Chapter Four – Mistakes

There are certain moments in every wrestler's careers where they have an 'oh shit' moment. These moments are ones that though every wrestler knows they'll have to face, they also know they have to deal with it the best way they can. In my third week on ECW, way sooner than I expected, I suffered one of these 'oh shit' moments.

"Two weeks in and you're already making quite the name for yourself."

Jarrod found himself in the office of Mr. McMahon, who was now acting as if the past incident never occurred and that it was all Mr. McMahon's idea that put him straight into ECW. Of course Jarrod didn't mind – he was in a good mood. After a couple of dates with Maryse between last week and the present day, he was quite happy with himself.

"Thank you, sir." Jarrod smiled.

"So, this brings me to the topic of why you're here." Mr. McMahon always got straight to the point with everything, never stalling or wasting time. He lived by the clock, and he'd be damn certain that he would die by it. "Your character, he's not really defined."

"To be honest, he's only been around for two weeks on ECW." Jarrod replied. "He hasn't had much of a chance to do so, yet."

"True, but we can't have him just being an 'everyman'. He needs a gimmick." Mr. McMahon replied. "So far he's just a half-Asian guy who wrestles."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Your character needs more character." Mr. McMahon stated simply. "How about this, Madrox, you're just a normal wrestler."

"Uh, okay?" Jarrod agreed with the boss, confused.

"You didn't let me finish. You'll be tough – strong and only speaking occasionally. Reminding me to suggest you work on your mic skills. You'll be intense, to go along with your use of the baseball bat you used last week, and the first speech you made." Mr. McMahon began getting excited, engrossed in his ideas, and continued on. "You'll go on with a 'these people don't care about' speech'. Maybe you should feud with me sometime in the future. Get over with the crowd."

"So I'll be exactly as I was before?" Jarrod asked, as Mr. McMahon raised a hand to stop him.

"How would you like to go to RAW to develop your character?" Mr. McMahon asked, and Jarrod knew the answer as soon as he said the word 'RAW'.

"No." Jarrod replied.

"But –"

"RAW is already filled with superstars. If guys like Jericho aren't getting that much attention, a no-name like me will be buried a billion feet under. Leave me on ECW. To develop my character, we'll take advantage of the ECW and Smackdown talent exchange." Jarrod explained, and Vince nodded. "That, and I don't think I'm ready."

"Fine." Mr. McMahon agreed. "We'll continue your storyline on ECW, and then after Judgment Day you'll make your first appearance on Smackdown. How does that sound?"

"I can't wait."

--0--

Tonight on ECW, Madrox was in a match, but not with Elijah or Shelton. The three of them were all in their own separate matches. Of course, this pretty much meant that all three of them would be interrupting in each others matches, building up to an intense finish.

The main event for tonight was a CM Punk match, not that Jarrod was that jealous. Jarrod was about to go out to the ring, waiting backstage and remembering what he went over with Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin before the match.

Mike had already gone ahead of him, and Jarrod was waiting for his cue. The crew member next to him counted him in for his entrance.

"3, 2, 1!"

Jarrod took a deep breath and became Madrox.

His music hit and he appeared at the entrance stage, now with his already planned entrance - look slowly left, look slowly right, and then run like hell towards the ring. He slid into the ring, and had a hard time stopping himself. Luckily for him, he didn't hit the ref.

Madrox stood up, and raised a hand towards the crowd. Sure they weren't cheering him as enthusiastically as they would to the other more well know faces, but nevertheless they were cheering for him.

Miz and Madrox locked hands once the bell was rung. Miz slipped under Madrox's arm, getting behind him, and locking his hands in so he could swing him over for a German Suplex. Miz released Madrox in mid-air, allowing Madrox to roll back to his feet when he hit the ground.

Wasting no time, the Miz ran towards Madrox, who quickly countered, hooking his arm around the Miz's and throwing him over his shoulder and into the ropes. The Miz, like Madrox before, rolled to his feet and out of the attack. Before Miz could resume the offensive, Madrox attempted a roundhouse kick on Miz. Miz caught the kick in mid-air, and threw Madrox's foot away. Madrox then did a full 360 degree turn, using the momentum to slam his foot right back into Miz's head.

