Interviewer: So you're saying that you don't know what it takes to beat Austin Reynolds?
Constantine: That's precisely what I'm saying.
We join Constantine mid-way through a tell-all interview with an unnamed interviewer. The interviewer sits with his glass perched upon the bridge of his nose, looking down at the question cars he holds in his hands. The gleaming setting of this interview is bright and bold. The studio audience sit aiming their eyes at The Power Trip and his esteemed questioner. Between the two men, a blank TV sits. The harsh lighting from above forms a solitary bead of sweat on Constantine's head... At least that is what he would have you believe anyway.
Interviewer: Forgive me, John. But how can you say that you are confident going into a match when you haven't got the slightest idea about how to best an opponent.
Constantine allows a small smile to appear on his face.
Constantine: To be honest, I don't know. But all I do know is that people like Austin Reynolds, people who seem to be hinging on the side of sanity at this point, generally tend to beat themselves when it comes right down to it.
Interviewer: It is coincidental that you should mention Austin Reynolds' state of mind, Trip. Last week on Meltdown we seen Austin Reynolds verbally talk-down his partner and former Tag Team Champion, Ricky Runn. This was followed up on Ascension as Reynolds cost himself a match against James Howard when Ricky got involved. Now, given that Austin Reynolds seems to be challenging his friend and ally, how much similarity do you see between the two of you?
Constantine: You're right. When you look at Austin Reynolds and I comparatively and you begin to stack up the odds for the upcoming match between us, you really have to think that we are both living similar lives at the moment. Both of us seem to have friends in the business that want to see us fail. Whether Austin believes it or not, I do tend to think that Ricky Runn was trying to help him. But Reynolds is fuming right now. He lost the Tag Team Championships to Strikeforce not too long ago and it seems as though his partner doesn't realise the importance of this.
The interviewer cuts in with another question, his eyes glowing as he launches it in the direction of Constantine.
Interviewer: So you think that Austin Reynolds is perfectly justified in his criticism of Ricky Runn?
Constantine screws up his face, weighing up his answer delicately.
Constantine: Listen, I don't care what anyone says, if you're not in this business to hold one of those belts, then I really don't know why you are. Ricky Runn is just as culpable for losing the Tag Team Championships as Austin Reynolds. When you're in a Tag Team, you have to rely on each other, You have to know that the person you're tagging with has the same goals and ideals as you. It just seems that the personalities of Austin and Ricky have clashed since they lost the belts.
The man sitting across from Constantine looks puzzled now.
Interviewer: How do you mean?
Constantine: Well, Ricky has taken his lumps. He seems to be taking the loss really well, thinking only about how he can move on from the loss and continue to grow as an athlete. Reynolds, on the other hand, seems to have taken the loss personally. He thinks that he is free from blame for his loss to Strikeforce and that's not what a Tag Team is. Personally, I think this is the end for Runn Reynolds Runn.
Constantine stops for a moment, letting thoughts of past and present roll through his thoughts. After a moment, he gives a slight shrug and continues.
Constantine: But getting back to your original point, I guess you could say that Austin and I are similar. Whilst he slugs it out with Ricky Runn, I have a much more devious and dangerous man to worry about.
Interviewer: Ah yes, Steven Holmes. For those of you who missed Ascension last week, let's take you back. The King For A Day, John Constantine, had just picked up a win against The Masked Gentlemen. Steven Holmes, the man who appeared on Meltdown in a wheelchair, claiming his career had been ended by Constantine, appeared and this is what transpired.
The TV in between Constantine and the interviewer flicks on and shows a small part of Ascension 49.
As Linkin Park plays through the arena, Constantine poses, but then he notices out of the corner of his eye, Steven Holmes appears at the top of the ramp. Wheeling himself, much as he did at the start of the show, Holmes sits, observing. Constantine exits the ring and goes to confront Holmes.
Holmes however does not seem afraid and sits, prepared for his old ally. Constantine has neglected to not only celebrate his win, but also pick up his briefcase. He stands over Holmes and tries to talk to the former Elite Champion, but Holmes stares right at him, resentful and bitter. Constantine lowers himself to Holmes level and attempts to talk to him, but suddenly, a swift fist connects solidly with Constantines face. Holmes is using his weak right arm! It has brass knuckles around his hand.
