The Return of an Old Friend

[D.J]

It had been awhile since Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, had had his feet on solid ground so to speak in the EBWF. He'd come back, gain a little momentum, only to have it ripped away by a loss or an injury and he would fade off once again. His latest setback was at the hands of perhaps the EBWF's biggest and best Superstar John Cena. Cena's victory in the Glass Table Match for the IC Title, dashed hopes of Mizfits everywhere hoping for another Championship run for their favorite wrestler. It was a fragile state, and a delicate time for someone who was once on top of the mountain in this company. Miz certainly had the ambition of wanting to regain some status, but it was going to be a matter of if he could start to link some W's together and pick up some speed moving forward. The fans loved him, and he loved the fans, but it was a desire from both parties to have The Miz once again become a household name in this industry, and not just a smiling face to sign autographs and take pictures. The quest back to notoriety would began in the main event of the upcoming Warfare when The Miz would go one on one with Chris Sabin.

The scene opened up in a studio. Their were cameras and boom mic's around the room, and some producers walking around trying to get things set up. We were not on the air yet, but one could tell we were setting up for a segment. Into the scene came Jim Ross in a black EBWF shirt black pants and black cowboy hat and glasses. He shook a couple of hands, sat down and was mic'd up by one of the producers. He called to someone who we could not see behind the camera.

Jim Ross: How close is he? Oh he is? Oh okay, great. Want to just shoot the opening then? Okay, I'm ready when you are.

A hand came into the scene from behind the camera. It counted down 3, 2, 1, and we were live.

Jim Ross: Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I'm Jim Ross and tonight I'll be sitting down with a man who has certainly had a roller coaster career over the past couple of years. A man that has held every major title in this business but as of late has been riddled with a string of bad luck and injuries. He's a man that in my estimation could return back to where he once was, but it may be a longer road back than he ever may have expected. Ladies and Gentlemen please help me in welcoming, The Miz.

The Miz walked into the scene he was in a white button up and also had a mic near the collar. He wore fitted blue jeans and dark dress shoes. His hair was slicked around, and despite the way Jim was talking about him, wore a huge smile. He shook Jim's hand and sat down in the seat next to him.

Jim Ross: Miz how's it going? You seem upbeat.

The Miz: Well Jim, I'm not dying, I'm a millionaire, I'm handsome. I'm talented. I have the high score in Pacman in Pizza Huts in FOUR different states. Why wouldn't I be upbeat?

Jim thought for a second and replied.

Jim Ross: Well you are fresh off your most recent defeat at the hands of John Cena in the Glass Table match for the Intercontinental Title just two weeks ago.

The Miz cracked a smile.

The Miz: Oh right that. Well Jim, this business is a wild one, as you know.

Jim stopped him with an answer.

Jim Ross: Damn sure is.

The Miz: Sometimes things happen that we can't control, and then sometimes we give it an absolute god's honest try and come up a little bit short. That's exactly what happened a couple of weeks back. All 3 of us, myself, John, and even that weirdo AJ put our bodies and really our careers on the line, and John found away as he often does, to prevail. It's not ideal, it's not what I hoped for, but it is what it is. I'm not going to let it ruin my day, I'm not going to let it ruin my mood. I've had a lot of matches here Jim, a lot of them. I've won a ton and I've lost a ton, and I will do both a lot more before I hang up my boots. In my experience, you can't get to high after wins or too low after losses, because if you do you are going to be worse off the next time you get out there. I'm trying to keep an even keel these days.

Jim Ross: Well with all do respect Miz, it seems as though your new outlook just hasn't been quite as successful as when you were a.. how should I put this.. as narcissistic, as arrogant, and as brash as a young man could be.

The Miz smiled.

The Miz: I'm confident JR. Trust me, nobody can shake me of my confidence. Nobody can shake me of the knowledge of what I am capable of. I don't have to walk around here speaking in the third person, and having people tie my shoes for me or buy me lattes to know what kind of competitor I am. People know JR, they know I'm The Miz, and they know that I am, and will always be a major player around here. I'm always a threat. Have I been experiencing the same kind of success as I did a couple of years ago? No, but I'm still me Jim. I'm still always just a couple victories away to being back on top of this company, where I belong. So with all due respect right back, I don't think the way I act outside of the ring correlates at all to what I'm capable of doing inside of it. I think my wins and losses have just been happenstance and coincidence. Soon you'll be talking about how great it is to see me succeeding again, all the while not being a douchey prick. It'll be great.. nay.. it'll be awesome.

Jim Ross nodded.

Jim Ross: Well I hope you are right Miz, and that run could very well start on Monday Night as in Warfare's main event you go one on one with Chris Sabin.

