The sun is shining as Michael Winters makes a left on to North Hermitage Avenue in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood and pulls into the St. Mary of the Angels parking lot. It's just past 11:30 early Sunday morning as Winters steps out of his white pick up truck, the cool morning air hitting his face. He pulls up the collar of his coat, staring up at the historic Church. Even though he's been here countless times, the overwhelming presence of something divine and unexplainable hits him like a truck, sending shivers up his spine. He stops for a moment and takes a deep breath to steady himself and heads up the stairs, muffled sounds barely audible coming from within the church. As he reaches the front doors he hears what must be hundreds of people erupt in a sea of "Amen's!" and "Praise Jesus". He opens the door and stands near the back as the sermon continues...
Father Fornier: My Children! It was four years ago to this day that I met a man who changed my life forever. A man who has risen up from the ashes of sin to be given a new lease on life! Some of you may know him and some of you may not, but please, know this. This man is a good man. This man is a changed man. This man is a warrior of faith and I have not given up on him despite his recent losses and nor has God himself! I hope you can all find it in your hearts to welcome him in to this church today as he so openly welcomed God into his life so many years ago.
A middle aged man stands up and shouts, "Amen!" as the church goers applaud.
Please help me welcome, a man of good and my good friend, Michael Winters!
Michael Winters leans up and takes off his coat, revealing heavily tattooed arms. Standing at 6'6 and 267 lbs, he's hard to miss but until now he's gone unnoticed to the hundreds of people in attendance. A few people gasp in shock as the crowd applauds, not quite expecting a man of his appearance to be a good friend of their Holy Father. As he makes his way through the pews and up towards the dais, mindlessly exchanging pleasantries with some of the people he begins to feel more comfortable and at peace with himself. As he reaches the podium he and Fornier embrace in a hug as Fornier whispers encouragement into his ear as he steps up to the microphone...
Winters: Thank you for such kind words Father, they truly mean a lot to me. And thank you to everyone here for welcoming me to this lovely family, I'm honored to be speaking in front of you all here today. Now, as some of you may or may not know I've had my share of struggles in life but I've done my best to get back into God's good graces and with the help and guidance of Father Fournier I feel I'm on the right track. But last week on Ascension Anarchy I was given a test that I think was hopeless in passing. I was put in a David vs Goliath like situation but unlike David, I was unable to succeed. God did not want me to be victorious against Ty Burna and Big Dave because my destiny is not yet ready to be fulfilled. I fought valiantly and gave it everything I had so those two would not forget Michael Winters when my time comes to take what is mine, but I was never destined to win that match. Those pawns will realize their destiny once He feels I'm ready, I'll make checkmate and wipe them off the face of the earth.
Applaud and "hallelujah's!" are heard through out the Church.
Like the world, the WZCW is in a state of utter chaos with men like Constantine, Big Dave and the Crashin' Movement thinking they can run around doing whatever they want. Well I've come here not only to win the WZCW Heavyweight belt, but I've come here to install some sense of order in this organization. There's one leader and one leader only who people should have to answer to, and that is God. He has granted me these physical abilities in order to take out men like this. Unfortunately a good man in Chris Beckford has to be sacrificed for the Greater Good this week on Meltdown. It's not my choice who I face week in week out, it's not even Vance Bateman's choice. God's plan and will is the end decider in all of mankind's decisions whether they believe it or not. Beckford just happens to be the one He chose this week for me to strike out against with his will, and he will be struck down in order to advance Our goals.
The crowd is starting to get very loud and rambunctious, screams of "Winters" and "The Chosen One!" start to be heard as Winters tries to regain control.
Now I know the Truth hurts Beckford, but this is nothing personal, it's my time here, not yours. I don't care who you are, Constantine, Ty Burna, Barbosa, Showtime. None of you stand a chance against a man with the will of God behind him. These good people here know the Truth and soon everyone will see the light, in one way or another. I'm not here to play games, I'm here to win Championships. If that means I have to rip you limb from limb come Meltdown Beckford, I will. Not because I want to, but because I have to. There's no failure for me anymore, unfortunately you will be the first man who falls victim to Our new regime.
"Praise the Lord!"
Yes! Praise him! And please keep Mr. Beckford in your prayers this week, because he will need all the help he can get if he hopes to even stand a chance with me inside the ring! Because Beckford, Winter is coming!
The crowd erupts into a raucous roar of Winters chants and Amen's as Fornier steps up and raises Winters arm in symbolic victory, they step down from the Dais and the crowd swarms them, worshiping Winters in an almost cult-like way...
