Blitzkrieg 1.14
"Welcome to Monday Night Raw, we are one day removed from the Royal Rumble, and was that a sight to see or what, Corey?"
"It sure was. Bayley retained her Women's Championship, and Andy retained his Universal Championship. Sami Zayne captured the United States Championship and Bullet Club finally ended the New Day's record setting Tag Team title run. Most importantly though, Smackdown's Jordan Sterling won the Royal Rumble. He now has the opportunity to challenge either the WWE Universal Champion or the WWE Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania."
"Bullet Club 4-4-4 4 Life!" Shot'em began playing as the crowd began cheering.
"And it looks like we'll be starting tonight off with a little bit of the Bullet Club!" Seth Rollins stepped out onto the stage before making his way down the ramp.
"Actually, it looks like it's just Seth Rollins right now. That's a little bit odd." Seth entered the ring and grabbed a microphone. He lifted his hand into the Too Sweet hand sign as Shot'em ended before he spoke into the mic.
"I came close last night." Seth spoke as he ran a hand through his hair. "You know, it was chaotic. Andy and I teaming up on Finn, Finn beating us with chairs, Andy and I fighting with each other. And I came close. When I curb stomped Finn I thought I had the match in the bag. And then I was super kicked and it was over. I'm not mad because Andy won. That's the nature of the game. No, I'm out here for one reason. Andy, I've been with you in the ring twice man. You beat me for my title and you got the better of me last night. You're a great wrestler.
"I have no doubt you'll go down in history as one of the greatest performers to ever set foot in this ring. But so will I. I have something to prove Andy. I have to prove that I can beat you. And it doesn't have to be for the title. It doesn't have to be a pay per view. It just has to be you and me so I can finally prove that I have what it takes to beat you!" There was a pause before Shot'em began playing again. Andy walked onto the stage with his title sitting on his shoulder. Luke and Karl were behind him with the tag team titles strapped around their waists.
"Seth, I get where you're coming from mate." Andy talked into a microphone as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I do. I mean, for the proof go on the WWE Network and watch the lead up to Shinsuke Nakamura and my match. I needed to beat him, by myself, cleanly. The problem is, we weren't a unit. Bullet Club is. If I accept this match, there's no way we can coexist. Each of us will be trying to prove something to each other. Our egos won't allow us to coincide. We may very well rip the Bullet Club in two." Andy paused before smiling down at Seth. "Nevertheless, next week I'll face you one on one. You're family now Seth. I won't take something like this away from you." Seth nodded in response and exited the ring. He walked up the ramp to join the Bullet Club before all four men exited the stage and went to the back.
Andy lead the Bullet Club through the halls, Seth close beside him. He stopped as he came face to face with Jordan. The Bullet Club moved to surround him but a raised hand from Andy caused them to fall back. "Jordan." Andy spoke with a nod. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm the Royal Rumble winner, mate." Jordan responded evenly. "I have free reign between both shows until I officially challenge one champion or the other." Andy reached into his jeans and produced a pack of gum before placing a piece in his mouth. "But mainly, I want to talk to you. Alone."
"Forget it." Seth spoke as he finally stepped forward. "You think we're just going to leave Andy here alone after you sucker punched him last week?"
"Calm down." Andy spoke as he pointed down the hall. "You three do what you always do and stay close by. Kofi's not around so I'm not too worried about getting punched."
"You need to let that go." Jordan spoke as the other three members of Bullet Club reluctantly walked down the hall. Andy chuckled as he chewed on his gum.
"That's easy for you to say. You aren't the one that got punched, now are you? I'm not the one who punched you for somebody else."
"Do you want to hit me, Andy?" Jordan questioned as he stepped forward. Andy refused to back down. "Go ahead. One free shot. Male it count though, because it's the only one I'm giving you." Andy's jaw clenched as he stared at Jordan.
"If I'm going to punch you, you won't see it coming." Andy shot back. "Just like I didn't see it coming."
"You said you didn't want that to ruin or friendship. Where's the Andy that was looking for a tag team partner to fight the Ascension?"
"He got knocked out of me last week." Andy spoke as he ran a hand through his hair. "I don't want to lose you as a friend Jordan. But until you've proved to me that you still are my friend, I suggest you go hang out with New Day." Andy began to walk away when Jordan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I owe my win from last night to you, you know?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I want to be on your level. From the moment I first met you, I knew, from that day forward that I needed to stay on your level. I haven't had a main event Championship yet. You have. I have to catch up to you. That's what pushed me to win." Andy stood in silence before he pulled away and began walking to meet up with Bullet Club.
"If you choose me as your opponent, just know that I will do everything in my power to keep this title on my shoulder." Jordan watched his friend walk away with a shake of his head before he went in the opposite direction.
