Sami Will Believe.

[Cory]

The click of Renee Young's heels rapidly echoed down the hallway of the Chesapeake Energy Arena, the sound of "Worlds Apart" playing far in the distance. She was in pursuit of her next interviewee, who was just ahead of her.

Renee Young: Roman?

An EBWF microphone was in her hand as she closed the distance between herself and the team of Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns, who were heading towards the curtain. Roman was the first to stop. He turned halfway to look at the diminutive EBWF interviewer.

Renee Young: Roman, do you have a moment...?

She finally reached the two, and finally Heyman turned. He smiled and put his hand out in a stopping gesture, causing Renee to put the brakes on.

Paul Heyman: Excuse me, Ms. Young. I don't believe you have an appointment with my client. He needs to head to the ring for his match in the main event. You need to...

Roman glared at Paul with daggers. Paul's eyes widened. He managed to take the hint.

Paul Heyman: Go... go ahead with your question, Renee.

Renee Young: Thank you, Mr. Heyman. Roman, tonight you have a match against a former World Champion in Sami Zayn, no doubt a great opportunity for your career. What are your thoughts heading into this match?

Roman stroked his goatee, thinking on that.

Roman Reings: My thoughts? I'll tell you what my thoughts are. I--

Paul leaned in towards the mic, pushing ahead of Roman in protection of his client.

Paul Heyman: My client's thoughts are simple, Renee. Roman Reigns is the most devastating, most powerful wrestler to sign a deal with the EBWF since my previous client, Brock Lesnar. You see, I look for the greatest unshaped talent in the ring, and then I work to mould them into a living weapon of unparalleled destruction. I accomplished that with Brock Lesnar when he managed to win the EBWF World Championship in his first week with the company. My next project is the man you see before you, Roman Reigns. Roman Reigns' thoughts are singular when he is in the ring. His thoughts are focused on the opponent across from him, and how much pain he can inflict on that person before they can no longer fight back. THAT is what his thoughts are, Renee. Tonight, Sami Zayn has an unfortunate destiny awaiting him. He has the dubious distinction of being a former World Champion who will be defeated by a man that has not held the championship. Yet.

Roman smirked, finding it hard to argue with his manager for once.

Roman Reings: You know Renee, all that he just said is true. But, I will say something that you will never hear Paul say. Sami Zayn is a great wrestler. He's a world class champ man, there's no denying that. I'm not going to come out here and throw shade on the guy, because he's earned his spot in this company. What I will say is that I came to this company to square up against the best in the world, and Sami Zayn certainly qualifies. So while I have a great deal of respect for Sami, nothing in the world can stop me from putting this fist...

Reigns cocked his fist.

Roman Reings: ...through his skull, and making my name at his expense.

Renee Young: Roman, Sami Zayn just spoke to me and told me he's not convinced that you're on the same level as him, and that you lack the fire to be in the main event picture here in the EBWF. What is your response to that?

Roman shook his head.

Roman Reings: I don't have a problem with Sami. In fact, I've got a ton of respect for a guy that's reinvented himself in the business several times over. I've got a ton of respect for a guy who told the wrestling industry to piss off when they said he would never be the man. So, I'm not entirely sure why the guy wants to take a shot at me.

Paul interjected himself again.

Paul Heyman: The answer to that question is simple, Roman. Sami Zayn is terrified of you, because you are on the climb, and he is not. He's terrified that the fragile, tenuous position that he finds himself in will soon crumble underneath him if he loses his match to you. You see, Sami is borderline THIS close from becoming a perpetual "enhancement talent" if he doesn't win tonight. With AJ Styles and Chris Jericho safely ensconced in the two top spots in the company, the place for Sami Zayn keeps slipping... and slipping... and slipping. So tonight, he has to put his name back in the conversation, and if he fails, it's a foot in the grave for the EBWF's favorite underdog.

Roman Reings: Nah, Paul. You can spin that story if you like. I'm not going to buy into that. Sami Zayn is a good guy, and tonight I'm going to go out there, I'm going to shake his hand, and I'm going to fight him. At the end of the night, it's going to be my hand raised, and it's going to be Sami Zayn going back to the medical trainer to get his jaw set back into place.

Renee Young: Roman tonight might be your biggest opportunity to finally break through to the next level here in the EBWF. If you do defeat Sami Zayn tonight, what's the next step for Roman Reigns?

Roman Reings: Renee, there is no next step for me. There's no title match after this, there's no angling or politicking. Tonight may as well be my last match ever, because I'm certainly going to treat it that way. I'm going to go out there, fists flying, and give Sami Zayn the fight of his life. He may think I am going to take him lightly because I'm a bigger guy, with a build that some promoters are looking for. It ain't like that, Renee. I'm not going to walk into this match cocky and arrogant because I'm taller than he is, and built bigger. Anyone who's seen Eddie Guerrero or Rey Mysterio in the ring know that it's not always about the size of the dog. So I'm going to treat Zayn like anyone else - as a credible threat. That way, it won't come as a surprise to anyone when I spear the hell out of him in the middle of the ring, and they have to scrape his carcass off the ring with a spatula.

Paul Heyman: When Brock Lesnar came to the EBWF, he came as a former UFC World Champion. A former WWE champion. That's why he was able to secure a title shot in his first day on the job. My client, Roman Reigns, didn't have the benefit of such a resume. Sami Zayn wants to see my client's fire, my client's passion? Roman Reigns IS fire. He's a living, breathing manifestation of destruction and chaos. Tonight my client is going to get the opportunity that he's been looking for for so long. He's going to stand atop Sami Zayn's broken body and claim his birthright. He's going to claim the spot that belongs to him and the many in his family that came before him. You see, Roman Reigns may have a lot of respect for Sami Zayn, but I do not. I don't like him, and I don't respect him. My respect is reserved for those that have me in their employ. Roman Reigns is not only going to defeat Sami Zayn, he is going to destroy Sami Zayn. He's going to embarrass Sami Zayn. And then my client, Roman Reigns, will build a foundation of success on top of his failure.

Heyman gave Renee a menacing grin.

Paul Heyman: My client and I may not agree on a lot of things, Renee. He didn't like it when I yelled at the concierge for getting him coach seats instead of business class. He wasn't happy when I spoke on his behalf against his last opponent. But we do agree on one thing, the most important thing. Roman Reigns is the best. He is the most physically gifted, most dominant athlete the EBWF has ever seen. Tonight, he's going to illustrate that in painful, agonizing fashion to Sami. Zayn.

Roman smirked and leaned in towards Renee.

Roman Reings: And once I'm through with him tonight, Sami Zayn will believe. That.

Roman gave Renee a wink and headed towards the curtain as Sami's music faded. Roman knew tonight was the night to make sure Wes Ikeda didn't regret his decision to put him in the show closer. Tonight was going to be the night that the doorway opened, and he would kick through it if he had to.