Post by stryker on Jun 8, 2013 22:03:54 GMT -5
You wanna talk about the odds? My whole life has been nothing but odds. The odds of me being turning to a life of crime in South Philadelphia. The odds of not living to my 18 birthday. The odds of making it as a wrestler. The odds of becoming a champion. I have done all that and then some. The odds are what drive me. I made a career out of beating the odds!
Brian Stryker, a wrestler who was told several times he would never make it in the wrestling business. Told he was not big or strong enough by everyone in his career, the fire inside him only burned hotter. The driver to surpass all their expectations and create a lasting legacy sent the young high flyer across the world honing his craft to make sure he was truly the best. And this all started with a trip to the legendary Arena in South Philadelphia where Brian Dougherty got his first taste of wrestling.
Stryker: I got into wrestling when I was about 14 years old. By that time ECW was closed but there were a ton of small indie companies still keeping the memory of it alive. I went to my first wrestling show at the Arena where it was Combat Zone Wrestling. I was captivated right there and then. Here were these men and women doing these moves that I never seen before. The excitement it brought to me was incredible. The main event was the world title match and the challenger won and the building went nuts. After that night I was addicted. I knew that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be the guy in the ring people cheered for and go nuts for when he wins.
Brian then spent the next two years convincing his mother, Rebecca, if he could go to wrestling school, but the single mother was hesitant at best.
Stryker: My mom was not thrilled about the idea. She was protective of me ever since my dad left before I was born. She did her best to give me a good life. She sent me to private school and made sure I avoided the streets as much as possible. And she saw wrestling as this dangerous sport. She wanted to avoid that too, but I wasn't gonna let this chance slip by even if I had to pay for it myself.
Brian spent the next 2 years saving his money anyway he could to pay for the six month tuition. Finally the day after his 16th birthday, Brian enrolled in the wrestling academy in Chikara Pro wrestling, headed by Indie great Lightning Mike Quackenbash.
Quackenbash: The first day of the school, I always get a good look at the potential talent. When I saw Brian for the first time, I saw something in that I don't see often, I saw drive. Brian was the youngest and smallest one of the bunch but I saw determination in the kid's eyes.
Stryker: My first day at the academy was the most horrifying moment in my life. At 16 years old I was about 5'7 150. And there were guys who were 7 feet tall 350+ pounds. I'm talking monsters of men. I remember the trainer focused on me though. I wasn't sure if it was because I looked so out of place or what but I remember him staring at me for a few moments not saying a word.
After the first session I remember going home and my mom asking me how it was. I was exhausted and sore as hell too. And my mom said it's okay if you want to quit. I looked her straight in the eyes and told her, "I'm never quitting this! I had a blast!" Which was the truth. I never been beaten as badly as I was that first night but I never felt more alive. I wanted to keep going back. I was gonna become a wrestler no matter what
That determination payed off as after 6 months of hardcore training, Brian Dougherty graduated from the wrestling academy. Now was the next step for him, getting his first match, which came in the form of Chikara.
Stryker: My first introduction into the world of wrestling was not an ideal moment. I was supposed to compete in my first match but I was attacked before hand by the dude's stable mates. I was brutalized by these men and was put through like three tables. Plus I made the mistake of having my mom in the audience. Suffice to say she was pissed that I didn't tell her that was gonna happen. I didn't even know till 5 minutes before I went out.
After that night Brian, who adopted the surname Stryker, slowly started to become comfortable in the ring. However he always felt something was missing.
Stryker: I felt and looked way to generic. I wore a simple pair of bicycle trunk tights that had almost no design on them. My finisher was just a boston crab submission. I never stood out. So I at the suggestion of a local luchador, I started to transition into a high flyer. That took a while to get used to because high flying is such a unique style that it has to be tailored to the person. Every powerhouse is essentially the same, but no two high flyers are the same.
So I became a high flyer and switched to full legged tights and I felt like a new man. That was when I got the call to go to Mexico, which shocked me. I knew I had to take the offer.
The transfer down to Mexico became the biggest moment in Brian's life as he learned the pure art of Lucha Libre, a style he continues to use to this day. During his time down there, Brian started to use his Shooting Star Press finisher.
