Long Overdue

[D.J]

OOC: Here's my RP for Aftermath. I worked hard on this, I hope you guys enjoy it. Feedback welcome! Best of luck to all! - DJ

It had been a whacky Roller Coaster Ride for The Miz as of late. He was in the public's eye, but at the same time it almost felt like he was dying down a bit. He just hadn't done anything recently that jumped off the page, with talents like Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins violently emerging into the forefront, guys like The Miz who had been top tier guys were seeming to slowly but surely fade. Miz had picked up victories, such as his recent W over Tensai, and his tag team victory over Rated RKO alongside his buddy and partner AJ Styles. However, it just didn't seem big enough, it just didn't seem buzz-worthy enough. Anyone that knew The Miz knew that he hated being out of the spotlight, like a fish hates being out of water, and would go to great lengths to recapture the glory he has since, to a certain extent, seen fade away. All he would need was an opportunity. As luck would have it, that is exactly what he was going to get at Fallout, as it was announced on the last Warfare before the show, that he would be in a Fatal Fourway ladder match to name the number 1 contender to the EBWF Title. The match would feature 4 former World Champions. Christian, Ted DiBiase, Miz himself of course, and Miz' tag team partner AJ Styles. It was a chance of a lifetime, a chance at redemption, a chance to once again put his flag down in the main event scene, that as he would tell you himself, he should have NEVER left.

The scene cut into static. It became clear we were about to see and hear a montage of different calls throughout the last year from EBWF announcers and journalists. AJ Styles pinning Miz at Wrestlemania, and the reffing making a 3 count was seen with the fans counting along with the ref.

Jim Ross (Wrestlemania): AJ Styles has done it! AJ is living a dream!

The arena was deafening as AJ Styles was shown celebrating at last years Wrestlemania. Another quick bit of static until we saw Michael Cole on an EBWF after hours show. On a panel with Todd Grisham, and Matt Striker.

Michael Cole: The Miz is a forced to be reckoned with guys, but one can't help but notice he's never.. never.. never..

an echo effect was seen, so the screen showed Michael Cole saying "never" three times though he only said it once in real time.

Michael Cole: defeated his partner and friend AJ Styles. AJ is Miz' Kryptonite.. Kryptonite.. Kryptonite.

Same echo effect there. Another quick bit of static, followed by a slam to the mat was heard, and AJ once again pinning Miz was the next shot the camera cut to.

Jim Ross (Aftermath): Styles Clash! Styles Clash! Styles Clash! Still with 6 seconds to go. Here's the cover!

The crowd was heard counting with Jim Ross.

Jim Ross: ONE.... TWO.. THREE! HE DID IT! HE DID IT!

Justin Roberts: The winner of this bout and STILLLLL EBWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION AJ STYLES!

Jim Ross (Aftermath): AJ Styles has retained the EBWF World Heavyweight Championship! He went 60 minutes with his bitter enemy, and came out by god victorious, AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN!

Another quick bit of static. Once again that panel show with Cole, Grisham, and Striker was seen on screen.

Todd Grisham: The Miz and AJ Styles best of friends now, and former rivals, but can you really call them rivals? I mean is it a rivalry if one man has done all the winning and the other the losing? Miz and AJ are rivals like the Washington Generals and the Harlem Globetrotters are rivals. Ha Ha Ha.. Ha HA HA HA HA

Some editing was done to make the laughter of all three men last longer and almost sound haunting in nature. Straight static was then seen and heard. The camera then cut to The Miz. He sat in the ring, on the second rung of a ladder in an empty arena. He wore a grey suit, with a white undershirt and Grey Tie. The static was seen on the titan tron in the background, making it clear Miz had just watched the same footage we all just witnessed. A caption that read Friday May 3rd, 2013 was seen on the bottom of the screen. Miz let several beats of silence pass before finally speaking, in a low voice.

The Miz: I've accomplished a lot of great things in this business. Hell some people would say my even BEING in this business was an accomplishment, that my ever setting foot in this ring as a professional wrestler was a true underdog story, that my being here was an unexpected triumph.

