Took me long enough to do this but as we all saw No Way Out it will not effect my story at all so there!!! anyway without delay...enjoy!!!
Chapter 35: Edge of reason
MONDAY NIGHT
LEGACY'S LOCKER ROOM
"Okay guys it's been a great success story so far for The Legacy, you two need to retain those titles at No Way Out and I need to…..
The cameras cut to Edge approaching Randy.
"Randy I know you're busy but I need a favour from you." Edge asked.
All week long my mind has now shifted from a title match to getting some retribution on the Rated R Superstar, I hadn't forgotten the stuff he put me through on SmackDown!
Or back at Survivor Series when Jericho nailed me with a chair and then Orton RKO'ed me and he came in to pick up the scraps, he Speared me and got the pin on me.
Or even how he has gone on saying how he likes continuing to tormenting the Hardy family as much as he can, well tonight I plan to give Edge a beating worth the rating of R!!!
LATER ON
"Joining me now is on of the men who is competing in the Road to Wrestlemania Tournament tonight, the Rated R Superstar, Edge!!" Grisham announced.
"Edge tonight you have a chance to move to the finals of the tournament which will take place at No Way Out in just two weeks, alongside Batista who qualified earlier on tonight, your thoughts?" he asked.
"My thoughts? I don't know how you got this far Cage but I want you to know, I shatter your dreams tonight!!! And also this time I will finish the job!!!" Edge stated as he left.
I saw the interview Edge gave and if he plans to shatter my dreams and finish the job tonight then I say bring it on!!!
LATER ON
Bleed it out hit and a standing ovation came for me as I made my way out, I was absolutely fired up for this match up as I made my way down the ramp greeting the fans and threw my shirt to the crowd and got into the ring and awaited my opponent.
You think you know me…
Metallingus hit and here came The Rated R Superstar, a man who has been the definition of an opportunist, he did his pose and his pyro went off, he rushed down to the ring and as he came in he gave me a really nasty look as he took his jacket off.
The bell rang for the semi finals of this tournament to kick off, we locked up and I got the upper hand on him as I had him in a wrist lock and started hitting kicks to the left arm I had locked in it. And I just let him go he looked at me in complete frustration, for him to be caught off guard by me was an insult.
He shook off the tingling in his arm and we locked back up only to have him catch me in a headlock, he then tried to wear me down with hit but I reversed it into one of my own, he struggled to get out of it, as he then backed us both into the ropes which he held on to as the ref told me to break the hold I had no choice but to do it.
Edge knew he had to do more than that to stop me as he started saying something to the ref I wondered what but he sucker punched me out of nowhere. It threw me off balance and off my game as he capitalised on it and began to stomp the hell out of me, then bringing me to my feet and whipping me into the corner turnbuckle and hit a hard shoulder thrust knocking the wind out of me.
He them went on the attack again hitting fists to my head keeping me pinned in the corner but the ref ordered him to stop and by the count of 4 he did. He tried to intimidate the ref to get out of his face, as I tried to get back up he went back on the attack with a another shoulder thrust and from there a bulldog, 1-2 nope I got my shoulder up.
Bringing me up to a sitting position he locked in the surfboard and tried to weaken my arms, I had no way out of this submission as my head was still ringing from the bulldog I got. I could feel the pull of the hold as it felt as if he was going to rip my arms from my body, I however used my feet to kick him directly in the head a few times which eventually got him off me.
As he staggered away from me I got up but shook off the numb tingling in my arms as I was trying to go for some offence. I came back as he went for me again but I caught him with a clothesline, I came off the ropes and nailed another as I felt the feeling come back into my arms. I grabbed him quickly and hit a snap suplex, 1-2 nope he kicked out.
I now was in control as I got up and hit some knee drops to the back of his neck, I knew about his past neck injuries so I exploited it. I set him up for a suplex combo but he wriggled out and tried to counter but I countered his counter with a neck breaker, 1-2 nope he got his shoulder up. He was weakened but still alive as he got up I came off the ropes with a high knee to the face.
I went for a clothesline as he was getting up but he rolled out of the ring trying to regroup for a second, so I measured him and back off the ropes I flew over the top and right to the outside on top of him. We both got up after that and he caught me by surprise and threw me shoulder first into the steel steps with a loud thud, it was agony as I felt the steel impact with my flesh and bone.
