:: Exist to Inspire ::

All my life I've heard about people like this in the wrestling industry. The one's who can't control themselves, the one's who try to beat the odds. Big guys, tough guys, who think that just because they've got the muscle they can knock anybody out of the ring. Well last week I beat Kane, and Ken Shamrock doesn't seem like much compared to him. Sure, I was whipped around a little, but the difference is that I won with one move. One single move and I had Kane at my mercy. Ken Shamrock is running a gauntlet match and so far he only has two participants, well maybe I should add myself to the mix to make things a little more interesting for him.

:: Exist to Inspire ::

[Jeff Hardy is shown backstage painting a design on his arm and chest for what appears to be an empty arena thus far as the fans are just beginning to pack on.]

[He is just about finished with the details as he checks himself out in a mirror and heads out grabbing his t-shirt and slings it over his shoulder before heading out of his locker room.]

"The eXtreme Daredevil" Jeff Hardy: Man, I hope you know what you're doing here, Jeff.

[The camera's switch to the top of the stage as "Death From Above" hits the PA system of the arena and Jeff Hardy comes out in his usual fashion with his arm design and his white pants and shirt glowing. He doesn't do his usual little dance but instead gives his salute to the fans as he makes his way down to the ring sliding in and asking for a microphone.]

"The eXtreme Daredevil" Jeff Hardy: This Sunday, I have not been entered into any specific match but I have decided that since I know you all want to see me on pay-per-view, and I know I want to step into that ring and once again prove that it's not just the big guys who can dominate this business...I am right now entering myself into the GAUNTLET MATCH WITH KEN SHAMROCK! You see, Shamrock has decided to impress everyone with his little anklelock and to put on a show by defeating whoever steps into that ring. Well, I'm sure he can slice through anyone who steps in his way, but I'm also sure that I can be the one to stop him if he decides to try me. You see, last week, I defeated Kane with one move and now I'm here with a win already. The IWA is offering me chance after chance and you can all bet your asses that I'm not going to be one to drop out of a challenge like this where I can prove myself. Now, Shamrock, you are one crazy guy I'll give you that. But you have never stepped into the ring with someone quite like me, and you never will expect the things that I'm able to do. You see, I may not look like much, but....[The crowd cheers loudly for Jeff Hardy.] Thanks, but Shamrock you can't judge a book by its cover. And the last thing your going to remember this Sunday is me getting a cover on you after a Swanton Bomb. You see, it's not everyday that I get to face a superstar of your past caliber and it's not every day I can give myself a push like this. You say you're going to put me on a stretcher, I say try it. Fear is only a four letter word Shamrock, and at Bash at the Beach, it's going to be you who fears what he doesn't know. It's going to be you whose laid out in the gauntlet match, and it's going to be you seeing me flying through the air and landing on you before covering you for the 1, 2, 3. You see Shamrock, not everything goes the way you plan, and this Sunday I'm going to prove once again that the Imag-I-Nation can beat anybody, anytime, anywhere. You see Shamrock, it's not just about the raw power of a superstar or the moves he has, it's about the heart you have for this business and just how much your willing to endure before you finally give up. So no matter what after this Sunday Shamrock, I'm winning. Because I'm going to know for myself that if I gave up I did my best to make sure I didn't give up until I absolutely had to. Put me on a stretcher, break my ankle, break my ribs, break my neck. But remember that one day, ONE DAY, you will have to once again step into the ring with me Jeff Hardy again. And you remember exactly what you did the time before, because I'm not going to be making the same mistakes if I have to face you again. You see Shamrock, for me, this is a win win situation because I see it that way. Whereas for you, it's a win lose situation, and at some point, and some time, you will lose. Whether I give you a loss or someone else does. So Ken, this Sunday be ready because at one point in time, you'll be facing me, Jeff Hardy.

[Jeff Hardy tosses the microphone back to a ringside attendant as he salutes the fans and slaps a couple of fans hands before heading backstage where he runs into Jonathan Coachman who is eager for an interview.]

"The Coach" Jonathan Coachman: Jeff, this Sunday you have just booked yourself to face Ken Shamrock. Now Ken Shamrock isn't someone to fool around with as is well known with his past achievements. What drove you to take the final spot in this gauntlet match to occur on the pay-per-view?

"The eXtreme Daredevil" Jeff Hardy: You see Coach, that's what I mean. Everyone underestimates me because of my size and my weight and the amount of muscle I have. But I see things differently, on the last Thunder I beat Kane. KANE COACH! Do you know how many times I got slammed down by him before I finally got a single move in, but I didn't give up and I won that match. You see Coach, it's not about the size of a person, or the way that they wrestle, it's about what's inside that person that lets them either succeed or fail. Last week I proved I was more then willing to sacrifice my body no matter what happened to me, I'd still get up. I'd still fight, and I'd still make sure that no matter what the results were these people would remember exactly who I am. WHY did I choose to face Ken Shamrock? You just gave yourself the answer Coach, it's a shock to everybody that I put myself in this match and that's exactly why I chose to do it. I'm not going to sit back and wait to face the little guys, I'm going to step out there and do what I have to do to prove that I'm worth the price their paying. It's not even about the price to me, and that's what's going to give me the advantage. It's not about the paycheck, or the places that they put me up for the night, or anything like that. It's only about stepping into that ring and doing what I love to do no matter the consequences.

"The Coach" Jonathan Coachman: Well as nice as that sounds, it's not going to make much of a difference against somebody like Shamrock who is just motivated to snap your ankle or break some part of your body and make you submit or worse knock out or even end your career if need be. What's your plan if that happens?

"The eXtreme Daredevil" Jeff Hardy: See, Coach. That's where your wrong. If he does happen to sideline me I will be back. I'm not going to sit out, he can do what he wants to, he can try to break me, he CAN break me. But I'm going to do exactly what I said, I'm going to come back if he does and I'm going to face him again and again and AGAIN. You see Coach, to me it doesn't make a difference what he does, I'm still going to keep coming back and coming back to beat him. Whether or not I do beat him doesn't matter, cause I'm in it for the competition and not the victory.

"The Coach" Jonathan Coachman: What about Big Show and Lance Storm, what if one of them happens to take him out before you even get a chance?

"The eXtreme Daredevil" Jeff Hardy: For some reason, I feel as though even if I don't get my shot at him at Bash at the Beach he'll still be more then willing to let me get a shot at him some other time. And if I do get to him before Big Show or Storm, then I can guarantee that it's going to be more then what these people will ever expect out of me just like at the past Thunder.

"The Coach" Jonathan Coachman: Well, good luck to you.

"The eXtreme Daredevil" Jeff Hardy: Thanks Coach, but if things go my way this Sunday, your going to have to be wishing Ken Shamrock luck.

[IWA fades to a commercial break as the interview ends.]