JIM ROSS
And just like that! Solomon Crowe is the new number one contender for the EBWF World Championship!
JERRY LAWLER
Crowe now has the chance to become a two-time World Champion in the EBWF JR! And he only arrived in November!
JIM ROSS
He’s certainly been impressive, King. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, it’s been a long, hard journey for this man on our right, the champion, Dolph Ziggler will certainly give this young upstart a run for his money for when they do clash!
JERRY LAWLER
I can’t wait, JR!
Space Dementia by Muse was already playing on the PA system as the commentary team of Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were discussing the outcome of the Aftermath main event, it took a vicious dropkick to the face for Crowe to finally overturn the resilient AJ Styles as both superstars were gunning to become the World Champions once more. Solomon Crowe was on his knees as his music hit, he was clearly breathing heavily as we could see it on his body before he wiped the sweat off of his forehead and continued to look down on to the canvas. The referee tried to grab his arm but Crowe pulled it back, and rolled into a ball on the canvas as he slammed his fists into it; showing a determined, and motivated side to him. Eventually he lifted his head up as fans booed when they saw his face, a sadistic laugh as he looked around at the audience for a brief moment before the smile disappeared. He then stood up and looked at where AJ was on the ground before holding his abdomen and limping around the ring, stopping when he saw Dolph Ziggler, the World Champion. Crowe showed no reaction, and didn’t even look at Dolph Ziggler.
JERRY LAWLER
Look at that deathly stare JR, do you think these two could go at it right now?
JIM ROSS
I don’t know King, young Solomon isn’t look at Dolph Ziggler, he’s got his eye on the championship!
JERRY LAWLER
I don’t think that will stop him, JR! We know Crowe can be evil, we saw that when he and Dean Ambrose almost killed each other!
JIM ROSS
I’ve sat down with this young man, King. After our conversation many months ago I began to understand him, understand his frustrations, how and why he goes about the things he does. Even though John Cena beat Dolph Ziggler to within an inch of his life, I can guarantee you that Solomon Crowe will not lay a finger on the champion tonight, he wants to take all of the credit for it himself, he’s a patient young man and he’ll continue the mind games, just you watch, King.
JR was correct, Crowe finally looked away from the EBWF World Championship title as fans booed and he showed no reaction whatsoever. He continued to limp around the ring before leaning down and putting his body through the ropes and ever so slowly walked down the steel steps, he barged past the fans trying to put their ‘thumbs down’ in his face as he looked up at the titan-tron for a brief moment and then looked towards the stage again, picking up the pace as the Aftermath pay-per-view came to an end. The cameras had now stopped rolling and the fans in the TD Garden were beginning to disperse, but the EBWF crew were still going to be around for a while for any meet-and-greet sessions and cooling down before moving on to the next city. Crowe still had to stay in character for a short while longer, where he would be interviewed by Renee Young as part of an EBWF exclusive which would be available on the app and on the website shortly. He continued to walk through the backstage area, drinking water from the table set-up for the talent and biting into whatever food Ryan Reeves had managed to save for the rest of the superstars and divas. He was dragged away with his mouth full by a producer as Renee Young was waiting for him in the interview area. He quickly chewed and swallowed down the food as he pointed towards Renee that he would be with her in a second, and he was.
RENEE YOUNG
Ladies and gentlemen, joining me at this time in this EBWF exclusive…the NEW number one contender to the EBWF World Championship…Solomon Crowe. Solomon, good to have you here.
Crowe looked straight into the camera before looking down at the ground, making it clear that he was standing there against his wishes and wanted Renee to quickly end it to end the torture for the both of them, he refused to acknowledge her and awaited her next question.
RENEE YOUNG
Okay…well, you defeated AJ Styles, how does it feel to have finally defeated the man that dethroned you at Fallout?
Crowe smiled and looked down at Renee before shaking his head and responding to her question.
SOLOMON CROWE
Look Miss Young, personally I have no idea what your job description entails in the EBWF, I do not even know whether you are under contract or whether you just sneak in and grab a microphone and pretend like you feel wanted, like you are bringing something valuable, what is this, exclusive? How is this exclusive? Was it exclusive when I told the world I would defeat AJ Styles inside of the ring, one on one? Was it exclusive when I went out there and pinned him? How about I make it easier for the both of us, you want to be here as much as I do, so yes as you can tell by my face I am VERY happy that I defeated AJ Styles, just like I said I would, yes I still plan on becoming World Champion for a second time, no I do not need to tell you why I did not lay my hands on Dolph Ziggler when people thought I would, no I will not comment on Dolph Ziggler, no I do not have anything to say to Dolph Ziggler and yes I do realise that my next match will be on Warfare and I do know who my opponent is, so please, let us focus on that.