"Welcome to Tuesday night Smackdown, and what a Royal Rumble we had!" Phillips spoke as Jerry nodded.
"Oh boy was it! Cesaro retained his WWE Heavyweight Championship, the Miz got shut up by Matthew Rodriguez who won the Intercontinental Championship, with a little help from the Shield, Becky Lynch won the Smackdown Women's Championship and Jordan Sterling won the Royal Rumble!"
"We're now going to Renee Young who is backstage in the interview area with Matthew Rodriguez." Renee Young smiled as she stared into the camera. Beside her, Matthew Rodriguez stood in his leather jacket, his wife beater, dark blue baggy jeans and tan steel-toed boots.
"I'm here with the New Intercontinental Champion, Matthew Rodriguez." Renee spoke as Matthew adjusted the title sitting on his shoulder. "Matthew, can you tell me what it's like for you to win the Intercontinental Championship? Especially on what was essentially your in Ring debut for Smackdown?" Matthew rolled his shoulder before speaking.
"It's not so much winning the Championship as it is finally shutting the Miz up and giving the fans what they wanted. It didn't have to be me. It could have been anybody as long as the fans were finally given a champion who is willing to put themselves on the line to put on the show they're looking for every night. But for me to win the Intercontinental Championship on my debut. It was an amazing moment. One that I'm very proud of and I look forward to giving the fans the champion they deserve."
"Last week, when the Shield attacked the Miz on Smackdown, you said that you knew their third member personally. That member was later revealed to be Jax Austin, the son of Stone Cold Steve Austin. A lot of fans are wondering how exactly you two know each other?" Matthew made to speak, but paused. The fans cheered as Jax stepped into the cameras view with his hands hooked into the neck of his vest.
"You must not be a regular viewer of Ring of Honor." Jax spoke to Renee who nervously shook her head. "Relax, I'm not going to do anything to you Renee. Dean would have my head. I'm just here to see an old friend." Matthew nodded in response.
"Jax and I were in Ring of Honor together but he was going by the name Sportsmaster. One day I see him talking to Stone Cold and I think, well I have to go over here and meet him. Turns out Jax was Stone Cold's son."
"We made a team together, the Sport Runners. Or the SOBs whatever the fans called us. We were three time ROH Tag Team Champions together." Jax added as he kept his hands holding his vest. Jax stared at Matthew and glanced to his Intercontinental Championship. "And now here we are in the WWE together." There was silence before Renee spoke again.
"Right. And because you debut roughly at the same time, and you both have targeted Miz, people think that Matthew is in cohorts... with the Shield." Renee trailed off slightly as Jax looked at her.
"What the Shield does is the Shields own business. We don't answer to anybody. We do what we think is necessary when it's necessary how we think it needs to be done. Until someone has proof that Matthew and the Shield are working with each other I think it's best to let that rumor die." Jax and Matthew glanced to the side. The crowd booed as Miz and Maryse entered the camera view.
"Really? Let it die? After you and your two buddies came running out during my match and cost me my title to this idiot, I know there's something fishy here. And I'm going to get to the bottom of it. So how do you like that? I'm going to get to the bottom of this and expose all of you. And there's nothing you can... do about... it..." Miz trailed off and Maryse fled as Roman Reigns appeared beside Jax and Dean Ambrose stepped up behind Miz. "Come on guys, let's all just cool down." Jax stepped forward and placed his hands on Miz's shoulders.
"What?" Miz swallowed nervously as the crowd cheered.
"Words have been said."
"What?"
"People have been attacked."
"What?"
"Titles have been cost."
"What?" Miz took a deep breath as Jax chuckled. "That's annoying isn't it?" Matthew poked his head over Miz's shoulder and spoke.
"Think about what you say before you say it. Remember whose son he is." Miz gave a nervous laugh to try to diffuse the situation.
"Not, not at all!" He spoke with a stutter. Jax chuckled as his hold on Miz's shoulders grew tighter.
"Miz. You're about the sorriest piece of trash I've ever laid my eyes on. You should've stayed way the hell over there where I saw you peeking around the corner like the coward you are. Cause now, I'm going to hurt your sorry ass." The crowd cheered in the arena as Matthew patted Miz's back with a mockingly solemn expression.
"Tough break buddy. Hey, I'll see you around though! Maybe I can be the guest on your stupid Miz TV." Jax shook his head at these words.
"Nah, after we're done with him, he won't have a face for TV anymore." Matthew looked at the three Shield members before he backed away off camera. Miz took a deep breath, looking as though he were about to throw up, before he tried to speak. Roman punched him in the face and Miz stumbled to the side. In an instant, all three members were viciously attacking the former champion as Renee Young ran away. Jax grabbed Miz's head and slammed it into the monitor behind them, cracking it. Turning, Miz's head slammed into the camera filming the assault. Miz hit the concrete next to the camera as it cut in and out. Three pairs of hands reached down and dragged Miz out of the cameras view before the camera went black.
