Blitzkrieg 10.0
Jordan entered the NXT men's locker room. A look of worry passed away from his features as he found Andy sitting in a steel chair, wrapping his hands in white tape. Andy glanced up and gave a tired smile. "Hey mate! Congratulations on your Payback win! Sorry I couldn't be there." Jordan smiled in response as he placed a hand on his friends shoulder.
"Thank you, and don't worry about it. I understand. Listen, are you ok? You seem a little off." Andy released a long sigh as he leaned back in his chair, letting his head hang over the back.
"I'm exhausted. I haven't gotten much sleep since Smackdown. All the doctors made me nervous running around me all the time." Andy shrugged as he sat up straight, Jordan watching as he rubbed the side of his neck.
"What about your neck though? I've seen the playback. You took a dodgy spill."
"I'll be ok. No lasting damage and nothing too serious. Just a lot of pain. I got lucky." Jordan nodded in solemn understanding before a knock came from the locker room door. Jordan made to answer it, but Andy stopped him. "Take a seat. I'll get it, mate." Jordan reluctantly sat down and watched as Andy opened the door before jumping slightly.
"Hey... Bayley!" Andy stumbled over his words causing Jordan to chuckle as he leaned back in his chair. "What, uh... What're you doing here? I mean, not that you can't be here! But, uh, do... do you need me to find somebody for you?" Jordan heard Bayley laugh on the other side of the door.
"No. I was hoping to see you." She replied.
"Me?" Andy questioned with raised eyes as he placed his free hand on his chest.
"Yeah! I was watching Smackdown, and I saw what happened to you. I was really worried." Andy fidgeted in place and rubbed the side of his neck.
"Well... that was thoughtful."
"So how is it?" Bayley questioned.
"How is what?"
"Your neck." Bayley returned with a laugh.
"My neck...? Oh, it's fine. Just some pain from my fall." Andy spoke with a nod. Jordan watched as his friend fidgeted heavily when Bayley reached through the doorway to touch his neck.
"That must've been scary. Be safe in your match tonight, ok?" Bayley spoke before withdrawing her hand. Andy nodded in response, and as Bayley began to leave he started to close the door. He stopped however as Bayley stopped and turned back around. "Hey! Some of us are going out tonight! Would you and Jordan like to come?"
Andy opened his mouth and looked like he was trying to answer. Jordan rolled his eyes and stood to his feet, walking to Andy and placing his arm around his shoulders. "What this bloke's trying to say is yes, we'd love to come." Bayley looked to Andy for confirmation and he nodded in response. Bayley smiled brightly.
"Great! I'll come find you guys after the show!" Bayley waved before leaving, Andy closing the door.
"How'd I do, mate?" Andy questioned as he and Jordan returned to the locker room to finish getting ready for their match.
"On a scale of wanker to muppet?"
"Sure."
"You're a bumbling idiot." Andy scowled at his friend.
"You're any better?"
"At least I can talk to Becky. Relax. I told Bayley that you had a crippling fear of women outside the ring." Andy's head snapped to Jordan in horror.
"Did you really?" Jordan laughed in response as an official opened the locker room door and called for them.
"No. But I will tonight."
"You bloody muppet!" Andy rushed after his partner. Moments later, they arrived at the gorilla position. Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens stood shoulder to shoulder with one another in the ring. And took a deep breath and shook his arms as Crown of Thorns played. "I'll see you out there, muppet." Andy burst from the curtains, leaving his partner behind to the roar of the crowd.
Wearing white trunks, white boots, white kick pads, black knee pads, his hands wrapped, a my skull is bulletproof shirt and a bullet bandanna, he came down on one knee, lifting his head like a gun against the side of his skull. He hesitated before shaking his head and pointing the hand at his opponents with a nod. He shot at them before slapping the ground and launching to his feet with a cry of "Strong Style Shooter!" He walked down the ramp, giving his bandanna to a young girl with an I'm a hugger tee shirt. He reached the end of the ramp and lifted his hands like guns to the crowd as they called "Strong!" Then he turned and rushed back up performing the same motion as they yelled "Style!". He turned around with a smug smirk before walking to the ring and jumping on the apron. He climbed the turnbuckle and performed his hanging draw before dropping in the ring. He pretended to hold an M16 and shot at Owens and Joe. They moved toward him and the referee forced him back as Andy fell into his corner. His music died and he pointed to the ramp, the lights fading to black, as Riot replaced Crown of Thorns.
