It was now confirmed that Solomon Crowe had a match at WrestleMania where he would take on an icon in the form of Chris Jericho, after crossing paths at Fallout and now that both men believed that deserved the rematch for the championship title AJ Styles had won and would defend against Dolph Ziggler at WrestleMania, and as expected things didn’t run smoothly at all. Last week Solomon Crowe demanded a member of management answer his demands for a championship rematch but instead, Chris Jericho who dropped the suit for a pair of wrestling trunks again interrupted him, and after insults being thrown and forth between the legend and the cocky up-and-comer, eventually a challenge was set out with Crowe’s rematch opportunity on the line and the match was set with a handshake. Crowe followed with a cheap shot which didn’t go to plan and it was Jericho who stood tall, something Crowe was never going to let happen. The previous night during an interview, Crowe showed what he was capable of by attacking Jericho from behind in a vicious attack, throwing his head through a television monitor, pounding his face with vicious punches and locking in a stretch muffler on the concrete and not allowing anyone else to help with the fear slowly seeping through the locker room, now they’re even. This being Crowe’s first WrestleMania, he had a lot of eyes on him especially after the entrance he made in the company and captured the World Title, which also got him a number of Slammy Award nominations, signalling a good couple of months for him but a win at WrestleMania would be a massive addition to his resume.
For all of the EBWF superstars and divas, the WrestleMania week was going to be busy and Crowe was no different, it means for the remainder of the week he’d have to continue staying in character but it was something he enjoyed. The scene opened up with the cameras turning on inside of The Crowe’s Nest and the cameras picked up the big, swivelling chair Crowe used, spinning around with Crowe’s eyes shut as he continued to spin himself around in the chair, eventually he stopped and opened his eyes staring into the camera, with his head spinning as his eyes showed before he grinned.
SOLOMON CROWE
I am not crazy, I was just putting myself into the shoes of Chris Jericho. How it feels to have your aging career spin round and round, out of control, in a downwards spiral, not going anywhere after a successful past and clinging on to the last bit of hope and confidence you have left. Thankfully, I am not in that situation yet, and the likelihood is I probably never will be, well, because I am better than Chris Jericho. Chris Jericho, a remarkable competitor, a remarkable superstar who has achieved so much which has to be respected, I did respect him, I thought he was an intelligent man especially if Mr. Ikeda made him put on a suit and steer this gigantic ship and make sure it does not sink, and he succeeded. You have overcome a number of obstacles in your career, but this…THIS right here, this is too much even for the great Y2J. You are way over your head but I appreciate that you need to make yourself and make others around you believe that you genuinely stand a chance against Solomon Crowe, and that is fine by me because all eyes are always on you meaning for the next week and thereafter…they will be on me.
Crowe unfolded his legs and cracked his neck as he approached the camera in his chair, coming closer to it as he adjusted the camera so his face was visible and he smiled, continuing to talk to the viewers of The Crowe’s Nest.
SOLOMON CROWE
I do give you some credit though, even though you are a fading man who is clinging on to his in-ring career by the edge of his nails you did manage to make me think twice about underestimating you. You were the last person I expected to interrupt me, when I saw your stupid little video and heard your irritating music, I saw the stupid lights flashing and your stupid, pointless jacket – it really, REALLY pissed me off and as you and your smug little face made your way down that ramp, footstep by footstep I got angrier and angrier, I just wanted to dive out of that ring and spear your body in two and create a magnificent piece of art from your blood which the finest critics would be proud. But, I kept my composure, I waited to see what you had to say and you showed me that you have balls bigger than half of the so-called men in that locker room when you came face to face with me, refusing to back down and I was impressed. Even though I could have punched you on your jaw and finished you right there, I chose to take a step back and listen to what you had to say and even though you took things a little too far, I waited and waited and then you offered me something. You wanted MY rematch, and I gave that to you; and for that you are most welcome. But in return, you do not realise you gave me something far, far greater. Your career, you have left your own fate in my hands, a stupid, stupid decision you made which you will pay for this Sunday at WrestleMania. On Sunday, you are aiming to defeat me so people can call you the number one contender to the World Championship, the only thing that will make people still remember you but we all know that you cannot defeat AJ Styles, Dolph Ziggler; so you definitely do not stand a chance against me. Me? Oh, I am very confident, I know I have this retention in the bag, I know that as of this Sunday I will be preparing to capture my World Championship back, so all I am focusing on is ending your career this Sunday, because I have nothing to lose, I have my whole life, my whole career ahead of me, but you? What happens when you lose, Christopher? What will you do? How will you face your fans? How will you face Wes? What will you say? Which excuses will you pull out with now to make us believe you still belong here? Most of all…what will you tell your family? Here…
Crowe rolled back on his chair as he leaned over to his right to picks up a crinkled piece of paper next, as he read over it and placed it in front of the camera but it wasn’t so easy to make out what was printed with the camera not in full focus, after a moment or two of showing the paper, Crowe moved it away and started to speak about what was on it.
