Disclaimer: Guess whose back! I don't own World Wrestling Entertainment, but you know that all ready, don't ya? This is the third entry in the Drake Williams story. Here goes nothing!

Other Paths Taken: Back To Basics
Chapter I
Sending A Clear Message

He remembered it like it was just yesterday. Actually, it was. Drake Williams defended his WWE Championship against Jeff Hardy at WRESTLEMANIA in Madison Square Garden. It was probably his best and most exciting match he'd ever had. In the end, it was Jeff Hardy who walked out as the new WWE Champion. Drake replayed everything he'd gone through during his championship reign, all the opponents he'd battled in the past year; Edge, Chris Jericho, Bobby Lashley, John Cena, Rob Van Dam, Undertaker, Randy Orton. The list goes on and on. He replayed the match with Jeff Hardy and his words to him the day after.

He said, "I want my rematch."

Jeff Hardy, with his newly won championship slung over his shoulder, said, "You've got it."

So some three weeks later, Jonathan Coachman, despite being a loser by many standards, set up the rematch for the BACKLASH event in Miami, Florida. That was fine with Drake; he didn't care as long as he got his shot. So with seven days left before the big match, Drake Williams pulled on his elbow pads as he had a one on one match against Carlito. The Caribbean superstar had been very vocal about being pasted over in the title picture; so much so that he barged into Drake's locker room unannounced.

Drake asked in an unusually restrained tone, "Didn't you parents teach you to knock?"

"Stuff your crappy jokes and listen, Drake." Carlito shot out. "Your match at WRESTLEMANIA against Jeff Hardy was the best I've seen. But if it was against Carlito, I wouldn't have taken so long to beat you. I'd have beaten you in five minutes."

Drake slowly cocked his head toward Carlito and stood up. "Is that right? Well then, Carlito, please put your hair where your mouth and prove it."

"W…what," Carlito stuttered before recollecting himself. "Well, what does Carlito get in return?"

Drake folded his arms in thought, and then came up with an answer. "If you can beat me in five minutes or less, I'll give you my title shot."

Carlito gave the offer some thought before deciding it was way too good to pass up. "Deal, because tonight, Carlito will be the new #1 Contender. And that'll be cool."

The Caribbean superstar took a bite out of his trademark apple and Drake knew what was coming next. "If you try it," Drake started. "I'll stuff that apple down your throat."

Carlito actually wanted to spit in Drake's face but thought better of it after the threat and left. As soon as his opponent for the night was gone, Drake made a snipping motion around his head directed at Carlito. But he did realize the new stakes added to his match; beat Carlito in five minutes or lose his title shot at BACKLASH. Drake wrestled Jeff Hardy for close to twenty minutes and couldn't beat him. How could he expect to beat someone with the caliber of Carlito in five minutes?

RAW came back from commercial with Carlito in the ring waiting on his opponent. Backstage, Drake Williams was down on one knee praying. He then entered the gorilla position and waited for his cue. Drake's entrance music hit the arena and the former WWE Champion came out to a big pop. As soon as Drake was in the ring, he and Carlito got face to face. Carlito trashed talked in Spanish to the former champion before throwing a quick left hand. Drake blocked it and threw some left jabs followed by a right hook.

The bell rung right there and Carlito was very quickly out of the ring. Drake stood his ground waiting for his opponent to get back in and fight. Carlito eventually did and they both locked up with Drake going for a quick roll up and a count of one. They got up and Drake caught Carlito and another roll up for a one count. Carlito quickly rolled outside again and was getting frustrated, even kicking the ring steps. He paced around ringside trying to think of something to turn the tide in his favor, turning his attention away the ring. Stupid move!

Drake Williams grabbed Carlito by his very prominent hair and yanked him right back into the ring the hard way. Carlito crawled into the corner and begged off; of course Drake wasn't having that and began stomping a mud hole. The referee admonished Drake, backing him away from Carlito and giving the Caribbean superstar the opening he needed. As soon as Drake got close, Carlito grabbed his wrestling gear and drove him headfirst into the middle turnbuckle. Carlito quickly stacked up Drake for a pin with his feet on the ropes but only for a two count.

The blow really rattled Drake Williams as he tried to clear his head. Carlito hit a knee lift followed by a clothesline for another near fall. Carlito quickly went for a Springboard Corkscrew senton then a Springboard Moonsalt for another near fall. Naturally, Carlito was getting frustrated with having not put Drake Williams away by now, and thus started arguing with the referee about the count. This time lapse gave Drake the time he needed to kip-up behind Carlito and mount a comeback.

Carlito turned around and walked right into a clothesline by Drake, followed by another. Drake hit a Spinebuster for a near fall. Drake waited for Carlito to get before hitting a German suplex, rolling through to hit two more in succession. Drake brought Carlito back to his vertical base and whipped him into the corner but Carlito leaped to the top and did a back flip up and over Drake.

