Matt Striker: "I am here with a man that could very well become a four time World Champion when the night is over with. CM Punk, first let me congratulate you for ranking number one in the PWI 500."
The challenger stopped pacing back and forth in his locker room located in the Mizzou Arena. He lifted a finger and spun it in a quick circle while rolling his eyes. Clearly, that was not the accomplishment he sought. They could put him on the top of a list but it meant nothing to him if he didn't have a World Title to go along with it. He sought to rectify that situation tonight. Already dressed in his ring gear, with a black hooded jacket over his torso, he finished tearing the white tape from his wrists, which had two bright red "X's" drawn on the portion covering his knuckles. He wasn't particularly in the mood to talk but he never was when he was anxious for a fight.
Matt Striker: "Tonight you will face World Champion Cody Rhodes in our main event for Summer Slam. You won the 2012 King Of The Ring and now you finally receive your chance to once again reign over this federation."
CM Punk: "And who exactly did I beat in the finals to become King Of The Ring? Remind me."
Matt Striker: "Well, that would be Cody Rhodes."
Punk flashed a quick smirk.
CM Punk: "I don't care what anyone says, you aren't nearly as dumb as you look, Striker."
Striker smiled before realizing that was not exactly a compliment. Nonplussed, he carried on.
Matt Striker: "And I'm sure you have heard the comments from Cody Rhodes reguarding yourself."
CM Punk: "I have. I guess I would be insulted if the guy who was passing judgement on me wasn't a nut job who gets off on masquerading as other people. You can't really expect crazy people to be logical. That seems to be a common theme in my career.."
Chicago's favorite son paused to take a trip down memory lane.
CM Punk: "Brian Kendrick was all about chaos and there was no rhyme or reason to anything that he did. Certifiable mad man. John Cena wanted to do everything in his power to hurt me and put me in a wheel chair. Also completely whacked out of his mind. And Cody, from what I can see, tries to push everyone around with fear. Like dumping spiders on AJ Styles or carrying around those bags with pig intestine's or whatever. Problem for him is, I thrive on chaos, I can get through any amount of pain and there is nothing on this Earth that I fear."
Matt Striker: "Cody brought up your past quite a bit as well.."
CM Punk: "He did, didn't he? I've never ran from my past. I used to try to shove my ideals down everyone's throat. I did try to take over this company. And I'm still going to. Just in a different way. My methods may have changed but my goal's are still the same. CM Punk can be a pretty big dick."
A mock look of shock appeared on his face.
CM Punk: "Surprising right? I do and say whatever I want and people can boo me or cheer me. But, ya know, I haven't covered anyone in maggots or scared children or women in the audience lately. I'm not exactly the same person I used to be but it hasn't made me any less successful. Cody said he's not responsible for anything that he does. See, that's where he's wrong. It's his own fault that Kane barbequed his face and left him with some kind of freaky mental complex. He was lazy and unmotivated. And if you're weak in this profession, people will take advantage of you. It takes a good kick in the ass for most people to get out of that rut. For Cody, it took a fireball to the face. So he doesn't get any pity of sympathy from me. Look at this.."
Punk lifted up his jacket to reveal his tightly wrapped ribs.
CM Punk: "All of this is because of him manipulating Kane to attack me. But you don't hear me whining and bitching about it. He also said my life was perfect. Far from it but everything I've got I've EARNED. Cody is the son of Dusty Rhodes. No matter how what kind of talent he possessed, he was going to get a shot in this business. I didn't. I had to work for it. Even this company didn't want CM Punk in the main event until I kicked the door's down and FORCED them to let me in. And this face.."
He motioned a palm in a circular motion around his features.
CM Punk: "..is, as Cody stated, ruggedly handsome. But it's not a face promoters thought people wanted to see. The tattooed guy who looked like he would rob you and wasn't jacked to the gills wasn't on the top of anyone's list. But lo' and behold!"
He spread his arms outwards.
CM Punk: "Here I am and I did it without having to get my face burnt off to push me there. Cody Rhodes is the absolute last hurdle I have to get through to get that World Title back. And I'm going to do it without a paper bag full of guts and without pointing my finger at everyone except the mirror. I'm starting to get a little trigger happy from all the waiting. And when that happens I start throwing round houses and elbows at pedestrians so.."
After waving the announcer way, Striker nodded and took his leave. This left Punk to drift back into his focused state of mind as he began to pace his locker room once more.
