FEBRUARY 10TH, 2012.
Marco Ruas: Te estas ablandando? (Going all soft already?)
Alberto Rodriguez laughed and reached out for his bottle of water, having a sip. The EBWF superstar was wearing adidas track pants and a black wife beater. Leaning against the MMA cage they were training in.
Alberto del Rio: Si te gusta darme lata no? (You like pulling my leg don't you?)
Marco Ruas: No te preocupes, no hay cámaras, puedes partirme la madre si quieres... (Don't worry, there aren't any cameras, you can beat the hell out of me if you want.)
Marco Ruas was a dear old friend of Rodriguez, in fact it was Ruas who trained him during for his MMA Career, Alberto loved MMA training and despite not having a match in a couple of years, he often met with Ruas to train and have a couple of grappling sessions.
Alberto del Rio: Ya te dije que cuando quieras nos metemos en un cuadrilatero para que veas que tan falso es. (I told you. You and I in the ring, whenever you want. I'll show you how 'fake' it really is)
Marco was one of those men not very fond of televised wrestling, hence why he had been pulling his leg about weak punches during their session.
Marco Ruas: No gracias, me quedo con la realidad... Entonces, cómo te ha ido? (No thank you, I'll stick to reality... So, how is it going?)
Alberto del Rio: Estoy feliz, estoy tranquilo y siento que tengo todas las herramientas para dejar una huella en el negocio, como mi tio, como mi padre. (I'm happy, I'm calmed, I feel I have all the tools to leave a mark in the business, like my uncle and my dad before me).
Marco Ruas: Cómo está el viejo caras? (How is old man caras?)
Alberto del Rio: El está bien, sabes? Tomó todo ese rollo de desenmascararme bien, además viendo como le fue de mal a Sin Cara, era mejor desenmascararme en la WWE y en la EBWF
(He's okay, you know he took the whole unmasking thing really well... Plus Sin Cara's lack of success showed him unmasking was the best way to go with WWE and EBWF.)
Marco Ruas: O sea que no volverás a usar la máscara? (So you're not wearing the mask ever again?)
Alberto del Rio: Claro que la pienso usar. Es más! La quiero usar en la EBWF. Solo tengo que buscar un ángulo para implementarla y comentar la idea a los escritores. (Of course I will use it... In fact, I might use it in EBWF. I just need to find a way to implement it, pitch the idea to creative and that'd be it.)
Marco Ruas: Que locos son los luchadores... Cómo van a hacer explotar un Rolls Royce en TV? (You wrestlers are nuts... How are you going to make a Rolls Royce explode on TV?)
Alberto del Rio: Fácil, el coche era de un mafioso local y la Policia no tenía los papeles del carro, básicamente estaba en un garage, abandonado. (Easy, the car belonged to a local mob boss and the police didn't have the car's documents, it was basically in a garage, unused.)
Marco Ruas: Y contra quién es tu próxima lucha?(And your next match is against who?)
Alberto del Rio: El enterrador, El Undertaker.
Alberto took a sip of his water and looked at Ruas.
Marco Ruas: EEEEEL Undertaker? La leyenda? (THEEEE Undertaker? The Legend?)
Alberto del Rio: Si, el está ahí en la EBWF. Tenemos una lucha el Lunes. (Yes. He's at EBWF. We have a match on monday).
Marco Ruas: Me puedes conseguir un autografo? (Can you get me an autograph?)
Alberto del Rio: Pensé que no te gustaba la lucha libre... Quieres boletos también? (I thought you didn't like Wrestling... Do you want tickets too?)
Marco Ruas: Pendejo! (idiot!)
Both men laughed as Alberto placed his bottle down, moving over towards the sandbag, which Marco held with his hands. Alberto began throwing rights and lefts at the bag, making sure his technique is polished... Using his shoulder and his waist to give an extra boost to the jab, twisting his leg and lifting his ankle a little. Ruas always wanted him to be a MMA star, he trained him over 10 years ago... He took him to Japan where he had a few matches. Despite Alberto's record of 8 wins and 2 losses, wrestling in his blood ended up turning him towards Lucha Libre in Mexico, a choice that gutted Ruas, eventhough he had never told Alberto.
FEBRUARY 12, 2012 - BANKERS LIFE FIELDHOUSE - INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.
Alberto looked impatient as he walked back and forth inside his locker room; a fully equipped room with 50 inch LED screen, fine furniture and even a mini bar. He muttered in Spanish as he walked back and forth. The door swung open and Alberto's attention turned to the door where Ricardo Rodriguez was standing in the doorway, completely dressed in black with a woolen skully over his head.
Alberto del Rio: Porque tardaste tanto?
(What took you so long?)
Ricardo Rodriguez: Perdoneme señor!
(Sorry, sir)
Alberto walked towards a nearby mirror and smiled confidently at his reflection.
Alberto del Rio: donde andabas? Pensé que iba a tener que contratar a alguien para anunciarme.
(Where were you anyway?I thought I was going to have to hire someone to announce me. )
Ricardo Rodriguez: Ehhh... Estaba haciendo unas vueltas! Está listo señor?
