Timeline: Set between Destroyer and The IIconics unveiling the new looks for the WWE Universal Championship, and the WWE Universal Championship match between Destroyer and Shinsuke Nakamura.

As far as surprising days go, Destroyer was pretty sure that being asked to do an interview with Chris Van Vliet was up there in "Did not expect this to happen" moments and/or surprises. 

Destroyer himself rarely, if ever, did interviews outside of a rare few ones, and those were for the following people and interview panels: Alicia Atout, Cultaholic, Wrestling With Wregret, and Whatculture. 

It wasn't as if he didn't have his reasons either for not wanting to do interviews and despising doing interviews in general: he just didn't trust people who interviewed him would not leak out something he said as if it was news - when in reality it would be anything but that - or that they would bring up something personal with him or private to him and then try to get more out of it, or try to throw shade at him or insult him. He's had friends who have had that done to them before, and it left a sour taste in his mouth at hearing the stories.

However, the reason he didn't shut down the interviewers that he had mentioned was because they were respectful with their requests and with their questions, and they were very understanding with his request of being patient with him and not pushing him into talking about family or private matters that he was not comfortable with. 

In fact, in the case of Brian Zane and Alicia Atout, he even became friends with them after some time and was even up for second interviews with them as well as Cultaholic and Whatculture. Hell, he'd even had a training session with Simon Miller at one point when the two had a day off and were in the same area. 

So, how did he end up agreeing to an interview request with Chris Van Vliet? Well, that one is rather easy to answer: first of all, Destroyer often listened to Chris's interviews when he did his early morning runs when he wasn't in the mood to listen to music, and he got to talking with Chris beforehand via a call and they made the time, date and place for an interview - which was today, at Chris's easiest convenience, and in the hotel room that Destroyer was in. 

Soon, the interview was underway, and Destroyer was wearing something different from what he was wearing normally in the ring and in general.

[Note: For this one, I will be stating who is speaking when, but this may only be a one-time thing].

Chris Van Vliet: "Well, first off, hello to everyone, and I'm SO stoked to be introducing you to my guest at this time - although, technically, I'm your guest here I think - "The King of Destruction" himself, Destroyer!"

Destroyer could not help but chuckle a bit at that introduction a little, but he took it in his stride as he continued with the interview.

Destroyer: "Thanks. Glad we could make this happen."

Chris Van Vliet: "I'm honestly so grateful we could do this, I mean I know you're a very busy man and all - being the Universal Champion and all - and I dare say...you're probably one of the most over guys to have made it to the top of the game on not just Raw, but on Smackdown too. How are you handling all of this?"

Destroyer chuckled at the though as he brushed a hand across his hair briefly.

Destroyer: "Yeah, I mean...I wouldn't say I'm the most over person on Raw and Smackdown - there's probably others who are WAY more over than I am...but I'll be honest I'm having such a blast being able to put on a show for both shows in such a short time..."

He then began to chuckle a bit as he rubbed his eye a bit before continuing.

Destroyer: "...I mean...I must of either really impressed or pissed someone off on Raw or Smackdown for me to be moved over less than...what...2 - 3 months since I debuted? I'm just glad that I've been able to have some good matches in such a short time and bring my brand of chaos to the WWE."

Chris Van Vliet: "I noticed that you also brought the new versions of the Universal Championship with you - which I know that currently our fans can't see because it's out of screen shot - but what's it like to carry them about with you...practically everywhere you go?"

As Chris speaks about the titles being off-screen for those on the camera, Destroyer leans over and grabs them and brings them into the shot before sitting back down on his chair and responding as he does so - placing both belts on his knees as he does so.

Destroyer: "It's both a blessing and a curse I'd say, but I do have to say...it's pretty cool carrying two new versions of - what could be argued at - one of the big belts."

He soon looks between the titles and Chris as he then asks.

Destroyer: "You want to hold one of them?"

Chris gets surprised at hearing this, and does chuckle a bit in surprise, but nods a bit in surprise. 

Chris Van Vliet: "I mean...yeah, sure, are you sure?" 

Destroyer chuckles a bit as he hands Chris one of the Universal Championships - keeping the Blueniversal version on his knee as he hands the Winged Eagle looking version to Chris without hesitation.

Destroyer: "Yeah, sure. I don't mind."

Chris places it on his knees as he has a look at the design of the title, and soon he even begins to speak his thoughts as he looks at the title belt.

[Note: Basically Chris is holding this version, if you have forgotten what it looks like].

