Backstage: Amway Centre, Orlando, FL
It had been a long time since I had been in one of the managers personal road offices. Banks was in one of the executive boxes behind the stage, his office was basic, with a TV mounted on the back, a headset connected to a walkie on the desk and a laptop with its lid closed in the centre. I sat in the leather executive chair across from him, he leant back in his chair and gestured for me to wait. He said something very loud at a stage-hand before putting his headset on the desk. I didnt wait for him to greet me.
So, Banksy I said, smirking and hoping he would get the cultural reference.
Mr Banks he replied, curtly. Apparently not. I sighed heavily before parting my lips a second time.
Mr Banks. Can I call you Kenneth at least? I said, trying to keep some civility in the meeting, all I did was flare his nostrils.
No. Frankly after the stunt you pulled tonight youre lucky I didnt cut the feed to your microphone and turn off the lights in the arena. Uh oh
Uh
Im not sure what you mean, I went out there to give out an award and Mikey went crazy to try and get me back in the ring.
You mean your former room-mate, tag partner and the guy who youve seen backstage at EVERY show since Kingdom Come?
The only person Ive spoken to whilst Ive been backstage is Chris KO. Im not even sure if hes alive. I came to an inescapable conclusion; Banks was a Jerk.
Im led to believe that he isnt. Ty Burna doesnt really do half-measures. Id fire him if he werent one of the biggest draws on the roster.
Wait. You THINK hes dead? I would hope Ken that would be something you would be going out of your way to know!
Huh, yeah you would think so. And I probably would, if I cared enough to find out. Its not like hes died before or anything. Great, Banks was being glib about it.
Yeah, we all thought he was dead. There was a funeral, everyone was there. Say what you like about the guy but even the people who despised him respected him.
You think I dont know that? We cant find him. He wasnt there when we went to dig him up.
Please tell me youre kidding
I wish I was. KO was buried alive by Ty Burna on Meltdown, when we went to clear out the dirt it was gone.
It?
Yeah it. Everything, the dirt, KO, hell, even the tarp the arena made us put down to protect their precious flooring. Weve hired about 30 private detectives to look for him, no one has any idea where it all went.
So. If KO is out of the picture who exactly am I fighting?
Its a good question Howard, one I dont have the answer to. Ill keep looking for guys with something to prove by taking down a veteran, Vikram or El Swago maybe
El Swago, are you being serious? Everyone knows that its
Who is under the mask is irrelevant as well you know Howard. El Swago is El Swago.
Fine. Any chance Ill get a heads up Ken?
Its Mister Banks Howard, and no. You wont.
I left the office in a fury. I didnt care who I was fighting, I was going to do what I did best. Train, fight and win.