The crowd cheered as Celtic Invasion by CFO$ began playing. Becky Lynch emerged onto the stage with her new title strapped around her waist. She bounded down to the ring and slapped hands with the fans before entering the ring. Becky grabbed a microphone as her music died and smiled at the fans. "This... This is amazing!" Becky exclaimed, causing the crowd to cheer in return. "After I lost the WWE Women's Championship to Charlotte I felt that there was a feeling that I just couldn't ever reach again. And I chased that feeling every second afterward until I won this. The Smackdown Women's Championship! Oh, I'm on top of the world! The only thing on my mind now though is, who will be the first I defend my title against." There was a pause before Meteor started playing. The crowd cheered as Brianna walked out onto the stage and down the ramp. She entered the ring and shook the Shaka sign to the fans with a smile as she was given a microphone.
"First of all, I want to say congratulations to the new Women's Champion, Becky Lynch!" Brianna called and clapped her hands as the fans cheered. "I went into the Royal Rumble as the champion and I really believed that I was walking out as the champion. But last night you proved that you are without a doubt one of the greatest female wrestlers to ever set foot in the WWE. That being said, you've beaten me three times with a championship on the line each time. It makes me feel... as cliché as it is, like I have something to prove." Becky smiled at these words.
"I don't see how you'd feel like that. I mean you come into the ring each week and put everything you have into every match. I think it's safe to say that you have become the face of the Smackdown Women's Division." The fans cheered at these words and began a chant of 'Hawaii Five 0'.
"No matter if that's the case or not, I'd like to be the first one to challenge you for the chance to win the championship back." Becky made to respond when The Future by CFO$ overtook the speakers.
"Brianna." Asuka spoke as she walked onto the stage. "You were the one who lost the match. I should be the one to challenge for the Smackdown Women's Championship."
"Well, I think that I should be the one to challenge considering I was the champion. And if you think you should be the number one contender, maybe you should come down to the ring and we can settle it right now." The crowd cheered at these words. They cheered louder when Daniel Bryan appeared on the screen.
"Ladies, I think you both may have points to be made. So let's make it official. At Fastlane Brianna Kelly will face Asuka. And the winner will go on to face Becky Lynch for the Smackdown Women's Championship... at Wrestlemania." The fans cheered at these words as Brianna nodded. Asuka stared down at the ring and smiled as Smackdown went to commercial.
"Hardcore R!" Becky called as she walked backstage. Matthew paused in his own track and turned before smiling at the Smackdown Women's Champion.
"Hey Becky. Congratulations on your win." He spoke as he pointed to her title. She smiled with a nod before tapping Matthew's own Intercontinental Championship.
"Thanks. You too. So, I saw what happened earlier tonight. Listen, I know that you and Jax have history together and you're friends but you might want to be careful."
"What do you mean?" Becky took a deep breath and looked around before talking.
"I've seen what groups like Shield bring with them. I'm witnessing it first hand with Jordan and Andy. Bullet Club is tearing them apart. I don't know if you're involved with the Shield and I don't want to. But if you are, I would cut the ties." Matthew laughed and gave Becky a half hug.
"You worry too much."
"You sound like Jordan."
"We're both wise men."
The fans began cheering as You're Going Down played. Jordan walked out onto the stage and looked around the arena before smiling. He walked down the ramp and made his way into the ring where he retrieved a microphone. "One week ago I stood in this ring and said that I was going to win the Royal Rumble. I said that I was going to go on to Wrestlemania. I'm a man of my words, and Sunday I won the Royal Rumble! The question now is who I'll be facing at Wrestlemania. Will it be Andy Mercier for the WWE Universal Championship or Cesaro for the WWE Heavyweight Championship?" Jordan paused and then looked up the ramp as Over and Under began playing. Jacen walked onto the stage with a microphone in his hand.
"You must be pretty happy, huh?" Jacen spoke as he walked down the ramp.
"What were the words Becky used? I'm on top of the world!" Jordan returned as he smiled. "But you must be pretty down. After all, last week you were telling me that you were going to be the one to win the Royal Rumble."
"I don't like to lose, Jordan." Jacen shot spitefully as he entered the ring. "Not only do you have a victory over me because of a sneak attack by three men, you have a fluke victory over me by eliminating me." Jordan smiled at these words.
"It was down to you and me at the Royal Rumble. Now, you can give all the excuses you want, but I won because I was the better man. As far as those three go, I don't know them personally. Hell I've never talked to any of them for more than five minutes. But with the way you were fighting last week, I thought what they did was pretty funny." Jacen stared darkly at Jordan before he spoke again.
