Backlash - Rude (c) vs. O'Reilly

[Fauche]

YO YO YO
IF YOU DON'T SHUT YOUR MOUTH
IMA SHUT IT FOR YOU
PUNK


The crowd goes bananas (B-A-N-A-N-A-S) when Kyle O'Reilly stomps a war path out on to that stage. Armed with his violence and his years of training and faceful of grit and and fistful of microphone, The Diabetic Dragon marches down the ramp while his throwback boom-bop entrance tune gets that capacity crowd bumping.

Bayley's following right behind him, riling up the fans even more en route to the squared circle. The step-sibs climb the stairs, duck through the ropes and take over the ring to get the party started. Normally O'Reilly's pretty quick to get things going once the music cuts out, but tonight? Tonight he takes a little moment to look around at all them cheering fans first. There's a big deep breath before the jump-in this time.

KO'R: Guys... I got a shot at the friggin Intercontinental Championship...

Another deep breath. Kyle lays it out there like its the biggest deal cause brother, it is. The UWF Universe pours out the cheers and Bayley gives up some applause too as the Human Swiss Army Knife basks in this special, rare minute.

KO'R: I looked it up on the flight into town and I read it over like a hundred times so I wouldn't forget the numbers. There's been thirty-seven Intercontinental Champions in the UWF. Thirty different guys. You could google that whole list or check it out on the company website and see for yourself - every single one of them, even if you think they're some kinda jerk, but every single one of them was like a Grade A, Capital B, Badass, in some way or another.



KO'R: I wanna be one of them. When you guys think about the UWF and think about those kinds of champions, I wanna get thought about like that too.

So I think its pretty rad... shoot, I think its perfect that the guy I'm fighting for the belt is the Greatest Intercontinental Champion so far.

A strongly mixed reaction for Rude, if not leaning a little more negative. Kyle pulls a face when he hears that.

KO'R: Psssh, what? How are you gonna boo Rick Rude? He racked up the longest reign. Ever. He racked up the most defenses in a row. Ever. Best to do it. Ever. Hands down. I mean heck... just look at him. Look at the abs. He's got Ninja Turtle abs! You don't get abs like that unless you work your butt off. Anyone who thinks that Rick Rude is just some fast-talkin', moustache-havin' dirtbag is only licking the icing off the cake. That's my nWo brother and let me tell you that nobody but nobody hustles harder than him.

Which is why he's exactly the kinda person I wanna beat.

The fans roar. Bayley nods in approval. Kyle holds up two fingers.

KO'R: This'll be the second time I've fought for a title on my own cause apparently the Hollywood Championship doesn't count and the Prizz Tizz Mizzle's a medal. Whatever. But last time out... well... you guys remember, right? Drew McIntyre beat me fair and square. Downright friggin clobbered me.

I thought that being super violent and tough was enough... and it wasn't. Then Tyler Breeze comes to town and I thought being smarter or more honourable meant I was better and that wasn't true neither. I couldn't even get the job done in a Subs match and that's my whole thing. So I'm asking myself why do I apparently suck so bad and it turns out that the answer is that you can't do much at all when your head's not on straight.

Well I'm out here now on the other side of my worse demons and problems and I'm crystal effing clear on one thing - whoever works hardest and wants it more wins out in the end. That's some Tortoise and the Hare gospel stuff right there. That's the attitude that won me the King of the Ring tournament last year, and that tourney also happens to be the last time I went toe-to-toe with someone in the nWo.

Kyle turns to face the hard cam directly as he narrows his message to a particular individual.

KO'R: Rick. I respect the heck out of of you cause I've been right there to see you do what you do when you do it best. But I also see the same thing in your face that I saw in Edge's right up to the second I got my hands on him - and that's that you think I'm still that punk kid carrying Larry Sweeney's bags.

Eighteen months I've been back in the UWF on my own... and every single week I feel like I gotta change people's ideas about me. Win or lose, I think by and large I get that point across, and it might just be that out of everyone on this whole entire roster, you're the one who knows who I am now the least. And that's why I'm the most dangerous person you could even possibly be facing when I come for the Intercontinental Championship... AT BACKLASH.

He lowers his mic on that iconic note delivered straight into the hard cam to another excited ovation.

[mattchewie]

The camera cues in on Bischoff and Rude walking backstage, seemingly on their ways to the ring.

Biscjoff: Rick, we’ve been close friends for what…forty years, now?

