Triple Threat - Rise to Glory Finals - European Championship
PETE DUNNE© vs. TJP s. BOBBY ROODE
Special Guest Referee: AJ STYLES

RISE TO GLORY. This was what he has worked towards. This was what he had wanted for so long. This was his chance, his moment and he was not going to let it slip through his fingers. It was only a month ago that he had tasted his first ever defeat in the company and with that defeat he had lost his championship as well. To say that he felt naked without it would be a lie - he could not live without it and it was for that reason he had fought so hard to claw his way right back to the top and now here he was once again, right back in the main event were he belongs and he was going to remain there. This night was going to end only one way, this night was going to end with TJP as the winner, as the champion and as the man that would move on to face and defeat AJ Styles.

TJP was backstage as he normally was and he was prepared. He had his headphones in and he was warming up backstage. He did not have one man that needed to be defeated tonight, he had two - he had his hands full this time around, but for him it was just another night - just another chance for him to steal the show and he was going to do just that. His eyes were closed, but there was a smirk on his face as he jumped from one foot onto the other on the same spot, flicking his arms outwards as he would loosen himself up. It was the main event tonight - he had to be at his best to get the job done. His eyes opened as he looked into the camera, the smirk would only stretch that much wider as he did what he did best - talk about the men he would face - the men he would defeat - the men he would prove that he was better than.

“There are those backstage who have been bugging me all week - who have been pulling me to the side and bending my ear and asking me what on earth I am going to do tonight. I mean it is known that last month in a title match I got knocked on my back hard and I got beaten and now people are thinking that it is going to happen once again, for the second time I am going to get beaten and now people are asking what on earth I am going to do. What on earth is my strategy.”

TJP would raise his hand upwards to his face as it would cover his mouth as he rubs it. It was true, all of the words that left his lips were the truth as everyone who had any worth had been asking him just what he was going to do to ensure that he was the one who won the match and reclaimed the title he should never had lost in the first place.

“My strategy is the same strategy that I used when I was carrying superstars as well as companies since I started wrestling. It is the same strategy when I took on Trent Seven and made my name, it is going to be the same strategy that I used when I stood down all my challengers when I was champion, and it is the same strategy that I am have been using ever since I came here. The strategy is simple. I use my faith in myself to help guide me, and I respect whoever is on my level and when I hold respect for someone, it brings the best out of me, every single time. I have always come out on top, and I have always gone on to lead the companies I have been in as their top guy. The same is no different here. You can call me old in my ways, but it works. Now as far as the number one contendership is concerned that is on the line tonight - in my thoughts AJ Styles should be stripped of the title and whomever wins should be handed the title, because truly - what has he done with that title since winning it? He has done nothing with the title - when I held the European Title - all eyes were on me, he was opening the shows and I was closing them - he is a weak champion and the fact that he is not competing tonight shows that. All eyes are on me - all eyes are focused on me and the world wants TJP as not only there European Champion, but also as there World Champion as well.”

TJP pauses for a moment. He takes a deep breath before continuing, speaking through the same chilling smile that was on his face.

“As good as my opponents are, I am just that much better than them. I will take what’s mine. But don’t get me wrong, don’t get me wrong now. I am not knocking my opponents tonight, no. In fact, I am a big fan of both my opponents. I respect them, and I really look forward to beating them in the main event tonight. I mean, let’s look at Pete Dunne, he’s a great wrestler… probably the best wrestler in the company based on sheer talent alone. But when I look at Pete Dunne, I can’t help but think of my own missed opportunity. You see, back in my home country - I am sort of an icon - the most famous wrestler to ever come from there and the notion of opening a wrestling school popped in my head, but I shook it off and focused on my own career and pushed myself to be the best in the world. I only wish that back in when I was on the move, that I had crossed paths with Pete Dunne - that I was offering training, because if I did Pete Dunne would have been better than he is. Instead, Pete Dunne had a mediocre trainer who didn’t deserve him or any of his students. But enough about washed up failures. Pete Dunne, to be honest is going to be a test for me. Pete Dunne has traveled around the world and wrestled against some of the best in the world. He could easily out wrestle me like he done last month, and that’s what scares me a little. Not a whole lot, but it does a bit. Pete Dunne has so much potential and I really think that once he applies that potential he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in this company, but that time is not right now. Sure, he’s great, and he’s fantastic in the ring. But Pete Dunne is not ready to be the guy to carry this company into another year. Maybe by next year he will be, maybe in a couple of months, but not right now. The simple fact is Pete Dunne doesn’t know how to carry companies like I do.. I was wrestling Trent Seven and Randy Orton, to stars of this business… Pete Dunne was stuck wrestling basically children. Pete Dunne is not ready… yet. I am. I have been for years.”

TJP points to himself for a bit of emphasis. The real main event takes a quick breather to let his point soak in. His arrogance is really showing through his claims about Pete Dunne capability to carry a company, which seems to be a big point of interest on the one true gamers mind. He turns and faces the camera and, still smiling starts to speak again.

