It was Sunday evening, and Wade Barrett had just checked into the Hilton in Morgantown. He was due to face Bray Wyatt on Warfare the following night, and given Wyatt's reputation for psyching his opponents out, Barrett was determined to be ready for Wyatt if the "Eater of Worlds" tried anything. Barrett had barely had time to check into the hotel when it seemed that Wyatt was up to his usual tricks. As Barrett walked down the hallway towards his room, he got the feeling he was being followed. Barrett clenched his fist and turned around quickly... startling the cameraman who was ten feet or so behind him.
Cameraman: Whoa!
Wade Barrett: Damn it, Stu! Don't you have anything better to do than follow me around?
Stu the Cameraman: With all due respect Mr. Barrett, there are lots of things I'd rather do than follow you around. But you know how it is. If we didn't follow you around with a camera, how would we have any footage to promote your matches?
Wade Barrett: I guess you're right... but when there's a guy walking around threatening to "master my mind", you can't blame me for being on edge.
Barrett kept on walking, and entered his hotel room. Moments later, Barrett could hear Bray Wyatt's entrance theme, "Hunt You Down" by Saliva, blasting through the wall from the room next door. Thinking that it couldn't possibly be a coincidence, Barrett walked back into the hallway and tried to open the door of the next room. The door was locked, so Barrett kicked the door with his right foot, forcing it open. Barrett heard a scream, and as he entered the room, he saw a wrestling fan in an EBWF t-shirt sat on the bed, cowering and looking afraid. Barrett looked across at the TV, discovering to his dismay that the wrestling fan had been watching last week's Warfare. As the wrestling fan looked up at Barrett, he still seemed afraid, but he also appeared to be quite angry. I guess you would be too if someone kicked your door down simply because they heard their opponent's entrance theme.
Wrestling Fan: What the hell are you doing, man?!
Wade Barrett: Sorry... I thought you were someone else.
Barrett pulled his wallet out of his jeans pocket, and took out a fifty dollar bill, which he handed to the wrestling fan.
Wade Barrett: That's for the trouble... and the door.
Before the wrestling fan could say anything, Barrett exited the room and returned to his own room. As he looked around the room, something seemed different. When Barrett realised what it was, he pointed it out to Stu the cameraman.
Wade Barrett: Damn it, Stu, I think Wyatt has been here. Look what he's done!
Barrett was pointing to the bed, which as far as Stu could see, looked the same as it had when Barrett had first entered the room. There certainly didn't appear to be anything untoward about it.
Stu the Cameraman: I don't understand?
Wade Barrett: Neither do I. How could he move in and out so quickly without being seen? Especially with the two of us being next door, and only gone for a matter of minutes. I've got to tell you, Stu, that Bray Wyatt is a slippery devil. I might have met my match.
Stu the Cameraman: That's not what I meant, Mr. Barrett. I don't understand what you think he's done to the bed. It looks the same as it did before...
Wade Barrett: Open your eyes, Stu! Look closely. When I first came into the room, the bedsheets were tucked in. In the two minutes we've been gone, Wyatt has untucked the duvet and pulled it down the bed. He's even left a mint on my pillow. He's trying to send me a message, but I'm not sure what the message is...
Stu the Cameraman: Mr. Barrett, that wasn't Bray Wyatt! The bed has been "turned down" by one of the maids!
Wade Barrett: How can you be so sure, Stu?
Stu the Cameraman: There was a maid in the hallway when we came back into the room we must have just missed her.
Barrett walked past Stu and opened his room door, looking down the hallway. There wasn't a maid in sight.
Wade Barrett: There's no maid out there, Stu. Are you making this up? Or better yet... are you conspiring against me with Wyatt? Tell me the truth, Stu!
Stu the Cameraman: You want the truth, Wade? The truth is you're out of your mind! The maid is in another room, and Bray Wyatt isn't anywhere near this hotel!
Wade Barrett: How do you know all that, Stu? Are you a mind-reader? Has Bray Wyatt got you under his spell? Has he shown you how to conquer people's minds? It's quite ingenious, really... who would suspect the cameramen? After all, as far as the wrestlers and the audience are concerned, the cameramen aren't even supposed to exist, are they? Well you can tell Bray Wyatt that I figured it all out. He won't conquer my mind, my mind is free from Wyatt's clutches!
Stu the Cameraman: You're crazy. I'm outta here.
As Stu made his exit, Barrett undressed, ate the mint that had been left on his pillow, and got into bed. Barrett slept soundly, feeling pleased with himself that he had outfoxed Bray Wyatt.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, Barrett arrived at the WVU Coliseum early, as he knew he would have a busy evening ahead. Barrett knew that his knew ally Ryback wouldn't be at the arena until later - Ryback had texted him earlier - so Barrett headed straight to his locker room. As Barrett got there, he saw Renee Young and a cameraman (not Stu the traitor, thankfully) waiting for him.
Renee Young: Hey Wade! I was hoping to ask you a few questions.
