“Come in, come in! Don't be shy. Watch out for that hole over there. Funny story behind that one, the day they closed this place down and had to move what few patients that still remained here, Larry Stype grabbed the fire ax off the wall, swinging it at whoever tried to come near. He put that hole in the floor and those two in the wall until the blade go stuck in the stud and they finally tackled, restrained and subdued him. Talk about some fond memories! Did I mention that this used to be Rolling Hills, Home for the Mentally Insane? You see, with all that talk last week about where I call home, I thought I'd invite you all out here to show you the real birthplace of Mankind. I know my match at King of the Ring is behind us now and I've got the Undertaker to look forward to, but I want to stop a moment and address my former competitors in that match.”
Turning away from the door, Mankind shuffles down the hallway, the camera moving with him. He turns his head slightly, talking back over his shoulder.
“Roman, you weren't a very instrumental part of the match as a whole, though I did enjoy our time together and I look forward to facing you again in the future. However, it is Tyler who really deserves most of the recognition not just for his words but for his actions as well. You see Tyler, you mentioned that you beat Bully Ray and you quipped about the idea of beating me to become the noted king of hardcore, but really, you didn't just face me out there. Hardcore didn't even factor into our match, so one could hardly call your claims fair. Simply look to the fact that of the three of us in that match I am the only one set to compete this week while you two nurse your wounds. If you really want to know what you're made of, Tyler, I suggest you and I meet in that ring one on one, hardcore rules, to the victor go the spoils. That is, if you think you could stomach it.”
He lets out a strange sounds, almost like a cross between a high pitched laugh and a sob, his shoulders raising and falling. Turning a corner, Mankind opens a door which leads down a set of old concrete steps to the basement. There are no lights overhead, the only dim light comes from the small busted out bar covered windows that aren't completely grown over.
“I'll let you think about that one Tyler, but don't take too long. Someone else might hear of this idea and set the match for you. While we wait to hear from you, let's move on to the man I am facing this week. Yes I am bold enough to call the Undertaker a man, he and I have been in that ring together more times than I care to count. We've worked together, we've fought each other, we've damn near killed each other and now it starts all over again. I know you well Taker, perhaps even better than you know yourself.”
At the back of the basement is a solid steel door, rusted shut with age. The hinges creak and groan as Mankind puts his shoulder against it, forcing it open. On the other side is an old root cellar. The walls and floor nothing but packed dirt. Stepping inside to the middle of the room, Mankind takes a deep breath, letting his eyes close as he savors the musty earth smell.
“This... this is where I call home.”
He says finally. Turning as he opens his eyes, slowly looking around the small room.
“The place was full when I was sent here as a child. Johnny was supposed to be playing catch with me, not hogging the ball and playing keep away. I don't like it when people are mean... I don't like it when people don't know how to share. IT WAS MY BALL! I was nice enough to let Johnny play with me. I was nice enough to share with him. But all Johnny wanted to do was TAKE THINGS FOR HIMSELF! I told him... I told him he had to play nice with me. I told him that I was sharing my toys, that I wanted to play with him, not against him. But Johnny wouldn't listen. He just laughed and threw the ball higher. Johnny wouldn't listen... SO I BIT HIS EAR OFF! The screams... the blood...”
He fades off, slowly squatting down to the ground, fingers raking through the dirt before pulling up something buried long ago. It's hard to tell in the dim light but it looks like an ear. Mankind carefully, almost lovingly dusts it off with his fingertips.
“Johnny couldn't listen after that...”
He brings the ear to his lips, gently whispering into it.
“You're listening now Johnny, aren't you.”
That twisted smile curves his lips and he seems to suddenly remember that the camera is there, turning his head slowly towards it.
“I hope Tyler can learn to listen... I know Undertaker has been taught to listen. Taker, it's time for us to play again. It's time that you and I took to that ring and we showed these kids how it's really done. I know you wont settle for a simple count out victory. I know I wont allow for such a thing to be the cause of my arm getting raised in the center of that ring. You and I, we have something more than just pride for what we do. We have an understanding of one another we know how to play well with others. At least I hope you can remember how its done. If not, I have no issue of teaching you a lesson.”
He tosses the raggedy ear looking thing aside as he stands back up to his feet.
“I've welcomed you all into my home, perhaps next time I'll welcome you all into my mind. But for now I have two men that need to think long and hard about what I've said here tonight. Right now I have just two things on my mind. Getting Tyler in this ring for a real match, and showing him what I plan on doing with him. I'm sorry Taker, you've been signed up to be the vessel of a message this week. But don't think that it means I've forgotten just how dangerous you can be. I'll work my spots and show Tyler there how you defeat a phenom.”
He grins, turning slightly before suddenly slamming the iron door into the camera, the feed cutting out.