WEDNESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2007
Looking around the room he was in, all El Diablo could see was white. The walls were white, the carpet was white and painted over where a window used to be was, you guessed it, white.
“Are you sure this is legitimate?” queried El Diablo.
Nodding his head, was none other than Ewan Dumbarton, the main interviewer for the internet wrestling news and rumour site idealisticwrestling.org. Dumbarton was a young man, only 27 years of age, with slicked black hair and a bad chin goatee beard. He looked very focused on getting this interview done, as he knew what a rarity it was to have El Diablo engaged in an interview.
“Most people like the simplicity of this room, it relaxes them and allows them to open up during the interview process,” Dumbarton assured him.
Unfortunately for Dumbarton, this setting was not calming for The Master of Manipulation, but most situations aren’t soothing for him. Nonetheless, he was prepared to go through with this interview, in the current location.
“So how’s this thing going to work then? I haven’t done an interview in five years and for all I know things have changed a lot,” El Diablo remarked.
The smartly dressed Dumbarton chuckled, drawing a frown from El Diablo, who thought he was being laughed at.
“Don’t worry El Diablo, the interview will be recorded on tape and I’ll also transcribe it. That way the interview will be uploaded so fans can listen to it and also posted in word form so that fans can read the interview,” Dumbarton moved quick to show El Diablo that he wasn’t laughing at him.
Forcing a polite smile, El Diablo leaned back into the white leather chair he was sat on and focused his eyes on the digital tape recorder that was resting on the glass coffee table between Dumbarton and himself. He stared at it intently as he awaited the beginning of the interview.
“How long will this last?” asked Diablo.
Adjusting his black shirt by rolling the sleeves up, Dumbarton looked at the greasy black haired Mexican, who was wearing his black Affliction t-shirt, blue denim jeans and black sneakers.
“It shouldn’t even be an hour. I have several more interviews lined up, so I can promise you that this won’t run over,” answered Dumbarton.
The Mexican Devil looked back at Dumbarton, who had finished rolling his sleeves up, and noticed how youthful he was and how enthusiastic he seemed about his job, something he himself hadn’t been in recent weeks. This was something he was trying to rectify, starting with this interview.
“Okay, we’re ready to go,” Dumbarton stated.
Despite requesting the interview, El Diablo was still quite nervous about it, as he never has been much of a people person and was a very private person, but he knew full well, going into it that personal questions were certain to come up.
“Welcome to idealisticwrestling.org, this is a very special interview with former PCW and current FUSE wrestler, “The Mexican Devil” El Diablo,” Dumbarton began.
“Thank you,”
“Have you anything to say before I proceed?” he asked.
Leaning forward, so that his voice could be heard by the recorder, El Diablo was prepared.
“Thanks Evan, I’d like to state that this will be my last interview for a long while, and that I requested it because I have something very important to talk about before you proceed with the questions,” Diablo stated clearly.
Dumbarton looked perplexed for a moment before responding.
“It’s Ewan, and I’m privileged that you came to us for this interview, and with that said, the floor is yours,”
Taking the moment to stand up, El Diablo began to wander the room, like he would if he was doing this interview inside the wrestling ring.
“I’m positive that everyone wants to know why I’m doing what I’m doing to Jason Cruise. Well, I don’t have to explain myself, but I will anyway. Jason Cruise took something that was mine, and he destroyed it, so I’m simply getting a measure of revenge. On top of that he stole my LiveWire Title and deprived me of my dignity, so as well as getting revenge, I’m making things personal. He should never have destroyed my family heirloom and for that Cruise will pay, and I’m not taking money for it, I’m taking Marie,”
Surprised by the response, Ewan Dumbarton had watched The Creator of Controversy pace the room, and knowing his reputation, was slightly panicky at what may happen.
“Um,….errrr….well, that leads me to my first question. Why are you targeting Marie?” he stumbled as he asked the question.
Continuing to pace the room, El Diablo smirked a devilish smile.
“I think I just answered that, but to clarify things to you and your listeners, it’s to unnerve Jason, it’s to aid me in getting my LiveWire Title back, she is the edge that I need to wreck Jason’s life, like he’s ruined mine,”
“How has he ruined your life?”
