Chapter IV: A Return

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(A/N: I recently had it pointed out to me that I can do whatever I want in this story and that I really don't have to stick to what actually happens. That having been said, Carlito beat Paul London in a singles match by hitting the Back-Stabber, then Santino got a mic and called Kendrick gay. Kendrick responded the way Cody did and said is Santino didn't shut up he'd beat him with the microphone. Santino obviously misunderstood and got clocked with the mic. The two teams brawled and London and Kendrick were left in the ring, with Santino and Carlito on the outside.)

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Raw was live from Greensville South Carolina, Zack Tyler was standing backstage watching Raw with his opponent for the night, Ken Anderson, who had snuck in without the fans noticing and was planning on a surprise return. Umaga had just hit Barack Obama with a Samoan Spike, and then followed up by hitting Hillary Clinton with a Samoan Drop. "Well, I guess that means Umaga's voting republican," commented Zack.

"Or at least Vince is," agreed Ken.

"Tyler! Anderson!" called out Raw Lead Writer Brian Gewirtz. "Get out there now!"

"But we're supposed to go on after the Diva segment," Ken reminded.

"Well the crowd is dead," said Gewirtz. "So you need to go out now and wake them up for the King of the Ring Finals and the Main Event. If the surprise return doesn't do it, your match should. And then we've got the Divas after you." Gewirtz grabbed Zack and 'guided' (shoved) him towards the stage. "We've gone to commercial, and have your music cued up to go on once it's over. Get out there!"

"Alright, alright, I'm going," conceded Zack as he jogged off carrying his title and briefcase with him, Ken following behind him. "Didn't they learn their lesson after that Trump/O'Donnell fiasco last year?"

"Apparently not," said Ken as they stood behind the curtain waiting for the ring to get cleared and the break to end. "But ten bucks says we can get everyone involved in our match one way or another."

"Don't take that!" instructed Maria as she ran over. "We were just told about the schedule change, and I'd be surprised if you guys did anything but get everyone involved."

"Well there you have it," Zack told Ken as he put his free arm around Maria. "No bet, I'd get in trouble if I did." Zack glanced at Maria and smiled while Ken coughed something that sounded like whipped which Zack pretended not to hear.

"Alright guys," called out a backstage hand, "We're back live in five… four… three… two… now…"

--x--

Riot Time played in the arena and the fans cheered, but not as loudly as normal as Mr. Money in the Bank came out from the back. "Ladies and gentlemen the following Open Challenge is scheduled for one-fall, and if the opponent wins they will be awarded a chance to compete for the Money in the Bank Briefcase next week. Introducing first, from Detroit Michigan, weighing in at two hundred fifteen pounds, he is Mr. Money in the Bank and the WWE Intercontinental Champion, MACHETTI!!" Machetti sprinted down the ramp and slid into the ring, he put the briefcase down, then ran to the corner and jumped up onto the middle rope. Machetti did a back-flip and landed in the middle of the ring as white pyro exploded up out of each of the corners, the loud noise caused a few more fans woke up and start cheering. Machetti picked up his briefcase again then turned to face the entrance ramp, no knowing who his opponent was going to be for the Open Challenge.

Turn Up the Trouble hit and another large portion of the crowd woke up and, surprisingly, cheered as Mr. Kennedy came out from the back and walked down the entrance ramp. MISTER KENNEDY WAS BACK ON RAW!! "And the opponent, from Green Bay Wisconsin, weighing in at two hundred forty-three pounds, MISTER KENNEDY!!" Kennedy stared at Machetti as he headed down the ramp and mouthed "I'm back" to him. Kennedy had just come back and he was already gunning to become Mr. Money in the Bank. Kennedy quickly went up the steps and got in the ring, then had the referee keep Machetti at bay as he walked into the middle of the ring and reached up into the air, signaling for his signature microphone.

