Chapter Fifty-Two: Substitution

---x---

Sorry this took so long, I had some plans for the chapter, but they would interfere in current WWE story lines too much, that and I accidentally deleted the chapter and had to re-write it. So as an added bonus I'll have a few additional chapters up this week.

---x---

"Alright let's try this again," said Zack. He and The Great Khali aka Dalip Singh were in the arena before the raw show. The ringside area was empty except for Maria, who had arrived early with Torrie and Lillian, and a few random crew members who were preparing for the show.

"Now, I'm going to run at you, what I want you to do is launch me as high as you can up into the air," said Zack, "I'm going to be jumping but in order for me to get over five feet, you're going to need to push me. Then step back and let me fall flat on my face."

Dalip nodded as he took everything in then Zack ran back against the ropes and bounced off of them, and ran at Dalip at full speed. Dalip caught Zack as he started jumping and launched him high over his head, Zack was probably twelve feet above the ring, then Dalip stepped back and Zack slammed down to the mat face first.

"You alright?" Maria asked from ring side.

"Yeah," said Zack as he sat up, "your timing's getting better, you just need to do your part of the move at the same time as the opponent, that's what makes it look more solid."

"What next?" asked Dalip.

"Hmm," said Zack as he got to his feet, "you remember that Military Press I showed you before?"

Khali nodded, "do that, then walk over to the ropes and throw me out of the ring. Here I'll run at you so you can catch me, then try hoisting me up in one motion."

Zack backed up against the ropes then bounced off of them and as he got close, Dalip grabbed him with two hands then hoisted him up above his head, while holding Zack parallel to the mat.

"Alright," said Zack, despite the fact that he was over ten feet in the air, "now drop me where ever."

Dalip walked over to the ropes with Zack still over his head then threw him down behind Maria. Zack landed with a thud and rolled onto his back then sat up against the barricade.

"Okay, will try one more thing then we'll call it a day," said Zack, "lets take this easy, someone might get hurt, mainly me."

"We can't have that can we?" asked Maria as she walked over to Zack and pulled him up to his feet.

"No, that would be pretty bad," answered Zack as he climbed into the ring. "Alright, I'm going to run at you again, I want you to catch me, lift me up into the air then slam me down on my back for a powerslam. Think you can do it?"

Dalip nodded, "Just be sure to catch me when I'm jumping and do it all in one motion if you can," said Zack as he backed over to the ropes opposite Dalip.

Zack then ran at Dalip who caught Zack and hoisted him up into the air, then after only a seconds delay slammed him down to the mat back first. Dalip grabbed Zack's arm and pulled him to his feet, when suddenly they heard applauding.

"Nice job kid," said Mark 'the Undertaker' Calloway as he walked down the entrance ramp, "he's improving."

"Well we're trying to get him ready for 'Mania," explained Zack, "can't have a sloppy match there can we?"

"No we can't," said Mark as he stood near the ring while Zack leaned against the ropes, "speaking of Wrestlemania, are you getting ready for your match?"

"The story line is going to start next week," explained Zack, "it should be fun."

"Well I'm looking forward to it," said Mark, "there's something special about it when you get in the ring."

"So what brings you here?" asked Zack.

"I want a match with you," said Mark, "it might not be this week, it might not be next week, but some time I want to face you one-on-one in the middle of the ring."

"Really?" asked Zack.

"Really," said Mark, "like I said before, there's something special about it when you get in the ring. That's why I want to face you."

"Well I'm looking forward to it," said Zack.

"So am I," said Mark as he turned around, "see you later kid."

"Looks like you're working every show again Kid," said Maria as she playfully poked Zack in the back once Mark left.

"Well I'm the kid who may be having a match with the Undertaker," said Zack with a smile.

"Well, when it happens I'll be watching intently, until then, I'm looking forward to it," said Maria as she, Zack, and Dalip got out of the ring.

"You're not the only one," said Dalip as he followed Zack and Maria up the ramp "should be fun."

---x---

Raw was pre-empted due to the Dog Show on USA and was now airing Thursday night. The music of Eugene hits as he made his way down to the ring, the bell rang then the music of the great Khali played in the arena. Khali and Machetti then appeared on stage and walked side by side down to the ring. "The following contest is scheduled for one-fall and is for the Intercontinental Championship." But before Lillian could finish her introduction, Machetti had Khali get in the ring and he went right after Eugene and took him down with a stiff armed clothesline.

Eugene rolled on the ground and got up, then held his hand to his face where Khali hit him. Then Eugene got angry and went into retard mode and charged at Khali, who caught Eugene and hoisted him up above his head for a Military Press. Khali then turned around and dropped him out of the ring and down to the floor. Khali was about to get out of the ring and go after Eugene but the referee grabbed his arm and stopped him. Khali slowly turned around and chased the referee across the ring, before the referee slid out the other side.