SOLOMON CROWE
This…this is everything I need this week, Christopher. This right here, well I guess I should provide a little more context to those that have no idea what all of this actually means. This, is a schedule, a schedule for every single EVWF superstar and diva as to what we have all have to do for this week, and no this does not apply to me because…well…I am Solomon Crowe and I can do what I like but this is something the likes of Chris Jericho has to follow, word for word. This makes sure I am always one step ahead of you, always. Because I know that this week before our match, if I feel like it, I can reach out to break you whenever I want. Whether you are talking to Howard Stern on Thursday or putting on a fake smile for the children at Access on Friday, I know exactly where you are, and what you are doing. But most importantly, Christopher…I know what you and the family are doing too, I do hope though – this being a special week and everything – that you all enjoy your precious little Presidential Suite because whether you realised it or not, you crossed a line two weeks ago when you hit me with your Codebreaker, but I am still here. One more mistake, you step out of line one more time…then I will be forced to take actions that even I will not be proud of.
Crowe’s hand reached the top of the camera as he looked to turn it off, but he hesitated, turning his head thinking of something else to say and didn’t turn the camera off just yet, his hand remained on the button but he continued to talk into the camera.
SOLOMON CROWE
Let us hope that you and I do not cross paths this week, because you saw what I did when you cross the line once, do it again and your fans will be very upset that Chris Jericho is unable to compete at WrestleMania with his beautiful family surrounding his hospital bed, I do not want to stoop so low at such a historic, prestigious event, but if needs be then I can assure you Solomon Crowe can end up being the most hated man on this roster, if I am not already.
Crowe then turned off the camera, with a stern warning for Chris Jericho if he was to lay his hands on him again before WrestleMania, with the video looking to be over the screen was back and the video was back on, looking as if Crowe pressed record again, the camera was on its side this time and his face was seen again, finishing off what he had to say.
SOLOMON CROWE
But…let’s face it I probably am.
After that, the camera turned off and went into static, with Crowe heading into his first WrestleMania against a tough opponent, and knew he needed to impress more fans heading into such a prestigious event if he was to remain in the upper bracket he was in when he arrived.
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Wednesday April 1st 2015 – The Crowe’s Nest – SAP Center – San Jose; California
By now, the EBWF talent had made their way to San Jose for a hectic week ahead and the SAP Center was available to use for a number of things before hosting the Slammy Awards on Saturday. Sam Johnston was already at the SAP Center with plenty of EBWF personnel helping him out during this huge week for him, he was in his Solomon Crowe attire as the latest episode of The Crowe’s Nest was being filmed there, before a live special on Saturday for some lucky fans. It was a busy day for him, he had to sit through shooting of The Crowe’s Nest before heading back to his hotel room which wasn’t too far away where he would be giving a phone call interview. The EBWF crew had everything already set up spectacularly, as if the set they usually use for the segments had been shifted over, with a gloomy, broken room with cameras set up to record him; Sam was being mic’ed up as he looked through some of the notes he had made for direction before sitting down. He had his face and hair straightened out for the final time as he listened to orders through the headset and entered the role of Solomon Crowe was more, an easy and successful transition as always. Once the cameras started rolling and he was given the signal to begin, he rocked on the chair back and forth, tapping on the table with his fingers as his remarkable transformation into Solomon Crowe had started once again in one of the biggest weeks of his life.
SOLOMON CROWE
The days are edging closer, which means Chris Jericho’s fate is edging closer as well, whilst I wish the days go incredibly fast and when I wake up tomorrow and it is WrestleMania morning, Chris Jericho hopes he can wake up back in 2001 where there is no sign of Solomon Crowe and Chris Jericho is the hottest superstar in town, where he is remembered, where he is sought after, people want to interview you, Hollywood studios want you in blockbusters, authors want write about your life story, directors want to document your life, men want to be The Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla and females want to be with him but that is just the harsh reality we live in because all of that might have been true but every dog has its day and this dog is patiently waiting for the day he can snap your neck into a million little pieces and watch you squirm, and beg for me to save you. We are in 2015 now, which means Chris Jericho no longer has what it takes, he isn’t as fast, he isn’t as strong, he isn’t as funny or as smart or as good as he thinks he is and the ONLY reason he thinks he has what it takes is because the people he surrounds himself with feed him this false idea that he is still the man, whether it is his wife or Ikeda or anyone else for that matter, what he fails to realise is that this match was sanctioned not so Chris Jericho can display his supposed superiority, showcase whatever talent he has left, oh no, the reality is THEY want to see Chris Jericho fail more than anyone!