The mic was lowered into Kennedy's waiting hand. The lights turned down and the spotlight was on Kennedy as he stood in the middle of the ring. "No, there's no need to adjust your TV, what you're seeing is really happening. You know him, you love him, you can't live with out him, guess who's back… MISSSTTTEEEEERRRRR KENNEDDYYYYYY!!" Kennedy did the customary pause and went over to the corner where he climbed up onto the middle rope. "KENNEDDYYYYYY!!" Kennedy let got of the mic and allowed it be raised up to the rafters, then pulled off his shirt and tossed it out of the ring. Kennedy climbed down from the middle rope and turned to face Machetti, who was standing behind the referee in the opposite corner. Machetti pulled off his t-shirt and tossed it into the crowd, then handed the referee his briefcase and title. They weren't on the line tonight, but if Kennedy won, the briefcase would be on the line next week.

The referee came back after handing off the IC Title and the Briefcase and stood in the middle of the ring in between Kennedy and Machetti. The referee glanced at both of them then called for the bell, it rang and the match was underway. The referee backed out of the way and allowed Machetti and Kennedy to approach each other and stand face-to-face in the middle of the ring. Machetti held up his hands calling for a lock up, Kennedy slowly reached up to lock up with Machetti, BUT RAKED HIS EYES INSTEAD! The fans started booing as Machetti staggered backwards holding his eyes and was momentarily blinded. That was all Kennedy needed to take advantage, he grabbed Machetti in a side headlock, and then planted him with a DDT. Kennedy rolled Machetti onto his back and went for a pin, looking to steal the match with a quick win, ONE… TWO… TH—Machetti managed to kick out.

Kennedy stayed on his knees and pinned Machetti down with his left arm, then drove his right fist down into Machetti's forehead. After a series of three hard shots right above the eye Machetti suddenly shot out his arm and popped Kennedy upside the face. Kennedy fell on his ass while Machetti rolled away and struggled back up to his feet. Machetti stood up and turned around, only to get leveled by a clothesline from Kennedy. Kennedy glanced down at Machetti who was once again on his back in the middle of the ring, then ran to the ropes, bounced off and dropped down with an elbow drop to the face. Kennedy covered Machetti by pressing his forearms down into his opponent's face, ONE… TW—Machetti kicked out.

Kennedy stood up and pulled Machetti to his feet with him, then whipped Machetti across the ring and into a corner. Kennedy ran at Machetti and bit a running elbow to the face, the force Kennedy hit Machetti with caused the IC Champion's head to snap back. With Machetti leaning groggily against the turnbuckle, Kennedy climbed up onto the middle rope then raised his right arm and drove his fist down into Machetti's face. Despite Kennedy's actions in the match, a good number of the fans counted along with Kennedy as he continued to pummel Machetti, ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR… FIVE… SIX… SEVEN… EIG—MACHETTI GOT UP HIS HAND AND BLOCKED KENNEDY'S FIST! Machetti elbowed Kennedy's leg with his free arm, then spun around while Kennedy reached out and grabbed the top rope to keep from falling. Machetti grabbed onto Kennedy and positioned him so he was sitting on his shoulders, then Machetti fell backwards, ELECTRIC CHAIR DROP!! Machetti rolled off of Kennedy then grabbed his legs and flipped over him for a bridge pin, ONE… TWO… T—Kennedy kicked out.

Machetti and Kennedy both got back up to their feet then met in the middle of the ring and started trading punches. Kennedy hit a series of two punches to Machetti's face, but Machetti came back and hit a couple of forearms. Kennedy retaliated with a slap the chest, followed by a punch to the face, but Machetti ducked the punch and hit an uppercut, sending Kennedy staggering backwards. Machetti grabbed onto Kennedy and whipped him into the ropes but when he came back Kennedy jumped up into the air and took Machetti down with a flying clothesline. Machetti was knocked down to the mat and went rolling over to the ropes, Kennedy came over to capitalize but Machetti lashed his legs out behind him and drove them into Kennedy's stomach for a mule kick, then sprang up to his feet and did a back-flip, driving his heels into Kennedy's face for a back-flip kick. Kennedy well to the mat and rolled across the ring, Machetti took the opportunity to get out of the ring and onto the ring apron. Machetti held onto the top rope and waited for Kennedy to get up, then hoisted himself up onto the top rope. BUT KENNEDY RAN OVER AND PUSHED MACHETTI OFF!! Machetti went flying off of the ropes and slammed into the announce table with such force that JR and King were pushed back into the barricade.