“But like I said Pete Dunne, I am a little afraid of wrestling you. You are, hands down the best technical wrestler I’ve seen in years. In fact Pete Dunne, you can probably wrestle circles around me before I could even get you in a headlock. You have done it before and you might do it again should I let my guard down. But don’t let that fool you and go to your head. Because once I do get that one headlock in, then I’ll show you why everyone who has ever stepped into the ring with me has been bested. I may not be able to twist and tie you into a thousand and six different holds, goodness no. But I can stop you in your tracks and manipulate you in that ring to do whatever I will you to do. That’s what experience gives me. That’s what being the top guy of so many different organizations does to you, you learn to take on anyone, no matter their size, talent, or experience. Maybe one day you will learn to as well, but as far as tonight goes Pete Dunne, I’m going to show you what experience can do, and you, the submission expert is going to TAP OUT! As good as you are, being the only man who has bested me - will not change anything. This is my main event - your just someone here to lay down for me and make me look good!”

As if he couldn’t hold it any longer, the elitist attitude that hid behind TJP smile has busted through. Now, more smirking than smiling, TJP chuckles a bit at his last statement.

“Then there’s Bobby Roode, as you know is also a former world champion in so many different places, and a man that has reached the top, much like me. However, and this is the biggest difference between us, is that Bobby Roode has never won a championship of worth. No matter how much Bobby Roode will try and try to argue, TNA was never a real world-wide wrestling organization. He doesn’t know what it takes to be a real world champion. He was wrestling in bingo halls whilst I was selling our arenas in my homeland.. While Bobby Roode was making his name wrestling against jokes of wrestlers, I was one of the biggest names in my country. But I’m not taking anything against Bobby Roode in his abilities. Bobby Roode has been in this business long enough to where he is a viable contender for any championship he pleases. He could easily be the World Champion and be the face of this company. But he’s not going to be. He’s going to fizzle out and fall off the ladder. Tonight, Bobby Roode is going to learn while yes, he can be the top guy, he’s not cut out for it the same way that I am. Bobby Roode is a great wrestler he really is, when he puts his mind to it, but that’s the problem I am talking about. He phones in so much of what he does in the ring, that it hurts any reasonable thinking saying Bobby Roode can be world champion. I’ve seen it for the past couple years that I seen Bobby Roode wrestle. Yes he talks the talk, but when it comes to getting in the ring and walking, Bobby Roode half-asses it… pardon me. But it's that attitude that is going to throw Bobby Roode off tonight, and it's exactly what I am going to capitalize on tonight. Bobby Roode like Pete Dunne is only in this match for one reason - to make me look good - hell he can make me look glorious if he wanted.”

Again like last time, TJP pauses. He tilts his head up a bit and he takes a quick breath. He then turns to the camera again, still smiling with the arrogant grin that he’s had the whole promo he was cutting on the men he was going to not only face, but defeat as well..

“We know each other. Pretty well I think too. You have been here a long time. You and I, we’ve been watching one another for some time - we have been waiting for this moment for some time. So with that in mind, you know what I can do, and I know what you’re going to and not going to do tonight. What you are going to do is come out here do your routine that you’ve done since you were in TNA, with the locks and the old routine, something I’ve countered in a dozen wrestlers like you… you know that I have come up against it and overcome it. You’re going to do what you always do Bobby Roode, put on a half baked performance. And what you are not going to do Bobby Roode, is win tonight. What you are not going to do is get the best of TJP. WHAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO ROB IS ME OF BEING CHAMPION!”

At this, TJP eyes narrows as he glares into the camera. His smile has shifted into a grimace, showing how serious he is when he makes the claim he just did. There is a pause, as he lets a sigh escape him as he then speaks.

“Excuse me, I got a bit carried away there. But I mean each and every word I say. Neither Bobby Roode, nor Pete Dunne have what it takes to be the next World Champion, let alone number one contender. Pete, he’s not ready yet. He will be, rest assured and I hope when that time comes that its me he challenges. But Bobby Roode, Bobby Roode isn’t capable of staying champion longer than a couple weeks, because Bobby Roode doesn’t put his whole heart into this business anymore. He just doesn’t. He phones in his matches each time he is booked. That’s why he has done nothing of note here. Tonight I am going to win. There’s no doubt in my mind that that is the case. My faith in myself says so, my instinct says so, and pure common sense says so. And then next month, I will beat AJ Styles to become the WORLD CHAMPION! I really hope both of them, Pete Dunne and Bobby Roode are ready for this match tonight, because I know I am. Tonight, I make my presence known here, and there’s nothing neither Bobby Roode, nor Pete Dunne can do about it… IT’S GAME OVER FOR THEM.”

With that, TJP stops talking. He had said what was needed now as he slowly put his headphones back on as his music started to play once more. He was ready for the match, he was ready for these men and he was ready to take back everything he had lost.