Roeper Hart: What's wrong, baby?

Jake Starr: Oh, just thinking...

Roeper Hart: About?

Jake Starr: What your dad said to me...

Roeper Hart: Oh?

Jake Starr: He didn't tell you bout the "chat" we had?

Roeper Hart: No... He's actually been relatively quiet this evening.

Jake Starr: Well, he came into my office earlier, and basically informed me that it was my responsibility to reconsider my career... In a nutshell, he told me the best thing I could do is retire.

Roeper Hart: Oh...

Jake begins to nod slowly.

Roeper Hart: ... I figured something like that was going to happen.

Jake slowly looks up at Roeper with a slight look of confusion on his face.

Jake Starr: Why is that?

Roeper Hart: When Mom and Dad arrived, Dad began going on a rant about his opinions of your career.

Jake Starr: When was this?

Roeper Hart: Right before you and Brandon got home that day...

Jake Starr: Ah...

Roeper Hart: ... Then after we all watched the pay-per view, Dad's comments began to escalate.

Jake Starr: Oh believe me, he made that ABUNDANTLY clear to me!

Roeper gives Jake a "half hug."

Roeper Hart: How bad of a "talk" was it?

Jake Starr: Brutal! He basically said that I had fallen from grace, and should retire before I continue to embarrass myself. Then I would be able to provide for my family in a more "proper" and "suitable" manner.

Roeper Hart: I'm sorry for him, baby...

Jake looks at Roeper a bit confused.

Jake Starr: Why are you apologizing for him? That's not your responsibility to cover for him.

Roeper Hart: I know... But since he's my father, I feel like I'm partially responsible. I mean, if he weren't my father, he may have never had that "talk" with you.

Jake Starr: It's not your responsibility...

Roeper Hart: Still...

Jake takes a deep breath, and starts to pour his soul out a bit to his wife.

Jake Starr: ... As much as I hate to admit it, Ron made me think, though.

Roeper's head leans to the side in concern.

Roeper Hart: Babe, don't listen to what he's saying.

Jake Starr: Sadly, he made some points...

Roeper Hart: Like what?

Jake Starr: He basically said that I may have reached a point in my career where I won't be earning the same recognition, the same type of living, and the same amount of bonuses as I did before. He also implied that because of those reasons, I wouldn't be able to provide the same kind of lifestyle for you and Mara with me on the road as I did in the past. And I believe you guys deserve the best.

Roeper Hart: Babe, we're more than comfortable! Whether you make the same amount of money or not, we'll be fine, and we'll be able to live the same way.

Jake sighs.

Jake Starr: I still think that Ron might be right...

Roeper Hart: Seriously, how?

Jake Starr: Well, he said that maybe I had passed my prime, and it made me realize that I don't think I could be happy competing at a sub-par level.

Roeper Hart: I haven't seen you doing that in the least!

Jake Starr: Have you not seen my last two matches?

Roeper Hart: I watch every match you wrestle, babe. You know that! I believe that right now, maybe it's just time for you to shift your focus elsewhere, and try and give yourself a bit of a "reboot."

Jake's face shows a definite sense of concern, and he looks back down at the floor.

Jake Starr: How am I supposed to be happy feeling like I'm "settling" for something that is less than what I want?

Roeper Hart: Well what is it you want then?

Jake Starr: I want to compete at a level that I would be happy with. I want to compete at a level that shows I'm still the best, or at least one of the best guys around.

Roeper Hart: Ok... Well how would refocusing and "rebooting" yourself compromise that?

Jake simply shrugs.

Roeper Hart: ... Who's decision is it about your happiness?

Jake shrugs again.

Jake Starr: I guess it's mine...

Roeper Hart: EXACTLY! It's YOUR decision about WHAT will make you happy. I know you well, and I know it doesn't take being the perceived "World Champion" to make you feel like you're considered "number one."

Jake begins to slowly nod.

Roeper Hart: ... And in case you've forgotten, you've done it in the past.

Jake continues to remain silent, and still continues nodding as his sense of a reply. Roeper reaches over at turns Jake's head so force him to look her in the eye.

Roeper Hart: Listen to me... Only you...

Without wasting the opportunity, Jake cuts her off.

Jake Starr: ... Can prevent forest fires!

Roeper's head slumps, realizing Jake just broke the serious nature of the moment.

Jake Starr: I couldn't resist sorry...

Roeper looks back up at Jake, and simply tries to recapture the moment.

Roeper Hart: Only YOU can decide what will make you happy. Nobody else! Period!