Renee looked a little agitated, nervous but a bit angry at Crowe as well but her professionalism showed, as she continued to talk to the number one contender about his upcoming match at Warfare, against CM Punk.
RENEE YOUNG
Well as you said, you are aware that your next match won’t be against Dolph Ziggler, but against CM Punk on Warfare, what are your thoughts heading into this match against someone you have never faced before?
A smile grew on Crowe’s face as CM Punk was exactly who he was after, since his arrival he was lucky enough to mix it up with the biggest of names from Chris Jericho to Dean Ambrose to The Rock, and CM Punk was a relatable opponent, deep down there was excitement but on the surface CM Punk would be just another superstar who would try and fail to defeat Solomon Crowe.
SOLOMON CROWE
There is a reason I have never faced him before, that is because CM Punk is just…not…good enough. You know when I arrived here, I was like a new kid at school, I was quiet, kept myself to myself and nobody even noticed who or what I was. What I did was I sat in the corner, and I watched the cool kids play at the cool table, your John Cena’s, your Dolph Ziggler’s, Wes Ikeda’s, CM Punk’s, AJ Styles, Chris Jericho, all of these people who are better than the rest of us and CM Punk was highly talked about, he is this, he is that, he is good, he is the best, he is the best ever, nobody matches up to him, all of these supposed facts spread across like wildfire backstage to send fear into everyone and make you think twice about stepping foot into the ring with him. But I have learnt that being afraid of them gets you nowhere, it makes you somebody that nobody remembers, so instead now I look forward to these big names stepping foot inside of the ring with me because NOW…the roles have reversed and nobody matches up to me. CM Punk is the latest man who will believe, and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk about he will defeat Solomon Crowe to make everyone believe him, ad sure go ahead and do that but look at my track record and then speak, nobody can continue living their normal lives after being in the ring with me…unless…you are Brian Kendrick or Dean Ambrose because the two of them are as unhinged as I am, but C…M…Punk? He is not better than me, he knows that, it is about time the people realise that too.
Crowe stormed off of the set and left Renee Young behind him as she breathed a sigh of relief that he had left, with Crowe having some strong words for his Warfare opponent, and that Crowe would not let Punk intimidate him and not let him get any sort of advantage heading into the match.
- - - - - - -
Thursday May 7th 2015 – The Crowe’s Nest – Anonymous Location
The 11th of May was almost here, the night Solomon Crowe would go up against CM Punk for the very first time in his career. The scene opened up at The Crowe’s Nest, as usual it was dark, the lights were coming through the monitors Crowe had set up around the room and the camera that was there picked up Solomon Crowe sat on his chair, swivelling around whilst whistling to himself, the then started to sing under his breath, he was quiet at first and at certain points he would sing a little louder so the camera could hear him.
SOLOMON CROWE
…what do you see…I know your anger…I’ve been everything you want to be…I’m the cult of personality…well if there is one thing you did well in your career, you certainly picked a catchy song, it sticks in your head and no matter how much you try to erase it from your mind, you are unable to get it out of your head, you find yourself singing along to it even when you do not want to, and you have done this to the EBWF Universe, you. But not with the song, oh no, no, no; you have done this with yourself, the song was just an example. For years and years you have told the world that you are the best in the world, you have forced this label down the throats of the masses for so long, that as soon as they hear the name CM Punk, they automatically say and think, best in the world. Now they just cannot help it, whether they love you or hate you, they will always call you the best in the world because you continue to tell these lies that these fools believe, but not me, I am not a fool, I see right through you. CM Punk, it is fair to say CM Punk was not an early bloomer, sure he was a fantastic wrestler growing up, certainly one of the more talented ones who was continually overlooked, kind of like Solomon Crowe, but CM Punk was noticed a little bit later and that is when he became this mega star, the wrestling world knew him, but he was not the household name he was a couple of years ago, and then when CM Punk was at the height of his success, when people applauded him for what he has accomplished, applauded him for his ballsy attitude and outspoken nature and then when he had the universe at his feet, that is when he struck…the best in the world.
Crowe started to laugh to himself before putting his arms behind his head and relaxing, making it feel like he was not worried in the slightest.
