I'm on fire, guys! Here's chapter 52!
Anyway, Evolution and DX enter another edition of Monday Night RAW with only one thing for certain: Matt will defend his Intercontinental title against his brother. Will any other surprises creep up on the group two weeks before Bad Blood?
Here we go!
"Across the Nation" by Union Underground blared through the arena speakers, signaling the beginning of the night's events. For some, it was their first time at a live WWE event. For others, it was their second or third time. And for Matt's friends, Michael, Adrian, and Travis, it was … well … they had lost count. In the days since WrestleMania, they had missed only one RAW, and that was because they had missed their flight. After the pyrotechnics lit up the room, a solitary match preview came up on the TitanTron: Randy Orton vs. Matthew Orton for the Intercontinental title.
"Dude, this is the night Randy gets that belt back", Adrian half-yelled to make sure his friends could hear him. "Didn't you see how he put Hardy through that table last week? Randy's got Matt's number."
"No way!", replied Michael. "Matt can't possibly lose the belt so soon after winning it!"
"The guys are incredibly competitive!", interjected Travis. "There's no possible way to predict who's gonna win! Just sit down and watch the damn show!"
Backstage, Matt looked at the monitor in wonder, seeing the camera pass by his three friends.
"I knew their parents were rich … but they must be loaded to afford sending those three to each show."
"You know, you should stop worryin' about them and start worryin' about your brother", Cena chimed in from behind. "You've seen how he's been training this week. He wants that belt."
"He doesn't want the belt. He just wants to beat my ass again."
"Damn straight." Matt and John spun around to see Randy, already in his ring gear, standing behind them. The younger Orton got up and stared straight into his brother's face.
"It's a pity we're not the first match. I've been waiting to defend this thing against you since I won it."
"Okay, alright, alright, stop it … just stop it." Camilla stepped in between the two brothers. "I've been hearing this nonstop since we got back from San Antonio and it's driving me nuts. Now shut up before I put you both in the Sharpshooter."
Randy and Matt both instantly quieted down, remembering that day in the backyard where they both tapped out to Camilla's submission holds.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm up first."
Matt's jaw was on the ground. "You actually have a match tonight?"
"Yep. A mixed tag team match. Now don't go and get worried, Matt. It's a mixed match, not an intergender match. The guy on the other team can't touch me."
"Wait, then who's your partner?"
Cena smiled and slapped Matt on the back. "You're lookin' at 'em, bro!"
"Cena, if you let anything happen to her …"
"I know, I know. You'll rip my head clean off."
"You guys know who you're gonna be facing?", asked Randy.
"Yep. Torrie and Jeff. I finally get my chance to get my hands on that little …", Camilla made a choking motion with her hands. Matt and Randy looked at each other in hesitation.
"Now, babe, it's okay to rough her up a little bit, but don't beat her to a pulp", Matt spat out.
"Oh, come on! You beat Matt Hardy to a pulp! Let me have the same chance!"
"I let myself go out there. You don't need your reputation to be damaged like mine was."
"Reputation damaged? What are you talking about? You're as popular as ever! A dual champion! Part of Evolution! Besides, people can understand what you were going through! You wanted to get revenge on Hardy for Randy!"
"Still … I watched the tape. I looked like a beast out there. People were scared."
"If you go crazy out there on me, I'll smack some sense into you", Randy said chuckling. Matt chuckled back sarcastically and punched his brother in the shoulder. A knock at the door signaled that it was finally time for the mixed tag match to start, and John and Camilla left the room after Matt gave his fiancée a good luck kiss.
"Orton! Both of you! Over here, now!"
Batista's booming voice erupted from the back of the room. Confused, Matt and Randy looked at each other and quickly trotted over to where Dave was sitting.
"Tonight is the last night of this little rivalry you have here. I'm sick and tired of it."
Randy looked at the leader of Evolution incredulously. "You're kidding, right? You're telling us that we can't have matches anymore?"
"Not just that, Orton." By now, Batista was red in the face, veins bulging from his neck. "This … this … child-like behavior that every single one of you display every single day. I've tolerated this stupidity day after day after day and now I can't stand it. You two and the rest of you lot better straighten up "
"Dave! Calm the hell down!", Matt interrupted. "What happened to the Batista down at the Riverwalk? 'Everyone deserves a break every once in while.' You need to chill!"
