Nothing is Guaranteed
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 10:06 pm
OOC: Had one of those days where I've been sitting staring at a blank page for hours, and then finally managed to throw something together. Good luck Cory.
Having beaten one former King of the Ring winner in the first round of the tournament, to advance to the quarter final Chris Jericho had to beat another former King - Randy Orton, who had won the tournament last year. Jericho and Orton had a lot of history, both personal and professional. They had wrestled one another numerous times over the years, most famously in the main event of WrestleMania IX - the loss that still hurt Jericho more than any other. Outside of the ring, Jericho and Orton had clashed not long after Chris had taken over as interim CEO - Orton hadn't been impressed with the way Jericho was running EBWF, and in typical Orton fashion, Randy had made sure that Chris new exactly how he felt. Jericho wished he could say that he and Randy had put their differences aside for the good of the company, and in a way, he supposed they had... but the main reason they had agreed to let bygones be bygones was to get Wes Ikeda back when he had gone AWOL. Since working together to "work" Wes, Chris and Randy hadn't spent much time together, but when they had at least it was now cordial - they would never be friends as such, but there was no longer any tension between them either. Chris wondered if their match on Total Recall would put the mutual understanding he and Randy had to the test. No final decision had been made on whether it would be Chris or Randy that advanced to the quarter final, and in the interest of being fair, Chris was trying to keep himself away from the decision making process... but if Wes decided Chris was getting the win, and Randy wasn't happy about it, Chris was sure Randy would accuse him of lobbying his best friend to secure a victory. Chris was too much of a professional to try and influence such a decision, and ordinarily he would accept a loss gracefully... but such was Jericho's determination to win the World Title again, he was desperately hoping he would be competing in the quarter finals on Warfare.
With Total Recall just hours away, Chris Jericho was backstage at the MTC Centre. He was excited to be competing in front of the Winnipeg crowd, and in honour of his infamous confrontation with a fan several years earlier, Jericho was wearing a t-shirt featuring the quote "I'm from Winnipeg you Idiot!" across the front. Chris had been sitting in his locker room, relaxing before the show, when he noticed the time. He got to his feet and headed through the arena to the interview area, where an EBWF backdrop had been set up. Michael Cole was waiting there with a cameraman, and when he saw Jericho approaching, he smiled.
Michael Cole: Hey Chris... thanks for being on time.
Chris Jericho: I'm still the interim CEO, Michael... I've got to lead by example.
Jericho grinned, and Michael laughed, relieved not to be treated with the usual hostility most EBWF superstars greeted him with.
Michael Cole: Great. So I take it we're playing it by ear as usual?
Chris Jericho: Of course. I didn't take over the day to day running of the company to be confined by a script, and I know you've been doing this long enough that you don't need anyone to tell you what questions to ask. I'm ready when you are.
A minute or so later, the camera started rolling and Cole began to speak.
Michael Cole: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I'm joined at this time by the interim CEO Chris Jericho, who'll be taking on Randy Orton in tonight's main event. Chris, last week on Total Recall, you defeated CM Punk in a thrilling match. How different of a threat will Randy Orton pose in your match tonight?
Chris Jericho: It's difficult to say, Michael. I know CM Punk and Randy Orton have completely different styles, but as an opponent I see a lot of similarities between them. I've faced Punk enough times in the ring to know what to expect, and it's the same with Randy Orton. I'd expect Randy to focus less on technical moves and more on being hard hitting, but I'm prepared for that and I know I can handle it.
Michael Cole: We certainly saw a hard-hitting style from Orton last week... he beat Roman Reigns using the Punt, a move that has seen numerous superstars injured over the years. Although it has never been "banned", I'm led to believe that Randy has been discouraged from using the move in order to ensure no more injuries occur. Are you concerned that Orton might try to hit you with the Punt, and take you out of action?
Chris Jericho: Michael, the only person that takes me out of action is me... I haven't been injured in years. In fact, I think the last time I picked up a serious injury was a few months after Randy joined the EBWF - he hit me with an RKO from the top rope after I beat him, causing me to injure my neck and ruling me out of action for a couple of months. So I know what it's like to suffer an injury at the hands of Randy Orton. However, that was a very different Orton - the Viper has since been tamed. In fact, I think he made an exception using the Punt for Reigns last week; I'm sure he won't try the same with me. But if he does, I'll be ready for him.
