Bad News

[Ben M]

OOC: At long last, I'm trying to get back into the RPing game! And with Bad News Barrett, I'm trying to do something different, so any feedback would be much appreciated. Best of luck to everyone involved in the PTG Invitational.


"I'm afraid I have some bad news...

It was Wednesday, October 16th and Stu Bennett, aka Wade Barrett, had been stuck in England for four weeks due to visa issues. When John Laurinaitis, WWE's EVP of Talent Relations, called him Barrett was hoping to book his return flight to the United States. When Laurinaitis mentioned bad news, Barrett assumed there had been a further delay in getting the issues surrounding his visa resolved. But it was worse than that.

John Laurinaitis: Due to the issues you've had in renewing your visa, we've decided to release you from your WWE contract. I'm sorry it's come to this, but we think this is the right decision for us, and for you. Best of luck in your future endeavours, Stu.

Barrett barely had time to say goodbye before Laurinaitis ended the call. Though he hadn't always had the best experience with WWE, finding out he was no longer a WWE Superstar was a devastating blow. Barrett tried to tell himself that everything would be fine, but the fact that WWE's main reason for releasing him seemed to be his visa issues rather than the age-old "creative has nothing for you" was a cause for concern. After all, WWE were the second biggest wrestling company in the United States; if they couldn't get his visa sorted, what was the likelihood of TNA or ROH making him an offer? Barrett knew that EBWF would have no issues getting him a visa - when he had previously worked for the company, EBWF's lead counsel Richard Roberts had been known as someone who could handle any and every legal matter - but he doubted they would be interested in him. He hadn't heard anything from EBWF since leaving the company last year, and he was aware that his 13 or so months back in WWE had hardly raised his profile. There had been some highlights, such as his Intercontinental Title run, but most recently his most memorable storylines were a losing streak and the loss of his beard. Would EBWF really be interested in rehiring a superstar whose stock had fallen rather than risen since his last spell with the company? Probably not, but Barrett had to try. He still had Chris Jericho's number and decided now was as good a time as any to ask for his job back. Barrett made the call, and when Jericho didn't answer, he left the interim CEO a message.

Wade Barrett: Hey Chris, it's Wade Barrett. If you haven't already heard, WWE have released me from my contract. There are some issues with my visa, but if you're interested, I'd love to return to EBWF. Hopefully I'll hear from you soon.

Barrett waited six weeks, and he had given up all hope of returning to the EBWF before Jericho called him back on Tuesday, December 2nd. It was shortly after 4pm GMT and Barrett was watching TV when his phone started buzzing and the words "Chris Jericho calling" appeared on the screen. Barrett quickly muted the TV and answered the call.

Chris Jericho: Hey Stu... How's it going?

Wade Barrett: Hey, Chris. I'm fine, thank you. How are you?

Chris Jericho: I'm great. First off, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you - between planning Fanniversary and Survivor Series, I've been insanely busy. I was also sorry to hear that WWE released you from your contract. Was it because of the problems with your visa, or were there some other issues I'm not aware of?

Wade Barrett: As far as I know, it was just down to my visa. That's the only reason Laurinaitis gave me, anyway. Last time it took about two weeks to process... when Laurinaitis called me to give me the news, it had been double that. I guess they didn't want to wait any longer.

Chris Jericho: Yeah, that sounds about right. I guess they didn't make much effort to help you get it resolved either... I've had Richard Roberts looking into it, and he's confident that if EBWF were to offer you a contract, he could help you get the visa processed in a matter of hours.

Barrett was unsure how to respond to Jericho's comments, given that he had used the word "if". He chose his next words carefully.

Wade Barrett: Well, if Richard can help me get the visa issues resolved, I'd love to work for EBWF again. I really enjoyed my last spell with the company and I'm sure under your leadership, I could thrive.

Jericho couldn't help but laugh a little at Barrett's flattery.

Chris Jericho: Thanks for that... in the interest of full disclosure, I don't know how much longer I'll be in charge. Wes is getting more and more involved each week, and I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before he relieves me of my duties. But as it stands, I'm still in charge, and I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that I'd like to offer you an EBWF contract. I've done the math, and if I've worked it out correctly your 60 day no-compete clause expires on December 15th. There's no Warfare on the 16th, but I think it would be great to bring you back at Christmas Eve of Destruction. Would that work for you, or would you prefer to spend Christmas in England?

Wade Barrett: Chris, to be honest after spending two and a half months stuck at home, I'd like to get wrestling again as soon as possible. If Christmas Eve of Destruction is the earliest chance I'll get, that works fine for me.

Chris Jericho: I was hoping you'd say that. We're still planning the pay-per-view so I can't give you any specifics right now, but I'll make sure you get your debut match that night. Think of it as an early Christmas present from me. I'd prefer to finalise your contract face to face, so I'll have Richard call you about your visa and once that's done if you can let me know when you're back in the States, we'll set up a meeting at EBWF Headquarters. Take care, Stu.

Wade Barrett: Thanks, Chris. I'll see you soon.