Stryker: I remember I first used the Shooting Star Press in a tag match. My partner did a 450 splash and thought hitting a Shooting Star and 450 right after another would be awesome. I never even attempted a Shooting Star before that moment so I was horrified. And the dude was halfway across the ring. One slip and my career is over. So, I just stop thinking and did and let me tell you the crowd went nuts. The promoters were like, "You're a mortal angel flying around like that!" So I figured I'd keep it in my arsenal but never thought it would become my main finisher.
After spending a year down in Mexico, Brian decided to come back to America. There he focused on his submission skills.
Stryker: I never wanted to be just a one style guy. That makes it so much easier to over come you. I wanted to have multiple styles so I can switch over when one is compromised. I picked the techincal side because that was always the next best style to watch. The greats like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels where just a spectacle to watch. And that was when I developed my Shawshank submission hold. I took the basic STF and instead of locking in a facelock, I put them in a full nelson.
Brian was on top of the world. He won several midcard titles in several feds, but fate decided to bring him down in the form of his mother's illness and death.
Stryker: My mom got diagnosed with cancer when I was in Mexico which was one of them reason I came home much sooner. I moved back home and used the money I was getting to help pay for her medical bills. It wasn't easy cause I had to watch as the women who took care of me slowly died from the inside out. She always assured me that she was fine but I knew that she was lying and I hated that.
About half a year after I came home, the cancer finally took her life. I was there at the hospital when it happen. It was 5:40pm on a rainy Tuesday. And the last thing she said to me was how proud she was of how I was following my dream. That was the hardest moment in my life. Seeing that line go flat was like watching a part of me get ripped out. That was when my depression became an issue.
The death of his mother not only affected him personally but affected his friends and family.
A-Con: Watching Brian fall as low as he did was the most horrifying sight I've seen.
B-Soup: He just wouldn't talk to us at all. He would just stay silent no matter what was happening.
Stryker: I was angry alot. I would get angry at everything no matter what it was. I would yell at opponents backstage if they messed up a move a little bit. I would yell if someone took the last of something at catering. I was just angry 24/7. I hated the world for taking away the only family I've had in my life. And the only reason I got out of that hole was because the fed I was working for gave me an ultimatum. Either work my personal issues out or never come back. So I was basically suspended for an unset amount of time.
So I took advantage of it. I decided to go off the grid, so to speak, for a while. I went up to the Pocono Mountains. And that worked great. Being in the wilderness let me clear my head and accept my mother's death. I accepted that it was inevitable and that I shouldn't blame myself. So I had a choice. I could either go back to my original fed or leave and start somewhere new.
After jumping around a few small feds for the next two years, Brian decided to find a permanent home. He got his wish in the form of Premium Championship Wrestling.
Stryker: PCW felt like such a fit for me. Before I was in these feds that started strong but died out in like a year or less. The two candidates for me next fed were either PCW or this older fed that screwed me a long time ago. So it was a no brainer to pick the former. Plus PCW was willing to let new talent rise the ladder quickly, while other feds make them wait longer.
It wasn't long before Brian established himself as a top member of the roster. A few months after joining the roster, Brian won his first title in PCW and first title in 2 years at the biggest PPV in PCW, Battle Finale.
Stryker: my Broadcast title win at Battle Finale was a big moment for me. I had several title chances across the months but I always came up short. It was a long time coming though. I knew it was a matter before I won it. But to win on the biggest stage in PCW it was that much sweeter.
Still relatively young in his career, the only thing stopping Brian's career is himself.
Stryker: What do I want to happen in my future? I just want to keep winning matches and thrilling crowds. I mean the odds are always against me, so I might as well prove them wrong again. It's how it always was and always will be.
The screen fuzzes as it revels Brian Stryker sitting on his couch just getting done watching his dvd.
Stryker: Now that is a behind the scenes DVD! Anyway I guess it's time for me to finally defend my Broadcast title. I knew it was gonna happen. But my opponent keeps think they can beat me. All because I lost on Rapture to some loser called Wally. Let that isn't further from the truth. You see, my life has been alittle chaotic the past few weeks. Personal matters have kept me away mentally from the ring.
But you see, Nietzche once said "Out of Chaos, comes order." What he means is that no matter how crazy your life is, it will eventually sort itself out. And that is happening. The order is coming. The focus has returned. The God of War is reborn. My determination is 10 fold stronger then ever before. This isn't a match to retain my title. This is a match to set the tone of my champions reign. It's also a chance to really shove it back in Morgan Simmons face. I'd love nothing more then to show that bitch up and defeat her hand picked opponent.
