Raven: Without a Breakout or Gateway Champion the EBWF has simply become still images and grainy action. The masses have come to terms that without footage showing broken bodies, crazy bumps, and weathered faces. Famous names and obscure pawns soaking up unbelievable punishment for large crowds and small amounts of money. It shows weathered faces and the ravages of a long career in Pro Wrestling.
The scene opens to Raven in his 1,000 Yard Stare, and his slightly shifted posture. His face says “all business” and so does his demeanor. He looks into the camera with narrowed eyes, looking almost suspicious.
Raven: Maybe there are some problems in the world the EBWF can’t fix - but I don’t think this match is one of them...
Audible “pops” emanate from his neck and spine as he rolls his head back and around to its original position.
Raven: Anyone with any insight into the world of professional wrestling will tell you that it is a tough road to run, and that it has more sides than any known geometrical shape. This is a rough business because it takes such a heavy toll. Some people suffer because they love it. Some suffer because they hate it.
He snickers a bit, but does not smile.
Raven: You start out under any personal circumstance. Sometimes, for ex-football players or weight lifters - it’s the end of their other career and a way to make a living with their skills and notoriety. Sometimes, for jailbirds, dead-enders, and troubled youths - it’s the beginning of their real life.
He closes his eyes for a second and then continues.
Raven: You break in, you pay your dues. Maybe you’re one of the twenty guys that actually make a fortune in this business, but probably not. You’re lucky to earn a wage and stay walking. It takes everything you got, like an addiction. A sworn duty. It takes top priority an’ eats up everything you are. It wrecks marriages, families, bodies, lives. And when it finally chews you all the way up - it spits you out.
He sneers in half love/half hate.
Raven: It's easy to look at this business as being scummy, cut-throat, an' low-down. It's not hard to understand why a lot of people consider it to be the worst possible combination of hard-core carnie life an' Hollywood politics. Maybe more than other professional sports, this business is unforgiving to the body. The road schedule is more demanding and maddening than that of a successful rock band. It makes you crazy and it makes you hurt. Each of us do it for our own reasons an’ deal with it in our own way. Guys turn bitter. A lot get lost in a sea or get drank up by the ocean. Its hard mornings and lonely nights. It's a cross to bare. Since this match was made I keep asking What is a guy like Jungle Boy crucified for?
His eyes pierce through the camera lens as he goes on.
Raven: When you were young Jungle Boy, you didn’t want to become a fireman or an astronaut. You wanted to be like the heroes in the squared circle from yesteryear. When you finally grasped what professional wrestling was these men you quickly grew to hate. You did what they did because you wanted to get near them. You now want to see how they coped with being away from loved ones on their Birthdays. Christmas Mornings. You wanted to see what had them breaking moment worth being too tired to play on their back for a pittance. All I ask Jungle Boy was it worth it?
Raven softly shakes his head
Raven: When this match was signed what was the feeling like, How did it feel knowing you were one step closer to go to war for the Breakout or Gateway Championship….. Was it just like sticking’ a needle in your arm euphoric I want to know?
Raven looks off in brief reflection.
Raven: Maybe in some ways I feel the same. But THIS BUSINESS was salvation to me. You took this match like a curse, and that is why you’re having such a bad trip with it. It was a curse the moment the read my name as your opponent, The EBWF brass has no regard for what has passed down to you. Raven once again thrust upon you right away, through no choice of your own. Like diabetes or cancer...
Raven rubs the palms of his hands together and looks up to the sky
Raven: You see I never had reasons to meet my legends or my heroes… My old man was a drunk, a liar, and a hater of life. He was the reason I left home. He was the reason I grew up mean. He was the reason I got into enough trouble to submit myself to a higher plan. Fiery temperament, double-fisted, barrel chested. I got a lot of the same tools as him, but I did something else with them. I stood up and became the opposite of everything he was. You tried your best to follow in your hero's footsteps an' you did an image of raising a world title high above your head. It's like your worst nightmare come true.
Raven eyes narrow a bit. He offers a single nod, his head cocked slightly to the side.
Raven: Now... after your body got beat up, after your brain got bounced around now that you've paid the price to lace up those boots... now it's too late. Your already drowning' in it.. at Warfare you are stuck in a LIFE you hate.
A smirk creeps onto the face of Raven
Raven: EBWF You ranted an' raged an' threw a' fit. You wanted to start a war to crown a Breakout and Gateway champion... EBWF I hope you are ready for a final stand. Only thing I know is that Jungle Boy is ready for a normal life. He is ready for a normal job, ready to live and work and sleep and dream. Every time you take a nasty spill at Warfare, you pray that it's THE BIG ONE. The career killer. Your ticket out of this private hell....
Raven holds his fist up in front of his chest, grabbing his wrist with the other hand. He flexes his fingers and slowly balls them back up. He arches his eyebrow and leans forward slightly. His eyes gleam with predatorily flame.
Raven: For Jungle Boy his prayers of becoming a champion roll through Warfare. Raven is going to make your God Damn Dreams come true, The violence that consumes you at Warfare will have you meeting your legends in the sky like Andre the Giant, OOOOO YEAAAH the Macho Man Randy Savage and even the Ultimate Warrior!
Raven lets out a sick laugh before he leaves us with a twisted grin it spreads across his face as the scene fades out to black.