A/N: "Thanks to Kay for your greater review, kAte for your sweet words, Lil Mary for still having hope, haha, and Shinna for reviewing. Okay so . . . did any one guess about that 'twist' I mentioned? If not then just forget it. It isn't important but what IS important is this: Remember when I wrote about a guy named 'Dan from the creative team' from chapter 30? Or 31 I'm not sure. But do you remember that? Well, it turns out that coincidentally there really IS a guy named 'Dan' in the RAW Creative Team! Yeah, he is the top writer in the Raw team I think and wrote a Movie Script about Kane! Of all people, there is rumored to be a movie about Kane's character, y'know death and resurrection etc. Just to let you know."

Chapter 33:

The date was Monday 12 January 2004, and it was set live from the best show of WWE television: RAW was here. On an impacting start, Jim Ross and Jerry 'The King' Lawler started the night with the explosions from the entrance ramp to kick RAW on live. They hyped the main event being a one-on-one match between the Intercontinental Champion Randy Orton defending against the former champion Rob Van Dam. While Booker T was to take on the monster Kane. But before the first match could begin, the cameras went backstage . . . "Hey, hey look at this JR,"

~ Backstage—On Screen ~

RAW was the live televised show of that brand, unlike House Shows, there were more scripts in here and more planned segments than any other Raw Brand shows. Naturally, that meant more work for the popular superstars, this wasn't Smackdown! There were no tapings.

The cameras came clear at the backstage lobby where both Matt and Lita entered the building through the double doors of the parking lot. Note that on House Shows this doesn't happen, Matt and Amy carried their bags towards the lockers when they came across none other than the youngest member of Evolution: Randy Orton. The younger champion mocked Matt about him being the true Hardcore Legend, "You guys are just alike," he said, "Just as Mick Foley's as coward, so are you!"

"Well lets see . . . I carry the heavier gold while you have the lighter, I think that just proves who is greater. Oh and Randy . . . UNLIKE you . . . I'm not a lackey, I HAVE lackeys."

"Yeah? Well stick to this Hardy: If my teammates didn't have that bounty on your pathetic head right now, I would've challenged you to a title match. But then again, RVD is the one filling MY night. And when dealing with the likes of Mick Foley, I don't think I have TIME to waste with you." Orton snickered at Matt's face, smiling, the Hardcore Champ said to his face that: "And: You don't have the guts to fight me either. Mick Foley will kick your ass worse than I will, tell your big brothers that Matt Hardy is here . . . and give them this message:"

Randy didn't suspect the last few lines to be said, he stood smiling when Matt swung his arm to punch the Evolution member straight across the jaw, forcing Orton to tremble on his feet and fall into backstage debris. That would sternly warn the roster that the Hardcore Champion wouldn't back off, not anymore.

Taking Amy by his arm, Matt walked towards their locker.

~ Front Stage ~

"Wow, that was interesting." King said to his coworker while they looked at the clip ending, "In my opinion Orton deserved it. He is nothing but an arrogant young trouble maker."

"Oh come on JR! He's our Intercontinental Champion, have some respect." JR didn't. Soon after those words Jonathan Coachman joined the announce team, saying that Mr. McMahon liked their friction last week.

A few more babbles between JR, King and Coach arguing over the fact that they had to be together in this, gave us the first match of the evening: the opening line up was the WWE Women's Champion Lita teaming with her best friend Trish Stratus to take on Molly Holly and Jazz. The champion and her partner fought thunderously inside the ring while the commentators made sure to tell the fans that Molly would be challenging Lita for the title next week on RAW.

After a devastating move on Trish, Jazz and Molly Holly defeated Trish Stratus and Lita. But there were more drama involved even after the match when Theodre Long ran at ringside to attack Trish! Jericho ran in to make the save and afterwards it was Mark Henry who attacked Jericho to end the segment as the show went off to a commercial break.