Meanwhile Machetti seized the opportunity and attacked Eugene while he was down outside of the ring and stomped on his back. Machetti then lifted Eugene up to his feet and drove him back first into the steel ring post. Machetti stepped back and Eugene rolled on the ground and clutched his back. Machetti walked over to Eugene and lifted him to his feet then stepped back and let Eugene stand on his own. Machetti then smirked at Eugene and flipped him off.

Eugene charged at Machetti but the ECW World Champion caught Eugene hoisted him up and slammed him down to the floor for the Flat-Liner. Eugene was out cold so Machetti dragged him to his feet and rolled him back into the ring. Khali then turned around and pulled Eugene up to his feet by his hair, then Khali grabbed him by the throat with both hands, hoisted Eugene up into the air then threw him down to the mat for a double hand chokeslam. "Put your foot on him!" Machetti shouted from ringside. And Khali did just that, the referee slid into the ring and reluctantly made the three count.

The referee quickly slid out of the ring as Machetti slid in. Machetti then raised Khali's hand into the air, to a tremendous amount of boos from the fans. But whether they liked it or not, the Great Khali was still the WWE Intercontinental Champion. Machetti and Khali retrieve the title belt and then headed to the back, leaving Eugene still out cold in the middle of the ring.

---x---

Raw was still on and it was time for the main event. Batista's theme music hit and Smackdown's World Heavyweight champion made his way out to the ring to a loud ovation from the fans. Batista got in the ring and shook the ropes as the fans cheered, then 'Are You Ready' echoed through the arena. One half of the World Tag Team Champions, Shawn Michaels made his way down to the ring, all set for the match. Shawn got in the ring and stood across it from Batista and received an even louder cheer from the crowd.

Then the Undertaker's gong sounded. The crowd erupted as the 2007 Royal Rumble winner, the Phenom, made his way down to the ring and got in then removed his hat and trench coat in typical Deadman fashion. Then John Cena's theme music hit and the WWE Champion AND the other half of the World Tag Team Champions made his way down to the ring. All the members of possibly the most star studded four man team were in the ring and the crowd was blowing the roof off of the arena.

Then Mr. Kennedy's music hit and the cheers turned to boos as the brash Smackdown up start made his way down the entrance ramp, but wisely stopped short of getting in the ring. MVP's theme music then hit and he made his way down to the ring for the match, but MVP suddenly slipped and fell and rolled down the entrance ramp before coming to a stop at Mr. Kennedy's feet. MVP clutched his ribs in pain, and the fans started booing.

Rated RKO's theme hit and Edge and Randy Orton came down the entrance ramp but stopped when they reached MVP. "What is this crap?" demanded Edge, "I refuse, no my team refuses to get into that ring without a fourth partner. There's no way that MVP can get in there tonight, look at him he can't even stand up!" The crowd booed loudly at Edge's complaint, they were hyped for this match and they were going to see it one way or another.

Then Step Up hit as ECW World Champion made his way down to Orton, Edge, Kennedy, and MVP, who was still down the floor. From the looks of things Machetti dressed to compete and was wearing his green and black ring attire. "So, I heard you're in a bit of a pickle," said Machetti into a mic as he glanced down at MVP, "yeah there's no way he's competing, for all we know he could have re-injured his ribs."

"Look, are you out here to point out the obvious, or are you going to say something about what we should do?" asked Orton as he took the mic that Edge had.

"Funny you should bring that up," said Machetti as he looked up and stared Randy in the eye. "I didn't have a match tonight and there's no better way to prove my dominance as ECW World Champion then to win a match against a team like that."

"So you're offering to be on our team?" asked Orton.

"And you said I pointed out the obvious," said Machetti in a fake hurt tone, "yeah, that's what I'm saying, is there a problem with that?"

"Well incase you don't remember," said Orton, "We haven't that the greatest history in the past."

"You're right, we can't trust each other," said Machetti, but then he glanced at the superstars waiting in the ring, "but then again, neither can they."

Machetti then turned and looked at Orton who glanced at Edge and Kennedy, then the four of them smirked. "You're in," said Orton, "but what do you suggest we do?"

"Well," said Machetti, "first we should be sure MVP gets to the back, and then we'll talk about that."

A trainer came out from the back and helped MVP to his feet and helped him to the back, at that moment, Raw went to a commercial.