He then continued to punish me as he bounced my head off the announcer's table and then right into the guard rail back first. The force really was taking me out of the match but Edge as the opportunist he was, threw me back into the ring to beat the ten count and continued the assault as he locked in his submission, The Edgeucator he locked my legs in and turned me on my stomach as he watched in pleasure my torture at his hands.
I was feeling the rapid shocks going through my back as I was in complete pain from it, I tried to get to the ropes but his hold was very strong, the more I struggled the more he would increase the pressure. I knew if he got the tap out I was out of the tournament but I refused to give up as I used whatever I had to claw my way to the bottom rope, I was only inches away until I got it and he had to break the hold.
But the damage had been done as my lower back was weakened, he exploited it by using the abdominal stretch to try and damage it further. I screamed out in pain as he pulled my body in a contorted form for a submission, but I managed to get out of it as I got my foot and left arm out of the hold and then freed the rest of myself. But I had to play it safe as I rolled to the outside to try and regroup and come up with a plan, but he was already one step ahead as he grabbed my head and was going to ram it into the steel post.
I blocked that using my foot and I turned it on him as I rammed his head into the post with a thud. I got him up and threw him back into the ring, though my back was slowing me down I waited for him to get to his feet as I he did I nailed the suplex combo, this put me in control of the match, but he tried to counter my snap suplex attempt but I let him out of that so that I could go from behind and a chop block to the right knee.
I had gotten him down on one knee as I went for it again and he cried out in pain from the second blow, the third sent him down to the ground in pain as I began to work the knee using a spinning toe hold with a leg drop across the right leg on top of the bad knee, he was in real pain but I knew this was my chance as I went for the kill I locked in the Deadend and his muffled screams could be heard even in the cheap seats, as he had no place left to go.
But to my utter and complete surprise I saw rushing down to the ring Priceless, two thirds of The Legacy and were distracting the ref as I broke the hold and went to try and get those clowns away from here. I did that as they jumped off of the apron down to the floor acting innocent but they distracted me from Edge who was waiting for the right moment and tried to nail a clothesline but I got out of the way and the ref took the shot instead knocking him down.
Anything goes now!!! As both Priceless and Edge were in the ring and surrounded me completely as I went for Edge, they ganged up on me giving me a beat down, I was stomped, kicked, punched and then Edge ordered them to hold me back and bring me to my feet. He held my face and started berating to my face, "YOU WILL NEVER BE WORLD CHAMPION…YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A…DAMN…AMATUER!!!" he shouted as he slapped me across the face hard.
He repeatedly did that as I tried to break loose of Priceless's grip but they were holding me tightly. I knew if this went on I was gonna lose this match so I tried again to get out, and I broke free but as I took Edge to the floor they came back at me and the numbers were to much as I got stopped again.
I thought this was it as they held me up for Edge to go to the corner and Spear me, but out of nowhere help arrived in the form of the ECW Champion, Matt Hardy who took down Priceless with a steel chair, he checked on me quick but was Speared by Edge who then started taking it to Matt and threw him to the outside, he started taunting him.
He went back for me and brought me up and had me locked into the impaler DDT of his, it connected, I was almost out from hit as my skull was ringing from the shot. Edge went to revive the ref to make the count, he dragged him over and covered me, 1-2 nope I got my shoulder up at the last second.
He began to get frustrated as he went to the corner and set me up for the Spear, he was fired up and I was staggering to my feet and he wasted no time in doing so and charged full speed. However I was one step ahead of the Ultimate Opportunist as I leapfrogged his attempt and came back with a counter, I hit the backflip kick to his head completely changing the momentum of the match.
But I was still feeling the after effects of the beat down, I tried to get Edge up so I could try and hit another combo on him, but he tried to clothesline me but I ducked and I started nailing kicks to the sides and head, followed with punches to the gut and face. The blows softened him up and with that said I went for the kill, kick to the mid section and went to lift him but he countered and tried the DDT again but I locked him in again and this time up he went and nailed the Xander Zone, 1-2-3 I got it!!!!
