Chapter 3: Hell's Gate to Change

Friday Night Smackdown...

Ghost sat silently in his locker room. He was thinking about the one reason why he started wrestling:

his frustrations in childhood.

He already told the others about the fact that he was a victim of bullying, but the intensity of it was unbearable.

Aside from Sasha back in those days, there were very little people that actually liked him. Everyone else turned him into a ragdoll just to make themselves feel better.

Jocks would shove him into lockers, teachers would give him detention for no good reason, nerds would fire rubber bands at his face, and girls would draw make up on him without his permission.

It wasn't until he saw the Undertaker on TV that he decided to pursue a wrestling career in order to release his frustrations.

"Ghost, you're up in a few minutes." a crewman opened the door and said to him. He went out of his train of thoughts.

"Aye. Thanks." he said. Ghost put on his jacket, straightened himself, and walked out of the locker room as he put on his mask.

On the way to the stage, he ran into Becky.

"Are you up for this?" she asked.

"I may not be as strong as European Uppercut Lad Cesaro, but we'll see how it goes." he replied.

"Welcome back to Friday Night Smackdown!" Cole announced. "Tonight, we've got great matches coming up. First, it's the 'Swiss Superman' Cesaro vs. the rookie Ghost Maverick!"

Swiss Made started playing as Cesaro entered the stage.

"This match is scheduled for a one fall!" Lillian announced. "First, from Lucerne, Switzerland, the Swiss Superman, Cesaro!"

Right as Cesaro entered the ring, the lights went out and Psycho started playing.

"And his opponent, from Austin Texas,...Ghost Maverick!"

The lights came back on and the FNG was already walking from the stage and to the ring, as mysterious as ever. He took his jacket off near the ring and dove in, coming face to face with the King of Swing.

The bell rings.

Ghost landed the first strike by kicking Cesaro in the gut then quickly putting him in an MT Clinch.

"Here we go again with Ghost's Muay Thai Clinch!" King announced.

Three right knees struck the Swiss Superman's face really hard before Ghost let go. Cesaro quickly follows up with a European Uppercut, knocking the FNG away from him.

"Cesaro's fighting back! He's gonna wreck the rookie." JBL said.

Cesaro started fighting Ghost at his own game until he was pushed to the corner. The Swiss Superman kicked him several times until he stopped at 3. The fans' reactions were priceless, for Cesaro at least.

"Looks like the crowd isn't really in Ghost's favor." Cole noted.

While Cesaro's back was turned, Ghost lunged and nailed a Scorpion Death Drop.

"Scorpion Death Drop!" King announced.

"Shades of Sting must've brushed off on him." Cole agreed.

He quickly goes for the pin.

1

2

Cesaro kicks out and both men quickly stand up. Ghost quickly runs and rebounds off the ropes. He launches himself towards Cesaro and attempts a Clothesline, but the Swiss Superman ducks and tosses Ghost up in the air and lands another European Uppercut as he fell.

"A crushing blow from Cesaro!" Cole announced.

"That could be it for Maverick." JBL said.

Cesaro attempts to pin him.

1

2

Thr-

Ghost kicks out. Right as Cesaro got up, he kips up and tries to kick him in the gut. The Swiss wrestler catches Ghost's foot, but not his other one right as he strikes with an Enzuigiri. With Cesaro stunned, Ghost dashes and handsprings forward until his legs caught his opponent's head for a Frankensteiner. Right as Cesaro went down, the FNG made an attempt on another pin.

1

2

Thr-

Cesaro kicks out. He, again, knocks down Ghost with a European Uppercut. He quickly grabs his legs.

"Oh no. Here comes the Cesaro swing!" Cole announced.

Becky, Dean, and the Usos were watching the match from the same monitor.

"Oh no." Jimmy mimicked what Michael Cole just said.

"What're the chances he recovers from that?" Dean wondered.

"Come on, Ghost..." the Lass Kicker whispered.

Cesaro swung Ghost around like one of those hammer tossing contests, leaving him dazed and dizzy at what's going on. He let go of the FNG's legs, leaving him lying on the mat.

"Now THAT could be it for Maverick." JBL confirmed.

"We'll see. Here's Cesaro going for the cover." King said.

He didn't get that chance. Ghost suddenly shot up and grabbed Cesaro's arm and head, locking him up in an extremely familiar move.