When Raw came back Machetti, Orton, Edge, and Kennedy broke out of a team huddle, the whole time the superstars in the ring where glaring at them and waiting for them to get in the ring. The four heels made their way around the ring and all four climbed up onto the ring apron, then Machetti got into the ring and stood there against John Cena. Machetti reached into his pocket and pulled out his black bandana. Cena stood there and allowed it when suddenly Orton came from behind and took Cena down with a cheap shot.

Machetti and Orton smirked at each other as Machetti headed over to the corner and got on the apron. The match was going to start off with Randy Orton versus John Cena. Orton already had the advantage and worked over Cena with hard stomps to the mid section, then whipped him into an unused corner. Orton ran at him and nailed Cena with a clothesline into the corner.

Orton then grabbed Cena and pulled him forward and went for a vertical suplex, but Cena countered out of it and managed to get down to the ground. Orton turned around and Cena lifted him up and planted him with a fisherman's suplex. Cena went for the cover but only got who. Cena got up and then lifted Orton up to his feet and whipped him across the ring. Orton bounced off of the ropes and came back, and Cena caught him with a hip toss. Cena then lifted Orton up, turned him upside down and slammed him down to the mat for a scoop slam, Cena then nailed Orton with an elbow drop and went for a pin, but Orton kicked out at two.

Cena grabbed Orton and dragged him into his corner and tried to tag, but Orton hit a quick thumb to the eye. Orton then dragged Cena across the ring and tagged in Mr. Kennedy. Orton held Cena from behind and allowed Kennedy to stomp him in the stomach. Kennedy then whipped Cena across the ring, Orton bounced off of the ropes, came back and took Kennedy down with a shoulder tackle. Cena then crawled over to his corner and tagged in Undertaker.

Undertaker came in and took Kennedy down with a clothesline, then ran to the corner and knocked Orton off of the apron. Undertaker turned and tried to do the same to Machetti, but Machetti ducked under Taker's arm and jumped down off of the apron on his own accord. Undertaker glared at Machetti when Kennedy came from behind and blind-sided Undertaker. Taker was knocked down on his knee, but didn't like Kennedy's surprise attack one bit and started advancing on Kennedy and backed him across the ring.

Kennedy went to punch Undertaker in the face, but Taker reached up and grabbed Kennedy's fist. Undertaker wrenched Kennedy's arm and brought him down to his knees, then he dragged Kennedy by his arm over to the corner. Undertaker climbed p onto the top rope and tried to hit Old School, but Kennedy grabbed onto the top rope and prevented himself from being pulled any further. But Undertaker pulled Kennedy and forced him off of the rope and pulled him into the middle of the ring. Then Taker jumped off of the top rope and drove his fist into the back of Kennedy's arm for Old School.

Undertaker lifted Kennedy up then nailed him with a downward spiral, slamming his face down to the mat and Undertaker then went for the pin. Machetti then got in the ring and went to break up the pin, but Undertaker moved, causing Machetti to his Kennedy. Undertaker then ran at Machetti and went for a clothesline, but Machetti ran forward and rolled under Taker's arm. The referee then grabbed Machetti and yelled at him, demanding that he get back onto the ring apron.

Machetti backed away from the referee and got onto the apron. Then he glared at Undertaker while reaching out his hand for a tag. Undertaker glared at Machetti but stood back and LET Mr. Kennedy crawl to the corner. Machetti reached out and allowed Kennedy to tag him in. Machetti then got in the ring and stood across it from Undertaker, who didn't move and instead just glared at Machetti, waiting for him to make the first move.

Machetti reached into his pocket and pulled out his black bandana and tied it onto his head. Machetti then ran at Undertaker and went off on him with hard punches, forearms, and chops to the torso. But none of them seemed to effect to Undertaker, who suddenly reached out and shoved Machetti, knocking him down to the mat, causing him to roll backwards across the ring. Machetti got back up and ran at Undertaker and went to hit him with a clothesline, but that didn't have much of an effect on Undertaker.

Undertaker then swung at Machetti and punched him in the face, knocking him back a few steps, Undertaker kept on Machetti and went off on him with hard right hands and eventually knocked Machetti off of his feet and onto his back. Machetti got to his feet and held his chin, where Undertaker had hit him particularly hard. Machetti then charged at Taker ad jumped up into the air and finally took him down with a flying forearm. Machetti landed on the ground and rolled on his back, then he kicked up and glared right at Shawn Michaels, who didn't like that one bit, Machetti, his former student, was openly mocking him.

Shawn reached out his hand and shouted for Undertaker to tag him in. Undertaker, who had gotten back up to his feet glared at Machetti, then looked over to Michaels, who had his hand outstretched. Machetti held out his arms and stared at the Deadman, "what are you going to do?" Machetti asked. To answer that question Undertaker walked over Machetti and looked him right in the eye, then slowly did the cut throat gesture. Undertaker then backed away and tagged in Michaels.

