This is my time. This is my purpose. This is my Ascension.

The days have been speeding by faster and faster as WLCW Ascension grows closer. The new world leader in wrestling will crown several new champions, including the inaugural WLCW World Heavyweight Champion, in a ladder match that pits Cody Rhodes against Miro. The two men survived a contender's battle royal with over 40 competitors to earn their places in this match, and while many are looking forward to watching the two men clash for the gold, the leadup certainly isn't without its detractors. At one point during the match, Cody found himself tossed over the top rope to the floor, but there was no referee to call the elimination, therefore Cody was able to sneak back in and become one of the final men to claim this championship opportunity.

MIRO: This is my time. This is my purpose. This is my ascension.

Miro didn't care about any of that. The former Bulgarian immigrant, now a full fledged American citizen living the American dream, was only fixated on claiming the championship that he said was already his to take. He dresses for the day with only one thing on his mind,

MIRO: This is my time. This is my purpose. This is my ascension.

CJ Perry, Miro's beautiful and loving wife, has just returned from the hotel lobby Starbucks with a grande flat white. It's the same drink he's become accustomed to every morning he visits another city. Consistency helps keep him moving toward his goals. Miro takes his drink out onto the suite balcony and observes the already busy Times Square landscape. In just a few short days, and just a few blocks down the road, Miro will claim his place atop the wrestling world as the new WLCW World Heavyweight Champion.

MIRO: This is my time. This is my purpose. This is my ascension.

In the busy streets below, a section of Times Square has been blocked off and a stage has been set up for the day's open workouts. Many fans are already gathered about holding signs and debating who will win their respective matches at the PPV. They all look like little ants from here, Miro thinks to himself, just like they will after he climbs the ladder to claim his World Championship.

CJ PERRY: Miro, are you ready to head down? They'll be ready for you soon, the open workout is going to be streaming live on WWN and they're going to want to start right on time.

Miro turns to look at his wife, suddenly realizing how long he'd been staring outside when he notices that his coffee is gone. CJ is dressed to impress in an outfit just revealing enough to catch the eye, but not enough to look tacky. Perfect for TV. Miro looks his wife up and down, takes another look around his penthouse luxury suite, and smiles knowing just how much he has gained in life. Everything he could ever have wanted is already his, save for one last thing. His championship awaits him in just a few short days.

This is my time. This is my purpose. This is my ascension.

---

The camera opens up to a wide angle shot of an electric crowd gathering around a stage with 'WLCW' and 'Ascension' logos plastered all over the backdrop. As the camera moves, more of the environment is revealed to show the stage is set up right in the middle of Times Square. Josh Matthews is revealed off the side of the stage in front of a large WLCW logo and the camera zooms in on his position.

JOSH MATHEWS: Welcome to New York City! Josh Matthews here in beautiful Times Square for WLCW Ascension open workouts. Fans have been lined up for hours to catch a glimpse of some of the stars of that PPV card through various special events being held this week. The excitement is palpable here as we prepare for one of the men in the headlining match for the inaugural WLCW World Heavyweight Championship. Let's check out the open workout now for Miro.

Some rap music with a great beat for a workout begins to play as Miro and walks out onto stage wearing his traditional ring gear and a t-shirt that reads 'My Ascension.' Miro is stoic and doesn't acknowledge the crowd as he wraps on some boxing gloves that match his ring gear. This gets the people more anxious and some get louder with their cheers, while others begin to boo. A second man, who followed Miro onto the stage, is wearing some mits and holds them out for Miro to start throwing some punching combinations.

While all this is going on, Matthews notices CJ Perry standing off to the side of the stage and promptly makes his way over toward her.

JOSH MATHEWS: CJ, there's been a bit of back and forth between Cody, Miro, Brandi and yourself online these last few days, leading many to believe that this match has become personal between the contenders for the WLCW Championship. Miro was quite clear after co-winning the contender's battle royal that this was strictly about business. What's changed?