"Oh My God! That's the Hell's Gate!" Cole shouted in shock. "The Undertaker's main submission move is now being replicated by Ghost Maverick!"

JBL and King couldn't say a word.

Cesaro desperately attempted to fight back, but the strong grip Ghost had on him forced him remained. It was taking too long for everyone until the tap out was given out.

DING DING DING

The instant his win was officially confirmed, Ghost let go of Cesaro as he fell on the mat.

"It's over! It's over! Cesaro has tapped out to the Hell's Gate."

Mixed reactions. That wasn't what the FNG really wanted.

'Are they not entertained?' he thought to himself as he and his opponent lay on the mat.

"That...just...happened." the Lunatic Fringe gaped in shock.

"The Hell's Gate? How did he do that?" Jey wondered.

Becky wondered the same thing, but she couldn't help but stare at his charming face right as he took off his mask while he left the ring, picking up his jacket as well.

Post Match interview with Renee Young...

"Ghost, you made history by replicating the Hell's Gate on your 2nd WWE match. How did you do it?" she asked.

"Lass, the only thing you need to know is that I did what I had to do to win." he replied.

"So, how did you train to do-"

Ghost suddenly walks away.

"that...Okay, never mind. At least I understand why he used the Hell's Gate."

Right as that happened, Cesaro walked in.

"Cesaro, how did that happen? What was racing into your mind when Ghost got you in the Hell's Gate?" Renee asked him.

"I was surprised. I never expected someone as new as him would be capable of such an incredible feat. Regardless, I will not lose to him next time."

Ghost was teetering on the line between pleased and pissed when he saw the latest chat on Twitter.

RealGhostMav (his Twitter Account, the "at" won't show up) is a Call of Duty ripoff!

Shut up, bro! He's awesome! #awesome

He'll never be a champion in anything!

I ship him and myself!

Congratulations to RealGhostMav for his latest match. (That tweet came from Roman Reigns)

and so on and so forth. So, he tweeted out,

Are you not entertained, lads and lasses?

While he was doing that, someone walked in. It was Becky.

"Hey, nice work out there." she said as she sat next to him.

"Thanks."

"Are you okay?"

"How did Roman Reigns cope with mixed reactions?" he laughed.

"Lad, you don't end up in this company being instantly liked. What happened to you at NJPW, ROH, and TNA is all in the past."

"Darn it. Alright, thanks, Becky."

A crew member suddenly opened the door.

"Ghost, Mr. McMahon is calling you."

"Aye. Thanks."

Right as he stood up, the Lass Kicker grabbed him by the arm.

"Good luck." she muttered.

"Good luck to you too, lass." he replied, before moving to Vince's office.

"Hello, Riley. I'd like to discuss your...secret script." Vince said.

"Huh?" he asked, acting all American this time.

"Given the fact that some people don't really find you likable, I should consider putting you in a love storyline with someone to prove them wrong."

"Like who?"

"Hmm...Summer Rae? Or Alicia Fox? Or..."

"Becky! How about Becky Lynch?" Riley suddenly said. When he did, he instantly became embarrassed.

"Age gap?"

"She's only two years older than me."

"That'll do. Also, some people have been asking for someone to carry on the role of the Shield. So, Riley, are you up for this?"

The FNG was in awe. He was gonna get his crush, probably a cool new uniform, and a better reputation all at once?

"Sure, why not?"

"Good. Start with the Shield thing, then wait for a few shows before revealing the change and starting the love storyline with Becky. Tell no one but probably Dean Ambrose. Maybe he can help you."

"That's what I thought, sir."

"What? Vince wants you to become the Shield? And get hitched with Becky?"

The Lunatic Fringe couldn't help but chuckle and almost laugh out loud. Speaking of Becky, a match between her and Tamina is flashing on the screen in front of them.

"This ain't funny, lad."

"It kinda is to me."

Riley sighed and focused his attention back on the monitor. He wasn't really focusing on the actual match. He was just staring at Becky's beautiful face, her fiery orange hair, and the green ring gear she was wearing. Anyway, she just delivered a clothesline to the larger woman and got her in the Disarmer, giving her the win.

Yep, the FNG chose right.

Later...

Dean was rummaging into his bag when he pulled out two outfits, the same two he wore during the Shield era.

One was a tactical vest with pockets and the other was like some fake kevlar vest with no pockets with a hood.

"So, bro, which one?" he asked Riley.

"Hood. I like hoods."