The arena went ballistic as I won the match, I had beaten Edge again and now I was in the finals of the tournament as I saw the graphic chart showing me moving to face Batista in the finals at No Way Out.
Matt came into the ring and celebrated with me as we saw off the men who tried to screw me out of the match retreat in defeat.
LATER ON
"Matt thanks for comin out and helping me, if hadn't been for you Edge would've advanced to the finals." I thanked him.
"No problem man, I mainly just wanted to make sure Edge got what he deserved and also you're now one step closer." he said.
As me and Matt were talking over my win, in came Madame Attitude herself and she just had her match as she was really sweating from it.
"Hey Audrey, I guess it's congrats to you." I said.
"Oh yeah it is, a shot at the Women's title at No Way Out and by the way congrats shmuck!!" she said.
"Yeah but shame your facing Beth, Mickie and Natalya for the title." he stated.
"I know I really wanna get my hands Beth, I haven't forgotten her jumping me in my match a few weeks ago and taking her title would be sweet!!!" she said.
"Yeah well I got Batista in the finals, how am I gonna beat him?! He's a former four time world champion and he's beaten the baddest superstars to get those title reigns." I questioned myself.
"I don't know man but I know you'll think of something." Matt reassured me.
LEGACY'S LOCKER ROOM
"We had a deal Randy, they help me win this tournament, I help you with John Cena at No Way Out…so guess what the deal's off!!!!" Edge shouted being irate.
"Fine I don't need your help, I can defeat John Cena and when I do the Age of Orton will continue once more!!!" he stated.
LATER ON
I was asked to go to Stephanie's office immediately as it regarded to next week, I went there knocked on the door and entered.
I saw the GM herself and…Batista with a sharp look directed at me.
"Okay you're both here, now I know you two will be facing off at No Way Out, but this is about next week on Raw, you two will be in a tag team match as it will be Batista teaming with Xander Cage to take on Priceless." she explained.
"And oh yeah the Undisputed Tag Team titles are on the line." she added.
"That's fine by me." I said.
"Yeah no problem I think we can…put our differences aside and work as a unit." Batista agreed.
"I'm all for it Dave, but at No Way Out all bets are off!!!" I stated.
"Couldn't have put it better, I don't care who I gotta go through to get my world championship back and believe me I'll show you why I'm called The Animal!!!" he stated.
We both locked eyes and just had a huge stare off, I wasn't showing him any fear or regret but I didn't care who I had to go through even if it was one of the most dominant athletes in the WWE in my way.
MONDAY NIGHT
I had been prepping myself all week long for this title match, It had been some time since my last Tag Team title reign but tonight this was for the Undisputed titles.
I was just preparing myself for tonight's match as I was warming up with some strikes until I heard the door open but I continued the warm up.
I didn't notice until I was approached by my partner tonight, Batista.
"Hey man, look I only came by to see if your game for this match?" he asked.
"You know it but I know you're not here just to give me a prep talk right?" I said.
"Whatever happens tonight if we succeed in becoming tag champions, it won't make a difference this Sunday when I win and then take back my world title at Wrestlemania!!!" he stated.
"That sounds like a good plan except for one minor detail, we will win those titles tonight but this Sunday I'm gonna be the one who wins and I will fulfil my destiny at Wrestlemania when I win the world title." I stated back to him.
"Alright see you out there…partner." he said as he just left.
LATER ON
"The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the Undisputed Tag Team Championship!!!" Lillian announced.
Priceless hit and here were the champs themselves after they regained those titles at the rumble they've been dominant in their matches and with Randy Orton as their leader in The Legacy they seemed to be unstoppable. They got a negative response from the crowd as they hit the ring and showed their belts off to them.
Bleed it out hit and I got a great response from the crowd who were all in for this title match about to happen as I greeted them coming down the ramp and hit the ring staring down the champs.
I walk alone then hit and here was The Animal, my partner and soon to be opponent this Sunday as his pyro went off and got his huge response from the fans as he just charged to the ring getting himself fired up for this bout.
The ref held the red, blue and gold belts up and rang the bell to start the match Batista wanted to start off against DiBiase. They tied up with Batista using his superior strength to force him into the corner but was forced to break his hold by the ref, but DiBiase tried to sucker punch The Animal but he saw it coming and countered with a huge clothesline, knocking him down.
