OOC: Finally get to debut McInytre, yay! Best of luck to Howie and Tony!
Less than three months into their second reign as the EBWF Tag Team Champions, Wade Barrett and Ryback had been dealt a crushing blow. Ryback had injured his shoulder at the Royal Rumble, and was expected to be out of action for several months. Understandably, Barrett was concerned about what this would mean for his reign as one half of the Tag Team Champions. Would he be given a replacement partner? Would the titles be vacated? Two days after the Royal Rumble, Barrett had a meeting at EBWF headquarters in St. Louis, and was told that EBWF had agreed a deal in principle to sign one of his oldest friends in the wrestling business, Drew McIntyre. Plans were in place to introduce McIntyre as Barrett's replacement partner, which delighted Barrett. It was a relief to be paired with someone he knew well, rather than lumbered with someone he had no chemistry with. McIntyre had a number of independent dates to fulfil, however, so it wasn't until late March that the Scotsman would make his EBWF. To Barrett's surprise, he and McIntyre had been booked to defend the Tag Titles a week before Wrestlemania against the number one contenders, Sheamus and Bully Ray. As he hung out backstage at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, Barrett pondered this booking decision with his new partner.
Wade Barrett: I just don't get it, Drew. Why not wait and have the match at Wrestlemania? I feel like we're being screwed out of a match at Wrestlemania, and I don't like it one bit.
Drew McIntyre: Aye, mate. I know what you mean. But let's just see what happens. Maybe they have other plans for us at Wrestlemania.
Wade Barrett: Always the optimist, huh?
McIntyre laughed.
Drew McIntyre: Well I never expected to get another chance here... so right now, I have a reason to be optimistic. I'd prefer to keep an open mind at least, see what happens.
Wade Barrett: I understand. I just don't want to miss out on my Wrestlemania moment, you know?
Drew McIntyre: I hear you. But let's just focus on tonight, and worry about Wrestlemania afterwards. Alright?
Barrett nodded. Before they could continue their conversation, a crew member approached them and advised the two superstars they were needed for an interview with Renee Young. Barrett and McIntyre followed the crew member to the interview area, and after going through some prep with Renee, the camera started rolling.
Renee Young: Ladies and gentlemen, with me at this time is one-half of the Tag Team Champions, Wade Barrett, and the main who has replaced the injured Ryback as the other half of the Tag Team Champions, Drew McIntyre. Wade, Drew, later on tonight you'll defend your titles against Sheamus and Bully Ray, who won a number one contenders match for a shot at the gold last month. This will be the first time the two of you have teamed up here in the EBWF... are you confident about your chances of retaining the titles?
Wade Barrett: Of course we are, Renee. Drew and I might not have much experience as a tag team, but we know each other pretty damn well. We've known each other since we were both competing on the British wrestling circuit, we have a lot of history. And what's more than that, we know Sheamus from way back when too. In terms of experience, Drew and I definitely have the upper hand.
Drew McIntyre: What Wade is getting at, Renee, is that it doesn't matter how many or how few times we've teamed together in the past. What matters is that we can trust each other. I have complete faith in Wade, and he has complete trust in me. Can you really say the same about Sheamus and Bully Ray? They're the very definition of strange bedfellows, and their partnership will be... volatile... to say the least.
Renee Young: Is that something the two of you will be looking to take advantage of tonight? The fact that you don't think Sheamus and Bully Ray will work together as effectively as you will?
Drew McIntyre: There's no thinking about it, Renee. Barrett and I know we'll be an effective partnership.
Wade Barrett: That's why I turned to Drew when Ryback got injured, I needed someone I could count on. And as soon as I found out that Drew was in talks with EBWF, I got in touch straight away. I gave him first refusal on Ryback's half of these titles...
Drew McIntyre: And I was all too happy to accept.
McIntyre smirked.
Renee Young: With all due respect, Drew... do you think it's fair that you've been handed a championship here in the EBWF when you haven't even wrestled your first match?
McIntyre's smirk turned to a frown.
Drew McIntyre: What are you suggesting, Renee? That I don't deserve to be a champion? You couldn't be more wrong. For starters, I didn't ask for this championship... I was offered it. I've never taken anything I haven't earned, and I'm not about to start now. Secondly, do you know what I have sacrificed to be here right now? For the past two years, I have been wrestling all around the world. Not only have I been competing here in the States, I've also become the most dominant wrestler there is in my home country of Scotland. I could have continued to dominate the independent wrestling scene, but I gave all that up for an opportunity in EBWF. Being asked to be Wade's partner is a bonus, but it's also a privilege. And if I hadn't been given this title, I would have fought tooth and nail, pouncing on every scrap there is, to get the chance to be a champion. Now that I am one, I will fight with every fibre of my being to hold onto the gold.
Wade Barrett: Do you think it's fair that we have to defend these titles against a ginger freak like Sheamus and an overweight joke like Bully Ray, Renee? Absolutely not, but as my father always taught me, life isn't fair. You’ve just got to roll with the punches sometimes. I could not be happier to have Drew as my partner. Who else was I going to ask – Kevin "Twitter Troll" Owens? The "Hopeless Blonde", Dolph Ziggler? The man who looks stupider than Sheamus, Enzo Amore? There were a ton of superstars who wanted to take Ryback's place, but I chose the best man for the job. And if you don't think Drew McIntyre has earned that spot, just watch us take care of Sheamus and Bully Ray. There is an Uprising coming in EBWF, and tonight is just the start.
Barrett and McIntyre brushed past Renee, bringing the interview to an abrupt close.
Uprising
Re: Uprising
In the words of R-Truth "Drew McEntyre's here?!" Such a good character, with so much potential. Good debut!
