The Rated R Superstar had won his first round match in the King of the Ring Tournament. His opponent had been Jeff Jarrett, and it seemed that all roads went through the Coalition on Edge’s quest to the King of the Ring finals. He was eager to get out of this hell loop, by defeating Maven and moving on to face Jeff Hardy in the quarter finals. We joined Edge in the Rated RKO locker room where he and the EBWF World Champion, Randy Orton, were preparing for the evening ahead.

Randy Orton: Remind me, who do you have tonight?

Edge: Maven.

Randy Orton: Oh, Raven… yeah, that can go either way depending on the night.

Edge: No, no… not Raven. May-ven. It’s an em. Maven.

Randy Orton: Maven? He wrestles?

Edge: Allegedly.

Randy Orton: Wait no, that can’t be who I’m…

Randy pulled out his phone and tapped something out on the screen. Once it pulled up, he shook his head.

Randy Orton: I definitely threw the keys to my rental at that guy when I got here. Thought he was the valet.

Edge smirked.

Edge: He may as well be, because I’m pretty sure the only thing he does is carry Christian and Alexa’s bags.

Randy Orton: Who the hell did he beat to get to the second round?

Edge: Elias.

Randy Orton: I really have to pay attention to the roster.

Edge laughed.

Edge: Hey, it’s lonely at the top.

Randy shook his head.

Randy Orton: You know I have your back out there.

Edge: We’ll see. He’s wrestling tonight. Against Samoa Joe.

Randy Orton: I guess we’ll see which version of himself he brings to the show.

Edge: Like a fucked up Mick Foley.

Randy Orton: And to think Foley was pretty messed up for his time.

They shared a chuckle. Edge looked to the camera.

Edge: It shouldn’t be too hard to get the win over Maven tonight. The guy has been handed everything in this business. Hasn’t had to work for a damn thing. He fell into this business by winning a reality show, and not in the ‘hey, let me learn the ropes and pay my dues’ way that Miz did. He’s walked around every locker room he’s been in with an attitude that he’s better than everyone he talks to, and now he has Christian throwing him a bone by letting him ride the Coalition’s very short coattails.

Edge held his thumb and forefinger slightly apart to denote something small.

Edge: How’d it feel to lose your shot at King of the Ring to a guy whose name you can’t even pronounce, Jay? Imagine that got under your skin. At least your friend Maven will have the excuse that he lost to one of the best damn performers on the roster. You? Not so much. You’re going to have to rely on your team just to be an asterisks in the record books. I hate to break it to you, but you won’t be getting there with Maven tonight.

He seemed to realize something.

Edge: In fact, when I beat Maven tonight won’t that mean that every single member of the Coalition is out of the King of the Ring tournament? I mean, who knows how Alexa will have faired by the time the bell rings for my match with Maven. The Coalition’s pay-per-view dreams could be completely dashed tonight. I’m all too eager to help.

Edge ran a hand through his hair.

Edge: See Maven, I have a bit of a problem with people who don’t bother to try to find their own way. Having friends is all well and good, but there aren’t any friends in this business. Not really.

Randy cleared his throat, and Edge gave a gruff chuckle.

Edge: There are rarely friends in this business, and let me assure you, the men in the Coalition are no friends to you. As soon as they’re done with you, they’ll both literally and figuratively drop you. I’m asking myself why they even keep you around. Have you spent much time thinking about that? What do you have to offer? What to Christian and Alexa says to charm you into joining their little band of misfits, hmm?

Edge cocked his head.

Edge: Rhetorical question, I don’t actually care. I think I would like to be the man that ensures that no member of the Coalition sniffs the quarter finals of the King of the Ring tournament. I’ll come to Warfare next week to face Jeff Hardy, and the Coalition will have to scratch and claw their way to a spot on EBWF TV all summer long. This failure will be on you, Maven. I know it. Christian and Alexa will know it. Deep down, you’ll know it. And that makes me happier than you can possibly know. Get ready to be just another stepping stone on my path to victory, Maven. This is my opportunity, and you already know all about me and opportunity.

Edge gave the camera a wink, and the scene faded to black.