Beginnings

[Cory]

Warfare was a pretty short drive from St. Louis, less than four hours going Randy's speed. It was a nice easy trip, and so Randy opted to drive there instead of waiting in the airport. No TCS checkpoints, no delays, and the chief reason, no people. He enjoyed the relaxing drive down to Indianapolis, enjoying a nice, low key mix of Five Finger Death Punch, Kill Switch Engage, and Trivium blasting out of the speakers of his Maserati Quattroporte. It was any other trip to an arena, Randy had noticed his name on the card a couple days before the actual show was to take place. Randy's time on EBWF television had been in a bit of a holding pattern, mostly due to Randy's seeming lack of desire to be showcased. Randy figured this number one contender's match was just another opportunity to shine a spotlight on one of his opponents, and then he would go back home and hit the gym, play with his dog, and take care of his daughter. He really had no other reason to believe that it was going to be any less than that. That was, of course, until he arrived at the arena. Randy made good time getting to the Banker's Life Fieldhouse, the poorly named venue from which Warfare was going to be broadcast live. Randy parked his car in the inside garage area and headed inside. Duffle bag slung over his shoulder, Randy made his way through the hallways of the arena, always able to instinctively find his way by following the commotion of the stage crew. He found his way to the area that would be the Gorilla position once everything was put together. He took a quick look around and saw Paul Heyman in the corner, talking to Roman Reigns. Knowing he would need to check in anyway, he headed in that direction. Roman had just finished talking with Heyman apparently, because he headed away from Paul, and in Randy's direction. He stopped in front of Randy and looked him dead in the eye, not flinching one bit.

Roman Reigns: Hey, Randy.

Randy Orton: Joe.

Roman Reigns: Night of the fight, you might feel a slight sting. That's pride, fucking with you.

Randy smirked, knowing exactly what he was doing. Roman leaned in and poked Randy in the chest with a dead serious expression.

Roman Reigns: Fuck pride.

With that, he walked off menacingly. Randy shook his head at the obvious Pulp Fiction reference, a bit of an inside joke between Randy and Adam that Roman had sort of accidentally got in on. He continued on towards Paul. Heyman nodded at him when he saw him in the periphery of his vision. Heyman, the consummate professional, extended his hand and Randy shook it.

Paul Heyman: You're early. Nice change of pace.

Randy Orton: Short drive from St. Louis.

Paul Heyman: Excellent. Well, it's good that you're here. I've been meaning to talk to you. I don't know what your plans are, and given your tenure and status within this company, I realize you kind of have your run of the place.

Randy Orton: What are you talking about?

Paul Heyman: Randy, we're in desperate need of some babyfaces on the high end of the card. Everyone wants to be a heel, even if they don't have the skills for it. Unfortunately, that leaves very little in the way of good guys, and it's affecting the live event schedule. Nobody wants to see heels wrestle each other. It doesn't work. I'm begging you.

Heyman drove the point home by folding his hands together.

Randy Orton: I don't know, Paul. Solomon Crowe? Seriously? He's a cut rate Brian Kendrick and you know it.

Paul shrugged a little.

Paul Heyman: Hey, you know how it is, Randy. The creative team is finding new ways of determining people's positions on the card, and they're starting you in the upper middle after the Rumble. To be fair, they're doing the same to Brock and he's held the World title more recently than you.

Randy Orton: Do you know how many times I've been in the ring with Ted Dibiase? I think it's a running joke at this point.

Paul Heyman: Look, we could really use you on a more regular basis. Wes will probably say something similar, but this is just my opinion. This match you've got tonight? Win or lose, we can turn it into a long term program if you want.

Randy Orton: We'll see.

Paul Heyman: OK. That's fine. I know you've got an interview, so go ahead and get that out of the way and we'll talk about the finish in a couple hours. Sound good?

Randy nodded.

Randy Orton: That'll work.

Heyman shook hands with Randy and Heyman walked off, leaving Randy to make his way back to the interview room that had been set up with an EBWF backdrop. He placed his bag down by the door and nodded at Matt Striker, who was assigned to do interviews that day. Drew, EBWF's resident senior camera man was hanging out by the recording equipment, typing something into his phone when Randy walked in.

Matt Striker: Hey, Randy! Long time no see.

Randy arched an eyebrow at that. "That's because I don't talk to you" he thought, as he crossed the room to the area set up for interviews.

Randy Orton: Yeah well, my downside's high enough that they can't afford to have me on every show anymore.

Matt Striker: Good problem to have. Ready to do this?

Randy Orton: Ah, yes. Yes I am.

Striker nodded, putting on the cheesy grin that he was known for as Drew stuffed his phone in his pocket and fired up the mounted camera. Drew counted down with his fingers and then pointed at Matt.