Rude: If my memory serves, I would say so. All the way back to the AWA. You just having one of those reminiscing moments, or are you trying to butter me up before yanking the rug out from under me?

BIschoff: I wouldn’t quite say that I’m buttering you up, but I do feel as if you need someone impartial to tell you some sound advice.

Rude stops in the hallway to look at Bischoff. He studies Bischoff’s face for a moment before continuing.

Rude: Eric, I’d say you wouldn’t have to brace yourself before speaking to me. I respect and trust you more than just about any other man or woman in this business. You’re more than just an advocate, more than just a friend. You’re family. Shoot straight with me?

Bischoff sighs and fidgets with his attire. He pats down a crease in his leather jacket.

Bischoff: Ok…so…you do realize that the only reason that you’re having this match with Kyle is all on Bayley, right?

Rude chuckles and pats Bischoff’s shoulder as the two continue walking down the hall..

Rude: Ah, Eric. Who’s to say that she really is to blame? Kyle is a talented guy, a damned good wrestler. He would have eventually found himself facing off against me for this title one day or another. So what if Bayley expedited the process?

Bischoff: Look, I get that there is a thing between the two of you, I just worry that you may let the situation cloud your judgment. You just said that you trust me and that you respect me, I don’t trust the chick, Rick. She’s a valuable ally in the nWo, but I see that hunger in her eyes…and it’s not a sexual hunger, either. It’s a hunger for power and for glory. I recognize it, because I’ve had that same look in my own eyes before. I just worry that she’s going to let that hunger get in the way of everything that we’ve got planned here. And I really worry that things are going to get messy very quickly between you and Kyle as well as the rest of the nWo before we even get it launched appropriately. I say it all with love and with respect, Rick.

The duo pauses once again, just before the curtain that leads to the entrance ramp. Bischoff has just delivered some information that Rick will need to ponder on for quite some time.

Rude: Eric, I know you well enough to know that this isn’t coming from a place of jealousy. I know all of your tells enough to know that. I take your concern and I’ll mull it over in my own head for a bit. Look, Bayley is young. She’s got a fire in her that’s quickly growing, I just hope that I can help steer her in the correct path with it.

Bischoff lets out an audible sigh, as if weighing what he is about to say.

Bischoff: You sure that it isn’t all a bit out of spite for you clarifying with her that you two weren’t actually officially official?

That one hit the nail on the head, apparently. Rude shifts his stance, weighing the last question.

Rude: Damn, that had never entered my mind. Honestly, I don’t see her as the type to do that, but I’ll definitely keep my guard up since you’ve mentioned that, though. I guess we spent so much time worrying about Vincent and his goons, trying to make sure Kyle had the backup that he needed, since then we’ve been so focused on getting the band back together that I never really sat and weighed out all of the options.

Bischoff: Again, I’m not trying to put that paranoid thought in your head, I’m simply playing the impartial observer who has no other feelings involved in it. All I care about is what is best professionally for you, Rick. So, of course, you having a match against Kyle does worry me.

Rude chuckles and begins winding his arms and shoulders up as the monitor set up begins airing everything that Kyle has said.  Bischoff covers his face in shame, realizing that the entire conversation he and Rick just had was aired.

Rude: Kyle is definitely no joke. I understand your concern, Eric. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t concerned. The man could be the primary cause of death on anyone’s death certificate. Although, the kid has the attention span of a gnat that is flying around a bunch of blinking lights. Mr. Carter probably remembers how much havoc was wrought in our wake the last time that we flew the ol’ black and white flag, so he’s meddling attempting to sink it before the ship even sets sail.

Rude peels back the curtain to look out at ringside and sighs.

Rude:  Looks like the kid beat us out there, come on.

Rude reaches down and grabs a microphone from the table nearest the curtain and walks out onto the stage to the mixed reaction from the crowd.

Rude:  Kyle, my brother.  I've got to start out by saying we have traveled the friggin' world together, multiple times.  You and me, we're more than friends, we're friggin' family.  I know that I've let my ego get the best of me, many times in the past...but I'm here to give you my word that I'm not going to let that ego get in my way for this match.  I'll be honest with you, I haven't given you the credit nor the full respect that you've deserved since I've been back.  I was used to you being the comic relief to Larry back in the day, and that was completely unfair of me to treat you that way.  You are your own man, you deserve to have your time in the limelight and you deserve to have yourself an honest to god memorable title match, dude.  So, I say we park every bit of the nWo-stuff, Eric-stuff, and Bayley-stuff right back there in the back.  When we step out into this ring, its you and me for this title.  
And much like you just said, nobody holds this title quite like I do.  There have been those that have speculated that I've lost a step since my time away from the ring, but I promise this to you...you are going to get every bit of the Rick Rude of yesteryear as well as the new and improved Rick Rude when we square off at Backlash.  You will get nothing less than the Franchise at Backlash, and I expect nothing less than the best of the Diabetic Dragon.

