Chapter 11: A Quick Scare

Tuesday, September 20th, 2016 - No Mercy: 19 Days Away - Birmingham, Alabama

James stood up in the male locker room adjusting his kickpads. He wore the same gear that he wore at Summerslam along with one of his t-shirts. The one thing on his mind at the moment: the Intercontinental Championship. It was a Championship that meant so much to him not because he held it but because of the history behind the title. It was a title that so many had held before him and it was a title that only the greats have held. Greats like The Rock. Greats like Stone Cold Steve Austin. Greats like Shawn Michaels. Just to name a few and now his name would be featured on this list of greats. It was only the first step to one of his ultimate goals. Becoming a Grand-Slam Champion in WWE. And become the greatest WWE Superstar of all-time.

"Hey man, don't worry, you'll get the strap back." Jon said to James snapping him out of his trance.

"What?"

"You had that look on your face. That worried look. Don't worry you'll get your baby back." James chuckled at Jon's statement while Randy Orton looked at the two shaking his head while snickering.

"I just hope I get out of this storyline with Windham. It's starting to get repetitive and the fans are getting bored. And quite frankly, I'm getting bored. Where's my tape?" Randy said as looked around in his bag for his tape.

"Here just use mine." James said as he grabbed the tape from his bag and tossed it to Randy who caught it.

"Thanks man." Randy said.

"No prob. And tell your wife I thank her for the Chicken Lasagna." James said as he got up and walked out of the locker room but not before patting Randy on the back as Randy chuckled.

"You brought him Lasagna but not me." Jon said as he looked at Randy with an offended look on his face. Randy chuckled, shaking his head.

Minutes Later - Smackdown Live

"Bully" Hits

Zack Mercer walked out onto the stage with the entrance video being the only video on in the arena while all the lights were currently off within the arena. He raised his index fingers and middle fingers up in the air as the lights of the arena came back on and began going back and forth between purple and white. He then started walking down the ramp slapping the hands of the fans until he reached the ringside area.

Once he reached the ringside area he looked around at the crowd once more with a smile. He walked around the ringside area to the ring and got up onto the ring apron similar to the Miz's style. He held onto the middle rope while he raised up his index finger and middle finger with his other hand. He got up to his feet and entered the ring before went over to the turnbuckle and did his pose over again while the fans cheered loudly.

He jumped down from the ropes and walked along the ropes receiving a microphone from the ring crew while his music faded away.

"Bully" Fades

Zack put the mic up to his mouth but the fans cut him off with their loud cheering. Zack chuckled as he lowered the mic while he looked around.

"Birmingham, How you doin?" Zack said on the mic as the fans cheered louder than before while he smiled looking around.

"It's official in 19 Days, I will step into this ring with The Miz and get back what is rightfully mine and that is the Intercontinental Championship." Zack said as he looked into the crowd with a smile.

"Last week, The Miz called me a joke. He said that my career was a joke. He proceeded to talk about my career and talk about me. And then he wanted to talk about my family. There's a few things you don't do to Zack Mercer: you don't touch my AC/DC tapes, you don't touch my Metallica tapes and you don't talk to my family ever."

"Tonight, I'm gonna be watching very closely tonight. The Miz is going to be going one on one with Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship right here in the middle of this ring later tonight."

"And tonight I have been banned from ringside unfortunately. And also banned from commentating." Zack said on the mic as the fans booed at this.

"Now as much as I want The Miz to be the guy that I take this title off of, I have to entertain the notion that Dolph Ziggler may win but let me say this at No Mercy I'm going to get what's mine and there ain't a damn thing that anybody can do about it whether it be The Miz or whether it be Dolph Ziggler, I'm getting-"

Zack was saying until he was cut off by a certain superstar's music.

"Superhuman" Hits

Baron Corbin walked out onto the stage wearing his ring gear along with a microphone in his hand. Zack walked up to the ropes and leaned up against them while Baron walked halfway down the ramp while the fans booed him.

"Superhuman" Stops

"Zack, do everyone a favor and shut up. No one wants to hear you talk about getting what's yours 'cause the truth is that title was never yours. It was simply mine put on layaway. And I've come to collect. 'Cause when I beat you, I will become the new #1 Contender and face The MIz for what's mine." Baron said on the mic.

"Are you done now? Are you done? Great. Look you might as well send down a referee and make this official 'cause we all know how this is gonna go." Zack said as he threw his mic down and then took off shirt and threw it out in the crowd while the fans cheered.

