Post by Alan Envy on Jul 31, 2017 0:24:40 GMT
Saturday July 24th 1992
Fort Worth, Texas
Bazaar Flea Market.
It was your typical Texas summer day….hotter than hell. The temperature at 3pm was already at 97° and with the humidity it felt like 110°. Everyone walking through the flea market that was covered by a large open air metal roof was holding a cold drink sweating their asses off, looking for a deal on something someone was trying to sell.
Over near the end of the market was an older gentlemen around 70 years of age setting up a cold counter. The man named Lonnie was a meat distributor and butcher and he was setting up his primest of cuts for his patrons, who every weekend bought him out, to view. He has a cooler of water, sandwiches, and Kool-Aid the cherry kind of course sitting near the the other coolers that carried hundreds of pounds of beef, pork, chicken, and game.
This weekend. Lonnie was joined by his 4 year old grandson Alan, which is why he packed the cherry Kool-Aid, had accompanied him to the flea market. It all was a sensory overload for the young 4 year old boy. Alan looked at everything around him...oblivious to the sweltering heat of this summer day in Fort Worth, Texas. His grandfather beamed looking at Alan.
“Come here Bubba. Paw paw is about to open up shop. You need to be my big boy helper ok?”
Young Alan bounced up to his grandfather and stood at attention ready to help his paw paw. However something catches his eye. In the parking lot in front of him was a squared ring looking thing with colorful ropes stretched horizontally from post to post. Hundreds of folding chairs a few rows deep surrounded this ring. Alan stares in amazement.
“Paw paw what's that?”
Lonnie looks to where his Bubba was looking.
“Oh that's where they have the wrestlers in masks wrestle. The Lucha Libre….it's pro wrestling from Mexico Bubba.”
Alan gazed in amazement as the seats filled up….hundreds of people filling up every seat with others standing. Alan stands up on his chair to be able to see the top of the ring when a Hispanic man that was friends with Lonnie named Juan walks up. Lonnie takes his hand in a handshake.
“The usual Juan?”
Lonnie reached into the cooler and pulled out some chicken breasts and ground sirloin and starts bagging it up. Juan notices little Alan peeking over trying to see the masked wrestlers walking to the ring. Juan smiles and turns back to Lonnie.
“You're grand baby like Lucha?”
Lonnie smiles looking at his grandson.
“He seems pretty intrigued by it.”
Juan taps Alan on the shoulder and looks at him.
“You wanna go watch it?”
Little Alan’s eyes light up as he excitedly turns to his paw paw. Lonnie just smiles and rubs his hair.
“Go on but stay with Juan. Do not wander off Bubba. Promise me.”
“I promise paw paw…”
Juan picks Alan up and puts him on his shoulders. He walks him to the area where everyone had gathered to watch Lucha Libre. Little Alan had the best seat in the house on the shoulders of the 6’4” Hispanic man Juan.
That next hour Alan watched the athleticism. How these different sized Luchadores and Luchadores, masked and unmasked, performed. The crowd invested in what was going on. How they booed the ones that Juan called the Rudos and cheered madly for the ones Juan called the Técnicos. Six guys in the ring….flying around. Little Alan had never seen anything like that in his short 4 years if his life.
About an hour and a half later Juan brought Alan back to his grandfather Lonnie. The little boy was wound up after watching what he just saw.
“PAW PAW I WATCHED THE RUDOS AND UM…….OH MY GOD PAW PAW!!”
Lonnie smiles and calms his grandson down.
“Alright Bubba alright. Did you like seeing the wrestlers??”
“Yeah paw paw I want to be a Luchadore!! I want to be a wrestler!!”
Lonnie smiled at his hyper grandson. He touched his chin to get his attention.
“Remember this Alan….if you put your mind and effort into something….you can be anything you want to be.”
Alan nods his head. He hugs his grandfather.
“Paw paw can I come back next Saturday?”
Lonnie smiles at his little Bubba.
