Have you ever been to Utah?
The loneliest state, with 80% of it's population living along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City (thanks Wikipedia!). See the endless horizons leading nowhere, the sand dunes stretching out for miles on end. Our camera focuses on a bright-green Volkswagon beetle making it's way through the deserted interstate, its occupant content in merely admiring the stretches of rolling hills and cliffs sculpted along the mountainside. That man is no mere man but the American Freebear; insurance analyst turned pro-wrestler after his childhood wanderlust could no longer be constrained within his office's cubicle walls. He is driving towards his destination: West Valley City, where the prestigious WWA Heavyweight title will be awarded to the winner of a sixteen man tournament. His car is low on gas.
In his past video, fans could tell that the Freebear was unsure about a tournament with so many unknown factors, namely at least nine mystery participants. The long trip across the valley has helped in settling his nervous mind. The vast expanses of lands have had a calming effect on the Flyin' Ursine, so much so that he finds himself surprised by the sense of ease flowing through him.
"Is this what they call zen? Inner peace.. is but drivin' through the mountain range?"
Let's focus on not running dry in the middle of Utah. Last chance gas station and dinner coming on up gives the Freebear a chance to refuel; both for the miniscule automobile and his own hulking body. And what would you know, it just so happens that the American Freebear is recognized by the patrons of the restaurant.
"FREEBEAR!!!!", they yell in unison; the assembled mass of travelers looking about as plump as the Freebear himself. These men and women have ended up here roughly for the same reason as the American Freebear himself: for gas and gassy food. The big Southern man blushes; he did make his start in the Mid-West territories but never imagined he'd touch so many people in the Four Corners region. Even more embarrassing: his money is no good here. The people want his stories.
"Well as you all know, I'm going to West Valley City now for the big sixteen man person tournament; not sure who exactly is coming up, rumors are that the new brass might hire some names from other wrestling federations to fill out some slots, maybe even make a new champion from outta nowhere."
There's grumbling. There's acknowledgement that the winner of the last big WWA event was a Defiance guy. There's the distinct possibility that the tournament could be won by somebody no one has ever heard of before.
"Take Johnny D, for instance. No, I refuse to call him by his full name; it's stupid. He's one of the WWA newcomers who's at least kindly enough to announce his arrival. And as soon as he's signed his papers, well the guy seems to have an answer for everyone around here. He knows what we're about, he's got his plans all settled and ready. He's on his way to be WWA's Heavyweight champion on his first day at the office! Small problem: people are often a lot more complicated than they appear."
The dinner patrons listen in rapt attention to the Freebear's every word. Big bear obliges.
"Johnny D see's the big man in front of you, thinks "he's fat!" and concludes that a keep away strategy will suffice to tire the Freebear out. See, that's sound strategy... FOR A TWO YEAR OLD!!! I mean, of course I'm fat big-boned, any fool can see that I'm large and everyone who ever faced me in the ring came up with the exact same strategy as Johnny D over here. Didn't save 'em in the end when the American Freebear climbed his way to the top and layed waste to everything below him."
"See, it's because we're bigger' than what we appear to be. Pro-wrestlers, I mean. We're not just some problems you look at and resolve through some ready-made solution; each of us is unique. For instance, I'm the only bear that flies! You know that, you've seen that, but don't you tell me that Johnny D ever wrestled a flying bear before or else I'm callin' bullshit!"
"Point bein', strategy alone ain't enough in pro-wrestling! A plan only leads you so far, cuz we ain't your normal kin: pro-wrestlers are individuals that are larger than life! Johnny D is just gonna have to face me head on doing what he does best and hope that beats my best... but I'm telling you right now that between the only bear that flies and a wrestling philosopher I know whom I'm putting my money on!"
And the patrons to agree with the general sentiment!
"Now you look at some of the locals and see who gets it and who doesn't. Drew Rosen thinks I'm popular because I'm a pretty big dude that can climb the turnbuckle. Drew don't get it. We had a big guy before I came in who was a former weightlifter, Jim Blair. He climbed to the top too, delivered his 360 splash which was basically a top rope splash done by someone weighing 360 pounds."
The audience chuckles.
"Neat trick, but I think most of you realized that this American Freebear doesn't merely splash' from the top, he flies! He faces the crowd and flips', soaring through the sky in a manner unseen from someone weighting over 320 pounds! And it's not just the Freebear Moonsault that's to fear; there's also my other maneuvers: the Shining Freebear, the Ursus Circus... I'm coming to the Meltdown tournament to usher in a new breed of big men wrestlers: those of us that have wings strapped to our backs and know that our place is in the skies!"
"We've got legends in Copeland and Shaman, returning heroes in Jim Black... none of 'em ever faced a flying bear before! It's a brand new day in the WWA and it ain't nothin' like anything you saw before! And I impress in every match I'm in, either through my Freebear Moonsault or the next new move I decide to take from those high fallutin' cruiserweights! More importantly, I fight. It's what I do. It's what I'm known for. And it's where I triumph: inside the ring, no matter how many matches I have to wrestle in one night, no matter whom I've got standing before me, no matter what the stakes are; I just fight. And win."
"For I am the American Freebear and the only bear that flies, the Flyin' Ursine, the only one of his kind. There is no lightness in my unBEARable being. The girls who want to show their mettle against the menfolk will be challenged by the bearfolk what have entered this tournament. Guys like Jim Black and Eddie Van Dorn... I got nothing. NOTHING BUT PAIN, THAT IS! Cuz that's how I work. I'm a big man that likes to fly around the world and jump off tall objects to squish my opponents flat. That's gonna be your WWA heavyweight champion. Let's see them deal with that."
And before anyone notices, the Freebear is done. Both with his speech and with his meal. Well the meal was finished roughly 20 seconds after serving but that's beyond the point. The great American Freebear has a town in Utah to reach. Lucky for him, the scenery leading there is plenty nice.