RP TITLE: "Heavy Hitters."

November 12th 2024

Kevin Owens, while predominantly a lone wolf, had plenty of teammates and associates in the past. Over the years, plenty of people had come and gone from his life but there had always been one particular individual that had stuck by him. Not a face on the screen of the wrestling profession but more so, an acquaintance that acted as somewhat of an agent. Kevin did not rely on him to find work, of course, but he was someone who could truly offer relevant advice as and when it was required.

Kevin Owens had just put pen to paper to sign his ECW contract. In his mind, this was a fresh start; an opportunity for something new and it was safe to say, that was very important right now. Time away from the ring hadn't been on Kevin's agenda so to embrace a new opportunity was ideal. He was not a fan of downtime. The world of extreme fit Kevin perfectly and he truly believed this to be exactly where he should be. Following his contract signing, Kevin had met with Martin, the one associate within the business who had stuck with him. While Kevin had run his plans past Martin in the past, Kevin had surprised Martin with this one.

Kevin walked through the relatively dark hallway of whichever building it was they were occupying. The dull warm lightning radiating from the old-fashioned sconces that lit up the equally as garish wallpaper hinted that it was either a behind-the-times hotel or a retro office, stuck in the 80's. Either way, Kevin towered over the much smaller, skinnier frame of Martin, who attempted to match Kevin's speed.

MARTIN: You signed with ECW?

There was a detectable element of surprise in his voice as he exclaimed with a relatively high-pitched tone.

MARTIN: As in... the ECW? Extreme Championship Wrestling?

Kevin, opting to play dumb for a moment, lifted a hand and pointed his index finger in Martin's direction.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: Yeah... yeah... that name rings a bell. I think that's the one. Have you heard of it?

He questioned with obvious sarcasm dripping from his words as Martin took a more defensive stance.

MARTIN: Of course I've heard of it! I just didn't know they were even back in business.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: You're usually the one who has their ear to the ground, Martin. Nothing usually passes you by. I'm surprised you weren't aware...

MARTIN: It's a little out of left field, isn't it?

Kevin responded with a light shrug of his shoulders.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: To those who weren't aware of it's resurgence, I guess it would be seen that way. For me, it's been something I've been pondering for some time. I heard the news, I considered it and y'know, I made the right move. I finally decided to take the plunge and here we are. The contract is officially signed, no going back now.

Martin, although seemingly still in shock about this revelation, took a moment to consider it all but proceeded to nod. He opted to take a more upbeat and supportive approach now and his demeanour shifted accordingly.

MARTIN: So, what's the plan? Who are you facing in your first match? What's the ultimate goal? How do you really make an impact?

KO | KEVIN OWENS: I get that you're proud of me for being part of this and I appreciate the enthusiasm but I literally don't know that. There's very little information at this point and we've just got to wait for the first event to do it's thing, then all will become clear.

Kevin hit Martin on the arm, perhaps slightly harder than he needed to, but he then proceeded to wander off as Martin rounded his shoulder slightly, shaking off the pain.

MARTIN: I actually never said I was proud, Kev. That's presumptuous...

Shaking that off, Martin gathered himself and followed Kevin to wherever he may be going...

10th December 2024

Fluorescent lights flickered overhead, only occasionally showing what lay beneath. Shadows were cast across the concrete floor of what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse. Broken windows, a plethora of graffiti and a thick layer of dust coating the majority of surfaces made it obvious that it wasn't necessarily somewhere that should be inhabited. An almost eerie silence consumes the scene at first. In the center of the desolate setting, the figure of a solitary man is seen in the dim light. The overhead lights projected onto him just enough to show that this unmistakeable profile is that of Kevin Owens. Flexing his muscles ever so slightly as he tilted his head to the left, then the right with somewhat of a stretch, Kevin turned to look into the camera; his eyes piercing through it.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: So... here we are.

His booming voice echoed through the otherwise silent room.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: You shouldn't need to hear an introduction from me. I shouldn't need to stand here and preface this whole situation with a ramble on about who Kevin Owens is. Then again, I never get tired of hearing the Kevin Owens story. His motivations. His history. His desire to be the best. It's an intriguing tale of hardship with the twists and turns you'd expect from a story of success. Trust me, Kevin finds a way to turn his misfortunes into triumph. The only thing is, as we begin to write this next chapter, he doesn't know exactly what the future holds but he's confident. After all, you're looking at a man who enjoys issuing pain and suffering onto others and causing as much havoc and destruction as he can. That's always been Kevin's primary aim and he's been damn good at it.

