Raging Storm Chapter 7 Raging Storm
Chapter 7: One Step Closer
By: Jay Winger

Note: this is set the Monday after "Chapter 6: Losing Control."

To recap: Stone Cold and Rain arrive at the arena to find a crazed Storm searching the parking lot for Rose's car. Not finding it, he stalks off, heading into his King of the Ring qualifying match against Kurt Angle. Throughout the match, the Storm dominated Angle, but his mind was so clouded with his obsession with Rose that he continually taunted Angle, calling him "Billy" at multiple points. Winning after putting Angle in the Necksnapper, the Storm continued to torture him until he seemed to realize he wasn't actually hurting Rose. Later that night, the Storm had been sent out of the arena to the hotel before Billy Rose's qualifying match against Tazz. Rose did fairly well, putting Tazz in a torture rack submission at one point, then finishing Tazz with a gutwrench cross powerbomb variant. Afterwards, Rose put Tazz in the Deadly Blossom, and Rain ran out to get one back for the Storm. Rose seemed amused by this, but when Rain attacked him again, he put her in the Blossom. Austin ran out to save Rain, Stunnering Rose before taking Rain away. They went back to the hotel, intending to talk some sense into the Storm, but they found his room ransacked and a message spraypainted on the mirror: THE BASTARD'S GONE TOO FAR -- DIE ROSE DIE!!

Teaser: The King of the Ring tournament continues, with both the Storm and Rose moving up and the Storm sinking further into madness.

Rating: R - for violence and profanity

Disclaimer: All things WWF are property of Titan Sports. The characters of Matthew "the Storm" Skinner, Rain, and Billy Rose are completely fictional. I do incorporate a few traits from existing WWF wrestlers, but for the most part, they're my creations.

MONDAY: RAW is WAR, 19 June

The King of the Ring tournament was taking shape. The first round of qualifying matches was over, and the second round was signed and set.

  • The Storm had forced Kurt Angle to tap out to the Necksnapper
  • Haku won over Chaz with the Tongan Death Grip
  • Rikishi squashed D'Lo Brown with the Banzai Drop, much to the dismay of Tiger Ali-Singh, who got a Stink Face after the match
  • Bull Buchanan, the Goodfather, and Val Venis lost to Buh-Buh Ray Dudley, Hardcore Holly, and Steve Blackman respectively.
  • Chris Benoit soundly defeated Edge when he made the other Canadian tap out to the Crippler Crossface.
  • Cobra had defeated Crash with a corkscrew moonsault, then caught Molly Holly with a powerbomb when she attempted to hit the Molly-Go-Round on him.
  • Rattler lost to Big Show, who gave him a monstrous one-armed chokeslam.
  • Viper defeated his cousin Python to advance as well, planting him with his unique facebuster, then a Snake Pit.
  • Al Snow made a good showing against Christian, countering the Unprettier and hitting the Snowplow.
  • Albert gave Big Bossman an Albertbomb
  • Test smacked X-Pac in the face with a big boot.
  • Chris Jericho forced Raven to tap out to the Walls of Jericho
  • Eddie Guerrero defeated his Radicalz partner Perry Saturn with a Frog Splash.
  • Billy Rose pinned Tazz following his unique cross powerbomb.
And so the tournament brackets had taken shape:
  • The Storm v. Haku
  • Rikishi v. Buh-Buh Ray Dudley
  • Hardcore Holly v. Steve Blackman
  • Chris Benoit v. Cobra
  • Big Show v. Viper
  • Al Snow v. Albert
  • Test v. Chris Jericho
  • Eddie Guerrero v. Billy Rose
Now all that remained was for the competitors to last long enough to get to the PPV.

* * *

A long stretch limo pulled up in the arena's parking area. Within, Shane McMahon sat with his small "faction" -- Billy Rose, Kurt Angle, and Edge & Christian. Rose looked out the limo's tinted windows uneasily. He turned to Shane. "You sure that Skinner hasn't arrived yet?"

"Yeah," Shane said. "I called before we left the hotel. I had the Sarge and the security guys check to make sure he wasn't around. He'll be here later -- he has to, since we signed his King of the Ring qualifier for tonight -- but he's not here now. And we'll make sure we're nowhere near here when he shows up."

