Monday, April 13th, 2020 – Charlotte, NC

The current WWE Intercontinental Champion stood inside of the gym in his home wearing a black tank top with his black Nike shorts with black compression pants and LeBron 11s "Forging Iron". He had his Beats over his ear listening to J. Cole as he had a frown on his face while the sweat dripped down his face. The time was 10:06, he had been up in the gym since 7 this morning. One of the perks of having a Iron Paradise in your home, you can work out anytime and Cedric was taking full advantage of it.

Last night, he had finally came home after wrapping up SmackDown and doing live events on Saturday. And on Wednesday night, he'll have to ship back out for some live events before going back to SmackDown and doing the same thing all over again.

He started to walk towards his squat rack when he heard his phone ring making him walk on over to the bench, picking up his phone and answering.

"Hello?"

"Answer my damn text dummy!" He heard his older sister yell. His older sister was a agent or manager which everyone you prefer. Basically, she was in charge of doing the business like getting him endorsements, contracts, etc.

"Well, Goodmorning to you too. What's the sitch?"

"Have you been watching Kim Possible again?"

"Yeah, I had to show Baby CJ the good days."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Stop lying. You just wanted to watch Kim Possible."

"Anyway, what do you want?"

"I got you a deal."

"A deal with who?"

"Guess. It's a brand you like."

"You got me a deal with Jordan?"

"No."

"You got me a deal with Nike?"

"No."

"Adidas?"

"No, it's not clothing. And it's not edible. It's something technology based."

"Samsung?"

"No."

"Apple?"

"Kinda."

"Beats?"

"Finally, you guessed right. I hope that child doesn't have your intellect."

"Ha ha ha, very funny."

"I got you the deal. You're gonna be making some big money as well as being sent some custom pairs. And you're gonna be featured prominently within some of their ad campaigns. There's a lot of other stuff but I'll fax the contract over to you and we can go over it together."

"Yeah, that sounds good." And as Cedric was on the phone, he heard his phone ringing in the middle of his phone call seeing that it was his best friend, Denzel "Red" Brown calling.

"Hey Des, I'm gonna have to call you back."

"Okay, Dum-Dum." As Cedric hung up the phone, he answered the phone call from Denzel.

"What's up Dawg?"

"Look bro, I got some news."

"Good news or bad news."

"Amazing."

"Oh shit, it's like that."

"It's like that."

"Okay, what is it?"

"I'm gonna be a dad." Denzel "Red' Brown, a father. The man that always swore that he would never get tied down like his best friend. The same man that said that it would take a thousand bulls just to get his slow down and settle.

"Yoooooo! For real dawg!"

"Yes!"

"Damn! I ain't even know you had a girl!"

"Yeah! I've been seeing her for a few months now. She's a really cute girl. You gotta meet her bro."

"Ain't you the same dude, talking 'bout no girl can tie you down."

"Yeah, yeah. Every guy says that. You've said it."

"I don't remember that but look congrats bro and I'm hoping it's a boy 'cuz baby CJ need a lil baby Red to call his fam. I'm gonna have to call you back dawg."

"Alright bro." Man, today was off to a good start for the 2-time Intercontinental Champion. First off, he was home. Then, he found out he was gonna be the first WWE Superstar in history to be signed to a major brand like Beats on an exclusive deal and then, he found he was gonna be an uncle and that his best friend and brother for life, was gonna have a kid. His day could only get better from here.

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A few minutes later, Cedric walked into the master bedroom looking to get a chance to relax his gym session. He sighed as he placed his phone down on the nightstand next to his bed and walked on into the bathroom seeing his beautiful fiancé standing at the sink staring at her reflection in the mirror.

"Morning babe." She said as she turned her head smiling at him.

"Morning baby." He replied walking towards her giving her a kiss on the cheek as his arms snaked around her waist.

"How was your workout?"

"Pretty good. I got some good news."

"Okay, what is it?"

"I got a deal with Beats."

"That's amazing babe."

"And Red's gonna be a dad."

"Well, that's shocking. I never would've envisioned him as a dad."

"Yeah, I know but I think it's fitting, he needs something like that to keep him grounded. Just like I need you and CJ to keep me grounded. Only god knows, where I would be without you guys."

"Probably cuddled up with some heifer." She said with a bit of jealousy in her voice making Cedric chuckle as he gave her a peck on the neck.

