The Krieg... Exposed

[ripjamal]

A wrestling promotion's final event of the year is as big a show as any it will put on throughout the twelve months. It is the final chance for men to make their imprint on the company, and build that all important momentum going into a new year. At Winter Warfare, ten matches will take place that could change the Kingdom of Pride forever. Victories will take place that could make 2011 a completely different year to 2010. Victories that may make careers, and defeats that may damage others beyond repair.

One of those matches will pit two thirds of The Illuminati against the "men to beat" in KoP's tag division, Balraj and Somba - collectively known as The Krieg. Shawn Stevens and Robbie Venom have faced off against their counterparts once before, in a losing effort; however, they are a transformed duo now, with new goals and intentions. They know that to achieve what they want in KoP this is a must-win match, and failure is unacceptable. You could also make an argument that this is a must-win match for The Krieg, as their credibility has been draining in the past few weeks, and a loss here could cement their status as a flash in the pan.

Make or break... The Renaissance or The Krieg... The Illuminati have done their talking, now it's time to back their words up and do the walking.

...

The scene begins backstage in The Illuminati locker room, just moments after the latest broadcast of Oblivion reached it's finale. We find Robbie Venom, Shawn Stevens, and Rich Hamilton not in the best shape physically or mentally. After all tonight has hardly been a great one for them. Teaming with The Legend proved to be the hindrance that the stable anticipated, and to top it all off they were one-upped by The Krieg after the match-up. Things haven't exactly been going to plan over the last few weeks, and tonight was just the icing on the world's worst cake.

"The two biggest idiots to run a promotion ever strike again," Shawn says bitterly as he paces back and forth, making it clear where he believes the blame lies. "Why did they let that crap happen? Don't they know how to sell shit? Who's going to want to see us against The Krieg after that?"

"I don't know, but if anyone should be delivering a beating like that to Stephen Callaway it should be me," Rich adds, still focused on his own opponent at Winter Warfare.

Shaking his head, Shawn sits down next to Rich. "And they wonder why we've gone in the direction we have? They have no fucking control of this place. What's the point in abiding by rules when at any minute The Krieg can decide they want to jump someone and get away with it with no consequences."

"Rather hypocritical of you, Shawn, don't you think?" Robbie mutters from the corner of the room, although he is still staring at the floor.

Frowning, Shawn looks at Venom. "Huh?"

"After all, it was only two weeks ago that we ourselves underhandedly assaulted Christian Kane and Josh Eagles, in an act that was also unprovoked," Robbie explains, still yet to raise his head.

"Uh, you're supposed to be on our side," Rich responds, his frown matching Shawn's.

"I am... but I'm no hypocrite. Hypocrites are part of the reason The Illuminati was born. We did what we did for our own reasons, and The Krieg did what they did tonight for their own reasons."

"That's easy for you to say. You were sat back here when that went down," Shawn says with just a touch of bitterness. "But go on, do enlighten us about the Krieg and their motives..."

"The Krieg? More like the fucking Fraud..."

"What?"

Robbie slowly raises his head and looks at his team mates, the almost dead stare in his eyes taking both men aback. "You heard me. That team is nothing but the biggest fraud in this business. See, they like to act like they're the big mean, monsters, and to be fair they go about alluding people to that quite cleverly. I mean, the fans saw them destroy five men, they must be unstoppable beasts, right?" Robbie pauses and snorts. "Because it takes so much for two men of that size who haven't done a thing all night to jump five men who have just been beating the hell out of each other. Very well played..."

"The hell are you babbling about, Robbie?" Rich asks.

"Your head..." Robbie replies, tapping his own temple as he speaks the words. "That's where they get in. That's where they bypass your defences and beat you before the match has even begun. Clearly they're far from the most talented athletes in the world. Shit, Balraj can barely fucking walk. All it takes is a little in-ring common sense and they're easily beat."

Shawn appears to think about this for a moment, and then shrugs. "I guess you've got a point."

Clearly Robbie isn't convinced of this as he shakes his head. "Of course I've got a point, but do you get it? Really? The Krieg can't win shit without the fear factor. Perfect example: Christian Kane. Is he the best wrestler on the planet? Fuck no, not by a long shot. But he beat those arseholes two-on-one. Why? Because he's a crazy bastard with little perception of fear; after all, he risks his life on a daily basis with all the places he puts his dick."