“Of course you can. Just got to get the ok from mommy.”
Three days later….Lonnie Mitchell passed away from a heart attack. But little Alan through his grief he had remembered what paw paw told him. And he was going to do what he was told.
September 6th 2002.
The 4 year old boy who decided that he wanted to be a professional wrestler that afternoon at the now closed Bazaar Flea Market was at 14 years of age standing inside a hot gym looking inside a boxing ring. It was his first day of Wrestling school. His eyes showed excitement as he looked around all over the place.
Finally the head trainer named Manny Hernandez, a local Luchadore that lived in Fort Worth got inside the ring. He looked at the class of 6 standing down on the floor. Manny surveyed the scene and locks eyes with hands down his youngest student.
“Did you get your father to sign off on you doing this like I told you.”
“Yes sir. I got his signature. I put the consent on your desk.”
The forged signature that Alan signed was on Manny’s desk. The assistant went in and checked and gave Manny the thumbs up.
“Alright kid...get in here.”
Alan gets in the ring and stands there. Manny takes a bump on the boxing ring and pops back up.
“You get the honor of being the first bump taken by my students. Do exactly what I did. For God's sake make sure you tuck in your chin.”
Alan did as instructed and did what Manny did. But unlike Manny he didn't get up. Alan just lied there. He couldn't move. He gasped for breath as he coughed up blood. He then stood up and felt something running down his leg. He had shit his pants and it was running down his leg. It was like taking a hard fall back first on a solid concrete block.
Manny stared at him as the look told the 14 year old Envy to get the hell out of the ring. He did as the older students laughed at him. Alan grabbed his bag and walked out amidst the bellowing of laughter from everyone in the boxing gym.
The very next day everyone was working on training when Alan walked into the gym. He looks around as everyone stopped to watch him. He places his bag onto the bench and climbs into the same ring that had embarrassed him the previous day. He stared his trainer down and took the bump again. He slowly got up...but he did. Just for the hell of it he took it again this time way harder. Again slowly getting up….but he got up. Manny Hernandez smiled at him as the class applauded.
“There ya go kid. You want this. I'll help you get there.”
Alan looked away and started working in the Hindu squats everyone else was doing. Only a few months later….Alan had his first pro wrestling match….at 15 years of age wearing a luchador mask. It was in the same Bazaar that he went 11 years prior as it was reopened just months prior. He was a Rudo.
After the match he walked to where his grandfather's meat stand was, now a sock and underwear dealer. He took some if his 20 dollar payoff and bought socks and underwear from a guy named Juan….the same one that sat 4 year old Alan on his shoulders 11 years before. Neither Alan or Juan recognized each other.
That day…..the man who would become Alan Envy….was born.
Present Day
Mexico City, Mexico
Guerreros of Lucha’s Eternal Lucha II had sold out one of the largest venues in the most populated metropolitan city in North America. The international star, Texas legend, and huge favorite in Mexico the man who is ICONIC….Alan Envy is only a couple days from making his GOL debut, a highly anticipated debut that has been talked about in the wrestling world for weeks...ever since he appeared with Julliet Brooks at the last Lucha show.
Envy walks inside the empty arena where he surveys the scene where in just a mere couple days it would be a wild fiesta atmosphere as thousands of Mexicans will fill the arena to watch the very best perform. Hence why Alan Envy is there. He is one of the very best.
And this match that he was debuting in was very special….very Lucha Libre unique...fit the style perfectly….it was a ladder match called the Gods of War match. It was opening the show, the tone setter for the entire night. Alan finds a seat high in the stands and sits there. He looks over the stage, the musky dingy smell tickled his nostrils. He sighs as he looks at the camera who had followed him most of the day.
“Am I nervous about debuting for GOL in a ladder match….not really. Well...it's more of a question of am I afraid to debut in the Gods of War ladder match because I'm not afraid. I've been in dozens of ladder matches in my career. So no...I'm not nervous...or afraid. I'm just ready.