The Miz smirked at this thought.

The Miz: I'm not one of those people. From day 1, the biggest believer in the Miz, has been the Miz. I haven't been shy about admitting that, I haven't been secretive about letting my confidence in myself be known. What some have called brash arrogance, I've always called self assurance, self assurance that I have done nothing but back up EACH and EVERY day of my career. I have been a Path To Glory Champion, A Tag Team Champion, an Intercontinental Champion, and even the EBWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. I have entertained, I have captivated, I have been must see, I have held millions of people in the palm of my hand, I have reached and touched the EBWF Universe in a way that only a small handful of people can truly say they have. Whether they are cheering me or booing me, they are connecting with me, and me them. I have had a career that thus far, that I can honestly say I'm extremely proud of. One thing I have not done, and what people often remind me, I have not done, what I'm constantly saddled with never having accomplished, is I have never beat my friend AJ Styles when it's mattered the most.

The Miz stopped himself for a second and shook his head in disgust.

The Miz: AJ Styles is a guy I've had a lot of history with, it's well documented, it's known. Together, AJ and I formed a group called The Trilogy. It started as him and I, along with Sho Funaki, and as everyone knows Funaki was later replaced by Ted DiBiase. The three of us ran rough shot over this business, but as often happens, our friendship was strained by personal pride and success. During our run together, I was the reigning EBWF Champion, AJ the Intercontinental Champion and winner of the Royal Rumble. So right away we knew that we would be facing each other at last years Wrestlemania. This drove a wedge in our alliance due to the fact that we were two guys who thought we were, and wanted to prove that we were the best around here. So the Trilogy split up, Ted remaining on my side, and AJ going off once again on his own. Only this wasn't the old AJ Styles. This wasn't the AJ Styles who complained about what he deserved, and what he never got, this was an AJ Styles with a new found confidence. An AJ Styles who TOOK what he wanted, an AJ Styles that kicked my ass and took my EBWF Championship on the grandest stage of them all.

Once again The Miz paused remembering this night.

The Miz: The story of course does not end there, at Aftermath the following month AJ and I once again fought for the richest prize in the game in a 60 minute iron man match, and despite the complete havoc that took place in this match. AJ Styles ONCE AGAIN defeated me in the middle of the ring 1-2-3, but he wasn't done. He took it a step further, he viciously assaulted me, putting me out of action for the next three months. When I did return I had a score to settle with him, and a belt that I was intent on getting back. I was granted the opportunity to do both at Sacrifice, being placed in a fatal four way with AJ, with Ted, and with Cody Rhodes. On that night AJ hit me with a Styles Clash and looked to be en route to another victory at my expense before Cody Rhodes hit him with a Cross Rhodes and earned the victory and the title.. for himself.

The Miz again paused, he was building towards something. His intensity began to grow.

The Miz: That's when it all changed. There hasn't been a SINGLE SOLITARY DAY that hasn't gone by that I haven't been haunted by that night. A night that was SURELY going to be mine. I waited THREE.. LONG.. MONTHS. Three long MISERABLE months that felt more like THREE YEARS to come back and get my revenge on AJ, to come back and ONCE AGAIN become in the EBWF Champion. It was a foregone conclusion, in my mind, that there was NO WAY that I was going to let AJ get the best of me again. That there was no WAY I was going to walk into another Pay Per View with the EBWF Championship on the line, and let this man outshine me... but ONCE AGAIN.. he did.. once again EVEN THOUGH he didn't win the title either.. even though he wasn't the champion.. all people kept saying was how there was NO QUESTION.. AJ Styles.. was STILL.. BETTER.. THAN.. ME..

The Miz seemed almost demented and laughed a little trying to break the tension he'd created and calm himself down some.

