A Fitting Legacy

[Ben M]

I've struggled to focus on this RP because in case you don't know, I'm flying to Texas tomorrow! So sorry it's poor. Good luck to Ashlee, whatever happens I look forward to us continuing our feud after Mania :)

Finally...

As he stood backstage at the AT&T Stadium, Chris Jericho still couldn't believe it was actually happening. Six years after his last Wrestlemania main event, Jericho was main eventing Mania once again. And he was doing so with one of his closest friends in the business, Wes Ikeda. Jericho was excited, of course, but there was also a feeling of nervousness. With almost 100,000 people set to attend Wrestlemania, Jericho was set to wrestle in front of his largest ever crowd... and he was determined not to disappoint. As Jericho pondered his thoughts, Renee Young approached him.

Renee Young: Hey, Chris. Ready for your big night?

Jericho smiled.

Chris Jericho: As ready as I'll ever be.

Renee Young: I'm sure you'll do great... I'm excited to see you and Wes go at it!

Chris Jericho: Thanks. I think whatever happens, we'll both be celebrating at the end of the night if we can give the world a good show.

Renee nodded.

Renee Young: It's going to be incredible, I know it is. I've been told to ask you about your week so far, and then to move onto your match with Wes. We'll probably edit it down to feature on the pre-show and post the full version on EBWF.net. Any questions?

Chris Jericho: You know me, Renee... I'd rather just go with the flow. I trust you.

A few moments later, the interview area was set up, the camera started rolling, and Renee began to speak.

Renee Young: Ladies and gentlemen, with me at this time is the EBWF World Champion, Chris Jericho. Chris, later on tonight you'll be defending your World Title in the Wrestlemania main event against Wes Ikeda. You've been in Dallas since Wednesday, how has your Wrestlemania week been so far?

Chris Jericho: It's been great, Renee. I love the atmosphere you get during Wrestlemania week. I've met some wonderful fans, we've raised money for the Make A Wish Foundation, and of course there was the Slammy Awards last night.

Renee Young: It was another successful night for you at the Slammies, you won Match of the Year for you match with The Miz at Fallout and you were also named Wrestler of the Year for the second year in a row. How does it feel to be recognised by your peers like that?

Chris Jericho: Well given that every time I step into the ring, I try to prove myself as the best in the world at what I do, getting awards which recognise me as the best always means a lot. I'm really happy with how my match with Miz went, so it was nice to see that named as the Match of the Year, and obviously winning Wrestler of the Year again is a wonderful feeling. It shows that I have consistently delivered in the ring for two years running now. But being the World Champion is better than any Slammy, so as much as I enjoyed last night, tonight my focus is purely on the World Title and walking out of Wrestlemania as the Champion.

Renee Young: You've actually known your opponent, Wes Ikeda, since before you joined the EBWF fifteen years ago. And although the two of you have had issues in the past, you've maintained a good friendship. You teamed together this past Monday on Warfare, getting the victory in a tag match against The Miz and Brock Lesnar. Does going up against one of your friends make it more difficult? What's your mindset going into a match like that?

Chris Jericho: Honestly, Renee, my mindset will be pretty much the same as any other match. Obviously there are some opponents where there is a personal rivalry, so you can't help but feel differently in those type of matches. But I'm a professional, so the fact that I'm wrestling one of my friends won't affect my focus. How can it when the stakes are so high? I wouldn't say it makes it more difficult, in some ways it's actually easier, because it means you know your opponent better. I'll treat Wes with respect because he's my friend, and because we have a lot of history, but I'll also treat him the same way I'd treat anyone else. I'm sure as hell not going to go easy on him, I want to walk out of Wrestlemania with the World Title.

Renee Young: So you know what to expect from Wes Ikeda tonight?

Chris Jericho: Well I'm not saying I can predict his every move, Renee. This is Wrestlemania, I'm sure Wes will have a few tricks up his sleeve. After all, who would have predicted he'd end up winning the Royal Rumble? But I know his style, I know his signature moves, and I know what his strategy will be. So that could give me an advantage... but Wes knows me as well as I know him, so I have to try and do something unexpected. I need to stay focused, because if I don't, Wes will punish me.

Renee Young: You've competed in the Wrestlemania main event twice before; against Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania VIII in 2009, and against Randy Orton in the main event of Wrestlemania IX the following year. In both of those matches, you lost. Does that play on your mind at all going into this match?

Chris Jericho: I'd be lying if I said it doesn't. I hate that I lost two of the biggest matches of my career. But at the same time, I try not to dwell on the past. I've lost a lot of matches over the years, but I've won a hell of a lot more, especially when it counts. Whatever happens tonight, I'll leave everything in the ring, because I'm determined to make sure the World Title stays with me.

Renee Young: I just have one last question. You talked before about how well you know your opponent tonight, Wes Ikeda. I know you two are friends, but what do you think of him as an opponent?

Chris Jericho: Do you know what I really think? I think it's pretty great that Wes and I will be main eventing EBWF's Wrestlemania. It seems fitting, and we've both earned that spot. As for what I think of Wes, I have nothing but good things to say about him. He's one of those guys who doesn't wrestle often, but when he steps into the ring, you have a fight on your hands. But what Wes needs to know is I'll be fighting back. I will fight tooth and nail for this World Title, because I've waited too long to hold it. I don't want to give it up just yet.

Renee Young: Thank you for your time, Chris, and good luck in your match tonight.

Chris Jericho: Thank you.

The camera was cut and Renee thanked Jericho again.

[Dotty]

You lost me the minute you had to run it in that your flying off to mania! Only kidding. I actually really like the simplicity of this role play. It just proves you can do a straight up interview and nail your characters feelings on a match.