"I've stepped into that ring and stood across from all kinds of people. I've seen the big guys, I've seen the small guys, I've seen the monsters and the heroes. It's more than safe to say that I've seen them all. I've seen them all come and go over the years but there has always been one things that remained the same, the one and only constant from one match to the next and that was...me. And it's always been the same old story, I've always filled the same old role, I've always been cast as the underdog."
He lets out a light chuckle, shaking his head rapidly.
"Finally I stand here and I say NO! No more will I portray the downtrodden, lower class, subhuman filth that they want me to be! I'm more than that and I will show them all just how big I can be!"
He grins, nodding slowly as he rocks back and forth on his feet.
"The joke is over, the punchline is spent, today marks the dawning of a new era of Mankind. I rise from these cinders that they have cast upon me, I remove the shackles of shame and doubt and I push myself to my feet, not once more but for the first time, and I will finally raise my head high and be counted among the greats, taking the rightful place that I deserve. I do this not just for myself but for everyone out there who feels like they never get ahead in life. For anyone out there who gets stepped on day after day, kicked when they are down, spit upon by those who only see themselves to be something better than others when the truth is more simple than that. They are nothing but filth, dredged from the bottom of the gutter that they want to place me in. Each and every one of you out there needs to prepare yourselves for the dawning of a new age. The enlightenment of Mankind is upon us!"
Mankind turns, pulling even more at his hair. He's rocking a bit faster, chewing on his lip for a moment before he starts to speak once more.
"I've tasted defeat and I've tasted victory, they are both nothing but ash in my mouth. They mean nothing to me in the long run. My proclamation here is not based upon a win in that ring, I am not pounding my chest and saying FEAR ME! No, I'm taking a stand here and now to fight for something that I believe in because it might have taken me a long time to come to this realization but the one and only thing that I can truly believe in is myself. Over the past weeks my children have to come me and they say 'Daddy, why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you punishing yourself in this new company?' And I've told them that daddy is just doing what he does best and a little punishment never hurt nobody. Then my wife approaches me and says 'Honey, why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you allowing them to punish you in this new company?' And I told her that I'm just doing what I do best and that a little punishment never hurt anybody. After a few weeks I found myself looking in the mirror and asking why I'm doing this to myself? Why am I allowing them to punish me in this new company? But the truth was simple. The only one punishing me was... me."
He lets out an aggravated scream through clenched teeth, doubling over as he grabs and pulls two large handfuls of his hair.
"Only I could break the cycle and once I came to that simple statement of fact that's exactly what I did!"
He slowly stands back up, lowering his hands from his head. Turning slowly to look at the camera now, a glimmer in his eyes, a twisted smile on his lips.
"Get ready Ryback... Get ready for the unleashing of... Mankind."
- - - - - -
- - 2 Days Later - -
Mankind is sitting on a makeshift set across from Jim Ross, ready to do a live interview. The camera starts rolling and the cue is given.
"Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to a special EBWF Insider Interview. I'm of course Jim Ross and I have the pleasure to be sitting across from a man that I've known well for many years in this industry of ours, none other than Mankind!"
"Thank you JR, it's good to be here, it's good to be anywhere these days."
Mankind smiles slightly, rocking a little in his chair.
"That I do not doubt. Now I know there are plenty of questions circling around out there and so I am going to get right into the thick of it here. We've all heard what you've had to say this week, turning a new page and starting a new chapter for yourself seems to be the major theme here. You've got yourself a match against Ryback coming up at Warfare, you've managed to get yourself a single win here in the EBWF and a short little back and forth with the Undertaker which has never really been resolved. It seems that with so much going on for you right now, focusing on one task at hand might be a little difficult."
Mankind nods along as Jim speaks, letting out a little snort of laughter finally.
"I know that there might seem like I have a lot of different plates spinning right now but let me break it all down for you JR. My purpose in this company is not to make a mark in a win/loss column week after week. That's never been the reason for me to be in this business. I'm here because it's what I love to do, because it's in my blood and I'm not afraid to shed it out there in that ring. For too long I've let others decide what was best for me in my career and it's never really been MY career. Coming here to the EBWF was something that many looked at as a bold move. To come out of retirement after so long and jump back into that ring with the new superstars of today, many people thought I was crazy or had some kind of death wish. Well maybe that's true, but I came here to show them all that not only could I still be a relative competition in that ring, but that I could bring back the kind of fire I lit in the business from back in the day. But it was nothing more than a foolish notion, JR. It was a thought implanted in me by what I thought the fans were clamoring for."
"Well you certainly have always been a people pleaser."
"Exactly. I spent so much time doing everything I could to give back to the people that I neglected the one person that actually matters and that is myself. My eyes have finally been opened, JR. This is MY time to do the things that I've always wanted to do. Instead of sitting back and letting others out there dictate where my career goes week after week, finally I am getting behind that wheel and taking it to where I want it to go. It took me a long time to figure this out but now there is nothing out there to stop me. Its time for me to show everyone out there what the real Mankind is all about. It starts this week with Ryback."
"That does seem like a large mountain to climb, Ryback has proven that he wont go down without a fight."
"Fight is all I've ever done, JR. I am more than ready and willing to bring the fight to Ryback and do whatever it is I have to do to plant in him the middle of that ring. If it takes a mandible claw, three DDTs and a flying elbow, I'm willing to go the distance. My sights are set and locked and I am ready to finally hand out some punishment of my own."
"Speaking of punishment, the Undertaker seems to have had his sights set on you upon his arrival here in the EBWF."
"The Undertaker that arrived here in the EBWF is not the same man that I have squared off against in the past. This Undertaker is desperate to cement his legacy and try to prove that he's still on top of the pack. I made the mistake a treating him like the Undertaker I used to know, I let it get into my head and that allowed him to pick up a win and blindside me with an attack. Well if he wants to get back into that ring with me now I have no problem with that. I welcome it. I will gladly show the world what the new Mankind can and will do to the so called Dead Man."
"Well this certainly is a new side of you that we are seeing now."
"It's amazing what you can accomplish when you realize that no matter what happens from here on out as long as I do it my way there is no chance for me to lose. I'm ready to lay it all on the line like I used to and go out there to put up one hell of a fight. If my arm is raised when the bell rings that's fine, if not at least I know that I left it all out there and that next time I'll just have to go out there and bring some more. It's a whole new world for me JR, and I'm running head first into it."