Wrestling Universe

iMPACT 5

Note: I do not own these characters and do not own the titles of the events or anything in this series. This is merely a writing exercise for myself and for any whom wish to read.

Randy Orton made his entrance to the ring. He stalled at the stage for a brief self-indulging pose in front of a waterfalls of sparks. Flowing down from above the large screen and rippling like waves across the stage. After he entered the ring, he posed on more time for the booing crowds and then his opponent came. Jerry Lawler -- Jerry "The King" Lawler to be exact. Accompanied by his son Brian Christopher, he moved down the steel mesh rampway, but did not enter the ring so quickly. He knew Randy was as much of a snake as Jake Roberts.

Lawler handed off his crown and sparkling black robe to his son. Brian Christopher then handed it off to a crew member to take it to the back. With that settled, Jerry Lawler entered the ring. He knew he didn't stand much of a chance against Randy Orton. In fact, he didn't stand any choice and even questioned the owner for haven booked the match. His response was, "Orton requested it." What would Orton want to do with him? The crown wasn't on the line and as far as he knew, he and Orton never had any major encounters during their time in the former wrestling promotion.

He didn't get it. He did get a match though. The bell signaled the two competitors to advance. Orton and Lawler hooked one another into a quick grapple lock. Orton broke it, but opened himself to a hard right jab from the legend. Orton looked back, shocked that Lawler would even dare hit him. Randy wrapped his upper arm around Lawler's head, using his free hand to hold him by the head and then leapt forward. The maneuver titled "RKO" introduced Lawler to the canvas. He rolled the legend over to pin him and then stood up as Lawler's son entered the ring. Orton held his threatening posture and just glared at Brian Christopher.

Tension was high. Suspense was rising. What was going to happen? Orton stood over the fallen body of Lawler and kept his gaze on his opponent's son. Brian moved forward. Step after step he inched, fists clenching. Orton was amused, but he didn't move. He was as still as a cobra. Wether this cobra was going to strike or be defanged remained to be seen. Lawler began to move. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and tried to raise up to his knee. Brian Christopher did the unthinkable. He lunged forth and then stamped on his own father. Knocking Jerry Lawler down with a hard right boot and then a knee stomp.

Orton grinned and backed away. The reaction was immediate. How dare you! The crowds booed and the signs in favor of Lawler raised even higher in protest. Brian Christopher pulled up his father and pushed him into Orton's second RKO. It was a set up. All of it was a plan by Orton to bring himself back to the top, but not alone. He needed aids in WWE, and he knew he would need them here. Legacy would be reborn with Brian Christopher as its first member. Wether Cody Rhodes would rejoin was yet to be known, but an encounter between he and Orton was imminent. Rhodes had a chance at gold. A chance to take down Godust, but more importantly, Triple H. That interested Orton. As for Jerry Lawler, good riddance, he thought. His time was over to Orton, it was time for the second generation to spread their wings. A new legacy was in the making.

"What a way to start the show," said Nathan. "I was wondering why it was that Orton seemed so adamant about having a match with Lawler."

"I see the connection, but know nothing good can come from Randy Orton. If I were a wrestling legend, I'd steer clear or make sure you knock him down good." Don West replied. He then changed the subject, "our main events tonight will be Goldust versus Cody Rhodes and Bret Hart versus Ric Flair. If Rhodes can get a victory over his brother, he will be signed into the title match at WrestleJam for the Wrestling Universe Championship Title."

Nathan nodded and added, "right. After that is Bret Hart returning to face off against a man that has done nothing but insult the Hart name, Ric Flair. If Bret wins, then Shawn gets to decide what match they have at WrestleJam. If Flair wins, then he decides."

"I'm thinking Flair would choose the same as what Bret suggested last week. A submission match." Don said.

"That's what I'm thinking, but he could pull one out of left field. We'll see if he wins later tonight. Right now, however we have Natalya Neidhart versus a new female named Starr." The owner announced.

