OOC: Good Luck DJ, I had some fun writing this.
Leading into Death Before Dishonor Ted DiBiase was focused. After several weeks of being arrogant and confident he was all business now. There was no cocky attitude, no notion that this match would be easy at all. Ted would be facing a very stiff challenge in The Rock. This was a man who had faced all the greats in the industry. He had battled and defeated the likes of Chris Jericho, Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan and many more. He was a certain Hall of Famer and his career had been invigorated with the Path to Glory Championship. There was one final live event before Death Before Dishonor, which Ted decided to attend, not that he told anyone. He arrived part way through the event not dressed to compete but wearing a jet black suit, with shades on. He walked straight through the curtain to protests from staff. Members of the crowd booed him as he walked down to the ring, interrupting a tryout match for some young developmental talents. Ted grabbed a microphone and stepped into the ring, in between both men who were now standing in opposite corners looking confused.
Ted Jr: Get. Out.
Two words was all it took to clear the ring. Ted didn't raise his voice and it stayed flat when he spoke, but there was authority with his tone and the developmental wrestlers quickly exited the ring to the crowds boos.
Ted Jr: My name is Ted DiBiase, my father is The Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase. My grandfather is "Iron" Mike DiBiase. Wrestling has been in my family for nearly 100 years. I come from one of the greatest wrestling families ever. The DiBiase name is up there with the Harts, the Von Erich’s and the Anoa'i family. We're the ones that were born for this business. The Rock is just like me, when he was young he was sucked into this business. Since we could both walk we were destined to step into this ring. We're both alike and he can't deny it.
Ted paced back and forth slowly in the ring.
Ted Jr: The Rock has been in the ring with some of the greatest wrestlers in the world and beaten them. Stone Cold Steve Austin.
The crowd cheered.
Ted Jr: Chris Jericho.
There was a mixed reaction to this, given Jericho's recent actions.
Ted Jr: Triple H
The crowd cheered.
Ted Jr: Hulk Hogan.
The crowd cheered again.
Ted Jr: And me.
The crowd booed as Ted scowled.
Ted Jr: He's beaten me. I can't hide that fact and I'm not going to justify it. What's happened has happened. Wrestlemania was the grandest stage of them all and in a match to become number one contender for the Path to Glory Championship I was pinned by Dwayne.
The disdain was evident in Ted's voice as he spoke The Rock's name.
Ted Jr: Syxx was the non-factor at Wrestlemania and one month later I pinned him to put myself in this position. I didn't forget about Wrestlemania. Ever since I was announced as the number one contender to the Path to Glory Championship that match has been in my head every single day. Every day I remember being pinned. Every day I remember seeing you getting your hand raised. I remember you stole my Wrestlemania moment. You stole my Path to Glory Championship. Now I'm taking it back. I'm taking back my loss. I'm taking back my title and I'm taking away that smug grin from your face. You want to walk around EBWF like you're the greatest wrestler ever. You've taken on the best and beaten the best. You took over Hollywood and now you want to take over EBWF. You want that World Championship don't you? You look through the last 13 YEARS of the EBWF World Heavyweight Championship and one person who has never held it is Dwayne Johnson. I know you crave that championship and the validation that comes with it. You might think that at Death Before Dishonor it's another day at the office but it's not. July is when the Path to Glory Championship can be cashed in. I intend to be the one cashing it in. I took the title from you 2 weeks ago and left you covered in blood. But the wounds you sustained weren't all physical. I got into your head and I proved that I can take you out and I can render you unconscious. At Death Before Dishonor, whether I pin you or choke you out, I will be the one raising that Championship high in the air. I'll be new Path to Glory Championship because I was born to be. You people can't help him and all the millions and millions of fans around the world can't save him from the beating he'll receive. So it doesn't matter what ridiculous catch phrase you want to use, how many times you refer to my candy ass or how many times you call me a rich kid, it won't make a difference. My name is Ted DiBiase and I will become the new Path to Glory Champion.
Ted threw the microphone out of the ring and left immediately. As he walked up the ramp, people from the crowd yelled and booed him. Ted motioned and yelled back to them saying that he would be champion. Words didn't count for much once the two step in between the ropes.
