Life had been quiet for Solomon Crowe, there was hardly anything interesting going on in his EBWF career as of late as he sat back and watched the company change. New guys and girls were coming through the doors and achieving great things while Crowe had been almost in hiding and was unusually quiet. One thing did keep him in the news, though, as dirt sheets suggested Crowe wouldn’t even be back inside of an EBWF ring. Speculation had started – and died down – that Crowe would be leaving to go back onto the independent scene and continue with the character that made him famous. But with the latest matches announced for Warfare it didn’t look as if he was on his way out as he was booked in a triple threat match against Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase. It wasn’t an ordinary triple threat either; the fact that the winner would be crowned the number one contender to the Path to Glory Championship suggested Crowe may not be going anywhere if he was booked to win. It was a huge moment for Crowe; nobody would ever forget the impact he made when he first arrived, and it’s crystal clear that his EBWF career hit stumbling block after stumbling since then. But this was a clean slate, the chance to be crowned the number one contender, the chance to compete at Fallout for the championship against PJ Black and of course, the chance to potentially cash it in when the time is right. Like many others, Crowe wants the gold. He wants the TV time and the creative freedom behind his character means he can pull out with all the stops to captivate the fans in his own unique way and this time against Randy and Ted he’d do just that. He needed the championship, and it was time to go and show the world that Crowe wasn’t a one-hit wonder, but a star the EBWF needed.
The scene opened up in a familiar location, but a location fans hadn’t seen for quite some time but would instantly recognise. The cameras panned upwards to hear the sound of a pipe leaking, drops of water hitting the floorboards every few seconds while the ripped wallpaper added to the run-down effect the dedicated Crowe was going for. The computers were set up on the big, almost-broken brown desk and the lights were reflecting on to the wall. Eventually, the sounds of slow footsteps started to approach the camera as well as whistling. The sound grew louder and louder until the camera picked up a pair of black shoes walking across the floor. He started to hum instead, humming the theme music of a particular EBWF superstar before turning on a tap which wasn’t in the shot. He walked back and placed a bloody steel pipe on the floor, so it didn’t make a loud noise, before awkwardly rolling it out of the shot with his foot. From nowhere he dropped his bloody, black leather gloves on the floor as well before walking away and proceeding to wash his hands. As he did that, he started to speak louder, making sure the camera on the floor could hear him.
SOLOMON CROWE
I know…I know; it’s certainly been a while. Have you missed me? Of course you have, you’ve missed your Solomon Crowe. You’ve missed your havoc, you’ve missed this nest, you’ve missed the reason you tune into Warfare. We all know it’s true, I mean just because each and every single one of you doesn’t have the balls to go and let your frustrations out on the sons of bitches who make your lives a misery – like a purge almost – doesn’t mean I won’t do it either. It’s why you tune in. Just because you can’t fulfil your own sick, twisted fantasies you decide to watch me because I’d do it. For free as well.
He closed the tap and stopped speaking, walking back into the shot and dropping a white towel on to the floor. He then dragged in a folding deck chair from nowhere and sat down in front of the camera. His face wasn’t visible; he was sat down with the camera stopping at his waist. He breathed heavily, almost relaxing after a hard day of whatever he was doing. He then started to speak, in a quieter tone almost as if he was meditating, unusual for someone so ‘out there’.
SOLOMON CROWE
You know…this time last year, believe it or not, I was the EBWF World Heavyweight Champion. Remember the myth that was John Cena? I ended that. Go and check the record books if you don’t believe me. You can refuse it all you want, but when your grandchildren are asking you what happened to John…you’d change the subject you spineless cowards. Then we approached Fallout, kind of like we’re approaching Fallout now and I have five angry, less than capable bastards on my case trying to get my championship and you know who took my title? AJ Styles. The he lost it to Dolph Ziggler, then he lost it to Sami Zayn and he lost it to The Miz and we all know what went on down there, let’s not get too much into that, though, let’s focus on this. Fast forward a year and I’m heading into a match where I can win the Path to Glory Championship, a title which has managed to elude me since the day I arrived. But not this time, this time, I am getting this championship to win back my OTHER championship and order can finally be restored in the EBWF, just how we all like it.