Which brings me to my opponent herself. Brytain Montgomery is her name. She has spent the past few weeks trashing me on twitter saying I fear her and that she will beat me. Of course I always respond with a witty sarcastic remark. But now, there's no sarcasm, there's no witty joke. This is me. Brytain, you can not and will not beat me for my title. Like I said, you will have to kill me to beat me. That isn't a metaphor, that's a fact. You gonna have to murder me to keep me down. I may lose matches sometimes, but I never give up when the chips are all in. You will see the true side of Brian Stryker. Not the twitter side of me. Not the side of me at the commentary table. Not even the side you say competing against Wally. The side of me that you will fight is the side that is feared.
War is coming. The bell tolls for the warriors to rise to their feet and take arms. I will stand at the front of the field, and charge into the battle with little fear for my life. I command respect in battle through my strength to carry on no matter the cost. That's the reason the call me the God of War. I always stand and fight. I always stand up to those who challange me. I stand up to those who oppress. I will fight anyone and everyone.
You do not strike fear inside me Brytain. The only emotion you strike into me is pity. I pity you. I pity the false hope you continue to have despite the fact you will not succeed in you conquest of taking my Broadcast title away from me. I pity you for you will not realize the difference in our strengths until I have beaten you into dust. The world knows I can beat the best of them. I have faced far more worthy competition then you. You are nothing but a speck of dust in my journey.
My journey is one that is endless for me. It started as my journey back into the ring after the death of my mother. It became my journey to a credible fed. Then my journey to win my first title. Now my journey is to become one of the best champions PCW has seen in recent years! But that journey is just part of a bigger plan. My dream of becoming a hall of famer. One day my name will be written into the records next to the legends of our field.
War comes alive on 6/22. The day the earth opens up as battle consumes the PCW ring. The world bears witness to the rebirth of their god of war. The heavens will turn dark as it turns a blind eye to my power and let's me punish you foolish being for trying to beat me. You're dream of being the Broadcast champion is nothing but a fools dream. I will show you the harsh reality. The reality that you can't win. The reality that nothing can stop me. The reality that I am the best damn wrestler in this business. Like my dvd says, I made a career out of beating the odds. Nothing can stop a full motivated Brian Stryker. Nothing can kill me. Nothing can beat the God of War! Bring your best weapons to Slamathon Montgomery! It will be the last time you ever step foot into the ring again! I guarantee it!
Stryker gets us and leaves the scene as the camera fades out.
Brian Stryker, a wrestler who was told several times he would never make it in the wrestling business. Told he was not big or strong enough by everyone in his career, the fire inside him only burned hotter. The driver to surpass all their expectations and create a lasting legacy sent the young high flyer across the world honing his craft to make sure he was truly the best. And this all started with a trip to the legendary Arena in South Philadelphia where Brian Dougherty got his first taste of wrestling.
Stryker: I got into wrestling when I was about 14 years old. By that time ECW was closed but there were a ton of small indie companies still keeping the memory of it alive. I went to my first wrestling show at the Arena where it was Combat Zone Wrestling. I was captivated right there and then. Here were these men and women doing these moves that I never seen before. The excitement it brought to me was incredible. The main event was the world title match and the challenger won and the building went nuts. After that night I was addicted. I knew that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be the guy in the ring people cheered for and go nuts for when he wins.
Brian then spent the next two years convincing his mother, Rebecca, if he could go to wrestling school, but the single mother was hesitant at best.
Stryker: My mom was not thrilled about the idea. She was protective of me ever since my dad left before I was born. She did her best to give me a good life. She sent me to private school and made sure I avoided the streets as much as possible. And she saw wrestling as this dangerous sport. She wanted to avoid that too, but I wasn't gonna let this chance slip by even if I had to pay for it myself.
Brian spent the next 2 years saving his money anyway he could to pay for the six month tuition. Finally the day after his 16th birthday, Brian enrolled in the wrestling academy in Chikara Pro wrestling, headed by Indie great Lightning Mike Quackenbash.
Quackenbash: The first day of the school, I always get a good look at the potential talent. When I saw Brian for the first time, I saw something in that I don't see often, I saw drive. Brian was the youngest and smallest one of the bunch but I saw determination in the kid's eyes.
Stryker: My first day at the academy was the most horrifying moment in my life. At 16 years old I was about 5'7 150. And there were guys who were 7 feet tall 350+ pounds. I'm talking monsters of men. I remember the trainer focused on me though. I wasn't sure if it was because I looked so out of place or what but I remember him staring at me for a few moments not saying a word.
