The shot opens up and appears to be in a parking lot of sorts, to be more exact, the parking lot of The Prudential Center in New Jersey. It almost felt like The Meraki Tournament came to a conclusion moments ago, but in fact the tournament finals featuring Tiffany Tompkins and Nicholas Gray had finished up around an hour earlier. Multiple journalists are positioned right outside the entrance to the arena as most of, if not all, the fans have left the arena after a great night of wrestling.
It takes a while for some activity to occur and it happens in the form of Will Neilson himself emerging from within the building and walking outside into the press. They don’t exactly seem to swarm Will but you’d think otherwise by the constant questions being asked after Will’s performance on the event. After suffering a first round loss to Nicholas Gray, the Great British Meme himself wasn’t exactly interested in answering the questions being thrown at him.
REPORTER 1: “Will, what is next for you in NEO after your loss in the Meraki Tournament?”
REPORTER 2: “Mr. Neilson, what are your thoughts heading into your Heaven or Hell match against Ezra Eden? Do you think you can win?”
REPORTER 3: “Are you actually going to be wrestling in Japan soon for After Dark? What do you think of Lisa Seldon’s challenge?”
REPORTER 4: “What is the current situation with you and-”
At this time, Will was out of sight to answer any questions and the last reporter didn’t even get to finish asking theirs. He slides his hand up and through his hair before adjusting the spectacles on his face and making his way towards a conveniently parked black Toyota Prius, somebody already in the driver seat as Will opens the back door to place his luggage in before closing it and switching around to the passenger side. With one last look behind him and a slight smile towards the group of people still stood at the entrance, he opens the door and slides into the car, shutting it behind him. It doesn’t take long for the car to get going and drive off from the arena.
WILL NEILSON: “Fuckin’ people man.”
REC: ON
The camera is on. We’re now at a familiar condo and a familiar balcony, this time, it actually looks like Christmas from the windows giving a slight look into the place which shows a fairly tall tree set up in the corner of the living room. Standing on the edge and leaning on the edge of the balcony with his arms is Will Neilson himself, hair looking like a mess and not even a shirt in sight. Thankfully, he’s wearing some adidas branded shorts along with some white socks so we don’t see the full picture, that wouldn’t be very good.
Regardless, Will doesn’t appear to be in the greatest of moods as his facial expression is as straight faced as they come. A cigarette lays within his index and middle fingers and he soon raises it up towards his mouth, taking a drag before letting the smoke out and leaning his head back towards the sky. Neilson closes his eyes momentarily and soon opens them to continue staring out into nothingness across the balcony.
WILL NEILSON: “This year has been interesting, honestly. If I was looking at what I’ve done and what I’ve become from my perspective this time last year, It’d be like I was dreaming. Nobody knew who I was in 2017, simply just another rookie looking to take his shot in this business and hell, that might still be the viewpoint of some people. That’s what I expect though, underestimation and doubt. It’s followed me almost everywhere.”
He sighs slightly, continuing to look out towards the distance with the same expression still painted on his face.
WILL NEILSON: “Wherever I have been, there’s been a standard to follow. I’ve never been responsible for setting such a thing, simply following in the footsteps of those who have stepped before me. For the first half of 2018, I wasn’t myself, simply somebody copying everybody else because they were much higher up and had given more. Of course I doubted myself, not knowing who you even are and what you’re working towards is a reason to take a fuckin’ seat and figure out what to do with your life. Did I do that?”
Will raises the cigarette up again and looks at it, not taking a drag and instead putting it out on the table next to him and making sure it isn’t lit before laying it down and resuming to stare out into the distance.
WILL NEILSON: “I did. From that point it was about creating my own legacy and not thirsting over what other people had done, my biggest enemy was myself. My mind fucked with me on a daily basis and there were times where I didn’t feel comfortable anymore, but then I just had to slap myself in the face and get on with what I loved to do. It was the thing that brought me over to companies like ACM and what made me flourish in places like CCW, people started to recognise who I was. You want to know what call came soon after? The call to be part of the Pro Wrestling NEO roster, this brand new promotion with a whole lot of hype around it. I took the deal in a heartbeat, because you can walk into any existing company and be one person who changes the landscape… but with NEO you could say you were one of the first to change it. That was the thrill of it all.”