CJ PERRY: Nothing has changed, except that Cody's true nature started to show through. All Miro wanted to do was focus on getting to Ascension and taking his place as the first World Champion, but Cody had to go and make it all about himself. The Rhodes family has always been petty like that. A few days ago, Miro was trying to advertise that he'll be here for today's open workout and Brandi tries to throw jabs about how Cody isn't trying to be the best at working out. I had a good laugh reading that about the guy that's not the best at anything. And that little party he threw last week? Totally self-indulgent. Cody started to crave the spotlight and decided that just being the marquee match wasn't enough. Miro wasn't even planning on being on TV, but when we showed up to the arena and heard about Cody's little stunt, well, let's just say Miro wanted to knock him down a couple steps so his expectations weren't set too high.

JOSH MATHEWS: Some people are saying that Miro went too far by putting television star Stephen Amell through a table. Was that really called for?

CJ just shrugs her shoulders and smiles.

CJ PERRY: It got Cody that spotlight he was after, didn't it?

The echoes of Miro's fists and legs crashing into the pads echo throughout Times Square for a few more minutes, finally ending as Miro shows a bow of respect to his boxing coach. CJ brings Miro a Gatorade and prompts the crowd to start cheering for her husband, to which they are happy to comply.

JOSH MATHEWS: Alright folks, here he is, one of the men facing off in a ladder match at WLCW Ascension to be crowned the first ever World Heavyweight Champion in company history, give it up for Miro! Ok Miro, few people have such a presence and know how to command a room like you do. Great job out here today, and congratulations on a history making match coming up at Ascension. How has fight week gone for you so far?

MIRO: This week has been incredible, I've got an unstoppable team around me that's more than done their part in helping me prepare for my Ascension and crowning at WLCW Champion.

The crowd gives a mixed reaction, but once more Miro is stoic and doesn't seem to notice that the fans are even watching.

JOSH MATHEWS: Is it refreshing for you to just go out on stage and workout for these fans, who just want to get a glimpse of you?

MIRO: It's refreshing to get another step closer to this Saturday. I feel like I've just been jumping through hoops today, now I'm ready for some real action.

JOSH MATHEWS: Speaking of action, there's a lot of people that are saying that Cody Rhodes, being the smaller and more agile wrestler, has the advantage in this being a ladder match. How would you respond to those comments?

For the first time today, Miro smiles. It's not too noticeable, but it's there for those looking close enough.

MIRO: Cody sure has been busy on the political tour, hasn't he? Just a few weeks ago, Cody Rhodes was nothing short of a benchwarmer on WLCW's roster. Then he finds favor in a referee having his back turned at just the right time. Am I angry at this result? No, I am not. My Ascension will happen regardless of which man stands across from me. Cody, however, seems to care a great deal about it all. Many say he doesn't deserve to be in this spot and how does he respond? Not by shutting up and proving them wrong, but by running his mouth with some garbage video propaganda and fan rallies. Cody Rhodes is a joke that is lucky to be where he is today. Fortunate for him to be in the spotlight, but his fortune doesn't change my destiny.

JOSH MATHEWS: So when the wrestling landscape changed forever after the consolidation of the world's wrestling promotions late last year, did you have grand visions that you would be headlining the first PPV event of this new era?

MIRO: I knew that this was my time to shine. My talent has always been obvious to those around me, but because I was better than the bloated billionaire's pet dogs, I was pushed down and kept away from my destiny. Now, there is nothing to hold me back. Those that knew me expected to see me here, and those that didn't can no longer deny me.

JOSH MATHEWS: Last time we spoke you called your spot and predicted a win in the contender's battle royal to claim your spot in this championship match. What kind of predictions do you have for this ladder match on Saturday?

Miro glares at Matthews, not even sure if he should respond to the question.

MIRO: You really aren't the brightest one, are you? This Saturday was built specifically for me. I'm the main event, the one people want to see and expect to see raising the WLCW Championship above my head. Do I need to say anything more?

JOSH MATHEWS: To touch on your opponent for this Saturday's big event, tell me about Cody Rhodes and how he stacks up in comparison to other big matches you've had in the past.

MIRO: And you just can't stop talking about Cody, can you?