Rude lowers the microphone and extends his hand as a sign of respect for Kyle.   

[Fauche]

There's definitely a contingent of the crowd who don't wanna see those hands shake. Among the thousands out in the stands tonight are those who remember the nWo's incomparable reign of terror of Revolution, and they aren't so enthusiastic about this reunion. There's the Kyle stans, too, who for sure don't trust the Ravishing One's charm one bit. The Canadian Psycho turns out those nay-sayers and accepts Rick's gesture, clasping and shaking hands with the reigning champ in the center of the squared circle to a markedly mixed reaction. When said handshake is over and done with, Kyle lifts his mic to speak again.

KO'R: Dude... no doubt about it, you're getting an a hundred percent, uncut, fully loaded Kyle O'Reilly AT BACKLASH. And whoever turns out to be the best man between us - one thing's for sure, and that's that these fans are gonna get what they paid for. I'm talking about that Match of the Year kinda stuff that gets put in all the cool trailers and packages to get people hyped about pro friggin wrestling. Our best shots cut to Linkin Park's bangers on low def youtube videos. That's what I'm gunning for.

That earnestness gets the crowd sounding pretty positive again. All that smiley, huggy, high-fivey vibe floating around the ring can't last, though. This garden party needs a skunk. Bayley steps into the mix, mic up, ready to chat now.

Bayley: Now this is what I like to see! Do I deserve all the credit for setting the table for a five star dining experience? Ehhhhh... well, maybe not all the credit. For all the flack you guys are giving EC3 for trying to tear down the nWo before it can even get going again, I know that not-so-deep-down inside, ol' Ethan's a cold-blooded capitalist. And just like me, he knows a money match when he sees it. Knight versus Mac? Pssh. That's yesterday's headline. Finn Balor's TV Champ again? Booooooring. But this? Blood brothers in arms facing off for a legendary... prestigious... time-honoured, championship belt? That's gonna sell tickets and turn on televisions.

She looks from her Special Friend to her Step-Brother, smirking at both.

Bayley: And hey, yeah, sure, buddies scrap sometimes. But that's all good! Its not the first time the nWo has seen some civil war. Whether its the King of the Ring last summer or that tournament all those years ago that reinstated the tag team titles - the black and white brand's quality is iron sharpened by iron. For all the... well... for the admittedly slightly sus stunts you guys pulled back in the day, when it came down to family business, its always been honour among thieves, right?

Another smirk at champion and challenger before The "Good Guy" turns to set her sites on Eric Bischoff.



Bayley: Which is why I thought you'd be a little more excited about this one... Bisch. Your boy isn't fighting for gold against a wild card like Orange Cassidy this time out. You don't have to worry about Vincent's goons coming 'round... or anyone else for that matter. This is strictly nWo business, which is to say, no funny business. That sounds to me like a night off for you.

The UWF's a crazy, chaotic place, and look, I get it. I've been out here running safety for Kyle just in case shit hits the fan before, just like you've done so well for Rick for all these years. But AT BACKLASH, well sheesh, I'm gonna be in a neutral corner, cheering both guys on same-same. I'm talking equal Ra-Ra for my step bro and my boyfr - er, my good friend. No favouritism from me.

We all know you're a Rick Rude guy first and foremost, so since we're trying to keep this one above board, maybe you just park your impartial keister backstage and let this one play out fair and square, huh?

There's a real awkward tension building in the ring now. Bayley keeps rolling regardless.

Bayley; Unless you... wait... you're not worried that Rick can't win without you, are you? I get that your nervous about the New Girl coming around the nWo clubhouse and fixing up the place a little, ya know, putting a little modern touch-up on things - but I hear you talking crap about me and that's just got me wondering... how valuable is Eric Bischoff to this team?

That's a line crossed but Bayley puts up a defensive hand as she quickly pivots to doing some damage cntrl.