Kennedy stood in the ring and held onto the top rope and watched Machetti who seemed to have been knocked out from his contact with the announce table. Before the referee can start the ring out count Kennedy get out of the ring and goes over to Machetti. Kennedy reached down and pulled Machetti up off of the ground then drove his face down into the announce table, JR and King are still standing and are attempting to stay out of the way. In the ring the referee finally started the ring out count and counted ONE! Kennedy grabbed Machetti then turned around and whipped him into the ring apron, Machetti's back hit the side of the ring hard, and the IC Champion yelled out before dropping to his knees and holding his back in pain. The referee counted TWO! Kennedy went over to Machetti and pulled him back off of the floor then pushed Machetti backwards and got Machetti's head behind the middle rope. Kennedy pulled Machetti's head forward and started choking him with the middle rope, Machetti thrashed around and clawed at Kennedy in an attempt to break the illegal usage of the ropes, but Kennedy had full control over him. The referee came over and momentarily forgot about the ring out count as he scolded Kennedy from the illegal usage of the ropes. It took the referee threatening to disqualify Kennedy to get him to break the choke. When Kennedy pulled Machetti free from the ropes the referee counted THREE!!

Kennedy grabbed hold of Machetti then turned to the side and whipped him into the ring post. Machetti went face-first into the steel, his feet kept going while his head was knocked backwards, causing him to fly up into the air then come crashing down to the floor. The referee shouted at Kennedy to get in the ring and counted FOUR! Kennedy walked over to Machetti and stood over him then held his arms up in the air and taunted the crowd, only to be met with a loud chorus of boos and the start of a KENNEDY SUCKS chant. The referee stayed in the ring and counted FIVE! But Kennedy continued to ignore him and pulled Machetti back up to his feet. Kennedy ran with Machetti along the side of the ring then let him go and watched as Machetti slammed face-first into the side of the steel ring steps. The fans booed as Kennedy stood up and taunted again, the referee counted SIX!! Kennedy went over to Machetti and pulled him up off of the mat with his hair then rolled him into the ring. The camera got a close up of Machetti's face while Kennedy got in the ring and saw that Machetti had a bloody gash up above his right eye. Machetti struggled to sit up and tried to get up to his feet, but Kennedy ran over and kicked him square in the face, knocking Machetti on his back again.

Kennedy dropped down on top of Machetti and covered him, looking to capitalize on his outside the ring offense, ONE… TWO… THR—MACHETTI MANAGED TO KICK OUT! Kennedy glared at Machetti then moved around so he was crouching over Machetti's chest, then pulled his head off of the mat with his left hand and rained down a barrage of hard closed fist punches with his right hand. Kennedy was relentless and drove his fist over and over again into the gash above Machetti's eye, he got in almost ten hard shots before the referee came over and forcefully pulled him up off of Machetti. Kennedy held up his hand right hand and showed that there was blood his knuckles, the fans booed loudly, but Kennedy still seemed proud of himself. The camera got a shot of Machetti's face and showed that the bloody gash had been opened even more by Kennedy's ministration to it and now blood was freely flowing down the right side of Machetti's face and was dripping into Machetti's eye. Kennedy went over to Machetti and then dropped down on him for a cover, ONE… TWO… TH—Machetti got his shoulder up.

Kennedy glared at Machetti and rolled him on his side, then hooked his arm around Machetti's neck and locked in a side headlock, looking to wear him down even further before finishing him once and for all. As soon as Kennedy started applying pressure Machetti knew he was in trouble, it was getting hard to breathe and the pain in his head was killing him. But he refused to give up, he'd pass out before he tapped out. The referee came over and crouched down next to Machetti, checking if Machetti was really going to tap, but Machetti refused to give up and hung in there. Kennedy squeezed down on Machetti's head and neck, looking to do as much damage as possible, in Kennedy's mind there were two ways this situation could end, one Machetti would pass out and then Kennedy could get the pin, or Machetti would submit and Kennedy would win anyway. The only problem with Kennedy's logic was that he forgot one thing, he forgot the thousands of people surrounding the ring. And that was a mistake he was soon going to regret.