Jake Starr: Yeah...

Roeper Hart: If you decide that it's time for you to step aside, then you need to decide for yourself. You can't allow someone else to make that decision for you. Not me, not my dad, not your daughter, nobody.

All Jake does is nod again, once again looking down at the floor.

Roeper Hart: ... I'm going to support you with whatever you decide. Your daughter is going to support you whatever you decide. Your FAMILY is going to support you whatever you decide.

Jake shows a slight smile for the first time since his wife sat down. The support from his wife is something he's been wanting to hear for some time.

Roeper Hart: ... And on top of all of that, you need to start being yourself again. You need to stop being whatever it is you think will get you the most pats on the back, and instead, just be Jake!

Jake Starr: I know...

Roeper pulls Jake's eyes up to lock on with hers yet again.

Roeper Hart: THEN JUST DO IT!

Jake shows another slight smile, and Roeper leans forward and gives her husband a gentle kiss. Jake appreciates the "pep talk," and knows that what Roeper had to say ultimately was more truthful than what Ron had to say. Ron's words were the negativity that Jake knew would continue to fuel his worry and his disbelief in his own skills, while Roeper simply wants to convince her husband to think for himself, be himself, and decide for himself as well.

Jake hopes that, now, with those words of wisdom from his wise wife, he'll be able to walk into Breakdown, and provide Greg with a solid partner, and one who's out to assist in retaining their championships.

The outcome, he knows, will be one that assists him in making a final decision in regards to what exactly it is he plans on doing for the remainder of his career. With a loss, the odds of Jake continuing to battle forward is a deeper mystery than if they were to emerge victorious. One way or another, Jake knows the many answers that Breakdown will hold for him will guide him to the decision that he needs to make.

Will he emerge still one-half of the SCW Tag Team Champions?

Will he emerge a man having faced another setback?

Breakdown is around the corner, and the questions WILL be answered.

Jake Starr: The world, for me at least, is in a continuous spiral. Sometimes I feel like I am spiraling up rapidly, gaining momentum, showing that I'm worth everything I've professed to be, and not just "all talk." Other days, it's downward. Days like that are riddled with nothing but negativity flowing through my veins because, honestly, it's all that seems to surround me. There's a lack of "plus" comments you ever really hear, read, or get word about, from other people, and while I was able to battle through it for a while, it's, honestly taken a toll on me as of late.

I don't know why, but it has!

I've heard people ranting and raving about me, trying to denounce anything and everything I do, and put me in the category with those they have previously denounced as "unworthy" of the respect some give them. As I said, it was something that I initially was able to look past. But after a while, you know, it begins to really wear a person down... And that's the point I'm at, unfortunately. Don't get me wrong... I don't want to be at that point. I don't want to feel like I've been pushed, emotionally, as far as I can be, and I'm just going to let people get the better of me, but you know, I'd lie if I said I was completely kosher, and not effected.

But I am...

And it sucks...

A lot...

So why should I even say it? Should I start making more excuses, as some assholes have accused me of, and explain how it contributed to me losing, or why I am going to be losing in the future? Sure, if it makes them feel better, and makes them sleep better at night, then by all means, continue to be delusional and think that way. But the fact is, I'm a realist about how things are around me, and I'm not going to bullsh!t everyone by acting like everything is find, dandy, kosher, and peachy keen. Because it's not. It's far from it.

I'm not happy.

I'm not fine and dandy.

I'm not peachy keen.

I'm a wreck.

Mentally, I have fallen apart at the seams, and as I look around, I see many things that contributed to it in one way, shape, and form. I look at how things within the fraternal order, which I think I still am part of, deteriorated due to a group of British f_cks sticking their nose in our business. They decided to make me a focus of theirs, well more like an unhealthy obsession, and did everything they could to ruin my life. Along with that, I lost the World Championship. My focus became so disconnected with the aspect of defending the World Championship, to simply ruining the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of that aforementioned group of aliens. Encompass that with being constantly ridiculed for some reason, be it cockiness, "burying," being "mean," whatever you want to call it, I got ridiculed for being myself, and calling things as I saw them.

So, to fix all of those problems, I started by looking past the whole issue with David and Zoe. I figured, if I simply tried not to be around when they were having their fun in the sandbox, I would eliminate the issue regarding that, and Dave might realize that I was trying, and I'd get some response. At the same time, I figured Tommy would be like, "alright Jake is doing his part to mend the situation, hopefully we can come back together in one fell swoop." With the situation surrounding the aliens, I decided I should do a similar thing, and simply distance myself from them as well. I figured that since they had become an obsession of mine, or at least the thought of ruining their lives had, removing me from their lives and vise versa would be the appropriate remedy to the situation. Lastly, I figured if I quit some of the actions that got me a bit of an unwarranted reputation, it'd improve, so I did that too!