Michaels came in bowed his head slightly to Undertaker as he got back on the apron, then walked across the ring and stood across from Machetti. Machetti swung at Shawn, but Shawn ducked the punch then punched Machetti in the face, causing him to stumble backwards. Machetti then shoved Shawn, who stumbled backwards, but came right back and shoved Machetti, causing him to stumble backwards. Machetti

Machetti came forward and grabbed Shawn then went to whip him across the ring, but Shawn reversed it and sent Machetti into the ropes instead. Machetti bounced off of the ropes but as he came back he jumped up into the air and kicked Shawn in the back of the head with a lightning fast enzuigiri. Machetti then crawled over to his corner and tagged in Edge, he had enough. Edge came in and went after Shawn viciously stomping on him. Edge lifted Shawn up to his feet and drove his elbow into Shawn's jaw, causing him to stumble back.

Edge whipped Shawn into the corner, then ran at him, looking for the spear, but Shawn moved out of the way. But at the last second, Edge put on the breaks, and prevent himself from running into the corner. Shawn took the opportunity while Edge was shaken up and hit him with an enzuigiri. Shawn glanced over his shoulder and made eye contact with Machetti while he and Edge crawled to their respective corners. The both made it to the corner at the same time Edge tagged in Orton, while Shawn tagged in Batista, who came in to a huge ovation.

Batista charged at Orton and took him down with a clothesline, then Machetti and Kennedy ran in and charged Batista, with Machetti in front. Batista ran forward and practically took Machetti's head off with a clothesline that caused him to flip in mid air. Then Batista hit Kennedy with a shoulder block and knocked him on his back. Orton then ran at Batista and charged him, but Batista caught him and slammed him down to the mat with a spinebuster. Batista got back up and shook the top rope then gave the thumbs up sign as Raw went to a commercial.

When Raw came back, Batista whipped Edge into the ropes, but Edge came back and kicked Batista in the face. Batista stumbled backwards into his corner and tagged in Cena who came in and started trading punches with Edge. But Cena took control with a series of punches then nailed Edge with a side suplex. Cena glared down at Edge then looked over at Orton, Machetti, and Kennedy and dared them to get in the ring, but none of them did. Cena then nailed Edge with a five knuckle shuffle.

Cena then hoisted Edge up onto his shoulder in position for the F-U and walked over to Orton, Machetti, and Kennedy and mocked them. Orton reached over the top rope and grabbed Edge's foot, preventing Cena from hitting the F-U, Orton then went off on Cena with hard punches to the stomach, knocking Cena onto his back with Edge on top of him. Orton moved Edge off of Cena and went for the pin, but Cena kicked out at two. Orton then went off on Cena and drove his fist into Cena's face, over and over again. Orton went for the pin, but Undertaker came in and broke it up.

Orton was knocked off of Cena, thanks to the Undertaker, and Cena crawled to his corner in an attempt to make a tag, but Orton grabbed Cena' ankle and dragged him back across the ring, before tagging in Machetti. Machetti and Orton then worked together and stomped on Cena together, then Machetti slid behind Cena and locked in a sleeper hold from behind while Orton got out of the ring.

Machetti applied as much pressure as he could to Cena, intent on knocking him out. Cena's head was turning red when the fans started chanting Ce-na over and over again. Cena used that as motivation and fought his way up to his knees and drove his elbow into Machetti's stomach. Cena then fought up to his feet and the fans were cheering louder than before, then he grabbed Machetti from behind, flipped him over his head and onto his back.

Machetti jumped up and tagged in Kennedy who came in and drove his knee into Cena's spine as he tried to make the tag. Kennedy kept driving his knee into Cena's back, then kicked him in the side. Kennedy then went for the pin, but Cena kicked out at two. Kennedy got up on his knees and glared at the referee, while Cena tried crawling to his corner. But Kennedy grabbed Cena by the ankle and pulled him back into his own corner, but Orton reached over and tagged himself in.

Kennedy held Cena from behind and Orton jumped up and nailed him with a standing dropkick. Orton then went for the pin, but Undertaker got in the ring and went to break it up. Orton jumped off of Cena, causing Undertaker to get back onto the apron. Orton then whipped Cena into the corner and worked over Cena with hard punches, but Cena came back with some elbows to the jaw of Orton. But Orton stopped Cena's comeback with a stiff clothesline, knocking Cena down to the mat.