Bayley: Don't get me wrong! I'm not trying to imply you aren't! That would be nuts! I'm like... ya know... wondering a little... does Eric Bischoff truly believe that Rick Rude needs him to win? And... like... if Eric Bischoff thinks Rick Rude is good enough to win without him, why does need to skulk around ringside for all his matches all the time?

Cause me? I think The Raaaaaaaaaavishing One is the cream of the crop. People always bust Kyle's balls for playing second fiddle to Larry. I think it cuts the other way, too. I think there are people out there who actually doubt Rick's talent and success because every time he racks up another Hall of Fame worthy achievement, well, there's Eric Bischoff on the replay video grabbing and ankle or distracting the Referee or whatever the hell else.

She steps back and places a hand on her step-bro's shoulder.

Bayley: At Wrestlemania, Kyle went above and beyond to show the whole world what he can do on his own. So maybe before we get too carried away with this awesome nWo reunion tour, we pump the breaks a little and give that same world the chance to see if Rick Rude can... I mean... HOW MUCH Rick Rude can do on his own.

Whaddya say, Easy E?

Then tension has spilled out of the ring and into the air as Bayley passes the spotlight over to Bischoff.

[mattchewie]

Rude lifts his eyebrows and smiles, as if with a look of surprise and turns to look at Eric and shrugs. Rude hands the microphone over to Bischoff. Bischoff’s expression is that of amusement as he slowly nods his head. He lifts the microphone.

Bischoff: Well, maybe Rick was right after all…you do have a backbone. Kudos to you for attempting to throw a wrench into a friendship that has lasted almost as long as you have been alive, Bootylicious B. Go on and play the “I’m not really saying anything” card all that you want, but you’ve got the “sowing the seeds of destruction” part downpat. I would like to address something that you said, though…does it truly bother you that bad that sometimes I lend Rick a helping hand?

The crowd answers on behalf of Bayley with a chorus of boos. Bischoff looks over to Rick who is still cringing from the Bootylicious comment.

Bischoff: So, let me get this straight…Bayley wants me to allow Rick to enter this match and fly solo…and so do you people?

Again, the crowd answers only this time with a loud cheer. Bischoff takes a moment to consider the thought

Bischoff: Not going to happen! While I have no doubt in my mind that Rick is going to be able to pull out the win in this match, I still do not trust you, Bayley. I trust you enough to let you into the fold of the nWo, but when I look at you…I see a power hungry girl who would be willing to do whatever it took to ensure her client’s success as well as to vanquish my services to Rick so that you could reap every bit of the glory all on your own! As goody two-shoes as you may seem, these people haven’t really had a chance to witness what you’re actually capable of. Neither have we. So it is for that reason, that I will remain at ringside for this match, just to keep you in check.

Another stifling of boos ripple through the crowd as Bischoff points at Bayley. Bischoff then holds up his hand at an attempt to continue

Bischoff: That is not to imply that I somehow distrust Kyle, whatsoever. Kyle is blood. Kyle is family. We’ve traveled this world far and wide together, I’ve seen him at his best as well as his worst. I wholeheartedly trust that he will be in this match to make it as honest of an effort that he knows how to. The same as Rick. The only wild cards in this whole match are you and I, Bayley. I have never done anything to make Rick doubt me or to have him ditch me for some random kid….have you? Oh, too soon?

Bischoff cringes and looks to the crowd.

Bischoff: So, please…I ask of you people…save some of that hate for Backlash because you may need it to truly let Bayley know the error of her ways when push comes to shove! Have I ever blurred the lines of what is right and what is wrong in order to help my client win? Absolutely. Will I do it again? Hell yes! But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to do it in this match, I’ve got far too much respect for either of these men.

Bischoff turns to face Rude and places his hand over his heart.

Bischoff: I solemnly swear to you, Rick that I will only act out of your best interest, as I have done many times in the past. I will only be there to keep this chick in check. I swear the same to you, Kyle. It’s like they always say…bros before–

Bischoff is cut off by Rude snatching the microphone from his hand. A hushed reaction falls over the crowd. Bischoff’s expression is that of pure shock. Rude slowly raises the microphone.

Rude: Eric, I had to stop you before you said something that you would have sorely regretted.

Rude looks to Bayley with an apologetic look, then looks to Kyle. His glance begins slowly trading between the two of them.