So, all was resolved, correct?

My compromising of myself, and trying to fix the "problems" people had with me, made everything just all hunky-dory right?

Like I said... NO!

Actually, F_CK NO!

Instead, let's look at what actually happened... All of the crap with those people lead to me becoming the OUTCAST of the group that I helped found. They don't speak to me, hell, I honestly don't even think my number is in their damn phones anymore. When I arrive at arenas, seeing them, and watching them try and speak to me shows it's like pulling teeth to them. I began to look the other way, and instead of getting some feedback, and some "give" rather than just the take, I've gotten nothing. I've gotten about as much communication as I did while it was all going on. With Infamous, ending my war was, shockingly and rather ironically right in time with when Tommy and Dave decided that it wasn't taboo. So, not fighting with them, and wanting to get away from them JUST HAPPENED to be the wrong move.

Well sh!t... That makes me 0 for 2...

Maybe the third would give me a little better outlook?

Right?

NEGATIVE THERE BUDDY!

Having stopped some of my comments that might have come across as "cocky," and in some cases, "mean," really didn't change much. I tried to not be involved in Twitter wars, simply to try and move on from that, and because I know some sensitive people seemed to "frown" on it. Then all of a sudden, Lucas "I'm Sorry I'm too Busy to Defend My Championship, Please Leave Me a Message, and I'll Return Your Call at My Convenience" Knight, decided to start YET ANOTHER little flame up on Twitter again...

... And let it be known, this time I didn't actually provoke it!

No... Really... I didn't even acknowledge his breathing, and he goes off firing insults at me.

He's a chicken sh!t, we all know it, it's a fact, that is that.

Nevertheless, being nice got me JACK SH!T in the ways of "more brownie points" from those who seemingly haven't taken kindly to my commentary. They continued to have the same opinion of me, and they continued to say the things same things.

It was, honestly, the polar opposite to everything that I thought would happen. I honestly believed that it would mend many of the problems I have been dealing with, and really begin to allow everyone to begin to move on in life, and truly become a merry band of bards, playing our lutes and skipping about.

... And obviously that didn't happen!

Jake shrugs a couple of times, looking presumably at various members of the camera crew, and shrugging at each of them, and mouthing the words, "that's what I thought." After the gestures, Jake returns his focus to the camera.

Jake Starr: So what now? What do I do? Do I continue to pander to the stiffs in the locker room, who lack the ability to understand humor? Do I continue to keep playing the role that changes my personality based on who the opposition is, or how my opponent decides they're going to be? Or do I go the other way, and complete put the kibosh on everything I've tried to mend, and go in a complete 180 from that? Do I go for the, "let's just say screw it all, and do my own thing," attitude, and be a loner?

How about I answer that by simply saying, yes?

Confused yet?

Yeah, I'm going to try and do some things to continue to mend some of the issues I might have caused. I'm going to continue to ignore the whole issue with Zoe, and I plan on continuing to not pay much attention to the likes of Infamous. But as far as the issues with Tommy and Dave go, here's where I think it's time I make the 180, and put the ball in their court one final time. See, like I said, I stepped up, and I've done what was perceived to be, by many, the "right move." I didn't continue to push the issue, and haven't bitched. I am not making a case to get another chance at the World Championship right now. I'm not going to make a fuss about losing, or saying he was lucky, or anything like that. At this moment in history, Helms is a better fighter than me. But yet, I have done my part, and haven't felt the same from those two. So... It's their turn to step up. It's their turn to start stepping up. In a nutshell...

Jake approaches the camera.

Jake Starr: ... Tommy, Dave, you guys get to make the next move. You've both made me feel like an outcast, and kind of forced The Brotherhood into two separate factions. If you both want to make our faction work, and stronger than ever, I've extended my olive branch to you guys to no avail. The fact of the matter is, I'm going to be who I'm going to be. I'm going to be Jake Starr. I'm tired of being someone I'm not. I played the, in wrestling lingo, heel. I showed a side of myself that I usually wouldn't, all for the reason that I wanted to truly show I was humbled by the loss. It was something I have NEVER done for anyone. I've never said the things I said before. The fact is, I did, and I meat them.

Still... Nothing...