"Well you don't have to worry about that anymore."

"You right but just remember I haven't cut a bitch since high school and for you, I will."

"I don't know if I should be afraid or flattered. I'm not gonna lie, I like this aggressive side."

"Good, just know it's always there."

"Alright, I'm gonna take a shower. I'm a little sweaty after my workout."

"You got enough room for two in there?"

"You know I do."

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Friday, April 17th, 2020 – Cleveland, OH

"Icon" Hits

The WWE Universe in the sold-out Rocket Mortage Fieldhouse cheered as they heard the music of their WWE Intercontinental Champion, Ced. The Champion walked out onto the stage sporting black ring trunks with his ring name on the front and the lion head on the back with both being silver with black pads, boots and tape with a black shirt that had "The Champ is Here" in white with a gold barrier with an arrow pointing down to a printed version of the WWE Intercontinental Championship. He had the Intercontinental Championship resting firmly on his shoulder. The lights in the arena were going in a disarray of colors. He raised the title up in the air as he spit out his water in a mist while the fans cheered.

He nodded along to the beats of his music as he then lowered the title and made his way down the ramp to the squared circle. He walked up the steps and onto the ring apron as he was handed a microphone by the ring crew before entering the ring.

"Icon" Fades

"What's good Cleveland?" Ced said on the mic getting a cheap pop from the WWE Universe as he smiled.

"So, this is The Land. Believe land as some people like to call it. I arrived in The Land this morning and the first thing that I hear is: Ced, how are you gonna respond to what Sami Zayn said? And if you haven't heard then look to the 'tron."

-Replay-

Sami Zayn stood backstage after his Fatal 4-Way in the interview area as he looked on with a frown with a microphone in hand.

"Ced is nothing more than lucky bastard. The only reason that he even stands with the Intercontinental Championship is because he's kissed enough ass around here to get to the top while guys like me have had to work twice as hard just to make it on the card. At Money in the Bank all of that will change."

-Replay Ends-

"Sami, I love the passion you got there. I love it. It's something that I hope you bring to our title match at Money in the Bank. That same energy. That same passion that you have, I have twice as much. I have scratched and clawed my way back to this title and I'll be damned if I allow a man like you to take this away from me. I-" Ced was saying but was cut off as he heard the music of none other than former WWE Intercontinental Champion, Curtis Axel.

"Reborn" Hits

Curtis Axel walked out onto the stage with arrogance as he had a microphone in hand.

"Reborn" Stops

"Ced, you talk a big talk but the question is can you walk the walk? I've finally cut the dead weight that is Bo Dallas and I am for one am ready to return back to my perfect form and it starts by getting back what you have on your shoulder and if I beat you like I know I can then I will be next in line for that."

"I tell you what why don't you step inside this ring lock it up and if you beat me you'll get a title match next week but if I beat, you take your ass right back to the back and earn yourself a title match by winning matches."

Ced said as he dropped the mic and took off his shirt throwing it in the crowd. Axel stood on the outside looking at Ced while Ced stood in the ring taunting Curtis Axel as SmackDown went on commercial break.

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Ding-Ding-Ding!

Ced and Curtis Axel locked it up in the center of the ring with Ced getting the advantage, pushing Axel into the corner. The referee counted getting both men to break the lock-up and back up with both men talking trash. Axel ran towards Ced again with Ced taking him down with a side headlock takedown. The Young Champion wrenched it on the head that is until Curtis Axel had gotten his legs wrapped around the neck of Ced with a hiplock. The shoulders were done.

1, Kickout at 1. Both men got back up to their feet and Ced ran towards Axel and was taken down with a side headlock takedown. The shoulders were down.

1, Kickout at 1. Both men got back up to their feet and Ced had jumped up and hit Axel in the jaw with a dropkick making him roll on to the outside of the ring. The fans in the arena cheered as Ced stood in the ring and told Axel to bring it on. Axel climbed up onto the ring apron and Ced walked towards him and snapped his neck on the ropes making him back up and turn his back to him. Axel slid under the bottom rope and ran into the ring grabbed Ced's head and dragging him into the corner to smash his head into a turnbuckle. Ced slouched in the corner as Axel took his time piling in punch after punch till the referee pulled him off. Axel walked back to the corner and Ced grabbed Axel by the neck and threw him into the corner instead and rocked him with him an uppercut.

