Trios Tournament 2024 RP Part 1: Konrad's mentality mountain climbing in Switzerland.

Las Vegas, Nevada. Thursday 29th February. (Offline)

My therapist, who was hired by SCW Ross Barnes, gave me a week off last week from the sessions because he said mountain climbing would be too easy if I had two wins in the bag, which I did and my god, that was the best race I've ever had at Atlanta Motor Speedway. I won the Cup race by millimetres against my friend Kyle Busch and Daniel Suarez. I couldn't ask for closer racing better than that, and to this date, they two were the closest ever to try and beat me at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Not even Austin Hill came that close, and he's the master of Super Speedways.

I knew I was going to return to SCW this week, but I have a feeling Ross will get me to not return to SCW just yet; the problem was, I couldn't wait to come back anymore, especially since my burns weren't as severe as they once were. I wanted to fight, and the more they held me back, the more I wanted to go in there and beat the shit out of wrestlers.

Although this break from wrestling was short, I'm still not confident in my ability to compete for the world title. Many people don't understand that I feel pressure every time I go for a World Title match because I get anxious and sick to my stomach about it, so much so that I vomit before the matches happen, which has happened twice.

I was chilling in my motorhome alone with my feet up on the sofa as Jasmine had to qualify for the Olympics with skateboarding. I knew I was due for a visit with Ross, who had to get a permanent NASCAR VIP pass to come to the race this time, unlike the last two times when he came to my homes in Florida and Atlanta. However, he came knocking on my motorhome door, and I put my feet down and went straight up to the door and answered it. Knowing Ross came in, I shook his hand and sat to get down to business.

Ross Barnes: "I don't think you're ready to return to the wrestling business yet."

Konrad Raab: "I knew you were going to say that. Yes, I realise I'm not in the mental state to go for the World Title yet, but I need to be in the wrestling ring. It's the only place I can get my anger out. Plus, I want to face Enigma so bad; he's been my target for my return."

Ross had to stop because he got a notification from SCW bosses about me returning on Sunday. They needed me to come back, and I needed to come back to change the landscape of wrestling. It had died down a lot since I lost the PPV match, mainly because it had become incredibly dull. Enigma didn't know that right now. He's a threat to me, and nobody saw it.

Ross Barnes: "Well, I have nothing to say on it, and I won't talk about that anymore since SCW demands you back. What we do need to talk about, however, is mountain climbing. We still need you to do it throughout your SCW career every week, if possible, even while wrestling until you're mentally ready, and I'm still waiting for you to speak positive thoughts."

Konrad Raab: “Ugh, this again?”

Ross Barnes: "Yes. To be a World Title contender, you need to stop being negative, at least about yourself, all the time and be more positive. Also, speaking about yourself doesn't hurt. That's the only thing affecting you. You still say I can't and won't have a mentality in you. I know mountain climbing is hard, but it's meant to be hard to give you a challenge."

It did, and I got a couple of Rockstar Energy drinks out that had no sugar. I still have them as my sponsors and will use them this weekend, like in the All-Star Race. Of course, I was warned that I would still have to do more mountain climbing challenges. However, he got not only one book out but two. He turned them to the back so he wouldn't show me the mountains I would climb. He has it in order. I was going to do more mountain climbing. I shook my head and was glad I got my climbing equipment just in case I was going to.

I was sick of climbing mountains, but I saw his point. I hated it and felt like I would die of high altitude each time I climbed mountains. But I did need to build my self-esteem and positive behaviour. I sighed, and Ross saw I wasn't going to turn the books over because, mentally, I was exhausted from climbing mountains.

Ross Barnes: "I haven't got all day, Konrad; we aren't having excuses like being mentally exhausted from climbing mountains, are we?"

Konrad Raab: "No."

I bullshitted, obviously, I was, which is why I didn't want to turn the books over, but I knew I had to benefit myself mentally, and I did. One of the books I turned over was The Breithorn Mountain in Switzerland. I nodded as I had heard of it but had never been there. However, there was another book I had yet to turn over as I gulped hard, but I did, and it was Pikes Peak Mountain in Colorado. I drank and then spat out my drink, realising something.

Konrad Raab: "You aren't expecting me to do two mountain climbs in one week, are you?"

Ross Barnes: "Of course not, that would be insane even for Jacob to do. After the Las Vegas race this weekend, you're doing the Switzerland mountain climb and the week after, you're doing Pikes Peak. We just planned you a week earlier with Pikes Peak as it's the highest mountain you've had to climb."

Konrad Raab: “Yeah, I get it. I still don't see the benefit to these mountain climbs mentality other th.........."

Ross Barnes: "That's why you need to do more of them to convince you that this is all good for you. I'm also concerned about you still obsessively swearing in your blogs when you return. Swearing can be a good thing, but you go over the top with it, and as I said, it diminishes the respect people have for you as a wrestler."

Ugh, I knew he was going to bring that up. Maybe I do lose control of my words, even while writing them out as well with my mouth, but I do always feel I have a problem with my swearing, and it has gotten worse when I've begun to age, and the father beating me up really affected me a lot and hard to get over something like that.