Crowe calmed himself down a little, laughing and muttering to himself as he tried to act crazier than usual, before burying his chin in his hands like a grumpy child before talking again.
SOLOMON CROWE
Being a grown man, I thought you would be able to see through it all. Am I here to hurt you? Well, yes I am but that is not my point. I am here to look out for everyone’s favourite legend but nobody seems to understand that, nobody sees that, instead I am the bad guy! Think about it, which twisted animal would sanction a match to put a close friend of his inside of a ring surrounded by thousands and thousands of fans to watch him suffer? To watch him being beaten to a pulp, having his face completely rearranged? Who wants that? I will tell you, it is those closest to you, the family and the friends who just do not want to hurt your feelings, hurt you, burst your ego and tell you that quite simply, you…are…done. They cannot stand the pressure of having to tell you that to your face so instead they are taking the easier option out for themselves, because they will not to have to face the pressure or feel the pain, instead that will be you when the bell rings for our match at WrestleMania. Instead YOU have to feel the pain and when the dust has cleared and you are helped to the back to meet these so-called friends of yours and your family, instead you will tell THEM that is enough is enough and you just cannot do it any longer. Then everybody will sympathise with you and call you the greatest of all time and act make video montages of you and create statues and induct you into Hall of Fames and then right after all of that garbage, you will be forgotten memory, on Sunday I speed up that process, not just because I want to hurt you but because I care about you and your family more than you can imagine. Your daughters need a father to take care of them, your wife needs a husband who is physically able to stand on his own two feet to support her but the way you are going…I can only apologise to them.
Crowe then leaned back on the chair, putting his feet up on the desk and his hands behind his head as he started to relax at this whole situation he had created inside of his head in a matter of minutes, showing just how twisted, sadistic and strange he could be.
SOLOMON CROWE
There is a Chris Jericho I know though, I saw 10% of that Chris Jericho two weeks ago when I looked into his eyes. The version of Chris Jericho that even he is afraid to let loose, the version of Chris Jericho who wants nothing more than to get me on my knees and try to punch the crazy out of me, to gouge my eyes out and step on them and pretend it all never happened! THAT is the Chris Jericho I have been longing to see, the evil Chris Jericho everybody hates is the one I want! Will I get him? That is a different question. It all depends on which one of us is willing to take it a step further to get what we want, the shot at the World Championship. I know I want it, the people have seen what levels I can stoop to in order to get what I want so you can be sure I can be a very trifling man, a persistent individual until I get what I want. But the Chris Jericho everyone can see on television is not the one I want and I saw, instead we saw the Chris Jericho you want everyone to believe is the one they love. There is a difference between you and I, when I tried to hit you in the face and drop you to the ground, my plan was to get on top of you and pummel you until they sent security down to save the saviour, but when I tried to hit you in the face you somehow outsmarted me, you were a tiny bit quicker than I was and you hit…you hit me with the Codebreaker and the entire arena erupted into cheers as you walked away with an evil grin on your face thinking you had won this war. But the difference was shown the week later, when you were going through one of your many interviews, I attacked YOU which you really should have seen coming. I put your head through a television monitor, I could have stopped there but I didn’t. I was there over you punching the life out of you as people watched, I could have stopped there but I didn’t. People could have helped you but they didn’t, then Renee Young practically TOLD me to lock you into a submission manoeuvre, and so I obliged with the stretch muffler and showed everyone that I am far, far greater than you in every single way. I showed that I am willing to do ANYTHING to keep hold of my rematch and become the World Champion and I will do far worse on Sunday, because all of this is for that title opportunity, that is the aim for me, but the reward out of all this will be finishing you for good…
Crowe’s relaxation mood changed into a determined and motivated mood as he stared into the camera until the producers gave him the signal that it was over, and after a short applause he unbuttoned his shirt and wiped the sweat off of his forehead with so many lights on him. After visiting the restroom he made sure he had his wallet, phone and hotel keycard as he made his way back to the San Jose Marriot as he was due a phone call, an interview not in the Solomon Crowe character but would still try to promote WrestleMania as much as possible.
After making the journey to the hotel room, he was lounging in his room for a while, waiting for the phone call and eventually his phone started to ring and he was told to hold on for a short while as he was laying down on his bed, getting to grips with the busy week which looked as if it was taking a slight toll on him.
