[[A private locker room. Furnished with leather couches, a big screen TV, even a desk with a complimentary welcome basket. The lighting was soothing. This was an immaculate setting, the kind of star treatment usually reserved for Pop Singers on their national tours. And here it was for Kevin Nash, and Kevin Nash alone. Over a year ago when Nash signed his contract to act as a “backstage consultant” as well as occasional performer, he and his legal team went out of their way to ensure his total comfort and privacy. Bad blood between him and the rest of EBWF still lingered, and if he wasn’t so over with the crowd each and every time he came out, he would probably never see a wrestling ring again – because he more than burned his bridge with Vince when he sabotaged Raw a few years ago, and TNA couldn’t afford their roster, let alone Nash’s huge payday demands. So, he used his heat with the crowd to carve out of nice life for himself.

In many ways, EBWF had become like the WCW for the mid 90’s. The ratings were great, it seemed like they could do no wrong, and just like Eric Bischoff with Ted Turner’s paychecks was desperate to beat McMahon in ratings; Wes Ikeda and the entire EBWF drove themselves insane trying to secure top talent and bring together the new era of must-see-TV for wrestling fans. Much to their chagrin, that occasionally included Kevin Nash, which meant six figures per appearance, it meant private rooms, it meant catering to him. And there was little in the world Nash enjoyed more than knowing on some level, Wes Ikeda, and all those other wrestling supermarks who ran the show here at EBWF, had to bend over backwards to insure Kevin’s happiness.

But at this moment, there is no joy for Kevin Nash. Alone, in his private changing room, Kevin lays on the floor. Wincing in pain as he attempts to stretch out his muscles. His leg, a constant reminder of the toll this industry can take on an individual, throbs with pain whenever he so much as walks. As a man in his 50’s, his back aches endlessly for no reason. Recently he had begun to have shoulder issues, were raising his arm above shoulder level proved to be an excruciating experience. Something that was sure to cause trouble for a guy who’s most over move was raising his hand with the sign of the Kliq. And here he was, counting down the minutes until an eventual match with AJ Styles. A man who flew through matches like Usain Bolt does foot races.

Kevin lays prone on his back, on top of a yoga mat, he turns his head to stare at the gym bag he brought. His eyes, looking through the bag, burdened with a tough decision.]]

Kevin Nash:
Egghhhh...

[[Kevin grunts in pain as he gets himself off the floor with the assistance of a nearby chair. He reaches in the bag and removes two medical bottles. The name on the label does not match that of the man holding it. One is for Hydrocodone and the other acetaminophen. He opens the bottles and removes a pill of each. Slowly he moves over to the table and opens up one of the bottles of water that had been laid out for him. He sets the pills on the table and sips on the water. The Hydrocodone has “M357” engraved into it’s side, and the acetaminophen has a simple line down the middle. Both of them together take up less surface area of the table than a penny, yet in Nash’s mind those two objects are all he can think of.

Suddenly there is a knock at the door. Without another thought, Nash grabs both pills, throws them in his mouth, and take a pull from the bottle of water to wash them down. He walks over to the door and opens it to see the beautiful Renee Young standing their. Her golden blonde hair cascades gently down her shoulders. A smile adorns her face in a disarming manner. Behind her a few of the EBWF camera crew prepares equipment.]]

Renee Young:
Hi, I’m Renee, I’m here to do an interview with you.

[[She smile at Nash, and it’s genuine. Kevin reflects in his own mind how rare it is to see a genuine smile around these parts for him. But she was young and new and likely had not been influenced by the rest of the staff as to how they perceived him.]]

Kevin Nash:
Yeah, uh, come on in. You guys can determine the shot, I’ll just move this mat out of the way.

[[Nash got down on one knee to grab the mat off the floor, he was relieved that this action didn’t cause him to moan out loud in pain. It still hurt, but at least he could pretend for these people it didn’t. Renee and the crew started setting up the camera and mic for the shot. Kevin took a quick glance behind him to see Renee. Ordinarily his mind would begin to fill with more than a few torrid thoughts about someone so young and beautiful, but today all he could focus on was upcoming challenge.]]