This was all part of the Trish/Chris/Christian storyline that was being planned, and Trish had better options than to linger with Chris. Starting now, she really was beginning to hate him.

~ Backstage ~

During the commercial, both Amy and Trish left the ring and went to their respective lockers, though the two girlfriends would hang out later, Trish told her she had something to do . . . and so she did entering Eric Bischoff's office.

"Is that live?!" The General Manager of RAW was yelling at the guy carrying a camera for later shots. "Ah . . . no sir . . ." "Then get the hell out of office! We don't need any footage here tonight, go . . . grab a chocolate bar or something."

Trish was sitting infront of him across the desk, "No then, what is this you are talking about?!" He finally gave her attention,

"I told you . . . I . . . I want to turn heel." She wasn't happy about it, but she knew she had to do it.

"But WHY?"

"Because . . . I . . . I don't want to be involved in anything with Chris, let alone in a romance relationship on screen."

"I don't understand,"

"You don't have to, just . . . tell me when can I change my character on screen?"

Bischoff let out a sigh, the whole factor of Chris turning into face was because so that he and Trish could be together. It was all part of a storyline, "I don't know . . . we . . . we are completely booked until Wrestlemania Trish . . . I think you have to play it by the rules and be a face until you can be a heel. And besides, the creative team doesn't have the proper stuff to make you into that . . . you've been a face since what . . . 2002? You want to end that so fast?"

She knew it would be hard, but the fans that cheered for her would never turn on her, not like Chris did. She sighed, but Jeff was whom her love belonged with. Not Chris Jericho, looking at the desk, her eyes caught the sight of Christian's file. "Might I make a suggestion?"

~ On Screen Backstage ~

She was exhausted from the finished match, warily, Amy drank from the bottled water while Matt looked for any injuries.

"I'm FINE." She told him, he stopped.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Don't worry about it . . ." But her face didn't say that, Lita just lost to Molly Holly, the person she had a scheduled match for her championship in 7 days. It wasn't a good sign. She sighed, "I should've looked out for that clothesline."

Matt shook his head, "No its alright . . . just her luck. Listen . . . I gotta go out there and . . ."

She nodded, "I know, just . . . stay careful will you?" Matt nodded back to the girl he loved so much. This was part of a segment but the words were just too real. He needed to go out there and set things right, Chris Jericho had his death marked for later, but right now he needed to set the date for Dave Batista's funeral. Or what could be half of his funeral. According to the creative team, Matt knew exactly what that date would be . . . and soon the entire world would come to know the same knowledge. After a hugging her, Matt left the room.

All of this was televised.

An add for WWE Royal Rumble took place, detailing the rough combat between 30 men for a chance to become the number one contender for the most prestigious title of their respective brands . . . not to mention a chance to become the headliner for Wrestlemania 20: Where it all begins again.

As the show came back live, the entire stage and the titantron darkened with a blank screen, and as the fans started to build up a small chant of 'Version One', those words started flashing into the black background, complete with the sound of fingers typing against a keyboard.

'matthardy version 1.0'

'run []'

Matt Hardy's figure once again exploded through the backstage curtains on the RAW ramp for the cheers of fans vibrating the air. It felt nice. Totting his jacket and 'V1' gear complete with the shining golden Hardcore title he defended just last night, Matt made his way to the ring. Slapping fives with fans who had their arms stretched, he could see the cameras flashing, and only hoped that it would give him a good look in those pictures. Sliding under the bottom rope, V1 wasted no time taking photos, instead, he took the microphone from one of the standing staffs outside the ring and started to expand his mind:

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Alright enough with the music." Stopping briefly for the fans to cheer even more, Matt said; "I'm sorry guys but I have to keep this short," he told the fans, they weren't mad.

"Lately," he said, "There has been a group of individuals who are committing crimes according to the 'law'."

There were boos, but all of them directed to those whom Matt Hardy was talking about.

