Confidence

[Will]

“You might not want to be here, but I’m pretty sure I can help you.”

Hesitant to respond to any of the questions or statements, Allen Jones sat quietly in his chair. The man who sat across from him on the other side of the desk was psychologist, James Gordon. While holding a pen in one hand and writing on a clip pad in front of him, the Doctor stared at AJ through his thick framed glasses with the utmost intrigue.

James Gordon: “After reviewing your file, it seems that you are a very afflicted individual. I’m glad you took the time out to meet with me on such short notice.”

It wasn’t like AJ had chosen to be there. There were other places he would rather be at the moment and seeing a shrink was at the bottom of his list. Kevin Nash had set up the entire thing and convinced AJ that it would do him some good, so eventually he gave in and decided to come.

James Gordon: “First off, I’d like to know how you are doing? Being a full time wrestler on the road constantly can become very stressful and diminishing, both physically and mentally. “

The look the doctor received should’ve answered the question for him; AJ simply smirked as if it wasn't a big deal. Other wrestlers sometimes whine about the conditions of being on the road nonstop, but AJ wasn’t one of those guys. He was quiet content with the lifestyle of a professional wrestler seeing as he had been doing it for more than ten years now.

James Gordon: “Well Mr. Jones, I know that you aren't here on a social visit, so everything isn’t just peaches and cream. There has to be something that you would like to talk with me about. Work? Relationships? I've been doing this for more than twenty years now and I can tell when there is something troubling a person. Just reading through your personal file I can see that there are a few topics that we should cover, but I would rather you bring them up willingly. Is that okay with you, Allen?”

The doctor noticed the aggressive look he had received and quickly changed his wording.

James Gordon: “Excuse me, Mr. Jones. I apologize.”

Allen Jones: “Don’t… Call me AJ, Allen, whatever. I don’t care.”

James Gordon: “Well, AJ… Is it okay if we discuss some of these things together?”

Opening up wasn’t a strong suit for AJ, but he was here already and the bill was more than certainly going to be measures enough for him to at least try.

Allen Jones: “Everything I say here is between the two of us, right?”

James Gordon: “Of course it is. Doctor/Patient confidentiality.”

Allen Jones: “Then by all means Doc.”

The nod was a gesture of approval and the specialist wasted no time going to the first subject.

James Gordon: “Let’s start with your job. You’re a professional wrestler for the EBWF. I have no idea what that’s an acronym for.”

Allen Jones: “Neither do I.”

Not knowing if he was being sarcastic the doctor continued.

James Gordon: “That doesn’t matter. What does matter is your morale on the job. Do you enjoy what you do? How is your relationship with your fellow coworkers? How is your relationship with your boss?”

Allen Jones: “I love what I do. I wake up every morning with wrestling on my mind and I go to sleep thinking about the same thing. I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t wrestling. I’d probably be a firefighter or in the circus or something. People love to comment on how I’m this martyr, always sacrificing myself for the greater good, so running into burning buildings seems up my alley. They also like to call me a spot monkey, just because I am athletic and can do flips and stuff. Being in the circus would just do wonders for my career.”

James Gordon: “I take it as you don’t get along with too many of your coworkers then?”

Allen Jones: “Nah Doc, it’s pretty fifty-fifty. I’ve made some friends, lost some friends, made some enemies, you know the deal.”

James Gordon: “Care to elaborate?”

Allen Jones: “For starters, two of the guys I’ve become great friends with are Mike Mizanin and Greg Marasciulo. People know them well as The Miz and Trent Baretta.”

James Gordon: “I see. Tell me, have you ever wrestled anyone of them before?”

Allen Jones: “Yeah, Mike and I have wrestled each other all over the country. Our chemistry together is always on point and we put on great matches together. Greg and I haven’t really had the chance, but this Sunday we are all going to be working this Elimination Chamber match together, so we’ll get the chance to finally do something then.”

James Gordon: “Gotcha. So, I wouldn’t be mistaken if I said you trust them?”

Allen Jones: “Nope. That’s a reason I believe Mike and I mash so well together. I trust him in the ring.”

James Gordon: “But, do you trust him outside of the ring?”

That was a good question and before retorting immediately, AJ took a second to think before responding.