Seeing as Miz was directly in front of the ropes, he fell on them for support instead of collapsing on the ground. The moment Madrox got close, Miz hit him with a backhand slap to his face. Miz then continued punching Madrox, until Madrox decided he had enough, and hit Miz with an uppercut to his jaw. Madrox then proceeded to grab Miz's arm and throw him into the ropes, before running back, bouncing off the opposite ropes and clotheslining Miz and causing him to fall out of the ring.

Madrox then once again ran back to the opposite side of the ring, bouncing off the ropes again, though this time jumping over the ropes and hitting a leg drop on Miz. The crowd began cheering loudly for Madrox, and secretly Jarrod was grinning inside.

By the time the referee had counted to three, Madrox was already standing. He stood in front of Miz's body and grabbed his legs and fell backwards, throwing Miz into the barriers. Miz's face collided into the top of the barriers with a loud thud in front of the members of the crowd to see. As Madrox once again hoisted Miz's head up, Miz grabbed the back of Madrox's own head and slammed it into the barriers.

Madrox managed to get out of Miz's grasp to prevent him from doing it again. By now the count was up to six, so Miz opted to slide back into the ring rather than continue the fight outside. Madrox jumped in after him, and the two resumed trading blows in the middle of the ring. Unexpectedly, Miz kicked Madrox in the chest, causing him to lean over. Miz then put his leg over Madrox's neck, hitting a leg bulldog, driving Madrox into the ground.

Miz then went to the corner, and climbed onto the top turnbuckle, eyeing Madrox as he began to stand up. When Madrox turned around, Miz was jumping towards him, and Madrox had no choice but to take the splash to the ground. Miz, reacting quickly, applying the pin to Madrox's body.

"ONE, TW-"

Madrox raised a shoulder, and Miz stood up, with Madrox standing up moments later. As Miz ran towards Madrox, Madrox jumped up and hit a dropkick into Miz's face. Madrox taunted Miz, yelling at him to get up. Miz got up, only to meet another dropkick to his face. Madrox rolled and stood up. Miz got up again, though this time slower. Madrox crouched, and once Miz was facing him launched himself upwards, hitting a third dropkick into Miz and flipping back, executing his dropsault.

Madrox lifted Miz up and grabbed him from behind, hitting a German Suplex and bridging for the pin.

"ONE, TWO-"

Miz managed to break out of it, and Madrox stood up, waiting for Miz again to stand up. Madrox quickly kicked Miz in the chest, grabbing his arm and hoisting himself on his shoulders into the fireman's carry. Madrox began spinning around, letting go of Miz's legs, getting him into a bulldog position and slamming his head down and into the mat. Madrox had now named the move 'Vertigo', as the commentators acknowledged.

Madrox, not done with Miz, and not ready to pin him yet, climbed to the top turnbuckle, facing Miz's body. Suddenly, before he could jump, Shelton Benjamin appeared behind him. Benjamin climbed onto the ring, grabbed his neck, and pulled him right down to the mat from the top turnbuckle, slamming him down outside of the ring. The crowd booed viciously, as Benjamin picked up Madrox's body and threw him back into the ring.

Miz got up soon after and just realized what had happened. Miz quickly applied the pin, and his victory was sealed, with Benjamin looking onwards.

"ONE, TWO, THREE!"

--0--

The night was running much more smoothly than Jarrod had thought it would. His match was first, where he lost to the Miz after interference by Shelton Benjamin. Elijah Burke's was in progress, where he would lose his match after interference by Shelton again, and Shelton Benjamin's match was last, where it would all go down.

"Madrox totally had that match won."

"He'll get his share of revenge tonight." Jarrod laughed, as Maryse sat next to him. "How's it going?"

"It's alright. I was just wondering..." She said, pretending to act nervous, like a teenager. "What are your plans for tonight?"

"Anything with you involved." Jarrod smiled, and she laughed. "I can't think of anything now, but it's a date."

