The Whole "TOD Thing" Explained (CZWrestling.com Article)

All right, well…I suppose it’s about time to answer some of the questions surrounding the recent debacle between myself, DJ Hyde, and Zandig. I’ve read the boards, I’ve heard the rumors and the theories posed; I’ve heard all of the criticisms on my character, all of the insults hurled my way, and the accusations of traitorous behavior. Now it’s my turn to explain things—not that I owe anyone an explanation, mind you—but I want to make things crystal clear.

DJ Hyde was one of my foremost trainers; true. Is that why we’re suddenly in allegiance? No. DJ Hyde is no more my “friend” or “mentor” now than he was for all of those months that he was kicking my ass. Let’s get things clear…from a personal perspective, I have nothing but contempt for DJ. And this isn’t news to him, he knows exactly where we stand. You don’t quickly forget 7 months of brutal beatings. Furthermore, I won’t soon forget getting press-slammed off of a balcony…something which went beyond wrestling, beyond competition, and could essentially be described as an attempt on my life. So…being that I still consider DJ Hyde to be a complete cunt…why this alliance? Because I’m a smart man. Because I’m doing what’s best for me in this business. Because I’m looking out for number one.

A few days before Tournament of Death, I was focused. I was dead-set on destroying DJ for all of the liberties that he’s taken with me in the ring. I had one thought on my mind, and that was his death. Then I got a visit at home from my friend, Maven Bentley. We sat on my delapidated couch in my rathole of an apartment, and we talked for hours.

Maven began by asking me why I lived in such squalor, to which I responded, “Well, you know how it is…wrestling doesn’t exactly make you a rich man.” Maven asked me about my earnings in CZW, and—while I won’t get into details—I explained that I didn’t make much…after all, I was still “proving myself,” as it had been explained to me. Maven pointed out that I had been “proving myself”—for little compensation—against DJ Hyde for months and months. I hadn’t thought about this before. Maven pointed out that John Zandig was the one who had been keeping me down, keeping me engaged in this fruitless feud with DJ, so that he wouldn’t have to give me any opportunities. John Zandig was keeping me at the bottom of the roster…was keeping me out of any matches that might advance my career…was just “feeding me to the beast,” over and over again, month after month.

This was a revelation to me…all along, I’d been a pawn…I’d been manipulated into being so focused on my hatred for DJ Hyde, that I hadn’t seen the bigger picture. Maven then went further, asking me about the origins of my feud with DJ…this prompted me to do some deep thinking, and—to tell the truth—I couldn’t really think of any good reason why DJ and I had gotten so at-odds. I never liked him, but we’d never had any real problems before John started booking us in match after match. There had been no reason for us to fight in the first place, I came to realize.

Now, don’t mistake me…at first, I was FURIOUS at Maven for making these accusations…after all, when he arrived at my home, I was firmly ensconced in the belief that John was my friend, that he was looking out for me, and that DJ was my mortal enemy. On more than one occasion during this meeting, I very nearly kicked Maven out of my home. But once I calmed down, I started to see the reason in what he was saying…Maven explained how things REALLY worked in CZW; how opportunities weren’t earned, they were only given at John’s approval, to the people he liked. People like me…people trying to break into the business and make a name for themselves, WITHOUT connections…well, we just get offered up to the fans as “sacrifices.” No advancement, no opportunities…just cannon fodder.

Once I started to see things his way, Maven took it a step further and alleged that—despite our differences—DJ and I were in the same position. He, too, had been manipulated into playing John’s games, with no advancement opportunities. I had a tough time feeling any sympathy for the fat bastard, but I could see the truth in Maven’s statements. He then proposed something that I would’ve kicked his ass for only a few hours earlier…that DJ and I put aside our differences for the common goal of getting somewhere in this business.

I told him I’d have to think about it.

I mulled it over for days, trying to wrap my mind around this drastic change in my point of view. I saw the logic in Maven’s proposition, but…teaming up with my arch-nemesis? Could I bring myself to do it? Even at Tournament, minutes before we went thru the curtain, I was undecided. I honestly didn’t know whether I was going to go thru with it. But at the end of the match, when Maven distracted John, I saw my opportunity and I took it. DJ and I stuck that motherfucker with our weedwhackers and moved on in the tournament…we moved on over John Fucking Zandig, the “Ultraviolent Icon,” in the Tournament of DEATH. And don’t feel bad for Zandig…after he got done using me as a weapon to eliminate DJ Hyde, do you honestly think he wouldn’t have turned and torn me apart in the next round? Fuck him.

We’re not waiting around anymore for someone to hand out opportunities like Christmas presents, because it’s never going to happen. We’re TAKING our spot, thru any means necessary. That’s what “HHH” is all about.