Whose time is now?

[Kevin]

It was early Monday morning in Charleston. The TD Arena was dark. The parking lot was bare. All was quiet. It was clear that would change later in the day. Because EBWF Warfare was going to be at the TD Arena that night. In a few hours, that scene would do a complete 180. The parking lot would be full of fans, cars, vendors, trucks, workers and everything else that comes to town with EBWF.

 Early morning though, the first car that pulled into the lot was a red Ford F-150 Quad Cab, Extended Bed. There was a duffle bag in the front seat, and driving the truck was none other then James Storm. Wearing a black Cowboy hat, his Long Necks and Rednecks t-shirt, black Cowboy boots, and his sunglasses. He drove into the parking lot.

His style of driving was borderline wreckless as he pulled into the arena. He was furious, and all he could set his mind and sights on were tonight. He had come up short of his goal at the Royal Rumble. He did make it to the final 8, but a misstep cost him. Such is life with the Rumble. 30 wrestlers in one ring, the margin for error is slim. Storm had a decent showing for his first Rumble. But he was not at EBWF to be decent. So he had a lot of time for his aggression to pent up. His rage grew uncontrollably. But he did manage one thing at the Rumble.

He got noticed. He did not win, but his big break was coming. He had a match with 2 former World Champions. A triple-threat match. A match between himself, Ted DiBiase Jr and John Cena. So nonetheless, he was speeding through the parking lot because he knew what was on the line tonight. A win there propels him to a status he had not yet reached in the industry. A main eventer in the top company in the world. He knew a match with those two competitors was a chance to break out. And who better to Breakout then the Breakout champion?

He sped through the lot and parked into a spot. His park job was decent at best. He hopped out of the truck, grabbing his duffle bag, and power walked into the arena. He was walking like a man on a mission. He ran straight to the dressing room, which was not even properly set up yet. He was expecting that though. He knew he was very early for the event. He had a reason to be there early though, to put his opponents on notice. How was he going to do that? The good old fashioned way. With a letter. He decided to slip them in each of his opponents' respective dressing rooms, but when does he do it? The dressing rooms have not even been assigned yet. So he had time to sit and wait. He opened his duffle bag and got changed into gym shorts and sneakers with a plain black t-shirt on. He pulled his elastic band out of his bag. He was starting his preparation early today.

He stood on the elastic band to start, and began with curls. He then switched from curls to shoulder presses. He picked the band up, gripped the inner part of it with his hands close together, then he spread them out. On the 10th rep, he held the band spread and did 10 squats. He then walked out of the locker room, and started jogging around the arena. He did a full loop of the arena, and went back into the dressing room. He saw a crew member walking by, so he stopped and got his attention.

James Storm: Hey! Which locker room is Cena's?

Crew Worker: Ummm, he's going to be in room 34F, it's down the hall to the right.

James Storm: And what about DiBiase?

Crew Worker: He's in room 20A, which is on the other side from the entrance curtain.

James Storm: Thank you.

Storm went back into the dressing room once more, and went to his dufflebag. He grabbed 2 envelopes. One was labelled "C,"the other was labelled "D." He walked down the hall, and was looking to the right for room 34F. When he got there he walked in and left a letter on the rack. The one labelled "C." The letter read:

John,So congratulations on your showing in the rumble. You made it to the final 2. You think it's an accomplishment? Let's go over the facts for a second.4 solo eliminations, great job. You did not eliminate me. You're lucky I was not there at the end. You're lucky that I got struck by a fresh competitor and he managed to benefit by my slipping. Let's get this clear, I'm not afraid of you. I sure as hell don't like you. I'm not intimidated by your stature. And if one of us should be scared of being in the ring with the other, it's you being in the ring with me. 

Now let's take a quick history lesson, good ol' Johnny Boy. Do you remember March 27, 2011? Wrestlemania X. The main event was you vs Edge. What was on the line? The EBWF World Heavyweight Championship. You lost.That was the last time you have seen the title. And you know the truth. The truth is you're on the way down. I came in here, I won the Breakout Championship. Some people think being that champion means you have already broken out. I say no. This means I am set to break out! What better way than to put you in the Eye of the Storm, then give you your last call?

You know it's gonna happen, Johnny. It's been almost 2 years since you have been champion, and you keep coming close but just are not good enough to do it. You know your days are numbered. You know your time is up. You know one day, and it will be soon, someone is going to tell you that you cannot do this anymore. You were great once, you are not anymore. As you go down, I'm going to rise. This company is soon going to realize what I can do. That World Championship will be around my waist. My rise starts with you, John. You and Teddy won't be able to stop me. 

