Head In the Game

[Cory]

The body? Not so much.

OOC: Good luck Tony! Pleasure as usual sir!

Last week.

Randy winced as he stepped through the curtain, selling the damage that he had sustained in his match with Solomon Crowe. He straightened up slightly as he entered the gorilla position area, a smattering of applause greeting him and complimenting him on the match. He nodded in the direction of some of the applause and headed deeper into the backstage area of the Banker's Life Fieldhouse. Heyman saw him and immediately began to close the distance between them. He clasped his hands together proudly, and extended them in Randy's direction.

Paul Heyman: Randy! Bubbee! I see you've at least put some thought into my proposal. That match was spectacular!

Randy narrowed his eyes a little.

Randy Orton: Easy. It was just Solomon Crowe. It wasn't Shawn Michaels.

Paul Heyman: I'm just happy that you might be on board with my babyface pitch. Wes told me not to bring it up with you, but I'm glad I did.

Randy put his arms out in a "Stop" gesture.

Randy Orton: Listen, I-- ow.

Randy winced and gripped his right shoulder suddenly. He shook it off, but it was too late. Paul had noticed, and his look changed to one of alarm.

Paul Heyman: Woah, woah. Randy did you...

Randy Orton: It's fine, I'm sure. I'll just ice it and I'll be fine.

Paul Heyman: You need to go to Hope and have her look at it. If your shoulder went out, you can't--

Randy Orton: I'm fine, Paul. Don't worry.

Randy's thoughts then drifted to all the fights he had picked with Wes, Hope, and even his own wife about covering for wrestlers who were competing with untreated conditions, and he suddenly lost his desire to argue this one.

Randy Orton: Alright, I'll see her. Just let me do the post-match interview they want me to do and I'll have Hope take a look.

Paul Heyman: OK. I just want to make sure you're healthy for your match against PJ. I'm going to go make sure she knows to expect you.

Orton smirked a little.

Randy Orton: I'm sure she'll be thrilled.

With that, Randy walked away from Heyman and made his way out of the backstage area and into a narrow corridor where Renee Young was waiting. She looked up at him, having just finished with post-match interview with Syxx after his victory.

Renee Young: Hey there, Randy. Been a while since we did one of these.

Randy Orton: Well, EBWF decided that they need to keep diversifying their interview talent. They want to pretend that people don't want to just see you on their televisions.

Renee Young: Well, I um...

Renee cleared her throat and tucked a tendril of blonde hair behind her ear. She smiled bashfully and glanced up at Randy's hand, which was gripping his gripping his upper right arm, keeping his shoulder in place.

Renee Young: You get hurt?

Randy Orton: It's nothing. Solomon hasn't had a good match in months, he probably just got a little over-zealous.

Renee Young: Well, if you want to wait on the interview, I can--

Randy Orton: Nah, I'm fine. Let's get it done.

Renee nodded and gave the cameraman a look, and he got the equipment ready. Randy's posture and his breathing shifted, in order to properly sell the match he was just in. His arm moved away from his shoulder. The cameraman signaled Renee, and she smiled brightly.

Renee Young: Hi EBWF fans! Welcome to this EBWF.net exclusive interview. We're backstage here at Warfare, where Randy Orton just picked up an important victory again Solomon Crowe and Ted Dibiase, Jr. He is now the Number One Contender for the EBWF Path to Glory Championship. I'm here with the winner of that match, Randy Orton! Randy, how are you feeling after your hard fought victory tonight?

Randy Orton: Renee, I'm going to be perfectly candid with you. I'm irritated.

Renee Young: Irritated? You just became the Number One Contender for the Path to Glory Championship. Aren't you happy about that? Next week you'll have the opportunity to take on PJ Black and possibly walk out as the PTG Champ. That's got to be exciting.

Randy Orton: Oh, it's not a possibility. PJ Black is not a concern to me. On Sunday I will become the Path to Glory Champion. It's not just a possibility, it's an inevitability. That's not my issue here. Renee, I'm irritated about several things. I'm irritated about the fact that I'm the longest reigning World Champion in the HISTORY of this company, and I have to get in the ring with a never-was like Ted Dibiase Jr, and a Barnum & Bailey Circus reject like Solomon Crowe. I have to get in the ring with those two in order to prove something that everyone out in that arena, everyone backstage, and everyone at the EBWF building in St. Louis knows already: that I am, have been, and will continue to be the best wrestler this company has ever seen.