I've been trying to mend the times, so we can go back to being normal. I've gotten nothing in return.

I've stepped up to the plate.

I've dropped back in the pocket.

The alley-oop is coming my way.

I've put my feet into the starting blocks.

Now... It's your turn...

It's... Your... Turn...

Jake backs away from the camera, and tries to regain his composure.

Jake Starr: Lastly, I wonder if I should continue being all nice to people, or simply go about being the pompous ass I used to be.

With that being said, and all of that being explained, it's time for Jake Starr to, once again, start to "find himself" and be, well, Jake Starr. And honestly, where better to begin than Breakdown? Where better to "start fresh" and "start anew" than in a match where I enter with a guy who, quite frankly, probably doesn't like me because I don't resemble a pretty, oversized, cupcake? Where better to show that Jake Starr begins again, and starts his SCW reign of terror over again, with a match with two people who are feeling destined to win the Tag Team Championships?

The fact is, nobody is doubtful that I'm unfamiliar with these two. With Gable, there's a man who, I've said many times has a huge amount of skills. He's a man who, I've never once said wasn't worthy of a shot at a title. Hell, he's already shown he can hold the United States Championship, and do it with a fiery gusto. He beat Savior to get it, and he's put up a hell of a fight each time he's stepped into the ring on subsequent occasions with Shilo Valiant. But this time he steps into the ring with me again. He's tried to best me, and he's one of the many who haven't been able to successfully figure out how to "finish the job." He's a man that, while he holds a load of talent and potential, he has yet to come to a level where he can stop me.

Why wouldn't he start now? Why wouldn't Gable use this opportunity, the opportunity to claim gold once again, as the chance to best me, and at the same time best Greg Cherry. What a chance for him. Beat me, which he hasn't in the past, and my Teletubby comrade, who I haven't a clue if he's beaten or not, and he's one-half of the Tag Team Champions. The answer to why he wouldn't is simple... As I said, it's my time to regroup, and rebuild. My stock has fallen, and it's time that changes. I promised I wasn't going to make a stink about the World Title, and I'm keeping that promise. But that doesn't, in the least bit, mean I'm about to watch my stock drop... Which is has of late. So I have to build it back up, and I have to show that you can take the past, shove it up the doubters asses, and watch it climb again. I did it in the past without the World Championship, and I will do it again.

But hell, why should I think about just utilizing Gable to begin my journey, and begin the re-RISE TO GREATNESS that I seek. Why shouldn't I, why shouldn't Jake Starr look at the other half of this equation? Why shouldn't I look at a woman who, while I may not have the same animosity toward her as I did in 2009, I didn't forget everything she did to me back then. Back then, she decided she was so focused on getting what she wanted, she aligned herself with the likes of Daddy D, with the hopes it would buy her my Adrenaline Championship.

Obviously, it didn't!

Now, she wised up. She realized the error of her ways, and since realizing that, has turned her career around for the better. She's become a major player in SCW. She realized that she didn't have to cheat to get ahead. So she's on the rise, and, like her partner-in-crime, hopes to take the Tag Team Championships from Greg and I, and continue their respective rises.

The fact is, she's going to realize fighting me for ANY championship belt isn't something she's going to want to do. She's going to realize that when it comes to encountering me, the odds of a good outcome are, well, NOT good.

See, this is a chance for me. It's a chance for me to do one of two things. Put up, or shut up. For once, there isn't any double-speak about it, there's no cryptic message behind what I'm saying. It isn't one of those times where, honestly, I'm going to be blunt. I don't see a future for me if I'm not competing at a level where I'm comfortable at. That doesn't mean I have to win the World Title, hell, it doesn't mean I have to be in the running right now. I just have to compete, and do it effectively, and in a manner that makes me feel like I'm representing myself properly, and adequately. Obviously, 2011 has been a disgrace to my career thus far. Another loss... Yeah... Will do a number to it that I don't know if I can pull through. I honestly don't think Jake Starr can lose that much, that quick, and mentally recover. Call it a weakness, call it whatever. I don't care. Again, I'm just speaking my mind, and speaking honestly.

So... Breakdown will be, just that, the "breakdown" of my career, or the "breakdown" of my little funk. If I can have a say, Gable and Stacy won't be the ones who drive that nail into my coffin, and send wannabes like Lucas and Christy jumping for joy, and measuring the sizes of their respective overgrown clits. Instead, they'll be the ones who help me rid this burden of a "slump" from my mind, and simply aide in putting Jake Starr back on his horse, and back on the path to where he belongs... Top of the world!

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