Ross Barnes: "Anyway, I will leave you with those two books you should read before climbing. Good luck with the race, and I'll see you in two weeks after the climbs to elevate every mountain climb you've done in Switzerland and Colorado. Jacob, as usual, will be with you in those mountain climbs."

He left my motorhome finally as I now have time to read books about these mountain climbs I had to do as a part of mental training I still got to do, on top of being a professional wrestler and a NASCAR driver at the same time. I never felt like I was a part of a racing family besides Kaulig Racing. It really feels right to be with this team. It made me feel welcome and made me try to organise a charity for climate change. I read the book about the Breithorn mountain climb for most of the day before heading to bed for the night.

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Zermatt, Switzerland (Breithorn mountain climb.) Wednesday 6th March (Offline)

There's nothing new about travelling in the car, vomiting as usual, and feeling nervous about climbing this mountain. But climbing this mountain took less time than the last two times. Jacob Thomas, the mountaineer climber and I had already climbed up for almost an hour and a half, and I was still pretty exhausted as this was the highest mountain to date until next week. However, we were doing the normal route as it's essential for beginner mountaineers like me. I granted and growled each time I walked up the mountain, which was difficult. It's been an hour and a half in, and I wanted to sit down and relax because this was so exhausting.

On top of that, it was also freezing, colder than at Mount Hood. I was sweating and boiling from the climbing, but I also felt the cold. It was almost like I had a fever, but I didn't. I didn't know what to feel, and it was messing my head up, so I had to continue. I was angry because I had mixed feelings about this brutality mountain that was doing everything it could to try and kill me. I get told to talk positive thoughts, but there's no chance I can do that while climbing the top of this. Jacob saw me slacking badly as two hours were in now, and I just collapsed to sit down.

Jacob Thomas: "Come on, Konrad. You can't give up, and I know that collapse wasn't because you passed out or anything."

Konrad Raab: "Don't you understand how exhausted I am?"

Jacob Thomas: "I know you are, but you must push yourself through these hard times. How are you going to ever approach Selena Frost if you're going to give up on the hardest hurdle?"

Konrad Raab: “Don't remind me.”

Jacob Thomas: "You can't for one second let Selena expose you for your mentality weakness of you acting like you don't want to win the championship because of the pressure you feel; that's what's killing you in your entire wrestling run and why you've only had two world title runs the entire time you've been in SCW."

I know he was trying to drill the point in of me, say, laying on the mat in a world title match against Selena Frost for her to pin me for the three count to retain the world title because I simply gave up trying to fight. I know he was right, but to be honest, I didn't want to hear it, as this mountain was a fucking bastard. God knows how I'll do with the other one next week.

Konrad Raab: "Can I please just rest for five minutes? I need a drink, as this mountain is scaring me, and I'm going to die."

Jacob Thomas: "You aren't going to die from altitude sickness; heck, you'd be in a worse state than you are if you were. This is all mentality thinking you have going on. Granted, the mountain is the highest you've climbed so far, but you need to stop having these negative thoughts each time you do these mountain climbs."

Konrad Raab: “I feel it Jacob. You don't understand that while it's a mountain I've heard of, I never thought it would be this difficult. I don't know if I'm hot or cold, and that's frustrating enough."

Jacob nodded and understood as we walked for two hours, and I needed to drink a lot of water. It makes sense to stop anyway, considering we had to prepare ropes to do this climb, as we were just only walking up without the ropes. God knows how I'm going to manage this painful struggle of getting my ass up there. Unfortunately, after five minutes of resting, Jacob was ready to go.

Jacob Thomas: "Come on, we got to go."

Konrad Raab: "I don't want to."

Jacob Thomas: "You don't have a choice. Come on, put your water away and walk. I'll clip on this rope attacher for you."

I barely struggled to get up, but I had to keep going as he had drilled in the fact I would have to push to my limits mentally if I ever wanted to beat Selena Frost for the World Championship. I get why he wanted me to think that. It is a significant weakness; I just cannot shake it, and I most likely still can't when I return. I felt mentally out of it, but I had to keep going because I was struggling; even just getting up the mountain was a nightmare. I still had to do it because Jacob tapped my head about me and Selena's World Title match.

Konrad Raab: "I will one day, Selena, have the confidence to address and challenge you for the World Title. I always avoid people like you because I cannot handle the pressure of going for the World Title. The problem is you don't pose a threat because you will run behind the GM to avoid a violent fight with me."

I had to tell the truth, and I was talking to myself as if Selena was in front of me. I had to practice one of these days to sense that I was going to address her face about challenging her for the world title, but I knew at the same time that I would have to seriously trap her into hell in a cell match if she were to be my opponent when I've gained the confidence. I laughed at how stupid I was and had to say it.

Konrad Raab: "I feel stupid doing a promo on an opponent that's nowhere near me."