Accompanied by Jimmy Hart and Bret, Natalya Neidhart passed through the black curtains. Bret's music hitting the ears of all in the stadium. Bret seemed proud for Natalya, but he still didn't trust the intentions of the owner for putting him in a match against an unstable individual. They walked down the aisle and one by one stepped into the ring. Jimmy and Bret soon exited the ring to give the moment to the female. It was a brief moment where the crowds cheered and chanted the Hart name, but that ended when the entrance of her opponent occurred. The cheers shifted over to neutral silence or booing.

Starr was new. Short brown eyed girl with hair in the color of amber. He wore an all black attire. A small top and short wrestling tights. She made her entrance quickly, but made no rush to start the match. Natalya was more experienced and so this would be a test of ability for the newcomer. When they finally met, Starr tricked Natalya into a headlock. Natalya spun her around and Starr ran up to the ropes. She stuck to them like a spider when Natalya tried calculate her return. She bent down, but no one was coming. Natalya whipped her long blonde and pink hair back to see Star charging toward her. She ducked. Star continued running.

She came back to her opponent and they clashed near the edge of the ring. Natalya bent over to flip her opponent over the top rope. She thought Starr was on the floor, probably holding her knee or hip from the collision. Not so far, Starr grinned. She landed on her feet. Starr reached from the rim of the ring and dropped down to the floor once she had a nice, firm grasp of Natalya's flowing hair. Natalya was whiplashed into the canvas and her neck would soon be feeling that horrid bump in the morning. Starr slid back in and pinned her opponent. Failure followed.

Bret watched closely. He scrutinized every move the two women made, trying to see what might happen, whilst Jimmy Hart cheered on Natalya. Trying to help her with support. It was helping -- at least that's what it seemed to him. Natalya rose up to her feet, punching and elbowing her opponent away. She ran to the ropes. They crossed one another's paths, but Natalya got the hit. She chop blocked down into Starr's knee with her shoulder and then tried to maneuver her for the sharpshooter. Star scrambled, scraped, screamed, and pulled herself out before it could even come to fruition. She wanted none of that.

Starr kicked up to counter against Natalya. She then quickly ascended and chopped her opponent across the back. Starr was going to use her own submission hold. She bent Natalya's back over one knee and her hands pushed down against her opponent's chin and abdomen. Natalya couldn't escape. Every attempt seemed futile -- Starr would just hit her, or elbow her and put the backbreaker back in effect. Natalya had no choice but to submit to the signature move of her opponent. Then and only then did Starr let go. She had no reason to continue on if victory was hers.

Shown from backstage was Shawn Michaels. He wasn't dressed to wrestle and in fact wasn't even scheduled for a match. He was there simply to see the outcome of Flair's match with Bret Hart. He thought about going ringside, but knew it would just distract both men. Shawn didn't need the extra trouble that would cause. He was turning past Batista's dressing room when heard the door open. Batista stepped out.

"Hey man," said Batista in a heavyhearted tone. "You here to see the match?"

"Yeah." Shown returned responded. He could feel the lead weights pulling on Batista's heart because it was happening to him as well, but the difference was that Batista wasn't feuding with Flair.

"You know it will blow over. Flair is just pissed that he hasn't won a match since he came out of retirement." Batista tried to explain it, convincing himself.

"I hope so. I am going to have to fight him, Dave. You alright with that?" Shawn gave him a look. The look that questioned Batista's friendship. Would he stand up for Flair, or Shawn?

"Yeah, he's like a father to me." Batista responded.

"Stay out of this. This is something he and I have to deal with." Shawn warned him, feeling the tension between the two rise up liking a bubbling pot of water.

"Hey, I haven't done anything yet, have I?" Batista didn't let Shawn respond. He had a match to get to and Shawn had something he needed to do before the match tonight.

