Friday, August 7th, 2020
SmackDown
And it was just a week removed from last week's smackdown where the first-round matches of the 2020 King of the Ring tournament took place. The first match on the SmackDown side of things was Ced taking on last year's winner, Baron Corbin in a winning effort. Kane took on Sami Zayn in a match that left the WWE Universe in awe as Kane had returned in a dominant fashion with Kane taking the victory. Elias took on Big E with Big E getting the win and finally in a great match, Sheamus took on AJ Styles with AJ picking up the win.
Last week, over on the Raw side of things, Ricochet took on Angel Garza getting the victory. Rey Mysterio took on Seth Rollins with Seth advancing in the tournament. Randy Orton took on Dolph Ziggler in a match that damn near stole the show with Randy hitting the RKO for the win. And Apollo Crews took on Lashley with Lashley overpowering Apollo to pick up the victory.
Now this past Monday night on Raw, it was a bit different. Ricochet took on Seth Rollins a classic with Ricochet picking up the victory surprisingly over the former World Champion. Orton took on Lashley with Orton getting the victory meaning that tomorrow night live on the WWE Network, Ricochet would take on Randy Orton in the semi-finals for the Raw side.
And tonight, on SmackDown, it would be Ced taking on Kane in what could possibly be a great showcase for Ced being able to work with a talented veteran master like Kane. And Big E would be taking on AJ Styles tonight live on SmackDown.
Currently the man who would suit against "The Big Red Machine" walked around backstage taping up his wrist with black tape. He had black trunks with his ring name and his logo with a silver outline. He wore a tank-top version of his "Ced's gonna kill ya" shirt.
There was a lot on the young, 23-year old's mind. His career, his family, the wedding. It was just a collection of things that all seemed to have the young man's mind occupied.
"Hey CJ, you okay?" Cedric heard making him look up from the ground seeing Mercedes in her ring gear carrying her title on her shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm good. Just got a lot on my mind."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"Nah, Merecedes I'm good. Thank you though."
"No problem but if you do change your mind and wanna talk then you can find me over in catering." She said as she started walking away to catering leaving Cedric there alone.
"Hey Ced, you're up next." said a stagehand making Cedric let out a deep exhale before following the stagehand to the guerilla position to make his entrance and get his match on.
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"Icon" Hits
The WWE Universe cheered as the music of WWE's Young Star walked out onto the stage looking down at the arena floor as the lights in the arena were going in a random disarray of colors.
"The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is a Quarter-Final match in the 2020 King of the Ring tournament. Introducing first, making his way to the ring, from Charlotte, North Carolina. Weighing in at 250 Pounds. Ced!"
Ced looked up from the stage floor and spit out his water in the form of a mist before he started making his way down the ramp with a frown. Once he reached the ringside area, he looked around at the fans before he walked around to the steel steps. He ran up the steps and entered the ring making a beeline to the corner. He stepped up on the middle turnbuckle and did his pose getting cheers from the fans.
"Veil of Fire" Hits
The fans in the arena cheered for Ced's opponent as the lights in the arena went to a red lighting while the graphics turned to Kane's fiery graphics. Kane walked out onto his stage locking eyes with Ced.
"And his opponent, making his way to the ring, Weighing in at 323 Pounds. Kane!" Kane walked down the ramp full of anger with a mind focused on destruction. Once he got ringside, he grabbed onto the ropes and used them to pull him up on the apron. He then climbed over the ropes and stood in the center of the ring. Kane raised his arms in the air and quickly brought them down as fire came out of the ring post. He then backed up into the corner and looked around the arena at the fans before locking eyes with his opponent as his music faded off into the background.
Ding-Ding-Ding!
The fans in the arena cheered at the match that had a Big Match Feel to it. Ced vs Kane. The Young Lion vs The Old Lion. "Young Simba" as he dubbed himself vs "The Big Red Machine".
Ced and Kane walked towards each other to meet face to face in the center of the ring. Ced was the first to throw a punch as Kane fired back with a punch of his own. Both men then started to trade punches back and forth until Kane got the bigger hand with an uppercut making him drop down to a knee before he got back up to his feet. Kane with another right hand making him stumble into the corner. Kane whipped Ced across the ring making him collide back-first with the turnbuckle. Ced used that momentum from the collision to hit Kane with a clothesline putting him flat on his back.