Renee Young: You were in the main event this evening.

Randy Orton: A main event purely on the basis that it ended the show. Who was in that match, besides me, that was a main event worthy contender? Solomon Crowe? Ted Dibiase, Jr.? Ted Dibiase, after that match, is another step closer to a janitorial position in EBWF than a wrestling title. Solomon Crowe is now going to sink back into the annals of obscure nobodies that people will have to look up on Wikipedia to remember what they did in life.

Renee Young: Well, regardless of that Randy, you can now move forward because you face PJ Black at Fallout for the EBWF Path to Glory Championship.

Randy Orton: Right you are, Renee. The importance of Sunday night can't be understated. The Path to Glory Championship is a fascinating little piece of gold, and it deserves better than the treatment it has gotten. As the champion, I can quickly shoot myself back up to where I belong, or I can hold it for a little while and give it the prestige that it's been sorely lacking with previous champions. Look at the people that have held that title in recent months. PJ Black, Lance Storm, and CM Punk, the latter of which decided to grace us with his presence during my match. This is a perfect example, Renee. CM Punk came out to the ring during my number one contendership match and decided that he wanted to play commentator for a few minutes. Not surprising. CM Punk knows, just like everyone knows, that the fast track to relevance is trying to get yourself featured on the same cameras that are pointed at me. Make no mistake, that's why Punk was out there. He wasn't out there because he wanted to see the result, he was out there because when Randy Orton is in the ring, people have their eyes glued to the television. Since CM Punk hasn't been important to the business since 2013, he thought he might capitalize on the halo effect that being in the same room as Randy Orton grants you.

Renee Young: Halo effect? Really, Randy? Nothing about you really says "halo".

Randy shrugged.

Randy Orton: The people of Tumblr would disagree. Forgetting the fact that the Path to Glory title was held by a guy that we all saw tonight trying to absorb some of my spotlight, I want to take a minute and talk about the current champion instead of the former champion. PJ Black, better known as Justin Gabriel back when he had a personality, is the man that right now is on the precipice of being able to cash the path to glory title in, and get a shot at the EBWF World Champion.

The muscles in Randy's jaw flexed, as he leaned in, narrowing his eyes at Renee.

Randy Orton: Do you understand what that means for this company, Renee? PJ Black could potentially main event a pay per view. You know, I may voice my discontent about the administration team in charge of running this company, but at the end of the day, I am a responsible employee of this corporation. I may think the people in charge couldn't make a responsible business decision if their lives depended on it, or that booking me in a match against Ted Dibiase and a guy that looks like Doc Brown playing a mall goth on television is a STUPID move for business. I might think all of those things, but that doesn't mean that I want this company to go under. When you have PJ Black, the Diet Coke version of Justin Gabriel, potentially having the pathway to the most prestigious championship title in the game? I can't stand by and watch as ticket sales to EBWF events plummet on the news that people saw PJ Black on the marquee of a pay per view event and fell asleep before buying a ticket.

Renee Young: Hyperbole aside, Randy, I still think you're being a little harsh. The so-called Dare-wulf won the Path to Glory Championship in legitimate fashion. He's definitely one to look out for.

Randy Orton: Fine, Renee. You win. I'll give PJ Black some credit. He's a great athlete. He can do some pretty amazing things when he steps through those ropes. You're never going to see me do a tope through the ropes. You're never going to see me mount the top turnbuckle, or do a springboard. PJ Black can do all of those things because he's quick, agile, and has great ring awareness. But do you know what I see when I watch a guy like PJ Black dazzle the crowd with his aerial move set?

Randy grinned.

Randy Orton: I just see opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to land an R...K...O.

Randy cocked an eyebrow at Renee's incredulousness.

Randy Orton: You don't think I take this seriously, do you?

Renee Young: Well, no. You seem to be shrugging everyone and everything off.

Orton frowned.

Randy Orton: Well, let me tell you about something I do take seriously. I'm done coming out here night after night, and being the guy that used to be a big deal. I'm done being a feather in someone else's cap. Out there?

Randy pointed in the direction of the arena.