The Miz: Little did I know that that night would be the last time, until now, that I would even BE in the EBWF Championship picture. I had a nice reign as Intercontinental Champion, and I became content. The Intercontinental Championship was safe, it was comfortable. It was a way for me to stay in the public eye, but it WASN'T what I really wanted. It WASN'T enough, it WASN'T who I really am in the scope of this company. During my 6 month reign as Intercontinental Champion, I buried the hatchet with AJ, in that time we even captured the EBWF Tag Titles together, we rekindled a friendship. AJ Styles is a man I call a friend, a best friend, he's a guy I'd take a bullet for, but right now he finds himself in a familiar position, IN MY WAY. In my way of gaining a victory that's LONG OVERDUE, but more importantly IN MY WAY of once again becoming the EBWF Champion. I'm sitting here 2 days away, from yet ANOTHER opportunity, an opportunity to step back into the brightest spotlight of all, an opportunity to STOP settling, to stop being content, to stop playing it safe, an opportunity to TAKE what I want and BE who I'm meant to be in this company, an opportunity to become the number one contender for the EBWF Championship.

The Miz had a look in his eye as if to indicated that there was NOTHING else on his mind, and NOTHING else he wanted more in this moment in time.

The Miz: AJ, I'm not looking to once again throw away our friendship. I'm a year older, a year wiser, and a year more mature. I know that we share the same ambition, the same want.. no NEED to be thought of as the best. I know that this match is the same golden opportunity for you as it is for me to reclaim our place at the top of this company. I get it. But for as much as you are my best friend in the world, footage like what we all just watched EATS AWAY AT ME. It consumes me, any night we're just kicking back hanging out together, shooting the shit like we do, there is still a gnawing in the back of my mind, there's still the thought that eats at my very soul, that people out there DON'T think I can beat you. No matter how many months go by that you aren't the champion, no matter how many months just went by where you weren't even AROUND, people still wouldn't hesitate to be in 100 percent agreement that you are the stronger member of the Sequel. I read an article on a dirt sheet a few months back when we once again joined forces that was titled "Miz can't beat him.. so he once again joined him" I can't take it man, I've shrugged it off, I've tried to convince myself that it didn't matter, that we were both elite performers.. but it DOES matter. It IS important, I'm going to win this match on Sunday, because even though we both WANT to win.. I NEED to win. I NEED to win so that the next time the two of us walk down the ramp together, the "Jannety" chants towards me are hushed, the paranoia I have that people view me as AJ's sidekick will disappear. For as much as I've played it off, my career and my legacy in this company won't be complete, until I get the better of you buddy. Until I outshine YOU.. until we both enter the ring, in a match of any serious magnitude, and it's MY hand that's raised in victory, and it's Jim Ross yelling that THE MIZ has done it, that THE MIZ is victorious. So because of that AJ, I can tell you.. NO I can assure you that Sunday Night, that is EXACTLY what's going to happen, because that is what HAS to happen.

The Miz got down off the ladder and looked to the sky. He was in a really different state of mind, like a full year of self doubt was being focused into one, MUST WIN MATCH, for the self proclaimed most MUST SEE superstar in this business.

The Miz: I know, I know, I know you're thinking, "it's not just you and AJ, Ted DiBiase and Christian are in this match too." But for so many reasons, because of everything I just mentioned, in SO many ways it might as well JUST be me and AJ. I don't mean that as any disrespect to Christian or Ted... oh who am I kidding? Of course I mean that as disrespect to Christian and Ted, EVERYONE and their sister knows this match is not going to be won by either of those guys. Despite the fact that they do have some things in common, for instance Ted's only reign as EBWF Champion, and Christian's latest reign as champion COMBINED is how many weeks Shawn Hunter gave chicks on Boy Meets World before he kicked them to the curb.

The Miz comically turned over his right shoulder and then turned his body to face the same direction. He wound up his right arm like a cartoon baseball pitcher and finally stopped swinging his arm reveal a 2. The Boy Meets World reference, may not be caught by everyone, but it was the first light moment in this entire promo. Somewhere, someone concerned about The Miz put down the phone which had 4 numbers dialed to the psych ward.