Minutes Later - Smackdown Live

DDD!

The bell rang as Smackdown Live was just coming off commercial break while Zack Mercer and Baron Corbin circled around the ring that is until they locked it up in a collar elbow tie up. Corbin kneed Mercer in the gut before he hit Zack with a forearm making him take a few steps back. Corbin with another forearm that sent Zack Mercer leaning up against turnbuckle in the corner. Corbin walked towards Mercer only for Zack to grab Corbin and switch places on him before he hit a chop across the chop of Baron Corbin making the fans "Woo". Corbin howled in pain as he clutched the top rope and leaned down. Zack made him stand straight back up to chop him across the chop making the fans "Woo" again. Zack backed up a few steps and tried to run towards Corbin but Corbin walked out of the corner and grabbed Zack by the throat with both hands. He then grunted as he spun around and threw Mercer into the corner.

Corbin with repeated forearm shots to the face of Zack Mercer before he grabbed Zack and set him up in a suplex position. Baron Corbin with a Vertical Suplex putting Zack flat on his back. Quickly into the cover.

1…..

2, Mercer powers out at 2. Mercer sat up with a hand feeling on his mouth for damage. Corbin chuckled as he walked towards Mercer and kicked him in the back making him drop down on the mat. Baron Corbin walked towards his opponent and grabbed him by the hair lifting him up now. Corbin with a series of right hands to Mercer before he finished him off with an uppercut causing Mercer to drop down once more. Mercer rolled over onto his gut and then started to get into a crawling position. Corbin yelled as he ran towards Mercer and kicked him in the gut making him flip over while he groaned. Corbin taunted to the crowd while this allowed Mercer to crawl towards the ropes and pull himself up using the top rope. When he got up to his feet he placed a hand on his abdomen area while Baron had turned around. Corbin ran towards Zack and tried to clothesline him but Mercer ducked under Baron's arm and ran towards the ropes across the ring. When Baron turned around Mercer took him down with a sling blade. Mercer made it up to his feet and leaned up against the ropes.

Mercer walked towards Corbin and placed him flat on his back before he hopped up and dropped an elbow across the chest of Baron Corbin. Mercer into the cover.

1…..

2, Kickout at 2 by Baron Corbin. Baron Corbin had gotten up to a kneeling position and this allowed Mercer to run towards him and drop him with a dropkick before he ran to the ropes and attempted to do a springboard moonsault but Corbin held both knees up. Mercer held onto his abdomen area as he lifted himself back up and held his back to Corbin. Corbin got up to his feet and put Zack into a Back Suplex hold only for Zack Mercer to flip over and then dropped Corbin backfirst on the knees of Zack Mercer with a Double Knee Backbreaker. Zack got up to his feet and walked towards the turnbuckle and climbed up the turnbuckle before he positioned himself on the top rope. He then jumped off the top rope with a frog splash. The impact caused Zack to flip over onto his back after the impact as he clutched his ribs in pain. He then crawled over into the cover and covered Baron Corbin.

1…..

2, Kickout at 2 by Baron Corbin as Zack sat up and put his face into his palms. He then turned his head and looked at Baron Corbin before he shook his head and got back up to his feet. He grabbed Baron Corbin by the hair and was pulling him up when he heard a certain superstar's music.

"I Came To Play" Hits

Zack let go of Baron Corbin and turned around and walked towards the ropes. He expected to see The Miz as his music played but he didn't. He then turned around and walked straight into the End of Days by Baron Corbin.

"I Came To Play" Stops

Baron Corbin with the hook of the leg.

1…..

2…..

3…..

DDD!

"Superhuman" Hits

"Here is your winner: Baron Corbin!" Greg Hamilton announced as Baron got up to his feet. The referee raised his arm up in victory as Baron Corbin looked at Zack Mercer. As Baron celebrated Zack could be seen leaning up against the barricade with his hands running through his hair.

Thursday, September 22nd, 2016 - No Mercy: 17 Days Away - Atlanta, Georgia

Live Event

"Bully" Hits

"And his opponent from Las Vegas, Nevada. Weighing in at 227 Pounds. "The Las Vegas Ace" Zack Mercer!" JoJo announced.