"That group, lets say we call them EVOLUTION, thinks they are the kings of this place. News flash to them: even if there is a bounty of 10,000 on the head of the Sensei of Mattitude . . . there ain't nothing ALIVE that can stop me from beating the life out of you BATISTA!" The echoes from the screams of the thousands of fans in the arena burst to surround and support Matt for his words. And the best part was that he still had more to say;

"I hope you got your message from your younger 'brother', and it should give you the idea that every single superstar back there who wants to take that 10 grand and face Mattitude should think twice. If you want to take the Hardcore title from the champion, you gotta act like hardcore and face the champion. And that's what brings me to this point . . . I want to face YOU Batista, you and me—"

The sound of glass shattering broke throughout the arena as Stone Cold Steve Austin drove on in his ATV. Roaring the engines as he did, the fans started their cheers once more from the beginning. The Texan rattlesnake was now the sheriff of RAW, and Matt wanted him to do something about the problems between him and Batista.

He went inside the ring, confronted Matt, and told him to be a man about his problems.

"You want me to go out there and wipe the floors of hell with his blood?!" Matt screamed in Austin's face. He was mad, in Austin's words, Hell YEAH he was mad.

"I want you to settle your anger against Evolution, why are you fighting against Batista only? Yeah, Matt, that's what I want to know. As the sheriff, I demand you explain the fans and everyone else why is it that Batista concerns you!?" In reality, even Steve Austin wanted to know that.

"You wanna know why?"

"Yeah!"

He wanted to scream the truth, Matt wanted to show the entire world just how sick of a man that person was . . . but he loved Amy, he didn't say it. "Good . . ." His tone relaxed, it sounded as if Matt was about to say something deep, in reality it was. But in the world of creative entertainment, he couldn't expose his true anger towards Dave Batista . . . but that's why the creative team is hired. Matt said, "Because that's the only thing we both agree on." He had to say the way it was scripted.

"Oh really? Did Batista really say that? That he wants Matt Hardy one on one?"

"Yes." He lied, but that's what Matt wanted. "And that's what I want. Batista and me, one on one; No holds barred."

As once again the crowd started to scream in sheer joy, Austin was rubbing his chin, a smile spread across his lips, "Well then . . . I gotta say I'd love to watch you, Matt Hardy, HARDCORE Champion, whup the living hell out of that disgusting piece of worm!" Even Matt found those words very intelligently poetic. He smiled.

"But . . . but . . . as the sheriff, I have to draw a line between YOUR side, and HIS side. I can't just go around and do what I want. That isn't what the sheriff of this town do. What the sheriff of this town does before a battle is fought, is make sure there isn't any additional advantages in both sides. So until Batista agrees AND SAYS it though his mouth that he wants to fight you . . . one on one, title or non-title, I can't do anything." Stone Cold Steve Austin waited for Matt's response; the Hardcore Champion was nodding. Though off mic, he could read lips and heard him saying 'I understand.' "Don't get me wrong here Matt," Austin spoke again, "I want nothing less than you to open a dozen cans of whup ass on eem, but I can't let you do that until the match is confirmed. I have to hold the law."

"I understand that . . ." The chewing gum Matt had inside his mouth was really starting to taste sick, but not because of its sweet less taste, but because of what he had to do to get even a finger on Batista. He wanted to start killing away just now backstage in the locker room . . . but he couldn't. "And mark my words Sheriff Austin, that before the night is over . . . I'll MAKE him say those words." With that, Matt dropped the microphone to the mat; resulting a thumping sound as it hit the floor; he was slowly engulfing into the screams of the horde of fans. Even they wanted him to kick ass, even the fans wanted Matt Hardy to leave Batista in a bloody mess. His music once again restarted as Matt himself prepared to leave the ring, he was almost out the rope when he heard Austin once again calling him . . .