WILL NEILSON: “The first show came and I… I didn’t exactly anticipate what was going to happen, you know? Standing it that ring and seeing all these people come out in this ‘cult’ of sorts to attack you, and only you, it was the spark that was needed. Boogie Nights, maaaaaaan… I’ve already spoke about this night enough, so there’s no need to bore people about this again. It’s fair to say that whatever happened to me, happened, but look who came out on top!”
A smile finally came to Will’s face as he stopped leaning on the barricade, standing up straight and looking back towards the condo before then looking back out into the world again. It wasn’t that magical, but you’d probably think that with the way Will’s eyes were focused on the scene in front of him.
WILL NEILSON: “My ego was as high as it ever had been, who wouldn’t be pretending to sit on a throne after going through that match and saying that you won it all? It’s been a recurring problem throughout the year and took control of me at various points; the XWA Hardcore Championship match against A.J. Morales, the Street Fight against Bishop… you could probably name a few more, but my ego isn’t the main cause. It was the fact that I never believed in myself at various points, perhaps I wasn’t ready for that step up to higher things. It’s a feeling that most of us go through at points in our life, no matter the situation. This is what I wanted to change heading into the later part of this year and with that win at Boogie Nights, it was all going well!”
WILL NEILSON: “Like… really well. I had never felt more comfortable standing in a ring before. Heaven or Hell arrived and I looked to change all of that by progressing through and being able to potentially call myself the first World Champion in NEO as a whole… but it didn’t work out did it? Christopher Kane cost me that opportunity because of his issues with my opponent in Tomoyo Hirate, his own demons. I still really haven’t gotten over it, the only thing keeping me going is seeing him get punted in the balls once again, the cunt deserved it to be honest. Destroy Dick December running wild, fam. That’s going past the point now anyway, I shouldn’t be getting too frustrated, but to go out like that was just a real bummer. The Meraki Tournament looked to be my saving grace from this whole situation and... yeah…”
Will couldn’t help but slam his fist down on the edge of the balcony, his emotions getting the better of him for a second before he raises his hand up again and pushes those long locks out of his face. He tried to regain the smile, but nothing came of it as he continued to look out.
WILL NEILSON: “All that support, all those people saying that I’d at least make it to the final round… man, that was something else and I’m glad to have so much of it. I shouldn’t be like this, Nicholas was a formidable opponent and I won’t take that away from him. It’s just a matter of reaching up towards the heavens and only getting kicked down to hell again, but this time I want things to change even if I’m not reaching the mountaintop first. My chances of escaping the Heaven or Hell Tournament are still there and whilst I would think it’d be hard to keep my emotions in check, I’m someone else now and for 2019? I’m gonna truly express myself and become the man I know I can be.”
WILL NEILSON: “This is a time of reflection and a year of seeing what I should strive towards instead of expecting everything to fall to my feet, because 2018 will go down as the year where I started the climb and in the new year, I’m going further, even if it isn’t to the top. Nobody is perfect and everyone has their limits, but I have soon come to realise that if I don’t break through my limits and create new ones to work towards then the future won’t be bright. NEO is that future, whilst the biggest limit has been myself and my own feelings. That will all change, putting my fuckin’ word on it right now. I got a girl supporting me through thick and thin and a whole load of people who I want to take on. I’m in the best position.”
A smirk now came to Will’s face as he raised his right hand up to his chin, positioning it under his minimal goatee before then turning towards the camera that had been set up to the side of him and now flashing the ‘okay’ hand signal towards it.
WILL NEILSON: “We just gotta make it all work out, right?”
He lowers his hand and reaches forward to pick up the recording device, holding it close to his face but of course, not right in his face because that wouldn’t be the greatest of sights. Will still has the smirk across his face, so that’s good.