Chris Van Vliet: "That's...a very beautiful title, I have to say. So, is it like a personal championship for you, or is it going to be one of it's more permanent designs when or if you do eventually drop the titles?"

Destroyer is looking between both the titles at different random periods as he speaks as he racks his brain on that, as truth be told he himself wasn't aware of the plan for both designs either - glancing at the camera for a few moments every-so-often, especially at one point in the next conversation.

Destroyer: "I'm not entirely sure to be honest. I mean...I'd like to see both belts to stick around personally, like All Japan has done in the past with its top prize - the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship by the way, for those who might not be in the know or might not know the company - but so far all I know for now is I'll be carrying both of these versions until...well, whenever I do drop the straps to, I suppose."

The next question that Chris asks as he sets the Universal Championship he is holding on one of his legs - managing with a little bit of trickiness to keep it balanced on his leg and knee as he did so.

Chris Van Vliet: "Do you have anyone in mind that you would want to lose the titles to at some point?"

This question causes "The King of Destruction" to start getting his trail of thought going once again - and it shows, even without him taping his chin a bit with the fingers of his microphone-holding hand - as he tried to think of some answers.

Destroyer: "Oh man, that's a tough one..."

He then does think of some answers as he slowly vocalises them - using the fingers of one of his hands on instinct alone to count in the people he thought of.

Destroyer: "Okay...so these might surprise some people...but at the moment there is between 3 or 4 people I wouldn't mind dropping the titles to at some point - especially around about Wrestlemania season: and they are Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt - be it as "The Fiend" or not is completely up to him - or NXT's Johnny Gargano. 

"But whoever they do choose I'll still try to make them a star in the match regardless before hand, because - as I'm sure you and everyone watching or listening this may agree - wrestling needs a great story to be told in a match, or a match that will draw you in to every moment until the end, before the grand finale at the end...Well...that's how I see it anyway...Not sure who else does."

To say that Chris was impressed and surprised by the answer would probably be an understatement as he moved on with the interview, once he knew that Destroyer was ready for the next question - which he could almost tell it was now like a six-sense of sorts.

Chris Van Vliet: "So I'm guessing that you yourself - outside of wrestling, of course - are a pretty busy man I image when you aren't at Raw or Smackdown?"

Destroyer nods to that as he both reminisces slightly and vocally responds on what he is doing - without giving away anything too personal that he doesn't want people to know - only sharing what people either know, or at least have assumed and have a guess at, or that fans might be interested in knowing.

Destroyer: "Yeah, I'm surprisingly always rather busy when I'm not at home or doing a show. I don't do so many interviews - for personal reasons - but between using the gym, my early morning routine, and training 2 of my students when they're around...and then also traveling from one place to another...well, let's just say I can understand why it does burn out a lot of people who aren't quite used to hectic schedules. I barely understand nowadays how I get up with the s*** I get up to in a match - you might wanna bleep that one out by the way - let alone for what I do every week."

Chris Van Vliet: "You said that you're training a couple of people, is it anyone that we as fans might know?"

Destroyer: "If you watch Ring of Honor or New Japan, then yes, or if you have a vague familiarity with Pro-Wrestling Noah, Big Japan Pro Wrestling and AAA, then again yes, because those are the companies they work with and - as far as I'm aware - are currently thriving in. Otherwise not so much, no, to any wrestling fans that either aren't aware of those promotions or don't seek them out to watch or get the know it all on."

Chris Van Vliet: "Do you mind if I ask what their names are?"

Destroyer chuckles a little, but nods a bit as he responds.

Destroyer: "I can tell you one of them: it's "The Demon Outlaw" Damion 'Demon' Frost from New Japan and Ring of Honor. The other student for now wants to remain anonymous. But if we ever do his again, I'm sure it will either have gone public already or I can tell ya then."

Chris does snap his fingers a bit at the second part in a joking way, which both laugh at a bit, before they continue with the interview.

Chris Van Vliet: "I'll hold you to that! Now, you're going up against Shinsuke Nakamura this upcoming Friday for the Universal Championships, but I think it's not being unfair to say that - and please don't take this the wrong way at all! - that a lot of your fans or a lot of people in general were probably expecting you to suggest that the match between you and Nakamura would be a...well, a match with weapons or something, given your defences so far against Seth Rollins and - more recently - Roman Reigns. Was it ever on the table at all, or was it planned that way?"

Destroyer can be seen wracking his brains again, which is somewhat etched into his facial expressions.