Allen Jones: “Yes, I do. The guy is my best friend. ”

James Gordon: “Be honest with me. I’ve done my homework and I see that you use to be romantically involved with a woman by the name of Layla El, who also happens to be an employee of the EBWF. You two were together for almost a year and even had an elevator sex tape that was leaked onto the internet. If my indications are correct it would seem that she is now dating Mike Mizanin, your best friend.”

AJ let out the most gentle of giggles to himself before speaking again.

Allen Jones: “Damn Doc, you make her sound like a whore. Well, if the shoe fits I guess. No, in all seriousness the two of us were finished for a while before they got together. I did her wrong in the end of our relationship, so I wasn’t mad when I found out about it. She deserves to be happy right? So does Mike, so I’m not going to stand in the way of happiness. At first I was a little insecure, jealous, angry, about it, but after a while I had to realize that, that’s just life and shit happens. No reason to act like John Cena about it.”

James Gordon: “Is John Cena another of your coworkers?”

Allen Jones: “Yeah, he’s a guy that I use to be sort of close to. I mean, we weren’t the greatest of friends, but we were cool enough to hang together outside of the job.”

James Gordon: “What happened?”

Allen Jones: “Pussy happened.”

James Gordon: “Pardon me?”

Another snicker was let out from AJ due to the look on the doctor’s face.

Allen Jones: “A woman happened. She left him for another guy I work with, Phil Brooks. Goes by CM Punk. Anyway, she left John for Phil. John got upset and became a serial stalker-psychopath and all hell broke loose around the company for a while. Up until they got to beat the leaving hell out of one another a few months ago.”

James Gordon: “I see. Do you have any history with Mr. Brooks?”

Allen Jones: “Oh yeah, me and Punk go way back. He’s another of the guys that will be in the Elimination Chamber with me this Sunday. Before either of us had even made it to big leagues we would wrestle one another in the Indy’s and such. Never really been great friend, but never really been enemies either. Guess our lifestyles are just too different. He’s more of the conservative type, while I’m more out there. He says no to drugs, I say let’s party! So yeah, we’re polar opposites, beside the fact that the two of us combined have probably slept with every woman in the wrestling industry.”

James Gordon: “Interesting. Since we have pretty much covered coworkers, how about your boss? What is your relationship like with him?”

Allen Jones: “Wes Ikeda is too cool.”

The doctor could sense that the statement was a little shady, so he glared at AJ for a few moments as if he didn’t believe him.

Allen Jones: “You could smell the bullshit huh? Honestly, I don’t really have a bad thing to say about the man. He’s a great business man, amazing promoter, spectacular father, and a boss you couldn’t wish for in your wildest dreams. I just don’t understand him half the time.”

James Gordon: “Please continue.”

Allen Jones: “This year was a great year for me in the business. I accomplished some things that most guys would kill for, but even though it was all so sweet, it was pretty damn bitter at the same time. For instance, people like to assume that I’m the ‘golden boy’ in the company, the guy who kisses up for opportunities and is given things without working for them. That’s far from the case. Wes and I have very seldom seen eye to eye when it comes down to business and from my point of view he still doesn’t look at me as one of the top guys in his company. Sure it was his decision to have me carry the World Championship for four months this year, but I think it was just all done to shut me up, since I was so vocal about things. Last year, Phil and another guy named Chris Jericho headlined almost every pay per view in 2011. They were considered to be ‘golden boys’ by others and it’s like they were place on this pedestal by Wes. Jericho just so happens to be in the match I keep mentioning on Sunday. Anyway, in order to take the focus off them for a while I was finally given the chance to step into the spotlight, but at a cost. I won a match called the Royal Rumble earlier this year and it pretty much guarantees that person will have the Main Event spot at Wrestlemania, ala the final match of the night. This was promoted for the next two months and almost a week before the event I was surprisingly knocked down to the Co-Main Event because his brother in law would be returning to the ring after a hell of a hiatus. This sort of pissed me off, but I was booked to win the World title, so I didn’t mind that much. Later on in the year, it happened again. The King of the Ring event I was knocked down to the Co-Main Event and the next month I was knocked down again due to the Cena-Punk match that I mentioned earlier. That night I had to drop the title to a guy named Cody Rhodes against my better judgment. I was shocked and upset that I had to put over a guy who barely tried to be World Champion. Who am I to argue with the boss, right? It just didn’t sit well with me. The hype that had been going around was for Punk and I to work Summerslam together in a big time money match, but that night it had all been wiped away and I realized just how much Wes didn’t want me in that spot.”