Crew Member:
OK, we’re ready.

Renee Young:
Ready to go?

Kevin Nash:
Sure.

[[Nash stands next to Renee as she points to the camera. They begin rolling.]]

Renee Young:
I’m here with wrestling legend Kevin Nash, who is going to be taking on AJ Styles tonight in the main event. Mr. Nash, what are your thoughts going into tonight’s bout?

Kevin Nash:
Well, see, I’m a guy who likes to put things into perspective. See it’s not just about tonight, this is a part of a saga. All of wrestling is. It’s a continuation. Last week, was the 500th time we continued the story on this show, and it was incredible. Jericho and Hart went all out, made it something to remember, my man Syxx did his thing – and even though Paul Heyman is a little bitch and took that moment from him – ah, you know what, I’m getting ahead of myself here. See, last week was a big big week for someone in this locker room. Last week, someone began, shall we say, their Path To Glory. The train has left the station, and it’s heading to the big time with this passenger. I for one am damn proud of them too, because I always thought they were something special, and so here and now I want to actually congratulate them on their success.

[[Kevin playfully turns his head from facing the camera to facing Renee Young.]]

Kevin Nash:
Congratulations Renee, you really hit it big last week.

Renee Young:
Wha...um...me?

Kevin Nash:
Are you kidding me? Last week, you got more screen time than the EBWF logo in the corner. You’re a star kid!

[[Renee blushes.]]

Renee Young:
Aww, thank you.

Kevin Nash:
Hey I call ‘em like I see ‘em.

Renee Young
But what about AJ Styles?

Kevin Nash:
What about him? He got a new shinny toy by beating some jobber. I’m supposed to be impressed with that belt? I’m impressed when people win the war, I don’t throw parties for guys who won a single battle. Hell, you can win a thousand skirmishes, but until you’re the one standing alone at the end of it all – it’s just premature. I’ve been trying for over a year to get AJ to understand some fundamental truths about this industry. And here is one more for ya brother; no Belt, no Title, no Tournament matters other than THE Belt. People don’t buy their tickets to see AJ Styles with some mid card title – they want to see Randy Orton and his World Heavyweight Championship.

Hulkamania wasn’t about Hogan with the Intercontinental Belt. Austin 3:16 sure didn’t revolve around chasing down the European Title. Ric Flair doesn’t Woooo after saying how many times he held the United States Championship. You got a fun new trinket, congratulations. Although, if I recall correctly, a little over a year ago when I was in EBWF, you seemed to have a World Championship belt. So, unless I’m mistaken, something must have gone wrong for you. But that can’t be. You’re told me over and over again how you’re over, and then how now you’re so dark and mean and you make people submit. Well, great job on change, too bad it doesn’t seem like it was for the better. Now, you got that little prick Heyman whispering in your ear.

You seem obsessed with this idea that I’m out to get you Styles. That I’m trying to torpedo you, or whatever. But listen to me carefully, Paul Heyman has never done right by a single guy other than Paul Heyman. When he was running ECW, he was the most over guy on the roster – and something is seriously wrong is some bald fat jerkoff in the back is the guy people are praising after a show. I’m not even going to really give him more consideration than that – other than to say this. He has an eye for talent. I said last year, Ted DiBiase and AJ Styles were the two guys who should be carrying this industry. Go back and check my Twitter, my promos, you’ll see. Those two guys are the future. And sure enough, Heyman scooped them up, and out of the three of you, who’s still getting the most heat? You play a heel, you submit people now, and it’s still Paulie who’s getting the signs, who’s the key to the heat. Both of you should know better. Especially someone who’s as “experienced” as you are AJ.

Renee Young:
In tonight match –

Kevin Nash:
Sorry Renee, I don’t mean to cut you off, but I have got to get this off my chest. You little arrogant prick. You think because you’ve submitted a few jobbers you are going to intimidate me? You think some cliché gimmick of a mean streak works against a guy like me? Here, I’ve got something for you. Come here camera guy, get in on this...