Michael Cole: One thing you and Orton do have in common is that neither of you wrestle a full-time schedule. Given that you were both inactive before the start of the King of the Ring tournament, will it be a struggle for you to be at your best tonight?
Chris Jericho: Well first of all Michael, I'm sure Randy would like you to point out that regardless of how often he wrestles on TV, he regularly features on EBWF house shows. I don't really have that same excuse, but one of my favourite quotes is that "form is temporary, class is permanent". In other words, it doesn't matter how much or how little I wrestle; I've got the talent to be the best. I've only wrestled twice this year, but both times I've put in the performance of the night. At the Royal Rumble, I lasted for over an hour, eliminating six superstars in the process. Last week on Total Recall, I showed CM Punk that I'm the Best in the World - not him. And tonight, Randy and I are going to tear the house down. I won't struggle, and neither will he.
Michael Cole: Assuming you do win, you'll be going up against Dolph Ziggler or Damien Sandow in the quarter finals. To the best of my knowledge, you haven't faced either of those superstars before. Is it harder, going up against a superstar than you haven't faced before, or do you find it more of a challenge to wrestle an opponent that you've wrestled before?
Chris Jericho: Honestly, Michael, I think it depends on the wrestler. In theory, going up against someone for the first time is more difficult, because you don't know what to expect. When you're wrestling someone you've wrestled before, it's easier to be prepared. But it's one thing to know your opponent... beating them is something else. I know what to expect from Randy, because we've got a lot of history. But I also know that he's a tough opponent. I might not have wrestled Sandow or Ziggler before - except in the Royal Rumble of course - but neither of them have been World Champion. Neither of them have been King of the Ring. Randy has. So with all due respect to Sandow and Ziggler, in this instance the bigger challenge is Orton. If I can beat him, I should be able to make it through to the semi finals, regardless of who I face next week.
Michael Cole: Does that mean you'll be thinking about the semi finals when you step into the ring with Orton tonight?
Chris Jericho: Not at all... I don't want to get ahead of myself. I know I can beat Orton, but I also know he's more than capable of beating me, so when I step into the ring with him tonight, the only thing I'll be thinking about is making sure I come out on top. Assuming I do, it will be the same when I face Sandow or Ziggler on Warfare. I've lost on more than one occasion because I've been complacent, or haven't been as focused as I should be on the task at hand. I won't make that mistake tonight... not against an opponent as formidable as Randy Orton.
Michael Cole: You mentioned before that you and Randy have a lot of history, and just now you described him as a formidable opponent. Would you say he's the toughest opponent you've faced in your career?
Chris Jericho: It's hard to say. In the 13 years I've been part of EBWF, I've faced a number of formidable opponents. Randy is up there as one of the toughest, but so are Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, Jeff Hardy and Wes Ikeda. Those would probably be my top five, because they're five of the guys who've brought out the best in me. But I couldn't pick just one.
Michael Cole: I understand. I just have one more question... will this be the year you finally end your three year run without a World Title?
Chris Jericho: I sure as hell hope so. I'm determined to win the King of the Ring tournament, because I want that Summerslam title shot. And since my first two matches in this tournament are against two of the men that I just listed in my top five toughest opponents, if I beat Randy tonight, I'll go into my quarter final match next week believing that I can go all the way. But if there's one thing I've learned in this business, it's that nothing is guaranteed. The only guarantee I can make right now Michael is that when I step into the ring with Randy tonight, I'll give him everything I've got. And Randy, you better be ready for me... because I promise I'll be ready for you.
There was a steely determination in Jericho's voice as he answered Cole's final question.
Michael Cole: Chris, thank you for your time, and best of luck in your match tonight.
When the camera was turned off, Jericho thanked Michael for the interview, then headed back to his locker room. Though it wasn't entirely up to Jericho whether or not this would the year he ended his run without the World Title, he was determined to be the Champion again, and he would do everything he could to make that happen. Beating Punk had been the start... Orton was the next step on what was sure to be a long, difficult road.