"You're right in that I enjoyed dinner. But the rest of the day was horrible. Getting chased by all those fans, seeing you two and John goof off every chance you got … and those goddamn fans … I wanted to strangle some of them …"
Eventually, Batista's breathing slowed down and the two brothers sighed in relief, an uneasy silence filling the room. "For a moment there, I thought you were gonna …"
Suddenly, Batista jumped off the bench, grabbed Randy by the head, and slammed him into the lockers. Matt was too shocked to move as he saw his brother slump down to the floor in a crumpled pile of flesh and bone. Eyes wide open and his whole body shaking, the younger Orton looked into the eyes of an animal. Before he had time to react, Batista wrapped both of his hands around Matt's neck and forced him up against the wall. As Orton felt his consciousness slip away, he only saw Batista's bloodshot eyes staring back at him.
Meanwhile, the two members of D-Generation X had just entered the building, fresh from the local pizza place. "Did we get the double cheese and double mushroom?", Eric said, carrying a couple of three-liter Pepsi bottles. "Matt would kill me if we forgot that."
"Yeah, I got it … I think I did", Shawn replied, carefully trying to open one of the pizza boxes he was balancing.
"Let me help you with that, man", shouted out Cena, who was running towards Shawn and Eric, Camilla close behind.
"You remembered the mushroom, right?", asked Camilla.
"Yeah, yeah … wait, where'd you two wander off to?", Eric asked, a little weary of John and Camilla walking in the hallway together.
"We had a mixed tag match against Hardy and Torrie. Kicked their asses all over the ring!"
"Homegirl's right. Put Torrie in the STFU and won the match. Let me tell ya, I'd be scared to go up against her."
Shawn, Eric, John, and Camilla all started to chatter on their way back to the locker room, Cena taking half the pizza boxes and Camilla helping Eric with the Pepsi. Opening the door to the room, everyone stopped in their tracks.
Matthew was unconscious in the back of the room against the wall, with a bloody Randy slowly crawling over to his little brother. Shawn and John quickly put down the pizzas while Eric and Camilla dropped the Pepsi and quickly ran over to Matt's body.
"Matt! MATT! Can you hear me! Say something, man!", Eric shouted out.
A still weak Randy, in the meantime, had made it to his brother's body. Randy grabbed Matt's wrist and felt around. His eyes opening up in surprise and adrenaline rushing through his body, Randy got to his knees.
"He … he doesn't have …"
"What? He doesn't have what?", a panicked Camilla screamed out.
"… a pulse." Randy immediately started to administer CPR to Matt. Camilla fainted instantly, with Eric catching her before she hit the ground. HBK and Cena were stunned.
"Who … who could have done something like this?", Shawn sputtered out. "Who could have had the … the … nerve to attack them like this?"
John couldn't answer him; he was too busy freaking out over his tag team partner and best friend nearly dead. Randy literally and furiously tried to breathe some life into his brother, trying as hard as he could but having no success. Eric seemed like he was going to cry as he held an unconscious Camilla; his best friend since middle school was slipping away right in front of him. Shawn and Cena couldn't move; they were still in complete and total shock.
"Wake up! Wake up, dammit!", Randy pleaded out loud. "PLEASE!"
But nothing was happening. Randy had now been giving Matt CPR for two minutes straight.
"No … no, god, please … please give me back my baby brother …"
Another 30 seconds passed and still nothing. By this time, Camilla had recovered and was crying in Eric's arms. Shawn was on his knees praying that Matt would be okay. Cena still couldn't move. Randy couldn't focus anymore; his face was still crimson and his emotions were overwhelming him. Looking up to the heavens, Randy screamed out in frustration and brought both fists down onto Matt's chest in a last ditch effort to revive him.
A loud coughing filled the room and the younger Orton opened his eyes, his older brother hugging him tightly. Shock overcoming his whole persona, Matt started to cry in Randy's arms.
"You … saved my life. I … I'm … I'm scared, Randy", Matt said in between sobs.
"I'm right here, Matt. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
Randy embraced Matt harder than he ever had before. Covered in blood, Randy could only think of getting his hands on the man who nearly killed his brother.
"Who did this?", repeated the Heartbreak Kid.