When the lights returned, Jordan stood at the top of the stage with his United States championship held high and a focused expression on his face. He dropped the belt onto his shoulder before making his way down the ramp. He paused at the end of it to bend and look at the camera before jumping on the apron and running the ropes with his belt in hand. He tossed his shirt to the crowd and entered the ring, handing his title to the referee to give to an official before tapping hands with Andy. They exchanged some words before Owens and Jordan left the ring. The bell rang before Joe and Andy began circling one another. "And here we go folks! Get ready because these four men are about to try to rip each other apart!" Joe and Andy locked up and fought for dominance. Joe smashed his head into Andy's, winning the contest of strength. Joe slammed his knee into Andy's gut, forcing him to double over. Grabbing him by the head, Samoa Joe flipped him into a seated position before delivering a kick to his back. Andy cried out before he was jerked to his feet. He was bounded off the ropes and ducked under a clothesline. Stopping in place, he hit Joe in the back of the head with a reverse Enzuigiri. Samoa Joe stumbled, and Andy rushed the ropes, performing a springboard back elbow drop. The two wrestlers hit the mat and Andy rolled to his feet, motioning for Joe to get up. As he did he was nailed in the face with a shining wizard. Andy jumped to his feet, pointing his hand like a gun around at the crowd. They cheered loudly as Andy hit the ropes before hitting Joe with a flying Yakuza kick. Andy picked his opponent up before Irish whipping him into the corner. And followed closely behind before launching himself through the air with a high knee to the face. Jordan stepped in the ring when Andy tagged him in. Andy performed a combination of elbows and knees to the skull as Jordan punched away at Joe's abdomen. As the referee hit a count of four, Andy flipped over the top rope and to the apron as Jordan hit Joe with an upper cut. As Joe stumbled out of the corner, he was hip flipped to the mat. Jordan covered Joe's body with his own before delivering knees to his skull.
Jordan rolled away and stood to his feet before reaching down to drag Joe to his feet. Joe responded by raking his opponents eyes. Jordan grasped at his face before he was Suplexed to the mat. Joe stood to his feet, Wiping his face with his forearm before Kneeing Jordan in the skull as he tries to get off the canvas. He was yanked from the ground and Irish whipped into the corner. Joe slammed into him with a full force spear and held him in the corner with his shoulder as Kevin Owens reached over and tagged Joe's back. The new legal man climbed into the ring and landed harsh blows to Jordan's skull as Joe held him in place before he was forced to exit the ring due to a four count. Owens pulled Jordan from the corner to an elbow to the face. Jordan's head bounced off the mat and the crowd began chanting "Let's go Jordan!" In an attempt to rally him to his feet. "Shut up!" Owens screamed at the crowd as they booed. "This is your striker!?" He called as he slapped Jordan in the back of the head. "This is a prize fighter!?" Kevin picked Jordan up before dropping him to the mat with a power slam. "He's a joke! He doesn't deserve to be champion!"
Owens went to pick Jordan up again, but a leg sweep sent him to his own back. As Owens quickly tried to sit up, Jordan slammed his knee into his face. Jordan mounted Owens chest and began punching at his opponents skull before he was forced to break away because of the referee counting to four. Owens felt at his forehead as he laid on the mat before he was pulled to his feet Owens slammed into the corner as he was Irish whipped before Jordan's entire body slammed into him. As Kevin stumbled out of the corner, he was hit with an uppercut that caused his head to whip back before he fell into a sitting position in the corner. A strong kick to the side of the head caused Owens skull to bounce of the turnbuckle. As he bent forward, Jordan kicked him in the back of the skull, causing him to jump to his knees and crawl out of the corner. Jordan followed after him and grabbed him by the shoulders before pulling him to his feet. Owens struck out with an elbow to the side of Jordan's head. Turning around, Kevin Irish whipped Jordan into the corner. Owens gave a war cry as his own body slammed into Jordan's. Joe tagged himself in and used the rope as leverage to kick Jordan in the back of the head before entering the ring.