Randy Orton: That's my ring. The name on the bill of sale might say EBWF, but when I'm in it, it's mine. I take that very seriously. Tonight, Solomon Crowe and Ted Dibiase, Jr. found that out. Again. I could be like PJ Black, and have the stones to come out here and say that his spot in the Royal Rumble doesn't matter because he's the Path to Glory Champ. That's not what I'm going to do though. What I'm going to do is make the statement that every time you see me, it's a version of me that's better than the last time. I'm going to make that statement by going out there on Sunday and taking my spot back. My spot has been on loan to other people for too long. You hear that, PJ?

Randy slowly turned his head and looked dead on into the camera.

Randy Orton: That spot at the top of the mountain that you never had a chance of getting to? I'm going to take it back. I'll start this Sunday by taking your title, and throw you screaming off this mountain that you had no business climbing in the first place.

Randy looked at Renee with a malevolent stare, and then turned to walk away from the scene.

~~~~

Renee Young: Thanks, Randy!

The camera wrapped up the equipment and Renee waved at Randy, who returned the gesture with his good arm. He turned and walked back in the direction he had come from, making his way down to the office set up for Hope and the training staff. He knocked on the door lightly before turning the knob and walking through the door. Hope Clemente, EBWF's Director of Medical and Training staff, looked up from her desk, stacks of paperwork on either side of her. She took her glasses off to look Randy Over. He was clearly favoring his right shoulder with his posture and stance.

Hope Clemente: What did you do?

Randy Orton: Got in the ring with a pair of dorks, is the real problem.

Hope stood up, already closing the distance between herself and Randy. She gingerly put her hand on Randy's shoulder, gently pressing certain key points with her thumb.

Hope Clemente: Hold out your arm.

Randy Orton: I didn't throw it out, Hope.

Hope looked at him disapprovingly.

Hope Clemente: You heard me.

Randy acquiesced, extending his arm out.

Hope Clemente: Pain?

Randy Orton: Probably a two.

Hope gently pressed her thumb into a spot above Randy's right pectoral muscle.

Hope Clemente: Does that hurt?

Randy Orton: Do you want it to?

Randy flashed her a small grin. Hope narrowed her eyes, unamused.

Randy Orton: It's a little sore. It hurt more a few minutes ago.

Hope Clemente: It seems like it's probably a minor sprain. There's some minor swelling. You got lucky Mr. Hypermobile Shoulders. Wes would probably kill me if I had to shelf you because you got a little too rambunctious on your push.

Randy Orton: Please. I know how you feel about me. It has nothing to do with Wes.

Hope turned around and gave him a narrow stare as she went over to a cabinet close by. She produced a small, sealed plastic bag with a black cloth item inside. She handed it to Randy, who immediately opened it up. He frowned when he figured out what it was.

Hope Clemente: Ice. Lots of ice, and keep that thing on until this Sunday. If you take it off, I'm not clearing you. Take some ibuprofen for the swelling.

She was all business today. He looked down at the object in his hands. A black cloth arm sling was what she gave him. He frowned.

Randy Orton: Well, it sounds like I don't have a choice.

Hope Clemente: You don't, if you want to retain hope of keeping your match with PJ on the books for Sunday.

Randy Orton: Fine, fine.

Randy begrudgingly hung the cloth strap over his shoulder and fit his elbow into the sling.

Randy Orton: 6 days and it comes off.

Hope Clemente: You got it. And don't you try to cheat.

She wagged her finger at him.

Hope Clemente: I've got ears everywhere.

Randy smirked. He nodded

Randy Orton: Thanks, Doc.

Hope Clemente: Try to be more careful out there, Randy. You're not the spring chicken you used to be.

Randy Orton: I'm 35.

Hope Clemente: Yeah, well your shoulder joints are closer to 65. You need to change your workout routine if you're going to go on the road more often. Otherwise you'll be wearing that a lot more than 6 days.

Randy Orton: Alright, fine. Have a nice day, Hope.

Randy turned and left, closing the door behind him. He looked down at his arm and exhaled a sigh of irritation. Getting back into the game was going to be a little harder than he thought. The Path to Glory Championship was another piece of the puzzle to getting his career on track. It was a piece that he feared might slip away if he wasn't careful. He knew he wasn't going to miss out on this opportunity to reclaim the drive and ambition that had been escaping him for a long time. This time, he was taking back his ring, and no one was going to stop him.