You see….when I was 4 years old I saw my first Lucha Libre show at a flea market parking lot when I went with my grandfather to spend the day with him as he sold fresh cuts of meat and protein. I watched it and I was hooked. 4 years of age I was fucking hooked. I told my grandpa that I wanted to be a wrestler. He said put your mind to it Bubba and you will be. He died later that week.”
Envy put his head down for a few seconds.
“I have been in this business going on 16 years now. And I owe it all to that day I saw Lucha Libre for the first time in 100° heat at some cheap ass filthy flea market. My whole love for this business...my passion for this right here….is because I saw something that here in a few days I will actually be a part of for the first time in my career. My first Lucha Libre show….in GOL. “
He looks over at the other side of the building.
"I'm taking this more seriously than any match I've had in a long time. This….is my re-introduction to the Mexican wrestling fans. This….is my re-introduction into the pro wrestling world as one of the very best…..the ICONIC…..Alan Envy. What better stage to re-introduce myself right. God's of War Ladder Match...the perfect vessel to do something I've done my whole career….steal the show.”
Envy looks into the camera.
“This is my match. I don't care who else is in this. It doesn't matter because whoever gets in my way I will place out of my way. And I'm serious when I say it. I don't care if it's Tiger Mask Red or Jack Tillman. Otaki or Storm. Congressman Dragon, Julian Tijerina. El Destello or you El Temario. You all are going to be lying in the mat looking up at the ICONIC Alan Envy as I take my place on top of the GOL ladder, as the true God of War if Guerreros of Lucha.
You want to know why I'm not being stopped in this match? It's simple. I'm ICONIC….and I want this….because I need this more than any of you, the fans in attendance, the higher ups of this company, or any writer that covers this business can possibly know. I've waited to leave my mark on Lucha since I was four years old….and that mark begins at Eternal Lucha II. So to all of you lucha aficionados that will be here and watching all over the world….just stay tuned. Because this….is just the beginning. The ICONIC….beginning."
Alan Envy smiles into the camera. He then looks back towards the ring as the scene fades to black.
Fort Worth, Texas
Bazaar Flea Market.
It was your typical Texas summer day….hotter than hell. The temperature at 3pm was already at 97° and with the humidity it felt like 110°. Everyone walking through the flea market that was covered by a large open air metal roof was holding a cold drink sweating their asses off, looking for a deal on something someone was trying to sell.
Over near the end of the market was an older gentlemen around 70 years of age setting up a cold counter. The man named Lonnie was a meat distributor and butcher and he was setting up his primest of cuts for his patrons, who every weekend bought him out, to view. He has a cooler of water, sandwiches, and Kool-Aid the cherry kind of course sitting near the the other coolers that carried hundreds of pounds of beef, pork, chicken, and game.
This weekend. Lonnie was joined by his 4 year old grandson Alan, which is why he packed the cherry Kool-Aid, had accompanied him to the flea market. It all was a sensory overload for the young 4 year old boy. Alan looked at everything around him...oblivious to the sweltering heat of this summer day in Fort Worth, Texas. His grandfather beamed looking at Alan.
“Come here Bubba. Paw paw is about to open up shop. You need to be my big boy helper ok?”
Young Alan bounced up to his grandfather and stood at attention ready to help his paw paw. However something catches his eye. In the parking lot in front of him was a squared ring looking thing with colorful ropes stretched horizontally from post to post. Hundreds of folding chairs a few rows deep surrounded this ring. Alan stares in amazement.
“Paw paw what's that?”
Lonnie looks to where his Bubba was looking.
“Oh that's where they have the wrestlers in masks wrestle. The Lucha Libre….it's pro wrestling from Mexico Bubba.”
Alan gazed in amazement as the seats filled up….hundreds of people filling up every seat with others standing. Alan stands up on his chair to be able to see the top of the ring when a Hispanic man that was friends with Lonnie named Juan walks up. Lonnie takes his hand in a handshake.
“The usual Juan?”
