Persona (My WWE Career)

NXT Episode 1

"This is insane!"

"You got to be kidding!"

"I have my rights!"

"I can't fight!"

Vince McMahon tried to calm the entire staff down. "Alright, alright... I know that news was shocking and some of you may not like the idea, but we are going under. If you value you job, you'd understand. It won't be forever. In fact, I plan to double your salary should you decide to go with the plan."

The plan seemed like a good idea. World Wrestling Entertainment filed for bankruptcy. Many of the wrestlers were fired in this process, mostly from their start-up brand NXT. With the lack of wrestlers, WWE planned to use non- wrestlers as jobbers, or people induced to lose to better wrestlers. Immoral, but it does save a lot of money. Plus, who won't wanna double their salary?

"So, who wants to face Ryback in this week's NXT?!" Yeesh, didn't expect anyone to do it anymore. Ryback is a monster. He's known to have a questionable move set, known to cause serious injury. Plus, he's all muscle. Sure, that's sounds easy to stop, but once you get close to him, you can't help to feel intimidated.

Staff started to revolt. "Woah, woah. Must I remind you who gives you a paycheck?!" I decided to leave the staff room meeting. If I wanted to get screamed at, I'd be a teacher.

*

Left, left, jab, dodge left, fake right! There's an opening! Uppercut! Bam! TKO! TKO! The crowd goes wild! "Damn..." Sami Zayn lies on the floor. I grab his hand. "You're good kid. Real good. I don't understand why you're settling to be a creative writer. Why not join the talent?" He always asks that. One of the few wrestlers that show me the ropes was him. I was in the NXT training room, practicing with him.

"Because WWE needs grapplers, high flyers, and monsters. They don't bother with boxers." I grab a drink of water.

"Still you show potential. If you need a recommendation, I'm your man." Sami started to leave until I asked him a question.

"Hey Sam... What do you think of the whole staff-wrestler thing?" He took a minute to pause.

"Well..." He grabbed his own water bottle. "It's unethical if they do this against their will. I mean, I dreamed of being in the WWE for a long time; however, if you're forced against your will, even if you're being bribed... I don't know man." We both sit at a nearby bench. "How about you? You thinking of-"

"Dude, do you know who you're talking to?" He smiled. "It was my dream to be in WWE, but they look for talent, not creativity." I pour the rest of my water on me. "Sigh.... It's all muscle at this point." Zayn sighed.

"It ain't in the muscle. It's in the heart. All you have to do is-"

"I swear, if you say Bo-lieve, I swear to Jebus... I'm gonna start drinking..."

"You're still upset about Punk?" Ah yes... CM Punk... A wrestler who I inspire to be... Creative and badass at the same time. We both wanna create a revolution in this business. Shame he quit. There was a chance of him returning, but ever since the layoffs, that ship has sailed.

"Nah, just referencing him."

"Well kid, if you want, I need someone to back me up in my match. Tyler Breeze and his Paparazzi makes things unfair. I need a manager." Manager huh?

"Fine, but I need a gimmick."

"You know, I've always wanted to have a manager with a disco ball head." I look at him.

"What goes on in your little head?"

*

You know, sometimes I look at NXT and think, "Why?" This show was ruined to the exclusivity to the WWE Network. The whole idea was cool, but it was the main reason that WWE was going under. If they had so much content, why not make a TV show instead of an exclusive Netflix? Could save more money and add more viewers. Perhaps I ws getting sidetracked.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this match is scheduled for one fall!" This disco mask SUCKS! It's very uncomfortable. It's like wearing a Halloween mask. How does Rey Mysterio work with this? "Making his way from the ring, making his seasonal residence, from Vancouver, British Columbia, with his Paparazzi weighing 195 pounds, TYLER BREEZE!"

We see him pass by us and I admit, I felt a breeze. "Sorry." Sami whispers. I gave him a push.

"And his opponent..."

"Get ready Persona Discoman."

"Disco-wha?"

"...from Montreal, Canada, weighing 205 pounds, along with Persona Discoman-"

"Persona, don't speak and just dance. It's part of the gimmick."

"I don't like this gimmick. Can't I be myself?"

"In this company? Doubt it."

"SAMI ZAYN!"

*

So I danced. Waved my arms like a just don't care. Acted like one of those joke characters. Hell, I even started a wave after running at ringside. Sure, I pushed like... 5 Paparazzi people, but I'll deal with the charges later. Sami lost by a Breeze shot, but hey, it was a fair fight.

You know that awkward moment of leaving the ring defeated? What goes through your mind? Depression? Failure? The key thing in WWE is to be confident. WWE wrestlers who lose drop their ego. I'm glad I'm not a wrestler.

I carried Sami out of the arena. We walked the ramp back to backstage. "Don't worry, you'll get him next time." One of the weirdest things about Sami is that he always smiles when he gets backstage. "Sami?"

He looks at me. "Huh? Oh, sorry."

"What's wrong? Other than being defeated..." His grin expands.

"I talked to Vince and the creative team before the match. You're going to be against Ryback next." WHAT?! "First, I'm being attacked by Ryback in order for him to get pushed. When he comes here, you're gonna run." Dammit creative...

*

The camera man ran toward me. I kept carrying Sami back to his locker room until... I opened the door to see a big behemoth man in Zayn's locker room. Ryback. "FEED ME!!!" Well shit... He grabbed Sami like he was tissue and slammed him into a vending machine. Shit! Gotta go! I ran as fast as possible. If it were possible, I'd save him, but not like this. Not with twig arms. I ran for my life. "FEED ME MORE!" Crap, crap, crap!

I ran my ass into the ring. Ryback's theme music came on. Alright, alright... Stick with the joke gimmick a bit longer. As I ran, I circled around the ring, creating the wave again. I'm terrified, but I need to stick with the gimmick. Sticking to the script, I slid back to the ring. "FEED ME MORE!" Well, my ass is screwed. Ryback ran to the ring, smiling. He grabs a mic with his huge hands. "So... You think you can just waltz around in NXT? Hang with the big dogs? You're just dead meat."

I couldn't stand heels. If he wins, he'll just continue with the bad guy gimmick; however, if by a long shot, if I win...