You might be scrappy, but you're not scrappier than me. You might be tough, but you're not tougher than me. You don't have it anymore, and everyone around here can see it. You're a shadow of your former self. Some people can take this business on forever. Some wrestlers truly are immortal. You? You're just not one of them.

And I'm sorry, John.

Sorry about your damn luck!

The letter was meant to attack John personally. He has achieved many great things in this business. But Storm had a feeling that Cena knew there weren't many left in the tank. When Cena reads that letter, it will get into his head. 

Storm then started walking to room 20A. He looked at some of the posters along the way. He noticed a lot of pictures of DiBiase and Cena being hung up. He knew he was facing the upper echelon of talent in EBWF. He would have two first-time career opponents tonight. Both of which were former champions, and two of the highest level competitors in the company. Storm knew, this was his time to shine. His chance was tonight; his chance to do exactly what his title said: BREAKOUT!

He got to room 20A, and it was still empty. He placed the letter labelled "D" on the table.

Teddy,So you may have done 3 spots better than me in the rumble, but make no mistake; that proves nothing. You've spent your whole life and career living in the coat tails of your daddy.You have had a decent run too, which I find ironic. You were a Path to Glory champion.

But let's be honest Teddy, you never had a path to glory, you were born with glory. The fact that you don't know how to fight for what you get, that goes to your disadvantage. You see, Teddy, where I come from we earn everything we get. We don't get things handed to us on a silver platter. We want food, we grow it. We want furniture, we make it. We want to settle a difference, we fight. We brawl. We scrap. We scuff. We cuss, we do it all. But when all is said and done, we do it like men. Not like boys.

But that's been your whole life Teddy. You're nothing more than your daddy's little boy. Everything given to you. I fought my way here, I did not get any breaks or shortcuts or free passes. Proof of that is almost 3 years ago. February 18, 2010. Do you remember that day? That day ended your only World Title reign. 3 years since you have been World Champion. You were the champion for 18 days then you blew it. Following that, you have not seen the same success since. Let's face it Teddy.

Daddy's coattails only got you so far. You came on the scene, and had every chance given to you.Yet now here you are. 3 years without the main title, and recently losing your other title. And it does not get any better tonight.I told Cena and I'm telling you. Tonight is my night. Tonight, I show all of you what I am made of. Tonight, I throw you into the Eye of the Storm. Tonight I give you your Last Call. Tonight, I do what my belt says and BREAKOUT into the World Title picture for this company. Tonight, I start my rise to take over this company.You have a past of being given everything you want. But if you want to win tonight, that cannot be given to you. Daddy can't come running out with his checkbook to give you this win. Why?

Because I want this win. I NEED this win. And the biggest difference between you and me is I know how to fight for what I want. You? You just wait for it to be given to you, but tonight that pattern runs out. So sorry Teddy.

Sorry about your damn luck!

Storm left DiBiase's locker room. He was feeling very confident. He knew tonight had nothing but the utmost potential for him to achieve his career dreams. He knew it would be tough. He knew he was ready for it though. So he went back to his dressing room to start getting focused for his match.

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James Storm drank a beer in the locker room. He was not in ring attire yet, because he was not sure what he would be doing. He was waiting for an answer from someone on the crew. As he was getting up to stretch the door opened.

Crew Member: Mr. Storm, the....

James Storm: Have you ever heard of knocking?!

Crew Member: I'm sorry, sir. But I just spoke with the production team. You can have your time to go out at the beginning.

James Storm: Damn right I can. Now you remember what we went over?

Crew Member: Yes, sir.

James Storm: Okay, now get it done.

James Storm knew what his setup was going to be now. It was time to wait.

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The arena was now full for Warfare. The crowd was buzzing. The show was about to start. The opening set and pyro went off, the crowd was real energetic. When all of a sudden you heard "MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!"The crowd started cheering. Anticipating the arrival of the million dollar man, Ted DiBiase Sr. Yet the reaction became very mixed when itwas James Storm walking out, uncharicteristically in a suit. Along with his sunglasses. The Breakout Championship rested on his shoulder. He walked down to the ring very casually, and once he walked up the stairs he waited for a microphone. The microphone got in his hand, the music stopped, and he began to talk.