Joe picked Jordan up off the mat, pointing at Andy and yelling at him before slamming Jordan's face into the mat. Samoa Joe kicked his opponent in the ribs, causing him to flip over on his back. Joe bent over, screaming at Jordan. Jordan struck up, hitting Joe on the jaw. Working his way to his feet, Jordan elbowed Joe in the back of the neck before Irish whipping him into the corner. Jordan followed after, smashing his forearm into Joe's face before tagging Andy back in. Andy jumped into the ring and delivered a kick to Joe's abdomen before Jordan returned to the apron. Andy hit a springboard Enzuigiri to the side of Joe's head, causing Joe to drop into a sitting position. Andy ran to the middle of the ring before launching through the air and slamming his feet into Joe's chest. "Hesitation dropkick! I don't know if there's anybody who does them better!" Andy jumped to his feet and pointed his hand like a gun at Joe, yelling "Shot down!" As Joe crawled across the ring. A clothesline to the back of his neck sent Andy to the mat as Kevin stood over him. Jordan jumped into the ring, and Owens ducked under his arm. Jordan got caught in a chimera plex from Samoa Joe. Andy bounced off the ropes toward the back of Owens. Kevin turned at the last second and caught him in a pop up Powerbomb that landed his opponent directly on his neck. "Straight onto the injury Andy got on Smackdown!" Kevin stared down at Andy before walking away and kicking Jordan out of the ring. Joe moved to Andy and placed him in a rear naked choke. "The Coquina Clutch! Andy's out folks! The referee is calling for the bell!" Samoa Joe kept the hold on Andy as his music played until he was forced to let him go.
"You know that wasn't how Jordan wanted his first match as Champion to go, and Andy definitely didn't want it to end like that going into Takeover." Corey spoke as Owens and Joe screamed at the crowd.
"These are your champions!? They're pathetic! Just like all of you!" Owens made himself very vocally heard as NXT faded to commercial.
After being helped from the ring, to cheers from the crowd, Jordan and Andy walked backstage as Andy solemnly unwrapped his hands. "They got the better of us." Andy spoke with a grim expression on his face.
"We'll get them back. This isn't the end of all of that. I promise." Jordan responded as he patted Andy on the shoulder. "I have to get a shower. Don't let it get you too down, mate." Andy nodded in response as his friend walked away before retrieving a water bottle from a nearby catering table. He took a drink of it before he heard a voice.
"Hey." Andy raised an eyebrow and turned around, finding Brianna Kelly standing behind him. She wore a black jean jacket, Pink Sequined tank top, black boot cut jeans, and knee length dark brown high heeled cowboy boots.
"Oh. How are you doing, WhatCulture? What are you doing at NXT? You're Smackdown." Brianna nodded in response before talking.
"I know. I came to ask you a favor."
"A favor?"
"Yeah. I won the number one contender spot for the WWE Women's Championship at Payback. But I'm not being taken as a serious competitor like I should be. I'm not a diva. I'm a female wrestler, and I should be treated like it."
"Of course." Andy responded honestly with a nod. "But what do you want me to do about that?"
"Train me." She responded eagerly, causing Andy to lower his water bottle.
"Train you...?"
"Train me. I'm a good wrestler, I know I am. I wouldn't be where I am if I wasn't. But I apparently I don't have the right moves to be considered top tier. You do. After watching your WhatCulture videos, I youtube matches of you. You wrestled Finn Balor in a forty five minute long match and injured your arm fifteen minutes into it. Thirty minutes facing Shinsuke Nakamura. You change your styles to get the fans to love you, or legitimately hate you. If you could help me learn some of those traits then I know I can achieve the top tier I've dreamed of my whole life."