As the event drew closer and closer, Ted tried to get into the zone mentally, which was no easy feat. He looked back at promos and matches, looking for motivation, finding weaknesses and trying to get that mental edge. He'd seen moments from his entire career. His run in WWE, winning the Tag Team Championships with Cody Rhodes, debuting in EBWF, winning the World Championship, losing the World Championship. Ted saw his reaction to winning the title, the pure elation, the realisation that his dream had come true and he had finally become the best. That was until people tore his championship reign to shreds, declaring it a low in EBWF, wrestlers not wanting to challenge for the Championship so Ted was given it as a placeholder. He saw established wrestlers refuse to let Ted main event because they were "better than him". Then it all came crashing down. Ted lost his championship, lost his winning ways and went into obscurity. They brought him right down. Then he reversed that trend. He won the Path to Glory Championship. He won PPV after PPV. For 11 months he was unstoppable. He rebuilt the championship and his name. Then he lost. He was written into history and soon forgotten. He challenged the best and lost. Over and over it got to him. He tried valiantly but couldn't get that win that eluded him. Then he disappeared again. His name died down. People forgot Ted DiBiase. They forgot the man that had an 11 month reign. His final emergence was after Wrestlemania. People choked out, not getting the opportunity to give up. Ted had fought an uphill battle from day one, and he would continue until he reached that peak once more. One more chance, all it needed was the precision and ruthlessness that he had displayed since Wrestlemania. The cold, calculated style would serve him well. He didn't need to be charismatic in this match, he didn't need to showboat or pander to the crowd, he was alone and it would be only him who could defeat The Rock. It wasn't a grand story of good versus evil, it was the story of a man doing everything at his disposal to win at all costs. That's what Ted knew. Winning at all costs was the goal. He craved that championship gold, more than others and this was his chance.
It was now minutes away before Death Before Dishonor went live and Ted DiBiase was standing with Renee Young. He was in his ring gear, and stood focused next to Renee who began the interview.
Renee Young: We are live at the Target Center and I'm with Ted DiBiase who will go one on one with The Rock tonight for the Path to Glory Championship. After weeks of hostilities between the two of you, which resulted in you stealing the Path to Glory Championship before The Rock took it back last week. What are you feeling going into this match?
Ted spoke quietly.
Ted Jr: For years I've been written off. For years I was always compared to my father and I never lived up to the expectations. Once again everyone has written me off tonight.
Renee Young: This match is for the Path to Glory Championship, which can be cashed in for a World Championship match. Is that what you're seeking?
Ted spoke louder this time.
Ted Jr: The World Championship. The mark of the greatest wrestler in the world. It's what The Rock wants and he's counting on defeating me so he can cash it in. But I've held the EBWF World Heavyweight Championship before, I know that feeling of standing above the pack. I want it again. I want the Path to Glory Championship again and I want that World title around my waist.
Renee Young: The Rock has had a storied career spanning nearly 2 decades, with matches against the best wrestlers in the world.
Ted Jr: That counts for nothing tonight. Rock's been on fire recently and I'm going to take him out.
Renee Young: The Rock defeated you at Wrestlemania to become number one contender to the PTG Championship, do you think that will give him confidence going into tonight's match?
Ted Jr: He'll be confident, and he'll right me off like everyone else. He can joke and talk about candy asses and spout out the same tired catchphrases he's been using since 2000 but it's not going to matter. I've been looking at that match time and time again, seeing my shoulders being pinned to the mat, reliving that loss day after day after day. That's not what I want. That's not what will happen tonight. I refuse to lose. I bloodied him once and I'll do it again if it means I can win that championship.
Renee Young: With that Wrestlemania loss that puts you now with three Wrestlemania losses in a row.
Ted Jr: There was the ladder match at last year’s Wrestlemania, which I was unsuccessful, and the year before that I took on John Cena. Do you remember how I lost that one Renee?
Renee Young: That was a First Blood match, you were the first to bleed.
Ted Jr: John and I beat the ever living hell out of each other and I was smashed in the face with a baseball bat. John Cena gave everything and it was a baseball bat that put me down. Tonight there's no baseball bat, The Rock won't be so lucky that if I bleed the match is over. I've had Rock in my sights since Wrestlemania, looking to avenge that loss and tonight I'm going to do it. The Rock stole my Wrestlemania moment, and now I'm going to take his title.
Renee Young: Tonight, should you win you will be the official Path to Glory Champion, unlike when you stole the title.
Ted Jr: When I took the title I showed that The Rock doesn't have a strong grip on that title. Now he can remember pinning me, but I remember leaving him bleeding on the ground and standing over him. Once I've beaten Rock, he'll stop his laughing and joking around. He'll forget about the millions and millions of people, and he'll remember just one person. Me. He'll remember from tonight onwards who I am. I'm Ted DiBiase. I'm better than my father. I'm better than The Rock. I'm the new Path to Glory Champion.
Ted left the interview set, he was now ready for this match and knew that his best would be enough to defeat The Rock. It would be a bruising match, and a great one and only the best would walk away with the Path to Glory Championship.