The Miz: I've said this before and I'll say it again, I don't now, and I've never looked at Ted as a serious threat, he's had plenty of chances to prove he's on the level I'm on and he's just never been able to do anything with them. His mere presence in this match is motivating me even more because he's a reminder, he's a reminder of what's killing me, of what's eating at me, but at the same time of what's DRIVING ME. What do I mean? It's simple, people look at Ted compared to me, the same way people look at me compared to AJ. The hump that he can never get over. No matter how long Ted held the Path To Glory title, no matter what he's accomplished in this business, people are always going to say "but he never really established himself as being a top tier guy because he couldn't ever secure any major victories over The Miz, or guys like that." I'm that pull on your hamstring, right when your almost at the finish line, I'm the guy that continues to be in your way, aren't I Ted? Even if we were friends, which we are not, you'd resent the fact that though we've both had our success here, people are NEVER going to think of you as someone who's in my league. Just the same way that people put me below AJ, the only difference is YOU will never change this perception of you, and I am ONE SHORT CLIMB AWAY..

The Miz looked at the ladder

The Miz: From FOREVER altering THAT perception of me.

The Miz again walked over to the ladder.

The Miz: Ted you might think that because we chose to include you in the Trilogy all that time ago, it's because we valued your talent. You might think we chose you to be in our group because we respect you as a competitor, and as much as it hurts me to say this to somebody I once called a friend, neither of those thoughts were the true reason at all. We asked you to be in Trilogy, ONE because you could speak English and that was an upgrade from our previous situation, and TWO we knew since you are a spoiled little rich kid, that you could totally afford a suit.. and we always wanted to wear suits. As you can see I will still don the occasional suit, it's just a sharp look.

The Miz once again had a light moment, he adjusted his suit and smiled with the confidence he's become known for.

The Miz: To be fair AJ wanted you in the group more than I did, you've always just bugged me. I wanted to keep Funaki, at least he didn't think he was something he wasn't. Funaki knew he was just a sidekick, he knew he was just a tag along, and he owned it. You, on the other hand ACTUALLY THOUGHT, that you were significant, you ACTUALLY THOUGHT that without AJ and myself that people would have given a a flying you know what about you... and what's worse.. you still do. I'm standing in this ring today as man who's admittedly one of the most outspoken self supporters on planet earth, but I'm admitting to the world that AJ Styles has OWNED me in this ring, I'm admitting that THAT FACT doesn't sit well with me, and the reason, Ted, that it doesn't sit well with me is because I still have the drive and the passion to BE AT THE TOP OF THIS BUSINESS. I still have the burning fire inside me to be looked at as the greatest to ever do WHAT WE DO. When being the best truly is what drives you, you can't fully rest unless you've toppled every single person who steps in this ring and stands across from you. Whether it's your best friend or worst enemy, when the bell rings, if you have that drive, if you truly have what it takes, it may as well be any body with arms and legs, because beating them, becomes ALL THAT MATTERS. You though Ted, you walk around this company like you've done everything there is to do, and beaten everybody there is to beat, when you are miles away from that even being remotely the case.

The Miz shook his head.

The Miz: You are like an egotistical teacher who's students get all F's. The cocky restaurant owner, who never has any customers eat at his place. There's NO reason for you to walk around here the way that you do. It's why I hate you now, it's why I hated you when you were in the Trilogy. Lucky for you, I blame myself. When you were aligned with the Trilogy, it made you feel like you mattered, people wanted to talk to you, they wanted to talk about you, they wanted to take your picture, girls wanted to give you their numbers. We built you up.. built you up buttercup baby.. just to let you down.. because the second you were no longer standing next to us, you didn't matter, nobody wanted to talk to you or about you, nobody wanted your picture, and girls sure as hell didn't want to give you their numbers. You became irrelevant again, but unfortunately nobody has seemed to have filled you in on that fact. So this Sunday Night, ESPECIALLY if you try to stand in my way, which I KNOW you will, I will be the MEMO you never received, the REMINDER you desperately need, that you Ted DiBiase, are, and will forever be, a NOBODY.

The Miz shook his head, seeming to remember something.