Andy took another drink of his water before speaking. "If I trained you, which I'm not saying I will, it won't be easy. I stumbled and failed so many times in the beginning of my career. And so will you. You'll stumble and fall. You'll bleed and sweat. And you will cry. That's the price it takes to get to the top." Brianna nodded in response.
"I've done that since the beginning as I climbed the ladder."
"I'll give you a trial run. Not this week though, okay? I have to be prepared for Finn, and my neck is killing me right now." Brianna smiled happily.
"Thank you so much! You won't regret this! I'll make you proud."
"I know you will." Brianna gave a quick goodbye and the two wrestlers parted ways. Andy reached the men's locker room where Jordan was already getting changed into Street Clothes and began his post match routine. As he finished getting ready, a knock came at the locker room door. Andy and Jordan answered it to find Bayley and Becky on the other side.
Bayley wore a yellow tank top, a black skirt and black shoes with yellow and black Wristbands on her right arm. Becky wore a black shirt that cut off midriff, black jeans and black shoes with a bracelet on her kept arm. In contrast, Jordan wore a red Polo Shirt with a GBR one the front with a pair of khaki joggers and white sneakers. And Andy wore a red flannel long sleeve shirt with his black vest, black cargo pants and black combat boots. "Hey guys, are you ready?" Becky asked as Jordan shifted from one foot to the other. Andy messed with the front of his partially slicked back hair as he responded.
"Jordan's been for a while, I just got done." Becky nodded in response as Andy looked over. "You, um... You look great, Bayley." He spoke causing her to smile brightly.
"Thanks. You too. So we're going down the road to a dance club. Do you mind if we ride with you?" Andy began fidgeting again as Jordan retrieved their duffel bags, throwing Andy his.
"That'd be fine." Jordan responded with a nod.
"Thanks." Becky spoke. "And congratulations on your title win. I haven't got to say it yet. You must be really proud." Jordan nodded happily as they left the locker room and began walking to Andy's rental as Andy placed some gum in his mouth.
"I am. It's the second true step to my dream of being the WWE Champion." Andy opened the door to his car and got in, letting the other three in before starting the car and beginning to drive.
"And the first?" Becky questioned.
"Joining the WWE of course. From the moment I saw the Undertaker walk down the ramp on his debut, I knew this is what I wanted to do." Becky nodded in understanding with a smile.
"What about you, Andy?" Bayley questioned. Andy looked in the rear view mirror at her face and chewed harshly on his gum before answering.
"WWF and WCW. My mom would watch it with me every time. Wasn't ever that into Undertaker to be honest with you, no offence mate." Jordan looked out the window, mumbling good naturedly under his breath. "I liked the Rockers. And when Shawn Michaels broke out, I thought it was amazing."
"So that's why you became a wrestler?"
"No. I didn't think I belonged in the wrestling world because of my small height and weight. No, it became my life when New Japan came to me when I was doing MMA. I thought back to watching Shawn Michaels and Triple H in DX and Stone Cold Steve Austin and I knew, right then, that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life." Bayley nodded in understanding as Becky spoke up.
"Make a right here." Andy did as he was told and they found themselves at the dance club. The group of four exited the vehicle and met up with a much larger group of wrestlers. The big group split out as the night went on to do their own things.
"So you're really a black belt in all of those Martial arts?" Becky asked Jordan asked as they sat in a booth.
"I am. That's why everything is so personal between Owens and I. I take my trades very seriously, and he has no reason to attack who I am." Becky placed her head in her hand.
"I get it. I got so many 'you don't belong here' taunts when I got to NXT. Who is anybody to tell me what I have and haven't heard?"
"Exactly!" Jordan exclaimed with a nod. "When I got here, the only person that believed in me was Kofi Kingston. That's why we're such good friends. But I think Andy and I are actually closer friends even though I haven't known him as long. We have a similar background, and we have a friendly rivalry."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. I joke that he's not really from the UK and that I'm a better striker. And he always has a come back. When we hit the gym together, we're always there to outdo one another."