The Miz: There's no it "could very well" about it Jim Ross. The run will start Monday. Chris Sabin is not the type of guy who is going to keep me down for long. So I didn't win the Intercontinental Title against John Cena, it happens.. but what doesn't happen is me losing to squirts like Chris Sabin. It's one of those things that when you are struggling on and off, every next match-up makes you think a little bit, the anxiety builds when your next opponent is a tough one. However, when I saw Chris Sabin's name across from my own this week, I smiled. I smiled put my feet up and took a deep sigh of relief. Chris Sabin, the perfect remedy. Chris Sabin, the perfect opponent to get back on track against. He's even more fun because of what he thinks he is. Chris Sabin looks in the mirror and he sees a lot of things. He sees a winner, he sees perfectly quaffed hair, he sees a guy who is a legitimate superstar, unfortunately what he sees isn't even flirting with reality. Chris Sabin is a loser, his hair is nowhere near perfect or cool, and he's not legit anything except legit terrible. Chris Sabin couldn't beat me if I was his own wing wang and he was looking at a picture of himself Jim.

Jim Ross: Wing wang? Jeez Miz this is a family show.

The Miz smirked.

The Miz: Sorry.

Jim Ross: Apology accepted. Regardless you may be confident going into a match with Chris Sabin, but your confidence will be matched by his own. He is an extremely talented individual who in my estimation should not be taken lightly.

The Miz: Jim, I'm not taking anybody lightly these days. I mean I could step into the ring against Ryan Tannehill right now and have some butterflies, and Ryan Tannehill sucks.

Jim Ross: No argument there.

The Miz: In all actuality Jim, it's always hard to get that next win after you lose a match you gear up for. So as confident as I am that I will be able to prevail against Chris Sabin, I'm certainly not taking him for granted, or taking him lightly.

Jim Ross: Well what about that whole put your feet up comment then?

The Miz: What a guy can't relax? I'm a busy man Jim. What should I sit around watching game tape like I'm Peyton Manning all day? Just because I recline the old lazy boy every now and again and kick back, doesn't mean I'm taking this Sabin guy for granted. There's few things I like more in this world than being victorious in a wrestling match. It's the ultimate high, the ultimate rush, and there's no way that Chris Sabin is going to take that away from me on Monday Night. I know he'll come out here confident, and I know he'll even reference my "fall from grace," as you and everyone else have been so kind enough to point out since my injury and since my return here to the EBWF. I'm aware that The name "Miz" isn't carrying as much weight around here as it once did.. I get it.. and I'm sure he can't wait to remind me of it.. but now let me remind him of something. Anytime you say someone has "fallen from grace" that means that they were once on top. That means that they were once "the man." When has Chris Sabin ever been on top, Jim? Besides in his alone time with Alex Shelly?

Jim Ross: Again Miz, family, remember?

The Miz: Right sorry. Seriously though, when has Chris Sabin ever been the man in a company that doesn't pay you in sushi coupons or monopoly money? Hm? When? Never Jim. He hasn't fallen from grace or slipped down the totem pole around here bcause he was never high enough to begin with. His fall has been his entire career. His struggle has been since the first day he put on a pair of wrestling boots. Who is Chris Sabin to come out and point out any fault or any lack of success that I've experienced, when the most anybody has ever talked about him is these past few days when they heard he'd be stepping into the ring with me on Monday Night?

Jim Ross: It's a fair point. Sabin is considered in many circles a man with an enormous amount of potential.

The Miz: Potential. Great, awesome good for Chris Sabin, he has a ton of potential. I've said this before and I'll say it again. Potential is what people say about people who haven't achieved anything yet. Potential is for people who may end up mattering "someday." Well someday Chris Sabin, is not Monday.. though it does sound alike. Someday, you may matter. Some day you may be on top, some day you may succeed. but MONday you will not matter, MONday you won't be on top or even begin your climb there, and you will NOT succeed... because MONday Chris, even a motor city machine gun, wouldn't help you beat me. MONday I'm going to see to it that if you ever do climb up from the bottom that it is a longer trek than I will EVER have. Even if I am not at the level I once was, even if I'm not the same dominant Miz, the lowest rank I will ever have in this company will be higher than you at your peak, my worst will always be better than your best, I want you to remember that on Monday Night, Chris. That even if you fulfill all this potential that people say you have, you will never even get a sniff of what it's like to be as good as me, and that you will ALWAYS have no choice but to be jealous.

Jim Ross: Talk about your goal for Monday Night, Miz. What message do you want to get across come the main event of Warfare?