Wade Barrett: Sure, Renee. I'll answer your questions, but I want you to answer a question for me first. Are you part of the Bray Wyatt conspiracy?
Renee looked confused, and she shook her head.
Renee Young: No, Wade... I'm not part of any conspiracy.
Barrett stared at Renee intently for a few seconds, then nodded to show that he believed her.
Wade Barrett: In that case, Renee, let me offer you a word of warning. Don't trust Stu the cameraman.
Renee nodded, thinking to herself that the EBWF superstars got crazier by the week. However as a model professional, Renee pressed on with the interview, turning to the camera to introduce herself.
Renee Young: Hello, EBWF fans, and thank you for checking out this interview, filmed exclusively for EBWF.net. I'm joined now by Wade Barrett, who shocked the EBWF Universe last week by attacking CM Punk, and by aligning himself with Ryback. Wade, I'd like to ask you about both of those things, starting with your alliance with Ryback. How did you two end up on the same page, after months of seemingly being at war with each other.
Wade Barrett: Renee, it was quite simple really. We found a common goal.
Renee waited for a few seconds to see if Barrett was planning to expand on that, and when she realised he wasn't, she pressed further.
Renee Young: Would you mind telling us what that common goal is?
Wade Barrett: A desire not to be held back... a desire to overcome the politics and favouritism that have blighted the EBWF. You see, Ryback and I are two of the most talented men on the EBWF roster, Renee. Every time we're booked in a match, we deliver. That's why we were rivals for so long, Renee - we thought that in order to get to the top, one of us would have to take the other out. But despite our best efforts, we kept being overlooked. That was when we realised how the EBWF works. Unless you're one of the chosen few, you don't get the opportunity to make something for yourself. CM Punk cashed in the PTG Title for a shot at the World Title, and he lost. Just weeks later, he was given another shot at the title. It's as though the powers that be do genuinely believe that the PTG Title is Punk's title. Ryback and I weren't prepared to allow such unfair treatment in Punk's favour. That's why we put our differences aside, and that's why I attacked Punk last week.
Renee Young: Well Wade, I'm not sure if you've heard, but CM Punk is here tonight, and he says he's looking for revenge after what happened last week. So I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this.
Barrett grinned.
Wade Barrett: I'm sure we haven't.
Renee Young: I'd like to ask you now about your opponent, Bray Wyatt. Wade, while we were preparing for this interview, you mentioned "The Bray Wyatt conspiracy". By that, do you mean Bray's one-man mission to "master the minds" of his fellow EBWF superstars?
Wade Barrett: Well Renee, as I alluded to when we were preparing for this interview, it isn't a one-man mission. Just last night, I managed to unmask one of Wyatt's co-conspirators, so the Bray Wyatt conspiracy obviously runs deeper than most people realise. But I can promise you this... Bray Wyatt will not master my mind. I'm going to put an end to his conspiracy tonight.
Renee Young: And how do you plan to do that?
Wade Barrett: By beating him, of course. Bray Wyatt is on a high right now - he stood toe to toe with John Cena at Fanniversary, and last week he "mastered" Damien Sandow's mind. After a shaky start, Wyatt seems to have found his rhythm, and by beating Damien Sandow last week, he's started to pick up momentum. If Wyatt was to win again tonight, people will forget about his losing streak, and they'll start talking about his winning streak. But that's not what's going to happen. Because I won't let it happen. So what's going to happen is this - I'll beat Bray Wyatt, and people will realise that his victory last week wasn't the start of something special, but an anomaly - a rare victory in amongst a series of losses. And suddenly, Bray Wyatt won't seem like a master of minds. He'll be exposed for what he is - a lost soul, trying to find his way.
Renee Young: But if Bray Wyatt isn't alone in this "conspiracy" of his as you call it, don't you fear retribution from his followers?
Wade Barrett: Thank you, Renee, for your concern. It's appreciated, but it's also unwarranted. I don't fear retribution from Bray Wyatt, CM Punk, or anyone else in the EBWF. The alliance you saw between Ryback and I last week, that was just the beginning. I can't say any more than that right now - all will be revealed in time - but let's just say that the winds of change are about to bluster through the EBWF, and Ryback and I will be leading that charge. And no one - not CM Punk, not Bray Wyatt, nobody - will be able to stop us. Anyone that gets in our way will be made to suffer. In fact, Renee, before we wrap this up, I have a message for Bray Wyatt.
Barrett pulled something out of his bag, then looked directly into the camera.
Wade Barrett: I know you like to give people presents, Bray, and since we're approaching the festive season, I thought it was only right that I got you a present too. I'll leave it in your locker room, but just for the EBWF Universe, here's a little taste.
Barrett unfolded a t-shirt that said the following:
Wade Barrett: It's a size 5XL, so hopefully it will fit. If not, maybe you can give it to one of your followers... assuming you have any left after tonight.WADE
BARRETT
MASTERED
MY
MIND
Barrett grinned again, looking pleased with himself.
Renee Young: Wade, thank you for your time, and good luck in your match tonight.
As Barrett entered his locker room, the scene faded.
