*On-Screen Ced will be refered to as Ced and off-screen it will be Cedric or CJ just to give a distinction between the off-screen and on-screen moments.

Friday, October 4th, 2019 – Los Angeles, California

The WWE Intercontinental Champion fresh off his victory against Jaden Sennoa at Clash of Champions had finally returned after a brief vacation away from the Squared Circle. And tonight, he was ready for some completion but tonight was gonna usher in a new era in Smackdown history. Smackdown would be returning to Friday Nights and it would be live on Fox. And as the WWE Intercontinental Champion, it was a chance to prove himself once again.

CJ was laser focused as he made his way into the arena dressed in a grey suit with a black dress shirt underneath with black leather loafers. He had his Beats over his ears listening to Kirk by DaBaby to get him in the mood for competition tonight. He walked straight into the locker room to get dressed for competition.

(!)

Ced was walking through the halls with the Intercontinental Championship on his shoulder. He had frown on his face as he wore his black and blue wresting trunks with his black knee pads and his black boots with his black tape. He also wore his "Ced's Gonna Kill You" shirt. It was originally meant to taunt Jaden Sennoa as his cousin, Samoa Joe had a catchphrase that was remotely the same but surprisingly the shirt caught on even if it still wasn't his original idea.

He was walking until a familiar person caught his eyes making him smirk as he then walked over to him. As he stood behind, Paul Heyman who was smiling as he looked down at his phone while he could hear the fans booing in the arena. Ced cleared his throat making Paul turned around to see Ced. He turned around clearly annoyed by the Intercontinental Champion's presence.

"What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing Paul. I just wanted to introduce myself to you. My name is Ced. And I am the WWE Intercontinental Champion and I'm also Smackdown's most dominant champion."

"Not for long because my client, Brock Lesnar will defeat Randy Orton to become your WWE Champion. Then he will be the most dominant champion on Smackdown." Ced smirked as he heard Paul say this making Paul frown.

"You see it's funny Paul. Brock was just competing for Raw's World Heavyweight Champion a few weeks ago and now he's jumped ship to compete for the WWE Championship. What's the matter Seth Rollins is too much for him now?"

"Seth Rollins was not an issue. He simply caught my client by surprise and rather than give him what he wants. Besides Seth Rollins is no challenge to my client's fury now Randy Orton is more of a worthy challenger. A challenger that you will never be."

"Your little insult don't hurt me Paul. Now if Brock Lesnar wants a challenger tell him to hit me up. I won't deny his challenge."

"If anyone here is gonna challenge Brock. It's gonna be me." said a voice making Ced turn his head to see Drew McIntyre walking into the shot with his briefcase.

"And what makes you think that you're a challenge. I mean let's be real, you can't even lace up my boots on a bad day."

"If you stepping into the ring with me, you're not gonna be able to even touch your boots."

"Well, let's put that to the test, shall we?" Ced said as he stood in Drew's face as the two men locked eyes while their fist clenched as they stared at each other with eyes full of anger.

"Funny thing, I got a message earlier from Triple H and he told me that tonight I get to make one special match for tonight. And tonight, you two men will be going one on one with each other."

"Have fun you two. And Ced if I were you, I would watch my back." Paul chuckled as he walked away while the two men kept their stare down going with neither one backing down.

(!)

"Gallantry (Defining Moments Remix)"

The crowd immediately started to boo as they heard the music of The Scottich Psychopath start playing on the PA System. Drew walked out with his hair covering his face as he had his Money In The Bank in his hands. He snapped his head back as he rose the briefcase up in the air.

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, from Ayr, Scotland. Weighing in at 265 Pounds. Drew McIntyre." Greg Hamilton announced as the crowd booed.

Drew then started to walk down the ramp with a smirk on his face. He climbed up onto the steps and looked around the arena before he entered the ring and rose his briefcase up in the air as his music faded off into the background. Drew stood there with a smirk on his face as he stood there staring at the stage.

Rather than hear Ced's music, live footage from backstage showed on the Titan Tron showing that Ced was heavily involved with a backstage brawl with Baron Corbin. He was incredible gifted athleticism wise and strength wise as he damn near rag dolled Ced against the crates. Ced got up to his feet and was ready to fight back. His shirt was half-way ripped and he was bleeding out of the nose.

"Come on!" Ced shouted as he ran towards him looking to hit him with a jumping strike but Baron caught him and slammed him down on the concrete with a Spinebuster. Ced laid there staring at the ceiling as he groaned in pain. Baron grabbed him and lifted him up into a powerbomb position as he ran towards the crate and dropped Ced on his back on the crates. Looking over at his destruction, he walked away with a smirk as bunch of referees and a medical team came running to the rescue. He looked on before a smirk formed on his face as he then turned around walked away from the carnage as Ced laid there groaning in pain.

(!)

CJ laid on the medical table with an ice pack resting on his ribs as he stared up at the ceiling. He was in so much pain since that attack that was done on him by Baron Corbin. CJ groaned in pain as the Physician came walking into the room with a clipboard in his hands.

"Give me the news Doc." CJ said.

"Alright, I got your scans back and it looks like you have two cracked rips and you're lucky you almost ruptured a kidney. Given your medical history in the past, I recommend 3 weeks of rest and recovery. If you're smart, which you are, then you'll take the full 3 weeks." The Physician said before he then turned around and walked back out leaving CJ to lie there and stare at the ceiling in pain. Corbin didn't know yet but he just started a war.