The Miz: Jim, it's real simple. Monday Night, I will show all the Mizfits, all the haters, all the naysayers that I'm still what I've always said that I am. I will show them that I'm still the cream of the crop, the best of the best, the most must see, the most captivating star that there is in this business, Jim. That I'm still their favorite wrestler's, favorite wrestler. Chris Sabin would be a fool to anticipate anything other than but the most savage beat down anyone could ever imagine or endure. I don't know much in this world, Jim. I can't name the emperors of Rome, I don't know the capital of North Dakota, or who Stonewall Jackson was, but I do know this. I am a better wrestler than Chris Sabin, I know it, it's a fact. So I guess my goal for Monday Night is to eliminate any doubt of the factual nature of that statement. Right now people here me say that, and some of them may not be so sure that it's true. That disturbs me Jim. THAT is the thing that keeps me up at night, THAT is what bothers me the most about how things have gone for me here as of late. That people are seeing the Miz vs. Chris Sabin, and they aren't sure who's going to win or even who's better. Monday Night, the question marks get erased. Monday Night I will make it abundantly clear of who the superior man is, Monday Night, will be filled with gasps, with worry, with concern, but not for me or my career JR, for Chris Sabin... and his.

Jim Ross: Well Miz, I've known you a long time and I have nothing but respect for you and the career you've put together. It is my hope that you do return to stardom, as I much prefer this Miz to the one I've seen at times.

The Miz: I've matured a lot JR. I've grown up, I've learned that whether you are talking down to fans and sticking your nose in the air to everyone, or you're not. The bottom line still remains.. the only thing that matter is what you can do in the ring. The bottom line is still can you get it done when it counts? Can you get it done when the lights are on? For me until as of late it was something people never doubted, and that reputation has always mattered most to me. That's the reputation that I am determined to get back. I won't go through this business being the guy grasping to hang on, I won't be the "once upon a time" success story. Starting this Monday, Chris Sabin will be a victim of circumstance. I don't dislike him, I don't even really know him, but I dislike.. no I DETEST the thought of what a Chris Sabin defeat would do to my career, to my stock, and I won't let it happen. I know I can still get it done, and come Monday Night.. Chris Sabin will be the lead witness on what I can still do night in and night out.

Jim Ross: Well thank you for your time Miz, and best of luck on Monday.

The Miz: My pleasure Jim, and no luck needed but I appreciate it.

The Miz winked into the camera and the scene cut away. The scene reopened at an EBWF house show. A match had just concluded when the fans were quickly brought to their feet at the sound of one word.

AWEEEEEEEESOMMMEEEEEEEEEEE

Followed by "I Came To Play" by Downstait filled the arena. The crowd was elated by the appearance of The Miz and the pop was deafening. Despite some of his win loss struggles, he was still loved by the fans, if not more than ever. The Miz confidently strut down the ramp and into the ring going through his normal entrance, and the fans were eating it up. He wore a "Danger: I'm Awesome" Black T-Shirt and a pair of black Nike Sweatpants. He grabbed a microphone, and held it to his lips. The crowd began chanting "Miz" with great speed and intensity. He cracked a smile, finally they hushed enough to let him talk.

The Miz: Monday Night Mizfits is a big night, a VERY big night. Not just because How I Met Your Mother is back...

There was a few cheers.. not many were that excited. Miz cracked a grin.

The Miz: But also because someone else is coming back, someone that has seemingly disappeared over the past several months. There is someone returning that I know you all have missed... his name... is The Miz.

The crowd erupted as Miz began to strut around the ring while delivering his promo.

The Miz: You see Mizfits, Monday Night the man who you fell in love with, the man who's posters you have on your walls, the man who you look up to, who you idolize, has been nowhere to be found over these past several months. Whether I've been injured, or just not myself, I haven't been there for you, I haven't been around when you've needed me, and for that I apologize... but NO MORE.

The crowd popped once again.

The Miz: Because Monday Mizfits, will look a lot more familiar to you than ANYTHING that has transpired over these past several months. There will be NO MORE inconsistency, NO MORE failing, just the return of simple and steady dominance, that you once enjoyed as my biggest fans. Monday Night Chris Sabin will meet the fate that so many before him have met. Chris Sabin's hopes and dreams will be brought to a halt, when I bring a skull crushing finale to a short and underwhelming career, of a well.. short and underwhelming man.

The crowd cheered.

The Miz: Monday Night will be a time to celebrate, a time to rejoice, but it will just be the beginning. Chris Sabin will be the first speed bump that I will run over, but it will be the first of many, until I am once again holding championship gold. Chris, can jump and flip, and do baseball slide dropkicks until his heart is content, and on any other night it may lead to a win.. but not Monday Night. Monday Night he runs into the Miz, Monday Night he runs into a desperate man, and in turn a dangerous man that he isn't good enough to contain in the first place.. I know it's not ideal.. I know it's not fair.. but after I kick your ass on Sunday.. try to heed the immortal words of Oasis and "Don't Look Back in Anger" because trust me buddy.. you never had a chance..

BECAUSEEEEEEEE I'M THE MIZ ANNNNND I'MMMMMMMMM

The crowd finished it with a resounding "AWEEEESOMEEEEE"

The Miz: AWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

" I Came To Play" Filled the arena once more. As The Miz smirked and made his way out of the ring, and back down the ramp. Could he make good on his promise of returning to form Monday Night? Time would surely tell.