JOSH MATHEWS: Well, let's face it, he is half of the main event. In fact, odds makers have him at–

MIRO: –I don't give a damn what the odds makers have to say! And I'm getting sick of hearing about Cody Rhodes as well! I feel like I just have to keep repeating myself, but I'll say it once again. Cody Rhodes is a nobody. His father made a name for himself and his worthless kids have been coasting off their daddy's success their entire lives. The only reason people talk about Cody is because of all the terrible decisions he's made in his life. He even surrounds himself with people that don't matter. Has-been NBA stars and actors in TV shows nobody watches? Sounds like somebody is desperate. For what? I don't know, and quite frankly, I don't care. Cody will get his fifteen minutes of fame by participating in a match with me, then he can go back to bad reality TV shows and pretending that anyone remembers who he is.

JOSH MATHEWS: At Cody's recent fan rally he called you out, saying that you only want to be champion, while he has to become champion. And Brandi even goes so far as to say that Cody has to win if the WLCW wants to have any chance of succeeding. What do you make of their statements?

MIRO: Cody has to become champion for WLCW to succeed? Those two are even more delusional than I thought. The only way Cody walks out as champion is if I decide that I'm not showing up for the match, and there's no chance in hell of that happening. Do you know why, Josh Matthews?

Matthews shakes his head 'no.'

MIRO: Because this championship is my right. You need to understand something. Cody says he has to be champion, and all I say is that I want to be champion. So what? Cody says this as if it's a bad thing. I've got everything I could ever want in life, so I'll just take whatever else I decide I want. This championship, it's the one thing left that I haven't yet achieved. I've been a champion in every place I've been before, but I was always pushed away from the World Title. That's no longer the case. The opportunity has presented itself, and now I'll be taking it simply because I want it. That's what alpha males do, they see something they want, and they take it for themselves.

Miro turns toward his wife, still hanging off his arm, then grabs her by the back of the head and pulls her into a long kiss. Josh Matthews is squirming a bit waiting for the two of them to stop.

MIRO: You see that, Josh Matthews? I found the woman of my dreams, and I took her as my wife. Why? Because I'm an alpha male, and I get what I want. I feel like a vacation to Tuscany, and I hop on a private jet the next day. Why? Because I'm an alpha male, and I go where I want, when I want. I see a world championship up for grabs, and I take it for myself. Why? Because I'm an alpha male. I don't need any of these things, but I take them. Why? For no other reason than I simply can.

CJ applauds for her husband as some of the crowd boo Miro's boasting. Miro then finds the camera and starts looking straight into it.

MIRO: Cody, I know you're going to see this, so I want you to listen real close. If you don't win the championship on Saturday, then you're nobody. Your friends want you to win because they want to hang out with the champion in hopes that it might give their life some sort of meaning. Until then? You're nobody. Your wife wants you to win so she can say she sleeps with the champion. Until then? You're nobody. Stephen Amell wants you to win because you failed him as a friend. You couldn't protect him last week when he stuck his nose where it didn't belong. Until then? You're nobody.

A smile now starts to creep across Miro's face, this time, unmistakable.

MIRO: Your dead father wants you to win so he can brag to the devil that his son has actually done something of worth. Until then? You're a disappointment to the Rhodes legacy, and even more, a disappointment as his son. I have everything I need, but the simple fact is that I want to be champion, and I want you to watch me as I climb the ladder and take that championship away from you. I want to win so I can look you in the eye, belt raised in the air, and see the realization on your face. That despite everything you've ever done, it was never enough. Betting on yourself ended up being your downfall. It will be a good lesson, however, to pass along to your child, that no matter how hard you work, some people just aren't meant to come out on top.

Matthews is a bit surprised by Miro's comments, but tries his best to get things back on track.

JOSH MATHEWS: Thanks so much for your time, Miro. To finish on a good note, what is your message to everyone that's waited so long to see you back in contention for a world championship?

MIRO: The world doesn't need to wait much longer. This is my time. This is my purpose. This is my Ascension.

Some music begins to play over the system as Miro puts his arm around his wife and walks offstage. Matthews turns his attention back toward the crowd to finish up his presentation.

JOSH MATHEWS: Pretty incredible open workout here in Times Square ahead of this Saturday's WLCW Ascension, but the fun doesn't stop there. We will see you this Saturday night, live on PPV where the WLCW will crown it's very first, World Heavyweight Champion at the historic Madison Square Garden!