Zack Mercer walked out onto the stage with entrance video being the only the video on in the arena while all the lights were currently off within the arena. He raised his index

fingers and middle fingers up in the air as the lights of the arena came back on and began going back and forth between purple and white. He was dressed in his purple and black tights with his signature vest.

"Atlanta, How you doin?" Zack asked as he walked to the right side of the stage and pointed into the crowd. He then turned around and walked to the left side of the stage and pointed into the crowd. He walked back to the center stage and looked around in the crowd.

"Let's go it's Mercer Time baby!" Zack Mercer yelled as he walked down the ramp slapping the hands of the fans in the front row. Once he reached the ringside area he looked around at the crowd once more with a smile. He walked around the ringside area to the ring and got up onto the ring apron similar to the Miz's style. He held onto the middle rope while he raised up his index finger and middle finger with his other hand. He got up to his feet and entered the ring before went over to the turnbuckle and did his pose over again while the fans cheered loudly.

He jumped down from the ropes and walked towards the center of the ring as Dolph Ziggler stood on the outside getting his mind right for the match.

"Bully" Fades

He took off his vest and threw it on the outside as Dolph Ziggler entered the ring before the referee called for the bell.

Ding-Ding-Ding!

Zack and Dolph stood across the ring from each other looking each other down trying to get a feel of their opponent before they circled around the ring and locked it up. Zack got the advantage and locked on a side headlock on Dolph Ziggler squeezing on the head of Dolph Ziggler who's hair was up in a ponytail. Zack smiled as Dolph backed him up against the ropes and pushed him off and sent him into the ropes on his own.

As Zack rebounded off the ropes he came back and tried to clothesline Dolph Ziggler only for Dolph to duck under it. When Zack turned around he was taken down with a side headlock takedown. Dolph squeezed down on the head of Zack Mercer while Zack grunted. Zack was somehow able to lock on a facelock using the legs that is until Dolph somehow managed to get out of the hold and this made both men pop back up. Zack went back to Dolph and locked on a side headlock takedown. Dolph was able to quickly reverse the hold to where he was able to lock on a facelock using his legs.

Dolph smiled as he watched Zack squirm. Zack somehow managed to do a headstand making Dolph's face turn into a frown while the fans cheered at Zack's athleticism. Zack kipped to his feet before he hit Dolph with a low angle dropkick to the face before he went for the cover.

1…..

2, Kick Out at 2 by Dolph Ziggler as he sat up while Zack ran to the ropes and when he came back he kicked Dolph right in his back making him drop down on his back. Zack jumped up and looked for a knee drop but Dolph was up to get up to his feet before he ran to the ropes and when he came back he dropped Zack with a knee lift to the face making Zack drop on his back this time. Dolph checked his mouth for bleeding before he walked over to pick up Zack Mercer by the head and neck before he hit Zack with a right hand that made Zack stumble back. Dolph with another well placed right hand to the head that sent Zack stumbling into the corner. Dolph walked over to the corner and chopped him across the chop making him howl out in pain before Dolph whipped him across the ring only for Zack to jump up onto the turnbuckle and flip over while Dolph hit the turnbuckle chest first.

The fans cheered loudly while the men in the ring had shaken hands out of respect for each other while they both tried catching their breath.

They then circled around the ring once more with smiles on their face while Dolph went for a tie up yet Zack ducked it and went around to look on a waistlock. Zack was looking to lift Dolph up for a Suplex yet he was elbowed in the face making him drop him back down on his feet yet keep the hold locked on. Dolph switched the hold around and tried to German Suplex Zack this time but Zack flipped over onto his feet and when Dolph turned around he was dropped with a Jumping Enziguri to the back of the head. Zack quickly into the cover.

1…..

2, Kick Out at 2 by Dolph Ziggler. Zack this time grabbed Dolph by the head and neck only for Dolph to push him off and hit him with a stellar looking Dropkick that sent Zack down to his back. Dolph allowed Zack to get up to a knee before he ran towards him and dropped him with a knee to the side of the head. Dolph panting for his breath walked over to Zack and started to stomp down on him that is until Zack had sat up. Dolph dropped Zack with a well placed kick to the spine that made Zack drop on his spine. Dolph taunted to the crowd as he then jumped up and tried an elbow drop on the chest but Zack moved out of the way and allowed Dolph's elbow to hit the mat. Dolph got up to his feet while he held his elbow in pain.