"For now, wanna walk me to the cafeteria?" She said, holding out a hand for him.

"Wow, we're already up to the holding hands stage?" Jarrod joked. "We're sure moving fast!"

"Very funny, rookie." She teased, pulling her tongue out at him. "Make the most of it while you can."

--0--

"We're the hell have you been?" Shelton confronted Jarrod backstage, with Elijah at his side. "We were looking for you."

"I was just getting something to eat, why?" Jarrod asked.

"There's been a change of plans for tonight." Elijah replied.

"Why, what's going to happen?" Jarrod said.

"Well, Carlos couldn't make it for his match with Elijah tonight, so here's what's going to go down…"

--0--

"And presenting his opponent, from San Juan, Puerto Rico," The announcer began, as Carlito's music hit. "Carlito!"

Shelton Benjamin crouched in his ring, waiting for his opponent. The person who came out of the entrance ramp though, turned out to be none other than an afro wig-wearing Elijah Burke. Benjamin immediately began yelling at the referee, who just shrugged his shoulders.

Once the grinning Burke was in the ring, the referee rang the bell. Benjamin wasted no time, as when Elijah went to lock hands, Benjamin instead kicked the back of Burke's head. While the commentators were making a comment on the fact that Benjamin should have the advantage seeing as Burke had just lost a match, Benjamin was stomping on Burke in the corner.

The referee had to pull Benjamin off Burke, forcing Benjamin to wait for his opponent to get up. As soon as Burke was standing, Benjamin ran straight into him and jumped, raising his knee and hitting Burke in the jaw.

By now, Burke's afro wig had fallen off, and he was trying to once again get up. Once Burke did, Benjamin tried to punch him, only for Burke to duck his punch and get behind him, grabbing Benjamin's neck and getting in a kneeling position, pulling Benjamin back for a backbreaker. Burke pulled Benjamin's body up, and slammed a dropkick into Benjamin's head.

Both Burke and Benjamin stood up at the same time, and Burke chose to approach Benjamin first. Burke ran towards Benjamin, who immediately fell backwards and caught Burke's leg, throwing him over him and into the ropes. With Burke's back to him, Benjamin grabbed Burke from behind and threw him over his head, once again taking control of the match with a Release German Suplex. Benjamin quickly went to apply the pin, and the referee began counting.

"ONE –"

Burke managed to get a shoulder up, shocked at how easily Benjamin was controlling the match. Benjamin picked up Burke and threw him into the ropes. Burke managed to stop himself at the ropes, hanging onto them with his hands, facing Benjamin. Benjamin proved his athleticism once again, running straight towards Burke and jumping over him, doing a frontflip and pulling Elijah's neck down as he dropped over the ropes, Benjamin landing on his feet outside the ring.

Benjamin quickly slid back into the ring, and applied the pin.

"ONE, TWO –"

By now, Benjamin had grown increasingly frustrated. As Benjamin brought Burke up once again, Burke began fighting back, punching Benjamin in the face. Burke then bounced off the ropes and clotheslined Benjamin. Burke wasn't done though, he helped Benjamin to his feet, and grabbed his arm and twisted it into a scissored armbar. Benjamin desperately tried to get out, and managed to push Burke away, only to be caught in a front face lock, and was tossed into a Vertical Suplex. Burke quickly rolled over and applied the pin.

"ONE, TWO -"

Benjamin stood up before Burke, careful of his opponent. As soon as Burke had stood up, Benjamin ran straight for him, slamming a shoulder into his chin, knocking him down. Benjamin then mounted the top turnbuckle in the corner, and as Burke was standing up, Benjamin jumped off it for the 450 Splash. Benjamin flattened Burke, and adjusted his position for another pin.

"ONE, TWO, TH –"

The match continued as Burke lifted his arm up. Benjamin got up and yanked Burke's arms roughly, pulling his opponent to his feet. Benjamin and Burke began trading punches, until Burke managed to duck under one of Benjamin's punches, getting behind Benjamin and hooking his head with his arm and leg with his foot, hitting the Elijah Experience – a Forward Russian Legsweep – and driving Benjamin's face into the mat.