Ced checked his mouth for bleeding before he turned to look at Axel and ran towards him clotheslining him in the corner. As Axel fell down to the knees, Ced hopped up on the middle turnbuckle and waited for Axe to get up to his feet. Axel up to his feet turned around right into a blockbuster from Ced. Ced with the hook of the leg.

1…

2, Axel powered out at 2. Ced grabbed Axel and got him up to his feet and nailed him with a right-hand making Axel stumble into the ropes. Ced whipped Axel into the ropes. As Curtis came off the ropes, Ced tried to clothesline him but Axel ducked it and went to the ropes and was dropped with a High Knee as he rebounded off the ropes. The Champion watched as Axel had rolled off to the corner, he placed a hand on the ropes as he checked his mouth for bleeding.

The Champion ran towards Axel looking to attack him in the corner but the son of Mr. Perfect had other ideas and moved out of the way making Ced stop in the corner while Curtis Axel had got up to his feet and Ced walked towards him swinging his right hand looking for a right hook but Axel ducked it and caught Ced with a neckbreaker. Curtis Axel looked around at the WWE Universe as Ced was down on the mat feeling the effects of his neck colliding with the canvas. The former Intercontinental Champion rose up to his feet making sure to grab Ced and lifted him up to his feet. Curtis Axel was struck by surprise as Ced had lifted him up on his shoulders almost out of nowhere and dropped with the Deathbomb. Ced with the hook of the leg.

1…

2…

3...

Ding-Ding-Ding!

"Icon" Plays

Ced rose up to his feet and looked around at the WWE Universe as the referee raised Ced's arm in victory. Ced raised up both of his arms with a frown.

"Here is your winner: Ced!" And just as Ced was being handed his title, HE WAS ATTACKED FROM BEHIND BY CESARO AND SHINSUKE NAKAMURA. Cesaro stomped down on the Intercontinental Champion as Shinsuke backed up into the corner looking on. Cesaro grabbed Ced and threw him into the steel ring post making him scream out in agony as he came stumbling out of the corner before BEING DROPPED WITH A KINSHASA.

The WWE Universe booed as the two men looked down enjoying their handy work but Cesaro wasn't finished. He grabbed the Intercontinental Champion and hit him with the NEUTRALIZER IN THE CENTER OF THE RING.

The two superstars looked down on their work before leaving the ring with a smile on their faces as they walked up the ramp in a chorus of boos.

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Friday, April 24th, 2020 – Omaha, NE

The current #1 Contender for the WWE Intercontinental Champion strolled through the back with a smile on his face as he had his boys, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura behind him. They were all joking around, conversing about Money in the Bank. Sami wanted to finally win his first singles title on the main roster and he wanted the Intercontinental Championship and he had a shot coming up at the upcoming Pay-Per-View.

"Alright look guys, I got a match. There's no need to be a ringside tonight, so take the night off." Samy said as he continued on while Cesaro and Shinsuke looked on watching as he walked off.

"Well, I guess we got the night-" Cesaro was saying but was quickly shut down as a chair slammed into the back making him drop down as he felt the stinging sensation of a steel chair.

Behind him stood Ced with a steel chair wearing black jeans with a black Triple H "Game Over?!" shirt with boots. Ced took the time to strike Shinsuke in the gut with the chair as he turned around. The chair was then slammed over his back dropping him down to the ground/

"The pain you two are in. Remember that. So next time you think to get involved in me and Sami's business, think about this." He dropped the chair and continued on making his way to deal with the former NXT Champion.

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Sami Zayn stood in the corner waiting for his opponent to get into the corner to hit the Helluva Kick.

"Icon" Hits

The WWE Intercontinental Champion walked out onto the stage looking on with a frown as he carried the white and gold strap. He stared down in the ring as Sami looked on with a look of fear.

"Icon" Fades

Ced dropped the title up on the stage and ran down the ramp and slid under the bottom rope taking Sami down.

Ding-Ding-Ding!

Ced quickly popped up to a vertical base. Sami went for a clothesline but Ced ducked it and ran to the ropes and when he popped off the ropes, he took Sami down with a SPEAR NEARLY CUTTING HIM IN HALF. The fans in Omaha were cheering as their hero just took down his #1 Contender.

"See ya at Money in the Bank!" Ced then rolled under the bottom rope and continued making his way up the ramp. He picked up the title off the stage and raised it up in the air getting more cheers.