The Miz: But then speaking of nobodies who think they are somebodies, we have Christian. I haven't been the EBWF Champion since last year's Wrestlemania. Over 1 year of not being at the top of the mountain. As I've already said time and time again, this is something I wish weren't the case. I've often wondered recently why I haven't pushed harder to get back there, and as I've said tonight, it was because I became content. Content with being the Intercontinental Champion, content with taking a backseat, but really more than content I became addicted.

The Miz put his head down, indicating he was very upset.

The Miz: I became addicted to beating the living hell out of Christian.. time and time again.

The Miz cracked a huge smile, he almost let out a hearty chuckle.

The Miz: I mean REALLY, how many times have I destroyed you over the past year, Christian? 5... 6.. I mean speaking of guys who can't beat other guys.. Christian can most definitely 100 percent NOT beat me.. and people wonder why I'm making this all about AJ and I.. people wonder why I'm driving myself crazy trying to figure out what I need to do to upstage Styles.. it's because the other guys in this match are 2 GLARING slaps in the faces that this match comes down to AJ and The Miz.. plain and simple. If Ted DiBiase isn't on my radar going into Sunday Night, then Christian most certainly isn't either. I mean Really? This guys been champion 8 times? 8? Who was around back then in this place that Christian... Christian... has been "The Man" 8 different times? I mean 8? REALLY!? REEEALLY? It baffles me..

The Miz shook his head once more.

The Miz: One thing is for absolute certain, Sunday Night, Christian will NOT be taking a step towards capturing number 9, but he also won't even have his PEEPS to console him. Apparently he's turned his back on them, which is just heartbreaking and atop my list of things I don't care about.. but will talk about anyway. Christian whether you have your peeps, or you've renounced your peeps, whether your peeping in windows, or even not making a peep at all. The fact is, you are another PEEPING obstacle in my PEEPING way of become the PEEPING EBWF Champion, and after I get through with you on Sunday, you won't want any part of this PEEPING title.. in fact you'll be so PEEPING depressed that you'll probably lock yourself in a room and gain 300 PEEPING pounds off eating peeps. Probably a much better use of your PEEPING time.

Get it? Bleeping... Peeping... swing and a miss! Despite this Miz chuckled at his own bit. The Miz looked up at the tron, and a picture of himself holding the EBWF World Championship above his head was shown.

The Miz: That sight, what I'm looking at right now. That's all that matters to me. Sunday Night, FINALLY getting the monkey of upstaging AJ in a high profile match off my back, will be one small step for my pride, but more importantly it will also be ONE GIANT LEAP towards order being restored in this company. Dean Ambrose, I hope you're watching Sunday Night.

The Miz climbed to the top of the ladder and sat on top of it.

The Miz: Because the next time you see me sitting right here, I'll be holding a contract that will make me the number one contender for your EBWF Title. A contract that will symbolize the beginning of the end for you and your title reign. You've made my life and everybody else's life around here a living hell, over these past several months, that's for sure. But as sure as I'm sitting here, I know that the whole tough guy act, the whole EBWF Terrorist thing you guys got going on right now, is going to come CRASHING DOWN on your head, the SECOND I unhook that contract Sunday Night.. and when it does.. champ.. it will be the single most sweetest form of JUSTICE this place has ever seen.. and if there's ANYTHING that you will BELIEVE IN on that night, it's the same fact that AJ, Ted, and Christian will undoubtedly BELIEVE after this Sunday Night, and that fact is that

I'm the Miz.. and I'm

The camera zoomed right up to a close up of the Miz. He shook on his last word with intensity, and delivered in almost a whisper.

Awesome.

The scene faded out to the picture of The Miz holding the EBWF Title, which was on the titan tron. Finally the scene cut to static.

[Chloe]

I like it! A lot of passion from Miz.

[D.J]

Thanks Chloe!

[Kyle]

Awesome promo, great job DJ.

[Will]

Sorry I was a no show bro. So much happened. I'll tell you about it... Anywho, amazing RP! I really liked this and yeah, long overdo.