SOLOMON CROWE
When the people treated him like a God, when TV shows wanted him, his action figures were selling out, he was the most must-see man in all of sports entertainment…that is when he told you he is the best in the world and each and every single one of you fell for it, whilst I sat back and laughed at each and every single one of you. CM Punk, he knew he was not always going to be at the top, and we are seeing that today when CM Punk is not the same man he was once but he is still referred to as the best in the world, a clever plan because that label is the only thing he is able to hold on to and if he did not preach to you all for years and years that he is the best, CM Punk would not be under contract in the EBWF, I can guarantee you that. CM Punk, you are a liar, the greatest liar I have ever seen in the wrestling business, a lie told often enough does NOT become a truth Phil, but you will never admit it, it takes a man to admit that you lie, what I need is for you to tell the world that you are a liar and that you are no longer the best in the world, but the man standing opposite of you at Warfare is, and he has proven it. I love listening to lies…especially when I know the truth. I can tell you that I am a liar too, I will lie and manipulate my way into getting everything I want, and I always succeed because it is not my fault everybody else is just so stupid. But the people are to blame too, the EBWF Universe who have played the key role into getting CM Punk where he is today. Because when CM Punk lies you never see it, you believe everything this honest individual says, but when I lie to get what I want, I am a bully, a coward, a nobody, and that really…really…pisses me off. Let me get you to understanding something Phil, I do not bully anybody. I am simply better than everybody that I step into the ring with, whether it be Dean Ambrose, The Rock, John Cena or you. I stand up for what I believe in, I might not be honest, I might not always tell the truth, I am a liar, I am manipulative but I will not stab you in your back because I will look you in the eye and stab you in your fucking chest, that is the difference between CM Punk and Solomon Crowe.
Solomon Crowe started to get a little bit agitated as he started to pull on his hair a little out of anger, before laughing to himself for a minute and slamming the desk three times in anger and frustration before looking back in the camera to continue.
SOLOMON CROWE
CM Punk, to people like me you have been an idol. You were somebody that ‘made it’ when the rest of us had no hope whatsoever, when we though our lives were set in the hellholes we fight in for a couple of dollars to get us through the night not knowing where our next meal is coming from, you showed us the light, you showed us all that there is a different path to take and that we are not going to have to settle for the lives we lived. All of us, including me, used you as motivation, we looked up to, wanted to be like you, someone who could talk the talk and walk the walk and when we saw you hit the big time, we were proud, man. We were all proud, happy to see that one of ‘us’ made it. But then I realised, you are not one of us, you sold your soul to the devil, and since that day people like me on that independent scene used you as motivation because we did not want to be anything like you. Everything we did, everything I did, it was always compared to CM Punk. Whenever I won a match, ‘but CM Punk did this’, when I won a title, ‘but CM Punk did this’, you…ha-ha…you were the talking point in the indies when you were not even there anymore! That anger and motivation to be better than you created a fire underneath me, to turn back on everything and everyone I love to get where I want and now I am here and once again I am going to get what I want, the World Championship, you are a mere stepping stone in that journey. Now, people are talking highly of Solomon Crowe, how impressive he is and how he has eclipsed CM Punk, and now CM Punk needs Solomon Crowe more than Crowe needs Punk. Now that we have taken our separate paths and we have gotten to where we are, you still do not realise that the devil you sold your soul to, was Solomon Crowe and I have no plans to give it back, I plan to continue taking.
Solomon Crowe started to laugh into the camera and started to spin around on his chair a number of times before suddenly stopping in one place and tapping his fingers on the desk, patiently waiting for no reason whatsoever as he calmed down, running his fingers through his shiny, slicked back hair before continuing to speak into the camera.
SOLOMON CROWE
I know you Philip, better than most people and the scary thing for you is that you have never even met me. To me you are not the best, or a feared man, you are a choker, choking when it matters the most and you proved me right at Aftermath. I have always said I focus on the bigger picture, even though I was going up against AJ Styles I had an eye on Dolph Ziggler and ringside and how he reacted to every fist thrown, I had an eye on the number one contenders match for the Path to Glory Championship which ultimately means I had my eyes on…you. Because believe it or not I was cheering you on, I WANTED you to win because I knew once I defeated AJ Styles and ended Ziggler’s dream of being a champion for long, I had to run in to you sooner or later, but you ruined that for me, instead you let Dwayne Johnson enter my plans and now I will be forced to defeat him again, simply because you choked. I am not worried about losing to you, because I simply cannot lose to you, it is not even in my mind and the same people that cheer your name and call you the best in the world, THEY defeated you at Aftermath, The Rock hit that People’s Elbow on to your heart and it was these people who pierced a hole right through it and ended your reign as the champion, so as much as you want to take your anger out on me, remember that it is THEM, THEY are the reason you are the title-less CM Punk, exactly what you were born to do. Now when you are slipping further down this ladder you helped build for people like me, I will not offer you a helping hand to help you reclaim your glory days, instead I will laugh, and point, just like people have done in my life, people like you. I have already noticed how you have started to branch out to try new things, I admire that, and most failures would allow their lives to spiral out of control, but I like you, watching hockey games in your spare time, writing comics on your beloved Thor, teasing a switch to the octagon to remain in the limelight, sneaky sneaky. The only thing that you need to know is that come Warfare, Solomon Crowe will replace Thor as your God and you will worship him, and when your sorry little career finally does end, whenever that may be, whether it be Warfare against me or five years from now, you can sit at home in ease and write comic books on the legend of Solomon Crowe, pass it down generations so that the name is never, ever forgotten.