He came back up but was met with him being lifted and hit with a military press slam, 1-2 nope a quick kickout. The big man went back on the assault as he brought him to our corner and tagged me in, I came in and nailed a few strikes to DiBiase and a snap mare from there nailing a quick dropkick to the back, 1-2 nope I got interrupted by Rhodes who broke the count.
They began to try and double team me but Batista tried to get in and help but he only distracted the ref who then tried to tell The Animal to stay out. But Priceless took that advantage and as Rhodes held me back, DiBiase started laying in those fists into my head and some kicks to the mid section and I was let go and Rhodes went back to his corner just as the ref turned around.
He was tagged in by his partner and from there they both got an arm of mine each and from there a double punch to my mid section again. Rhodes followed it up with a suplex, 1-2 nope I kicked out. He kept a headlock on me to try and keep me grounded, but I got up and countered with some elbows to the gut, and off the ropes I attempted a clothesline but he ducked it as I came off the ropes again, he tried to clothesline me but I countered after a duck into a high kick knocking him down.
I was down as I brought myself up to my feet I grabbed Rhodes and nailed the suplex combo, 1-2- nope it got broken up by DiBiase, as I then hit a right hand to him knocking him to the ground I went back to Rhodes and took him over to my corner and tagged in Batista, he took Rhodes into the corner and delivered shoulder thrusts into the gut, and bringing himself and Rhodes out and delivered a double handle suplex, 1-2 nope he got his shoulder up.
Batista wasted no time as Rhodes sat up he was met with a boot to the face by Batista, and bringing the 2nd generation star up to his feet and hoisting him up to his shoulders and from there he slammed him to the ground, 1-2 nope DiBiase broke it up. Batista brought him over and tagged me in, I nailed a few more kicks to his sides and followed it up with an uppercut but the force sent him back to his own corner and DiBiase tagged himself in, we exchanged fists but he caught me off guard with a thumb to the eye.
Then out of nowhere was a dropkick, 1-2 nope I kicked out of it, but the attack continued when he applied a headlock to wear me down but then brought his knee into the back of my head and started to apply pressure to it, I could feel the pain as I tried to get out of it but he continued the assault as he cranked the pressure up using both his hands to grip onto my head.
It really was getting painful but out of nowhere it was then broken up by Batista who was then restrained by the ref, who was distracted to the fact that both Priceless were now in the ring and were double teaming me I was getting stomped and eventually they used a double suplex, I fell hard and Rhodes went back quick to his own corner, the ref turned around and saw DiBiase in a cover, 1-2-nope I got my shoulder up.
He tagged in Rhodes and he nailed some fists, he then tried to taunt Batista however it backfired on him as he turned into a backflip kick from me, I then crawled towards my corner and I got the tag and The Animal exploded in the match, knocking down Rhodes with a clothesline and a right fist to DiBiase, Rhodes tried a sneak attack but was countered into a Spear.
As Batista went into the cover, 1-2- the ref just noticed Rhodes foot was on the bottom rope, his partner acted fast saving their titles. Batista just waited for Rhodes to get to his feet and as he did he walked right into the crushing spine buster, now it was finally time to put this match away as he shook the ropes and signified the end with a thumbs down, but DiBiase came in for the save as I came in to help my partner, we began working like a team, as I nailed a straight kick to his head and he walked into a spine buster but Batista told me to go up, I looked to him then the crowd and I did.
I turned my back to go up until I was turned around by my partner who grabbed me and delivered a spine buster on me!!! He looked down at me and just left the ring and watched what happened next. Rhodes was up and saw I was down and just took the opportunity and grabbed me and nailed the CrossRhodes on me, 1-2-3 it was over!!! Thanks to my partner we lost our chance to become tag champions tonight…but why?
I managed to get up and see him looking back at the ring and he then looked to the Wrestlemania 25 sign and I realised why he did it, this Sunday it was going to be a battle and I knew Batista wants this opportunity as much as I do, but I will not back down, I will defeat Batista even if it kills me!!!
So our hero has advanced to the finals and The Animal makes it clear he wants his fifth title reign, can Xander finally fulfll his destiny or will he be antoher victim of The Animal's rage?
What you think? Reviews please!!!