Brand New Man

[Jack]

Upon returning to the EBWF, Cody Rhodes, or rather his non de plume Stardust, had quickly reestablished himself by overthrowing Breakout Champion Damien Sandow. A perfect way to prove that despite the completely different change in appearance, that the 29 year old was still very much a threat. However, there were still many questions that needed to be addressed. Thus, a sit-down interview with veteran announcer Jim Ross had been scheduled. On the eve of an upcoming match with a fellow new champion, Sami Zayn, perhaps the voice of the EBWF would be able to get some information from Rhodes who had been entirely tight-lipped since making his 're-debut'. A room had been set-up in the EBWF HQ. Nothing spectacular or out of this world. Merely a table separating the gentleman in the cowboy hat and the son of a son of a plumber. Cody's hands were folded together and his head was lowered. There seemed to be a bit more shade on his side of the room which obscured him a bit more. He was not dressed entirely as his new persona at this moment but the alarming red eye contacts were present, as they had been for all of his appearances thus far. Cody looked stoic and cold, but it had been proven recently that his emotions could alter drastically at a flip of a switch.

| Jim Ross | First off, Cody, thank you for taking this time out to speak to me this afternoon.

Cody had began to rub his palms deeply into his knuckles. Slightly lifting his head, he didn't return the greeting.

| Jim Ross | And congratulations on an spectacular victory over a very game Damien Sandow. He had something of a vice grip on the Breakout Title that you currently hold and with so much time away from the ring, the feat becomes doubly impressive.

The Breakout Title was draped over Cody's shoulder and he rubbed his fingers along it's gold plating while glancing towards the object

| Cody Rhodes | I did exactly what I said I was going to do. For all of his supposed genius, I made Sandow look like an amateur. That's what happens when you put someone who was born into this business in the ring with..a lesser being. I beat one champion already and proved my superiority. I'll do it again Monday night against Sami Zayn.

| Jim Ross | Well, let's talk about the business that you mentioned. The business that both your father and brother made their livings in. You stepped away for quite awhile and I don't think I'm out of line when I say you weren't the most well liked person in the locker room or with higher ranking officials.

| Cody Rhodes | I don't know you've been paying attention, J.R., but..

He leaned in a little bit closer, the beginnings of a smirk appearing on his face.

| Cody Rhodes | ..I'm a brand new man and I'm not interested in the past. I'm not the first to step away and I won't be the last. I had to get away so a rebirth could take place. Obviously, I made the right decision..

| Jim Ross | Not to pry but it looked as though you were ready to settle down. You had a super model fiance, as was a well known piece of information, and when you departed you did it very quietly. So what makes you want to give up a normal life, so to speak, and step back into the ring with hungry talent like Sami Zayn?

Cody laughed quietly to himself and J.R. became a little weary. His last interview with Renee Young ended with glass being shattered and blood so this was understandable.

| Cody Rhodes | I had to get rid of everything that reminded me of myself. Does that make any sense to you? I had to become something different. And I couldn't do that with any ties to the past. I had to..

His eyes drifted towards the ceiling and he held a hand upwards as if he was reaching for something.

| Cody Rhodes | ..look to the stars. I got some very good advice from someone. I stopped REPRESSING all of my urges and I simply gave in. And do you know what? It felt GOOD. You're are looking at Cody Rhodes right now but when the bell rings..Stardust takes over. Everyone has a side that they keep hidden away from everyone. A side that they're afraid to show. But me? I let the whole world gaze in! I let everyone have a look at who I truly am! It's so LIBERATING! I feel so FREE! I showed Damien Sandow who I am and I don't think he liked it very much. I don't think our new IC Champ Sami Zayn is going to enjoy it either..

Cody's voice went from deeper and guttural, to a normal tone, to a higher frantic pitch while completing his thoughts.

| Jim Ross | Cody, have you--

Ross was interrupted by a hiss.

| Stardust | Call me Staaaaaaaaaardust.

| Jim Ross | S-Stardust, have you ever considered speaking with a professional? About your..'issues', I mean? You seemed to endure a lot during your tenure with the EBWF and I don't think you've ever really taken the time to work those problems out..

Stardust threw his head back and howled with laughter, even kicking his legs around. Absolutely mad, cackling laughter

| Stardust | Me?! I'm the one with the problem?! I'm afraid not! As I said, this is who I am when I'm not chaining myself down! You're the one's with problems! Everyone presents themselves as someone but really..when they're alone..what are they like? Take Sami Zayn for example. He looks like such a good, honest, hardworking and genuine guy but when he's alone..how do we know he isn't killing kittens? Or strangling himself? Or doing all manner of repulsive things? Hm? HM? Redheads are typically pretty weird people, you know! I about Sami is no exception!

| Jim Ross | I..suppose we don't but I would venture a guess that Sami Zayn's off time is spent on ways he can take his career to the next level. And he seems to be doing a fine job.

| Stardust | How DULL! How BORING! It's the same problem I had with Sandow! BOREDOM KILLS, J.R! Sami is a fierce competitor. I have an eye for talent and he's one of the best I've ever seen. That's really saying something coming from me and all the wrestlers I've been around since I was a small boy. He can truly do it all. Well, everything except keep me awake! So he beat some old man and won a title! Big deal! I brought such flare and excitement with my title victory! Heh heh..

Stardust began to grin wider and his voice went deeper

| Stardust | But he's never faced anyone like me. Someone that he has no way of predicting. He's wrestled all over the world, all over the cosmo's but he's never stood across the ring with STARDUST! All of that momentum and it won't help him a single bit! Ooh, I'm going to drag the fun out of this one if it kills him!

A pause and a gasp. Stardust placed a hand over his mouth.

| Stardust | But wait. Sami has a cosmic key of his own. Does that mean he's truly transcended just as I have? I suppose I'll just have to find out! So many possibilities! So many outcomes! But they all end with Sami face down and whimpering. ..This shall be a truly momentous occasion. Whatever shall I do?

Stardust looked down at his palms suddenly before turning his sights to J.R.

| Stardust | Ross. I'm going to have scars on my pretty little hands if I keep cutting myself to make a star out of my blood. Can I have some of yours? Pretty please?

J.R. shifted uncomfortably in his chair and looked to stand but the manic Stardust sprung up and pressed his hands onto the arm rests of the interviewer's chair.

| Stardust | No? Noooo? No fun at all, are you? That's okay. That's fine. I guess I'll just have to take some from Sami instead.

Before J.R. could react, Stardust opened his mouth to release another cobra like hissing sound. Ross wasn't enjoying himself, unsure of what to come, but luckily for him Stardust rose up and back away. His almost cartoonish grin was replaced by a look of granite, completely stone faced and unreadable. He made his exit and the announcer sighed in relief.