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait up there slick." Matt looked back with narrowed eyes 'slick?' that wasn't part of the segment. He was still wearing that 'silky-jacket' but 'SLICK?!' He listened to what the Sheriff had to say; "Now, just because you don't have any scheduled matches for tonight, and since there already was another man who shared the same fate as you are going through right now . . . I figured, hell, why not make it a non-title match between Matt Hardy and—"

The crowds were growing another font of cheers, and by Stone Cold's words Matt knew he had a match to fight right there, right then. "—Bill GOLDBERG!!!"

King was jumped at that name "WHAT?!"

"It seems we are having a non-title match between Matt Hardy and Goldberg here King!"

"Oh no! Poor Matt! That monster'll demolish him! Didn't Eric Bischoff suspend Goldberg 2 weeks ago JR?"

"He did! But now it seems that the new Sheriff has other plans in mind!"

"Just shut up you two." The music that sounded like one man defying the odds, that one man would stand alone to face whatever challenge was given him, played through the speakers. Matt loved that music, but he couldn't use it as his own, it wasn't his. But it sounded just like what he felt like these days, it sounded like what he felt when he got Amy's support. Stripping the jacket and belt, Matt prepared for his match against the former World Heavyweight Champion as Austin rode off in the ATV. Bill Goldberg entered the ring with a standing ovation from the fans, Matt was popular, but he wasn't a legend like Goldberg. This was the man who was undefeated for 2 straight years in WCW, and that legacy was carried into the WWE had it not been for The Rock at Unleashed last year. (Read WWE Unleashed written by The Nav and Xardion for more details on the storyline between The Rock and Goldberg). The match started without Matt's side of the agreement, it was a set match, he didn't care, it was a segment anyways. After very little effort put into the match, Matt lost when he was struck by the deadly Spear of Goldberg and later the rib-breaking Jackhammer for the pinfall. Afterwards, Bill took the same microphone Matt dropped and said that he was back with a purpose in mind: he would win his World Title at Wrestlemania after defeating the 29 other wannabes at the Royal Rumble . . .

~ Backstage ~

Matt rolled out of the ring and out of everyone's sight while Goldberg had his on air announce as a Royal Rumble entrant; he went backstage. While also backstage, the live cameras caught up with the General Manager; Eric Bischoff, and the Sheriff; Steve Austin. Bischoff and Austin went about talking about the reactivation of Goldberg and how Austin wasn't in the field to make matches, so as far as anything concerning Hardy and Batista goes, Bischoff would deny that. Austin threatens him anyway.

The show was filled with surprises and well-developed storylines, Randy Orton was at the garage playing vignettes about Mick Foley, Triple H had an interview to prepare for. And now . . . the time of which Matt was ready to go out once again came, in the ring Batista accompanied by The Nature Boy went inside and started his match against one half of the Dudley Boyz: D-Von. And just as easily, Batista defeated his opponent clean with his finishing Powerbomb. But once again, the real fight began after the match ended.

Though Bubba Ray and Ric Flair were brawling out ringside against one another, after that match, Batista pulled the remaining Dudley back inside the ring and started his beat down when Bubba tried to protect his brother. Flair pushed in a table and both teams wanted to put each other through that table for a short time, but both escaped. When Bubba Ray did, Batista shoved his fist straight across the Dudely's temple and started to attack without remorse. He stomped violently, in his eyes the sight of pure hatred was flashing. And through his mouth he was spitting out; 'take THIS Hardy! Take THIS!' He beat down Bubba and D-Von as if they were Matt Hardy. Flair gave his 'son' a chair, and it made him happier, Batista clobbered the chair simultaneously against the ribcages of both Dudleys until the fans started to cheer loudly, not boos, but yeas.

Turning around, Batista was shocked to see none other than Matt Hardy running down the ramp in lightning speed. He dropped the steel chair, while Flair ran out of the ring, Batista was too slow. Matt jumped inwards and sprang into action with fists flying from temple to temple on Batista's head, punching square at his gut and back again across his jaw. Matt felt his rage, his boxed inner anger towards the man being released as he rained blow after blow down upon Batista. Kicking Dave between his legs, Matt would give him the painful low blow with his feet and then again clotheslined him! It was very extreme, but Matt couldn't stop himself, he was angry, he was raged, hatred was at its peak, and like he said . . . nothing would stop him.