Crowe sadistically stared and smiled into the camera as he threw up his arms into an ‘X’, mocking CM Punk but if fans knew Punk, that would only fire him up to kick Crowe’s ass more so than he already planned on doing.
- - - - - - -
Monday May 11th 2015 – EBWF Warfare – Madison Square Garden – New York; New York
EBWF was hitting The Garden with the first Warfare following Aftermath taking place in New York. As expected the crowd were rowdy the entire evening especially with the high attendance figures, a number of matches had already taken place and the main event was fast approaching, CM Punk would take on the number one contender to the World Championship, Solomon Crowe. As the fans settled down back into their seats after a commercial break, they erupted into ferocious boo’s as the arena turned dark and Space Dementia by Muse blasted the PA system and Solomon Crowe was introduced in Madison Square Garden for the very first time in his career. He finally emerged on stage as he scouted the arena, smiling as he looked around, knowing he had sat in those famous seats at one stage, and now people were paying to sit in those same seats to watch him, and it was his duty along with CM Punk to put on a great match. Eventually he unfroze and started to slowly walk down the ramp, holding his vest at the top with both hands before walking over towards the commentary tables and pointing his fingers, asking for a microphone which he received before jumping on to the ring apron and nodding his head, soaking in the boo’s before getting into the ring and walking around, not letting the negative crowd intimidate him, and this time he wasn’t going to be waiting for them to shut up, instead he was going to speak over them regardless of what they had to say or shout.
SOLOMON CROWE
Madison Square Garden…oh how I have longed to meet you, and what a first appearance, there is no better stage I would have picked to be at tonight than Madison Square Garden, a fitting stage for a fitting match, where Solomon Crowe annihilates CM Punk in front of your very eyes. As I have said, I give back to the people, so I will make sure you get your money’s worth when I teach CM Punk a lesson, for your sadistic enjoyment, you sick bastards.
The crowd cheered for him slightly as he laughed, before cutting their cheers off again, not allowing the loud CM Punk chants to get through.
SOLOMON CROWE
For his entire career, CM Punk has intimidated everyone he steps into the ring with, there is usually a different aura when CM Punk is around, people are naturally afraid, in case he abuses you in front of millions, in case he calls you out, in case he tells you that you have a vagina and your friends never let you forget it, he embarrasses you. But not for long, now CM Punk will be put in his place because he has ran riot for far too long and he has had his way, but Solomon Crowe is here to change that. You might have saved people Punk, but tonight even those same people will not be able to save you from me. You have even recruited that big oaf, Doc Gallows to listen and adhere to every single word you say from attacking people from behind to wiping your ass in the restroom, nobody is that loyal unless they want something. And, and I am sure Mr. Gallows is not stupid enough to see that CM Punk is using h…no, no he is. But that is fine by me, I have no problem in embarrassing CM Punk in front of his beloved Gallows and I am sure he is strong enough to carry your remains up this ramp, in two trips.
Crowe leaned in the corner and scratched his beard as fans started a mixture of chanting as Crowe tried to understand what each of them were saying, he even mockingly cleared out his ear to get them louder before interrupting them.
SOLOMON CROWE
I know Phil, you are probably itching to get out here and down that ramp and kick me in my face so many times that even my Mother could not love this face, but trust me I am far more eager than you are to snap your bones. Those tattoos that make you stand out, they tell a story, they tell me a story of pain, of guilt, of the many mistakes you made in your life and how it has made you the person you are today, that story finishes tonight, and you can go ahead and tattoo Solomon Crowe on to your skin, and every day when you wake up and look at yourself, you will see my name, of the mistake you made thinking you even stood a chance and then you paid the price, that is what Solomon Crowe will remind you of! Phil…I can admit, I need your help too. I have realised I am wrong, in my head, mentally unstable, unhinged, strange, weird, a crazy son of a bitch then people cross the street when they see me, I am a sinner, I need your help, save me Punk for I am a sinner! And teach me just why CM Punk was called the best in the fucking world!
Fans cheered as Solomon Crowe quickly snapped, he fell to his knees with his arms out wide, goading CM Punk to come to him and bring the ruthlessness that Crowe loved, because he wanted a fight, and he wanted one person to not make it out the other end, he continued to laugh and looked at the stage, waiting for that familiar guitar riff to start so he could wrap his hands around CM Punk’s tattooed neck.