"I completely understand." Becky responded as she and Jordan began to observe the club. It hadn't even begun to die down.
"You really said that to him?" Bayley questioned Andy with a laugh.
"One hundred percent truth!" Andy responded with a chuckle as he leaned against as rail. "But back then me and Shinsuke really thought that we each were the best Strong Style wrestler. Now days, we just kind of let the fans decide who they want to call King of Strong Style, even though we both still boast the name."
"I haven't seen you and him around each other really. I was hoping to see a rematch between you two live." Bayley spoke in observation.
"Haven't had the time. He's busy with what he's doing and I'm chasing the title. But if I have anything to say about it, you'll see that rematch. And we've both grown so it should only be better." Bayley nodded with a smile before a happy tempod song came over the speakers.
"Hey! This is one of my favorite songs! Come dance with me!" Bayley called over the music as she grabbed his hand and pulled, though he remained against the rail with a nervous look on his face.
"I... I cant. I don't know how to dance, and I'm wearing boots, and my neck hurts." Bayley gave a disbelieving look before pulling on his hand again.
"I've seen what you can do in ring, I bet you have some moves. Your boots won't get in the way and we'll be careful on your neck." Andy Still didn't seem sure. "Come on! I'll teach you how to dance! You know I have the moves."
Andy laughed as Bayley smiled and finally followed after her. "Alright. But just one." The night went on, with the wrestlers enjoying it to its fullest. Andy, Bayley, Jordan and Becky would eventually leave, with the female wrestlers being dropped off at their hotel before Andy and Jordan went to their own.
At NXT Takeover, Andy rolled his shoulder with a loud pop as he pulled on his ring gear. The door to the locker room opened, and Andy lifted his head to find Jordan. "What're you doing here, mate?" Andy questioned as he leaned back, placing his hands on his knees.
"Coming to wish you luck." Jordan responded as he leaned against the wall. "I haven't seen you since we went out, especially since I had Smackdown off." Andy nodded in response. "I know you're going to win tonight, and then we'll be champions together. I do have a question."
"What's that?"
"You and Finn have a long history. You've known one another for years. But you've both grown. Do you have a plan to get the upper hand on him?" Andy paused for a moment before sending a devious smile to his friend.
"You'll see."
Finn Balor entered in his Demon attire, and made his way to the ring. Once his entrance ended and his music died, he stood and waited for his opponent. The lights died down until it was almost completely dark in the arena as the fans screamed. "There exists monsters in the world, more frightening than demons." A deep voice reverberated. "There's no turning back, Balor. Offer your soul! And I will show you the greatest... Nightmare." Crown of Thorns began playing, but a much different version. The only instruments playing were a violin and a piano with female vocals backing up the singers track placed over the music. "What is going on here?" Phillips questioned as a figure appeared on top of the stage. They dropped to both knees as the lights flashed red before going pitch black. Then they raised to show the figure still on his knees. "It's Andy! I think..."
Andy slid his thumb across his throat before rising to his feet with his arms outstretched. He wore black trunks with flames on the left side and a yellow eye with a red iris on the right. He wore black boots with black kick pads, the left being plain while the right had flames consuming it. He had black knee pads, the right having teeth like Balor's own except with elongated fangs while the left had the same eye from the trunks. His body, like Finn's, was painted.
The upper part of his head was painted black like Finn's but he had his lower face painted like the lower part of a skull with elongated fangs. His upper body was painted black with red Markings like Finn's own with the eye from his attire in the middle of his chest. His abdomen was painted like it was a mouth with the teeth opened, making it seem as if his body was actually split with black paint causing the effect. His right arm was painted black with a black armband coming up to it. The design on it was eerily similar to Finn's own armbands. The left arm was painted black and red with an eery orange. He had an armband on this arm with the same design extending down. This armband extended down into a glove on his right hand.
