It’s a relatively clean and plain looking room, with a well lit centre featuring two chairs across from one another with a small glass table between on which rests two glasses of water.
One on the other leather seats is Hans ‘The Baron’ von Richtoven and in the other seat is HWA interviewer, Roderick Sterling.
Roderick glances at the camera, smiling.
(Roderick): Well first of all, let me welcome you, the viewer, to this interview here in the HWA Academy. Across from me is someone well known to all of you and while I’m sure he doesn’t need a proper introduction, nonetheless, Hans von Richtoven, ‘The Baron’, welcome. Thank you for taking some time out to answer a few questions.
(Hans): My pleasure Roderick.
(Roderick): I won’t keep you, this is just a quick series of rapid fire questions afterall. We’ve had your opponent for this PPV, Red Dragon in earlier, we have some other interviews after you…
He shuffles some cue cards in his lap.
(Roderick): So first up, and it’s not really a question, but congratulations are due. Well done on the announcement your lovely wife Vanessa made at Havoc. How have things been?
(Hans): Well danke Roderick… erm, how have things been? A whirlwind.
(Roderick): I can well imagine. A double whammy of sorts happened, the fantastic news and yet also the sadness of your wife officially stepping out of the commentary position.
(Hans): Jah, that was still hard to take… but…
A gesture of the hand towards Roderick.
(Hans): Mein freund Matthew, he’s ably stepped in. Und Jason, jah he’s family. It will be strange knowing that this is permanent, but not so strange as I know them well.
(Roderick): Quite so.
Another shuffling of the cue cards.
(Roderick): Touching on one of the reasons why Vanessa has stepped back, someone who has been making similar noises and statements again as she did in the run up to your match with her at Havoc before Christmas. Does it bother you at all that Erica doesn’t seem to have let go…? I mean, if anything, it seems she’s been fuelled by these perceived injustices even more.
A silence follows, Hans digesting the question, a shallow blink the only initial sign of movement for a few moments before he carefully answers.
(Hans): It bothers me…
Another blink, a swallow to whet the throat.
(Hans): It bothers me that she has not sought help… professional help. Und continued the treatment that Dr Fielding identified that she needed…
His shoulders tense, the tone of his voice hardening, his eyes however look almost hollow, as if masking as best he can what he truly feels and wants to say.
(Hans): Erica ist sick. Our restraining order against her is still active, she breaks that, she breaks the law, jah? At work, at whatever arena or show we’re at, if she feels the need to act out her fantasies…?
Trailing off, a small smile towards the interviewer is what he gives, the hollow look in his eye remaining along with the tenseness in the shoulders.
(Roderick): But you hope she gets better?
(Hans): Jah. Erica… Herr Chaos… I hope they get the help they need. Und that they can get it before further harm ist caused.
(Roderick): Speaking off Maniac, or ‘Herr Chaos’ as you’d refer to him, what are your thoughts on Jeremy Branson facing off against Maniac’s ‘alter-ego’ DreamMaster at Blood, Sweat & Tears?
(Hans): Jeremy does place more stock in the multiple personality disorder view of Herr Chaos than I do… but, jah, it will be a fight. Und Jeremy wants one.
(Roderick): Jeremy specifically calling out DreamMaster, is that him biting off more than he can chew?
(Hans): I don’t believe so. Jeremy ist wunderbar, I experienced his skills again at Havoc just there… he was relentless. He more than has what it takes to win this.
(Roderick): Even if it seems DreamMaster is another step up from what Maniac is capable of? His match against Matt Miller at Art of War for example?
A conceding nod of the head towards his interviewer before he responds.
(Hans): Jah, but then I’d argue it just puts him on das level that Jeremy ist operating at right now. He’s found that gear, he wants this. Nein, he needs this. Herr Chaos needs to find a way to stem the tide, or he’s being swept out to sea… und Herr Chaos doesn’t swim well, we’ve established that…
Smirking, Hans leans back in his seat.
(Roderick): Well next up, Blood, Sweat & Tears is of course taking place at Commanders Field. The biggest crowd you’ve had since HWA first came back. What’s it like going out to a crowd that large versus a more modest arena?