Rude: Bayley, I only want to correct you on one thing. That is that this belt used to be legendary and prestigious. The last time that I held this strap, it was perhaps the most coveted belt in the company, not knocking Larry whenever I say that, by the way. I’m just stating that this belt has been tarnished over the years during my absence. I don’t know about you, Kyle…but I say we put on an old fashioned barn burner of a match and bring some prestige back to this title and make it something worth fighting for in the process? I’m with Bayley whenever she says that McIntyre and Knight are yesterday’s headlines. After Backlash, all I want to see in the headlines are about how spectacular of a match that we had. It has been a long time since I’ve truly been pushed to my very limit. Sure, I’ve been beaten a few times since my return…but to have had a match in which I’m truly dragging around the ring, barely mobile? I hope that you can be the one to bring me to that point. You are one of the few individuals in this company who could match my technical prowess or could even withstand my brute force and you know damn well that I am one of the very few who can withstand every ounce of the brutality that you’ve got to bring to the table. I just hate that Bayley is going to have to be ringside to witness what we will be bringing out in each other, but at the same time…what better way than to remind all of those clowns in the back just how dangerous each of us are?

Rude takes a moment to stare Kyle straight in the eye to gauge Kyle’s readiness for his challenge. Rude then looks over to Bayley and then to Bischoff.

Rude: Kyle, I already know that the two of us are going to be able to keep this a civil conversation…but it appears that our colleagues are a bit hot under the collar already. I’m going to give Eric a few moments to collect himself and behave properly, but in the meantime, I feel like there is something that you should know. I don’t plan on being the new and improved Rick Rude, I don’t plan on being just the veteran ring general. I also don’t plan on bringing back the Rick Rude of my glory days. What I do plan on, however, is bringing to you a combination of all three, and then some. I’m inspired by this match, I’ve got a fire lit under me. I’m in the ring with someone that I trust wholeheartedly, and I know that what we’re capable of…this company has rarely seen. Meltzer hasn’t even come up with a rating yet that is going to be worthy of rating this match when we’re finished. If you think that your youth is going to be there to help you be more agile and more athletic, then I hate to break it to you…but I’m going to be hot on your heels through this entire match. Tests of strength? I guaran-damn-tee you that it will be you that buckles before me. You want it to be a technicians bout? There are moves that I’ve forgotten that you haven’t even learned yet! And that’s not trash talking, that’s simply a promise to bring to you the very best that I have to offer, quite possibly the very best that I’ve ever put into a match in my career. I just hope that you’re able to handle all of it. The match that I’m planning on having, we are going to show Mr. Carter his mistake of not booking us as the main event of Wrestlemania wrestling for the big title!

The crowd gets fully behind Rude on that last statement as they erupt into cheers. Bischoff simply claps along with them.

[Fauche]

Ever since Bischoff stopped flapping his yap, Bayley's been chomping at the bit to take another bite out of Easy E. Civilized human being / hopeless romantic that she is, she late Rick Rude say what he has to say the interim. Now that The Ravishing One has finished up, though, The "Good Guy" lifts stick to spit fire and let Eric know what's what.

Except Kyle beats her to the punch.

The Diabetic Dragon looks a little oblivious, or maybe just disinterested in the tangential arguments swirling around him and what he's after. His goal is manifested in that big, shiny belt his old pal is carrying around. Whatever else is going on in the ring, O'Reilly's eyes keep drifting back that away. He's hyper-fixated, and because of that, just a little quicker to the draw when the floor opens up again.

KO'R: You ever play that game Mike Tyson's Punch-Out?

There's a pop from an older contingent of the crowd. Kyle doesn't even really wait for an answer.

KO'R: Kay, so like... its this really oldschool boxing game and I don't know if you know this or not, but its based on an actual boxer named Mike Tyson. He was world champion, too, and he said...

The Human Swiss Army Knife clears his throat and screws up his face a little as he launches into a less-than-stellar Iron Mike impression.

KO'R: "Everyoneth got a plan until they get punched in the faeth.

Nailed that lisp.

KO'R: You tell me you wanna break the Meltzer scale and put on a classic? I'm like "Cool." You tell me you wanna get the Icey title all the way up to the Main Event every night? I'm like "Sweet." You tell me you're gonna pour out every last drippy drop of Rick Rude in the bottle come match time? I'm like "Right on, brother."

But you tell me you got tricks I've never seen and moves I never knew and strengths untold... and all that junk is gonna be the difference maker? I'm like "Ehhhhhh... I dunno, dude."



