No Threats. Only Promises.

[Brian W.]

.:: The mid June sun glared in the lens of the camera making it almost impossible to see anything that was attempting to be in focus. You could hear a couple of men yelling encouraging words as if some sort of practice was going on. As the camera panned to the left and down some you see the dark green grass and white painted lines of a football field. As the camera focused more you see Daniel Rodimer on the field with a couple other guys. Rodimer is wearing nothing but red athletic shorts and a pair of black football cleats. The other men on the field are wearing black athletic shorts and white short sleeve t-shirts with the UCF logo on them. One of the men has a whistle around his neck and is wearing a visor on his head. This man seems to be the one in charge of what is going on. Rodimer was visibly tired as he had his hands on his head and he was breathing heavily. Sweat was dripping off his face on to his hard chiseled body. His body shimmered as a result of the sun hitting his sweat covered body. Rodimer took a couple of skirts of water from a water bottle and then dropped it to the plush green grass. After taking a couple more deep breaths Rodimer spoke. ::.

Daniel Rodimer: What's next coach?

.:: The man Rodimer talked to was an older gentleman with gray hair. On the back of his shirt the name O'Leary was ironed on in gold letters. The coach took a couple of moments and then spoke. ::.

Coach O'Leary: Let's see... we already did the 40 yard dash and 3 cone drill. The only thing left is the 20 yard shuttle!

.:: The group of four moved over to the shuttle that was set up with weights already on it. Two of the coaches jumped on the back of the shuttle as Rodimer got down in a crouched position. The coach blew his whistle and Rodimer quickly got up from his position and began pushing the shuttle down the field. When he hit the bag sweat exploded off of his body and to the ground around him. When he reached the 20 yard mark the coach blew his whistle but Rodimer kept pushing. He kept pushing and going until he had pushed the shuttle 40 yards down the field, twice the amount he was supposed to do and with twice the weight on it. The coach started blowing his whistle at a high rate and Rodimer stopped pushing the bag. He jumped back a step and started laughing as the guys got off the shuttle and gave high fives to Rodimer. ::.

Daniel Rodimer: WHOO! That's what I'm talking about! [Rodimer finished high fiving everyone.] Man I miss these days. I miss coming out here in the Florida heat and getting my sweat on, accomplishing things when no one is watching. Feels great to be back!

Coach O'Leary: You haven't lost a step kid! Very impressive.

.:: Rodimer picked up a bottle of water and drank a few more drinks out of it before tossing it on the ground again and picking up a small towel. He wiped his sweat soaked face with it and then did the same to this chest and abdomen area. He then grabbed a water bottle and soaked the towel and wiped it through his hair before slinging the towel over his left shoulder. ::.

Daniel Rodimer: I needed this coach. I couldn't be around Damien for another second since he lost to Dolph Ziggler last week. He is just letting it eat at him way more than it should. But, I have to give him some credit because he has kept it word in the fact that he has not made any excuses. You got to respect a man that keeps his word. [Rodimer paused.] But then on the other hand maybe he would snap out of it if he just spoke his mind and stopped worrying about what everyone thought of him. He should know by now that no one's opinion of him matter if he knows they aren't true. [Rodimer paused and took another few squirts of water.] Well coach, I want to thank you for giving me the time to come out here and train me a little more. Get back in my mind set I had when I was playing football here for the greatest program in America. I have not been in this mind set since joining EBWF; I needed this for my next match so I can become the king of EBWF!

.:: Rodimer shook hands with O'Leary who then exited the field with the other coaches. Rodimer stayed on the field and turned and addressed the camera directly for the first time. ::.

Daniel Rodimer: Like I said earlier, I miss these days. Coming out here working hard when there is no crowd, no glory. Just working your ass off to get hard work in and get the upper hand on everyone else. Of course, today there were SOME people watching. [Rodimer pointed over to a section in the stadium where there were a group of college girls waiting to meet Rodimer. Some of them had binoculars and some of them were holding pictures and pens wanting autographs, and of course a phone number.] I swear I can't go anywhere without a group of girls following me. At first it was nice but it is starting to get super annoying... Oh who am I kidding? I love it when a group of girls are screaming my name. It just confirms for me that the hard work I am putting in to keep up this chiseled body is paying off! [Rodimer smiled and ran the towel down in abdominal area again.] You know, some people like the sounds of laughing babies. Some people like the sounds of a purring kitten. I LOVE the sound of a group of girls screaming their heads off just to get a chance to meet and touch me!

.:: Rodimer turned towards the group of girls and started walking at them. The closer he got the louder their screams became. He walked up to the group of girls and signed some autographs before giving them all weak hugs like you do when you are sweaty and want to hug someone and don't want to get them all sweaty. The girls screamed in excitement before Rodimer told them he would be back after he was done doing his thing and then turned towards the camera with the girls still touching his body and said, “Eat your heart of Styles!” After a few moments Rodimer left the area with the girls and walked back towards where he was before. ::.

