An undisclosed location via a video that had been sent to EBWF HQ. The Shield kept themselves wrapped in secret and that would remain the case for the foreseeable future. The advocates for justice were never going to get studio time to craft their promo's and that suited them just fine. Especially the de-facto leader Dean Ambrose. He stood in that dark, nondescript room with the World Title that he was holding hostage resting over his shoulder. It was once again time to address the guilty.
Dean Ambrose: I keep on hearing the word "hero" being thrown around. "EBWF NEEDS HEROES!" Heh.
Ambrose quickly laughed to ridicule that slogan.
Dean Ambrose: Yeah. Right. EBWF doesn't need heroes. It needs it's epitaph written. It needs The Shield.
The World Champion. spread his arms out wide and nodded along with his own statement.
Dean Ambrose: No hero would ever stand up to try and defend a place like this. A place that has allowed some many horrible atrocities to take place with no consequence. Well, I mean, until now. Now there are consequences and I think everyone realizes that. For the first time in twelve years there is actual judgement being taken place and WE provide that judgement.
His voice dropped to a low and threatening pitch.
Dean Ambrose: Be very careful. Be careful of your actions and your thoughts because no one is safe. We've proven that. From the very top to the very bottom. Choose your moves wisely. We are watching you and when you least expect it we will show up and swiftly and effectively shove a little justice down your throat.
Ambrose placed an exclamation point on his threat by tilting his neck upwards to point a pair of fingers at the center of his own throat.
Dean Ambrose: I think if anyone actually thought, I mean really think long and good about it, they wouldn't try and stop us. What has had to everyone who has tried to play the hero? John Cena? Where is he? Hurt. WE did that to him. CM Punk? Randy Orton? We. Hurt. Them. Chris Jericho doesn't DARE try and give any orders to us because he knows that we are uncontrollable. Put us in matches, we'll show up, we'll beat down our opponent because WE want to. Not because we have to. This is ours. We run EBWF now. Haven't seen anyone that's been able to prove otherwise.
He almost looked amused at the attempts that have taken place thus far.
Dean Ambrose: Not the guy that's been lined up for me to wipe out this week. AJ Styles. He had his opportunity just a couple days ago and we left him laying in a broken heap. Along with his partner and our other opponents. The only reason AJ didn't get it as bad as the other three is because I honestly thought his jaw was broke when Rollins KICKED HIS FACE OFF!
Ambrose rubbed his fingers along his jaw to further mock Styles after screaming into the camera's lens.
Dean Ambrose: So, heh, I guess I won't get to listen to whatever inane, insignificant garbage he was planning on saying about me. That's a small victory already. And, oooh, look how the tables have turned. Miz and AJ used to accuse Rollins and myself of being "cryptic" and he was the one hanging out in a graveyard last week. Who's trying too hard to be "dark" now? I don't want to say I feel bad for anyone that's putting their hopes into Styles, because I don't, but when you see something that pathetic you get a little sad unless you're completely heartless. It's like watching a wounded, bleeding dog trying to crawl towards a bone with an audience cheering it on. It's sick. AJ's history is very well documented. I don't have to list all the reasons why he's such a colossal failure and a world class fuck up. And I SHOULDN'T have to tell anyone why riding their hopes on someone of his character and is completely and utterly laughable.
He gave his head a few shakes before pushing his tangled, messy hair backwards.
Dean Ambrose: But the vast majority of this audience are brain dead and so is AJ Styles. "WrestleMania isn't dead" he tells the world. The EBWF is alive and kicking he claims. No, no, no, no. Only a fool would think something like that! And AJ Styles is a fool, trust me on that. That's the only explanation I can think of as to why he would want to get into a ring with me again after I DROPPED his best friend flat in the middle of the ring. He couldn't stop it. No. Because he was too busy licking his own wounds. But Monday night he isn't going to be able to do that. Monday night, his wounds are going to be so severe that no amount of tending, no amount of false hope and no amount of hero worship is going to be able to help him. Believe that. And Believe in The Shield.
Static.
Video footage began to play immediately following the promo. Another room lacking any real characteristics. Three men lay beaten on the floor of the room and were unmoving. Standing over them was a fatigued, shirtless and battered man with long hair. He panted as his hands came to a rest upon his knees and his body held more than a few bruises. The footage was pretty grainy but when he stood up and swept his hair back it was a familiar face to EBWF audiences. Curt Hawkins.
Dean Ambrose: Oh. Wow. Hm. That was impressive.
Ambrose walked in to the picture and stepped over one of the men who was clad in black. He had failed so he essentially didn't exist to him anymore.
Dean Ambrose: You've got something that those three don't. Heart.
He smacked Hawkins a little too roughly in the chest area when considering he had just fought three men at once. Hawkins winced and reeled back before standing up straight again.
Dean Ambrose: So you really want in, huh?
Curt Hawkins: I do.
Dean Ambrose: You think you have what it takes. That's interesting. So you would stare down someone like AJ Styles? Even if the odds weren't in your favor, and they won't be, you would lay down your body and sacrifice it for our cause?
Curt Hawkins: I would.
Dean Ambrose: So when someone like AJ or Miz or the entire locker room see's you as a traitor and they corner you one day..you're gonna take that beating?
Ambrose leaned in a little closer and although Hawkins seemed less than thrilled with that possibility he nodded along.
Dean Ambrose: Yeah? 'Cause the second they see you come down to the ring with us..you're instantly a target. These "defenders" like Styles are going to try and protect what they've built. And you would get it pretty bad since you were one of them.
Ambrose put two fingers against Curt's forehead, like a pistol, and jerked them back in a firing motion. Hawkins didn't seem to like the sound of that either be he nodded once more.
Dean Ambrose: Well, I've given it some thought and I don't think you're a very good fit.
Curt Hawkins: What?! Why?!
Dean Ambrose: Because you're a coward, Curt. You're a snake. You lied and manipulated your best friends all so you could become more famous and shoot your way up the card. We don't have a place for you here. We can't trust you.
Curt Hawkins: B-But, wait, th-that was different! That was--
Dean Ambrose: W-W-Was it? Huh? You drove an innocent little girl crazy to suit your own needs. You aren't here to become a part of The Shield. You're here to be judged.
More the men dressed in black emerged from the shadows behind Hawkins and he tried to elbow them away but the numbers were too much. They drug him to the floor and Ambrose began putting the boots to him. Some very nasty, wild, violent stomps to Hawkins' face that was luckily positioned off camera for the squeamish. But one of Curt's hands were reaching upwards until Ambrose's boot met his face one final time. His limb went limp. The Shield members drug Hawkins away, leaving a trail of blood. Ambrose headed off in the opposite direction and afterwords the scene cut to static again.