His eyes remained fixated on the camera in front but only for several seconds of silence which ticked by, before he directed his gaze off to the side slightly, perhaps just glaring at the jagged edges of one particular smashed window in the distance.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: I'll be honest, that was my foremost goal when I signed that ECW contract. The hardcore nature of this company; it drew me in. It was something new, something interesting, something that had a level of intrigue that I needed to explore. I embraced it with open arms and I couldn't be more thrilled to be part of it. Yet, instead of constantly wanting to just kick ass, I now want to do just that... but as I work my way towards being a champion. After all, people do enter this business with different goals, different motivations. Ultimately, the prospect of making history is now calling my name and I want in on that.

Turning back to the camera, he spoke now with a raised volume to his voice.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: In this business, it's imperative that we're all ambitious in what we set out to do. Nobody should just be coasting along and accepting mediocrity as an inevitablity. I've always strived to be the best I can be and so far, I've been living up to that. I just know there's more within me. I am Mr. Wrestling, I am The Anti-Christ of Pro Wrestling, I am Wrestling's Worst Nightmare, I am The Prizefighter. I am the future. Call me what you want but at the end of the day, one thing I believe you should call me... is the future ECW World Heavyweight Champion.

As Kevin shifted his weight from one leg to another, his brawny frame silhouetted the flickering lights above.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: To me, ECW is raw. It's gritty. It's authentic. It's real. It's exactly where I need to be. You see me and you know exactly what you're going to get. I'm a heavy-hitter who won't take shit from anybody. And then, we have those in this business who claim they know who they are, what they want and what they're doing. And y'know what? Sometimes, people adopt names that truly suit them. Something that embodies or even helps to establish who they truly are at their core. Mike Awesome? Not so much. That seems fraudulent. He can claim to know what he wants from making his way back to ECW but I don't see it...

As his voice trailed into complete silence, Kevin ensured his gaze was still firmly on the camera.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: I've heard plenty regarding 'Barely Legal' and the positive feedback the show has received as a whole. I've heard people talking, suggesting that Awesome versus Whipwreck was the show-stealer of the entire event. Regardless of your accolade as part of the so-called 'Match of the Week'... the harsh reality is that you were still the loser of said match, Mike. The rest feels a bit of a consolation prize for you. Now, if you want to aim to get that achievement for the second consecutive week, then I'm happy to oblige. You and me, Mike. We'll head down to that ring and give the fans a show. We'll give them exactly what they want and that's a mutual ass-kicking between two powerhouses. But you know that, don't you? That's exactly what the fans saw from you and Whipwreck last week. But this time? You're against a greater man, a tougher opponent and a stronger son of a bitch and that just means that if you couldn't get the job done at Barely Legal, you damn sure won't this time either.

Exhaling deeply, Kevin turned away again. However, he took a moment to think over his next words and look straight ahead of himself once more.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: I want to give you credit, Mike, I do. I see that potential and I know you can live up to it. I just don't believe this is the right time. Let's put it this way... you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. Plus, I know what you're thinking, Mike. You're the kind of beast that can withstand an onslaught. No matter what I throw at you, you'll find an answer for it, won't you? You're in for a rude awakening, Mike. I've pushed myself through plenty and sacrificed entirely too much, to let all of this just pass me by. This is the opportunity I've been waiting for. I thrive on the chaos. And through that chaos, I intend to emerge victorious. You are just the first stepping stone towards my success. This is the next chapter for me and it's going to be a good one...

Kevin wandered, opting to plant himself on the top of a nearby metal barrel, where he rested his elbows on his knees.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: I just hurt people; that's what I do and I take great pride in doing so. Are you ready to become a victim, Mike? And if not, then I want to see you really fighting for your life out there. This is about two warriors stepping into the ring to tear one another apart. And Mike? Oh, I'm going to enjoy it. You better believe that. I take great enjoyment in ripping another person to shreds for my own sick satisfaction. When I say I'm going to do something; I do. I deliver on my promises. I always have and I always will. That's something I've made my name off of. I'm fierce, I'm unstoppable. I'm an absolute brute but I'm more than that. I've got more substance to me. I'm not here for respect but I'm here to build a legacy. I want to be remembered and feared.

Kevin turned away from the camera but halted, suddenly realising he had one more line in him.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: And Mike...

He muttered before turning to fixate on the camera.

KO | KEVIN OWENS: ... best of luck. I'm not the sort of guy who usually believes in luck but on this occasion, I feel as though you really will need it on your side to stand a chance. I can sense your hunger, your determination, your stubbornness to get what you want. Some could say that's admirable but it's almost bordering desperation. Don't become a complete joke...

A light smirk was evident as it began to crawl it's way onto his lips. Slowly, Kevin turned his back on the camera to wander away.