Before Burke could even apply the pin, Benjamin had grabbed the ropes and begun trying to hoist himself up. As he slowly started to stand up, Burke kicked Benjamin hard in the chest and punched Benjamin's back, knocking him back to the ground. Burke stood over Benjamin, about to perform an elbow drop, when Benjamin grabbed his leg and pulled roughly, causing Burke to fall down.

Benjamin struggled to his feet again, standing up and lifting up Burke's head, and slamming it into the corner post. Benjamin then picked up Burke again, taking a hold of his waist and pulling him up so Burke was sitting on his shoulders. Benjamin then threw Burke straight into the corner for the Turnbuckle Powerbomb.

Benjamin pressed a foot against Burke's head, squashing him in the corner, until the ref pulled him back. Benjamin complied, waiting for Burke. Once Burke had got up, Benjamin ran straight towards Burke, who immediately dodged and reversed by throwing Benjamin into the corner. Burke was recovering in the middle of the ring when Benjamin stumbled over to him. Burke quickly turned Benjamin around, grabbing him, ready to lift him up for a German Suplex.

Suddenly though, his attention was averted, as the sound of a loud guitar hit the arena. Appearing at the entrance was Madrox, holding a baseball bat, ready for some vengeance. Madrox quickly ran towards the ring, and once he slid in, the referee was trying to stop him, but Burke had dropped Benjamin and was running towards him.

Thinking quickly, Madrox dodged Burke's charge, and Burke instead hit the referee, who was thrown over the ropes and onto the mat, knocked out. Madrox immediately swung his baseball bat at the charging Benjamin, knocking him in the head and down to the ground. He turned around to face Burke again, who kicked him in the head.

Madrox was forced to drop the baseball bat, though managed to fend off the rest of Burke's attacks. Madrox easily gained the upper hand on the tired Burke, hitting him with an uppercut, followed by a dropkick to his head. Madrox began yelling at Burke to get up, and once he did, Burke was hit with another dropkick. Madrox stood up quickly for the third time, and Burke face a third dropkick, which turned into a dropsault once Madrox had done a back flip and landed on his knees and hands.

Madrox picked up Burke and threw him into the ropes. As Burke ran towards him, Madrox attempted to clothesline him, though Burke ducked. When Burke bounced off the opposite ropes and ran towards Madrox again, Madrox attempted to kick Burke, but Burke managed to catch his foot. Burke tossed Madrox's foot away, who used the momentum to spin around and slam his foot into the side of Burke's head.

Burke got up with surprising quickness and had a stare down with Madrox. Madrox acted first, kicking Burke in the chest, and throwing him into the ropes. Burke held onto the ropes though, though Madrox ran at him, clotheslining him over the top. Madrox then ran to the opposite side of the ring, bouncing off those ropes, before jumping over the ropes Burke went over himself, hitting a perfect Atomic Leg Drop on Burke.

Or so he thought.

In a split second, Elijah Burke switched from Elijah the wrestler to Elijah the normal guy, and Madrox switched back to Jarrod. While Jarrod knew that this move was supposed to put both him and Burke out for a few tense moments, he felt Elijah's body convulse under his leg. Getting off Elijah, and pulling himself to his feet to sell the move better, Jarrod stood up to see Elijah with the one look he had heard all veteran wrestlers talk about.

The 'oh shit' expression.

Elijah's eyes were wide open when they shouldn't have been, and he was clutching the right side of his chest. Elijah's eyes sent a message to Jarrod, and Jarrod, knowing that forcing Elijah to continue the match would have made it worse, but at the same time knowing that he couldn't just stop the match then and there, decided on doing the next best thing.

Jarrod switched back to Madrox, and picked up Burke, hoisting him to his feet, before grabbing his arms and hoisting him over his shoulders for the fireman's carry. The spectators cheered him as Madrox moved towards the steel steps. Madrox began turning around, twisting, letting Burke's legs go, and finished off the Vertigo by slamming Burke's head right into the steel steps.

