Go Back to Hollywood

[Ben M]

Warfare Fallout: Monday December 12; Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Rock had returned to the EBWF, and the fans inside the Air Canada Centre were electrified. Chris Jericho, on the other hand, was livid. He had confronted EBWF's General Manager, Stone Cold Steve Austin, expecting a rematch for the World Title... instead, he got a Stone Cold Stunner and a Rock Bottom for his troubles. His jaw was aching, his back was sore, but more than anything, his pride was hurt. So when Matt Striker asked Jericho for an interview as he walked through the backstage area of the arena, it took all of Jericho's self-control not to attack Striker.

Matt Striker: Chris, moments ago we saw The Rock return to EBWF, and we found out that you will be facing him at Christmas Eve of Destruction. How are you feeling at this moment in time?

Wary of the potential repercussions for assaulting an announcer, Jericho contented himself with snatching the microphone aggressively from Striker.

Chris Jericho: How do I feel? What is this, an episode of Dr. Phil? You wanna know how I feel, Matt? I'll tell you how I feel. I'm angry. I'm angry because the rematch that is rightfully mine has been taken from me, and handed to Jimmy Havoc, a guy who no one outside of England had heard of until a few months ago. I'm angry because Stone Cold Steve Austin crossed the line again, and laid his hands on me, which was both uncalled for and unprofessional. And I'm angry because after 11 months making movies, The Rock comes back and gets a big payday against the Greatest of All Time, Y2J. This is a conspiracy, and I'm starting to wonder who else is in on it. Are you part of the conspiracy, Matt? Is that why you're interviewing me right now, asking me how I feel? Are you trying to break me? Because unlike that My Chemical Romance wannabe Jimmy Havoc, I will not be broken.

Matt Striker: In The Rock's defence, Chris, he's spent most of the past year sidelined with a knee injury...

Chris Jericho: Oh really? Rock was "sidelined", was he? Well let me ask you this, Matt – what did The Rock do while he was sidelined? Did he spent his time rehabbing that injured knee of his, desperately trying to return to the ring? No. He did what he always does, Matt... he went back to Hollywood. He gave his voice to a character in Moana, which is a stupid film by the way. I took my kids to see it last week, and we walked out after ten minutes. It was awful, Matt... Walt Disney would be turning in his grave if he knew his name was being used to promote garbage movies like that. And that's not even the worst of it! "I can’t wait to see another Fast and Furious" film, said no one ever. There's about as much demand for a Jumanji remake as there is for David Arquette to get another World Title reign. And Baywatch? Well if Rock wants to prove himself as a poor man's David Hasselhoff, so be it. The Rock has been working in Hollywood for 15 years now, Matt, and no matter how terrible the move, if the money is right, Rock will do it. He's a sellout, plain and simple. He does not belong in the ring with me, and at Christmas Eve of Destruction, I'm going to prove it.

Matt Striker: Christmas Eve of Destruction is known for its hardcore matches – last year, you wrestled against Kevin Owens in the first ever TLC4 match. Do you have any preference for what type of match you'd like to face The Rock in?

Chris Jericho: Well Matt, my preference would be to face The Rock in a wrestling match, because that's what I do – I'm a professional wrestler. But I know that's not going to happen, not at Christmas Eve of Destruction. My best friend Wes Ikeda may not be making the decisions around here anymore, but Christmas Eve of Destruction is his baby, and I'm sure he'll use his "influence" to make sure the pay per view lives up to its name. Honestly, Matt, I don't care what type of match it is. Last year I had to deal with C4 explosives, and I came out on top. I'm sure The Rock's lawyers won't let him do anything too dangerous, otherwise he might not get to shoot Fast and Furious 47 next year. So put me in a falls count anywhere match, put me in an electrified steel cage, have us do a "Hollywood Street Fight" so Rocky feels at home. It doesn't matter to me. Because whatever match it is, I'll come out on top. And The Rock will never... eeeeeeeeever... be the same again!

Before Matt Striker could ask any more questions, Jericho pushed past him, bringing than interview to a close.

EBWF Live Holiday Tour: Wednesday December 21; Binghamton, New York

Christmas Eve of Destruction was just three days away, and EBWF was holding a house show at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena, just a three and a half hour drive away from the famous Madison Square Garden. The arena had a capacity of just 6,925 and had sold out. The EBWF fans in attendance had just returned to their seats following an intermission, and Justin Roberts entered the ring.

Justin Roberts: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall!

