Proud to defend the red white blue and gold

It was the season to be patriotic in the United States of America. The soccer (or football) world cup was in full effect, America was celebrating its 250th birthday on July 4th as well. In other words there was a reason to have some American pride and if you had something actually tangible and meaningful to represent America with that was even better and even more meaningful. And in Ethan Murphy’s case he literally had that with the Asylum Wrestling Society’s American Championship.

And just a lot of hardworking Americans Ethan earned this title through blood, sweat, and tears. Complete with a bit of a redemption story and now he is back to championship status and America loves a good comeback story. But Ethan wasn’t some old-school babyface looking for an easy pop and fan approval with a feel-good story. AWS ate those types of wrestlers alive. But he did believe he embodied the positive values of the United States and adapted them into the Asylum Wrestling Society. The aggressiveness, the headstrong gumption, the badass swagger, and never-say-quit attitude to be a champion for around 120 days.

So where did that bring him presently? Well he was facing off against AJ-damn-Flare who was one of the best wrestlers in the entire company. And Ethan was going to need all of the aforementioned traits to win against him and retain his title. Especially since it was in a 2 out of 3 Falls match at one of the most famous wrestling venues in the world, the 2300 Arena for that particular AWS Monday Night Ward show. That’s right…the mecca of extreme wrestling. But Ethan didn’t want to use a weapon for this match. It wouldn’t prove the point he had in his mind the second that he was booked. Ethan wanted to prove he was a better wrestler than AJ, a better fighter than AJ.

So the scene at hand took place in front of the 2300 Arena with Ethan in his street clothes on a quiet and sunny morning. An AWS camera was focused on him and the AWS American Championship. Mellow music to support the moment before he spoke to his fans with AJ Flare on his mind to set the stage for a deep, personal, and thoughtful promo.

Ethan Murphy: The 2300 Arena. That’s where AWS Monday Night Ward is…damn this place is one of professional wrestling’s most famous battlegrounds. Buckets of blood and sweat, gallons of tears of joy and defeat have been shed here. All in the name of professional wrestling. And this venue, and the wrestlers who competed in it, were the ones that didn’t fit in anywhere else at the time. Outlaws, misfits, the unique and abstract. Hell, wrestlers like me and my opponent for Ward AJ Flare who maybe look like they can fit in with a big mainstream wrestling company…but have a beast in their hearts and love for pro wrestling that can only be pleased by wrestling in a company where wrestling matters. Which is great because my match against AJ Flare ain’t about weapons. It’s about proving who’s the best man in that ring. Two our of three falls for the American Championship.

Ethan pounded his chest where his heart was just for emphasis of his words. Emphasizing the passion he put in every sentence with shots of the 2300 Arena, inside and out along with Ethan himself appearing on screen to drive this portion of his promo home. Longtime wrestling fans didn’t need a lot of selling on the place formerly known as the ECW Arena but Ethan couldn’t help but focus on it and tie it into his match.

Ethan Murphy: Legends like Terry Funk, Mick Foley, Tazz, Sabu, Raven, Tommy Dreamer, the Dudley Boyz all competed in this very venue in the original ECW days. Ring Of Honor? They ran plenty of shows here? And those are just a couple of the bigger, older, classic companies that competed here but there’s nothing like the Asylum Wrestling Society. We’re taking this venue just like we took over the wrestling world, just like I took over the red white and blue and gold… the AWS American Championship. That will be defending in a two out of three falls match against AJ Flare. The frontman of the Worlds Elite. One of the best wrestlers in the world, much less the Asylum. A heat check for me as champion if there ever was one but one that I will be ready for. You heard that AJ? I won’t be caught slipping. I will do the wrestlers and wrestling I mentioned proud tonight especially with a victory.

Ethan patted the championship belt on his right shoulder just to drive home the fact that he was the champion and had the pride and confidence to go with it. As he should. He held the title for over 100 days and had the honor of wrestling in one of the most important venues in the entire sport. A venue that held hardcore gladiators and wrestling savants. It meant a lot to fight here and he couldn’t imagine a better opponent to do it against than AJ Flare. Complete with a special match. And speaking of AJ Flare he had more than a bit to say about him.

Ethan Murphy: I've been studying your matches for months just to stay ready against you in case we might have to square off even if I’m a singles wrestler because I love how you fight. You have no glaring weakness in your game. You can fly in the ring but you can brawl. You are a great technical wrestler but you’re stronger than you look. You’re a mirror image of me as far as that ring goes but we differ everywhere else…

Ethan paused for a moment as his lips began to turn up into a smirk. A sign that that his champions bravado that even the lunatics of AWS had was going to show. Every champion had it, they just went about it differently within their personalities and styles on camera.

Ethan Murphy: For one, every win and loss I’ve had it’s been on my own terms. And no I don’t count thrown-together tag matches against people I’ve fought against. No stables, nobody truly watching my back. So I’ve had nobody to blame for my losses, and I can take all credit for my wins. Then there’s your attitude which isn’t good either. You’re the biggest douchebag in a group full of douchebags. Arrogant guys; you and Kofi who despite all of your talents can’t lock in when it matters most. The women of your team are the real threats, the real draws. The true threats of your team but you? Yeah you’re really good and I’m taking you seriously like a champion is supposed to do to a contender…but you’re not even the biggest star of your own group. AWS has some amazing technical wrestlers and all-around great in-ring stars who are undeniably champ-worthy. Like you but better. You’re good but not good enough to take the title off of me tonight at Ward. Hell, I don’t even think you’ll get a fall on me. Much less two…

With graphics being shown on the screen and action clips of Ethan and the World Elite being shown like a highlight reel (or lowlight reel in the case of AJ) Ethan was hot now with his swagger as fiery as his red hair but he had a reason to be. He busted his ass to become champion, any champion really. He just earned the right to hold the AWS American championship. By fighting with intensity and integrity. Embracing every win and loss on his own. While leaving no doubt with every win or loss about himself.

Ethan Murphy: So in a few hours AJ people are going to be packed into the 2300 Arena. We got a sold-out house tonight, ready to see us fight for the AWS American Championship in a two-out of three falls match in the birthplace of America. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! And I’m going to embody every bit of American muscle, fury, and energy to keep my title from the likes of you. Someone who is so technically skilled but so arrogant and supported by people better than you. This championship is mine AJ and unless you can step the hell up you won’t even get a fall on me. Because I’m Ethan Murphy, I’m in the prime of my life, and I plan on holding the red, white, blue, and gold for a loooooong time. And it will take a better man than you to get this title away from me…

Ethan finished his statement while pointing at himself and the camera with his brow furrowed and voice with bass. To show his devotion for the title he held and defended so valiantly before getting stepping into the front doors of the arena. And making a path to the locker room to settle in, call his loved ones, and get further training for tonight’s Ward. In short he respected AJ Flare’s wrestling acumen, his in-ring toughness, but literally nothing else about him. Because of that Ethan was going to put maximum effort into beating him and leaving the 2300 Arena the same way he entered. As your AWS American Champion!