DOUG
Okay talking of WrestleMania we’re now joined by Sam Johnston of the EBWF more popularly known as the former World Champion, Solomon Crowe. Sam, great to have you with us buddy, what do you prefer Sam, Solomon? Anything else?
SAM JOHNSTON
Ha-ha Sam is fine man, I still get called Solomon on the streets which is great, some fans still call me Sami so anything works.
DOUG
We’ll stick to Sam for now, let’s talk about Solomon Crowe, what it means to you, how you manage to come up with your material and everything, what’s up with that?
SAM JOHNSTON
It’s all about freedom for me, I have the freedom to write my own material, I’ve done a lot of work in the past as different characters and this company allowed to incorporate all of that into Crowe and thankfully it’s worked and I’m enjoying every second of it. It takes a lot of talent and commitment to stay in character and I like to think I do it well especially when people say you can’t tell the difference.
DOUG
Couldn’t you say that the likes of John Cena, and CM Punk, and Dean Ambrose and Sami Zayn and Trent and so on, those guys play their roles great too?
SAM JOHNSTON
Nah I don’t fully agree with that. Some of those guys are great, don’t get me wrong, Sami is a good guy, Phil is great, Mox is great but out of all of us I think it’s only me and Mox who actually play a character different to our lives. Are we crazy sons of bitches in real life? Fuck no, but the fact we do it on a weekly basis makes fans think that way. Phil is great too, literally one of the best in the world, he’s straight edge inside and outside of the ring, he’s a loudmouth inside and outside of the ring, he’s a self-confessed jerk inside and outside of the ring, I’d say there’s not much difference, the same with Sami and the same with Cena, I wouldn’t say the characters and gimmicks are more difficult than ours, no way. Plus it’s got me to WrestleMania on Sunday so I don’t really give a shit if I’m honest ha-ha, it’s worked for me and I’m being noticed so I can’t complain.
DOUG
You mentioned Dean Ambrose there being similar, everyone talks about the chemistry between the two of you and whether you two will work together again, is there that chance?
SAM JOHNSTON
I’m always up for working with him, man. We’ve had an interesting past to get here and we actually had a good feud a few months ago so I’m always open to working with him, with him for sure. A lot of fans actually want reunions and shit so that’d be pretty cool but for now all the focus is on WrestleMania, and for me personally it sucks to not see someone like Mox on the WrestleMania card, dude is one of the most talented guys and to see him not on it is not good and will piss a lot of people off, but that’s the wrestling business man, it’s all a selfish business and certain guys will get to the top for different reasons and it’s not the way it should be but it happens, I feel for him.
DOUG
Yeah I get you, man. Let’s talk about WrestleMania before you leave, big event, obviously, big match, obviously, Chris Jericho, big opponent, pressure is on to impress?
SAM JOHNSTON
Yeah man, WrestleMania is a huge event as you know all eyes are on us and we all have the pressure to impress, I’m lucky I’ve got Chris, he’s been great with me since I arrived so to work with someone who knows what he’s doing takes the pressure off of my shoulders and we can forget all about it and put on a great show. Y’know the feud itself has been good, we have that title rematch on the line so people are interested in it, again I can’t complain and I’m going out there trying to do what I can for the win and he’s going out there trying to do the same.
DOUG
Sam, it’s been a pleasure. Thanks for joining me, man. Let’s hope your company don’t bite my shows ass off with a lawsuit or anything.
He closed the phone and ended the unsanctioned interview, he didn’t say anything out of line so there wasn’t much to worry about in the first place. He then took a power-nap before he had to hit the gym and attend Access on Friday.
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Saturday April 4th 2015 – The Crowe’s Nest Live! – SAP Center – San Jose; California
With Access and all of the fun and games that came with it now over, Crowe’s attention turned to his final Crowe’s Nest segment before WrestleMania and things were a little different this time, as he was doing it live with an audience at the SAP Center, the fact that the arena had been set-up for the Slammy Awards made it a lot easier for the crew to create the set and take it down just in time. As the fans settled down to see this one-off special and with the backing of his close friends in the company, the lights in the arena darkened which signalled applause, almost like a theatre as the screens went static and the spotlights focused on Solomon Crowe, who was sitting behind a desk in front of a dirty wall, broken mirror and a camera, addressing the fans in attendance and the viewers who were watching live on the website.
