On the Road to Wrestlemania

[Kyle]

Ted DiBiase was scheduled to face Sami Zayn tonight on Warfare. Ted was in a position to move up the standings once again with a victory over an impressive Zayn, who after several solid months in EBWF had just lost his Intercontinental Championship. The crowds had poured into the BB&T Center, and a dark match was currently underway between two independent wrestlers. Heroes by Shinedown played over the PA system and Ted DiBiase walked down the ramp while the two wrestlers in the ring stopped momentarily.

Jim Ross: What's Ted DiBiase doing out here? He's not supposed to be out yet.

Ted slid into the ring underneath the bottom rope and the two wrestlers stared at him looking confused. Ted grabbed the closest wrestler to him and threw him over the top rope, sending him to the outside with a loud thud. He then launched himself at the other wrestler, knocking him down and attacking him with a flurry of fists.

Jim Ross: There's no need for this. Ted DiBiase beating up two rookies in the ring.

Ted stood up from the fallen wrestler and kicked him out of the ring. He then barked at a ringside assistant to get him a microphone. He quickly received one and the crowd had started booing, showing that they didn't like him.

Ted Jr: Tonight I face Sami Zayn. No title, no contendership, nothing on the line except pride. Zayn wants a statement tonight, he wants to bounce back from losing to Trent. He wants to make an example out of me, but that won't happen. That won't happen because while he might think I'm just a generic waste of space here, and nothing more than a glorified lackey for every wrestler under the sun, he's wrong. You haven't been here for long Sami so let me bring you up to speed. My name is Ted DiBiase, I'm a former World Champion. I have held the Path to Glory Championship more times than anyone in this company. I held that championship for 11 months, shattering the record for the longest reign in EBWF history. I have faced and beaten the best this company has to offer. CM Punk? Beaten. Randy Orton? Beaten. Jeff Hardy? Beaten. I am not a guy that you take lightly.

Ted casually paced back and forth in the ring.

Ted Jr: I've been here for 5 years now and I've achieved more than most have. I have gone through ups and downs, I've fought back from injury. I have shown that I can beat anyone this company puts in front of me. We're now only a few weeks away from Wrestlemania, and so far we have a couple of matches confirmed. John Cena vs Brock Lesnar and AJ Styles vs Dolph Ziggler. You've got everyone else on the roster fighting tooth and nail to get onto that card. They all want to appear on the biggest stage in all of wrestling. The only way to get onto that card is to impress people. You do that by winning. So tonight Zayn, you might want to rebound from that loss to Zayn, and you might think that I'm a pushover or I'm an easy beat, but I'm not. But you're right, I haven't beat you yet. You've been impressive, there's no denying that. But tonight will be different. Tonight you're facing a different beast. You want to choke me out? Give me a Helluva Kick? How about I choke you out with the Million Dollar Dream? How about I knock you out with Dream Street? You do not want to make an enemy out of me Zayn. I can and I will make your life hell if you want to go down that route. So listen up and listen closely Sami. Tonight we're going to hit hard, we're going to hold nothing back, and we’re going to give everything because at the end of the day we're fighting for that!

Ted looked up and pointed to the large Wrestlemania sign hanging up at the top of the arena.

Ted Jr: We're fighting to appear at Wrestlemania. We're fighting to carve our names into history. You haven't been to a Wrestlemania yet, I've been to several. I know the thrill of being out there, fighting on the largest stage. So bring your A game Sami, because I'm bringing mine.

Ted dropped the microphone and left the ring as Heroes played loudly around the arena.

Jerry Lawler: DiBiase laying down the law here tonight.

---

Ted was backstage when he was approached by Michael Cole.

Michael Cole: Ted! Ted! Can I get a quick word from you?

Ted stopped in his stride to allow Cole to catch up.

Michael Cole: You had some strong words out there for Sami Zayn...

Ted immediately cut Cole off.

Ted Jr: I speak my mind Michael, I have experienced everything that's going through Sami Zayn's head right now. I've lost championships before, and I've been wishing to make it to Wrestlemania. It's not a new feeling to me anymore.

Michael Cole: Zayn has been very impressive these last few months, and has enjoyed wins over you. He believes he can repeat again, why won't things be the same this time around?

Ted Jr: I can't definitively say things will be different, but I've got a different attitude going into this match. It's crunch time for everyone and they need to impress to make it to Wrestlemania. If I have to go through Zayn, then so be it.

Michael Cole: What's next for DiBiase, should you defeat Zayn?

Ted Jr: All eyes are on Wrestlemania. That's the only focus now. I want to be on that card against anybody. But to get there I need to perform well.

Michael Cole: Thank you for your time Ted and good luck tonight.

Ted nodded and walked off from Cole. Tonight was important to him, he needed to snap out of this streak of his and get back to winning ways. A win over Zayn would do wonders in his pursuit for a match at Wrestlemania.