Recovering from an injury, even a minor one as the one he was suffering was a pain in the neck. This thigh injury was definitely something... Ken could walk, he could walk fast. He could also kneel. Ken couldn't throw kicks, jump, run, sprint or anything similar... It meant he could still appear on screen and even work the occasional match, taking into account the limitations mentioned above.
Dr. Clemente thought it would be better if he laid off for 6 weeks and allowed his tear to heal up completely, but Ken was reluctant to give up his spotlight, that spotlight and hard work which had costed him so much to earn. Ken has witnessed how much an injury could affect a superstar's momentum, he wasn't having any of it. Sacrifice was just around the corner and Ken had a big defense against not one but two impressive superstars... Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler. Ken had flown to Minneapolis for the show early and was just getting therapy on his leg to speed up his recovery.
He hated going to therapy, it seemed like a pain in the ass to go to some office and dress down to shorts and a T-shirt, to get cold and hot pads on your leg for an hour. He still had to do it if he wanted to heal up quickly. Ken was having his morning session and his cellphone went off... He picked it up and pulled it closer to his ear.
Ken Anderson: Anderson...
???? ??????: How is my million dollar man?
Ken Anderson: Hey! How is it going? I hadn't heard from you since monday... Not that we spoke eye to eye, but I heard what you said. What do you have in mind?
???? ?????: Me? Well, I want you guys to be remembered for ages. Sure, you've got your title... But how much is it worth? What are you doing to give it legitimacy and what is it doing to give you legitimacy? People has seen you are injured on television, but they don't know what happens behind the curtain, they don't know you didn't want to drop the belt for an injury... Now all you need is to work all that passion through and put it on the ring.
Ken Anderson: You know, all of the fans know I am under no condition to compete... So you're kind of right.
???? ?????: Being a champion is a symbiotic relationship... The belt gives you as much as you give it. No one gives a damn about championships if they don't care about the wrestler who is holding them. Why else do you think that Cena kid stood on he pinnacle of WWE on his stay there? He sold shirts like bread! Everyone in the Make a Wish Foundation wanted to meet him! What did he get in return? The belt and the paycheck, the cheers... You've shown everyone you love the sport by keeping it with an injury... Now it is time to show them.
Ken Anderson: Rended unable to compete... Ken might have to bend the rules a little huh?
???? ?????: Now we're talking!
Ken Anderson: I thought I might be using the cane I brought out last week?
???? ??????: Perfect... Perfect! I love how everyone relates a Sledgehammer to Triple H, and I liked how for a while everyone related a chain to your feud with AJ Styles. it is time to bring that back! Also, how would you like some company on this? You know, besides me?
Ken Anderson: So, someone has already reached out for you?
???? ?????: Maybe, maybe not. You'll find out at Sacrifice... I like true emotions being shown on screen.
Ken Anderson: Keeping even talent on the edge of their seats... Typical you!
???? ?????: Guilty as charged. I would love you retain at Sacrifice and build this new thing we're working on with championship material... If you know what I mean.
Ken Anderson: You talked to Styles?!?!?!?!?!
???? ?????: WOAH! WOAH! Spoiler alert there! Mind you? I'll see you on Sunday and tell you everything.
Ken Anderson: Alright...
He hung up and smiled. He had something going on, ever since he had came in contact with him it was as if he had submerged him in a sea of potential wrestling ideas.
EBWF.NET EXCLUSIVE PROMO
The scene faded from black to what looked like the backstage area of an arena, Ken Anderson was wearing his black ASSHOLE trucker cap, and his intercontinental title belt over his shoulder, he chewed bubble gum and looked straight into the camera.
Ken Anderson: You know, it has been a while since I have been featured on this website... Not that I missed it I have to confess. After all, I have no interest whatsoever in a group of lousy clickers and porn watchers... Nor the wrestlers I follow. Seriously, self advertising is quite sad! If they want to see me in action for example... My best advice would be to lay off their computers and tune in to EBWF programming.
He sighed.
Ken Anderson: I was told to come up here and talk about my next match... As if there weren't more important things to talk about, given the recent events that had taken place at EBWF. So, here I am on the internet... And I'm about to give you an update on me. Most likely, my opponents will do the same, as they are regularly around here... Shooting videos, tweeting this and that... I really see twitter as a good way to interact with fans and all that but is it really needed to tweet: "Waking up... "followed up with "Breakfast time..." and then "Lunch... "? Makes me sick! Do they really tweet everything? Even when taking a dump? That's stupid... Then again, my opponents apparently fit well in that definition.
Ken shrugged.
Ken Anderson: So at Sacrifice I will be putting my Intercontinental title on the line against not only one but two men, who are apparently an item? Or so I've heard? I have been victim of homosexualism claims while I worked with Goldust I feel it is my turn to do the same, isn't it how it works? Anyway, my opponents are Swagger and Ziggler... I'm not surprised they are my opponents you know? They're the only ones in the roster I haven't met and defeated... The rest have all been pinned by me.
He shook his head.
