The New Best in the World

[Kyle]

After Warfare in Kansas had decided that he would film his promo for Fanniversary straight away. He had secured the services of a camera man and he had decided that he would head out to the ring, even though everybody in the crowd had left. Ted strolled down the ramp, passing crew members working hard to clear everything up. They had not started on the ring yet so Ted stepped in with the cameraman. After a brief conversation with the camera man, the promo began.

Ted Jr: I have held this championship longer than anyone in this business has. Longer than CM Punk, longer than The Miz. My reign as champion has been the longest since Randy Orton's World Championship reign. The difference between me and Randy is I'll hold this championship longer. During the course of my reign I have defeated Randy Orton. I own this championship just like I own this ring.

Ted kept his championship propped up on his shoulder as he walked around the ring slowly.

Ted Jr: Everybody knows that careers can end at any time and nothing ever lasts forever. That's why we try to make the most of our time here. We want to be remembered long after we've wrestled our last match. But what will we be remembered as? Will we be remembered as one of the greats like Roddy Piper or Bret Hart? Or will we be forgotten years after we've gone? My legacy is this.

Ted held his championship up for the camera to see.

Ted Jr: I have held this for nearly 275 days, the current record here in EBWF. I've taken on all comers and nobody has stopped me. I've redefined what this title stands for. Everybody thought that when Punk held the title it was "Punk's Championship" but I surpassed his record months ago, and this championship is mine. When I am gone I will go down in history as the greatest champion in EBWF. I will be remembered forever. I am the only person to hold this championship more than once and I am the only person worthy of holding this championship.

Ted sat up on the top turnbuckle, resting his feet on the second rope.

Ted Jr: On Sunday I will face my final challenge. I will take on Evan Bourne and this match will define my championship reign. Should I lose I will be just another wrestler reaching 274 days as champion. But that won't be the case. I'm facing someone that I have already defeated in the past. I'm facing someone who hasn't got the momentum on his side like I do. Evan Bourne wants to be the saviour of EBWF and knock me off my perch. He wants to be the one that takes my championship from me. Since Destiny he has had plenty of opportunities to ensure that he would win at Fanniversary but his good guy attitude wouldn't allow him to sit and watch me suffer. Bourne wants me at 100% and after this week off, I'm at 100%. Bourne thinks that he can defeat me when I'm at my best but he clearly must not know who I've defeated. Let me give you a little history lesson. First I knocked off the former 4 time World Champion Jeff Hardy. Then at Wrestlemania I defeated Cody Rhodes, followed by Randy Orton. My first 3 matches all against former World Champions, all top superstars in EBWF. To think that you can do what they couldn't Bourne, is laughable.

Ted jumped down from the turnbuckle at got close to the camera.

Ted Jr: This Sunday, I will etch my name into the record books once more. I will defeat Evan Bourne and become the greatest Path to Glory Champion and the greatest wrestler in EBWF history. Just try and stop me.

Ted pushed the camera back and the promo had finished.


Scene 2

There was only one more hurdle to jump before Ted DiBiase's name became immortal. One more match and one more successful title defence and Ted would overtake Lacey to become the longest reigning champion in the history of EBWF. Nobody could deny that 2012 was Ted DiBiase's year. After returning on Christmas Eve of 2011 from a serious leg injury to winning the Path to Glory Championship one month later against an EBWF legend and a professional wrestling superstar, Jeff Hardy. Ted had then gone on to hold the title for 9 months, defeating all comers and solidifying his place in EBWF. When Ted had surpassed CM Punk's record of 185 days, he never thought that he would reach 275 days. Fanniversary marked 274 days since Ted was crowned Path to Glory Champion. Defending his title successfully would ensure that he would break the record set by Lacey in 2007/2008. Ted's opponent was none other than the high flying Evan Bourne. The two were well acquainted and in recent weeks it had been Evan Bourne that had helped DiBiase with Bully Ray and Mr. Kennedy of the Coalition. Even though Ted had received help from Bourne, he did not trust him completely. At the end of the day Ted knew that Bourne wanted his championship and nothing more. After what had transpired at the EBWF Headquarters on Wednesday, everybody in EBWF was hit hard. Many of the victims were people that the talent had either seen or interacted with at least once in their tenure. Many did not know names, but the fact that something like that had happened, and to the scale that it did, hurt all the same. Being raised as a Christian, Ted had prayed every day after the event as did most of the talent. Arriving at the KeyArena, Ted could feel that everything was different tonight. There was no denying or forgetting what had happened but the show had to go on. Everybody knew it and everyone wanted to make the show great.