After the first session I remember going home and my mom asking me how it was. I was exhausted and sore as hell too. And my mom said it's okay if you want to quit. I looked her straight in the eyes and told her, "I'm never quitting this! I had a blast!" Which was the truth. I never been beaten as badly as I was that first night but I never felt more alive. I wanted to keep going back. I was gonna become a wrestler no matter what
That determination payed off as after 6 months of hardcore training, Brian Dougherty graduated from the wrestling academy. Now was the next step for him, getting his first match, which came in the form of Chikara.
Stryker: My first introduction into the world of wrestling was not an ideal moment. I was supposed to compete in my first match but I was attacked before hand by the dude's stable mates. I was brutalized by these men and was put through like three tables. Plus I made the mistake of having my mom in the audience. Suffice to say she was pissed that I didn't tell her that was gonna happen. I didn't even know till 5 minutes before I went out.
After that night Brian, who adopted the surname Stryker, slowly started to become comfortable in the ring. However he always felt something was missing.
Stryker: I felt and looked way to generic. I wore a simple pair of bicycle trunk tights that had almost no design on them. My finisher was just a boston crab submission. I never stood out. So I at the suggestion of a local luchador, I started to transition into a high flyer. That took a while to get used to because high flying is such a unique style that it has to be tailored to the person. Every powerhouse is essentially the same, but no two high flyers are the same.
So I became a high flyer and switched to full legged tights and I felt like a new man. That was when I got the call to go to Mexico, which shocked me. I knew I had to take the offer.
The transfer down to Mexico became the biggest moment in Brian's life as he learned the pure art of Lucha Libre, a style he continues to use to this day. During his time down there, Brian started to use his Shooting Star Press finisher.
Stryker: I remember I first used the Shooting Star Press in a tag match. My partner did a 450 splash and thought hitting a Shooting Star and 450 right after another would be awesome. I never even attempted a Shooting Star before that moment so I was horrified. And the dude was halfway across the ring. One slip and my career is over. So, I just stop thinking and did and let me tell you the crowd went nuts. The promoters were like, "You're a mortal angel flying around like that!" So I figured I'd keep it in my arsenal but never thought it would become my main finisher.
After spending a year down in Mexico, Brian decided to come back to America. There he focused on his submission skills.
Stryker: I never wanted to be just a one style guy. That makes it so much easier to over come you. I wanted to have multiple styles so I can switch over when one is compromised. I picked the techincal side because that was always the next best style to watch. The greats like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels where just a spectacle to watch. And that was when I developed my Shawshank submission hold. I took the basic STF and instead of locking in a facelock, I put them in a full nelson.
Brian was on top of the world. He won several midcard titles in several feds, but fate decided to bring him down in the form of his mother's illness and death.
Stryker: My mom got diagnosed with cancer when I was in Mexico which was one of them reason I came home much sooner. I moved back home and used the money I was getting to help pay for her medical bills. It wasn't easy cause I had to watch as the women who took care of me slowly died from the inside out. She always assured me that she was fine but I knew that she was lying and I hated that.
About half a year after I came home, the cancer finally took her life. I was there at the hospital when it happen. It was 5:40pm on a rainy Tuesday. And the last thing she said to me was how proud she was of how I was following my dream. That was the hardest moment in my life. Seeing that line go flat was like watching a part of me get ripped out. That was when my depression became an issue.
The death of his mother not only affected him personally but affected his friends and family.
A-Con: Watching Brian fall as low as he did was the most horrifying sight I've seen.
B-Soup: He just wouldn't talk to us at all. He would just stay silent no matter what was happening.
Stryker: I was angry alot. I would get angry at everything no matter what it was. I would yell at opponents backstage if they messed up a move a little bit. I would yell if someone took the last of something at catering. I was just angry 24/7. I hated the world for taking away the only family I've had in my life. And the only reason I got out of that hole was because the fed I was working for gave me an ultimatum. Either work my personal issues out or never come back. So I was basically suspended for an unset amount of time.
So I took advantage of it. I decided to go off the grid, so to speak, for a while. I went up to the Pocono Mountains. And that worked great. Being in the wilderness let me clear my head and accept my mother's death. I accepted that it was inevitable and that I shouldn't blame myself. So I had a choice. I could either go back to my original fed or leave and start somewhere new.
