraid. This war they are bringing to my doorstep? It's a cry for attention. Fallout are the toddlers feasting for milk but we have abandoned them. We at Proving Ground left them out in the open field to learn the survival skills but rather than do so, they returned to the pack not as predators but as mindless prey that couldn’t stand alone. It's almost a damn shame how we will suffocate them into a corner before launching our final attack to torture them. But they will not care, this is all a game to them. Simply a game."
Lightning struck again flashing a light that shunned out the graves. However, he left the shovel buried into the ruined soil to walk across the mud. Mark smirked; A maniacal and perfected smirk from ear to ear was written in the pouring rain's thunder for he felt the monstrosity of a hungry man as he did when under attack.
"There is no delaying the impossible. This is war! WAR has been called and WAR has been answered by Proving Ground! Arata Asakura, Ulf Hednir, Swindle Shelldrake, & TJ Thompson! I thank you all for joining the crusade in the ring for we all have to defend the very show that built this company from the start, the show that set the standard to create legends in Project Honor. Fallout has sent their army but we all know this was a futile mistake. Fallout was made from Proving Ground!”
“Is this the very best they could bring to us? Feebled men and women who haven't even broken forth through the main event level? They disregarded my championship prestige to a bunch of children who wouldn't even know to lace their own damn boots without watching a tutorial on social media. They have failed to understand my importance, Fallout has five up and comers, Proving Ground has four… the difference is our four have some fucking respect for the business and a main event leader as member number five.”
“Five wrestlers all joined together. Sharing the ring, sharing their lives and are now being called to defend it with honor but do you know why? We are Proving Ground. The show that broke higher through the heights of the heavens to be the most dominating force in the entire industry. Proving Ground isn't just a home. It is the chance to show the world what we can do when given the chance. It is the opportunity to break free from the chains of mediocrity and excel to the absolute main event picture. Nowhere else offers so much.”
“We have proven to be the number one example for every wrestler in the world to be more than what the world sought them to be. And in that evolution, we have made history. Fallout was built off that history so for the nerve of these idiotic fucking children to think they could walk onto our show and declare civil war makes me absolutely sick. None of them will ever know the trials, tribulations and horrifying journeys some had to endure to make it to the top of the mountain. They will never know what it means to keep your friends close and enemies closer; When factions would wage war on another, friends turned to enemies and enemies turned to friends, to fight your rivals to the point where they even paid people to break into your home and steal things like scan pictures of your unborn children. None of them would know. But will that stop us and me especially from exacting our anger upon them?! Hell fucking no!"
After the pause in his speech, the memories flowed through his mind. To the most haunting memory of all, the blood-curdling battle against Lance Williams of all people. How he hated a man who pressed different buttons and made him vulnerable for the first time in his life. How the man he loathed paid someone to stalk his future wife who was pregnant at the time and made him feel so uncomfortable. Things like that, it all flowed through his mind but it didn't force him to cave. Those memories, journeys, and lessons as part of Proving Ground helped turn him into the man he was today. A leader who now has to step out of the shadows into the light to defend his home threatened by the ignorance of an outside force.
Hunter is and always will be for his family but he will take the risk of missing the birth of his children for this fight. For one great reason, the straight shooter wants to show why the fans of Proving Ground were always right to give their undying support for him even when he didn’t necessarily deserve it. Proving Ground will witness their most treasured artifact give back to the show that’s given him so much.
"Fallout. Enjoy it. Enjoy the mere illusion that you can do this. You're desperate to prove the greatness of your brand but in that greed, you'll succumb to the mere fact that Proving Ground was always the basis of your existence. After all, just how much you needed our history to bring forth your own? Well, whatever little history you have so far. None of the warriors you chose for your army has either the experience or sufficient ability to strike down our side. The Proving Ground roster has come together, you fools have truly awakened an evil you can’t beat. Understand this, I know as the leader exactly what is the last thing I have to do.”
“The Civil War that is Proving Ground against Fallout belongs to one man. Because in this match, who else has more spirit than I do? Who else in this very match has given as much as me to any show? You can look in the books, you can stake your claims but only one name has proven to be the absolute best, especially of the ten competing in this fight. One name has shined above them all, Mark Hunter is the name that carries this match.”
“I did it. I am Proving Ground. I am the one who put the whole show on his back. I am the rise and fall. I am the heartbeat of Proving Ground. I didn't choose war with Fallout, however I'm going to end it once and for all. So believe in whatever fallacy you want but we all know the truth.”
"Markus Lee Huntington. The greatest wrestler in the match will be the centerfold of all the attention. No matter the worthless names of Fallout or the honorable names fighting beside me, I will be the one to step out with the victory yet again. I will walk in with my head held high, dominate and walk out as everyone in Project Honor knows to expect, I work best when it's revenge. My vengeance comes for War!”
Mark glares at the holes in the ground.
“Bodies will get buried!"
Mark’s glare returns to the camera before becoming more of a smirk.
“I’ll leave you with these words as I think right now they are more fitting than ever… I’m Mark Hunter, we are Proving Ground, and that’s not just good enough, it’s better than the fucking rest.”