The crowd started chanting We Want Taker as Orton tagged in Edge, who came in locked in a sleeper hold on Cena, when wrapped his legs around Cena's waist for a body scissors. Edge worked over Cena and pulled back on the sleeper, trying to do as much damage as possible. Undertaker and Michaels then got the fans chanting Ce-Na over and over again.

The cheering fans gave Cena the strength he needed to break the leg scissors, and fight onto his knees. Cena drove his elbow into Edge's stomach and then threw him off. Cena then charged at Edge as he bounced off of the ropes and both men collided in the middle of the ring with a double clothesline. Cena and Edge struggled and crawled to their corners out of sheer desperation. Edge tagged in Orton and Cena tagged in Undertaker, causing the fans to explode in a loud applause.

Machetti, Kennedy, and Orton charged at Taker, who took Orton down with a clothesline, then followed up with a clothesline to Machetti and Kennedy. Undertaker then whipped Orton into one corner and Machetti into the one opposite it. Kennedy then attacked Undertaker, but Taker caught him, carried him over to the corner and dropped him face first into the top turnbuckle pad for snake eyes. Kennedy rolled out of the ring and down to the floor as Undertaker got back into the middle of the ring.

Orton and Machetti came out of their corners and went after Undertaker, but he caught them both by the throat, looking for a double chokeslam. But Machetti and Orton worked together and kicked Undertaker in the stomach, breaking the choke hold on both of them. Machetti and Orton pushed Undertaker back, but Undertaker came back and took both Orton and Machetti down with a double clothesline. Undertaker leaned against the ropes when Shawn Michaels suddenly tagged himself into the match, and Taker didn't like it.

HBK went to the corner and climbed onto the top rope, then came off with a diving elbow to the chest of Orton. Shawn then went to the corner and started tuning up the band, when all hell broke lose.

Edge came over and went off on Shawn, while Undertaker and Machetti brawled over by the corner. Batista brawled with Kennedy as Cena came over and went after Edge. Edge and Cena then brawled and Cena ended up knocking Edge out of the ring and down to the floor. Batista then did the same to Kennedy and got out of the ring after him, leaving Orton, Michaels, Undertaker, and Machetti still in the ring. Undertaker knocked Machetti back into the corner and went after Orton, who was on the ground.

Orton got to his feet and glared at Undertaker, then turned around only to see Shawn's foot coming at him. Orton ducked causing Shawn's foot to go over time. Shawn almost hit Undertaker, but Taker caught Shawn's foot then grabbed him by the throat. Taker was about to go for a chokeslam on Shawn when Machetti came over and 'accidentally' knocked down the referee. But Taker grabbed Machetti by the throat looking for the chokeslam.

Suddenly out from under the ring came MVP, who clipped the back of Undertaker's knee. Machetti and MVP smirked at each other as MVP slid out of the ring, Undertaker got up and stormed at MVP and glared at him from the ring. Orton then shoved Shawn, knocking him into Undertaker, while at that moment Machetti pulled down the top rope, causing Taker to fall out onto the floor. Undertaker got up and saw Shawn and didn't like it, then MVP tried attack him from behind, but Undertaker turned around and scared the crap out of MVP, who turned and ran, jumped over the barricade and ran through the fans.

Meanwhile in the ring, Orton grabbed Shawn and whipped him into the ropes, and as Shawn bounced off of the ropes, Machetti stepped in front of Shawn and hoisted him up for the Flat-Liner, then Orton ran forward and grabbed Shawn's head and drove it down to the mat with an RKO, and while combined with the Flat-Liner, the move looked a lot like a 3D. Orton then went to pin Shawn, while Machetti grabbed the referee and brought him over to Orton and Shawn, where he slowly made the three count, awarding the match to Orton, Machetti, Edge and Kennedy. The later two of which were knocked out cold on the outside courtesy of Cena and Batista.

Machetti and Orton saw Undertaker getting in the ring and quickly bailed from the ring and stood on the ramp. Shawn pulled himself up to his feet and glared at Machetti and Orton, not seeing Undertaker behind him, then when he turned around Undertaker grabbed him by the throat lifted him into the air and slammed him down to the mat with a chokeslam. But then Cena came in and he started going off on Undertaker, but then Batista got in the ring and whipped Cena into the ropes, Undertaker nailed Cena with a big boot, then Batista destroyed him with a Batista Bomb.

From the entrance ramp Orton and Machetti glared at Undertaker and Batista, who stood tall over Cena and Michaels. Machetti looked at Orton and shrugged, everything had gone according to plan. They had won the match, and the opposing team had self destructed. With that Raw went came to an end.

---x---

Sorry I had to take out MVP the way I did, but I had nothing better to do with Machetti on raw this week. There will be another chapter up in a little bit.