Things hadn’t been going Solomon Crowe’s way the last few months. In fact, he fell into that same hole many first time World Champions fall into, a rut. Once you drop that championship you become an afterthought and the fight to get to that level is tougher the second time round. Ever since he dropped the gold to AJ Styles, Crowe had never really been the same. That breath of fresh air was now almost stale, and after wasted opportunities Crowe was now one of many superstars trying to stay on television, trying to remain relevant. Luckily for Crowe, he was still being booked and had taken on some of the biggest names in the company.
His last outing was a win, surprisingly, against Kevin Owens of Vertex. Although, it didn’t really feel like a victory. Mainly because he had his ass handed to him by Vertex in the middle of the ring, a beating that nobody else had handed to Crowe since his arrival. It did take five men to do that though, and Crowe was going to be in action again. This time against Stardust, a person Crowe thought was quite similar to himself. They were both talented, and had age on their side to continue improving, but they were also equally strange, or weird, or misunderstood, or just bat-shit crazy. Everyone had their opinions.
The scene opened up in the familiar setting, The Crowe’s Nest. The set where Crowe delivered all of his messages before Monday Night Warfare. In the dark room, we could hear the drops leaking from the roof. It was clear that it was cold, but this time all of the computers were off, there was almost no light whatsoever. As the cameras got closer to the desk, a bit of light was visible and just moments later we heard the chair creak. The shadow of Crowe on his chair could be seen on the wall behind him. There no singing or humming or mind games of any sort, he was just swivelling in his chair very slowly.
SOLOMON CROWE
You know one thing I am struggling to understand? Why is it…that nobody in the EBWF can fight their own battles? Why is it that when you are supposed to stand and fight your ground, somebody always manages to find a partner to fight battles for them? I mean…we see it all the time. CM Punk…really? You picked…you picked AJ Styles to surprise us with? Oh, and we can’t forget an old friend of mine, The Lunatic Fringe himself…Dean Ambrose. Now Dean is somebody I know very, very well and he is the last lunatic I thought would align himself with somebody. Somebody like Seth Rollins. He knows who he called and treated like a brother before Crossfit Jesus even showed his face on the scene. Then…oh how can we forget The Miz? The master of surrounding himself with men and placing himself in the centre and enjoying what each of them have to offer. Ted seems to be his favourite, he never leaves his side.
He has Kevin Owens…and well the other two. And we also have…Stardust. Stardust now has Luke Harper fighting his battles when the going gets tough. But not me, no. I have had my fair share of beatings and if I am honest…I’d say I deserved most of them. Look at me though. I’m still here, I’m still alone because I don’t need and never will need anyone fighting my battles or dragging me down.
I succeeded alone. And I will fail alone, and Monday Night I do not see myself failing.
I’m not going to talk a lot today, mainly because of the severe pain I feel in my jaw every time I open it, but for you little Cody I think I can suffer a little longer, only because you’ll be suffering for me on Monday, but truth be told I’ll enjoy every second of it. Most people say…that you make me seem normal on the outside. Little do they know that we are quite similar, quite but not exact. You just don’t know what you are yet, you seem confused, you could be Cody, you could be Stardust but quite frankly I could not give a damn who or what you are. The only thing I know is that you’re my opponent on Monday, and I need to take my frustration out, and take my anger out and unfortunately for you, it’s going to be you that has to feel it.
Now, whilst you have absolutely no idea just who you are, you will on Monday. You’re going to be useless, irrelevant and a nobody who will probably work from home if I get too carried away. I know who I am though, I know what I am. I am a former World Champion. I am a sick, twisted son of a bitch with no concern for your safety or my own. I can guarantee you that you’re never seen anybody like me when I’m pissed off inside of that ring, and when that moment kicks in and you see into the white of my eyes you will finally realise you were better off as Cody freakin’ Rhodes. You will realise you’re out of your depth to even TRY and hang with me, and there’s no way you can try and outsmart and out compete somebody as fucked up as me. It just can’t happen, nobody has seen that yet, I will make sure you’re not the first. In fact if I want I’ll let you walk on your own legs again, but only after I rip that stupid gold face off and use it as a mask to scare those stupid kids that come knocking for Halloween.
Crowe winced in pain a little, banging his desk and whispering to himself to continue.
SOLOMON CROWE
Oh and before I forget, please bring that monster with you. I don’t believe I’ve met him properly after kicking his ass at the King of the Ring that ended too quickly. He talks a good game though. I plan to take him out first. I’m sick and tired, and angry of having people attacking me from behind. Tell your monster to grow a pair and face me, face to face and show me what he’s actually capable of. Unleash that beast, Cody. I asked The Miz to unleash Kevin Owens, but he failed to impress. I am giving you a piece of advice here, if you want the world to notice you, and take you seriously…if you want ME to take you seriously…unleash Luke Harper and let him show the world what he can do.
I think you should listen to me, Cody. Before it’s too late, because if you leave it too late nobody will know who either of you are, and when I get my hands on him I will make him look like a Disney fucking princess in front of the entire world. Then when I take him out, I will have your ugly, gold little face all to myself and I will use these fists to punch it until the medics can’t wipe the mix of red and gold from your face.
Bring that monster, I’ll make him look like a fucking Disney Princess in front of the world. Then when I take him out, I will have your ugly gold little face all to myself and I will punch it and punch it and punch it until the medics can’t wipe the red off of your face. Then maybe I’ll knock some sense into that thick skull of yours.
It looked as if Solomon was done, however he leaned closer to the camera and his face was finally visible. The bruising and cuts were still there, but he had a sick, sadistic smile on his face ready for Stardust.
SOLOMON CROWE
The funny this is, the both of us are irrelevant! We are in the same boat! At minute, NOBODY cares for us or about us or what we're doing. We are both irrelevant. No championships. Nothing going our way, just two, crazy psychotic sons of bitches who want nothing more than to cause havoc. Is that so much to ask? Tonight that changes for me, tonight I open the eyes of the people once again when I lay your broken body in the ring and have my fun, and then I will be taken seriously once more. Like I was months ago. I miss that feeling. That feeling of power, tonight I get that back. Thank you, Cody.
This week I’ll be a man of few words for once, and I’ll all of the talking be done inside of that ring. No more games. You’re done.
Crowe then laughed a little before sitting back into the shadows and swivelling in his chair. This week he wasn’t going to be talking as much, and wanted to impress in the ring more than anything against a tough opponent in Stardust, hoping to goad Luke Harper into action in the process.