Crowe stood up and walked over to his desk, shuffling some papers and picking up his iPad which was hidden under it back to his seat. He sat down and exhaled again, quickly typing away as he found what he needed.
SOLOMON CROWE
Here we go…ah…tomorrow night myself, Ted DiBiase….fuck he still works here? Ha, good on him. Aaaaand Randy Orton, I remember him…that nutcase. The three of us are battling it out in YOUR main event to see who goes on to face Justin…oh no…he changed his name? PJ Black. I swear every time I see that little freak he’s the Path to Glory Champion. Never mind. Anyway. I think we all know what’s going to happen. Theodore will talk to Renee about what he’s done, the three things that he’s achieved, why his little boyband broke up and how it wasn’t his fault, how he was going to make one power move before it all crumbled. How he deserves this and I don’t. How I am a fluke…a fluke who can split his body into four parts more like….and then when he loses he’ll come with the 17th incarnation of a wrestling group who are the future. Then that will fail and he will do that over and over and over again because we all know Ted DiBiase Junior is nothing but a fraud. It’s all words with him nowadays anyway, I know Randy isn’t worried either but I guess we need to give the inferior a fair crack at the top as well. I am not worried about Ted, I never have been, I don’t think anybody has been worried about him, even those new guys they brought in for a few weeks managed to achieve more than this son of a bitch did in the past year. Yeah, I know…you’ve held this championship for quite some time, this Path to Glory Championship…I do my research Theodore, so I know everything there is to know about you, it’s actually scary how much I know. But Ted, you live a very boring life. You need some excitement, now I cannot help with what goes on at home, but I can certainly help spice up your life in the ring. Make you enjoy pain like you’ve never felt before, I can make you question yourself, why you even decided to pursue this profession in the first place when all you do, you little scumbag, is hide behind any man you can find and live off of their success. Not anymore. After our little dance when you’re inside of a ring with one crazy son of a bitch and another psychopath you won’t have anybody to hide behind. Miz won’t be there to wipe your ass when you realise what you’re up against. Nobody will be there to do your dirty work, and that’s when I enjoy it the most, slowly, everything you ever wanted…ripping it away from you and throwing your useless carcass to the bottom of the pile where you’ve always belonged, using a name you were gifted. It makes me sick. Tonight I not only show the world you’re an embarrassment yourself, but you're also an embarrassment to the DiBiase name and tonight I erase that name from our history and destroy whatever legacy you and your father created.
Crowe calmed himself down, tapping his knees and talking to himself and laughing. He muttered a few words to himself and laughed louder before continuing in his serious tone.
SOLOMON CROWE
Talking of embarrassments living off a so-called legendary name…I can’t believe you’re still going, Randy. Do you deserve this chance? I don’t think so, but there’s nothing I can do about it. You’re in front of me, so I have to hurt you, it’s as simple as that. I know what people say about me Randy, and I know what they say about you as well. You…they call you a spoiled, little boy who had everything given to him but when it comes face to face they tell you they’re your biggest fan and let you walk all over them. Me? They tell me I lost my way, and it’s really beginning to get under my skin, it’s irritating, like an itch, like Dean Ambrose. They tell me Solomon Crowe is over. They tell me Solomon Crowe is not the same Solomon Crowe than the one that arrived, that I’ve become more lenient, more words than actions…that I’ve become a previous version of myself. A version of myself that wasn’t true to who I was. I am Solomon Crowe; I am not running away from this company to allow somebody like you, Randy, to take an opportunity people like me claw and work for.
Crowe composed himself again, not wanting to mention the name he was going by earlier in his career, a name which made him famous and a less-violent version of the man we saw today.
SOLOMON CROWE
Growing up I actually used to watch you on the television, I remember people used to say you and John Cena were exactly the same, ever since your days back at Ohio Valley Wrestling, remember those days? The two of you have parallel careers, moving up the ladder at the same time, achieving great things together. Destined for great things weren’t you? Guaranteed first ballot Hall of Famers, so people say. But you never quite got the level of importance he did you? The media appearances, granting wishes, winning championships. You were the Lex Luthor to his Superman, the Joker to his Batman…so if the two of you have shared a similar path…don’t you think we should continue that trend? So years from now when people look at YOUR legacy they see that you faced a painful end, just like HE did. I am capable of that. You know it, Ted knows it too so the wise decision would be to back away. It’s not just John Cena people compare you too…I find that you and I are quite similar too.