Zack grabbed Dolph by the arm and put him down in a submission with a Fujiwara armbar. Zack kept the hold locked on as the fans clapped along and cheered while Zack rocked his head back and forth. Dolph screamed out loud as he reached out for the ropes. Dolph using his strength was able to pull himself closer to the ropes. He reached out for the ropes once more and was able to put his hand on the ropes and break the hold. Zack let go of the hold immediately and dragged Dolph back to the center of the ring by the leg. He quickly lunged forward and tried to lock on a crossface but Dolph was able to lock his hands together before Dolph hit him with a series elbow to the face until he let go of the hold. Both men were able to get up to their feet and then start to go back and forth with elbows to the face. That is until Zack got the advantage and went to the ropes. When he came back off Dolph jumped up and caught Zack slipping with a jumping clothesline that sent Zack flat on his back.

Dolph got up to his feet and grabbed Zack by the head and neck pulling him up to his feet and this allowed Zack to hit Dolph with a forearm giving him space. Zack ran towards the ropes and jumped up onto the top rope attempting a springboard but when he landed he felt an immense pain in his his right knee. A pain that he had never really felt before. A pain that caused him to fall down to a knee. Dolph looked on at Zack noticing how he was struggling to even get up to his feet.

"Dolph, Finish the match!" Zack shouted at Dolph as he used damn near all the strength he could pssobly have to even be bent over. Zack limped over to the ropes before Dolph ran towards him and took him down with his Zig-Zag. Dolph immediately covered Zack while Zack screamed out in pain for his knee.

1…..

2…..

3…..

"Here to show the World" Hits

"Here is your winner: Dolph Ziggler!" JoJo announced as the referee raised the arm of Dolph Ziggler while the fans gave a mixed reaction some cheered while some booed. They expected a whole lot more from these two. The two performers in the ring expected a whole lot more from each other but when a performer's body isn't up to par and isn't willing to allow that type of performance you have to be able to adapt and that's what happened with Zack's knee.

Zack rolled out of the ring and managed to crawl over to the barricade while Ziggler celebrated in the ring. Zack reached for the barricade and grunted as he pulled himself up and hoppled along using the barricade to help him. Some of the fans cheered as they saw him walking but the disappointment on his mind blocked all of that away.

Minutes Later - Medical Examiners Room

James sat on a medical table with an ice pack on his knee. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion for him and he was afraid. It was like out there in the ring his entire career had just flashed before his eyes. Fortnately Lexi hadn't got the news yet cause she'd been focused on her match.

There was a knock at the door before it had opened making James look up to the door. Once the door fully opened that look turned to a frown. One of the last people that he wanted to ever see him hurt had walked through the door.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as Cassie walked through the door clad in a pair of jeans with a pair of slip-on white vans and one of James' t-shirts.

"I came here to surprise you, I was in the crowd. I quickly rushed back here once I saw you were hurt. Are you okay?"

"I'm better than I was earlier, it doesn't hurt as much."

"Anything serious?" She asked.

"No, thankfully."

"Oh thank god. James, I was so worried and scared."

"Me too. Everything flashed right before my eyes. I saw my push disappear in a flash, I saw everything I had ever worked for just gone. And I-" Cassie shushed him once she saw tears began to stream down his face. Cassie knew how much wrestling meant to James. How much his career meant to him. Everyone knew that Zack Mercer was apart of James' life, in fact, Zack Mercer may have been his life. James' loved her and she loved him but Zack Mercer, he loved that ring, no matter if it loved him back or it didn't. Either way, he loved Professional Wrestling.

"It's okay. It was just a scare. What'd the doctor say?"

"He told me take it easy for the next 2 weeks, no working out, no wrestling, nothing that would put any physical stress on my knee."

"What caused it?"

"Too much stress on it, too much weight. Turns out you were right, I should take an ice bath after my workouts." He joked making her chuckle as she shook her head giggling.

"So we're gonna go home and I'm gonna take care of you."

"Cass, you don't have to-" He saying but she put a finger up to his lips.

"But I want to." She said, making him smile as he sat up and grabbed both of her hands holding them as his thumb caressed her skin on her hands. She smiled leaning in to give him a quick peck on the lips. Even given the situation at the moment, things were great. Life was good.

A/N: So I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter. I know some may not like since there's no Lexi in this chapter but she'll make an appearance next chapter or the one after that. She'll be in the next one soon.

This is the ZackAttack signing out!

Peace!