Lonnie reached into the cooler and pulled out some chicken breasts and ground sirloin and starts bagging it up. Juan notices little Alan peeking over trying to see the masked wrestlers walking to the ring. Juan smiles and turns back to Lonnie.
“You're grand baby like Lucha?”
Lonnie smiles looking at his grandson.
“He seems pretty intrigued by it.”
Juan taps Alan on the shoulder and looks at him.
“You wanna go watch it?”
Little Alan’s eyes light up as he excitedly turns to his paw paw. Lonnie just smiles and rubs his hair.
“Go on but stay with Juan. Do not wander off Bubba. Promise me.”
“I promise paw paw…”
Juan picks Alan up and puts him on his shoulders. He walks him to the area where everyone had gathered to watch Lucha Libre. Little Alan had the best seat in the house on the shoulders of the 6’4” Hispanic man Juan.
That next hour Alan watched the athleticism. How these different sized Luchadores and Luchadores, masked and unmasked, performed. The crowd invested in what was going on. How they booed the ones that Juan called the Rudos and cheered madly for the ones Juan called the Técnicos. Six guys in the ring….flying around. Little Alan had never seen anything like that in his short 4 years if his life.
About an hour and a half later Juan brought Alan back to his grandfather Lonnie. The little boy was wound up after watching what he just saw.
“PAW PAW I WATCHED THE RUDOS AND UM…….OH MY GOD PAW PAW!!”
Lonnie smiles and calms his grandson down.
“Alright Bubba alright. Did you like seeing the wrestlers??”
“Yeah paw paw I want to be a Luchadore!! I want to be a wrestler!!”
Lonnie smiled at his hyper grandson. He touched his chin to get his attention.
“Remember this Alan….if you put your mind and effort into something….you can be anything you want to be.”
Alan nods his head. He hugs his grandfather.
“Paw paw can I come back next Saturday?”
Lonnie smiles at his little Bubba.
“Of course you can. Just got to get the ok from mommy.”
Three days later….Lonnie Mitchell passed away from a heart attack. But little Alan through his grief he had remembered what paw paw told him. And he was going to do what he was told.
September 6th 2002.
The 4 year old boy who decided that he wanted to be a professional wrestler that afternoon at the now closed Bazaar Flea Market was at 14 years of age standing inside a hot gym looking inside a boxing ring. It was his first day of Wrestling school. His eyes showed excitement as he looked around all over the place.
Finally the head trainer named Manny Hernandez, a local Luchadore that lived in Fort Worth got inside the ring. He looked at the class of 6 standing down on the floor. Manny surveyed the scene and locks eyes with hands down his youngest student.
“Did you get your father to sign off on you doing this like I told you.”
“Yes sir. I got his signature. I put the consent on your desk.”
The forged signature that Alan signed was on Manny’s desk. The assistant went in and checked and gave Manny the thumbs up.
“Alright kid...get in here.”
Alan gets in the ring and stands there. Manny takes a bump on the boxing ring and pops back up.
“You get the honor of being the first bump taken by my students. Do exactly what I did. For God's sake make sure you tuck in your chin.”
Alan did as instructed and did what Manny did. But unlike Manny he didn't get up. Alan just lied there. He couldn't move. He gasped for breath as he coughed up blood. He then stood up and felt something running down his leg. He had shit his pants and it was running down his leg. It was like taking a hard fall back first on a solid concrete block.
Manny stared at him as the look told the 14 year old Envy to get the hell out of the ring. He did as the older students laughed at him. Alan grabbed his bag and walked out amidst the bellowing of laughter from everyone in the boxing gym.
The very next day everyone was working on training when Alan walked into the gym. He looks around as everyone stopped to watch him. He places his bag onto the bench and climbs into the same ring that had embarrassed him the previous day. He stared his trainer down and took the bump again. He slowly got up...but he did. Just for the hell of it he took it again this time way harder. Again slowly getting up….but he got up. Manny Hernandez smiled at him as the class applauded.