Batista made his entrance first. He burst out from behind the curtains and posed on the stage. An awing display of pyro jetted out behind him before he descended the ramp. Batista stepped in after coming up the short stairs and he climbed the nearest turn post. Atop it, he posed. Cheers, jeers, chants and signs. He got it all. He was another one of the wrestlers that went from main event to upper card during the transition, but he was on his way back up. His own impact would come -- soon, in fact. But only Batista knew just how soon.

His opponent was Abyss. The masked monster that had been barely defeated by Mick Foley the week prior. He came down to the ring and stepped in slowly. Abyss wasn't a favorite of the crowds, though some pro-Abyss signs did exist in the stadium. He started off on the rocks, but he felt like this match would be a change of heart. Batista wasn't an issue for him -- neither was Triple H for that matter. Abyss initiated the battle. He used a belly to belly suplex to smash his opponent on his neck and shoulders. Batista shook it off, but he did not want to take any more than that. Abyss went for another, but Batista was adamant. He used a back elbow smash, countering to release from Abyss' grip.

Batista used the brute force of a big boot kick to the gray mask of Abyss. He waited for his opponent to face him. He anticipated Abyss coming toward him. Batista wanted to drop him with a spinebuster really badly. He almost needed it to happen. This is it, he thought when Abyss turned. He reached out to grab him. Abyss saw it coming and let Batista feel a big boot of his own. Batista dropped to the canvas, his back hitting hard and causing a loud thud to echo the arena. Abyss wasted no time in applying a twisted chin lock on Batista's head. Sitting him up and twisting his head by the chin, almost as if he was trying to screw it off his opponent's shoulders.

The hold only lasted a minute. Batista's arms were free and that was all he needed. He turned out of the chin lock and hoisted his opponent up for a spinebuster. It connected with devastating results. Abyss didn't expect it to hold either, but he had not been expecting the spinebuster as a means to escape the hold. Batista tried to pin, but it just wasn't meant to be. Abyss was strong. Batista would just have to be stronger. Both of them had different backgrounds in the industry and so to them it seemed like a match up that almost would never happen, considering the variables involved. But in the Wrestling Universe, they were able to have such a match of titans.

"Batista is a strong opponent for Abyss, but he's defeated countless people like him during his tenure in TNA. Abyss has this match down." Don West spoke confidently.

"I wouldn't be so sure. Behind the politics and the leg-lifting, Batista can hold his own. Sure, his interests may sway, but I don't doubt his ability in the ring. Neither should you, partner," sad Nathan. He personally had hired each wrestler on the roster and would not if he doubted their abilities.

Abyss proved Don right, however. He had succeeded in hitting his signature finisher, "The Black Hole Slam." He stepped side by side with Batista quickly, though facing in opposite directions. Abyss hooked an arm around his groggy opponent -- holding under both arms. He lifted Batista up on his side and slammed him down onto the canvas. It was lights out for the former WWE wrestler. He was sucked into the black hole of pain and the results were in favor of Abyss. He pinned Batista for a clean and direct victory. He celebrated as he exited the arena. Batista however, lay flat on the canvas, still knocked out by the impact of the maneuver.

"We are only a week away from the biggest event in the Wrestling Universe. WrestleJam will be where stars shine their brightest and memorable moments are made. You have to be wondering if it'll be Goldust, or also his brother you'll be defending the title against. What are your thoughts?" The young interviewer asked.

"Well, I don't see either of them as competition. Goldust lucked out at the battle royal and Cody Rhodes, as talented as I think he is, was nothing more than Randy Orton's goon. That was all he was good for," answered Triple H. He shifted the belt on his shoulder and grinned. "Bring them both on, because at the end of our match at WrestleJam, they'll be wishing that neither of them ever got in the ring with The Game."

"What do you make of the match scheduled for WrestleJam between Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels?"

"Shawn is my best friend, like Batista and Ric Flair. I'll agree with what I heard from Dave earlier." He wiped his chin, hoping not to upset the person in question. "Flair is just having one of his moments. I have them, he has them, anyone with an ego as big as ours will have them. I've lost matches and so has he, but I'm not the one coming out of retirem--" He looked to his side. Bret Hart was next to him.