Kane didn't stay down long as the big man had gotten back up to feet. Ced with several shots to the face of Kane putting him on the ropes. Ced tried to whip Kane into the ropes but Kane reversed it sending Ced to the ropes. When Ced came back off the ropes, Kane was ready and put Ced on his back with a back body drop. Ced got up to his feet holding his back as Kane had scooped him out and put him down before backing up into the ropes and using that extra momentum to jump up and hit Ced with a big elbow drop with a 323 Pound frame dropping onto the body of Ced. Kane with the hook of the leg.
1….
TWO-NO, Ced powered out at 2. As Ced kicked out, Kane smiled as he was ready to inflict more punishment on Ced. Kane grabbed Ced by the head and neck and hit him with an uppercut making Ced stumble back into the corner. The 23-year old man dubbed "Young Simba" stood in the corner as Kane came running in at full hitting Ced with a corner clothesline, Kane whipped him across the ring and ran towards him again clotheslining him in the corner. Kane whipped him across the ring and ran towards him clotheslining him in the corner. Kane whipped him across the ring once more and ran towards him clotheslining him again. As Ced came stumbling out of the corner, Kane grabbed him and put him down with a sidewalk slam. Kane looked at Ced and started to chuckle sadistically as he was punishing "Young Simba".
"The Big Red Machine" got up to his feet and backed up into the ropes and hopped up and as he came down, he struck across the throat of Ced with a leg drop making Ced clutch his throat as he rolled around on the mat.
Ced rolled over to the ropes and started to use them to get up to his feet. He leaned up against the ropes as he told Kane to 'bring it'. Kane ran towards Ced and tried to clothesline Ced but he was flipped over the top rope but Kane held onto the top rope and used them to pull himself onto the apron as Ced ran to the ropes. "Young Simba" came off the ropes and flew through the ropes with a SPEAR THROUGH THE ROPES SENDING HIM AND KANE CRASHING TO THE ARENA FLOOR.
The WWE Universe were cheering as Ced and Kane both laid on the outside with both men panting for their breath. As the referee's count got to 4, Ced had gotten up to his feet and ran into the ring sliding under the bottom rope entering the ring. Ced ran back to the ropes as Kane had gotten up to his feet. CED FLYING THROUGH THE ROPES PUSHING KANE BACK FIRST INTO THE BARRICADE.
Ced sat up against the barricade looking around the arena shaking his head as he grabbed Kane by the head and neck and threw him into the ropes under the bottom rope. Ced was fired up as he was back into the match. It was now his time to fight back and stood in the corner waiting for Kane to get up to his feet as the fans cheered and clapped their hands getting into the match. Kane rose up to his feet groggily still feeling the effects of Ced's assault. Kane turned around and Ced ran towards Kane looking for a spear but Kane with a boot to the face stopping Ced in his tracks. Ced crawled into the corner and rested on the bottom turnbuckle. Kane stomped away on the chest.
Kane brought Ced up to his feet and put him up on his shoulders looking for the powerslam but Ced had managed to get out of the hold and push Kane into the ropes. As Kane rebounded off the ropes, Ced put him down with a Double C Spinebuster. Ced with the hook of the leg.
1…
TW-NO, Kane powered at 2. Ced was in shock as Kane kicked out of the Double C Spinebuster. Ced had gotten up to his feet and backed up in the corner shaking his head looking to the WWE Universe for support. Kane sat up much like his brother, The Undertaker making Ced look in shock as Kane then got up to his feet. Ced ran towards Kane but stopped as Kane wrapped his hand around his throat and lifted him up and HE WAS DROPPED IN THE RING WITH A CHOKESLAM!
1...
2….
THR-NO KICK OUT FROM CED. No one in the arena could believe it, somehow, Ced had kicked out of the Chokeslam before the three. The Big Red Machine was ready to end as he grabbed Ced and lifted him up onto his shoulder looking for the Tombstone Piledriver but Ced had gotten off and waited as Kane turned around. Ced LIFTED KANE UP ON HIS SHOULDERS AND PUT HIM DOWN WITH THE DEATHBOMB. COVER.
1….
2….
3….
Ding-Ding-Ding!
"Icon" Plays
"Here is your winner: Ced!" Ced smiled as he rose up to his feet while his music hit the PA System. He raised his arms smiling with the realization that on Sunday he would be in the Semi-Finals against the winner of AJ Styles vs Big E and he was just a bit closer to his ultimate goal which was winning the tournament and going on to face EC3 at SummerSlam. And at he had go through the King of the Ring event live on Sunday to do so.