Destroyer: "I mean...maybe, I don't know to be honest with ya. The problem is - and it's something I learned VERY quickly when I was starting out in Death Matches and such for lord knows what company at the time - if you do so many title defences with either no DQ type stipulations or Hardcore match kind of stipulations...you're gonna burn out your audience and fans unless you do something to change it up a little.

"I think I've been fortunate enough in this case because me and Rollins changed it up a little with our two matches at Clash of Champions and Hell In A Cell, and I think we got away with it in Romans case because Corbin got involved, but yeah, I think honestly it's a change that was honestly needed with me and Nakamura. 

"Plus, at the end of the day, I'm still a wrestler and I can actually do wrestling matches. I just prefer causing some chaos with a weapon or two - whether anybody out there wants to agree with the big, bad Australian who clearly has either a death wish or is gluten for punishment or not - which, by the way, I'm not...I just like getting rid of my anger in violent matches, who doesn't?"

Both Chris and Destroyer laugh at "The King of Destruction's" attempt at humor - even if it is a kind of weird kind of laughter or joking around - to which Chris himself some responded with in a joking manner that gets them both laughing some more.

Chris Van Vliet: "Oh yeah! I'm sure everyone's like that, no big deal!"

Eventually they do stop doubling over in laughter - especially when they both nearly drop the Universal Championships, which they catch just in time and correct. 

Chris Van Vliet: "So, I'm assuming that there must have been some people who influenced you and gave you the idea to take up professional wrestling, or hardcore wrestling as well to be fair."

Destroyer: "Believe it or not, yes and no. Nobody really got me into wrestling, it was more of something I wanted to try out and if it didn't work out then 'Oh well, I tried', but for the more hardcore and bloody stuff...I guess you could say the likes of Mick Foley, The Hardy Boyz, and Ken Shamrock kind of inspired me. 

"And, yes, I know Shamrock doesn't really count, but he was so intense as not only a character but as a person as well, and his stuff outside of wrestling in combat sports kind of inspired me to that area as well for a time that I couldn't really hate him...Also helped that I saw some of his non-wrestling stuff as well, for lack of better words."

Chris Van Vliet: "Have you ever met any of the people that you mentioned, or maybe even some other you haven't?"

Destroyers nods to that after taking a swig of Pepsi that he had with him at the time before responding, whilst thinking on who he has met.

Destroyer: "Shamrock, only very briefly - and that was when I was training with Shayna Bazler - who by the way is a good friend of mine and fucking hell I'm happy for the success she's achieved in her career - and I was basically at...wherever the fuck it was that we met up that one time, I can't remember...and I was basically there as a favor for Shayna to help her train for an upcoming fight, and I briefly encountered Shamrock.

"Now, I'm not sure if he knew who I was, I never thought to ask - I knew who he was, of course I did! - but it was just a brief moment or two and he basically just asked as blunt as you could get if I was done using something that I actually was finished with. I know, not very memorable of a story, but hey: I got to meet Shamrock then."

He then takes another sip of his drink as he looks to the roof as he thinks a bit. 

Destroyer: "As for Mick Foley and The Hardy Boyz? Only once or twice each respectfully at meet-and-greats when I was younger, or - in terms of The Hardy's alone - when I was in Ring of Honor for a couple of excursion shows whilst working with New Japan and they were with ROH for a brief time."

Chris Van Vliet: "It's a shame we never got to see "The King of Destruction" go up against The Hardy Boyz, really."

Destroyer laughed a bit at that.

Destroyer: "Not really. We did throw ideas at each other, but nothing really stuck because I was - at the time - more committed to New Japan at the time, and had a busy schedule with some other promotions at the time as well when I wasn't with New Japan."

They briefly stop when they see Peyton and Billie briefly enter to get something, which Destroyer couldn't help but chuckle a little as his jaw is on his fist at the time. When it's all finished, they end up coming over and waving.

The IIconics: ""Hi!""

Destroyer and Chris both chuckle a bit, though you could hardly see it in Destroyer's case outside of his facial features, before Destroyer says to Chris.

Destroyer: "Yeah, sorry about that. I've no idea what they are doing." 

Chris Van Vliet: "Hey, it's fine. If I may ask, I'm sure people will be asking in the comments anyway, but what's a typical day when you're travelling with "The IIconics"? I mean...you have to assume that there's a lot of laughs."

Destroyer was about to answer, but both Billie and Peyton began to tease him when Billie jumped on his back, and when they spoke one-after-the-other before "The King of Destruction" could. 

Peyton Royce: "He loves it! Don't ya!?" 

Billie Kay: "Yeah, we're the shining lights in his life, aren't we Destroyer!?"