Carlito immediately went for the Back Stabber but Drake held on to the ropes, causing the Caribbean superstar to hit the mat very hard. Drake quickly locked in the Sharpshooter and Carlito tried to maneuver to the ropes but Drake applied more pressure. Carlito had no other choice and tapped out to the hold, giving Drake Williams the win by submission in what wasn't even close to five minute. It was more like three minutes to be precise.

Lillian Garcia announced aloud, "Here is your winner: Drake Williams."

Even though he won this match, Drake was less than satisfied with his performance. At least he had some momentum heading into BACKLASH, but Drake's night was far from over. Later that night, Drake returned to the ringside area to watch the scheduled match between Jeff Hardy and Mr. Kennedy. The latter opponent made his entrance as Drake sat by the announcer table, though he wouldn't be providing commentary with JR and The King. He watched on, and listened, as Mr. Kennedy did his usual routine.

"Ladies and gentleman; I truly need no introduction. I'm the guy that beat Drake Williams 1, 2, 3 last week. I'm the guy who should be the #1 contender for the WWE Championship. I'm the guy who tonight, beat Jeff Hardy. I am MISTTTTTTTTTEEEERRRRRR KENNNNNEDDDDY."

Drake rolled his eyes and thought, Please just shut the hell up!

Mr. Kennedy got in the corner and said out loud, "KENNEDY!"

Yep! Mr. Kennedy did beat Drake Williams the week before but that was the farthest from his mind. As new WWE Champion Jeff Hardy was making his entrance, Drake Williams replayed the WRESTLEMANIA match over and over again. He did everything he could to retain the title and it wasn't enough. What would he do at BACKLASH to regain the title?

Jeff Hardy likes to go airborne- a lot, thought Drake as Hardy and Kennedy locked up in the ring. I'd do the same for sure. But he's venerable on the ground. Gotta keep him grounded if I'm gonna beat him.

Five minutes later, the match carried on with Kennedy having the upper hand. Jeff Hardy was down and Kennedy covered him for a near fall. Drake Williams continued to watch from the sidelines. He had to hand it to him to his current rival; Jeff Hardy was very resilient to say the least. It's no wonder he beat Drake for the championship, but Drake Williams knew he himself was just as resilient. It wasn't dumb luck that he held the WWE Championship for a year. A critical moment came in the match to which Drake was no stranger. Jeff Hardy was battling back on Mr. Kennedy with the usual array of maneuvers.

In the blink of an eye, Jeff Hardy hit a Whisper in the Wind, something Drake was familiar with. His tried for the win but Kennedy got a shoulder up at two. Drake gave a sign with his index finger and thumb, basically saying Jeff Hardy was that close to victory. Then out of nowhere, Mr. Kennedy hit a low blow in plain sight of the referee, causing a disqualification win for Jeff Hardy. Mr. Kennedy wanted to further leave a mark on Hardy any way he can, giving him a thorough beat down. Eventually, Mr. Kennedy left the ring as if he was content with his actions, near Drake Williams. Without warning, Mr. Kennedy viciously blasted Drake right out of his seat.

Mr. Kennedy took the chair Drake was seating and went back into the ring where Jeff Hardy was trying to get up. Kennedy got set to blast the WWE Champion right in the head, but Drake Williams quickly entered the ring. The former champion unloaded on Mr. Kennedy with stiff shots to the face, eventually clotheslining him over the top rope. Drake takes the chair in his hands and throws it out of the ring at the retreating Kennedy. Drake let him go for now; he wasn't going to waste time chasing after a loud mouth. Jeff Hardy was still trying to pull himself up until Drake helped him.

It seemed as though everything was good for the moment, then Drake hoisted Jeff onto his shoulders and hit the Celestial out of nowhere. The former champion stood over the fallen current champion, shrugging his shoulders before asking for the championship belt. Soon, Drake Williams was standing over Jeff Hardy, holding the WWE Championship overhead. This was clearly a message sent to the current WWE Champion by the former WWE Champion. Drake laid the belt across Jeff's chest and left the ring. As he was walking up the ramp, Drake turned to see Jeff stirring in the ring, clutching the belt.

As expected, Drake got a generally mixed reaction from the crowd, some cheering and other booing. The reaction more or less just rolled off his back like it didn't mean a thing. It wasn't the first time that Drake Williams had drawn a mixed reaction, but either way, it didn't make a shred of difference. Not yet anyway.

Watching Jeff Hardy in the ring trying to stand up, Drake thought to himself, Enjoy your last days as champion, while you still can.

Author's note: Well, I'm back for another run. Keep in mind that anything can so please read and review and all that jazz.