Fast forward three more weeks, and Barrett was preparing for his EBWF return match. He still didn't know the specifics, but he had been told he would be competing in the PTG Hardcore Invitational, which meant that not only was Barrett facing the prospect of potentially wrestling more than once at Christmas Eve of Destruction, there was also a chance he could win a title on his first night back in the company. After the miserable few months he had spent being unable to wrestle due to his visa problems, Barrett felt that Christmas Eve couldn't come quickly enough. It was Saturday, December 21st and Barrett was in St Louis at EBWF HQ, waiting to use one of the media rooms to record something for EBWF.net. One of the staff members gave Barrett a nod of approval and pointed to the second door on the left. Upon entering the room, Barrett smiled. He hadn't asked for much, but what he had asked for, EBWF had provided. There was a Union Jack backdrop and a podium with "#BadNewsBarrett" written on the front. Barrett stood behind the podium, signalled for the camera to start rolling, and began to speak.

Wade Barrett: I have some good news, and I have some bad news. The good news is that Wade Barrett is now officially an EBWF Superstar... which is bad news for everyone else on the Roster. You see, I haven't come to EBWF to be a curtain jerker, or settle for a midcard spot. I've come here to be in the main event; to be the World Champion. And anyone who gets in my way will live to regret it. At Christmas Eve of Destruction, I have the chance to win the Path to Glory Title, and at this moment in time I don't know who or even how many people will stand in me way. You could say that's bad news for me, as I'm stepping into the unknown... but the good news is, everyone else will be in the same boat, and the even better news is that none of the men I'll come up against will be as good as me. I don't care whether I have to wrestle Dean Ambrose, John Cena or even our interim CEO, Chris Jericho; it doesn't matter who I come up against, because I'll beat them. The PTG Invitational will be fought under hardcore rules, and that suits me just fine. Before I trained to be a wrestler, I was a bare-knuckle boxer. I don't need weapons to hurt my opponents; I can punish them with my fists. For me, being able to hit my opponents with anything I get my hands on is nothing more than an added bonus.

Barrett smirked slyly, then continued speaking.

Wade Barrett: I've been wrestling for almost a decade, and on the whole I'm pretty happy with what I've accomplished over the last ten years. I've wrestled all around the world, I've worked for the two biggest companies in the business, and I've held numerous titles. But I've never been World Champion, and until I have, I'll never consider myself to be a success. That's why as soon as I heard about the PTG Invitational, I put my name forward. I know the history of the PTG Title - I know it was designed to be a stepping stone towards the World Title, and I know that's why Chris Jericho ruled that you can now trade it for a World Title shot earlier this year. But I also know that the PTG Title hasn't achieved was it was meant to achieve. Since the PTG Title was introduced at Christmas Eve of Destruction three years ago, ten superstars have been PTG Champion. Only two of them - The Miz and CM Punk - have gone on to win the World Title. Three of the former champions - Jeff Hardy, Ted DiBiase and AJ Styles - became champion after they'd already been World Champion. Instead of progressing from the PTG Title to the World Title, they regressed. CM Punk was the World Champion before and after his PTG Title reign, so for him it wasn't so much a stepping stone as a blip in form. Really, the only person that has gone onto better things after being PTG Champion is The Miz. That's bad news for the PTG Title... it damages the belt's prestige. But the good news is, when I become the PTG Champion on Tuesday, I'll make that title what it was meant to be. I won't do what AJ Styles did, and discard the belt straight away to get a World Title shot. I want to be a fighting champion; I want a successful reign before I give the belt up. I might even try to beat Ted DiBiase's 330 day reign, just to prove how good I am. And all the while I'm PTG Champion, I'll be watching the World Champion closely. Whether it's Randy Orton or another EBWF Superstar, I'll make sure the World Champion knows that he's only holding onto the World Title until I exercise my right to challenge him for it. And finally, at the most opportune moment, I will trade in the PTG Title for a World Title shot, and I will become World Champion for the first time in my career. I'll take both the World Title and the EBWF to new heights; I won't just live up to my potential, I'll surpass it.

Barrett slammed his fist on the podium, as if to emphasise how determined he was. As he resumed speaking, Barrett began to stare directly into the camera.

Wade Barrett: EBWF fans, I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you. The bad news is that, for too long, you've had to settle for mediocrity. You've had to settle for The Shield doing nothing but endless run-ins, for Randy Orton having no worthy challengers as World Champion. You've had to settle for a group of midcarders that differs almost weekly... a main event scene that, with the exception of Dean Ambrose's blaze of glory and Christian's 15 minutes of fame just before Wrestlemania, never seems to alter. But there is some good news, EBWF - there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Because now that I'm back, I'm going to send the winds of change blowing through the EBWF. I will be the next Path to Glory Champion, I will be the first English EBWF World Champion, and I will be the face of this company for many years to come. I'll be the revolution that so many have promised, but so few have delivered... and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a fact. For anyone that has to face me in the PTG Invitational, I won't just be bad news; I'll be the worst news of your life.

Barrett glared into the camera with a stern expression on his face as the scene faded.