The Master of Manipulation stopped pacing and stood just behind the seated Ewan Dumbarton, leaning forward and over his shoulder. This close proximity to the Mexican madman, had certainly spooked the interviewer slightly, evidenced by the cold sweat dripping down his brow.
“He made me question my self worth, he made me question my future in this business and no one has ever done that to me. I’ve never allowed anyone to affect me in that way, but somehow he has and the only way to stop him from ruining my life even further is to destroy his life before he has the chance to destroy mine,” he answered with pure intensity in his voice.
Fortunately for Dumbarton, El Diablo walked away from being perched over his shoulder and was marching around the room, yet again.
“But, what does Marie really have to do with any of this?”
Hearing this question made The Mexican Devil practically leap in front of Dumbarton with excitement.
“She’s the key to it all. Don’t you see it? She is Jason’s weakness, she makes him beatable. Before, Jason had nothing to worry about but the match he was in, now he has to watch Marie at all times, to make sure that he can protect her, but he can’t and if for some reason he tries to, then BANG!”
This proclamation made Dumbarton jump.
“1-2-3 and he’s beaten. And the best part of it all, is that it will all be his own fault. He will be his own demise, and I’ll again be the LiveWire Champion, like I deserve to be,”
Looking into El Diablo’s eyes, Ewan Dumbarton could see that he was a very deranged human being, with very fragile emotions. The situation made him somewhat frightened, but he knew all too well that this would make a great interview, perhaps comparable with those of Ted Bundy and Charles Manson.
“I know that a lot of fans are wondering why you don’t go after Jason Cruise honourably. Why not ask for your rematch and leave it at that?” Dumbarton asked him curiously.
“Because Jason has no honour. Besides, it wouldn’t be nearly as fun. Jason deserves everything that is going to happen to him and more,” Diablo stated with malice resonating throughout him.
“Sticking to Jason Cruise, but expanding just a little bit, what is your opinion of the newly formed Highwaymen?”
For a man that is never happy, El Diablo surprised Dumbarton with a heavy bout of laughter that resulted in him falling backwards into the chair, that he began the interview sat in.
“Flash in the pan, that’s all they are. While Clinton, Lane, Jeb, The Scourge and I all have mutual respect for each other and true friendship, all the Highwaymen are, are four people who are terrified of The Affliction and chose to team up. Other than standing up to us, what else do they have in common? They have Jonathan Rhine who just talks and talks and talks to anyone that will listen, Jason Cruise who’s only there because he has a Title as there is nothing likeable about him at all, Aimz is the tits and ass to get them some exposure, pardon the pun, and Cyrus Raynes as the silent man who doesn’t really do much of anything. So again I ask, what do they have in common?” Diablo responded full of exuberance.
Running a hand across his chin, Dumbarton pondered what to ask next, but only for a split second, while The Mexican Devil watched his mannerisms with great interest.
“What is it like being in The Affliction?”
The Creator of Controversy looked down at his Affliction t-shirt and grinned.
“The best career choice I ever made. They are the elite in the wrestling industry and to be a part of that is something special. It isn’t just the lifestyle either, it’s about being the very best,” The Mexican Devil replied.
“Your wife Angela was in PCW, why doesn’t she join you in FUSE?” Dumbarton quickly moved on to the next question.
Sitting up from the chair, El Diablo’s rare good mood had changed, he was unhappy that something this personal had been asked.
“I’ll only take this one question about her. Her being in PCW nearly wrecked our marriage, because of Flaymin Aymin, so she will never join me in another wrestling company ever again,” he stated solemnly.
Pleasantly surprised at how well the interview was going, other than the Angela question, Dumbarton stood up, as if he was interrogating the seated Mexican Devil.
“Lets move on, to your opponent this week, Carson Riley. What do you think about him?” he asked inquisitively.
“Who?” queried Diablo.
“That guy who challenged people a few weeks back,” a familiar voice said.
Looking around the room again, El Diablo had seen his deceased brother Jorge again. He was standing at the doorway of the room, with a large grin on his face and was wearing the same clothing that he wore on that fateful night that claimed his life. Trying to keep his composure, Diablo nervously looked back at Dumbarton who was standing just out of his chair.
“Errr, he’s nothing. He’s just a loss waiting to happen. Curtis Riley will learn the hard way that he shouldn’t have challenged anyone, let alone me,” he stated confidently, despite his distraction.
