Stephanie McMahon: You know, you have been with the main roster for almost a year now… You even became the Breakout champion after just two matches, and held the belt for most of 2013. I just want to let you know that despite you didn't retain at Christmas Eve of Destruction, the EBWF board of directors and Staff are really looking forward to work with you in 2014… We just want you to take a step up the ladder and we want you to work with some of our bigger draws…
Shane McMahon: I know you had a program with Maryse, Saraya and Ryan… But they're all gone. There was noting we could do, everything might seem downhill from here… But we got your back. If there is any idea you want to pitch at us, anything you'd like to work out… Please feel free to reach out. We didn't want it to end this way, and we are sorry you were one of those affected by our layoffs… We'll make everything work out.
And work it out they did. It seemed that Leo Kruger was done for… Apparently he didn't cause enough of a bang, which meant he would either be released or sent back to developmental to iron some deficiencies out and get repackaged. Honestly, Leo was packing his bags for OVW… At least mentally. But something changed. Apparently, what he was told right after losing his breakout title was true… They were giving him a chance to prove himself with the 'bigger draws'. But Randy Orton was no bigger draw… Randy was undoubtedly the BIGGEST DRAW in the business today.
The moment Renee Young stepped into Leo Kruger's locker room she understood why Michael Cole didn't seem too poised about interviewing him. Renee stood in front of the doorway and looked at the camera man.
Camera Man: So?
Renee Shrugged.
Renee Young: I told him I'd meet him by the door of his locker room…
The letters written a signs pasted on the door read "LEO KRUGER" indicated she was at the right place. Now, don't get the wrong picture. Leo Kruger doesn't have a private locker room because he is a huge star or because he demanded one… The truth was he was a bit of an eccentric, other superstars had a hard time trying to coexist with him. Renee sighed and turned the doorknob, pushing it open… Nothing could be made out from the dark insides of the locker room… Renee looked at the camera, as if hesitant about going in. A voice from within the room invited her in.
Leo Kruger: Ahhh… Just in time! Come on in.
Renee seemed doubtful, but she and the camera man ended up walking into the dark room. The camera switched to night vision to explore the surroundings. Other EBWF superstars prided themselves on having top of the line decoration and luxury. Big televisions, stereos, videogames, expensive furnishing… You name it, they have it. However, Kruger's locker room had none of that. In fact, it didn't even look like a locker room… The amount of crates, props and items familiar to hardcore wrestling enthusiasts made it look more like a janitor's closet than a locker room. Renee gulped as she walked around the trash… Little had she noticed Leo was pacing behind her, slowly, steadily… She turned around and was faced with the South African hunter, she took a step back and let out a loud gasp.
Leo Kruger: Did I startle you there?
Renee Young: What is wrong with you!?!?!
Leo Kruger: What is wrong with me? What is wrong with you? Did you expect to come into my domains and have me roll down the red carpet for you? Listen little lady…
Leo reached out to wrap a couple of fingers around her locks of platinum blonde hair.
Leo Kruger: You better be grateful you are not the prey I'm after… You see… I've found myself lately with no one to play with. All by myself… In these dusty, dark rooms… You know… A mouse is a mouse at the end of the day… But boy it is fun to toy… Even with a little mouse like you!
Renee took a couple of steps back. Leo flashed a rather creepy smiled at the blonde, overly popular announcer… She cleared her throat.
Renee Young: Leo… I'm here to ask you about your upcoming match.
Leo Kruger: Ah… I am glad you mentioned it! Now, you and I haven't talked much… But last time I as telling your good friend and colleague Michael Cole how much of a burden that Breakout Title was. How much it was preventing me from facing bigger challenges… How much I wanted to move on to bigger things… Better things… It took a couple of weeks, for me to get what I deserve… I have a golden opportunity, Renee…
Renee Young: You do! Not only you will be taking part in your first Main Event, but you will be facing Three former world champions… Randy Orton, The Miz and Christian for the chance of being the last entrant on this year's Royal Rumble!
Leo Kruger: Now I won't lie to you… I felt renewed when I learned about the Rumble. I am a man looking constantly for new thrills and challenges… New ways to prove I am the Alpha Male in this place… And the idea of winning the Royal Rumble and going to WrestleMania sounds like the ultimate hunting trophy. Sounds like the thrill I have been looking for ever since I stepped foot in this place… every single EBWF superstar, going all out for themselves… It's survival of the fittest! Where the strongest, most vicious, most dominant man will end up being the king of the hill!
Renee Young: So, are you feeling prepared for the Royal Rumble? Regardless of the outcome of tonight's match?
Leo Kruger: I am always prepared, little Renee… The EBWF Universe knows by now than I always end up getting what I want… In the end I always get my prey… Wether it is the Breakout Title… Or the lovely Paige… I always lay hands on my prey.