As expected, Burke's head began bleeding. That move would put him out for the rest of the match.

Madrox got back into the ring to face Benjamin, who was holding the baseball bat. Madrox ducked under Benjamin's baseball bat swing, and kicked Benjamin from behind, and once again decided to switch back to Jarrod.

"You wanna end up like Burke?" Jarrod yelled at a confused Benjamin. "Do you want to end up injured like he is?"

The last line was what Benjamin needed to realize what was going on. Benjamin once again charged at Madrox, who ducked his attack again and got behind him, grabbing him and hitting a German Suplex.

Madrox then climbed to the top turnbuckle, as Benjamin laid helplessly on the ground. With his back to the ring, Madrox jumped, hitting the Corkscrew 450 Splash onto Benjamin's body. Madrox then turned Benjamin's body over, and applied a sleeper hold to him, putting a knee into his back.

Shelton Benjamin immediately began struggling for the ropes, yelling out in pain at the move – which Madrox had dubbed the 'Axe Choke' – that had forced Charlie Haas to submit many weeks ago in the dark match. Benjamin still struggling, finally managed to get to the ropes, though once he grabbed it he realised the problem.

The referee was knocked out.

Benjamin struggled for many moments after, while the crowd cheered Madrox and the mayhem he brought with him. Finally, Benjamin succumbed to the move, and his body slumped unconscious.

Madrox let go of his hold, and stood up in the middle of the ring, with his music blaring around him. Except this time, Madrox knew he had to do something else. He quickly called for a microphone, and it was brought to him.

"Yeah." Madrox spoke into the microphone softly, as if to test it, before speaking loudly. "We're going to need three stretchers out here. One for the referee, and two for the bitches whose asses I just kicked around the ring."

--0--

Jarrod had worriedly waited backstage for Elijah to come through. Once he had, Elijah just simply laughed at him and gave him a thumbs up.

"Are you alright?" Jarrod asked, and Elijah continued laughing in his face.

"Of course!" Elijah said, sitting up on his stretcher. "I only have a fractured rib. It's kind of hard to breathe though."

"That was totally my fault, I'm absolutely sorry." Jarrod reiterated.

"I fell badly when you threw me off the ring. That's what caused the initial injury. The leg drop just added to it a little." Elijah explained. "Anyway, I should be alright. I'll be back in a couple of weeks, these injuries happen all the time."

"Will you be there for Judgment Day?" Jarrod asked, and Elijah shook his head.

"I'll be watching." Elijah left shortly afterwards, and Jarrod turned to see Shelton, on his own stretcher.

"What the hell are you doing on a stretcher?" Jarrod asked.

"The Gold Standard's gotta ride in style." Shelton laughed, before slipping off his stretcher. "Don't worry about what happened to Elijah, he'll be alright. Anyway, that just means you and me for Judgment Day."

"I guess it does." Jarrod said, though his thoughts were interrupted.

"Are you ready?" Maryse suddenly appeared behind Jarrod, and Jarrod immediately remembered his plans. "You said you were taking me out after the show."

"Dinner and a movie?" Jarrod suggested, and Shelton immediately sighed.

"Hurry up and just go!" Shelton replied. "You're like a freaking 12 year old! Jeez!"


A/N: Just a couple of things to say, after checking out the stats, I've realised that people actually read this story, so kudos to you for enjoying it. This chapter had a kind of ordinary match, though I just wanted some progress on the story in Jarrod/Madrox's character, which I did.

To QPython, man I loved how you ended Part 2, and there's a typo in my review that I posted that is supposed to say Part 3. Along with that, I've read the first chapter of the new story, but it won't let me access/review it for a strange reason. But it was great nevertheless, you made a match with one of the big guys enjoyable to watch.

For no one in particular, especially people with a good internet speed, check out the user "SuicidalDragon" on youtube, he's got some crazy good videos of mostly japanese and indy wrestlers, along with toplists of different types of moves. I discovered it by accident, and there's a good reason why he has over 1000 subscribers.