Michael Cole's arm had gone from stinging to painful in just a few short manner of moments. The veteran interviewer's job was to pose questions to the performers of the EBWF and more often than not he was the source of either ridicule or intimidation. It just went with the job. Wrestlers had egos and seemed to enjoy proving there dominance over meek broadcasters. But this was different. He wasn't assigned to interview a wrestler. He had been forced to against his will. Men clad in thick black clothing drug the interviewer through the hallways of the iWireless Center and his arm was pressed tightly against his back when he attempted to protest. He wanted to keep the appendage so he didn't struggle after that. Worried looks from the staff were given as the scene passed them but they didn't dare intervene. Cole finally thrown down at a pair of boots that stood over him. He looked up, palms pressing against the floor, to see Roman Reigns standing over him. All three core members of The Shield were fear inducing for different reasons but it was pretty simple why Reigns would cause dread for someone. A towering, powerful man who almost always had a look an aggressive, sullen look on his face. A stone wall. Someone who didn't have an ounce of frivolity in him.
Roman Reigns: Stand up.
The deep, commanding voice instructed. Cole, after shaking off his sore arm did as he was instructed. He peered up towards the Samoan in dark clothing and his legs almost began to shake.
Michael Cole: W-What's going on here?
Cole almost instantly regretted asking this. The last thing he wanted was to have his words misinterpreted as disobedience. Luckily, he didn't find himself roughed up or assaulted.
Roman Reigns: What? Not what you were expecting? We're not hiding. Why should we? We'll walk through your hallways and no one is going to do anything about it.
Cole looked over his shoulder to see the other Shield members stoically gazing in his direction without a trace of sympathy.
Roman Reigns: I want an interview. I want you to interview me just like you do your 'superstars'. Humor me.
A feeble, nonathletic man in his mid-fourties was not about to raise any sort of an argument.
Roman Reigns: Introduce me.
The tone in his voice made it clear that he was beginning to lose his patience with Cole's hesitation.
Michael Cole: Ladies and gentleman, at this moment, I'm joined by..Roman Reigns.
No preening, grinning, or posing. Reigns continued to stand with that same, frozen expression.
Michael Cole: R-Roman in your first match with the company..a-ah..well, it ended it before it began as you attacked Chris Sabin with the help of your cohorts almost the second the bell rang.
Roman Reigns: And he had to be carried to the back. Next question.
Michael Cole: Your opponent this week is newcomer Connor O'Brian who had an..u-um..impressive win last week..
It was increasingly difficult to go through his usual announcer schtick under these circumstances.
Michael Cole: Is that the fate in store for him?
Roman Reigns: Do you really think I'm going to tell you what I'm going to do?
Reigns had stopped making eye contact with Cole as the interview went along. He viewed him as an insect and not worth his entire attention.
Roman Reigns: Connor O'Brian can hang out in the forest with wolves and spiders and speak as cryptically as he would like. He can keep on acting as if the darkness is his ally. He just adopted the dark, I was born in it.
His piercing eyes somehow became even darker.
Roman Reigns: What we have here is another wrestler who has wrapped up his quest for fame and fortune in an supposed agenda. He keeps talking about an ascension that's going to be rising. Do you think he even knows what he's talking about? Do you think he has a purpose like we do? And do you think he has back up plan for his "ascension" when I break his spirit and his body? I doubt it. His agenda is not to bring justice to a place that desperately needs it. So I don't have any problem torturing him in the the ring. We've been talking about how corrupt this place is for months and yet he has decided not to heed our words. He signed his contract despite knowing full well that he is now under our very watchful gaze. His punishment must be severe.
Cole had remained as quiet as a mouse. He was a little too filled with anxiety to be of any use.
Roman Reigns: What's the matter? Didn't think I was going to be this articulate? I'm a college graduate. Don't mistake my recent silence and size for a lack of intelligence. O'Brian incorrectly referred to me as a "gorilla" and "muscle".
Reigns gave a slow, sarcastic nods at the insults of his future opponent.
Roman Reigns: These words came from a man raving to himself in a boiler room so I don't find myself wounded too deeply. I'm sure the conversations he has with himself help with the illusion that he has a chance against me.
He pressed on as whatever mental imbalance Connor O'Brian had going on was not of pressing concern.
Roman Reigns: He seemed to think that somehow he could possibly outsmart me in his desperation. Unfortunately for him I'm both stronger and smarter than him and I've had some of the best training in the world. Would you like to know why my training is far more significant than anything he's ever received? Or anyone else for that matter? Because my wrestling training was beat into me. Literally. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to have to do this. I was forced to. You don't get to be the son of a Hall of Famer and not carry on the good name. As you can see, it molded me into what I am now. Powerful. Strong. And bent on destroying everything that my family, the worthless human beings that they are, have helped to build. That's my purpose. That's my cause. O'Brian's vague metaphors and grim musings don't really measure up when you compare the two, do they?
Michael Cole: A-Ah.. Connor has also claimed that you won't be receiving any assistance from the other members of The Shield as they're attention is divided..
Roman Reigns: Again..that's desperation talking. Wishful thinking. Each of us has the exact same goal so we can never be divided. Not as if I actually need help to take out someone like Connor O'Brian. I simply cannot be defeated because those in power have not been ripped from their decadent nests and forced to endure the cold, that we've all had to. I won't be defeated. The painful truth for Connor is that it doesn't matter how many personalities he talks to. They won't be able to help him in this fight and even if they could I would force them to bow at my feet. He's more than welcome to test my resolve but I don't think he's going to like the results. You can believe that.
Following that definitive phrase, Roman leaned in closer to the announcer to give him one last instruction.
Roman Reigns: Get out of my sight.
Cole wanted to run but he had very carefully maneuver his way around the lower ranked Shield members to follow that command. He was able to do so without incident. The hallways were scarce as everyone was wise enough to keep their distance following that encounter.
