SURVIVOR SERIES: RAVEN VS. ROCKY MIAVIA

Raven sits atop of a small brick wall, behind him quiet, peace, not something you’d normally associate with him. There are no buildings, just tall trees that sway in a gentle breeze. He sits looking at the feet. Raven sits with his back slightly arched, focused on nothing, a pained look in his eyes. But for the first time in his current run with the World Wrestling Federation, he’s not alone. Standing at his side, leaning, whispering in to his ear is a smiling ‘Dancing’ Stevie Richards. Whatever his new found friend is saying has no effect on Raven, who doesn’t acknowledge it in no manner what so ever. But finally, he’s heard enough, Raven pushes the face of Richards who instantly just looks at the pavement at his feet, sad. The break allows Raven to speak.

Raven: We are born with our father's name, and his before him the same. Yet we cannot be responsible for their failures. How can we have that burden on our shoulders? The very weight of their hopes tied around our necks. We are only responsible for what they make us believe in. That is our only obligation. And it is even then a choice which we may sometimes be wise to ignore.

Raven pushes the hair out of his face, as he kicks his feet up against the brick wall. Traffic can be heard passing behind the camera, as he looks at the camera for the first time.

Raven: Growing up, I sought a sanctum. A place where I could hide from the violence and the hate that was to come. Ironic now, because that’s exactly what I seek out. They say I’m too cruel with my opponents. But you have to be cruel to be kind. There was nothing more I craved as a young boy than a place to rest my weary head, a place I was safe from terror and darkness. I was desperate to be loved. To be accepted. To have a normal life. To be encouraged to chase my hopes and follow my dreams. I learned life’s lessons the hard way. I learned that cruelness, alienation, and estrangement were never far from sight. My father always told me I’d grow up to be a nobody, I guess he was right. He said that my future was bleak because that’s what his father told him. I heard on a consistent basis that I was a waste of space and my mind was weak. Each time he struck me, he’d look down at me with a look of disgust in his eyes, he blamed me for his problems. He worked long hours, for low pay but funny, he could always afford his booze and his high. My family could barely get by and he let me know that. Like his father did to him.

A smirk appears on Raven’s face, as he hops down from the wall and begins walking to his left. Stevie Richards follows closely behind him.

Raven: As I sought refuge in any corner, any cupboard, anywhere the darkness seemed less frightening. I would think of the children that didn’t have this problem. My father, he taught me that neglect, and hate were rife and part of every day life. He helped shape the man I would become today. But I knew there were others out there that were handed opportunities because of their name. Because of how they looked. Because of their physique and because they were popular. And that their father had helped mould them. But what about me? What about Raven? These were all luxuries I could not afford. I could only dream of a father who put his arm on my shoulder and who would tell me everything was going to be alright. I wished to be told that he knew his legacy was in safe hands, that the family name was safe. But, heavy is the head that wears the crown.

He tightens the shirt that is tied around his waist, dragging his feet on the floor as he slowly approaches a gate. A gate that leads to a cemetery. It creeks as Raven waits for Richards to push it open, he enters and tombstones surround him, as far as the eye can see.

Raven: The human race fear death. We hate our mortality and don’t want to be made aware of it. We repress all thought of death and live as if we have unlimited time on this world. Until that moment of realisation that we are not, in fact, immortal, we act as though we are. We do things as if there are no consequences, no repercussions. At Survivor Series, the Maivia family will learn that it is not immortal. They will not last the test of time. And that there are repercussions to their actions, actions of the father, and the father before him. The sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the sons.

Raven crouches down, and places his hand on the ground, he looks back at the camera. Richards stands behind him, looking out over the grounds.

Raven: Quote the Raven, nevermore.

Stevie Richards: Get out of here.

Richards pushes the camera away from focusing on Raven and the scene fades to black.