James Gordon: “Do you hold a grudge against him for this?”

Allen Jones: “Not at all. I’m sure Wes knows what’s best for business, so I am fine with his decision. Even though I felt another program with Punk would be amazing, I let it go. I’m not sure if Wes regrets his decision to have me lose the belt then, because the Rhodes guy didn’t stick around too much longer after wards. It didn’t really make a lot of sense to me, but it is what it is. The Championship was vacated after his departure and all the guys I have mentioned earlier along with myself will be vying for the now. Oh yeah, it’ll also be including Daniel Bryan who hasn’t been around as long as some of us.”

The doctor had made a realization and looked surprised for a moment.

James Gordon: “I know of a Bryan Danielson. He’s a pat—

The doctor stopped himself before anything else could be said. He didn’t want to get too much in depth about how he knew him.

Allen Jones: “How do you know him?”

James Gordon: “I’m sorry, but our time seems to be up.”

Allen Jones: “No, it’s not.”

James Gordon: “Yes, it is.”

Allen Jones: “No, it’s not.”

James Gordon: “Yes, it is.”

Allen Jones: “No.”

James Gordon: “Yes”

Allen Jones: “Fine!”

AJ was noticeably frustrated and the doctor gave him this wicked smirk.

James Gordon: “I’m glad you were able to open up to me and I hope you come back for another session. There is plenty to discuss the next time.”

If there was a next time, though AJ as he stood up from his chair and firmly shook the doctor’s hand. Shrinks weren’t good for a damn thing, except bringing all of the pain to the surface. He headed towards the door and didn’t look back as he left.


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EBWF Destiny was hours away and so could AJ Styles’ destiny to become World Champion for the second time. The Phillips Arena was rather empty minus the EBWF employees who were still doing the finishing touches on the massive titantron, the ring, and the Elimination Chamber. Atlanta, Georgia was the new found home for the Phenomenal One and it didn’t take him long to get from his home to the arena. The Georgia native was sitting up high in stadium with a perfect view of the Chamber as it surrounded the ring. He was dressed in a fitted pair of 501 Levi jeans and a shirt which read “Greatest in the Galaxy”. Sitting directly beside him was Hardcore Legend and New York Times Best Seller Mick Foley, dressed in his vintage flannel shirt.

Mick Foley: “Ladies and gentleman of the EBWF Universe, I’m back!”

The camera man spun to get a better image of the two men and this would likely be posted to EBWF.net before the show aired live.

Mick Foley: ”It’s a privilege to be here and given the opportunity to interview one of the brightest stars in this business today, former EBWF Champion, The Phenomenal AJ Styles. AJ, tonight is the night that you have the chance to get regain the EBWF Championship, so I know there is a lot on your mind right now, but in order to do that you must go through five other men in one of the most barbaric matches of all time, the Elimination Chamber. Now, I know a little bit about barbaric matches. Hell in a Cell. Bowler Room Brawls. Hell, Brian Kendrick actually knocked me off the titantron onto a pile of burning equipment, which happened to be the last time I was here. But, this is one match that I have never had the opportunity to participate in. What is your mind frame going into this?”

An image of the Elimination Chamber could be seen over the head of AJ Styles as he looked down at it, focused entirely on the steel structure.

AJ Styles: “I’m not invincible. I would like to think I am, but I’m not. I can’t risk my body the way I would in every other match, because the slightest error in this match and it could spell the end of my career. This match tonight means so much to me. This match means everything to me. I have the opportunity to be the EBWF World Champion again and now that I know what it was like to hold that belt, I’m willing to do anything to get it back. So, in a way I really am willing to risk it all here tonight. Walking out of this match as the World champion would be completely worth it.”

Mick Foley: “Oh trust me I know all about risks. You will be matching up against some of the top names in the EBWF and each man seems hell bent on walking out with the currently vacated Championship. Four of the men including you have held the championship before, so what do you think about the two men who haven’t had the chance yet. Is their hunger going to be the x factor in this match tonight?”

AJ Styles: “Indeed it is Mick. For Trent Barreta and Daniel Bryan they both are extremely motivated in this match. Trent has been busting his ass for the past year trying to prove that he belongs in the ring with guys like myself, Miz, Punk, & Jericho. He has the most potential coming into this and I expect him to put on a show like no other, but I don’t think he will be walking out the Champion. Not to take anything away from him, he is one hell of a wrestler, entertainer, and all around guy. I have mad respect for him, but tonight just isn’t his night. This isn’t my first Elimination Chamber match and I know what to expect coming into this. Before I was actually in it, I thought it would be a cake walk. Boy was I fucking wrong.”