Renee Young: Paige? You actually never got to…
Leo Kruger: She ran for the hills when both of her lackeys were taken care of, sweetheart… The point is… Putting me in a match like the Royal Rumble is like putting a fish in water… But putting me in the Royal Rumble as the last entrant is like putting a shark in water and then adding blood to the water…
Leo looked rather pleased with his analogy… His lips were curved in a smirk as his feline eyes pierced a hole through the uncomfortable looking Renee Young.
Renee Young: What do you mean by that?
Leo Kruger: Well… If you put me… Hypothetically as the first entrant of the rumble… Given my brawn, dexterity and cleverness you could assume there is a high chance I end being the winner… Now… If you put me as the last entrance of the rumble… You can rest assured I will be the winner.
Renee Young: Even despite the fact you are facing not one, not two but three former world champions?
Leo smiled.
Leo Kruger: Facing three world champions makes it even better for me… Are you familiar with behavioural patterns of African Lions? The Alpha male of a horde of lions usually stays as the leader of the horde until a younger, stronger lion forces him out of the horde and into exile… Now, do you see where I'm going with this?
Renee wasn't sure if she should reply.
Leo Kruger: Why would a younger, stronger Lion have trouble fending off three older Lions who have been already doomed to exile but refuse to accept such fate? Do you know how many matches I have lost ever since my arrival?
He raised his index finger to show Renee the number.
Leo Kruger: Not only I am the future… I am hungrier than any of those 'over the hill' lions you were talking about! And the fact I am able to get their heads and hang them on my wall makes this match even more important than it was before! I am tired Renee… I am tired of being handed mice and possums to have fun with… I want to fight Randy Orton… I want to show him who is the boss! I want to prove him I am superior than him on ever single aspect! I want to erase that confident smile off The Miz's face… I want to show him he is not half the man I am… I want to show him I can shred his existence to pieces with my bare hands… I want Christian's realization of how old and weak he has become to come by my hand… These three former world champions as you call them… I want them to open their eyes… Renee, why won't they open their eyes?
Renee looked at him. Leo leaned in, speaking softly...
Leo Kruger: The time has come… They have to understand… There is absolutely no future for them… At least not as leaders of a hungry horde of Lions… It is time for a new dawn… It is time for a new Alpha male to rise above the rest and lead the way… To teach the EBWF universe everything that needs to be learned about survival, about being strong and resilient… Think you can take a wild guess on who that man is, beautiful Renee?
Renee pondered for a moment… Her nervousness quite evident as she pointed her index finger at him. Leo smiled, seeming very pleased.
Leo Kruger: You are as smart as they say… Don't worry Renee… I won't make you a liar… I will go out there and back up every single word I just said. I will expose the weaknesses of those former World Champions… I will show the world those broken, useless teeth and nails they once used to defend the World Championship with… After all, it's just evolution; That is what happens when you put them against someone hungry for success, someone desperate to make a point… My point being… I am the one and only Alpha male of the EBWF. I declare an open season… Anything goes… I will NOT stop until I have the hunting trophies I rightfully deserve… And Three former world champions' heads hanging above my fireplace.
Renee Young: Aren't you taking this too lightly, Leo?
Leo Kruger: Hey, the fact I have evolution by my side doesn't mean it is going to be easy… I have observed my opponents quite carefully. They're quite a bunch of interesting creatures. First we have this creature who is full of himself for no apparent reason… He's dumb enough to befriend a rhinoceros and turn his back on it, but he definitely has got guts. He has been on top of the world because he seized the day and even if it was for a short amount of time… Christian showed the world he still has the desire to be on top… Unluckily for him he has been pitted against me. Then we have a creature who has spent his entire career trying to convince us he is a peacock… He flaunts majesties colors and struts to the ring with his mating partners in an effort to demonstrate he's an alpha male… But at the end of the day The Miz is no Peacock… He is nothing but a chicken, who runs around in panic whenever there's a threat. Not once I have seen The Miz stand up to face his problems… He usually runs away or solves them behind his opponent's back… I am well aware of his tactics and I will not turn my back on him… Last, but definitely not least we have Randy Orton… The Viper… The Snake… Lonely… Vicious… Poisonous… Untrustworthy… From memorial times, it seems like the Snake's only purpose in live is to deceive mankind… If his personal space is ever invaded, the Snake coils and assumes it's attack position… Randy can coil and hiss all he want… He can go out there and declare he is going to break every single bone of my body… But I am well aware he is a wounded Snake right now… There's not much to worry about when you are facing a snake that is not only out of venom but also mortally wounded… I've carefully studied these creatures… Both their virtues and their weaknesses… I will not expose myself to their virtues, and I will exploit their weaknesses… I'm not sure either of them has had the pleasure of being hunted before… But there's a first time for everything… For example, a first time to win
Leo chuckled and walked away from Renee as the scene faded to black.
