A Votre Sante...

[Juan Ramirez]

Light chattering, and the clanking of utensils in the background was lost among the enticing, sensuous sound of of Lounge Jazz, every note which came out of the lead saxophone seemed to mix perfectly with the dim lightning. All sorts of exquisite aromas floated around as waiters took orders to their exclusive clientele. A party for the five senses would not be complete without the sense of sight. The camera focused on the table which rested at the center of the restaurant where a very familiar and very european face was sitting comfortably. Clad in a black taylor made suit, a crisp white button up shirt and a black tie around his neck in a classic windsor knot. Sitting across him, another nice sight for sore eyes for the EBWF universe; blonde platinum hair, perfectly tanned skin and a figure to die for.

Cesaro: I am elated you were able to come in some short notice.

The blonde former EBWF women’s champion flashed her perfect white teeth and smiled.

Maryse: Enchantée.

Cesaro smiled, his fingers curled around the slender neck of a glass which contained a bubbly ambar colored liquid, presumably the restaurant’s biggest champagne. Maryse mimicked him, her 500 dollar manicured fingers raised her own cup of champagne…

Cesaro: à votre santé...

Both glasses made a clinking sound as they collided against one another. Both took a sip of their drinks before placing them down

Cesaro: So tell me, how is life out of the squared circle treating you?

Maryse shrugged slightly.

Maryse: It is not so bad… I’m not worried about creepy fans in airports, about losing my luggage on every stop, about hectic schedules, meet and greets and so forth… But from time to time, I get bored. What about you? I’m sure you’re locked, loaded and ready go go in EBWF…

The swiss gentleman nodded.

Cesaro: I am living the dream, this is my life. I am getting paid to do what I love doing, what makes a fire burn inside me with the intensity of a thousand suns!

Maryse’s brown eyes widened at his poetic comment. It was no secret to anyone that being between the ropes was what made the swiss superman tick.

Cesaro: Sorry, I couldn’t help myself… I can’t believe I am living the high life.

He glanced at the liquid on his cup, bubbles flailing up before popping. He hoped to rise that fast amongst the EBWF ranks and ‘pop’ at the top… Reign supreme.

Maryse: That makes me very happy for you! Please don’t let fame, fortune and the dozens of women in the Cesaro section get in your head.

She smiled at him, her fingers carefully slid up and down the thin neck of her cup.

Maryse: You’re an extremely nice guy… It’d be a shame to see you become a jerk. I’ve seen what a fat check and fangirls can do to nice guys like you…

Cesaro’s eyes squinted slightly as he examined her.

Cesaro: It’s just a matter of not forgetting where I come from, in order not to forget where I am going.

The blonde French-Canadian looked over at him.

Maryse: I don’t think you’ve told me where you come from, nor where you’re going… I got to say the red T-shirt with the white cross you wear on Television is a nice hint, though.

Cesaro: It is pretty simple. I am just a guy with a dream. A guy who has traveled from far away, fighting against the current, going against all odds, honouring my origins on every step I take. Where I’m going… That is a bit of a more difficult question to answer. I guess I just want to be happy, in the long run…

Maryse: What about the short run?

She threw a glance at him.

Cesaro: On the short run, I have a match at Sacrifice for the Path To Glory Title.

Maryse: That is pretty huge isn’t it? That’s like, their second-best title.

Cesaro smiled proudly and nodded.

Cesaro: Fatal four way against two former world champions and a living legend: Randy Orton, Syxx and The Miz…

Maryse: See? Exactly the kind of guys you don’t want to become when you make it big time.

Cesaro: I don’t know them personally… But…

Maryse: You don’t need to… Now, I don’t think I have anything bad to say about Randy Orton; But Syxx is a mess… So much wasted potential. And don’t even get me started on Mike…

Cesaro: Is he a sensitive subject?

Maryse’s lips curved up in a smile, she would shake her head.

Maryse: Of course not… I am happy I didn’t settle for less than what I am worth. He was not the guy for me… Come to think about it, I don’t think he’s the guy for anyone with two eyes and a brain behind them.

Maryse took a bit of a deeper sip of her drink, gulping it down as if to wash the bad taste from her mouth.

Cesaro: Okay, you’re in a droptoe hold now… Because you’re going to have to elaborate on what you just said.

Maryse narrowed her eyes at him, and chuckled.

Maryse: Why should I do such thing? What’s in it for me?

Cesaro shrugged.

Maryse: Promise me you will you walk me home when we’re done?

Cesaro: Without a shadow of a doubt…

Maryse smiled.

Maryse: That’s good for me… Now, we date back in the day… And he was just this, 20-something year old kid. He was cute as a puppy, but cuteness can only get you so far once you’re in a relationship with a woman… He was almost like a frat boy, always hanging out with his friends, loving to be the center of attention.

Cesaro: How can someone be the center of attention when you are around?

Maryse: You should ask him that… Anyway. Everything fizzled out, we went separate ways… I focused on my career, he focused on… I don’t know, his buddies.

Cesaro: Who wants to be with Alex Riley instead of Maryse Ouellet?

The only answer he could find was in the bottom of the champagne glass, taking a couple of sips from it before putting it down.

Cesaro: I don’t think I will be able to ask him much, because I’d be too busy spinning him around the canvas until he can’t take it anymore.

Maryse winked and nodded her head.

Maryse: Give him one for me, would you?

Both friends sealed the deal with the clanking of their champagne cups as the scene faded.

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"This is what it all comes down. The future is now. The Path To Glory champion will be decided on Sacrifice on a fatal four way. Every corner holds a different possibility, every corner tells a different story, despite all four stories want to end the same way, only one will be able to fullfil it's destiny as PTG champion. The thing is... The other three men involved in the match have tried and failed multiple times to be Path To Glory Champions, or to Cash in their title in exchange for a world title shot... Not Cesaro."

The scene opened up in a locker room, where our Swiss uppercut machine was sitting down on a steel chair. Wearing a Switzerland rugby jersey, swiss armbands, white trunks and a confident smile on his face, he looked straight into the camera.

Cesaro: I have been here for a mere few weeks and my name is already in big profile matches, I am sure that has to give away a slight hint of my work ethic, of my capabilities in the ring, of my brute strength, but most importantly, of my true goal in EBWF. You see, people don't call me the Swiss Superman just because... It is a nickname I have earned by wrestling from coast to coast, on every single continent of this planet, overcoming every single challenge I have been faced with. Now, come Sacrifice a new chapter in my rise to the elite of the world of wrestling will be written. Randy Orton, I respect you as an EBWF legend, former world champion and tag team champion, but that doesn't mean I will go easy on you during our match. Au contraire, I will thrive with every muscle cell in my body to outwrestle you, to make you realize I am better than you, I am going out there with the sole purpose of making you notice me and recognize me as your equal. Syxx, I respect your contribution to the business... I respect the years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears you've poured into this business to make it help grow... I also feel pain for the dark and desolated turns your career has often taken. My objective once I am out there will be to make you feel at ease, to make you feel happy to pass the torch on to me... For a new era is dawning. Last but not least, Miz... You're the loudest of them all, you're the most recent Path To Glory champion out of the four of us... To me that is nothing but a statistic. You can blow Michael Cole away with that fact, not me. Scream loud and proud that you're awesome, bring your jock cheerleader to cheer you on... I want you to show me you're awesome... not with your mouth, but with your hands. You've all had your time as champions, you've all been to the top... Now it is my time. See you out there.

Cesaro stood from his chair and walked out as the scene faded.