Crowe shifted in the chair he was sat on, crossing his arms and laughing to himself a little, in a sadistic sort of way.
SOLOMON CROWE
People…used to or sometimes still do call you a little mentally unstable. Unhinged, maybe even a sadist. No. I am a sadist, Randy. No, we’re not talking whips and handcuffs or whatever else you and your wife may be into at home, I am all for inflicting pain for my enjoyment. I am excited by genuine, mortal agony because I just get these…these…compulsions to hurt people every single day since…well since before I can remember. I think I was wired this way, but I love it. I prefer it this way. It’s like a drug; it’s better than drugs some days…days like tomorrow I hope. I don’t know what people like you see when you close your eyes, maybe you see your family, so you have a limit whereas I don’t. We know this company wasn’t big enough for four crazy sons of bitches, Randy. Brian had to go…Dean had to…now it’s just you, and I left and when I close my eyes all I can see is choking up blood and splintering bones and busted lungs…it feels so right, nothing I do seems to change it, but I’m not complaining. Nobody knew I was like this growing up, nobody, not a single soul and sometimes it got really lonely until I FINALLY found the freedom to get inside of this ring and do what I need to do to get what I want.
Crowe was fidgeting yet again, getting a little out of control as he grabbed the arm rests and tried to stay calm. It wasn’t working, sharing the ring with somebody like Randy was opening new avenues and he wouldn’t get another opportunity like this to dish out pain on Ted and Randy.
SOLOMON CROWE
Sometimes I control myself because I have to. But there are some days when I walk down the street and my mind just goes wild, blood, pain and splitting skulls and watching careers end at my hands is all that somehow manages to fill my head. I used to be afraid of being called a threat, but I figured there’s no point living a lie. I am a threat, and everybody knows it because when I lose my temper I completely lose control and all of my carefully created psychological architecture just seems to crash down and all I want to do, all I need to do is inflict pain. I feel everything, a dislocated sense of empathy somehow manages to keep me in check, and the emotions start to slowly kill me on the inside. I know what I am, I know what I am capable of, I know I can’t stop, no matter how hard I try…and it’s a shame that Randy is sharing the ring with me when he has so much on the line when Ted has so much on the line to prove he’s not a complete good for nothing while I have absolutely nothing on the line. Nothing whatsoever. I think the momentum has shifted all of a sudden, the fear you had instilled in everyone isn’t there anymore because I don’t see a Viper, I don’t see an Apex Predator, I just see somebody who had something valuable for me to look up to but lost his way. You used to say you hear voices inside your head; most of us do too. But I am that voice in your head, Randy. I am the one; I have been the one telling you what to do, orchestrating your pain from this very room. I am the one who tells you who’s skull to cave in, I am the reason you’re still here, the reason you’re still in the know but tomorrow…oh tomorrow it’s different. Tomorrow I won’t be in your head; I won’t be inside your head because I will be standing right in front of you. When I have dealt with our little Theodore problem, I will stand in front of you and LET you do what you need to do. But you won’t be able to because I won’t be there to tell you what to do. Instead…you’d self-destruct right in front of my eyes, fall onto your back as I pick up the win.
Crowe finally stood up, much calmer than he was moments ago. He picked the camera up from the floor and pointed it towards himself as he displayed no sense of remorse over what he said or over the actions on Warfare. He walked around the room once more talking into the camera.
SOLOMON CROWE
Tomorrow night, somebody’s legacy ends, that’s a fact. Either Ted raises doubts that he was adopted and the DiBiase name becomes an ordinary name…or the Orton names ceases to exist. Don’t worry about me though, my legacy died a long time ago, I killed him, and I killed his legacy with my own hands. The Callihan Death Machine died a very…long…time ago.
Crowe switched the camera off after referring to the Sami Callihan character which made him famous, especially after rumours suggested he would be heading back to the independent scene to continue as Callihan. Crowe confirmed Callihan was dead…for now. All of the focus was on Orton, DiBiase and eventually PJ Black.