Ken Anderson: I'd also like to personally thank Nicole Ikeda for the opportuntity she has given me, this huge shot, this Sunday match could really mark my career...
Thank you Nicole for giving me the opportunity to worsen my medical condition!
Thank you Nicole for the shot you've given me at losing my Intercontinental title!
Thank you Nicole for giving me a match that could really mark... The end of my career!
Ken just clapped slowly.
Ken Anderson: Do you think I am going to stay here, arms folded, seeing how you screw me out of my title? out of my spotlight? Think again sweetie and place your butt on a chair on Sunday and watch the show because I am going to show you that messing with me isn't a wise choice at all.
And I'm not talking about bullshit like stalking you and killing your puppy or any psycho shit... I am talking about your deepest fear... Losing your audience, loosing the company and being dubbed as "The Ikeda who flushed EBWF down the toilet"... Think about it, toots.
Ken got closer to the camera.
Ken Anderson: Now on to Ziggler and Swagger, I have nothing personal against them... But I have to set a record straight. After all, Ziggler wanted to take advantage of my current condition a couple of weeks ago during our match at Warfare huh?
Tsk.Tsk. He shook his head.
Ken Anderson: That's kinda sick and twister... But you couldn't blame the kid then and you can't blame him now. EBWF lacks moral. Let's go through the facts... I get INJURED while on duty... No compensation whatsoever.
Ken Slowly raised his voice as he spoke to the camera.
Ken Anderson: I get booked in a match and my opponent tries to take advantage of my injury... I walk out of the match to protect my integrity and everything is fine.
Ken's voice went louder.
Ken Anderson: I get an MRI which states I am injured and need surgery... I am booked for Sacrifice! And not only that, I am booked in a no Disqualification, no count out, triple threat match! Need more Immorality? My two opponents are tag team partners and friends... Go figure.
Ken continued shaking his head.
Ken Anderson: Is this the kind of treatment we get from the Ikeda family? Getting our asses worked off until we break? Making us fight our friends and tag team partners to death for a title belt? I am certainly not having that!
Ken stared straight into the camera.
Ken Anderson: I am sick and tired of getting pushed and kicked around, mocked on Television by the Ikeda family and bullied to defend my title while I am injured! I've had enough of this... I don't care what tactics I have to use, but in the end I will rise above my opponents...
Ken raised his belt over his shoulder.
Ken Anderson: I don't care if Swagger and Ziggler have already made a game plan, or a pact to hold the belt together, I don't care if they are going to fight over the belt and stop being all buddy-buddy! All I care about is retaining what I rightfully earned! It is clear I am the most likely superstar to get beat on tonight's match but that doesn't mean I can't have a strategy of my own to even things up... It is only fair isn't it? I am injured, my opponents can get injured as well? Just sayin'
Ken smirked.
Ken Anderson: You don't like it? Well, you can't blame me... Blame Nicole Ikeda. I could be resting my injury off, getting my surgery and everything I need to heal up... But nooooooo... She said I have to forfeit my title belt. HAH!
Ken scoffed.
Ken Anderson: Now, Ziggler calls himself a showoff... How is he going to show off against a man who isn't at a hundred percent? Is he a showoff or just an opportunist? Wasn't he some sort of glorified college wrestler? That speaks so highly about his moral... The same goes for the All American American, Jack Swagger who represented the United States of america at some point in wrestling, is he really going to mess with an injured man? Tha's sick and twisted...
Ken stared into the camera, his blue eyes piercing a hole through the lens.
Ken Anderson: Don't expect me to just stand here, crossing my arms while I get screwed out of my title! I won't have a Minneapolis Screwjob at Sacrifice! You know I am no boy scout, right? Hell! Even John Cena isn't a boy scout these days! What I am trying to say is... I will do ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING to win at Sacrifice... Expect the occasional belt bash on the skull and blood on the mat on Sunday, because I will defend this even if it means I have to lose my leg or kill someone in the process. Show off all you want, sway your ass on your way to the ring, do push ups and pose while I am down... When the time comes, all it takes is a little help from MY title to get you knocked out... As I stated before, there's not a chance I'm going to stalk princess Ikeda... I find it completely pointless... Ikeda's have money, security... Jericho and Kendrick have shown there's no use in bullying them. So I suggest Nicole to pay close attention to what will happen tonight, it might give her a hint to what I'm up to.
Ken Anderson: I can already hear Ziggler and Swagger talking about how they have the upper hand, about how either of them will become the newIntercontinental champion at my expense... About how I am outdated and past my prime! Sadly, that is not too far away from the truth... Is it? I had been kept under the shadow of guys like Cena and Orton for over three years now... Three years of being that guy who almost became World champion, who almost won the rumle... Maybe someday I will almost join the Hall of Fame? I can't let that happen... Tonight the two hunters will become hunted, and those who have kept me away from glory will witness the beginning of a new path... And if the fans don't like it? There's the remote... I get paid in the end, regardless of the ratings.
Ken turned around and walked away as the scene faded to black.