"I owe you the beating of your life. Now, if that happens tonight, or next week, at Fastlane or after your match at Wrestlemania, I'm going to get payback on you, Sterling. And I'm going to make it hurt."
"Is that right?" Jordan questioned as he stepped forward.
"That's right. I'm going to hurt you, Jordan. I'll show you what it means to be up against a true fighter." Jordan gave a chuckle as he stepped close to Jacen.
"Name the time and the place. I'll be there any day to whip your ass." Jacen smirked at these words.
"Fastlane. The stipulation is simple. You have to Knockout your opponent. You know, like you tried to do your buddy, Andy?" Jordan frowned at Jacen who raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Did I strike a nerve? That's right, you don't have a buddy named Andy anymore because you turned on him, didn't you?"
"Shut up."
"Punched him straight in the jaw. Poor 'lad', you people say that right? Probably had his heart broken." Jordan lashed out and punched Jacen in the jaw. Jacen hit the mat holding his mouth and Jordan shrugged down at him.
"I told you to shut up, wanker. I'd worry about your jaw too. It's a lot softer than Andy's heart." Jordan dropped his microphone on Jacen and exited the ring. Jacen glared up the ramp after him as Jordan disappeared backstage while Smackdown faded to commercial.
When Smackdown returned, Tattooed Attitude played and the crowd cheered as Matthew walked down to the ring. He slapped hands with the fans before entering the squared circle and taking a microphone. He made to talk before pausing with a laugh as the fans began a chant of 'You deserve it!'. "Let's be honest, there are a lot of people in the locker room who deserved this more than the Miz. You all deserve a champion who worries more about putting on the best show he can for you all each and every night as opposed to talking as much crap as he can about everybody." Matthew nodded as the fans cheered. "Unfortunately, because he was the Intercontinental Champion, he does get his rematch for the title." The crowd booed at these words and Matthew gave a solemn nod. "I know, I know. It is what it is though. You know, I'm a little impressed. I mean, I know Jax and the Shield got ahold of Miz earlier tonight, but I was really expecting Miz to shake it off and come out here to run his mouth."
"Awesome!" Matthew turned to face the ramp as I Came to Play began blaring through the speakers.
"Sorry, spoke too soon." Everyone watched as Miz walked onto the top of the stage with a slight stumble before he fell to his knees. Everybody looked on in confusion. The man's hair was disheveled, the shirt he wore was torn and there was a gash open above his left eye.
"Sierra, Hotel, India, Echo, Lima, Delta... Shield." Jax walked out onto the stage behind Miz with Dean and Roman close on either side of him. Jax held a microphone in hand and waved it side to side as he bobbed his head to Special Ops. Miz tried to come to his feet, but Jax kicked him in the back of the head, causing him to fall to the metal.
"Hardcore R." Jax spoke into his mic.
"Bad Luck Austin." Matthew returned with a nod. "Who do I owe for your appearance?" Jax smirked down at the ring.
"Well, this isn't the old Shield. We're a little more hospitable." Jax paused as the crowd chanted 'What?' After each of his sentences. "Yeah, you can go ahead and cut that crap out. I'm not my dad and I'm not going to pause after every sentence so you all can say what. Anyway Matt, since certain people want to speculate that you're in cohorts with the Shield, I'm out here to make an announcement of my own." Jax slowly placed his microphone down.
Matthew watched as Jax and Dean lifted Miz up onto Roman's shoulders before he was Triple power bombed off of the stage through a table. Jax stared down at Miz's unmoving body before he regained hold of his microphone. "Unless you have proof that the Shield is working for somebody, concrete evidence that proves the accusation without a shadow of doubt, keep your mouth shut." Jax passed the microphone off to Roman as he made his way backstage.
"Believe that." Roman gave the microphone to Dean and followed after Jax.
"Watch your back if you have a target on it. You may not know who you are, but we do. And target number one has been dealt with. If you've done something that you think may have caught the Shields attention, I'd start asking myself if I'm next. Because you'll never see us coming." Dean dropped the mic and followed off after the other two members of the Shield. Matthew vacated the ring and walked up the ramp as officials came to check on Miz. Matthew peeked over the edge of the stage and shook his head.
"Hey Miz, you ok down there?" Matthew asked as he dangled his legs over the edge of the stage. "Because it looks like you hit some serious bad luck." Smackdown faded to commercial Miz stared up at the ceiling in a complete daze.
XXX
Wrap. As always, the night after the pay per view is altercation heavy. Not much to say. Just kind of moving on to Fastlane so we can begin the countdown to Wrestlemania. Until next time guys, thanks for reading.