Rose nodded and ran a hand through his hair as he looked out the windows again. "Jeezus," he muttered. "I think Skinner's lost it."

"Yeah, totally!" Christian said. "The guy's battier than a belfry, man!"

"Yeah," Edge chimed in. "Totally 'to the Batcave!'"

"'Holy nucking futs, Batman!'"

The two Canadians laughed as Kurt looked at Rose. "Just relax, Billy. The Storm may be crazy, but he isn't stupid. With Shane-O Mac and Team ECK backing you up, he won't try anything against you tonight." He shared a look with Shane, who nodded. "And that, my friend, is true."

Rose didn't reply for a minute, just looking out the window, then jerked a bit. He scrambled away from his seat and out the other door, followed quickly by Shane, who had looked out the window shortly after. Outside, coming roaring down the ramp into the lot in a black Honda Civic, making a beeline right for them, was the Storm. Kurt, Edge, and Christian quickly ran out after Shane and Billy as the Honda smashed into the side of the limo, glass shattering.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Rose shouted at him as the Storm backed up and prepared to ram the limo again. "Are you crazy?"

"Man, talk about road rage," Christian said as they beat tracks to the VIP room.

Just seconds after they'd left, the Storm got out of his near-totaled car and pulled out a metal baseball bat, which he started bashing the limousine with, his face wild with a feral nature unprecedented. As security men started entering, the Storm grabbed his duffel bag out of his car and stalked through the guards, screaming, "ROSE!"

* * *

Rose paced in the VIP room, his emotions a boiling mixture of fear and anger. Edge & Christian watched him while Christian searched his pockets for his kazoo. "Hey, just calm down, man," Edge said. "We'll play you some kazoo music to relax you... soon as Christian finds his kazoo. Where'd you put that thing anyway?"

"I had it in my pocket when we left the hotel," his brother replied. "Maybe that reekazoid of a bellboy picked my pocket."

Edge quickly checked his own pockets, then muttered, "Man, that lame-oid stole my wallet!"

"Check your bags, guys," Kurt said as he cleaned off his gold medals. "Maybe you just forgot where you put 'em."

"I swear," Rose said, "I think Skinner's gone off the fucking deep end."

"Maybe you shouldn't have hurt his woman," Kurt offered.

"Seriously, Billy," Shane said, "I don't think attacking Rain was a good idea."

"Hey, the goddamn bitch attacked me," Rose said. "I was just giving her what-for."

"Even so..."

"Shh, quiet," Kurt said, pointing at the monitor. "His match is starting."

* * *

"The following match is scheduled for one fall, and is for qualification in the King of the Ring tournament!" Tony Chimel announced.

The Islanders' music played over video clips of Haku giving people headbutts and shouting in Tongan. The big-haired Samoan Islander walked out, swinging his hands and shadow-boxing somewhat. "Introducing first, from the Samoan Islands, weighing in at 280 pounds... HAKU!" The wild Tongan climbed into the ring, where he went down on one knee, raising his hands up and staring upwards, then standing and shouting: "Eeeyah!"

Pyros exploded and the Storm abruptly appeared, still carrying his duffel bag, which he dumped at the top of the ramp. He started down the ramp, dropping his ugly-stick outside the ring. "And his opponent, from Dallas, Texas, weighing in at 239 pounds... THE STORM!"

The Force of Nature slid into the ring and grappled with the larger Haku, who was pushed back against the ropes by the sheer force behind the Storm's actions. The Storm began pounding the Islander with fists and forearms, then moved to whip him across the ring. Haku reversed it, however, and sent the Storm into the ropes. The Storm came off with a dropkick to the head, but rather than knock the man down, Haku merely staggered back, a tad stunned. The Storm came back up and swung a hand at Haku, who blocked and smacked the Storm hard back into the corner. There, Haku began to flail at him, wearing the Storm down with fast punches, then stepped back and swung his arms, shouting, "Eeeyah!"