The fans saw that Machetti was in trouble and knew that if he stayed stuck in the headlock he'd eventually lose, one way or the other. The fans didn't seem to want Kennedy to win because a Machettichant broke out around the arena. Machetti heard the fans chanting his name over and over again, the chant was growing louder and the majority of the arena was chanting now. MACHETTI! MACHETTI! Machetti knew he couldn't disappoint the fans, and he suddenly found that he had the motivation to continue. Machetti started to move and elbowed Kennedy in the stomach, then pulled himself up off of the mat and into a sitting position. Kennedy quickly stood up and kept the headlock locked in, now that he was standing he had some additional leverage that he could add to the hold. But the fans continued to chant and Machetti continued to fight, MACHETTI! MACHETTI! Machetti elbowed Kennedy in the stomach, again and again, and eventually fought up to his feet. Kennedy gritted his teeth and applied as much pressure as he could, he had now been reduced to a standing side headlock, which was nowhere near as effective as one on the ground. Machetti yelled out then suddenly grabbed Kennedy, AND THREW HIM OFF OF HIM WITH A HIP TOSS!!

Kennedy got back up and rushed at Machetti, but Machetti ran at him, jumped up into the air and hit a spinning wheel kick, knocking Kennedy on his back. Kennedy rolled away and got back up, but Machetti came over and grabbed Kennedy, then went to whip him onto the ropes, only for Kennedy to reverse it. Machetti was whipped towards the ropes and jumped up onto the middle one, then back-flipped off of it and went over Kennedy's head, only to grab him on the way down and drive Kennedy's head down into the mat for an inverted DDT, OVER CASTLE TAKE OVER!! Kennedy was down, but Machetti wasn't done yet, he ran to the ropes then bounced off and did a handspring followed by a back-flip onto Kennedy, HANDSPRING MOONSUALT! Machetti stayed on Kennedy and went for the pin, ONE… TWO… THR—KENNEDY MANAGED TO KICK OUT!

Machetti stood up and pulled Kennedy up off of the mat, then whipped him into the corner. Machetti ran at Kennedy and did a handspring followed by a front-flip, TURNBUCKLE SENTON! Machetti stepped back and Kennedy staggered forward, but Machetti jumped up and got his legs around Kennedy's neck, then sent him flying across the ring with a hurricurana. Machetti got back up and jumped up onto the top rope, he stared down at Kennedy then launched himself out of the corner at his opponent, DIVING HEADBUTT! Machetti laid on the mat and held his head for a moment, after what Kennedy had done to him in the beginning of the match, a headbutt wasn't exactly the best move to have done. Eventually Machetti crawled over to Kennedy and went for a pin, ONE… TWO… THRE—KENNEDY BARELY KICKED OUT!

Machetti stared down at Kennedy in surprise, he was practically unconscious, but still Kennedy had managed to kick out. Machetti stood back up, then smirked and grabbed Kennedy's legs and lifted them up off of the mat. Machetti crossed Kennedy's legs and went to put his through, SHARPSHOO—KENNEDY PUSHED MACHETTI OFF! Machetti was sent into the ropes and bounced off, Kennedy shot back up and kicked Machetti in the stomach then grabbed him and placed his leg behind Machetti's, MIC CHE—MACHETTI LIFTED KENNEDY UP!! MACHETE'S BLA—KENNEDY SLIPPED OUT OF IT! Kennedy lifted Machetti up onto his shoulders, then did a front-flip and drove Machetti's back down into the mat, STEAMROLLER!! Kennedy rolled onto his stomach, then crawled over to Machetti and went for a pin, ONE… TWO… THRE—MACHETTI SOMEHOW KICKED OUT!!