Daniel Rodimer: Earlier I mentioned how I had never felt as good as I am feeling now. Can you imagine what that means for my opponents coming up? I have been running through most everyone I have been going up against, and that was when I was feeling not as good as I do now. Picture the stunning image of perfection that I already have been. Now enhance that image a couple times and that is the Rodimer you are going to be seeing now. Nothing can beat going home and getting back to that feeling you had when you were 22 years old. And well, UCF is home! [Rodimer smiled] Let me address something very quickly. If you watched Thursday Total Recall then you saw my partner and friend, Damien Sandow, lose his King of The Ring match to Dolph Ziggler. In all my time here and in all my time as a professional wrestler I have never seen two guys go at it like they did. At least not for a match that involved a championship belt. Ziggler and Sandow put on the show of the night in my opinion and both of those guys deserve an amazing amount of credit. [Rodimer paused.] As great of a show they put on I know for a fact that Styles and I will put on a show just as great. I mean, just the addition of me being in the match is going to make it just as great. When you add Daniel Rodimer to any equation the sum is always higher. That's right; I am dropping some match knowledge on you now. Bet you didn't think I had that in me, huh? [Rodimer smiled a confident smile.] There are some benefits to hanging out with the absolute brightest person in professional wrestling. AJ Styles you have accomplished a lot here in the EBWF. You have done a lot more than I have done. But you have also been here longer than I have been here. There is nothing I can do about the time we have been in this business. However, I do have a say in who will have the more successful career in the time we are here. I will use this match not only to move on to the next round of this tournament, I will use it to move up the chain that is the EBWF throne. And when I am sitting up at the top as King, looking down on you, you will once and for all realize that I am the man, and that I used you as a stepping stone to greatness!

.:: Rodimer picked up a bottle of water and took a few drinks of it; he then squirted the camera with water and laughed to himself as the camera faded to darkness. ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Monday June 24
Backstage Warfare

.:: It was the night he had been waiting for, for the past week, ever since he defeated Bad News Barrett in what some thought was somewhat of an upset. Even though some thought that, he knew better. He knew he was going to win the match and move on to the next week. He had no choice. This was the chance he had been waiting for ever since joining the EBWF. For the people who didn’t know his name yet, they would soon learn what it was. For those who had yet to realize he was the man, would soon do the same. Not only would they learn these things about him, they would like it. He would do everything he could to force it down their throats that he’s the man, he’s the man, he’s the man. This past week he had gained extra drive and desire to become the King of EBWF. Ever since returning home to his roots and getting some much needed work in, and hearing his partner Damien Sandow complain since losing his match to Dolph Ziggler. It was now or never for this young and upcoming star, if he lost he knew he would no longer be competing to become King. Ever since joining the EBWF he knew one day his name would be at the top of the pecking order. He had done everything in his power to achieve this goal. Before he started wrestling in the ring he had shot a couple of vignettes to get his name out there and get people excited to see him. Then once he started his actual in ring career he knew he was missing something. Once he did some thinking he called up an old friend and someone he looked at as an older brother. With Damien Sandow in the picture with him he had filled what he felt was missing. In his short time in EBWF he had already won many matches and was currently a number one contender for the Tag Team Championships. The camera had entered the room and right away he was seen standing in front of a mirror in his in ring wrestling attire. Right away you could tell he was in a different mood than the last time you saw him. Usually he is in a good mood with a smile on his face. If not a happy smile, certainly a cocky one. Now he had a serious look on his face. He was in a foul mood. You could tell he meant business. He turned towards the camera and walked out of the room leaving the door open. The camera followed him as he walked towards the area to enter the main arena area. As he got closer Todd Grisham’s voice was heard trying to get his attention. ::.

HE IS… DANIEL RODIMER

Todd Grisham: Daniel, Daniel… [Todd was running up from behind Rodimer.] Daniel I was hoping to get some thoughts on your match tonight right now, since you missed your scheduled interview time earlier today.

Daniel Rodimer: Not now, damnit! I don’t have time to stand out here talking! I need to be out there, beating on Styles!

Todd Grisham: Just real quick Daniel. Why did you miss your scheduled time today?

Daniel Rodimer: Why Todd? I have been in my locker room all day since I got here. Whenever someone goes on public media and threatens you, it makes you think about some things. Sure, sure it said it was from Maria’s account but everyone knows it was Styles. AJ, you want to threaten me that is fine. I can handle myself. I know I can defeat you no matter what you have accomplished here in this company. But then you want to bring my grandmother into the story? It doesn’t even matter that she has been gone for 10 years now. That is beside the point! If you are low life scum enough to threaten her, then who else would you be willing to threaten? Who else would you be willing to hurt?

Todd Grisham: That is what this is about? This attitude?

Daniel Rodimer: You never know about people. Everyone in this business has secrets. I can guarantee that even you have secrets that no one knows. Secrets you don’t want anyone to know. Who is to say Styles isn’t the same? On the outside a pretty boy. Puts on an image of being a healthy confident young man. But behind closed doors, who is to say he doesn’t beat up old ladies? Does anyone know this man’s criminal background? Does anyone know what he does in his spare time when he is not wrestling? For all we know he could be a beater. For all we know he could be a murderer. [Rodimer paused.] One thing I do know? Styles is a loser. It’s really a shame that someone that so many people look up to is the thug that he is. Earlier this week Sandow was told he would not win this competition because he was not a well-known name. I hope Styles feels the same way. I feed off of that. I feed off of people threatening my family and telling me they are going to cut my throat and bathe in my blood. I hope you are seeing this right now Styles, because I want you to know that The Man is coming for you, and coming for YOUR blood! Get ready for your royal ass kicking, from your future KING!

.:: Rodimer looked in to the camera with a fiery that had never been seen from him before. He walked to the right towards the same direction he was walking before. He had an anger in his steps that had never been seen before as well. Rodimer was not in a mood to be messed with. He had a crown to earn. ::.