"I want to know if I'll be safe out their from you and Batista." Bret glared. He didn't trust Triple H as far as Flair could throw him.

"I'm not going to get involved, if that's what you mean." Triple H turned to Bret, meeting him almost eye to eye.

"I'm not here to start anything with you H, but I will be honest with you." He took a step forward. "I don't trust you and I don't trust Batista. Most of all, I don't trust Shawn Michaels or Ric Flair. I don't like this, but I'm going to do it. So just stay out of the way tonight and we'll be cool."

"You just worry about your match," remarked Triple H.

Bret walked on past him and Triple H looked to the interviewer. This interview was over. Back in the arena, the screen returned to normal. Showing Cody Rhodes on the stage in his usual blue attire. He was filled with pride and arrogance and some bitterness to boot. He entered the ring and prepped himself for the match. He was going to punish his brother well before WrestleJam. By doing so, he thought he'd have to only deal with Triple H. Someone he was used to ruining anyway. The small shimmering confetti drizzled down from the rafters like a slow rain and Cody Rhodes knew Goldust was about to come. Time to show his brother how much of an insult to the Rhodes he really was.

Goldust appeared. Decked out in his golden robe and sporting the gold locks that draped over his head. He walked down the aisle slowly. His eyes lose sight of his brother. What he was about to do was something that pained him greatly, but it he needed this to end. He couldn't fight Triple H with his brother still bothering him. In an unfathomable display of consideration he still held, Goldust insisted it be a shot for the title match. If Rhodes wins, he would be included in the match at WrestleJam for the Wrestling Universe Championship Title. Goldust felt it was the last kind thing he would do for his brother until he changed for the better.

Goldust slid into the ring and immediately Rhodes attacked. Goldust had to shuffle out of his attire whilst being punched, kneed, and elbowed in the corner of the ring. It was on! Goldust fought back with a hard right and a bite that left a red teeth marks on his brother's forehead. Cody shoved himself off and checked for blood. Nothing. Goldust bumped his butt into Rhode's abdomen. It knocked his brother away, but Rhodes just bounced off the ropes and swung his arm across his brother's chest to clothesline him into the canvas. They seemed evenly matched. Too evenly matched, but a victor would be crowned somehow.

"What did you think when Goldust said he wanted this match?" Don West questioned Nathan Black, the owner.

"I thought it was brave of him to offer his brother a chance into a match that was otherwise a fifty-fifty chance." Nathan replied.

"Fifty-fifty? It's Triple H! More like ten-out-of-ten-million chance." Don exclaimed.

"We'll see what happens. Maybe Goldust will win?" Nathan joked. He then coughed and got serious, saying, "but yeah. Let's focus on this match."

Goldust threw an uppercut to his brother. It bought him the chance to hook his arm over his head and lift him up for a quick atomic drop. When Rhodes turned, Goldust rubbed his hands up his chest and bit at him. The disgust that plagued Cody Rhodes' face could be seen across the entire stadium. He plowed his brother into the canvas with another clothesline. Rhodes dropped his knee onto Goldust and then pulled him up aggressively. He held his brother's head under one arm and then kicked his legs up, slamming down with his signature DDT. Rhodes rolled him over to pin, but Goldust kicked out.

Rhodes, pissed, struck his brother with a quick jab before he pulled him back up to try again. He noticed Orton and Brian Christopher standing at the stage. Rhodes nodded to them and then used The Silverspoon DDT as he called it, once again. It was enough to get the win over his brother. It would appear that Cody Rhodes and Goldust were now challengers for the title against Triple H at WrestleJam. Orton and Brian came down to celebrate with him, adding him to the new Legacy. Orton had gained even more interest in Rhodes now that he had a chance for the title. The show cut to the break.