Destroyer slowly nods to that with a half-serious look, trying his best not to laugh.

Destroyer: "Yeah. Definitely."

After saying this, he mouths at the camera 'Help me!' at least once or twice - much to the laughter of Chris - before Peyton playfully slapped 'The King of Destruction' on the shoulder, which he shrugged off a bit with an eye roll.

Destroyer: "In all seriousness though? I couldn't ask for two better people to keep me sane on the road. Well...relatively sane anyway...It also helps that, well...Okay, so, I'm letting ya all in on a tiny bit of my personal life here, so listen up people. But basically, it helps that we all travel together because I grew up with both of them in Australia.

"And yes, sure, we didn't really speak to each other that much for years when I was on the indies and in Japan before arrive at WWE, but it's like we've never lost a beat to be honest, and I can keep them in check when their mischievous nature gets too much, just as they can keep me in check when I'm being too much of a moody f***."

Both Billie and Peyton both look at each other innocently before saying in tandem.

Billie and Peyton: ""Who's mischievous?""

Billie: "You gotta be mistaking us for another mischievous duo!"

Peyton: "Yeah, we're innocent and sweet!"

Destroyer rolls his eyes, speaking sarcastically without any shred of trying to hide it - even if they know he's joking to them.

Destroyer: "Right, right. Sure *Whispers* Don't believe them! They're trouble!"

This earned him another slap on the arm from both Billie and Peyton at that, which Destroyer merely shrugged off by brushing a hand across his shoulders a couple of times, and it also caused a lot of laughter from Chris as well. He soon held his hand out to 'The King of Destruction' as the two shook hands.

Chris Van Vliet: "Well, Destroyer, it's been a pleasure. Good luck with your match against Shinsuke Nakamura this upcoming Friday, and is there anything else you'd like to leave with the viewers or any of your fans before we sign off, or anything you'd like to plug?"

Destroyer thinks on that for a bit as he rests his chin on the knuckles of his closed right fist, taking a moment before answering. 

Destroyer: "Nothing to plug, since I don't use social media all that much - sorry about that any of the fans, haters or stalkers who may have wanted to know - but in terms of anything I'd want to say...?"

He continues to think for a short time before soon responding to the question.

Destroyer: "Just...keep on enjoying our craft, our matches, and come and see what me and Nakamura have in store on Smackdown. Nakamura is someone I've always wanted to fight one-on-one for a title in a clash of my style against his Strong Style. And, hopefully, we can put on a show in our match that will draw you in and truly show you just what me and Nakamura are capable of. Failing that, Billie and Petyon will probably kick my arse for boring you, one or the other."

Billie and Peyton roll their eyes at that minor jest that time, before Peyton says.

Peyton: For the record: The day he puts on a boring match to us, is the day that something must REALLY be affecting him to drag it down. And we've yet to see it yet!"

Both Destroyer and Chris, both of whom smile a bit from Peyton's vote of confidence, shake hands once again as Chris begins the sign off process.

Chris Van Vliet: Well, Destroyer, thank you for having us, and I look forward to seeing how your match with Nakamura goes, as well as how the rest of your WWE career pans out, and I hope we can do this again some time!"

Destroyer nods in agreement to that.

Destroyer: "The pleasure's all mine, and we'll figure out a date when we can."

With that the interview pretty much comes to an end, and they go their separate ways not too long afterwards. But some things were certainly for certain now: Chris Van Vliet had made a new, interesting interview friend in 'The King of Destruction', and the fact that Destroyer lacked no confidence at all heading into his match with Nakamura.

Things were, at the next Smackdown show, bound to be a lot more interesting....

Author's Note: I know it has been a fair while since I last posted anything related to the story - with the exception of course to the tribute to the late and undeniably great Jon Huber, aka Brodie Lee or Luke Harper to his fans - but the reason as to why I've taken my time to respond to anything is because I've been working on trying to update numerous stories lately, and doing this/trying this Extra Chapter that came to me a couple of months ago when I was at a pub for lunch with family.

Hopefully though you'll like this chapter, or at the very least give some constructive feedback on how to do interview chapters differently - if I ever decide to do one again for any wrestling based story, never mind this one.

I hope you are all staying safe, I hope you all had a great Christmas, and here's hoping that we'll all have a much better 2021 compared to the god awful year that was 2020. Happy New Year Every, and have an amazing day! 

And, also, most importantly of all...

Rest in peace, Mr. Brodie Lee...may you continue to kick ass in the great wrestling ring in the skies...the world itself, never mind the wrestling world, is that much worse off without you in it...