Andy lowered his arms and began making his way down the ramp. He stopped at the end of the ramp, lifting his right hand like a gun to a shout of "Strong!" Before lifting his left to "Style!". Then, he shifted his hands, one pointing to Finn and one pointing to his head before shooting them both. Instead of jumping on the apron, he walked up to it.
He grabbed the first, then second rope before using it to reach the top rope. He then switched his grip so he was facing the camera before pulling up and placing his feet on the apron with his body between the ropes. Andy pointed his hand at the camera and shot at it before making his way to the corner and climbing the turnbuckle. He performed his hanging draw before dropping in the ring. His body went to the mat very much like his Spiderman pose before crawling across the canvas. Then, he jumped to his feet so that he was nose to nose with Finn Balor. The crowd roared in approval as Crown of Thorns faded away. The referee stepped forward, placing one hand on either man's chest before forcing them away from each other and into their respective corners. Then, he retrieved the NXT championship. He held it high for the crowd as they cheered. Then he handed it to an official. He called to either combatant, then called for the bell.
Andy and Finn rushed away from their corners and began circling one another on their feet. "Here we go! Finn and Andy circling each other. And Corey, what do you think about that entrance and paint from Andy?"
"On one hand, he's definitely trying to get inside of Finn's head here. On the other, Finn and Andy have known each other a long time and are a lot alike. Maybe Andy has his own alternate personality that we just haven't seen yet?" Corey answered. Andy and Finn locked up. Finn pulled Andy's arm behind his back. He pushed forward before Andy whipped around. He brought Finn in a headlock, but the Irish wrestler fought out and twisted Andy's arm back behind his back. Andy reversed around and put Finn's own in the position. Finn kicked back and Andy dodged away, breaking the hold and allowing Finn to twist his arm. Andy performed a low front flip and swept at Finn's feet. The wrestler jumped over, and tried keeping his hold. Andy did another low flip, forcing Finn to release him. The crowd roared at the showmanship as the two wrestlers circled each other in the center of the ring.
"These two know each other so well Corey." Phillips spoke as Corey nodded.
"So well. These two were tearing it up with one another in New Japan before most of these fans knew who they were."
"I have to tell you, it's almost difficult to tell these men apart even qith their paint being different."
"And that comes as no surprise. Andy and Finn are the same height and around the same weight too." Andy and Finn locked up in the middle of the ring as the crowd cheered. Andy broke away, slamming Finn's face into the mat by wrapping his legs around his opponents and twisting. Andy twisted it up into a submission, but broke it as Finn got close to the ropes. Andy grabbed Finn by his arms, dragging him to his knees. Then, Andy dropped to the mat, placing his feet into Finn's back. Finn sailed over Andy and bit the canvas as he hit. Andy rolled to his feet and landed a shining wizard as Finn got to his knees, clutching his chest. Andy stood to his full height and looked around at the crowd before reaching down and grabbing his opponents head and dragging him to his feet. Finn hit a sharp strike to Andy's jaw before landing an Enzuigiri to the side of his head, sending him to one knee. A running knee to the face sent Andy to his back. Finn slammed his foot into Andy's gut, causing him to sit up before he kicked his opponent multiple times in the chest, sending him back to his back. Andy was dragged back to his feet, and Finn dodged under a punch before launching his opponent away with an arm drag. As Andy rolled to his feet, he was hit with multiple kicks that resounded loudly throughout the arena to the crowds 'oohs'. As Andy held his sides, Finn grabbed him by the back of the head dropped him face first into the mat. Finn crawled on his hands and knees to Andy before picking him up. Andy swiped at him, but he ducked before hitting his opponent with a Pele kick. Andy hit the ground and Finn stared down at him before picking him back up to his feet. Andy kneed his opponent in the gut, causing Finn to double over. Andy then kneed Finn in the head, causing his body to twist and land on his back. As he stood to his feet, he was hit with a spinning kick by Andy. Andy struck out with his leg as Finn found his way to his knees, kicking him multiple times in the chest. Finn caught Andy's leg as he continued the onslaught before Dragon whipping him to the ground. Andy's head slapped against the canvas and Finn slowly lowered himself to the ground.