Upon return, Bret Hart made his entrance. By his choice, neither Jimmy Hart or Natalya accompanied him to ringside. He was in this on his own. Bret strut down the aisle in classic fashion, even bring out his black jacket and the pink shades. He spent time slapping hands with several of the fans along the barricades before passing off the famous shades to a young kid in the front row. He then turned and lifted himself up to the rim of the ring. Bret entered and held posed for the audience. Holding out his arms with the jacket half unzipped. He missed this. He missed this a lot.

Bret finished up and gave his black jacket to a crew member from over the ropes. He watched as Flair made his own vastly ostentatious entrance. Flair turned in circles, sporting what seemed to be the most sparkled and showy robe ever worn. He was like a king inside of it. Flair let out a loud "Woo" and walked down to ringside where he then slowly entered inside the square circle. Bret watched his every move like a hawk. Flair was just as alert as his rival. What was there to stop Bret from attacking him as he turned to face the crowds? What was stopping Flair from just jolting across the ring and bashing Bret in the side of the head for no reason than to injure him? Neither men trusted the other.

Flair's smug grin turned to a bitter scowl. He dropped his elegant rope for a crew member to catch outside of the ring. It was time to get down to business. The bell rang and Flair immediately raised up both his clenched fists. He kept them close to his chest and slowly began to circle Bet at the center of the ring. Neither men wanted to be the first to strike, but it had to be done. They both had something to prove in this match. Bret decided to be first. He grappled with Flair, but they quickly broke off.

Bret shook his left wrist and then lunged back into the grapple lock with Flair. They broke off once again, but this time after Flair had managed a quick dirty jab to Bret's abdomen. Bret leaned over and Flair elbowed his opponent's back. Letting out a "Woo" to the crowds. Bret collected himself and got back up from it. He may not be what he wishes he could still be, but he was still a better person than Ric Flair. This he knew in his heart. That was all he needed to carry him through the match. Bret elbowed Flair, catching him by surprise.

He hoisted Flair by the waist and dropped him down on one knee in an inverted atomic drop. Flair held his inner thighs as he stumbled away from the impact. Bret quickly followed up with a forearm smash to his foe's back. He used the position to wrap Flair up in the first submission hold used in the match. The Sleeper Hold. Flair slapped Bret's arms, but it was futile. His grip was tight and he tightened it every time Flair flinched. Soon they were both on their knees. The referee pulled up Ric's arm. Clump! It fell to the canvas. He tried again with the same results. If Flair could not keep himself together, he would lose the match before it even got underway.

"Flair, finally keeping that arm up! He was in a dangerous spot, but in true fashion of the Nature Boy, he's not giving up easy." Nathan provided commentary.

"Bret Hart, even though he hasn't wrestled in a long while, still has it in him to apply these deadly holds that could very well spell disaster for Flair." Don West added.

Flair pulled himself to his feet and busted out like a lion from a cage. He stabbed Bret in the ribs with the back of his elbow and then ran up the ropes. He stopped just ahead of Bret Hart and chopped him hard across the chest. The sound elicit the fans to yell out a collective "Woo." Flair chopped him again, and again, and again until Bret was cornered. He then switched positions with Flair and chopped just as hard. Flair fell to his face after the twelve hard slaps. Bret was feeling the same pain as Flair and could understand the collapse.

Before Bret could touch him, Flair rolled out of the ring. His fingers running through his hair, he looked for a weapon. Bret waited -- irritated by Flair's actions. Flair returned empty handed. He knew if used a chair or even brass knuckles, he would be disqualified and Shawn would choose the match. He could not risk that. He could not risk Bret gaining the advantage either. He punched Bret and then raked the tips of his fingers across his opponent's right eye. Bret whipped back from the eye rake and checked for blood. He could still see, so it must not have been too hard. He continued onward.