KO'R: "Don't count your chickens before they hatch". That's another quote. Its from farmers. It basically means that even though you got a bunch of eggs that could grow up to be chickens, they might not cause what if you get hungry and eat a few first? Then you'll have less. Fewer.

Bayley looks like she was about to step in and correct his interpretation but she backs off when her step-bro more or less arrives at a solid conclusion.

KO'R: If I've learned anything in the past six or seven months, its that things don't always go the way you think they well just because you want them to. Of Mice and Men? You ever read that book in high school? Well there's another quote. "The best laid plans of mice and men... couldn't put humpty together again." So like... same thing. Don't plan on your eggs not breaking.

Bayley winces at the butchered prose, but again, lets it slide on account of the mostly stuck landing.

KO'R: I've had my share of broken eggs. Nobody expected me to win King of the Ring just like nobody expects the King of the Ring to friggin nosedive after they won it. Life's full of stupid surprises and I wish I was good enough all the time to cover for those... but I'm not there yet. I've learned that the best thing I can do is brush the dirt off and keep that hustle up when the knock-downs hit cause I'm betting my life that sooner or later, hard work beats bad luck.

So I'm not presuming to assume anything about nothing. I've been studying graps diehard since I was a kid. But maybe you still got some holds I've never seen. You got six inches and like ten more abs than me. Bigger. Stronger. More experienced. More success. You got it all, dude, and I'm not gonna diss you and say that anything came easy cause I know you worked for every last bit of that...

But all you know is winning. You win more than anyone else in the UWF. Matches, titles, chicks... you go out and get it. Thing is, when you win a lot, you forget how to lose, and messed up at is, it takes a loser to beat a winner. I did a looooooot of losing to get my way back here. And I needed that. It sucked, but I think I needed it. I needed to find the weak spots and fix them.

Kyle looks Rick up and down.

KO'R: Do you know what yours are?

"OOooooooh" says the crowd. Kyle's sounding more methodical than insulting, at least in intention, as he levies his low-brow, prize-fighter philosophies.

KO'R: We... the nWo I mean... we were unstoppable for a minute there. Unstoppable. And shoot, didn't that just go straight to our heads, huh? When it all came back around, we got dropped fast. Real fast. And its like, how can something that's bulletproof one month be a dead body the next? That's the kinda thing I've had to spend my time thinking about while you've been out here winning at everything.

Last time I got a title shot, I fought fire with fire and got knocked out cold. I square up with you that same way, what are my chances? Fifty-fifty? Tops? Pffft. I can do better. I know what mistakes look like now. I know 'em like the back of my hand. And when you make one, its gonna surprise you. Its gonna seem weird. You'll be like "what the heck?" and "how the eff?" and in between all that, there's gonna be swingin' on you with the answer - an answer that's simple but really sucks to learn cause the only way to learn it is by feeling it.

Punch-Out was Mike Tyson's game but guess what happens to him in the end?

Kyle lowers his mic, and the look on his face lets you know exactly what the answer is.

[mattchewie]

Rude smirks and begins shaking his head slowly. Bischoff pantomimes walking a dog with a leash to Bayley, behind Rude’s back. Rude slowly raises the microphone.

Rude: Well, Lennie…am I supposed to ask you about the rabbits, now?

A small “ooohh” ripples through the crowd, clearly not enough people have read the classic piece of literature by John Steinbeck.

Rude: It’s ironic that you make the comparison to “Of Mice and Men” here, though. George is the level-headed of the two, while Lennie is blissfully ignorant of his surroundings but everly optimistic. No, I am in no way insinuating that you have sort of mental disability the same as Lennie, before anyone attempts to capitalize on that. While Lennie was completely clueless as to what was going on around him, the lynching party was drawing ever nearer, George was faced with the unfortunate decision of putting down his best friend who was still dreaming of that better tomorrow. Sound familiar?

Oh, and you want to talk about life being full of surprises?

Rude takes his hand and loosens the tie around his collar. He unbuttons the top clasp, giving it more room to breathe. Bischoff looks puzzled at Rude and then to Bayley.

Rude: Kyle, you haven’t even been earth-side long enough to fully appreciate the phrase that life is full of surprises. Now, I’m not knocking anything in your life or attempting to say that your life hasn’t been hard or anything like that. But, I’m going to ask you to choose your words carefully. Have you had to have that difficult conversation with a doctor about how there’s only a ten percent chance of you surviving a necessary emergency surgery, just to even wake up the next morning?