Finn picked himself before climbing the turnbuckle. As Andy found his feet, he was hit with a flying cross body. As Finn rolled to his feet, he kicked Andy in the chest. Reaching out to grab Andy, the downed wrestler shot out with his legs, catching Finn's neck between his ankles before sending him through the ropes and to the ground below. Finn bounced off the ground and fought to catch his breath as Andy stood to his feet. Andy took a deep breath as Finn found his way to his feet before he bounded off the ropes before Diving over the opposite ones in a spaceman Moonsault Plancha. Andy and Finn hit the pavement and fought to catch their breath. Andy stood to his feet and climbed to the apron using the same means he had during his entrance. This gave Finn time to recover, and when he stood to his feet, Andy performed a suicide Arabian press. Andy rolled to his feet before lowering himself to the ground. The crowd had erupted into a chant split between "Let's go Andy!" And "Let's go Finn!". Andy went to pick Finn up, but Finn broke the hold and hit another Pele kick that sent Andy staggering. Finn rushed into the ring, hit the opposite ropes and cleared the ropes before nailing Andy with a suicide somersault senton. The two combatants once again hit the ground. Finn picked Andy up and hit him with a stiff shot to the jaw before sliding into the ring to break the count. He then slid out of the ring on the adjacent side. As he turned, Andy had run and jumped, his body sliding under the third turmbuckle before nailing Finn with a dropkick. Finn hit the ground and Andy rolled from under the turnbuckle before he slowly began climbing it. Finn hurried to his feet and climbed the apron, trying to pull Andy down. Andy kicked his opponent away before Leaping off the ropes, catching Finn's head and dropping them both back to ringside with a DDT. "Oh my god! These two are killing each other!" Phillips cried out as the fans broke into a chant of 'Holy Shit!".
"I don't know if there's anymore left in the tank for either of these men." Corey responded as Andy and Finn stirred on the ground. Andy was the first to his feet and slid half way into the ring before dropping back out to break the count. He slowly picked Finn up and rolled him into the ring before following after him. Andy wrapped his arm around Finn's neck before placing his hand his head like a gun and shooting it. He picked Finn up and bounced him off the ropes. When Finn rebounded though, he hit Andy with a Sling blade. "Finn going for the cover here. But Andy kicks out at two!" Finn stood to his feet and waited for Andy to do the same. When the contender was on his feet, Finn hit him with a dropkick that launched Andy across the ring and into the corner. Finn rushed across the ring and performed a hesitation dropkick that sent Andy rolling out beside the turnbuckle. Finn climbed the turnbuckle and hit Andy with the Coup De Grace. Covering, he again only got a two count. "No! Andy kicks out again!" Finn looked around in shock before standing to his feet. He went to pick Andy up, but a sharp kick to the face sent him away. Andy rushed Finn with a flying Yakuza kick that dropped him. Andy picked Finn up and Irish whipped him into the corner. Andy launched himself through the air with a high knee before landing a combo of knee strikes and elbows to the skull before dropping away. Finn dropped down into a sitting position and Andy returned the favor by hitting a hesitation dropkick. As Finn rolled away, Andy copied him by using the Coup De Grace and going for the cover. Like Finn, he also only got a two count.
"What is it going to take for one of these men to put the other away!?" Andy and Finn both Lay on the mat, staring up at the ceiling. Andy and Finn moved off the mat and stood nose to nose in the center of the ring, exhausted as the fans chanted 'This is awesome!".
"I'm the demon!" Finn screamed.
"And I'm the Nightmare!" Andy responded before Finn swung at him. Andy dodged to the side before Kneeing him in the gut. As Finn doubled over, and grabbed his arm and pulled him onto his shoulders before performing a Go 2 Sleep.
