Bad

[Cory]

Damian Priest stood tall in the backstage area of the arena, the EBWF Gateway Championship clasped tightly around his waist. He was wrapping tape around his wrists when he looked up at the camera and arched his eyebrow.

Damian Priest: Alright, look. Check this out. The last Christmas Eve of Destruction I was in, man that was fun. Scaffold match. Watching Seth Rollins plummet an impossible distance and crash into a table below.

He smirked and shook his head.

Damian Priest: Man, good times. I was EBWF World Champion at the time, if you can believe it. I'll tell you what though, being EBWF Gateway Champion has been an honor too. Getting an opportunity to face the best, beat them down, and cement my legacy in EBWF is a gift that I do not take for granted. And speaking of not taking someone for granted, Hook.

Damian tapped his EBWF Gateway Championship.

Damian Priest: Respect, bro. You've gad a good career. And your dad is a guy I look up to. I've gotten a lot of advice from him in my time in this business. Anytime I see Tazz, I ask for his advice. One of the first things he ever told me was 'never work for free.' Simple shit, but so important. Even early on when I had a waaaay different body style, I had to fight for every penny of my worth, and I did. And now I'm here, fighting for a prize every night of my life. Whether it's defending this title, the other title, or a King of the Ring tournament, I'm the closest thing this company has to a prize fighter.

Damian winked at the camera.

Damian Priest: Sorry, Kev.

Priest’s eyes suddenly narrowed, his tone growing sharper.

Damian Priest: You’ve made a career out of surprising people, out of making them underestimate you. But me? I see through it, because I'm the same. That calm, stoic demeanor of yours? It’s not going to intimidate me, because I'm a damn mad man. That speed, that technique, that surprising strength? It won’t save you. Technique don't mean a lick when the ring blows up and there are tables, ladders, and chairs surrounding the ring.

He shrugged slightly.

Damian Priest: I imagine this isn’t just a match for you either. This is the biggest fight of your life. You think you’re ready for this stage? You think you can climb that ladder, take this title, and call yourself champion? Let me tell you something—this championship isn’t just handed out. It’s earned. It’s fought for. It’s won by men who are willing to destroy everything in their path. And that’s what I am, Hook. A destroyer. A punisher. And that's why this match is right in my wheelhouse. I've been in this world for years, bro. Exploding things, weapons, tables, every horrible way to maim a guy, I've done it. You're stepping into my world.

Damian waggled his finger.

Damian Priest: Although the C4 part? I'll admit. That shit's new. I don't know who invented this, but I want a little of what they're having.

He smirked and unclasped his title belt, hanging it over his shoulder.

Damian Priest: This title is important to me. It's as important to me as the World Championship, something that I've vowed to get back to one day, and I will. That's the thing about me, Hook. I don't stop. I'm relentless. To quote my favorite all time wrestler - hard work pays off, and dreams come true. Bad times don't last, but bad guys do.

He leaned in closer to the camera.

Damian Priest: I'm a real bad guy, Hook. And you about to find out. See you out there.

Damian smirked and walked off as the EBWF logo flashed in the corner.