Looking RAWward
Early this morning I was surprised to find out that I was included in the 5th round of this year’s WWE Draft! I was beginning to think I’d wind up as a Free Agent again, but this wasn’t the case. They picked me in the middle of the round to head to Monday Night RAW! I had only been with SmackDown for a year, and it’s been turbulent to say the least.
Looking back I lost the Cruiserweight Championship a year and a day ago only to find out later that week that I was to leave 205 Live and head to the Blue Brand on the FOX Network. SmackDown was a brand new show for FOX at the time. WWE was making history. I was elated!
Within my first week I was back to handing out advice to the likes of Braun Strowman, much to his displeasure. Then I sought the comradery of The B-Team and tried to further assist my SmackDown peers. I wasn’t able to help them, Braun, or later even Otis as he was facing romantic issues.
Then I tried to help Daniel Bryan. And he actually listened! We fought at Extreme Rules! We trained together. We even teamed up. And when the world began to look bleak WWE pressed on with WrestleMania and I made my WrestleMania debut against Cesaro, a man whom I’ve known since my days training before competing, to begin the infamous weekend! I stood in Daniel’s corner later in the night as he squared off with Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship.
I competed against Daniel a few weeks later in a tournament for the then vacant IC Title! Without missing any time, I got back on track with Mr. Bryan’s aid and earned an opportunity to challenge AJ Styles for the championship after he won the tournament.
Since that loss, Daniel departed for his paternity leave to take care of his family and I fell back to the bottom of SmackDown’s rankings. I remembered my own lessons, particularly to always stay alert and take any opportunities that would present themselves to turn my fortune around! That opening came during the inter-branded event Clash of Champions only a few weeks ago.
During a warm-up exercise I noticed R-Truth dressed like Yosemite Sam for some reason and wielding the 24/7 Championship! Without haste I struck! With a school-boy folding press and the count of three, I became the 24/7 Champion!
Of course this led me to take my business back and forth from SmackDown and RAW these past few weeks. Little did I know that the USA Network would be scouting for talent on this year’s Draft. Three title runs later and BAM this morning I heard the news…
WWE Announced that I had been selected earlier today on their Talking Smack program!
I don’t know what the future holds. My year on SmackDown has been a wild one. But one thing will always stay constant and it’s that nothing endures but change! It may take some time but I believe that success happens when preparedness meets opportunity. Until then, I’ll be there every Monday, always alert!