Randy looked up, just for a second, and only said, "Batista."
Bischoff was now sitting in his office, wondering what to do. One of his best matches on the card for tonight might have to be cancelled because of an attack backstage. After Lilian had announced Randy down to the ring and nothing happened, Bischoff himself went to go see what was wrong. What he discovered disturbed him. His two best superstars on the ground, one bleeding profusely and one with red marks and bruises all over his neck. At first, no one even noticed that Bischoff was in the room.
"What … what happened?", Bischoff asked slowly, wary of the emotions of the people next to him.
It was here when he learned of the brutality that took place earlier. Sitting in his office, the fans getting unruly outside in the arena, Bischoff was in a tight spot. Something serious had transpired backstage, but the fans were demanding that the show go on. His mind made up, he grabbed a nearby microphone and marched towards the ring. When Bischoff's music hit the ring, he saw that some of the fans were getting up to leave. Hurrying into the ring, Bischoff tried to explain the situation. Video footage was shown of the condition of both of the Ortons, with Matt barely able to verbally explain what happened.
"Now …", Bischoff barely able to speak, "… I know the show must go on. If … if the Ortons feel like they can still put on a good match … for these fans …"
The whole arena burst out in applause. Michael, Travis, and Adrian started an "Orton! Orton! Orton!" chant, and soon everyone around them joined in. Lilian looked at the stage eagerly to see either her boyfriend or his brother walk through that curtain.
But the whole arena descended into a chorus of boos when Batista's music started to play. Dave looked like he had completely snapped, and immediately climbed into the ring to face down Bischoff. The General Manager of RAW turned around to leave the ring, but was caught from behind when Batista grabbed his shoulder. Soon enough, Bischoff was lifted up into the air and brought crashing down to the canvas in a deafening Batista Bomb.
Ringside, Lilian was terrified. Batista was on a rampage, and it looked like he wasn't done. She started to scream as the aptly-named Animal locked eyes with her and grinned evilly. Batista hopped out of the ring and yanked Garcia by the hair inside the ring, positioning her for the Batista Bomb.
But the arena gave the biggest pop of the night to the Ortons as they rushed down to the ring. Batista had lifted Lilian into the air when Matt dropkicked him from behind. Randy caught his girlfriend as she fell and quickly set her down outside the ring.
"Are you okay?", Randy said, now bandaged heavily around his head.
"Are you okay?", Lilian responded. "You looked horrible back there!"
Randy wanted to respond, but noticed his brother and Batista slugging it out in the middle of the ring.
"One second, babe." Randy gave Lilian a quick kiss on the cheek and joined his brother in the ring. Matt was holding his own against his former mentor despite the beating he took earlier. Batista tried to clothesline Matt down, but Orton ducked and leveled the Animal with one of his own. Dave was quick to get up, however, leaving both Ortons little time to plan.
But that one moment was more than enough. As Batista turned around, the brothers leapt into the air and brought the madman down with a double RKO. Even Lilian got involved; she slid two steel chairs into the ring. Matt positioned one under Batista's head and Randy readied the other chair. Lifting it up in the air, the older Orton slammed it down onto Batista's cranium, satisfying the crowd with a deserved con-chair-to. Matt and Randy rolled Batista out of the ring, much to the pleasure of the fans. Randy called for a microphone and Lilian was only happy to oblige. Breathing hard and still stumbling a bit, Orton started to speak.
"I think we still owe the fans something. You up for it?"
Matt was about to respond when Eric Bischoff stumbled back to his feet and grabbed the microphone from Randy.
"Wait … hold on … I have something else to announce. In two weeks … we will have a match for the World Heavyweight Championship … Batista versus the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels!"
Both Ortons were satisfied with this match, knowing that Shawn would finish the job.
"Guys … you don't have to do this right now. I can move the match to next week and … and you guys will be in better shape."
"With all due respect, Mr. Bischoff", Matthew interjected, "I think the fans want this match right here, right now. And who are we to disappoint them?"
Shawn Michaels himself started to walk down to the ring, carrying Matt's Intercontinental title with him. Before getting into the ring, HBK looked at the fallen Batista and shook his head. Shawn gave the belt to a graciously accepting Matthew, who then held it up in the air.
Lilian didn't waste any time. "The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the Intercontinental Championship!"