Ted sat quietly in his locker room, dressed in his ring attire and with his cherished Path to Glory Championship placed on his lap. Ted was sporting a black armband in memory of those in the shooting. Ted thought about his 9 month reign and how it had meant so much to him. He went over the matches that he had participated in and the wrestlers that he had faced. Huge stars in the business like Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, and Kurt Angle. He thought about the people that he got to work with and learn from, Bully Ray and Kevin Nash. He remembered what Nash had said to him about respect. He remembered being told to take it and never look back. A slow knock on the door made Ted raise his head, enough to see Michael Cole entering his locker room.

Michael Cole: Do you mind if I get a few words with you before your match?

Listening to Cole and his soft words was unusual for Ted. But after recent events it was understandable that people would be toned down more than usual.

Ted Jr: I'm ready when you are.

Ted rose to his feet and put his championship over his shoulder. While he got into position, Cole made sure that the camera man who had followed him into the room as ready. Once everything had been sorted out the interview began.

Michael Cole: Good evening everyone and welcome to Fanniversary at a sold out KeyArena in Seattle. With me at this time is a man who is looking to break another record in EBWF, this time for the longest championship reign in history, current Path to Glory Champion Ted DiBiase. Tonight you'll go one on one with Evan Bourne for the PTG title. How have the last few weeks affected this match?

Ted Jr: My preparation has been different since Destiny. Instead of breaking Bourne down week after week leaving him broken before the PPV, I've been busy dealing with a backstabbing traitor.

Michael Cole: Now by traitor you mean Bully Ray who turned on you during your match at Destiny and joined the Coalition. And in your match against him, it was Evan Bourne that made the save when you were on the receiving end of a beat down from Bully Ray and Mr. Anderson.

Ted Jr: After everything I had done for Bully. I brought him from the brink of obscurity into the spotlight. If it wasn't for me he'd be back in Orlando stinking up the joint. Anderson, Kennedy, whatever name he's being called this month is living up to his asshole name. I never asked for Bourne's help and he's stupid if he thinks that helping me was a smart move. He said that he helped me because he wants me at 100 % for our match. When I'm at 100% I am unstoppable. He saw when I defeated him on Warfare a couple of months ago and he'll see it again tonight.

Michael Cole: Should you successfully defend your championship you will become the longest reigning champion in the history of EBWF. What would that mean to you should you accomplish that feat?

Ted Jr: To put my name at the top of the list is what fuels me. To become the greatest is what I live and breathe. This championship and that record means everything to me. Nobody will ever duplicate it. Once I hit day number 276 and become the greatest champion alive, I will continue. I'll become the only person to hold the championship for a full year, and then two years. As long as I have blood running through my veins and I have a pulse, nobody is taking this championship from me.

Michael Cole: As we talk about the future, what would be the next goal for you once you become the longest reigning champion in EBWF history?

Ted Jr: Isn't it obvious? I've tried twice this year and I have been unsuccessful. I want the World Championship. I want to hold that Championship one more time. And who better to take it from than CM Punk. Now that is history. In 2010 when I became a World Champion it was Punk that I defeated. It was also Punk that took away the title. When I was champion everybody said that it was a dark time in EBWF. But now it's the only logical thing. Regardless of what anyone says, I am the top superstar in EBWF this year. I am better than AJ Styles, Cody Rhodes and even CM Punk. I beat CM Punk's record for longest PTG Championship reign easily. I've even defeated him for this championship before.

Michael Cole: Don't you think that you're underestimating Bourne thinking about the future already?

Ted Jr: Evan Bourne is a high flyer, he takes risks and he has nothing to lose tonight. I have everything to lose and everything to gain, my style of wrestling is safe. I don't take the same risks that Bourne does and that is what will take me over the line. Bourne will take the risks and they won't pay off, and having held this championship for 274 days I will capitalise on every mistake he makes. When you reach my level, one mistake can end the match. One mistake is all it will take for Evan Bourne to lose. So have I underestimated Bourne? Sure. But do I know what he can do? Of course. In the end it will be my experience and my championship that will make me win tonight. The fact that I am so close to breaking this record, to lose to Bourne tonight would be the greatest upset in EBWF history.

Michael Cole: Any final words for your opponent Evan Bourne before your match tonight?

Ted Jr: Evan, you may think that you were a brave and valiant hero chasing off Bully and Anderson several weeks ago but the fact of the matter is that you don't want this championship as bad as I do. You'd rather help me and "play fair" and beat me for the championship the rightful way. If you wanted the championship as bad as I did you should have let me die by the Coalition's hands. You should have done whatever you could to take this championship from me. When we are both gone how will you be remembered? What will people say? I know what they'll say about me. I clawed and fought my way to the top and I took on everybody and I defeated everybody. I will not be another statistic? I'll be a legend.