In the Spotlight

[D.J]

It had been quite sometime since The Miz reigned supreme in the EBWF. It almost felt as though it was a thing of past EBWF folklore that would never be seen on live programming again. Miz' was last seen on EBWF television losing in the first round of the King of the Ring Tournament, however, a recent announcement would give him another chance to hop back into the tournament, in a "Redemption" match against long time veteran of the business, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Miz had taken some time off from the company to help his wife Mickie raise their daughter Alexis. However, one would expect that given an opportunity such as this one, may just be the kick in the ass back to TV that Mike "The Miz" Mizanin may need.

The scene opened up in a dark room. All of a sudden a spotlight shined on an empty wooden stage. After a couple of beats the word AWESOME- was seen on the stage in red lighting. A couple more beats and a man walked into center stage with the spotlight shining on him. A man we hadn't seen speak a word in quite some time while EBWF Cameras were rolling. A 7 Time EBWF World Champion- a sure fire future hall of famer- a man that time and time again has reinvented himself to continue to be in the conversation as one of the companies best. A man named The Miz. Miz wore an all black suit with a black undershirt and black tie. His hair was slicked back and he didn't speak right away. After a couple of long beats. He uttered his first words on EBWF television in a long long time.

The Miz: I'm baaaaaaa-aaack.

The Miz smiled.

The Miz: Now I know what you're thinking- you're thinking that you didn't see me all that long ago. You're thinking that that statement makes really no sense, considering I was just in the ring with MJF at the start of this tournament. The truth is- you're right. That was me. It wasn't a clone of the man you're looking at now, because quite frankly even if cloning existed, there's no science geek in the world that could replicate the beautiful bastard you're staring at right now. So yes- I did wrestle- yes I did lose. It's just... well it's just that I don't really want to count that match as me truly being back. I mean I got no camera time.. I didn't talk about the match.. I didn't focus on it.. and honestly- in my experience the more I talk about a match- the more I captivate and entertain as I verbally assault my opponent, I've found that that typically leads to more success in the win column.

The Miz looked knowingly into the camera.

The Miz: So because I didn't get to speak, because it wasn't a match I was really locked in on. I lost. It was a wake-up call though Mizfits, because now that I've been granted a "Redemption" match to find my way back into the King of the Ring tournament- it's like I now have truly returned in every sense of the phrase. I'm back, I'm on camera, I'm in the spotlight quite literally, and I'm going to make you all a promise loud and freaking clear. The Miz getting a redemption match, is going to be the first step to The Miz once again becoming the KING of this company both in the literal and figurative sense. The man in the way of that happening- is a man that I used to watch wrestle when I was a kid- a man who's seemingly taking a break from writing books about his experience as a participant in World War I and is back wrestling despite the fact he's a god damn senior citizen. A man named Stone Cold Steve Austin.

The Miz smirked to himself at even the mention of Steve's name.

The Miz: Now I know the last time you saw me; I mean really saw me, I was parading around with Riddle and Michael Cole in Bro Awesome. That group is still in tact- but today was not about that for me, it was about me stepping back onto the stage- back into the spotlight- and doing what I do best. For over a decade- I have been the most MUST-SEE Superstar in this company, I have been the greatest of the great, the cream of the crop, the SUPEREST of Superstars, I have been YOUR FAVORITE WRESTLER'S FAVORITE WRESTLER. Today was about me showing the world just how serious I am about being back in the company I have called home for the better part of my professional career. Steve Austin is a man that in a far away land, many moons ago, meant something to this business. Some would say he had one of the greatest runs a man could have.. but to be clear- he didn't have that run... here- at least not since I have been knocking people's socks off and building my legacy. Steve Austin is the definition of a has-been. He's got bad knees, a bad neck, certainly a destroyed liver, and most importantly he's got NO CHANCE IN HELL...

The Miz paused and winked into the camera before continuing.

The Miz: Of resurrecting a career that should have ended 20 years ago. Steve Austin is a nostalgia act. He's a shell of who he once was. After all the wear and tear on his body, and all of the self-medicating, it's rare to even see him say more than a couple sentences when he's on camera here. The reason being, is that he doesn't really even know enough words anymore to say anymore than that. Steve Austin is the guy that guys in their 40's grew up idolizing- he's the guy that dads who bring their kids to the EBWF events tell their kids about. They say "you know junior when I was your age there was nobody better!" Then they see Steve hobble out to the ring with two refrigerator sized knee braces on, they hear him rattle off catch phrases that haven't been popular since the internet was invented, they watch him make a mockery out of the business he claims to still love, and they must be thinking to themselves.. "Damn the old days must have freaking stunk."