Jacob Thomas: "It's not. In fact, that was better than thinking positive thoughts. Did I drill your head in about the world title and why you're doing these mountain climbs to boost your mentality to win the world title?"

Konrad Raab: “Yes you did.”

Some random guy: "Was that a wrestling promo?"

Suddenly, some big dude came towards us as he was ascending the mountain, and I had to get Jacob to stop again because, looking at the guy, he seemed to know what I was doing was a wrestling promo. He seemed to have the look of a professional wrestler.

Konrad Raab: "Yes. What do you know about it?"

Some random guy: "I used to be a wrestler until a company closed down, and I haven't found anywhere to go. The name's Jurgen Kaiser, a German from Hannover, Germany."

Konrad Raab: "Oh wow, I never thought I'd meet a wrestler here. You know, something I certainly could do with someone like you at my wrestling school. Let's sit down for a bit and talk."

So we did just that, but Jacob had other ideas. He knew we had to keep climbing.

Jacob Thomas: "We got no time for that, Konrad. We need to keep climbing."

Konrad Raab: "Fuck off, Jacob; me and Jurgen got business to discuss. We'll continue to climb in a minute."

So there was a pause before I pulled out my business card, as I was in the process of recruiting wrestlers, after all. Jurgen did have the type. He showed me some of his matches as well on his phone, and I was impressed, nodding my head.

Konrad Raab: "Wow, you were homeless and wrestled? That sounds pretty similar to Lord Raab's story. I will give you this business card. It has all our phone numbers so you can contact me or Lord Raab, my twin brother. I was looking for a German wrestler to lead the way in the future."

Jurgen Kaiser: "Ah, that's right. You have a wrestling school to get Europeans into the wrestling business. It's a good thing you and Lord Raab are doing. I will make sure to get in contact and, hopefully, be a part of The European Fiery Nation one day. Anyway, gotta ascend down and will give you a call sometime in the week."

Konrad Raab: “See you there.”

He placed the business card I had for him in his bag before he ascended down, and Jacob looked at me and wondered what the discussion was about.

Konrad Raab: "I wasn't going to miss an opportunity to recruit a wrestler like that."

Jacob Thomas: "I understand. Can we climb more now?"

I nodded as we stood up, and I continued walking. I felt better talking to someone about wrestling for a change. Despite being mentally exhausted, I kept my mouth shut the entire time with that climb and thought a lot more about Selena. If she had stood in front of me, I would most likely have run away as I wasn't ready to face her for the World Title and would vomit all over my locker room. Then I let her beat me just to get the match over and done with because I couldn't breathe.

A bit like climbing this mountain was really wearing me out and fucking with my feelings as well with cold or hot. But this is a challenge I needed, and parts of Jacob were right that I still needed to be optimistic about myself if I ever was going to challenge Selena for the World Title. I kept silent for two hours after the interaction as it was challenging for me, and Jacob knew I was struggling as he had to wait a while for me to get across the bridge and climb on the snow. We had to change footwear, and wear spiked snowshoes to keep ourselves steady.

Jacob Thomas: "It's OK. We're nearly at the top; we have a couple more hours before getting there."

Konrad Raab: "This has to be the most psychically demanding mountain I've done so far.

Jacob Thomas: "But it's all worth it to get you ready to face a wrestling world title mentally. I hope it's still on your mind because it needs to be when you're mentally exhausted. I know you are showing signs of that; that's what you must remember, Selena and the World Title."

We continued up the mountain, keeping in mind the world title and Selena's situation. The problem was I didn't have anything against her, which would be the trouble, but I still had to think about it. Six hours later, we managed to get to the top of the mountain after all that struggle and difficulty getting there. This was hard, even harder than the mountains in Portland and Italy. I breathed in and out, giving me time to breathe. I got my water bottle out and started drinking a lot of that as we climbed non-stop to get where we were. Jacob pulled another flag out of the bag, and I planted it on the ground with the usual selfie we did together, along with the flag in front of us.

Jacob Thomas: "That was one hell of a difficult climb, but I think we need to get you trained to do Crevasse Rescue training soon. You will need it if you do higher climbs with me or your friends."

Konrad Raab: "I don't want to climb with my friends. Just doing these climbs for the sake of my mental training."

Jacob Thomas: "I think you'll change your mind. Let's ascend to the bottom now, and then we will separate when we're at the bottom."

We ascended down the mountain together as we had to as a part of teamwork. We managed to do so before it was dark. I aimed to go to Germany to visit my mum and train future European wrestlers more at the wrestling school, as it was my job to keep everything intact, as it was for my twin brother. That was really hard and mentally draining, especially dealing with fever symptoms of hot and cold, which really messed my mind up a little, bit like if Selena messed my mind up with screw job referees to be robbed of a win. 

That was for another time, though, as I needed to get back in the ring and show everyone I mean business when I take wrestling titles seriously. I knew there weren't really any champions I wanted to face when I returned, but Enigma was the guy who stood a chance of being a threat to me, so I aimed to go for him when I returned before chasing any wrestling titles.