SOLOMON CROWE
They call me boring. One dimensional, the same routine over and over but…all of you PAID to see me? Hmm, I guess I must be doing something right, well then…WELCOME! To The Crowe’s Nest! In a not-so-anonymous location for one evening and one evening only. As sadistic as I am I hope you all had a pleasant week and I will do the best I can to make sure my WrestleMania match is the best you have seen and the best you will see on the night. Chris Jericho, has talked a lot this week, as expected because everyone needs to tell themselves they are ready, so I will let him enjoy his last few days as Y2J, Chris Jericho before his life completely changes on Sunday. Chris Jericho is a funny, old man. You see the way this business works is that you need to be this massive, muscular figure in order to look like a champion, I do not have it, Chris Jericho never and still does not have it but we both found success, he found success and he broke the mould and he went on to super stardom, but he changed in the worst way possible. That love for succeeding went and it was all about fame, corruption, corruption of the soul and for years it has eaten him up but he is the one still hungry, he still has the appetite for more and more fame and now the only way that can happen is if he defeats me tomorrow night, at WrestleMania. But the fact of the matter is, no matter how much he wants it, no matter how much he tries, how much he digs deep and believes, and bleeds, and sweats…he just cannot do it. I am putting him out of his misery, once and for all.
The fans did respond with a mixture of cheers and boos, booing him for what he was saying but cheering at the fact that they knew what it felt like to be involved in this segment and at a reconstruction of The Crowe’s Nest.
SOLOMON CROWE
How much longer is he sticking around? This company needs a champion who does not fear anything, or anyone. One who never loses, one who is willing to do anything and everything to stay as champion and no-one, NO-ONE is better at all of that than I am, in fact Chris Jericho had the audacity to interrupt me on Warfare and talk me out of my championship rematch, so I have my own terms now, WHEN I defeat Chris Jericho and become number one contender, and WHEN I become the new World Champion, I do not want one of Wes’ petty referee’s handing me a title that holds so much prestige, so much history, they do not deserve to hold it. Chris Jericho thinks he is still the best, so I want Chris Jericho to personally come down to the ring, whether it is on his own legs, on crutches or his wife or somebody else is rolling him down on his wheelchair and he WILL present me with the championship title and he WILL introduce me as the NEW WORLD CHAMPION!
The fans watched as Crowe laughed to himself maniacally as he fell to his knees and left his own hair in a mess.
SOLOMON CROWE
The best in the world at what he does…the best in the world at what he does! Somebody please, tell me what he does because I just cannot seem to find it! I have searched and searched and the only thing I can see is that he is good at kissing ass! The ONLY thing you are good at and better than me at…is failing. You are the best at it, I am yet to find someone better and at WrestleMania another chapter of failure will be added to your long list of failures. You can tell yourself otherwise but deep down you know I am right and you tried to convince yourself when you hit me with your Codebreaker and I still stood up! You cannot break me! In fact I am the one who breaks codes! Just like I will break you tomorrow night! You can hit as many Codebreakers as you want, you can try to lock in that Walls of Jericho but I am breaking that down too! Everything you do, I will make sure I am always one step ahead and I will prove it when I defeat you, plain…and simple. Christopher, I am a common man, and I will always remain a common man. No amount of stardom will ever consume my soul like it has consumed yours because money comes and money goes, fame comes and fame goes, but a legacy always remains. I am a common man true to my beliefs, MY inspiration comes from the common man and you will feel that tomorrow…NEVER underestimate the power of a common man…
Crowe finished the segment standing up with his arms stretched out wide, focusing on the cameras as the lights faded out to an eruption of applause from the fans who sat through the segment, ready for the stage to be cleared with the Slammy Awards starting in just a few hours and Crowe needed to go and get in his suit and join his fellow colleagues for the special event.
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Sunday April 5th 2015 – WrestleMania XIV – Levi’s Stadium – San Jose; California
The Intercontinental Champion had now been crowned and the fans were settling down back into their seats after a great match, attention quickly turned to the titan-tron as the fans saw static and the cameras opened up in a dark room, and the figure of Solomon Crowe could be seen, pacing back and forth in this room.
SOLOMON CROWE
It’s here! It is FINALLY here! WrestleMania, the day I have been waiting for, for FAR too long and tonight Chris Jericho and I get into that ring, the clock is ticking, and there is no turning back now! Get ready to meet your fate head on, get ready to meet your number one contender to the EBWF World Championship! From the ashes of Sami Callihan…Solomon Crowe was born for this very night!…tonight…the songs of Solomon shall be sung…I’m coming.
The camera picked up Crowe storming towards the camera, followed by a loud thud and the sound of Space Dementia playing on the PA system, ready for the match between Solomon Crowe and Chris Jericho with the Crowe’s World Championship rematch on the line.