Paid My Dues

[Kyle]

Daniel Bryan had advanced into the second round of the King of the Ring tournament, he was also secretly happy that Ted DiBiase had failed to defeat Bret Hart and was knocked out in the first round. After the first round had been completed there had been several shock exits, with both members of the Sequel being eliminated, Ted DiBiase and both the Breakout Champion and Path to Glory Champion had been eliminated. As a part of the draw, Daniel Bryan was set to face Jay Briscoe, who was best known for his tag team wrestling. However he had proved that he was very skilled in singles competition by defeating the Miz last week. This week’s Warfare is taking place in Seattle, Washington, only a couple of hours from Daniel's hometown of Aberdeen. With not long before the show began, people were slowly filing into the Key Arena and it looked like it would be a sell-out crowd tonight. "The Final Countdown" by Europe played loudly over the PA and the crowd cheered as Daniel Bryan walked out to his home state crowd. He had is wrestling tights on and a jacket covering his torso with DB written on the back. As usual he looked determined and focused on his match. After entering the ring he asked for a microphone, and quickly got one. The crowd were still chanting for Bryan and he waited until it died down a bit before speaking.

Daniel Bryan: Last week I returned to EBWF and in my debut match I defeated the Breakout Champion. In my first appearance back at Death Before Dishonor I embarrassed the longest reigning champion in EBWF history. When I walk around the back, people pay attention. Tonight I'm facing Jay Briscoe, now I could call Briscoe a rookie like The Miz but that's not true. Jay Briscoe one half of one of the greatest tag teams in professional wrestling. You and your brother have been in ROH since day one and I'm not surprised that you beat the Miz last week. When the Miz found out that he was facing Jay Briscoe he said "Who?" and went back to his partying. The Miz is not a real wrestler. The Miz never paid his dues like us. I've got a respect for the Briscoe’s because I know what they've gone through to make it to the big stage. They've performed in front of 10 people and wrestled for $5 and they did it all because they love the business. They've set up rings and put out chairs for 40 people in high school gyms just like I have. We've travelled across the world, learning different styles and facing the best competition on the planet. But with all the similarities there are between Jay and I there is one major difference. While Jay was off winning tag team titles for the last decade I was winning World Championships. I made it to the big leagues before you and I'm going to last longer than you. Tonight we're going to go to war and give everything we have because we know that this tournament is what we've waited our entire lives for. We've waited for the opportunity to make it to the big leagues and now we've got the chance to take on everyone in EBWF and get a World Championship match out of it.

The crowd gave a mixed reaction, some booing Bryan for bashing the Miz, but others still firmly behind their home state hero.

Daniel Bryan: Even though you were a tag team wrestler for most of your career, I can't deny that you have exceeded expectations already in EBWF. When everybody saw the brackets for the King of the Ring tournament, they said that the Miz would easily get into the second round, he just competed against the World Champion. But Jay, you didn't care what anyone thought, you walked out here and you defeated the Miz. Tonight is a whole new battle, I'm a real wrestler like you. I know wrestling holds, submissions, not just punching and kicking. The Miz was the warm up match for you while Leo Kruger was the warm up match for me. Now it's time for the real battle, a true test of skill. During the match I know that you'll do anything to defeat me just like I'll do anything to defeat you, we'll destroy each other out there. But after the match we'll hold no grudges, or ill feelings. We'll be men about it and congratulate the other on a great match. 10 years ago we were performing for less than 100 people, now look at us. We're wrestling in front of thousands in the top wrestling organisation in the world. By defeating you tonight I get one step closer to winning the King of the Ring tournament for a second time. I'll become the third person to have won the King of the Ring tournament for the second time and this time I'll go on to win the World Championship.

Daniel dropped the microphone in the middle of the ring and left as "The Final Countdown" by Europe played over the PA. The crowd now seemed to be more on his side with a favourable response as he left backstage.


Scene 2
Earlier on Monday before Daniel Bryan was set to take on Jay Briscoe in the second round of the King of the Ring tournament he had taken a camera man with him out to walk the streets of Seattle. Daniel dressed casually and wore dark jeans and one of his older EBWF t-shirts which had the words “Tap or Snap” written over it. As Daniel walked down the street, he had the camera man film him.

Daniel Bryan: There’s something about wrestling in your home, you have that extra support, you bring your friends and family down, and you do your best to make them proud. I grew up in a small town called Aberdeen, only a couple of hours from here. I’ve been all over the world wrestling for the last 14 years, but I’ve always come back home. My family has gone through a lot, they’ve seen me win championships and defeat opponents but they’ve also seen me go through hardships. They’ve seen me almost lose my vision, they’ve seen me break bones, tear muscles and dislocate joints. I’ve suffered enough injuries for anyone else to leave the business but I’ve continued. My family have told me to leave the business. I had moments when I thought I should leave the business, but wrestling is everything that I’ve lived for. I’ve worked for years to get where I am, I’ve sacrificed everything and look where I am now. I’m back home in Washington and I’ve got the chance to get one step closer to the EBWF World Championship. I’ve got a chance to become the next King of the Ring. But Jay Briscoe, you are standing in my way. You defeated the Miz and congratulations on that, but you are not going to defeat me.

Daniel continued walking down the street. He walked past cafes and little shops and some people recognised him, every so often someone would yell out to Daniel, but he didn’t pay any attention as he was focused on the camera.

Daniel Bryan: Jay Briscoe, you may have had an impressive debut here and you may have defeated the Miz, but I’m a whole new level up from the Miz. You defeated a Reality TV star, now it’s time to defeat a wrestler. I’m going out there tonight in front of over 10,000 people. I’ve got friends and family watching me, depending on me. I’m not going to let them down. Throughout my career they have seen all the injuries and all of the hard losses. But they know that this is everything I’ve ever dreamed of. This is the life I wanted, this is the life that I worked my entire life for. I may have achieved a lot on the Independent scene, I may have been called the King of the Indies, but I want to be the King of the Ring. I want to defeat the best that the world has to offer. I want to be called the Best in the World and actually have it mean something. It’s not a gimmick to me, it’s a reality. I have the chance to take on a ROH alumni in Jay Briscoe. The fact that our careers have been similar shows that we are really the last of a dying breed. We travelled all over the world to become the best. We didn’t win a competition or lift weights and get offered a contract immediately. We set up rings, we performed for 20 people and we wrestled for free just so we could get experience and get our foot in the door. Well I’ve got my foot in the door now, and I’m going to kick the door right off its hinges. Jay, you might have dreams of becoming the next King of the Ring, and you may have that passion, but that’s not going to stop me from kicking your head in or destroying your shoulder with the Lebell Lock. I’m the Best in the World, and I’m going to show that tonight by advancing into the next round.