Having beaten one former King of the Ring winner in the first round of the tournament, to advance to the quarter final Chris Jericho had to beat another former King - Randy Orton, who had won the tournament last year. Jericho and Orton had a lot of history, both personal and professional. They had wrestled one another numerous times over the years, most famously in the main event of WrestleMania IX - the loss that still hurt Jericho more than any other. Outside of the ring, Jericho and Orton had clashed not long after Chris had taken over as interim CEO - Orton hadn't been impressed with the way Jericho was running EBWF, and in typical Orton fashion, Randy had made sure that Chris new exactly how he felt. Jericho wished he could say that he and Randy had put their differences aside for the good of the company, and in a way, he supposed they had... but the main reason they had agreed to let bygones be bygones was to get Wes Ikeda back when he had gone AWOL. Since working together to "work" Wes, Chris and Randy hadn't spent much time together, but when they had at least it was now cordial - they would never be friends as such, but there was no longer any tension between them either. Chris wondered if their match on Total Recall would put the mutual understanding he and Randy had to the test. No final decision had been made on whether it would be Chris or Randy that advanced to the quarter final, and in the interest of being fair, Chris was trying to keep himself away from the decision making process... but if Wes decided Chris was getting the win, and Randy wasn't happy about it, Chris was sure Randy would accuse him of lobbying his best friend to secure a victory. Chris was too much of a professional to try and influence such a decision, and ordinarily he would accept a loss gracefully... but such was Jericho's determination to win the World Title again, he was desperately hoping he would be competing in the quarter finals on Warfare.
With Total Recall just hours away, Chris Jericho was backstage at the MTC Centre. He was excited to be competing in front of the Winnipeg crowd, and in honour of his infamous confrontation with a fan several years earlier, Jericho was wearing a t-shirt featuring the quote "I'm from Winnipeg you Idiot!" across the front. Chris had been sitting in his locker room, relaxing before the show, when he noticed the time. He got to his feet and headed through the arena to the interview area, where an EBWF backdrop had been set up. Michael Cole was waiting there with a cameraman, and when he saw Jericho approaching, he smiled.
Michael Cole: Hey Chris... thanks for being on time.
Chris Jericho: I'm still the interim CEO, Michael... I've got to lead by example.
Jericho grinned, and Michael laughed, relieved not to be treated with the usual hostility most EBWF superstars greeted him with.
Michael Cole: Great. So I take it we're playing it by ear as usual?
Chris Jericho: Of course. I didn't take over the day to day running of the company to be confined by a script, and I know you've been doing this long enough that you don't need anyone to tell you what questions to ask. I'm ready when you are.
A minute or so later, the camera started rolling and Cole began to speak.
Michael Cole: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I'm joined at this time by the interim CEO Chris Jericho, who'll be taking on Randy Orton in tonight's main event. Chris, last week on Total Recall, you defeated CM Punk in a thrilling match. How different of a threat will Randy Orton pose in your match tonight?
Chris Jericho: It's difficult to say, Michael. I know CM Punk and Randy Orton have completely different styles, but as an opponent I see a lot of similarities between them. I've faced Punk enough times in the ring to know what to expect, and it's the same with Randy Orton. I'd expect Randy to focus less on technical moves and more on being hard hitting, but I'm prepared for that and I know I can handle it.
Michael Cole: We certainly saw a hard-hitting style from Orton last week... he beat Roman Reigns using the Punt, a move that has seen numerous superstars injured over the years. Although it has never been "banned", I'm led to believe that Randy has been discouraged from using the move in order to ensure no more injuries occur. Are you concerned that Orton might try to hit you with the Punt, and take you out of action?
Chris Jericho: Michael, the only person that takes me out of action is me... I haven't been injured in years. In fact, I think the last time I picked up a serious injury was a few months after Randy joined the EBWF - he hit me with an RKO from the top rope after I beat him, causing me to injure my neck and ruling me out of action for a couple of months. So I know what it's like to suffer an injury at the hands of Randy Orton. However, that was a very different Orton - the Viper has since been tamed. In fact, I think he made an exception using the Punt for Reigns last week; I'm sure he won't try the same with me. But if he does, I'll be ready for him.