The Storm staggered out, and Haku grabbed his head with both hands, leaning back to deliver his fearsome headbutt, but the Storm snapped his arms up and freed himself, kneeing Haku in the gut. The Islander grunted, doubling over, and the Storm underhooked his arms and lifted him up long enough for a backbreaker on his knee. The Storm stood and began stomping away, then going to snare Haku in the Figure-Four Leglock, but Haku raked his meaty hands across the Storm's face and got free.

As the Storm staggered back, hand covering his eyes, Haku stood up and advanced, but the Storm halted him with a gutshot, then a DDT. He stood up and went to Haku's legs, stomping on one ankle while snaring the other for the Twister Anklelock. Haku began shouting in pain and uttering what were assumed to be Tongan curses, then started reaching for the ropes. When Haku grabbed the ropes, the Storm merely increased the pressure, snarling, eyes flaring until the referee pulled him off. Haku got up, grunting and muttering nonsensically in Tongan, then got clubbed in the back of the head by one of the Storm's forearms. The Force of Nature grabbed his hair and dragged him to the corner, where he threw Haku's head against the turnbuckle. Haku grabbed the ropes and pounded his head against the corner three more times, then turned around. The Storm, unimpressed by Haku's "see, it doesn't hurt" display, kicked him in the gut a few times, then grabbed two handfuls of Haku's hair and threw him over the top rope.

Haku landed in a heap and was getting up slowly as the Storm ran across the ring, shot off the ropes, and came back in an insane tope through the ropes, spearing Haku and driving him back against the security wall. The Storm pulled Haku up and threw his head against the barrier, but Haku again beat his head against it three more times. The Storm didn't even blink as he grabbed Haku, wheeled him around and hurled him head-first into the steel stairs. This actually seemed to faze Haku, who didn't get up right away.

The Storm looked up at the ref, who was telling him to get it back in the ring, then out at the screaming crowd, and didn't seem to see either. He grabbed Haku by pants and hair and hurled him into the ring, but Haku popped up and snared the Storm with the Tongan Death Grip. The Storm hissed in pain and growled audibly as he grabbed ineffectively at Haku's arm and tried to beat him off with his free hand, but the Islander simply absorbed the blows. The Storm seemed to slump a bit, perhaps starting to go under from the hold, then stood back up, eyes lighting up, and brought his boot up between Haku's legs. Haku loosened his grip, eyes bugging out, but the Storm grabbed his arm, pivoted to the side, drove his elbow into Haku's gut, then brought his fist up at the joint of Haku's arm and shoulder. There was a very audible pop. Haku bellowed in pain, then grunted as the Storm threw the dislocated arm aside and smashed Haku in the face with a back elbow. The Islander staggered and went down.

The Storm wasted no time and turned Haku over and twisted his dislocated arm back into a hammerlock. The Force of Nature then knelt on his wrist and locked him in the Necksnapper. Haku began screaming as the Storm snarled and wrenched it back. The fans all screamed it along with him: "Let's hear the snap!" Haku began tapping the mat in submission. The referee called for the bell, but the Storm didn't release Haku. He wrenched the hold in harder, then looked up briefly and glanced over his shoulder as he saw the ponderous form of Rikishi coming down the ramp. "Here is your winner, THE STORM!" The Storm released Haku and rolled out of the ring as Rikishi climbed in, pointing a finger at the Storm, who didn't even look at the Samoan. He hurled up the ring apron, probed around underneath, then dragged out a certain familiar weapon.

The Storm hoisted the sledgehammer up on his shoulder and strode up the ramp.

* * *

"Uh, oh." Billy Rose said this when he saw the Storm drag out the hammer and start up the ramp. He looked at Shane and Kurt. "I'll give you three guesses as to where he's headed with that -- but you're only gonna need one."

"Let's get out of here," Shane said. He started for the door, but Rose stopped him.

"Look, I have a better idea."

* * *

The Storm scared off the hired guards McMahon had placed around the VIP room and tried the knob. As he expected, it was locked. He took the sledgehammer and stepped back a bit. He teed off the knob, then swung and bashed the sledge against the door there. With a loud crack the door swung open. The Storm stalked in and held the hammer ready, peering around into the dimly-lit room. "Come out, come out, wherever you are..." the Storm growled.