While she introduced the two brothers, Shawn remained at ringside to watch Batista very carefully.
"How could you do something like this?", Shawn thought to himself. "Better yet, what in the world set you off? I looked to you as a comrade. I looked to you as a friend. You're … you're just the same as Hunter: heartless. You don't deserve to be on the same level as we do. Only God knows what's going to happen to you now."
Shawn's thoughts were interrupted by the bell ringing. Matt and Randy circled around the ring, looking at each other in the eyes, trying to formulate some sort of strategy. Already, the crowd had started the opposing "Let's go, Randy! … Let's go, Matt!" chants. Without warning, Matt charged at Randy, only to be shoved into the ropes. When Matt came back on the rebound, Randy attempted an early RKO, but his brother blocked it by shoving Randy back into the ropes. This time, Matt attempted an early MKO, but Randy nearly reversed it into an RKO again, just as in their previous match. The crowd was on fire, intensely cheering this last bit of wrestling.
"It's not going to be easy!", Randy shouted over to his brother.
"It's not supposed to be!", Matt replied as he engaged in a grapple with Randy. Matt got the upper hand and tossed his brother overhead in a belly-to-belly suplex. Randy shot right back up and caught Matt in the same rotating powerslam that put Jeff Hardy through a table.
"1 …"
Randy only got a one-count. Picking his brother up and whipping him to the ropes, Randy bent over, anticipating flipping Matt over with a back body drop. Matt, however, kicked Randy hard in the chest, eliciting a loud moan from the crowd. An even louder moan came when Matt brought Randy's head to the mat with a double-arm DDT.
"1 …"
But Matt got the same result as Randy did earlier. Taking a page out of his brother's playbook, Matt locked in a sleeper hold of his own on Randy. The taller man was falling to his knees, but kept the resistance high. For a moment, it looked as if Matt had the match won, but Randy literally picked his brother up and shoved him back first into the turnbuckle. Matt let go and Randy lifted him up to sit on the top rope. The fans could sense something big coming, with Randy in position for a superplex. Not complying was Matt, who elbowed Randy in the gut a couple of times, then shoved him off, with Randy falling hard on his back.
Matt then mounted the turnbuckle, preparing for his Somersault Leg Drop. Matt flew through the air only to hit canvas, as Randy moved out of the way at the last second. Randy's half of the crowd started to buzz; he was moving in position for the RKO. Matt was still aching from the fall, he didn't see Randy leap up and walked right into his brother's finisher.
"1, 2, …"
But Matt still managed to get a shoulder up. Frustrated, Randy waited patiently for Matt to get back up, readying yet another RKO. Matt blocked it again, however, this time choosing to trip Randy up instead of pushing him to the ropes. Taking his opportunity, the younger Orton applied the Texas Cloverleaf on his brother. Randy screamed out in pain, then in fright as he saw Batista's bulging eyes looking at him from outside the ring.
But everyone could see Shawn tuning up the band. Batista crumpled to the floor yet again, Shawn accomplishing his goal of keeping the Animal from interfering in the match. This gave Randy the confidence and the strength to reach the ropes, forcing his brother to break the hold. Matt allowed Randy time to get up, signaling for the MKO. As Matt put his brother's head under his arm, he was sure he had the match won.
However, Randy reversed the MKO just as before and hit his second RKO of the match.
"1, 2, 3!"
Matt kicked out, but it was too late. In an apparently excited voice, Lilian shouted out, "Here is your winner, and the NEW Intercontinental Champion, RANDY ORTON!"
Yet again, the brothers had traded victories. Randy was now on top, holding the Intercontinental belt proudly. Shawn climbed into the ring along with John, Eric, and Camilla, who had rushed down to the ring as well. Lilian climbed in and Randy gave her a kiss in front of everyone, getting some whistles from people in the crowd. Matt eventually got up and shook the hand of his brother, then embraced him. Soon afterwards, Matt lifted Randy's arm up in victory.
"I guess you're the better Orton tonight."
"I guess you're right."
What caused Batista to suddenly turn on the brothers? After Matt and Randy survive the attack from Batista and retaliate with one of their own, how will the Animal strike back? And will Shawn be able to take the World Heavyweight Championship away from Batista at Bad Blood?
Hope you liked it!
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