Michael Cole: One thing you and Orton do have in common is that neither of you wrestle a full-time schedule. Given that you were both inactive before the start of the King of the Ring tournament, will it be a struggle for you to be at your best tonight?
Chris Jericho: Well first of all Michael, I'm sure Randy would like you to point out that regardless of how often he wrestles on TV, he regularly features on EBWF house shows. I don't really have that same excuse, but one of my favourite quotes is that "form is temporary, class is permanent". In other words, it doesn't matter how much or how little I wrestle; I've got the talent to be the best. I've only wrestled twice this year, but both times I've put in the performance of the night. At the Royal Rumble, I lasted for over an hour, eliminating six superstars in the process. Last week on Total Recall, I showed CM Punk that I'm the Best in the World - not him. And tonight, Randy and I are going to tear the house down. I won't struggle, and neither will he.
Michael Cole: Assuming you do win, you'll be going up against Dolph Ziggler or Damien Sandow in the quarter finals. To the best of my knowledge, you haven't faced either of those superstars before. Is it harder, going up against a superstar than you haven't faced before, or do you find it more of a challenge to wrestle an opponent that you've wrestled before?
Chris Jericho: Honestly, Michael, I think it depends on the wrestler. In theory, going up against someone for the first time is more difficult, because you don't know what to expect. When you're wrestling someone you've wrestled before, it's easier to be prepared. But it's one thing to know your opponent... beating them is something else. I know what to expect from Randy, because we've got a lot of history. But I also know that he's a tough opponent. I might not have wrestled Sandow or Ziggler before - except in the Royal Rumble of course - but neither of them have been World Champion. Neither of them have been King of the Ring. Randy has. So with all due respect to Sandow and Ziggler, in this instance the bigger challenge is Orton. If I can beat him, I should be able to make it through to the semi finals, regardless of who I face next week.
Michael Cole: Does that mean you'll be thinking about the semi finals when you step into the ring with Orton tonight?
Chris Jericho: Not at all... I don't want to get ahead of myself. I know I can beat Orton, but I also know he's more than capable of beating me, so when I step into the ring with him tonight, the only thing I'll be thinking about is making sure I come out on top. Assuming I do, it will be the same when I face Sandow or Ziggler on Warfare. I've lost on more than one occasion because I've been complacent, or haven't been as focused as I should be on the task at hand. I won't make that mistake tonight... not against an opponent as formidable as Randy Orton.
Michael Cole: You mentioned before that you and Randy have a lot of history, and just now you described him as a formidable opponent. Would you say he's the toughest opponent you've faced in your career?
Chris Jericho: It's hard to say. In the 13 years I've been part of EBWF, I've faced a number of formidable opponents. Randy is up there as one of the toughest, but so are Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, Jeff Hardy and Wes Ikeda. Those would probably be my top five, because they're five of the guys who've brought out the best in me. But I couldn't pick just one.
Michael Cole: I understand. I just have one more question... will this be the year you finally end your three year run without a World Title?
Chris Jericho: I sure as hell hope so. I'm determined to win the King of the Ring tournament, because I want that Summerslam title shot. And since my first two matches in this tournament are against two of the men that I just listed in my top five toughest opponents, if I beat Randy tonight, I'll go into my quarter final match next week believing that I can go all the way. But if there's one thing I've learned in this business, it's that nothing is guaranteed. The only guarantee I can make right now Michael is that when I step into the ring with Randy tonight, I'll give him everything I've got. And Randy, you better be ready for me... because I promise I'll be ready for you.
There was a steely determination in Jericho's voice as he answered Cole's final question.
Michael Cole: Chris, thank you for your time, and best of luck in your match tonight.
When the camera was turned off, Jericho thanked Michael for the interview, then headed back to his locker room. Though it wasn't entirely up to Jericho whether or not this would the year he ended his run without the World Title, he was determined to be the Champion again, and he would do everything he could to make that happen. Beating Punk had been the start... Orton was the next step on what was sure to be a long, difficult road.