Serious
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:25 pm
The scene opened backstage at the Philips Arena, where the Royal Rumble was already underway. Zack Ryder was seen stretching in his locker room when there was a knock on the door. Zack yelled "come in" and in walked Todd Grisham, microphone in hand.
Todd Grisham: Hey Zack, could I ask you a few questions?
Zack Ryder: Sure Todd...
Zack's response was half-hearted at best... there was very little enthusiasm in his voice. However Todd was undeterred and he wasted no time in firing questions.
Todd Grisham: Zack, tonight you will be competing in the Royal Rumble and you have drawn the number 25. Are you excited about the prospect of competing in one of the biggest matches on the EBWF calendar, for the chance to main event Wrestlemania?
Zack frowned slightly as he looked at Todd.
Zack Ryder: Are you serious, Todd? I'm always excited to compete on pay-per-view, but if you think I have a chance of winning then you're crazier than my dad...
Todd Grisham: I'm not saying you're going into the match as the favorite to win Zack... but having drawn such a high number, surely you have to admit that this match presents a huge opportunity for you? Most of the entrants to this year's Royal Rumble match will have already been eliminated by the time you enter the ring, and only five superstars will follow you into the match.
Zack Ryder: It is a huge opportunity, Todd. Every wrestler dreams of main eventing Wrestlemania. I just don't think I'm going to win the Rumble. Entering at number 25 is great, but even if 24 other superstars have been eliminated before I enter, I'd still have to compete with Kane and The Rock. And given that the 24 superstars entering before me include the likes of AJ Styles, John Cena, The Miz and Rated RKO... as my former boss would say, I have no chance in hell of winning this match.
Todd wasn't used to seeing Zack like this. He had expected a light-hearted interview; instead he found himself trying to motivate the self-proclaimed "Internet Champion".
Todd Grisham: With all due respect Zack, if you don't believe you have a chance of entering the Royal Rumble, why even bother entering the match? I'm sure there are a bunch of guys in EBWF development who would jump at the chance to take your sport... and those guys would do everything they could to win...
As Todd pointed the microphone back towards Zack, Zack took the microphone from him. Zack snatched the microphone so aggressively that he caused Todd to flinch.
Zack Ryder: I'm going to try to win, Todd... I'm going to give a hundred and ten percent. But the way things have gone for me recently, I don't hold out much hope of winning. A few months ago I was a double champion, now I'm nothing more than an afterthought. If I happened to be the last man standing tonight, I bet Chris Jericho would declare himself the 31st entrant and eliminate me. I want to win the Royal Rumble, Todd... but no one in the EBWF wants me to. I'm not even sure I'll still be an EBWF Superstar come Wrestlemania...
Todd looked surprised.
Todd Grisham: Are you thinking of quitting, Zack?
Zack shrugged.
Zack Ryder: I don't know, Todd. Maybe I'll quit, maybe I'll get "future endeavored". Or maybe I'll stick around. But I want to be at Wrestlemania this year... I want to make an impact. I want this year to be the year that I stop talking about making my dreams come true... and actually make them come true. I just don't know if I can.
Todd wasn't sure if Zack was finished speaking, and a brief silence followed.
Todd Grisham: You are gonna try though, aren't you Zack?
Zack nodded. He even smiled slightly.
Zack Ryder: Woo woo woo... you know it.
Zack then walked past Todd, leaving Todd alone in the locker room as the scene drew to a close.
Todd Grisham: Hey Zack, could I ask you a few questions?
Zack Ryder: Sure Todd...
Zack's response was half-hearted at best... there was very little enthusiasm in his voice. However Todd was undeterred and he wasted no time in firing questions.
Todd Grisham: Zack, tonight you will be competing in the Royal Rumble and you have drawn the number 25. Are you excited about the prospect of competing in one of the biggest matches on the EBWF calendar, for the chance to main event Wrestlemania?
Zack frowned slightly as he looked at Todd.
Zack Ryder: Are you serious, Todd? I'm always excited to compete on pay-per-view, but if you think I have a chance of winning then you're crazier than my dad...
Todd Grisham: I'm not saying you're going into the match as the favorite to win Zack... but having drawn such a high number, surely you have to admit that this match presents a huge opportunity for you? Most of the entrants to this year's Royal Rumble match will have already been eliminated by the time you enter the ring, and only five superstars will follow you into the match.
Zack Ryder: It is a huge opportunity, Todd. Every wrestler dreams of main eventing Wrestlemania. I just don't think I'm going to win the Rumble. Entering at number 25 is great, but even if 24 other superstars have been eliminated before I enter, I'd still have to compete with Kane and The Rock. And given that the 24 superstars entering before me include the likes of AJ Styles, John Cena, The Miz and Rated RKO... as my former boss would say, I have no chance in hell of winning this match.
Todd wasn't used to seeing Zack like this. He had expected a light-hearted interview; instead he found himself trying to motivate the self-proclaimed "Internet Champion".
Todd Grisham: With all due respect Zack, if you don't believe you have a chance of entering the Royal Rumble, why even bother entering the match? I'm sure there are a bunch of guys in EBWF development who would jump at the chance to take your sport... and those guys would do everything they could to win...
As Todd pointed the microphone back towards Zack, Zack took the microphone from him. Zack snatched the microphone so aggressively that he caused Todd to flinch.
Zack Ryder: I'm going to try to win, Todd... I'm going to give a hundred and ten percent. But the way things have gone for me recently, I don't hold out much hope of winning. A few months ago I was a double champion, now I'm nothing more than an afterthought. If I happened to be the last man standing tonight, I bet Chris Jericho would declare himself the 31st entrant and eliminate me. I want to win the Royal Rumble, Todd... but no one in the EBWF wants me to. I'm not even sure I'll still be an EBWF Superstar come Wrestlemania...
Todd looked surprised.
Todd Grisham: Are you thinking of quitting, Zack?
Zack shrugged.
Zack Ryder: I don't know, Todd. Maybe I'll quit, maybe I'll get "future endeavored". Or maybe I'll stick around. But I want to be at Wrestlemania this year... I want to make an impact. I want this year to be the year that I stop talking about making my dreams come true... and actually make them come true. I just don't know if I can.
Todd wasn't sure if Zack was finished speaking, and a brief silence followed.
Todd Grisham: You are gonna try though, aren't you Zack?
Zack nodded. He even smiled slightly.
Zack Ryder: Woo woo woo... you know it.
Zack then walked past Todd, leaving Todd alone in the locker room as the scene drew to a close.