After jumping around a few small feds for the next two years, Brian decided to find a permanent home. He got his wish in the form of Premium Championship Wrestling.
Stryker: PCW felt like such a fit for me. Before I was in these feds that started strong but died out in like a year or less. The two candidates for me next fed were either PCW or this older fed that screwed me a long time ago. So it was a no brainer to pick the former. Plus PCW was willing to let new talent rise the ladder quickly, while other feds make them wait longer.
It wasn't long before Brian established himself as a top member of the roster. A few months after joining the roster, Brian won his first title in PCW and first title in 2 years at the biggest PPV in PCW, Battle Finale.
Stryker: my Broadcast title win at Battle Finale was a big moment for me. I had several title chances across the months but I always came up short. It was a long time coming though. I knew it was a matter before I won it. But to win on the biggest stage in PCW it was that much sweeter.
Still relatively young in his career, the only thing stopping Brian's career is himself.
Stryker: What do I want to happen in my future? I just want to keep winning matches and thrilling crowds. I mean the odds are always against me, so I might as well prove them wrong again. It's how it always was and always will be.
The screen fuzzes as it revels Brian Stryker sitting on his couch just getting done watching his dvd.
Stryker: Now that is a behind the scenes DVD! Anyway I guess it's time for me to finally defend my Broadcast title. I knew it was gonna happen. But my opponent keeps think they can beat me. All because I lost on Rapture to some loser called Wally. Let that isn't further from the truth. You see, my life has been alittle chaotic the past few weeks. Personal matters have kept me away mentally from the ring.
But you see, Nietzche once said "Out of Chaos, comes order." What he means is that no matter how crazy your life is, it will eventually sort itself out. And that is happening. The order is coming. The focus has returned. The God of War is reborn. My determination is 10 fold stronger then ever before. This isn't a match to retain my title. This is a match to set the tone of my champions reign. It's also a chance to really shove it back in Morgan Simmons face. I'd love nothing more then to show that bitch up and defeat her hand picked opponent.
Which brings me to my opponent herself. Brytain Montgomery is her name. She has spent the past few weeks trashing me on twitter saying I fear her and that she will beat me. Of course I always respond with a witty sarcastic remark. But now, there's no sarcasm, there's no witty joke. This is me. Brytain, you can not and will not beat me for my title. Like I said, you will have to kill me to beat me. That isn't a metaphor, that's a fact. You gonna have to murder me to keep me down. I may lose matches sometimes, but I never give up when the chips are all in. You will see the true side of Brian Stryker. Not the twitter side of me. Not the side of me at the commentary table. Not even the side you say competing against Wally. The side of me that you will fight is the side that is feared.
War is coming. The bell tolls for the warriors to rise to their feet and take arms. I will stand at the front of the field, and charge into the battle with little fear for my life. I command respect in battle through my strength to carry on no matter the cost. That's the reason the call me the God of War. I always stand and fight. I always stand up to those who challange me. I stand up to those who oppress. I will fight anyone and everyone.
You do not strike fear inside me Brytain. The only emotion you strike into me is pity. I pity you. I pity the false hope you continue to have despite the fact you will not succeed in you conquest of taking my Broadcast title away from me. I pity you for you will not realize the difference in our strengths until I have beaten you into dust. The world knows I can beat the best of them. I have faced far more worthy competition then you. You are nothing but a speck of dust in my journey.
My journey is one that is endless for me. It started as my journey back into the ring after the death of my mother. It became my journey to a credible fed. Then my journey to win my first title. Now my journey is to become one of the best champions PCW has seen in recent years! But that journey is just part of a bigger plan. My dream of becoming a hall of famer. One day my name will be written into the records next to the legends of our field.
War comes alive on 6/22. The day the earth opens up as battle consumes the PCW ring. The world bears witness to the rebirth of their god of war. The heavens will turn dark as it turns a blind eye to my power and let's me punish you foolish being for trying to beat me. You're dream of being the Broadcast champion is nothing but a fools dream. I will show you the harsh reality. The reality that you can't win. The reality that nothing can stop me. The reality that I am the best damn wrestler in this business. Like my dvd says, I made a career out of beating the odds. Nothing can stop a full motivated Brian Stryker. Nothing can kill me. Nothing can beat the God of War! Bring your best weapons to Slamathon Montgomery! It will be the last time you ever step foot into the ring again! I guarantee it!
Stryker gets us and leaves the scene as the camera fades out.