As had become a common occurrence at live events, a section of the crowd chanted "one fall" in response. Before Justin Roberts could say anything else, "Break the Walls Down" hit and the crowd gave a mixed reaction as Chris Jericho made his way to the ring. Jericho was dressed in his ring gear, but the look on Justin's face suggested that Jericho was not the superstar he had been expecting. Upon entering the ring, Jericho took the microphone from Justin Roberts and dismissed him.

Chris Jericho: Get out of here, Justin... I'll take it from here. Binghamton, this city might be full of stupid idiots, but I'm sure I need know introduction. You know who I am, and you know that I'm the best in the world at what I do. I'm sure you also know that on Saturday night, at the infamous Madison Square Garden, I will go one on one with The Rock. If you haven't already heard, that match is going to be a Last Man Standing match. But I'm here tonight in Binghamton because I'm feeling the spirit of the holidays. That's right, I'm getting into the Christmas spirit, so I'd like to give you all a gift... the gift of Jericho. Drink it in, man!

Jericho held out his arms, smirking as the crowd booed.

Chris Jericho: You're welcome. The reason I'm out here, Binghamton, is because I've decided I don't want to wait until Christmas Eve of Destruction to teach The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin a lesson. I want a fight, and I want to fight tonight! So tonight, right here in New York, I will go one on one with The Great One!

There was pandemonium in the arena as the crowd cheered, excited at the prospect of an unannounced Jericho versus Rock match. Jericho raised his voice, shouting over the crowd.

Chris Jericho: Quiet! I'm not done. As I was saying, tonight I will go one on one with The Great One...'s cousin, Sean Maluta. Maluta is part of the Anoa'i family, and he's proud of his Samoan heritage, but he was born in Staten Island. He's a New Yorker, so be sure to give him a warm welcome!

Maluta received a lukewarm reaction as he made his way to the ring. When Maluta entered the ring, Jericho greeted him warmly, shaking his hand.

Chris Jericho: Sean! Welcome. Thanks for agreeing to wrestle me tonight. Now before we start this match, I have a gift for you too, Sean. I spoke to my best friend, Wes Ikeda, earlier today, and we've come to an agreement. If you can beat me in this ring, you will be rewarded with an EBWF contract!

The promise of a contract for Sean Maluta if he was able to beat Chris Jericho drew cheers from the crowd.

Chris Jericho: Alright, let's not waste any more time. Let's get a referee out here and we can get this match started. Good luck, Sean... may the better man win.

A referee came to the ring and called for the bell. As the bell rang, Jericho shook hands with Sean Maluta once again... but this time, he pulled Maluta towards him, hitting with him a cheap shot! Maluta fell to the mat and Jericho stomped on him repeatedly, then pulled him to his feet and whipped him into the corner. Jericho hit Maluta with a series of backhand chops, then dragged him out of the corner, kicking him in the midsection before hitting a double underhook backbreaker. Jericho grabbed Maluta by the legs, and put Maluta in the Walls of Jericho! Maluta tried to reach the ropes, but was unable to get to them, and he tapped out. The referee called for the bell... but Jericho kept the hold locked in! The referee forced Jericho to break the hold, and as Jericho did so, he picked Sean Maluta up once more, hitting him with a Codebreaker! He yelled at the referee, telling him to get Maluta out of the ring. As the referee and a member of the ringside crew helped Sean Maluta backstage, Jericho picked up a microphone and continued speaking.

Chris Jericho: Hey Cameraman Number Three, I hope you got all that. I want to see this footage on EBWF.net later on tonight, so The Rock can watch what I did to Sean Maluta. Rocky, if you're watching, listen closely. What you saw just now is a preview of what I'm going to do to you at Madison Square Garden. I'm sure you'll put up more of a fight than your stupid cousin, but the end result will be the same. I can't make you tap out in a Last Man Standing match, but I can use the Walls of Jericho to hurt you. The Codebreaker might not keep you down for ten seconds, but it's a start. Whatever it takes Rock, I will beat you. In fact, I'm not just going to beat you... I'm going to destroy you. Because unlike you, I'm not here for a paycheck. I am here to be the EBWF's top guy. Your buddy Stone Cold Steve Austin is trying to hold me down, and now he's using you to block my path to the top. But I'm not going to let that happen. When it's all said and done, Rock, you'll go back to Hollywood... and I will be the last man standing.

Jericho dropped the microphone and exited the ring as "Break the Walls Down" blasted through the arena.