Turning his head away, Robbie continues as if talking to himself. "But unfortunately you won't get into MY head... I'm not one of those easily led sheep that sit in the crowd. I don't buy it. There is no such thing as a monster in this world. There are only pathetic cowards who fear those supposed monsters, and the men you square up to at Winter Warfare do NOT fit into that category."

Across the room, Rich looks at Shawn who simply shrugs. Hamilton then looks across at Robbie. "Don't worry, man. You two have got this. Just like I'll deal with Callaway. Winter Warfare will be our night to truly shine."

Robbie looks up at Rich with a wry smile. "Don't worry? Do I look worried? The old Robbie may have been worried, but that was him. That was the man who was becoming a joke, a shell of his former self. Now I've been reborn. Now I see the light. And in that light I see things for how they truly are. I see Sterling and Noble for the two-bit bandits they are. I see the fans as the hypocrites they are, waiting with knives to stab you in the back. And most importantly I see The Krieg for the illusion they are and always have been. But you are right about one thing - we have got this," Robbie pauses and looks at Shawn, "as long as YOU see it as well."

Before Shawn can answer, Robbie stands. He stares into space for a moment before tilting his head in Rich and Shawn's direction. "Because without their smoke and mirrors, The Krieg are NOTHING." Robbie turns to look directly at his stable mates. "We are world beaters, they are NOTHING. We are champions, they are NOTHING. We hold the future of this Kingdom in our hands, they hold NOTHING. If we show up and do what we do best, it doesn't matter if they're Sterling and Noble's golden boys or not. It doesn't matter how many temper tantrums they threaten to throw. We will expose them for the non-entities they are, and we will show the world that the Kingdom of Pride tag division belongs to us. We don't need the management's backing, and we don't need to play mind games. All we need are these," Robbie holds his fists up, "and this..." he taps his temple again as he looks at Shawn and Rich, trying to see if his words are actually getting through to them.

"And by the time all is said and done at Winter Warfare everyone will have a glimpse of the future. When we stand victorious, they will get a taste of what 2011 holds for them. 2011 isn't they year of The Krieg, or Josh Eagles, or Christian Kane, or either of those two self-loving egomaniacs who make a mess of running this place. 2011 is the year of The Illuminati." Pausing briefly, Robbie stares at both of his stable mates. "At Winter Warfare, shit picks up."

With that said, Robbie doesn't give his team mates a chance to reply. Instead he walks to the locker room door, pausing only briefly to mutter: "I'm going for a smoke," before leaving his friends behind to digest everything they just heard. By the looks on their faces, they are thrown off to say the least.

A few moments pass before Rich looks at Shawn. "What the hell is going on with him? Are you sure he's alright?"

Shawn sighs. "I don't know, man... all that's happened here in recent weeks on top of all the shit that's gone down this year... it's just got to him."

Rich laughs although he hardly looks amused. "That's a fucking understatement if I ever heard one. You better talk to him before this Super Show, or no matter what he says, The Krieg will leave there victorious."

Taking a moment to think, Shawn doesn't look completely convinced of this. "I don't know. Sure, he's not himself, but being himself as hardly brought him the success he's used to recently. When you're facing a team like The Krieg, maybe that's the exact sort of mindset you need to be in. Like he said, the only guy to have beat them is Christian Kane, one of the most abnormal men in the business... As long as Rob's still there in the ring, I think we're good."

Rich shrugs. "Hey, you know him a lot better than I do. I just hope you're right."

Staring off into space, Shawn nods. "So do I..."

After Shawn has said this, the camera zooms out and the scene fades to black.

...

Robbie Venom is a changed man; but whether this will be to The Illuminati's advantage is yet to seen. Just how Robbie's newfound personality transfers to the ring could be the very making or breaking of the stable. Nobody can know for sure what will happen until Winter Warfare, but if The Krieg are expecting to face the same team they did a few weeks aga they are in for a big surprise. Hopefully for the members of The Illuminati, it will one of the unpleasant kind.