“There ya go kid. You want this. I'll help you get there.”
Alan looked away and started working in the Hindu squats everyone else was doing. Only a few months later….Alan had his first pro wrestling match….at 15 years of age wearing a luchador mask. It was in the same Bazaar that he went 11 years prior as it was reopened just months prior. He was a Rudo.
After the match he walked to where his grandfather's meat stand was, now a sock and underwear dealer. He took some if his 20 dollar payoff and bought socks and underwear from a guy named Juan….the same one that sat 4 year old Alan on his shoulders 11 years before. Neither Alan or Juan recognized each other.
That day…..the man who would become Alan Envy….was born.
Present Day
Mexico City, Mexico
Guerreros of Lucha’s Eternal Lucha II had sold out one of the largest venues in the most populated metropolitan city in North America. The international star, Texas legend, and huge favorite in Mexico the man who is ICONIC….Alan Envy is only a couple days from making his GOL debut, a highly anticipated debut that has been talked about in the wrestling world for weeks...ever since he appeared with Julliet Brooks at the last Lucha show.
Envy walks inside the empty arena where he surveys the scene where in just a mere couple days it would be a wild fiesta atmosphere as thousands of Mexicans will fill the arena to watch the very best perform. Hence why Alan Envy is there. He is one of the very best.
And this match that he was debuting in was very special….very Lucha Libre unique...fit the style perfectly….it was a ladder match called the Gods of War match. It was opening the show, the tone setter for the entire night. Alan finds a seat high in the stands and sits there. He looks over the stage, the musky dingy smell tickled his nostrils. He sighs as he looks at the camera who had followed him most of the day.
“Am I nervous about debuting for GOL in a ladder match….not really. Well...it's more of a question of am I afraid to debut in the Gods of War ladder match because I'm not afraid. I've been in dozens of ladder matches in my career. So no...I'm not nervous...or afraid. I'm just ready.
You see….when I was 4 years old I saw my first Lucha Libre show at a flea market parking lot when I went with my grandfather to spend the day with him as he sold fresh cuts of meat and protein. I watched it and I was hooked. 4 years of age I was fucking hooked. I told my grandpa that I wanted to be a wrestler. He said put your mind to it Bubba and you will be. He died later that week.”
Envy put his head down for a few seconds.
“I have been in this business going on 16 years now. And I owe it all to that day I saw Lucha Libre for the first time in 100° heat at some cheap ass filthy flea market. My whole love for this business...my passion for this right here….is because I saw something that here in a few days I will actually be a part of for the first time in my career. My first Lucha Libre show….in GOL. “
He looks over at the other side of the building.
"I'm taking this more seriously than any match I've had in a long time. This….is my re-introduction to the Mexican wrestling fans. This….is my re-introduction into the pro wrestling world as one of the very best…..the ICONIC…..Alan Envy. What better stage to re-introduce myself right. God's of War Ladder Match...the perfect vessel to do something I've done my whole career….steal the show.”
Envy looks into the camera.
“This is my match. I don't care who else is in this. It doesn't matter because whoever gets in my way I will place out of my way. And I'm serious when I say it. I don't care if it's Tiger Mask Red or Jack Tillman. Otaki or Storm. Congressman Dragon, Julian Tijerina. El Destello or you El Temario. You all are going to be lying in the mat looking up at the ICONIC Alan Envy as I take my place on top of the GOL ladder, as the true God of War if Guerreros of Lucha.
You want to know why I'm not being stopped in this match? It's simple. I'm ICONIC….and I want this….because I need this more than any of you, the fans in attendance, the higher ups of this company, or any writer that covers this business can possibly know. I've waited to leave my mark on Lucha since I was four years old….and that mark begins at Eternal Lucha II. So to all of you lucha aficionados that will be here and watching all over the world….just stay tuned. Because this….is just the beginning. The ICONIC….beginning."
Alan Envy smiles into the camera. He then looks back towards the ring as the scene fades to black.