James Storm: Now listen y'all, I know you're thinking what the hell am I doing wearing this monkey suit as I come down to the ring. I never liked wearing these damn things, but I'm here to make a point. I've been compared to a lot of wrestlers, but Ted DiBiase is not one of them. Yet somehow, we have many similarities tonight. We came out to the same music. In the match I'm in, I'll have the most gold. I'm dressed all fancy like. And one of the most amazing similarities: tonight Ted DiBiase Jr's fate is in my hands. But the similarities end there.

James Storm throws his jacket off, rips his shirt off without unbuttoning it revealing his "Beer Hunter" shirt. He ripped the dress pants he was wearing, thank god they were cheap, to reveal his black jeans. He had already been wearing Cowboy boots. He was dressed more to his style now.

James Storm: Now let's be clear here, Teddy. You are on a downward spiral, and it's become clear that the money daddy's been paying to try and buy your way to the top has stopped working. I reckon your luck has run out. Del Rio took the most recent toy your daddy bought you. Tonight, this trend continues. You can boast about all of your past achievements all you want, but the fact is that is where they are: the past. I'm the future of this company, and this belt proves it.

James Storm raised his Breakout Title for the crowd to see. The reaction was mixed, but he stood firm raising the belt.

James Storm: Hey, some of y'all like it, some of y'all don't. The fact remains that I am the Breakout Champion, and I am because I earned it. Everything I have gotten in this industry, I have clawed, scrapped, and fought for! This was not given to me on a silver platter. Daddy did not buy me any of this stuff. My last name and family tree did not give me any perks in this business.Yet here I am, and tonight I humble DiBiase. I show him the true value of fighting for and earning everything you get in life. Tonight, the playing field is level, and tonight I get to show him what an angry Cowboy can do.

Storm walked to the side of the ring and signalled for a case of beer to be brought to him. He opened the case of Budweiser, cracked open his first longneck, and put the microphone back up to his mouth.

James Storm: Now, what is in my hand is called beer. Men drink it, normally with a shot of bourbon next to them. But what about little sissy boys from Boston, what drink are they known for? Boys, bring it out.

Yankee Doodle blared over the PA system as a couple of crew members rolled out a table. The table had a pink and white table cloth and was set with a matching colored tea kettle with a floral design. The cups matched the kettle. The table was kept at the top of the ramp.

James Storm: Now listen here Johnny Boy, that tea is there for you whenever you want it. Now I know that the Boston Tea Party did not involve anyone actually drinking any tea, but it just seems to fit John Cena doesn't it? Listen Cena, we've all seen it before. At some point you're gonna come out here, crack a couple of jokes. Talk like Adam West in the old Batman movies. You'll come out here screaming "Holy Charleston Robin, we're in South Carolina."

The crowd popped for that comment, with some noticeable laughs being heard throughout. 

James Storm: Yea, Cena. We all know your god damn routine. You play to the corny side in everything. You try to be cheesier than the damn movies my wife makes me sit through. But hey, I must be doing something right, right Johnny? Because I still have a wife to do things with.

The crowd booed at that statement.

James Storm: Yea, boo all you want. It's sad, but it's a fact. The golden boy in wrestling has many chincs in his armor, but those of us that say it are wrong. He comes out here and makes wise cracks, and everyone eats it up. Hey, that's all y'alls business. But don't boo me for telling it like it is. So Cena. The tea is right there at the top of the stage. If at any point you wanna come out here, throw your pinky up and enjoy it like the little wuss you are, come out. But know this John. I respect your past. Former World Champion, extremely tough to beat. Doesn't give up. I get that, and like I said, I respect it. But that is why this match means more to me. You both are former champions. You are the face of this industry. To make an impact here, this is my way to do it. Cena, you've won many matches in your career on sheer wil lpower alone. You have fought and scrapped and clawed to victories because you had the will to do it.

But tonight, no ones will is greater than mine because no one needs this win more than I do. The fact remains I am undefeated in this company, and that does not change tonight. This match is a necessity for me. That is why I'm here to show you both what "The Cowboy" James Storm is all about. You both have had great runs in EBWF. You both have been champions, and successful. But your times are over. And my time, not to steal your song there Johnny, is now!

You both can try to stop me, but it won't work. So sorry boys, ABOUT YOUR DAMN LUCK!

"Longnecks and Rednecks" played over the PA system. The crowd gave a mixed reaction to Storm as he drank his beer and walked to the back with his Breakout Title. Would tonight be his big break? Who knows? But he would find out in a matter of minutes.