(Uhhh... I was doing some stuff! Are you ready sir?)
Alberto del Rio: Porque no dejas de preguntar pendejadas y vas y te vistes más bien? A trabajar!
(Why don't you stop asking nonsense and go dress yourself? You have work to do!)
Ricardo Rodriguez: está usted muy alterado señor!
(You're really angry sir!)
Alberto de Rio: Pero por supuesto que estoy alterado Ricardo! Ese monstruo mugroso me arruinó el coche! El Rolls Royce! Como no voy a estar molesto! A caso debo estar feliz? Encima de todo tengo que luchar con el hermano del fenomeno ese ahorita! Me voy a vengar de ese par de monstruos.
(Of course I am angry Ricardo! That filthy monster ruined my car! My Rolls Royce! How can I be not angry? Should I be happy instead? On top of it all I have to wrestle against that freak's brother later!I'll have my revenge against those two monsters.)
Ricardo Rodriguez: Calmese señor! Así no va a estar concentrado para cuando entre al cuadrilatero y podría perder la lucha!
(Calm down sir! Otherwise you might lose focus and even the match!)
Alberto del Rio: No puedo! Estoy de mal humor!
(I can't I'm in a bad mood!)
Ricardo Rodriguez: Tengo algo que lo va a alegrar! Sigame por favor, señor.
(I have something that will cheer you up! Please follow me, sir.)
Alberto looked at Ricardo with a puzzled expression on his face as the personal ring announcer walked out of the locker room, the Mexican Aristocrat followed. Both men walked through the backstage area and into the parking lot, where Ricardo smiled and stood next to a white Rolls Royce, very similar to the one which was exploded by Kane last week. Alberto looked at Ricardo.
Alberto del Rio: de donde lo sacaste?
(Where did you get it from?)
Ricardo smiled and shrugged, it was better if Alberto didn't know. Ricardo opened the door of the driver's seat and signaled for Alberto to hop on... As he opened the window Fozzy blasted through the car's sound system. Alberto looked at Ricardo rather suspiciously.
Alberto del Rio: No sabía que te gustaba esa clase de música.
(I didn't know you were into that type of music.)
Ricardo chuckled playfully and nodded. Alberto jumped into the car, the camera zoomed in to show the car has been hotwired, Alberto's head turned at Ricardo.
Ricardo Rodriguez: Señor, perdoneme! Perdí las llaves.
(Sir, forgive me! I lost the keys.)
Alberto got his hands on the wheel and looked at his personal ring announcer.
Alberto del Rio: Eso va a salir de tu salario! Andale, aparcame el coche.
(You'll be paying that from your salary. Now, park the car.)
Alberto walked out of the car and Ricardo got in. Del Rio leaned against the car and smiled. As soon as he stopped leaning and turned around, the white paint of the car was on the back of his pants, with the original black pain exposed. Del Rio inspected closely, running a finger along the hood, his finger ended up painted white.
Alberto del Rio: Que diablos está pasando Ricardo?
(What the hell is going on Ricardo?)
Ricardo got off the car and sighed. The camera panned out to show two police officers and Chris Jericho standing behind them. Ricardo turned around and yelped, running for the hills. Alberto still didn't quite get what was going on, but the sight of the two blue guys was enough for him to back off and run behind his ring announcer as the scene faded to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Alberto was already changed into his ring attire, probably due to having white paint smeared on his taylor made white suit. Ricardo Rodriguez sat on the couch, still panting. Ricardo seemed worried.
Alberto del Rio: en tu vida vuelvas a hacer eso! O te corro! Que estabas pensando?
(Don't ever do that again! Otherwise I'll fire you! What were you thinking?)
Ricardo shrugged.
Ricardo Rodriguez: No quiero que de desconcentre para su lucha! Además, Kane arruinó su coche! Es por eso que está molesto verdad señor?
(I don't want you to lose focus for your match! Also, Kane wrecked your car!That's the reason why you're angry, right sir?)
Alberto del Rio: pues si hombre, pero no vas a arreglar nada robandote otro coche. El coche no importa! Puedo comprar diez coches mejores que ese. Tu sabes que a mi no me interesa lo material... Está es una cuestión de honor! Ese adefecio del demonio quiere jugar conmigo, ponerme a prueba a ver si me quiebro, pues se quedará esperando! Al final lo único que se va a quebrar es su brazo.
(Well, yes man, but you are not fixing anything by stealing another car! The car doesn't even matter! I can buy ten cars better than that one! You know I don't care about objects... This is a matter of honor. That abomination from hell wants to play with me, put me to test to see if I break, In the end the only thing that will break is his arm )
The dialogue between boss and employee was interrupted by Michael Cole, who stood next to them with a Microphone in hand.
Michael Cole: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to EBWF Warfare I'm Michael Cole and al...
Alberto del Rio: What do you think you doing?
Michael Cole: Doing my Job?
Alberto del Rio: Does your job include entering to my locker room without asking for permission? Ricardo, tu llamaste a este papanatas?
(Ricardo, did you call this good for nothing)
Ricardo shook his head.