"Ride the Mercier! That has to be it! No! Finn kicks out! Neither man wants to lose this war!" Andy sat up, staring at the referee in disbelief through his smeared face paint. Pushing himself to his feet, Andy picked Finn up in a torture rack before performing a Ura G2S. "And now an inverted Ride the Mercier! Another cover! Finn kicks out! Oh my god! How are there still going!?" Andy looked around in utter shock, and tears of frustration stung his eyes. He pulled Finn to his feet, but the champion punched him in the gut to get some offence. Quickly, Finn capitalized and hit Andy with a lifting single underhook DDT.
"Finn Balor's 1916! I think that's all she wrote- Andy Mercier just kicked out! The fans are going ballistic!" The arena shook from the crowd as they stomped their feet, split down the middle as they chanted "Demon!" And "Nightmare!". Finn grasped at his hair and lay on his back next to Andy's unmoving body. "Frustration is starting to eat these two alive." Finn stood to his feet and slowly climbed the turnbuckle for another Coup De Grace. As he reached the top though, Andy jumped to his feet with adrenaline and leaped to the turnbuckle before sending Finn across the ring with a hurricanrana. Getting to his feet as Finn bounced to his knees, Andy bounced off the adjacent rope before slamming Finn's face into the mat with a Frankensteiner Driver. Finn's body shot upright on his knees, dazed as Andy bounded of the ropes before nailing Finn in the back of the skull with a Kinshasa. Finn's body twisted and landed on his back as Andy's body went limp and fell over him.
"Andy's out! 1, 2, Oh my god! It's over! It's finally over! Andy Mercier has just beaten Finn Balor for the NXT Championship!" Phillips called as the normal Crown of Thorns played through the arena as the crowd jumped to their feet. Screaming in approval. The referee retrieved the title, but Andy remained limp on Finn. The official shook him, and Andy eventually stirred, pushing to both knees. He took the title, dazed and confused before shock settled in. Tears formed in his eyes and he raised the belt high as he fought to his feet to the fans cheering.
"I did it!" He called out.
"Here is your winner, and NEW NXT Champion, Andy Mercier!" Andy stumbled and came to one knee as he breathed heavily.
"That he is. There's your new NXT Champion. And man did he earn it." Corey spoke. Andy pushed to his feet and turned, finding Finn standing, breathing as heavily as him as Crown of Thorns died. The two stared down before coming nose to nose and exchanging words. The fans waited with baited breath before Finn raised his hand high in the Too Sweet gesture. Andy smiled with Finn as he formed the same hand sign and touched it to Finn's before the two embraced in a hug. The crowd roared at the site. Finn patted Andy on the shoulder before he exited the ring. Andy stared up at the ceiling as he held his new title to his chest. Then, Turn It Up by CFO$ played as, to the fans delight, Bayley came out, passing Finn with a half hug.
"It's Bayley! She won the NXT Women's championship back from Asuka earlier here tonight! What's she doing?" Bayley slid in the ring and held her title high, pointing back and forth between hers and Andy's. She spoke to him with a smile and he laughed in return before they hugged. Andy grabbed Bayley's wrist and raised it high, both holding their championships. Then, Turn it up bled away into Riot as the fans cheers became deafening.
"And here's the New United States Champion, Andy's best mate, Jordan Sterling!" Jordan climbed in the ring. As Andy presented his title to Jordan high with one arm, Jordan placed his title against it as he grabbed Andy's head and placed his forehead against Andy's.
"I knew you were going to do it! I told you!" Jordan called. He turned and lifted Andy high into the air on his shoulders. The two friends held their championships high as Riot became Crown of Thorns again.
"And that's all for NXT Takeover! Join us on NXT and make sure to tune into Raw tomorrow! Goodnight everyone!" Takeover faded with Andy sitting on Jordan's shoulders, both brandishing their titles as Bayley clapped in the corner with her title on her shoulder.
XXX
My longest chapter for this story! I put a lot of time into this chapter, and my thumbs hurt because I do this story on my phone right now. Anyway, we'll see where it goes from here! Goodnight everybody!