“But what if he beats you?” said Jorge.
“HE WON’T!” El Diablo snapped back, in sheer frustration of what he could see as his looming madness.
The shouting prompted Ewan Dumbarton to sit down once more and stare at The Mexican Devil, with a great deal of concern.
“Who won’t?” Dumbarton asked curiously.
El Diablo looked at the doorway, where he could still see Jorge.
“Nothing. Can we just hurry this up?” Diablo responded.
Dumbarton nodded his head as The Master of Manipulation tried in vain to keep his composure.
“Why don’t you tell him about me?” asked Jorge.
Trying with great difficulty to ignore him, The Creator of Controversy closed his eyes for a few seconds, opened them again and Jorge was gone, much to his relief.
“BOO!”
Leaping out of his chair, El Diablo turned around and saw Jorge stood laughing behind the chair.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?” shrieked Diablo.
“Just having some fun. It’s been nineteen years since I last had some fun. You know that, you were there,” Jorge replied.
Shaking his head, Diablo turned around, and could see a look of bewilderment written all over Ewan Dumbarton’s face.
“Who are you talking to? Are you okay to go on with this interview?” he asked.
“I’M FINE! Lets just finish this thing,” Diablo barked back.
The Mexican Devil sat back down, but could feel something prodding into the back of his head, this irritation was steadily increasing his temperament.
“What brought you out of retirement?” Dumbarton casually asked him in an attempt to relax El Diablo.
Trying to think of an answer was becoming difficult for The Mexican Devil as the constant prodding was becoming an immense distraction for him. He covered his eyes with his right hand, to hide his emotions from Ewan Dumbarton, as he finally mustered up an answer.
“Unfinished business. I never reached the top like I always felt….”
Stopping in mid-sentence, El Diablo turned around in the chair and cracked Jorge around the head for the frequent finger poking to the back of his head. However, as only El Diablo could see Jorge, all Dumbarton saw was The Creator of Controversy trying to swat something.
“….I always felt I deserved to be. So here I am in FUSE, getting there gradually. I’ll make everyone take notice and I will reach the pinnacle of my career,” Diablo stated as he turned back around.
Shaking his head with bewilderment, Dumbarton was trying hard to remain focused with the strange behaviour displayed by The Mexican Devil.
“What happened to you? You used to be fun. You used to be normal,” Jorge commented.
Sitting on the glass table, Jorge looked exactly how his brother remembered him. He was still 18 years old in El Diablo’s mind, even though he’d be 37 if he had survived that accident.
“You happened. Mom and Dad happened, that’s what changed my view on life,” Diablo whispered to him.
“What was that? Did you say something?” Dumbarton asked after hearing Diablo’s mutterings.
Standing up The Mexican Devil looked very on edge, he seemed nervous about how he would be perceived in this interview. He ran his hands through his hair, but as he did, he felt a force on his chest and before he knew it, he was lying down on the ground.
“WHY THE FUCK DID YOU PUSH ME?” he yelled in anger.
Following Diablo’s lead, Dumbarton stood up and headed towards the door.
“I didn’t push you down, you just fell,” Dumbarton responded to him, as he seriously questioned El Diablo’s sanity.
Infuriated, The Mexican Devil clambered to his feet, and saw Jorge laughing.
“I’ll get you back to your old self Raul. This person isn’t the real you, I know the real you and I know you’re better than this,” stated Jorge.
The strain was evident, as El Diablo began to breathe heavily. He had even forgotten the reason he was in that room.
“Just get out of my head,” he said, with a lack of passion in his tone.
Watching this episode unfold was becoming too much for Dumbarton, who quickly moved from the doorway, grabbed the digital recording device and made a swift, unnoticed exit from the room.
“You’ll be rid of me, when things have being fixed. I love you Raul, but not like this. Besides I thought you’d be glad to see me,” Jorge remarked.
Scratching at his stubble and looking up at the ceiling, El Diablo had no idea what to do.
“If I’m going crazy just let me know. Because this cannot be real,” he responded.
Jorge grinned, and disappeared from El Diablo’s sight. A welcome relief for the beleaguered Mexican Devil.
“I’ll be with you brother, until you change who you are now,” Jorge’s voice echoed throughout the room.
But could El Diablo ever go back to being the Raul Diaz of old?