Matt Striker: Good evening, esteemed men and women of this great EBWF Universe! I am Matt Striker, and it is my proud distinction to be here with you today, getting the thoughts of several key stars that will be competing tonight, life on Warfare. With me tonight is a man who has been scarcely seen on EBWF television. When he does arrive though, his presence is definitely felt. He's a two-time former EBWF World Champion, Randy Orton!

Randy's casual look of indifference didn't change one bit as the camera focused on him. He had on his trademark dark blue EBWF "Silent Assassin" t-shirt, and a pair of jeans. His heavily tattooed arms folded across his chest.

Matt Striker: Randy, you've been an Intercontinental Champion. You've been a Tag Team Champion. You've been a World Champion. Tonight, however, you have the opportunity to earn a number one contendership for a title you have not ever carried. The EBWF Path to Glory Championship. What are your thoughts about the Path to Glory Championship?

Randy's gaze casually turned to look at Striker, an incredulous eyebrow popping up.

Randy Orton: What are my thoughts, Striker? Come on, is this the type of hard hitting journalism that's going to get the EBWF higher ups to tap you more often for interviews instead of Renee?

Matt Striker: Well, I--

Randy Orton: My thoughts are this. As you can appreciate Matt, I'm a pretty big deal around here. My EBWF branded bucket list isn't very large, chiefly because when I want to check something off on the list, I go out there and I do it. When I want something, I go out there and I take it. That's how I handle my business. When it comes to the Path to Glory Championship, it is definitely one of the things on my list. The Breakout Championship is not on my list, because I don't need to "break out". I broke out as a star a long time ago, as my opponents will most likely tell you. The Path to Glory Championship is interesting, because it has it's own level of prestige, and yet it's a golden ticket to a World title shot. 

Matt Striker: If you were to become the number one contender and go on to win the Path to Glory Championship, what do you think you would do with the title? Would you cash it in at your first opportunity to get a shot at the World Championship? Or, would you defend the title and own it for as long as possible?

Randy thought that over for a moment, resting his hand on his chin in contemplation.

Randy Orton: You know Matt, it's got to be a toss up. You look at the people that are in contendership for the World title, and you've got to consider the options. Chris Jericho is a guy that I've beaten so many times that I don't think even he remembers how many. Wes Ikeda, if he won the championship would be interesting. Mostly because I know how inept he used to be at running a company, so it would be like taking candy from a one-legged baby to pluck the world title off of him. But then again, I kind of like the idea of making sure that guys like Solomon Crowe and Ted Dibiase, Jr. get stuck behind the glass ceiling of Randy Orton. With the Path to Glory Championship, I can make sure that people like those two never make to the main event, such that the good fans of EBWF would never have to suffer through another terrible wrestling match.

Matt Striker: Speaking of Solomon Crowe and Ted Dibiase, it seems like you might be dismissing your opponents a little prematurely, don't you think? Both Solomon Crowe and Ted Dibiase, Jr. are former World Champions, like you. They have the resume and could prove to be a formidable challenge in the ring.

Randy Orton: Matt, Solomone Crowe had the World Championship for a cup of coffee at the end of 2014. Now, your counter argument might be that I haven't actually held the title since 2013. While that's fair, come on. Look at me. I walk into a room and people see a champion. Solomon Crowe walks into a room and people see a guy who never outgrew high school. The man is almost thirty, Matt. He looks like a Hot Topic exploded. He's a copy of a copy of a copy, and every other guy that he's emulated in EBWF's past has come up against Randy Orton and failed, so Solomon won't be any different. And if I have to hear one more time about how Solomon Crowe is more sadistic, more disturbed, and more crazy than I am, I am going to kick his head square off his shoulders.

Matt Striker: What about Ted Dibiase, Jr.? The two of you have had many enjoyable matches in the past, and he has proven to be quite the challenger in the Path to Glory bracket. He's held the title before, so he know what it takes.

Randy's eyes looked like they were going to roll into the back of his head and fall out the back of his neck.

Randy Orton: Speaking of things I'm sick of, Ted Dibiase, Jr. I saw his name on the card and I thought - and I must absolutely stress the point that I am not joking - I thought they had made him an agent. I figured he was carrying binders for Joanie or something. But to my surprise, he still has a job as a wrestler. Yes Matt, he has been Path to Glory Champion before. Bret Hart was a World Champion once too. Look at how terrible he looked at the Royal Rumble. Just because you've got a couple small accolades from years ago means nothing in 2016. And since we're on the topic...

Randy snatched the mic from Striker and pushed him out of the camera view. He turned and faced the camera.