"Hey, Nature Boy!" The Storm snarled and whirled around, spotting Edge and Christian, steel chairs in hand. He started to raise the hammer, but then Shane McMahon dashed in from behind and grabbed the Storm's arms. The Storm was held still just enough for Edge and Christian to swing their chairs. However, the Storm ducked down, and Shane -- who was trying to hold him still -- was pulled into the path of the con-chair-to. Shane staggered, twitched, then fell over.

The two Canadians stared dumbly at Shane for a moment, which gave the Storm all the time he needed to hit Edge in the gut with the head of the sledgehammer, then superkick Christian in the face when he tried to help his brother. The Storm stood over Christian and raised the hammer again, but now Kurt Angle slipped up, hooked the Storm under the arm, and swung him up and down through the coffee table with an Olympic Slam. The hammer fell loose, and Rose pounced on it.

"Payback time, Skinner," Rose said as he raised the hammer and prepared to bring it down on the Storm's knee. Edge and Christian quickly held the Storm down while Rose swung up and started to swing-- then stopped and started laughing.

"Okay, officers, you can take him away now."

The Storm blinked in surprise and stared as a squad of police officers stepped into the room and hauled him to his feet, then pressed him against the wall while they twisted his arms back and cuffed him. "What the fuck is this?!" the Storm growled.

"Vehicular assault, Nature Boy," Rose said. "Not to mention a couple charges of assault and battery. Say hi to the guys in the holding tank for me." He had a big grin on his face.

"You called the fucking cops on me?!"

"Sweet, ain't it?" He helped Shane to his feet, then draped an arm around his shoulders. By now, Shane was grinning too, despite having a wicked bruise on his head. He laughed again. "I fucked you. I fucked you! It's--"

"--beautiful!" he and Shane said in unison, laughing and slapping a high five. The police pulled the Storm off the wall, reading him his rights as they did so. The Storm glowered at the two for a moment, then started snarling.

"Oh, yeah, vintage Billy Rose here," he said loudly. "You're fuckin' scared of me, too gutless to get in the ring with me like a man, so you decide to pull the police card. Have me arrested?" He was shouting now as the cops steered him down the hall. "You'll be right there in the holding tank with me, Rose!"

"Payback's a bitch, ain't it, Skinner?" Rose said, following, still grinning.

"You'll never make it stick, Rose," the Storm went on. "You may have been able to back in CIW, but you're in the big leagues now, boyo! I may not have friends in high places, but I do have powerful friends, Billy!" He was glaring over the heads of the cops at his nemesis, fighting against them. "I'll be out in twenty-four hours!"

Finally, the cops managed to shove the Storm into the back of a squad car and shut the door. The Storm leaned against the glass and skewered Rose with an evil eye as the cops drove off. Rose scoffed. He turned to Shane. "That oughta hold him for a while. Come on, I got a match to get ready for."

* * *

"La-Ti-No Heat!" Latin music began playing. Spanish vocals began to sing, with a chorus hooting, "Latino Heat! Latino Heat!" Out from the curtain strutted Eddie Guerrero, wearing one of his t-shirts, milking the crowd for heel heat as he headed for the ring. "The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and is for qualification in the King of the Ring tournament! Introducing first, from El Paso, Texas, weighing in at 220 pounds... EDDIE GUERRERO!"

Guerrero climbed into the ring, then up on the second rope to stare out at the jeering crowd. He peeled off his shirt and hopped down, facing the TitanTron as it lit up again. "How long? How long? -- I said how long? I said how long? I said how long? Until you crack..." Billy Rose stepped out in his red-themed outfit, then paused on the top of the ramp, smirking and raising a fist in the air, then pointing out and doing a quarter-circle turn until he was pointing at Guerrero. The fans recognized the move from the Storm and booed him even more. "And his opponent, from Los Angeles, California, weighing in at 245 pounds... BILLY ROSE!"