[[Kevin motions for the camera guy to position himself and zoom into his thigh. Kevin grabs a chair and plops it down next to him so he can hit a “Captain Morgan” type pose. The camera stays zoomed into Nash’s thigh.]]

Kevin Nash:
See that quad? Just dripping off the bone. You got some meanie inside ya, come take this. Unless you’re sitting there salivating over getting to rip this muscle off my bone, I don’t want to hear about how you’re so tough and nasty now. I ain’t nasty, I’m apparently a Big Bad Boy. And this Boy here is gonna run down some history for you. Since I’ve been in the EBWF, I can count the number of times I’ve lost on one hand. You know who’s beat me? Guys like Triple H, a man they call The Heartbreak Kid. Those are the types of people I lose to. You think some little twerp like you is going to take me down?

[[The camera zooms out to Renee and Nash again.]]

Kevin Nash:
Oh wait, that’s right, you’ll have your heat magnet with you. So when the crowd goes limp from your arrival, Paulie will be there to get you over a little more. Maybe throw in a bit of interference for good measure. Well I’m not coming alone either. I don’t know if you heard or not, but see there is this guy that is like family to me. And I know Syxx is dying, just dying to rip you apart. Hell, after what you did to Scott, he might be as hot as I am. Now me? I’m a calculating guy. I’m looking for dollars, but Syxx, man, I don’t know, he’s been a bit unhinged lately. I think he’s looking to end people more than he is fix himself up. AJ, you, you don’t scare me. You’re dark persona is put on like a mask to cover up the fact you’re tired of crowds expecting more from you than your flips. But Syxx, he’s the genuine article. He’s actually out for blood, and I think his shark nose smells your ass. So I’d watch out if I were you, cause he’s not the type to take offenses against him lightly – and it seems like you, Heyman, and your long distance girlfriend DiBiase have offended him plenty.

Renee Young:
Well, thank you for your time Mr. Nash, I’m sure AJ Styles will –

Kevin Nash:
You know, me interrupting you is getting to be a bad habbit, but I just need to say this. I genuinely thought you were once in a generation Styles. I know you think I’ve targeted you because I don’t like little guys or whatever your stupid theories might be. But I want you to succeed. It’s true. So tonight, start your kingdom. Build it on a strong foundation. You want the kind of immortality that Hogan or Austin has? Start with me. I’m daring you. Take my quad, tear it, and put a bronzed thigh on your mantle tonight. End my career. DO IT. You’ve been so desperate to make an impact. For a decade you’ve needed a moment. Here tonight, seize it. All gimmicks, all work aside. Syxx, Heyman, DiBiase, Wes Ikeda, God himself – put all that on the backburner for now. This is you, and me. Make something of it. If you’re gonna win, don’t just beat me, take your spotlight, and blind the world with it. I’m as over as I’ll ever be – the wins, the loses, it doesn’t effect me anymore. But you, there is still time for you. Still time to become The Phenomenal One. So do it over my dead body.

[[Nash looks around the room, for a moment it was almost as if he forgot he was cutting a promo and suddenly was back to reality. He waved his hand in a dismissive manner to end the promo. The crew member stopped recording.]]

Renee Young:
Is that – are we done?

Crew Member:
Yeah, I turned it off.

[[Renee looks confused.]]

Kevin Nash:
Sorry, I need a few moments alone, do you all mind?

[[The crew look between themselves baffled by Nash’s behavior.]]

Kevin Nash:
I’m not kidding. Get out of my room.

[[Renee looks upset, almost as if she had done something wrong. One of the crew members grabs her and ushers her out of the room in a reassuring manner. The door closes and once again Nash is alone in his luxury room that gives him no comfort.]]

Kevin Nash:
Fuck it.

[[Nash grabs a few more pills and water, and downs them. He stands in front of a mirror and looks at himself.]]

Kevin Nash:
OK, let’s do it.