(Hans): I just hope it doesn’t rain…
Both chuckle at that.
(Hans): Nein, seriously… besides that… jah…
His eyebrows arch up as he mulls his response, his lips pursing.
(Hans): An arena… it’s like a powderkeg… it’s oppressive… it’s intense… it’s also, jah, it’s also more reactive to you und what you’re doing. Stadiums… they’re…
(Roderick): Slower?
(Hans): Nein, not slower… more… stately. Jah, it’s like a classic car. You play to it, once they’re on your side, it’s difficult to change lanes… I always feel like I’m needing to, to exaggerate more if I’m on das mic out there… und that noise, it’s different but no less intense. When they’re roaring, you feel it.
He taps his chest.
(Hans): You feel it here. You don’t just hear it. A loud arena is one thing, but ein stadion?
Another smile, this one sincere.
(Hans): Jah, I’m looking forward to it.
(Roderick): Did you think you’d get the chance to wrestle one another again?
(Hans): Me? Nein, not at all.
(Roderick): Do you think Red Dragon ever did?
(Hans): Nein, for him, he had moved on, jah? He was with the Academy. Matthew was at a different stage of his life. Not his career, but his life.
A slow nod of the head, considering his next words.
(Hans): That makes it special. Es ist nicht nur ein match…
(Roderick): How so?
(Hans): We’re honouring mein freund. In years to come, his coaching tree will be one that inspires many and as long as the best in the business, das von Erich’s, das Harts… win or lose, that night, we put on a show.
A low exhalation, as he shuffles in his seat.
(Hans): HWA… last year, tried to be what it had been when it was underground all those years. Und… jah, it didn’t, or couldn’t stay that way. Various… individuals made it difficult to do that… und so those matches where that vision has actually been allowed to play out, few und far between, jah. So Matthew und I getting this opportunity, it’s everything to us und then some.
(Roderick): More so than when it was first scheduled to take place for Helloween Harvest?
(Hans): Jah, for sure. Mein freund hitting pause und stepping back und then stepping in for mein frau… jah, this will be a good send off for him from my side.
(Roderick): Are you planning to head over to the east coast on the day of the event or a little earlier?
(Hans): Drei days…?
He does some mental arithmetic in his head, before ultimately relenting and glancing at his phone and the date on it for confirmation.
(Hans): Jah, drei days… sorry, three days before.
(Roderick): That for any reason in particular? Time zones, or?
(Hans): Not so much that. Used to that by now. I lived for so long in New York that mein body reacts well to being anywhere near…
He relaxes back further into his seat.
(Hans): Some promotional work, some Academy related tasks for both Matthew und I to attend to… und mein bruder und family ist visiting. So jah, that’ll be wunderbar.
(Roderick): Your brother, Heinrich, former HWA star, yes?
(Hans): Jah, he’s finally getting to see a show again. Bringing mein niece und nephew, so Clara und Vanessa can spend time together. It’ll be nice.
(Roderick): When was the last time you all saw one another?
(Hans): Ach, Christmas, but we’ve been searching for another reason, und jah, this is it.
(Roderick): Your match with Red Dragon or the pregnancy announcement?
(Hans): Both.
(Roderick): They going to be in the crowd or box?
(Hans): He’s not said, but I’d imagine the box. Better view from up there, und power sockets in case das kinder get bored and need to play on their Nintendos, jah?
(Roderick): Well I’d hope the action is exciting that that’s not needed!
The last cue card is shuffled.
(Roderick): Final question Hans, your friend Butch is stepping back into the ring for the first time since HWA returned. Have you spoke or heard from him? Seen him?
(Hans): I’ve not. Mein freund has been a recluse…
His head tilts a fraction sideways, his mood reflective.
(Hans): But if Wisdom isn’t worried, und I see her most days at the Academy after all… then nein, I’m not worried.
(Roderick): Hans von Richtoven, thank you.
(Hans): Vielen dank Roderick.
The two shake hands, as the scene fades to black.
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