The Miz started to pace- the spotlight followed.

The Miz: Then they see me. They see what the standard of this company.. the BEST COMPANY that professional wrestling has EVER produced, looks like. Whether I'm here every week dazzling audiences, or whether I take time off and come back.. EACH and EVERY time that this million watt smile graces the screen.. people are all in agreement that it's as if it never left. My status is ENTRENCED here because I spent most of my career building towards it. The fact of the matter is that when The Miz is around- if he wants to go right to the top of the EBWF.. then that's where he goes. When Steve Austin wants to go to the top of anything, he.. well he needs an elevator because his knees aren't even good enough to get him up a flight of stairs. The only thing good about Steve Austin in 2024, is that he is extremely close to getting to see movies at the cinema for less money. Steve Austin is dangerously close to getting that senior discount- but I'm going to turn the clocks forward and give him my very own senior discount on Warfare. In fact- what I'm going to give Steve.. FREE of CHARGE.. is a beating that is going to bring him within an inch of what remains of his life. I'm going to make it so that he has to have his beer injected into him through a feeding tube- because Steve Austin is an old dog. He's an old dog that has to be brought out back.. and well.. dealt with. The only problem is there's no woodshed here. Our match is going to be in front of the whole damn world. There are going to be eyeballs on this match, because not only is it a chance to get back into the King of the Ring Tournament, it is the first match that my Mizfits have heard me speak about in over a year. Everyone is going to be watching to see if The Miz is truly back, to see if The Miz is truly the star and the attraction I once was. So because of that, Steve Austin is going to be that old dog.. DEALT WITH.. front and center.. on live television. An old DOG dealt with, without MERCY.. and without REMORSE.. Steve Austin.. becomes an EXAMPLE.. a STATEMENT.. that is sure to catch the attention of every other superstar in this company. A showing that will be sure to STRIKE fear into the hearts of the rest of the guys who work here.. because they've seen it time and time again.. that when The Miz returns like I'm returning.. when my focus.. my passion.. my desire.. my will.. is all locked into excelling.. than EXCELLING is exactly what I do. They know that when THIS MIZ hits your screen, when these TYPES of words leave my lips, that they are not just false promises. They are words that will surely soon be coupled with ACTIONS. Actions that a man like Steve Austin, a man who's been through the ringer and back, simply is NOT EQUIPPED to withstand. I used to like you Steve, I had your posters on my wall, I cracked a beer every now and then, I raised a little bit of hell, I loved the idea of sticking it to the man. I loved your zero F's given attitude.. I did, I really did. Which is what's going to make this hard... aw who am I kidding.. it's not going to be hard at all. You see Steve, if there's one thing I can't stand it's when these once upon of time relevant superstars return to try and make a quick buck again. I don't want to go watch Led Zepplin perform now that they are all pissing into bags.. just like I don't want to watch Stone Cold Steve Austin- ask me for a "hell yeah" or tell me what the "bottom line" is. The only thing I want to watch Stone Cold Steve Austin do.. is leave. I don't need him to raise hell and leave.. I just need him to LEAVE. Leave the performing and the entertaining to the people that can still perform and still entertain. People like me, Steve.

The Miz sighed deeply.

The Miz: You don't want to do that though do you, big guy? You want to continue to pretend like you could still have one last run in you, despite the fact that you haven't run anywhere in 2 decades at least. You want to act like you still can still hang here, when the fact is you should have HUNG your boots up for good years ago. Steve let me be the first to tell you the gods honest truth. It's OVER. It's never going to happen for you in the EBWF. Though fashion from the 90's is starting to comeback, as well as popular old TV shows thanks to all the streaming apps. 2024- does NOT have a Steve Austin redemption tour in it. It just doesn't. Steve Austin does not blow up again in professional wrestling.. in fact most of us would rather see you actually blow up than even have to think about you being popular again. Once upon a time in a land FAR FAR AWAY.. in a tournament very similar to the one you are about to be officially eliminated from.. you uttered your famous phrase "Austin 3:16- says I just whooped your ass." Well Steve- to put it bluntly. Miz 3:16 is about to end your career..

And that Steve... is the bottom line ....

Because The Miz Said So.

The Miz dropped the mic and the spotlight faded to black, as did the scene.