Then, without a moments hesitation, Holmes rises to his feet as the crowd collectively gasps before pouring boo upon boo onto him. Holmes then rips his neck brace off and grins manically. He quickly switches back to his glum look as he spits on Constantine, kicks his wheelchair and struts off of the stage defiantly.
The camera turns back towards Constantine now who is gritting his teeth as a look of sheer contempt begins to cross his features.
Interviewer: I can see that what we just seen has angered you, Trip. But, if you can, please talk me through what happened on Ascension 49.
Constantine sits for a moment, still paralysed by anger and staring at the TV screen. When his words finally appear, they are quiet and measured.
Constantine: I knew that Steven Holmes was insane. I have known that fact for some time now. Even since our attack on Big Dave, I have known that something has been wrong with Steven Holmes mentally. Week after week, his intentions became more and more devious. His actions became more and more desperate, and his mind became more and more lost.
Constantine turns towards the interviewer now, breaking his gaze of the blank TV screen for the first time.
Constantine: But this... This was just something else.
Interviewer: For a man to blame someone for the loss of their livelihood is one thing. But it is another entirely for that entire escapade to be a hoax. Tell me what you are feeling right now, Trip.
Constantine: How I'm feeling? Numb. I can't tell you what was going through my mind when Steven Homes claimed his career was over. For the first time in my career, I felt guilty for something. Perhaps I thought it was for the best and that Holmes could use that time away to get some help for his issues. But deep in the back of my mind, I felt sorry for him. I felt responsible for taking away his career and the pain of that almost crippled me. But to throw all of that in my face, to spit on me as I lay on the ground... It's unforgivable.
Interviewer: Do you think that he will try and make his presence felt at Meltdown 75?
Constantine shuffles in his seat, the words are not easy to find any more.
Constantine: I hope not. For all of Holmes' bravado and words, he's just a man. He states that I was a war-machine built for one purpose and he's right. As far as I am concerned, Steven Holmes gained his measure of retribution for my actions as Kingdom Come. Any insistence of his to get involved in my match will be viewed as an act of war. And then, Steven Holmes will face the war-machine that he felt the need to provoke. The next time I set foot in a wrestling ring with Steven Holmes, his career will be over.
The interviewer gives a wide smile to the audience, stunned by the diatribe and conclusions of The Power Trip. He ruffles his cards for the next question and presses on.
Interviewer: Going back to my earlier question, Trip. Austin Reynolds has shown some of the callous traits of Steven Holmes recently, even going so far as to blame someone else for his failures. How similar do you think Reynolds and Holmes are?
Constantine: It was only a year ago that Austin Reynolds and I stood in the ring, face to face, at Kingdom Come 3. On that occasion, Reynolds was too strong for me. He was going into the match on a high. He was the golden boy of the company and a man who, many felt, the future would be kind to. He called himself the Ratings Winner and no one could really argue that point. But now we see the shoe on the other foot. Austin Reynolds is no longer the confident man he used to be. He is no longer the man that fans will flock to see. With a string of losses on his record, he steps into the ring against a man who is ranked number 1 on the Fantabulous 15 list. A man who fears no one and holds the King For A Day briefcase to his chest. The last time Austin and I met in a ring, he got the better of me and it was because my mind was not where it needed to be.
Constantine, finally, allows a welcoming smile to cross his face again.
Constantine: But now, we step into the ring as opposites. It is Austin Reynolds who will be stepping into the ring against the man that everyone wants to see. It is he who will feel the pressure of facing a man who the future is full of potential for. It is Austin Reynolds who will feel the burning pressure upon his shoulders and the cruelty of defeat. Holmes and Reynolds are different people but this is much is eternally true. If they feel the need to get in my face, then they will see exactly why I will be the next WZCW Heavyweight Champion.
Interviewer: Bold words form John Constantine, ladies and gentlemen. Tune in to Meltdown this Saturday as it celebrates it's 75th show as Austin Reynolds goes one-on-one with John Constantine. For now, thank you John.
The interviewer reaches over to Constantine and shakes his hand as the show fades to black.