When Bret turned, he fell into Flair's snapmare. Landing on his back against the canvas, it was the perfect position for Flair to apply a submission hold of his own. Flair ignored Bret's head and immediately dove for the figure-four leg lock. Success! It was locked in tight. Their legs were criss-crossed and the pain was surging up through Bret's body. He yelled out and held himself up to keep from being counted out as a pin. He tried to roll over, but to no avail. He then reached his clingy fingers for the lowest rope. Flair turned over, incidentally turning the tables on himself whilst trying to keep Bret off the ropes. He the tried hard to turn back over, but he didn't need to. Bret released the hold.

He set up his opponent for the Sharpshooter. Flair kicked him away and evaded it. Try again, Bret though. He grabbed Flair's legs and stomped on one knee. This time, the sharpshooter still did not get locked in. Flair was resilient. Too resilient for the time being. Bret just dropped a knee down into Flair's right leg and then applied some pressure to his rival's knee. If he couldn't get him in the hold, he'll weaken him for it. Flair cried out, as Bret punished that right knee. Kicks and knee drops. He let go finally when Flair kicked him away.

The white haired legend used the ropes to scramble onto his feet. Flair brushed his hair with his fingers and favored the left knee. Bret did the damage needed to weaken it, but Flair just couldn't lose. He needed the right to decide his match against Shawn. He knew Shawn would not pick a favorable match. He kicked back Bret and then decided he'd try a high risk maneuver. Flair reached the top rope. Bret reached Flair. He punched his rival down and tossed him to the canvas. It was time to end it, he felt. Bret was exhausted and he was certain that Flair too was feeling the the match start to take a toll on his body.

Bret Hart applied the deadly hold on Flair one last time. The sharpshooter his opponent feared would seal his fate. Flair knew that if he tapped out then any he may not even win his match at WrestleJam. He feared Shawn would call for a ladder match or a match that did not require you to either pin or opponent or force them to quit through submission. It all ran through his mine like plane crashing in between his eyes. Bret, sweating, tired, and trying hard to hold on to that submission hold, finally heard the fruits of his labor echo throughout his ears. Flair tapped out. He respectively let go and then held his hands against his hips after being called as the victor of the match.

It took a lot for him to do that, but he did it. Bret saw Shawn at the stage and then turned his body toward him instead of Flair. Shawn held a microphone to his lips and spoke. "Bret, I didn't think you had it in you after what happened, but congratulations. I know we have some bad blood between us, but as one man to another, I respect what you did here tonight, and not because it benefited me." He continued, "Flair. I've thought long and hard about this and I've decided that our match is going to be a Submission Match. I'm going to give you the match that best fits you, because I'm going to show that I can still beat you despite the odds. I'm the show-stopper and stopped you before Ric. I'm going to do it again."

Before he left the arena, he was surprised to hear Bret's voice over a microphone. "Shawn." Bret caught his attention. "After all these years, you have nothing to say to me?"

Shawn scratched his forehead and suddenly it hit him. He knew what Bret wanted. He knew Bret and himself needed to get this over with, but would he be able to get over the large hump that Shawn had avoided for so long? Shawn turned to face him and replied, "I've been making a lot of apologies for myself lately since our boss, Nathan, bought out WWE and TNA. I've encountered people I used to intimidate with political power. Ric, I know how you feel about struggling, I deal with it every night here. Bret, I'm sorry for what I did, but I can't change what happened. I've made peace with God about it, but I know you and I can't, but I'll apologize."

"I'll accept that, but know I won't forget it. I still won't trust you Shawn, but I'm not going to hold it against you." Bret said.

Flair attacked from behind. He swung an arm under Bret's legs and struck him in the groin. Bret fell to the canvas and Flair then exited the ring quickly. He grabbed the microphone and faced Shawn.

"Michaels! I'm glad you chose a submission match! At WrestleJam, I'm not going to apologize for what I do to you. I'll show you what happens to friends that betray the Nature Boy." Flair threatened.

"I'm over that." Shawn glared, flabbergasted that Flair would attack Bret during their uneasy moment of respect. "I'll beat you Ric. If I have to, I'll end your career."

The show ended with the two facing on another. Almost clashing at that moment.