Rose walked down to the ring and removed his open red shirt, then stepped into the ring. He put his hand under his jaw then snapped it out in an "ehh!" gesture, prompting Guerrero to lunge at him, and forcing referee Tim White to hold him back. Finally, the ref stepped away and Guerrero lunged again. Rose sidestepped and tossed him into the corner, where he charged and speared him below the ribs, driving the air out of the Hispanic's lungs. He smacked him in the face a few times, then snapped his forearm across his chest in a vicious knife-edge chop. The fans whooped once, then again as Rose chopped a second time. Rose then began kicking away on Guerrero, forcing him down into a slump. Rose grabbed his legs and dragged him out to the center of the ring, spread Eddie's legs. He looked up at the crowd, then stomped hard on Guerrero's groin. His eyes bugged out as he doubled over, screaming, "OH MY GOD!"

Rose took his time stomping on Guerrero's kidneys and shoulders, then finally pulling him to his feet for a snap suplex. Rose rolled over and hooked up a leg. 1... 2-- and Guerrero got a shoulder up. Rose dropped the leg and grabbed his head, then started pounding his fist against Guerrero's temple. He then threw Guerrero into the ropes and hoisted him up in the air for a Farewell off the rebound -- but Guerrero managed to reverse it and hit a hurracanrana instead. Latino Heat got up and went over to Rose to start clubbing him with forearm shots. He lifted Rose to his feet, then gave him a brainbuster. He made a cover. 1...2-- and Rose kicked out.

Now Guerrero put Rose in the corner and hammered his chest with a few chops, then whipped him across the ring and followed up with a clothesline. A few more kicks, and then Guerrero set Rose up on top of the turnbuckle. He climbed and stood on the top ropes, poised, and shouted to the crowd, "Frankensteiner, baby!" The fans jeered as Guerrero jumped up and grabbed Rose's head between his knees, then cheered as Guerrero flipped down and hit the mat hard as Rose held onto the ropes and went nowhere. Eddie groaned as he slowly got up, only to get a double axe-handle between the eyes as Rose came off the ropes.

Rose stood up and went over to Eddie, grabbing his arm, then twisting it up and dropping to the mat to lock on the Deadly Blossom. Guerrero immediately started wailing in pain and kicking his legs, arm flailing. Rose just laughed and threw his head back. The Latin wrestler cast about wildly, and managed to drag himself to the ropes. Rose wrenched in the hold for a bit longer, then released him and stood up. Guerrero was slow getting up, and while he took his time to get to his feet, Rose pointed at him and made a cutting motion at his throat. Eddie turned around, then ate a straight punch, a left hook, and a mean body blow that doubled him over. Rose grabbed his head and thrust it between his legs, then held his arms out to the sides.

"Oh, no, here it comes," J.R. commented on the outside. "Rose's big finisher -- he calls this the Thorn powerbomb."

In the ring, Rose executed the gutwrench and flipped Guerrero over his head and held him in the crucifix position for a moment, then lowered his arms to throw Guerrero up, catch his waist, and bring him down hard in a sit-out powerbomb. Rose held down Guerrero while Tim White made the count. 1... 2... 3! Rose threw Guerrero aside and stood up, posing, while Lillian made the announcement: "Here is your winner, BILLY ROSE!"

Rose was about to leave the ring when "South Texas Deathride" began to play, the Lone Star entrance video rolling on the TitanTron. The Californian stopped and did a Rock-like eyebrow raise as Rain appeared, heading down the ramp, mic in hand and a very angry look on her face. Rose started laughing again and took the microphone from Lillian. Rain climbed up on the ring apron, and stood watching Rose as he wound down his laughter.

"What're you doing out here again?" Rose asked. "What? You actually want me to snap your pretty little neck? Come on, Rain, do something intelligent! Dump Nature Boy and go with someone who has a little more control over their temper."

Rain stood there for a moment, then glanced at the audience, which had started chanting "ASSHOLE!" Slowly, she raised the microphone in her hand. "Do something intelligent, Billy? Okay, I'll do something intelligent." She stepped into the ring, went up to Rose, who stood there, arms loose, looking cocky and sure of himself. She stood in front of Rose, lifted her head slightly to look at him, then abruptly brought her knee up into his groin. Rose oooofed and doubled over, and Rain casually brought her hands down in a double axe-handle to the back of Rose's neck. He collapsed like a sack of potatoes.