Rude pauses to let that question sink in. A silence falls over the crowd. Rude hands Bischoff the microphone as he begins to take off his suit coat. He hands Bischoff the coat and begins unbuttoning his sleeves, flipping them back once. The crowd begins to stir. Rude grabs the microphone to continue.

Rude: You’re alluding to the fact that I’ve forgotten how to lose…I appreciate the support and the flattery in the things that you’ve said, Kyle, but I’m going to have to disagree. I have been handed my fair share of losses over the years, but I have learned from each one. There have been many times throughout my long career that I’ve had to stare down the barrel of that gun whenever I’ve had to ask those closest to me, as well as myself, has my time passed? Don’t even begin that train of thought that just because you’ve got more losses under your belt right now gives you any shot of taking me down. What is something that I have told you time and time again? It’s not really about the little battles here or there, it’s the turning point victories that win the war. Not just going to disagree on the part about how I’ve forgotten how to lose, but about that part about you being a loser. Granted, your track record hasn’t been too stellar, I’ll give you that. But you are far from a loser, my boy. I’ll tell you exactly what you are. You’re insanely talented, you just haven’t had the right person across the ring from you to pull out everything that there is to bring out of you so that you can show the world what you bring to the table as well as just how serious of a competitor that you are. Well, guess what? You’ve found him.

The crowd pops as Rude takes a step directly in front of Kyle, locking eyes with him.

Rude: We can stand out here and make allegorical references to literature all that we want to, we can stand out here with a measuring tape, we can stand out here comparing our wrestling styles…at the end of the day, none of that is going to matter. What is going to matter is just how much either of us will have in the tank come show time. At this point, It doesn’t matter who wins or who loses. It’s going to come down to who really gave it their best shot. Do you know how long it has been since someone has truly taken me to my limit in this business? That is what I have been searching for since I’ve come back to this company. I don’t want another opponent who is going to sneak a win over me by a countout or a dirty pin. I want someone to actually beat me by outmaneuvering, outwrestling, and outlasting me. I want to face someone who has the potential to be better than me.

I’ve wasted words with lesser opponents over the years, explaining to them each and every methodical way that I will rip them to shreds, tearing right through the sinews of their muscles, dislocating joints and sockets…but I don’t have to do that with you, do I? No, you’ve been around to see me at my absolute best, as well as my absolute worst. You know exactly what I am capable of, just like I know exactly what you think you are capable of. Since day one, I’ve seen the same thing in you that Larry did. I don’t have the ego that Larry does, so I’m not going to keep you doing my dirty work, that’s not doing you any favors. I’m going to be the one that stokes that fire and unleashes you on this world, Kyle. Because twenty years from now when you lay those boots in the center of the ring and walk away from this business, I want it to be my name that gets mentioned whenever they say you were never the same after this match. I want my name to be synonymous with your successes. I want it to be me that is blamed whenever people question what made you so ruthless.

Rude takes a moment to compose himself. Not from losing his cool, but from getting so amped up.

Rude: Did it ever occur to you that maybe I am tired of playing second fiddle, too? Maybe now, I see this is not only my opportunity, but our opportunity to branch out and really show the wrestling world just what we’re about and just what we can bring to the table. Neither one of us have to hide behind Larry, these days. I’ve already set whatever records can be set with this title, other than most reigns, so there’s nothing holding me back from that. You finally dropped the dead weight of Janela, took care of Vincent. The sky is the friggin’ limit, my dude. There’s an asshat that has the reins of this company, and it’s up to either you or me to course correct the wagon and drive it into yet another boom period. While he’s out here slinging “yeah” after every other word, we’re out here trying to keep this ship afloat. They may call me The Franchise, but they should be calling you The Next Big Thing. You seem to be something of a historian for the UWF, I’m just going to ask you…do you want to be on the wrong side of history for this match? Do you want to roll in on the Revolution after hanging your head knowing that you didn’t give it your all, or do you want to strut in with your head held high knowing that you gave it your absolute damnedest trying to take me down? Because, spoiler alert! This belt isn’t going anywhere, just yet. And if for some miraculous reason you even think that you pose any shot of taking it from me, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but i is literally going to take you prying it from my cold, dead hands. One rigored digit at a time.

Rude lets the microphone fall as his gaze has never left that of Kyle’s.