Michael Cole: Alberto, tonight you'll be facing Kane's brother, the Undertaker... What are your thoughts?
Alberto del Rio: I would rather be facing Kane to settle the score once and for all... But still here I am, facing his brother. I guess it would help me send Kane a message, my victory over the Undertaker of course!
Michael Cole: Alberto, have you seen Kane after the incident at Warfare?
Alberto del Rio: Nisiquiera lo he buscado. (I haven't even looked for him) You see Michael, when you come from a wealthy family where sportsmanship, courage, valor, and humility are the main principles, you don't moan and pout and cry over a very expensive car, in fact, before you interrupted us I was telling my good man Ricardo here that with Kane it is not about money... He made my car explode, because he thinks he is going to get inside my head with that... But being the devil that he is, he knows that there are things much, much, much more valuable than money and wealth.
Ricardo Rodriguez: O sea que si me va a dar el aumento señor? (So you're giving me the raise I asked for sir?)
Alberto turned to Ricardo.
Alberto del Rio: Que no ves que estoy ocupado? (Can't you see I'm busy?)
Alberto turned his attention back to Michael Cole.
Alberto del Rio: Continue.
Michael Cole: Tonight you'll be facing the Deadman, a former breakout champion here in EBWF.
Alberto del Rio: Exactamente! Exactly, did you see what he said? FORMER... What did he say, Ricardo?
Ricardo Rodriguez: FORMER.
Alberto del Rio: Correct, now I'm glad you mentioned that...
Ricardo Rodriguez: FORMER.
Alberto del Rio: Because...
Ricardo Rodriguez: FORMER.
Alberto del Rio: That's enough Ricardo.
Ricardo Rodriguez: FORMER!
Alberto del Rio: CALLATE! (Shut up!) Anyway Miguel...
Michael Cole: Michael.
Alberto del Rio: Eso dije, Miguel. (That's what I said, Michael). You brought up quite an interesting issue, because as far as I remember, the Undertaker has been on the business for way too long, now how can that be considered as breakthrough? The Breakout title is a title for rookies, para luchadores del kinder! (For kindergarten wrestlers!) And Undertaker couldn't hold that title for a decent period of time... Que vergüenza! Que desgracia! (What a shame! What a disgrace!)
Alberto turned to Ricardo, to seek his approval, the ring announcer nodded and made a disgusted face.
Alberto del Rio: My point is Miguel. Undertaker is past his prime, always recurring to his old magic tricks, lightning, mist, eerie music... If he's trying to impress me he's doing a very poor job! Undertaker might have once be a man who inspired fear and respect, but now he's just another guy who is too full of himself to call it a day. On the other hand I don't have any apparent unnatural abilities, I don't get my powers from some urn, nor I like to hang out at graveyards... However, I am... Well, without a doubt the most athletic, disciplined, technically gifted superstar in the whole world. I don't have any special effects to scare people... But I have seen the fear in people's eyes when they are locked in my submission maneuver. I'm not breakout, I am not up an coming... I am the present of this company!
Michael Cole: I'm pretty sure a victory over the Phenom would add up to your momentum! And it would show the EBWF that you mean business!
Alberto del Rio: I don't think I have to prove anything to anyone Miguel, those who take me for granted will perish when they're locked in my rompebrazos cruzado (Cross Armbreaker). Do you even know where I come from? Do you know what I've achieved in my career? A victory over the Phenom would be the same as a victory over Brian Kendrick, Zack Ryder or Paul London... With one slight difference.
Michael Cole: What might that be?
Alberto del Rio: Tonight's match will allow me to send a message to that monstruo asqueroso Kane, his brother will be the target to all my punishment, my anger and my thirst for justice.
Michael Cole: Because of the car incident?
Alberto del Rio: MIGUEL, ERES TARADO O QUE? (Michael, are you stupid or something?) Why do people think it is all about money! This is a matter of honor... The man mocked me, the man set my car on fire, and he would do it again, and again, and again AND AGAIN... if he had the chance. Should I stop buying expensive cars? No, I wouldn't give up my fine taste in cars because people think by wrecking them they will get inside my head... That doesn't mean I won't be looking for retribution... And if you remember me saying money is not important, you might conclude what type of retribution I am looking forward to. So Kane, from the depths of hell or wherever you are right now... Make sure you don't miss a second of my match against your beloved brother, don't even blink; because it could be you in that ring, and trust me I hope it is you in that ring with me really, really soon.
Michael Cole: Are you issuing a challenge to Kane?
Alberto del Rio: Miguel, the challenge was on the moment he made the poor choice of eliminating me from the rumble... He wants to play his little games? Be my guest in the end it will be him and me in that very ring... And whoever plays with fire gets burned! Tonight it is all about the Undertaker, it is about beating him, breaking his arm, making him suffer, making him pay... Sadly that is the only way I can deliver a message... I'm not to be messed with! Now if you excuse me, I have a very old man awaiting for me to put him to rest... He says rest in peace... Well I say I'm going to make him rest in pieces!
Alberto's serious face shifted to his pedantic, pompous full of himself smirk. He folded his arms over his broad pectorals as the scene faded to black.
