“We stand on the threshold of a wondrous and magical moment. All around us things are starting to change. The temperature begins to drop day by day, leaves are changing color as the trees shed them. Dark clouds fill the horizon bringing thunder, lightning, and rain. It's the changing of the seasons and everything around us is getting ready for the same thing. The frost is coming.”
Mankind lets out a chuckle as suddenly dirt begins to fly by as he must obviously be digging in the graveyard nearby.
“Deciding to take a cue from nature, I figured I'd better start changing too. I've already begun and the rewards are showing themselves. I've finally stepped up my game in the past few weeks, earning myself a nice little streak. Of course all streaks run cold eventually, but I'll be damned if I let mine end with a man I've already beaten just recently! I admit my surprise when I learned that once again I'd be stepping into the ring with little Teddy DiBiase. But I guess he has something more to prove this time around, it's just a shame that his daddy isn't here any longer to see this. Yes, The Million Dollar Man's time in the EBWF was short and as memorable as the rest of his career, which is to say, not at all.”
He lets out a louder laugh this time as more dirt flies through the air.
“Teddy boy, the last match we had together you claimed that I was a washed up old has been. Those words have been thrown around often enough since I came back to the company, but I hope you learned your lesson from that, though I have a strong feeling you didn't learn a damn thing from that match. I came at you with guns blazing and I left you in my dust. So this week, I see it as management sending me back in to finish the job I started. You see, I'm done with the cheap antics and gags. I'm done being the clown. Now, I'm the frost and you better be getting yourself ready.”
Finally the dirt stops flying as the shoveling halts. Mankind can be heard climbing out of the hole and suddenly the camera is picked up and turns to reveal in fact two freshly dug graves.
“As you gaze upon my recently completed hard work before you, don't get it in your little head that I deem you worthy enough to place you in one of these holes, DiBiase. No, you are going to be something special for me this week. You get to be the message I send to each and every champion here in the EBWF. I'm coming for the gold, I'm coming for all of it. From this moment on your days as title holders in this company are numbered. And if any of you out there doubt the validity of my claim, I invite you to stay tuned and watch carefully as to what I do to Ted this week. And as for you, Mr. DiBiase Jr., just remember that the things I do to you this week are very, very, personal.”
With that the scene goes to static.
- - - - -
Mick Foley is sitting in the production truck, watching the final cut of his promo with JR. As it finishes, JR wipes the sweat from his brow, letting out a slight whistle as he turns to look at Mick.
“Well Mick, it certainly is a change in style from what we're used to seeing from you. You're taking this to a pretty dark place. Do you think this is the best course of action? I mean, this is starting to sound like a Taker promo.”
Mick nods his head slowly, looking from JR to the blank screen in front of them.
“I've been the clown long enough, Ross. I tapped into that side of myself and it took me on a great career. But you can't have the light without the dark and I've been ignoring my dark side and allowing it to fester for far too long. It's time to let it out.”
JR lets out a soft sigh, frowning slightly as he looks at the dark screen as well.
“Be careful Mick, you start stirring up these waters and you never know what might come out to respond. These aren't the kinds of shadows you want to be looking into. All I'm saying here Mick is, you know, tread lightly.”
Mick seems to think about his words for a moment, running a hand through his hair.
“I appreciate you looking out for me JR, but it's not the first time I've walked this path. Before everyone said I was too nice beneath it all and so I let it shine through. I burned through it all over the years, now it's time to show them just how dark I can be.”
Rising to his feet, Mick pats JR on the shoulder as he turns to leave the production truck.
“Send it out as is, I'll make another statement tomorrow at the exhibition.”
- - - - -
The venue is packed with screaming fans who all came out to get a look at their favorite superstars. This was a day mainly for them, plenty of autograph signings and pictures being taken, but it was also a time for the superstars to get into the ring and cut promos in front of a live crowd for their upcoming matches. Mick had just finished his autographs and photo sessions, waiting just behind the curtain for the guy in the ring to wrap up so he could head out and do his thing. Finally he hears his music hit, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, sinking into character.
Stepping out from behind the curtain, Mankind appears on the stage to a decent sized pop. He raises his arm, marching right down to the ring and climbing inside. Grabbing a microphone, he raises it to his lips.
“Cut the damn music!”
The music cuts rather abruptly and Mankind paces back and forth in the ring, shaking his head as he starts to fume.
“There comes a time in all of our lives when you are faced with making the tough choices. No one likes to have to do it but we do it because we have to. Otherwise what do we become? We become shells of our former selves, empty rotting husks of decaying meat suits. Is that what you want to let yourself become?! I know I sure as hell don't! The time finally arrived in my life once more when I had to decide what I wanted of myself. I could have coward down and stuck in my own little niche in this industry but I know that I want more for myself than that and I know you all want to see more than just the same old tired shtick.”
He stops his pacing, moving to a corner of the ring and leaning back into it. He looks around at the crowd for a moment.
“It wasn't too long ago that I put everyone on the roster on notice. Each and every one of those champions better start counting down the days because I'm not only coming for them, I'm going to take those titles off of them too! You see, the times they are a changing. My first step is going to be right over Ted DiBiase and it won't be the first time either. I've beaten him once and I can do it again. Why? Because he's an idiot, just like the rest of them. He looks at me and all he sees is some old push over. Well I've been proving that I am anything but that and I will continue to do so! They wanted a monster and I'm going to give them one the likes that they've never in their wildest dreams conjured up!”
Mankind lets out a laugh, it starts as a chuckle and then begins to build until he is practically having a fit right there in the ring. He lowers his head as he seems to finally get control of himself enough to go on.
“There are many monsters in this world, we each have an idea about what frightens us. There is a deep within each and every one of you and I will be the embodiment of all of them. There have been those that claim to be demons, devils, and faces of fear. I will put them all to shame! Mankind will never be the same from this day forward, you shall all be witness to the rise of the most feared man this business has ever seen! Nothing will stop me, no one will stand in my way. The time has finally come!”
He lets out another laugh, a crash echoing throughout the facility as the lights blink out. When they return the ring is empty except for a bit of mist rising up off the mat.