Randy Orton: While it might be true that I haven't seen the World Championship since 2013, my accolades speak for themselves. I could reel them off, but this interview would go over if I had to list them all. When I step in front of a camera, that's all you need to be fully 100% aware that I am the best. When I choose to own the ring, I own it. There is not one person, not one wrestler in the history of the EBWF that has been able to claim that they have never been beaten by Randy Orton. Sooner or later, everyone takes a shot and sooner or later, everyone looses. Ted Dibiase, you lost a long time ago, you just haven't gotten the memo yet. Solomon Crowe, you're right. You are crazier than me. You are more disturbed than I am. You want to know why? Because my focus isn't on being crazy, or disturbed. My focus is on being the best. I don't hear voices in my head. I take pills for that. The one voice I will hear tonight, is the referee's voice when he counts the one....two....three, and names me the number one contender for the Path to Glory Championship. The one voice you'll hear, Solomon, is when you're looking up at the lights after an RKO. You'll hear me quietly saying "I told you."

With that Randy walked off the set, throwing the mic back to Striker. Striker caught it and wrapped up the interview. Randy headed off to find Paul Heyman, and tell him what he wanted to hear.

~~~~~~~~

The camera opened up on a nearly pitch black room. A small lamp hung suspended from the ceiling by an old chain, the light flickering in the dark and seemingly empty room. The light was swinging back and forth like a pendulum, revealing an empty half of the room as it reached one end, then swung to the other end and revealed a dusty steel chair, which a tattooed arm reached out from the darkness and picked up, moving towards the center. Randy Orton set the chair down dead center, grabbing the light to stop it from it's movement, centering it on him as he sat down. The camera zoomed in on Randy as he looked up at the camera, a smirk on his features.

Randy Orton: I've got to be honest. When they told me I was going to cut a promo in a dusty old room with a chair and one light, I told them that I wasn't Raven, so I wasn't sure why they were giving me his set.

He scoffed, looking around in disgust.

Randy Orton: When I looked at it though, I figured it was the perfect metaphor for my career over the last three years. When I showed up in the EBWF, I was an absolute wrecking machine. I didn't care who I hurt, who I sent to the hospital, because at the end of the day it was about making a statement. That hunger, that drive to do great and terrible things was what shot me to the main event at Wrestlemania and earned me the longest EBWF World Championship reign in history. Some might say that's changed in recent years.

He looked up at the light.

Randy Orton: Let's face it - everyone knows I am the best wrestler this company has ever seen. When I walk out to that ring, there's not a person that outshines me. When every nerd on this planet goes out and buys EBWF 2K16, and they create a wrestler and max out every single wrestling skill, I'm what they wind up with. Those are just facts. When I show up, the spotlights leave whomever is there, and they shine on me. But lately, I've been content hanging out in the shadows.

He nodded in the direction of the pitch black space to his left.

Randy Orton: I've been content letting the Miz's, the Zayns, and the Styles' of the world walk around like they're worth something. Like they run the joint. I've let that happen, because to be honest, I was bored. I was bored of being the best of the best. I was so bored, I gave up my tag team championship belt because there wasn't a single person in the locker room that could take it from Rated RKO. So, I went into the shadows. I did press events, I represented the company, and I cashed my check. That's what my life has been for the last three years, and I didn't mind it one bit. That was, until I went to the Royal Rumble. I went into that cluster of a match, seeing every worthless piece of garbage that EBWF was trying to peddle to the fans, and I got angry. I got angry because I got to witness, first hand, what people call "wrestlers" in 2016.

He said the word "wrestlers" as if he was spitting it out disgustedly.

Randy Orton: I hate to sound like my father, believe me. But the last time I held the EBWF World Championship, the wrestlers that were around to compete with were FAR better than the ones that exist today. Back then you had wrestlers who I may not have liked, and who were clearly inferior to me, but at least they were respectable wrestlers. And therein lie the problem. Respect. You see, I'm not a psychic, but I know exactly what is going to be said about me, because it's always the same. No one has any originality anymore. Solomon Crowe is going to talk about how he's scarier than I am. Ted Dibiase, Jr. is going to talk about how he held the World Championship like 6 years ago.

Randy rolled his eyes.

Randy Orton: It's always the same. I watch this program every single week, and it just makes me mad what passes for talent. So, that's why I'm here. That's why the metaphor of this room is perfect. It's perfect because I'm done being in the shadows. I'm done letting the light pass over me and focus on people clearly beneath me. I'm going to go into Warfare, and once I dispense with that mid-card comedy act, and Ted Dibiase, I'm going to go on and take the Path to Glory Championship, and for the first time in the history of that title, give it the prestige it deserves. The prestige...

Randy stood up, outstretching his long arms, and looking straight into the camera with a confident grin.

Randy Orton: ...off being around the perfect waist of R...K...O.

Randy's arms went from their outstretched position into his signature taunt, a sinister smirk on his face as the camera faded to black.

[Dotty]

Awesome read. I love the bit of backstage stuff with Heyman. I think its great acknowledging that side of the business as well in roleplays.

[Jayme]

"When every nerd on this planet goes out and buys EBWF 2K16, and they create a wrestler and max out every single wrestling skill, I'm what they wind up with. Those are just facts."

I don't know why this made me laugh but I love this line. Awesome read!

[Cory]

Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate the compliments. :)