Kennedy stared down at Machetti in surprise and disbelief, the fans were all cheering that Machetti had kicked out, but Kennedy wasn't sharing their happiness. Kennedy reached down and pulled Machetti up off of the mat and to his feet, Kennedy held onto Machetti and placed his leg behind his, then prepared to hit his finisher, MIC CHE—MACHETTI PUSHED KENNEDY OFF OF HIM!! Kennedy went into the ropes and came back, Machetti got his leg up and kneed Kennedy in the stomach, then grabbed him for a side headlock and drove Kennedy's head down into the mat, IMPALER!! Machetti got off of Kennedy and to his feet then ran to the ropes and jumped up onto the top one, Machetti back-flipped off and came crashing down on Machetti, SPRINGBOARD MOONSAULT!! Machetti stayed on Kennedy and went for a pin, ONE… TWO… THRE—KENNEDY STILL MANAGED TO KICK OUT!!

Machetti stood up and stared down at Kennedy, then reached down and pulled him up off of the mat. Machetti grabbed Kennedy and went to whip him into the corner, but Kennedy reversed it, only for Machetti to reverse Kennedy's reversal. Kennedy went full speed into the corner, AND ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE REFEREE!! Machetti came over and tried to pull Kennedy away, but Kennedy lashed his leg out behind him, AND KICKED MACHETTI IN THE GROIN! THE REFEREE DIDN'T SEE IT! Machetti staggered backwards and dropped down to his knees, but Kennedy came over and pulled him back up, then placed his leg behind Machetti's, MIC CHECK!! Kennedy rolled Machetti onto his back then went to the corner, climbed up onto the top rope, and came off with a front-flip, KENTON BOMB!! Kennedy hooked Machetti's legs and went for a pin, the referee recovered enough to make the count, ONE… TWO… THREE! KENNEDY GOT THE PIN!!

The fans booed as the bell rang and Turn Up the Trouble played. Kennedy got up off of Machetti and rolled out of the ring, he went over to the time keeper's corner and grabbed the Money in the Bank Briefcase which had Machetti's Intercontinental Title wrapped around it. Kennedy got back in the ring with the briefcase, but the referee came over and tried to stop him. KENNEDY HIT THE REFEREE WITH THE BRIEFCASE!! The official was out before he even hit the mat, but when he did, it left Kennedy alone in the ring with Machetti, who was struggling to pull himself up with the ropes. Kennedy waited for Machetti to get up then watched as the Intercontinental Champion slowly turned around, Kennedy darted forward, AND BLASTED MACHETTI WITH THE BRIEFCASE!!

Kennedy stood over the unconscious body of Machetti, then reached up with his free hand and called for his signature mic. Kennedy's theme music cut as the mic was lowered into Kennedy's waiting hand and he crouched down next to Machetti. "Machetti… Machetti…" Kennedy called out, "Oh, I guess you can't hear me. I just won your little Open Challenge, and now I've got a shot at winning this briefcase of yours next week. But you know what, I don't want my shot next week, I want my shot at Backlash. You lost, so you have to deal with the consequences, on Sunday it will be you, Machetti defending your Money in the Bank Briefcase against, MIISTEEEERRRRR… KENNEEDYYYYYYY!!" Kennedy dropped down next to Machetti so he was right next to Machetti's ear, then screamed, "KENNEDYYYYYYYY!"

Kennedy tapped Machetti on the head with the mic, then tossed it to the side and stood up. Turn Up the Trouble started to play again as Kennedy tossed the mic to the side and allowed it to be raised back up to the rafters. Kennedy put the briefcase down on Machetti's chest and stared down at him, "On Sunday… that's mine!" With that Kennedy walked to the ropes and got out of the ring. The fans were still booing as Kennedy headed to the back. The camera showed Machetti, who still had blood on his face and hadn't moved since Kennedy hit him with the briefcase, then Raw cut to a commercial break.

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That's right, Machetti versus Mr. Kennedy for the Money in the Bank Briefcase at Backlash. I kept this match kind of short because I wanted to leave something left for Backlash.

Also, I'd like to repeat my announcement about the Machetti Interview. I still need more questions to make it an official length interview. So I repeat, review my and send my a question you've been wanting to know about Machetti, and I'll officially answer them in the interview.

'Till Next Time…

Peace!