The camera angles switched to a close up inside the chamber, displaying the glass pods, steel flooring, and the chain link fencing. Styles voiced could still be heard while this was happening.

AJ Styles: “When your body hits that steel it’s like nothing else you could ever experience. You don’t know what to do next half the time, veteran or not. That’s why this match will be complicated for Trent to overcome. He won’t be expecting the pain and punishment that is dealt out in this thing and may god have mercy on him. He has a bright future ahead of him and a match like this can most definitely shorten it. Now Daniel Bryan is another story. Here’s a guy who worked his way to the biggest stage in the business and was always told that he would never be here. People would underrate him every chance they got, but I for one knew when I wrestled him for the first time so many years back that one day this guy would actually be where he is now. So what if he hasn’t been in the EBWF for a good two months, he has proven his worth by defeating guys like Christian. Aligning himself with Paul Heyman was brilliant for him and look what it did. He is getting a World Championship match. I’m sure he is eager to prove that he can hang and that he should be treated like one of the best, but that’s all he will earn. He may walk out a main eventer, but World Champion, I don’t think so. I may be a lot of things, a male whore, a recovering drug addict, a hypocrite, and a betting man isn’t one of them. But if I was a betting man, my money wouldn’t be on the little troll Daniel Bryan.”

Mick Foley: “If you don’t mind me asking, who do you feel is the biggest threat to you in this match?”

AJ Styles: “Well, since I’ve already proven this year that I can beat Miz and Jericho when the lights are on bright, I would have to say CM Punk. Before either of us made it to the EBWF I was able to secure a perfect record against him whenever we locked up. Then we arrive here and he has managed to reverse the table and now his record against me is perfect. So, Punk is my biggest threat. I can actually admit that. I am motivated to finally prove to everyone along with myself that I can beat him. The last time the two of us were involved in the chamber together he was able to walk out the victor. Then he went on to have the ‘Summer of Punk’ that he loves to so often brag about. I guess this year was the ‘Summer of Styles’ then since I was able to duplicate what he did. Now, when that door is locked, accolades and achievements won’t mean a damn thing. It will be all about who has the biggest heart and the biggest balls and Mick, you’re looking at him.”

Mick Foley: “Okay, too much information. Just kidding pal, anybody that can put up with having Kevin Nash around constantly has to have loads of testicular fortitude. Moving on, you will be in the Chamber for the second time with a man you have a history with a mile long, in the Miz, who just so happened to win the last Elimination Chamber match. Also, Chris Jericho another man who has won in this match before and you have dealt with in the recent months.”

The camera had now returned to Styles and Foley.

AJ Styles: “Yeah, Miz is going to go all out for this thing. Probably claim he’s my favorite wrestler, how I’m a junkie, second fiddle superstar, and that he is the best thing since Twitter. Who really cares? Nobody. He thinks the people love him, but in all honest they don’t. They love me. They just think he’s funny and everybody loves a good laugh. He is built with so much false confidence it’s rather pathetic. Nobody has forgotten how he has acted like a little bitch over the past month, winning the IC title by fluke, attacking random defenseless announcers. I pity the guy. He just wants some attention and after this match he will be getting a ton of it… medical attention. As for Chris Jericho, I’m not worried about him because he’s not worried about me. He’s not worried about this match. He doesn’t want to be the World Champion again. All he wants is Wes Ikeda’s head on a platter. I for one could care less about the little quarrel they have going on. I simply plan on walking into the Elimination Chamber as confident as ever, kick everyone’s ass, and walk out EBWF World Heavyweight Champion.”

Mick Foley: “What more is there to say then good luck… And HAVE A NICE DAY!”

Styles cracked a smile while Foley threw up the bang bang symbols to end the feed for the EBWF exclusive.


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(OOC: Edited this to finish adding the coloring. Didn't have a lot of time to work on this, but I'm happy with it. Good luck to everyone.)

[Juan Ramirez]

You tease! Here I was expecting an epic: YES! NO! Confrontation with the Doc!
Mick on it is the icing on the Cake! Kudos to you Will!