Chapter 36: Hold My Own
"We welcome you to Monday Night RAW as we already have things started with the Caribbean Coolster, Carlito in the ring." JR welcomed the audience with.
"Last week as RAW went off the air, we saw Derek Russo brutally attacked from behinds." He said as if he didn't know it was himself who attacked me. "And we clearly can see that Russo, well he is definitely not able to hold his spot for the Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania. And since I can't think of a more suitable superstar, I should take his spot at Wrestlemania. It's obvious that—" Carlito was cut off when Chris Masters music played through the speakers. He walked down to the ring with a mike in hand and came face to face with Carlito.
"Hold on a second, you're the one who assaults Russo viciously and you should get the spot? What about me? With out a doubt I am more deserving for that spot. You know it, Derek knows it, and each and every one of you knows it." He said pointing out to the crowd. Before he could continue his debate on taking my spot, Matt Hardy's music followed up receiving a positive reaction from the crowd. He looked a tad bit disappointed staring down both men.
"So, Carlito and Masters, you guys both lose your matches last week, will get a second chance in a triple threat match, and now you want to take this spot as well? Because when I looked at how many chances I've gotten, it came at to a whopping zero. You guys lost your chances and now it's my turn to seize this spot!" At that moment I had enough of the talking as if I was out for a while. Yea it was a beating, but I let everyone know that I was still around as my music played with me walking with a limp to the ring to greet the other three men standing before me.
"As you all can see, I'm still on my toes. That briefcase that's going to be hanging above the ring at Wrestlemania, will be in my hands. But I see that you three want to have that happen to you instead. That's not going to happen though because I still got a pulse." The crowd cheered as I made my point clear. Those cheers were shortly ended when we all turned to the stage to see Coach at the top.
He smirked for a second before preaching "What an interesting scenario we got here. Four guys all have their reason to have this spot. Which one to choose? Derek, it is your spot, but Mr. McMahon is concern about his superstar's health. Masters, you stayed out of trouble by not assaulting Derek; however you did lose your match fair and square. Matt, you have not been given a chance before, however you have an unfair advantage not wrestling last week. And finally Carlito, you proved that you really want to be in this match at Wrestlemania, however you did it in a dangerous and career ending way. Let's see, how can I make a fair call? Well I guess I can't so tonight we're going to have a Fatal Four Way with the winner claiming this spot. Oh and by the way, since this is for a spot in the Money in the Bank Match, this match tonight will be a ladder match!" My mouth muttered the words bullshit as I could not believe that the spot that I won fair and square was not up in the air for the four of us literally. The four of us looked at one another sizing each other up before individually leaving the ring. Carlito was about to make his exit before I grabbed him from behind and assaulted him. My stream of punches weakened him slowly as I then landed a sit out power bomb. I lifted him back up followed by throwing him into the ropes and delivering The Wicked End before exiting with a sense of accomplishment.
Later that night…
"The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is a Money in the Bank qualifying match…"Lilian introduced the match as Chris Masters made his way to the ring. The man in my point of view didn't even deserve to have his name mentioned in this match. Regardless, he made his way to the ring receiving a dead response from the crowd; I guess they felt the same way I did. Following him was Matt Hardy who received a pretty decent response. After Carlito strolled down to the ring while being blasted with boos, the crowd changed their jeers to cheers as I made my way out for the match. The ramp then led to the brief walkway that had four ladders upright. I evaluated the massive weapons before grabbing one and throwing it over the ropes in front of all three men as they stumbled back in shock.
Matt then went to start the match as he began to throw punches to Carlito. The ladder was immediately put into play as Masters ran at me only to be dumped over my shoulders, slamming his back on the steel. I then made my way over to the other battle and joined Matt, throwing haymakers. The two of us then whipped him into the opposite corner. As I followed behind, I hit him in the corner with a full body splash, then throwing him into Matt who hit a DDT. Caught up in the moment, I turned to Matt to see him hit me with a Twist of Fate onto the ladder that lied on the ground.
Laying face first on the edge of the canvas, I could only hear the sounds of grunts and hits, steel being smashed into each other, and the crowd's reactions to each big event. My feet slowly guided back upright in the corner. Masters saw me gaining energy and decided to end it as he came running at me. Aware at the last minute I dodged the bullet causing him to slam into the turnbuckle. Off the rebound I nailed a swinging neck breaker. Sliding out of the ring I went under the ring and decided to change this match into a TLC match, bringing a table and a chair into the ring. The chair was now in my possession as I started to clean house, hitting Carlito over the head knocking him down. The same sequence occurred when I met Masters. Matt Hardy then had an idea that I might go for his head like the others, but instead I went low on him knocking him in the gut before tossing the chair into his head causing an echo throughout the arena. My eyes then caught the table that I previously brought in causing me to set the table up right. I dragged Matt onto the table with me as he both stood upright on top. He was in a bad position as I had him set up for a very painful vertical suplex. My mentor was able to break free and quickly hit another Twist of Fate, slamming me through wood.
My whole body instantly began to throb in pain with each heartbeat I had. "Derek, are you alright?" I heard Mike Chioda ask as I lay motionless but was able to slowly nod my head. The action continued in the ring as I could feel the whole ring shake with each slam and fall from high elevations. On the outside canvas I was able to aid my self back upright with the ropes. Carlito then ran at me and receive a shoulder charge to his gut as I then brought him through the ropes on the outside with me. I tricked Carlito to think that I was caught off guard. However when he ran at me on the outside apron, he ran into The Wicked End as he slammed hard on the outside ground in front of the fans. The amount of strength required me to stay down with him to catch my energy.
Grabbing the ring I powered my self to a vertical base to see Masters toss Hardy off his side of the ladder. The Masterpiece then started his way back before I slid back into the ring and grabbed the bottom of the ladder. With all my strength in my arms and legs, I muscled up the ability to tilt the ladder backward causing the disposal of Masters falling onto the canvas. Looking around the arena, I quickly picked up on that I was the only one standing. The ladder then was set up for me to climb up to the top. Reaching the similar brief case that all six men will be fighting for, I retrieve my spot back and won the match holding the case up high to the crowd. Climbing down the steps of the ladder I met Matt who was just struggling to stand up. I held my hand out for him as he congratulated me on a well deserved win.
A man who I suddenly came across didn't feel the same way though when we were attacked from behind. Kennedy continuously stomped on me on the ground. He then dragged me over to the corner and backed up to the other one to deliver a running knee to my face. The Outspoken Superstar then lifted me up onto his shoulders on the turnbuckle and landed a Green Bay Plunge. The man was serenaded with boos as he basked in his glory in the center of the ring. Once he turned around, he received a boot the face from Shelton Benjamin from out of no where. Benjamin's impact was then ousted by Jeff Hardy who landed a Twist of Fate followed by a Swanton Bomb getting the crowd excited.
A/N: Derek barely escapes losing his spot in the Money in the Bank Match. All four men are clearly showing early that it will be every man for themselves. On a personal note, I know that it's taking longer then usual for a new chapter to get up, but with schoolwork picking up I find it harder to get a chapter out. So just be patient please :). Please review this chapter! Thanks.