Rain turned to the fans -- who had popped for her entrance and popped again for her crotch-shot -- smiled and posed, then turned to leave. At that point, Rose grabbed her ankle, tripped her and got up, wincing and holding his groin. Snarling, the Californian pulled Rain up, then shoved her back into the corner. He took away her mic and spoke into it. "You know, you're starting to piss me off." He pulled her out into the ring and set her up for the Thorn, flipping her up into the crucifix position and stalling, holding Rain up and grinning maliciously to the booing fans.

Glass shattered and the music of Disturbed played as Steve Austin came sprinting down to the ring. Rose dropped Rain instantly and turned to run, and managed to get out of the ring with only a token stomp or three from the Rattlesnake. Rose backed up the ramp, a little smirk on his face as he looked back at Rain, who was getting up, her face twisted in anger now as well. Rose chuckled and made the "crowning" gesture again, then left up the ramp.

* * *

Shane, Rose, Kurt, and Edge & Christian were all heading for the new limo that they'd rented. Rose was walking in triumph. "King of the Ring, here I come!" the Californian crowed as he walked down the hall in what could only be called a strut. The two Canadians had located their kazoo and were singing and playing behind him. Kurt was busy congratulating Rose on a job well-done.

But when they stepped into the garage, they found the policemen they'd called earlier standing around their limo. Shane frowned, "What're you guys still doing here?" he asked.

"Turns out we arrested the wrong guy, sir," one of the officers said. He stepped toward Rose, who looked shocked. "Sir, could you come with me, please?"

"What the hell is this?" Rose asked. "Skinner tries to commit vehicular homicide, and you arrest me? That's like arresting the corpse for murder!"

"Sir, if you'll just come on down to the station, all of this can be sorted out--"

"You're damn right it's gonna get sorted out!" Rose shouted. He turned to Shane as the cops pulled him toward the squad car. "Shane-O, look in my bag, find my cell phone, and call my lawyer! I can't fucking believe this!"

"Oh, believe it, jackass," came a familiar voice. The faction looked over at the limo to see none other than the Storm leaning on the other side. He turned to look at them. He wasn't wearing his sunglasses, and Rose was surprised to see none of the usual burning thirst for vengeance in those blue-gray eyes. Now they shone with a cold, deep-seated hatred that made his forbidding blasé expression all the more fearsome. A slow smirk crossed his features.

Rose stared as the cops pushed him into the squad car. "Payback's a bitch, ain't it, Billy?" the Storm called.

Shane stammered as he looked at him. "What--? How--? When--?"

The Storm smiled. "What am I doing here? Getting a small measure of revenge against Billy Fuckin' Rose. How did I get out of jail? I called up Rain and had her post bail, then I had the cops arrest Billy here for assaulting Rain. When did I get back? Just before Billy's match."

Shane, Kurt, and Edge & Christian looked ready to move in for the kill, but that's when Rain, Austin, and the Acolytes appeared from the hallway behind them. The Storm smirked again. "What? What were you gonna do, huh? Take a swing. I guarantee I'll have you in jail too, you bunch of jackasses. Plus, you'll get a Texas-style beatdown, so make your decision very carefully."

The others slowly calmed down and looked apprehensively at Lone Star, and then started to leave. Shane stopped and looked at the Storm. "Does this mean that you're not going to go after Billy anymore?"

"Hah! No fuckin' way," the Storm said. "I may not be frothing at the mouth anymore, but there are other ways to be angry. And a cold rage is a lot more deadly than a hot rage. You be sure to tell Rose that. I'll be seeing him at King of the Ring -- bet on it."

He was joined by Lone Star, who opened the door to the limo and started to climb in. The Storm smirked again. "Oh, by the way, Shane, we're taking your limo. Sayonara, jackass." He ducked inside, shut the door, and then the limo drove off, leaving Shane and his faction dumbfounded.

"So," Shane said after a moment, "you guys gonna help contribute to Billy's bail money?" Pause. Shane turned around to find 'Team ECK' gone. "Guys?"

-more to come-

Next: The tournament arrives. Someone will be crowned and get the glory. Someone will be destroyed and sink into madness. At King of the Ring, one will "Ascend" and one will "Descend."

If you have any ideas for who you think the Storm, Rain, or Billy Rose should team up with or go up against, drop me a line at jay_winger_2k@hotmail.com.