But something tried or rather a group of the heel roster tried. Flair was out of the ring, screaming for Batista to come out, but obviously Dave was being beaten like eggnog in the hands of Matt Hardy.

Test, Mark Henry, Rob Conway, Rene Dupree, Mark Jindrak, Garrison Cade even Christian ran inside the ring for one mutual agenda: Matt Hardy's title. If they could pin him, they would get the belt and get 10 thou out from him! Matt was being pushed back by the real horde of wrestlers as they jumped, slid, rolled their ways into the ring. And Flair played it safe by pulling Dave out of harms way while these men would do their dirty work for them.

Matt could never hold back a group this big, somehow he managed to get a hold of the steel chair and started to slam it away without any calculation. Even the Dudleys were in the bout, but they weren't fighting against Matt, they were fighting with him! Supplying the 3D to La Resistance and the team of Cade and Jindrak, the Dudleys cleared house while Matt swung the chair right and left to both Henry and Test, and then again prepared to smash it on Christian's head straight in front of him, but Jay stopped running told Matt to not hit him, rolled out and ran away scared.

"Stop this! Hold it right there! What the hell is going on here?!" Eric Bischoff stormed into the ramp with his microphone, "This type of undignified bar brawls doesn't happen on RAW! What the hell is going on?!" He didn't want to be messed with. But Bischoff stood in the ramp with the team of Flair and Batista and decided it was best not to head inside the ring where Matt, D-Von and Bubba Ray were dominating. Hardy picked up a phone, his chair still in hand. And started talking back to the man who thought owned the RAW Brand. He was breathless, "See that Evolution?!!?! Even Your PETS can't keep me down! You are NOT the only one with friends around here!" He meant the Dudleys. Batista took another microphone and yelled back, his voice too was unstable; "HARDY YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A GUY WHO WINS WITH CHANCE!!" He screamed. "I CAN TAKE YOU!!!"

"THEN PROVE IT!" Matt was pacing the ring, some might resemble that to that of The Rock's.

"ENOUGH ALREADY!" Bischoff intervened, "Matt you want Batista right?"

"Very MUCH!"

"And Batista, you want Matt's title?" the GM almost choked when Batista grabbed him by his collar, screaming through the mike: "I WANT A MATCH WITH HARDY ONE ON ONE AT ROYAL RUMBLE!!!!"

The fans screamed with joy.

"YOU HAVE IT!" Eric shouted back. "On Royal Rumble, a week from now, LIVE from Philadelphia Pennsylvania it will be MATT HARDY VERSION ONE against BATISTA! Champion versus Champion!"

From the ring, Matt shouted: "NO HOLDS BARRED!"

"You are right my friend, but I'll make it one better . . . it will be Matt Hardy versus Batista in a no holds barred, no outsiders . . . FIRST BLOOD MATCH!" Matt would scream loudly and insanely just like the fans were screaming. This was exactly what he wanted, this was more than what he wanted.

"NO!" Batista screamed back, "Not a First Blood match! I'm not doing a first blood match!"

"Are you scared?" Matt was furious.

"FINE FIRST BLOOD! YOU and ME for that HARDCORE TITLE!"

"Wait! I didn't say it was a championship match Batista," if it was Matt saying it, Dave would respond the same way he did, but this was the GM. "It will be NON title! And here's how it goes . . . I gave this a lot of thought since you were talking in the ring with Austin Matt . . . the winner continues as one of the 30 entrants into the Royal Rumble match later that night. And the looser, well since both of you hold titles, the looser will have to defend his title with the number one contenders. In this case, Matt, if and when you loose, you won't face ONE opponent but 5 other opponents for a ladder match for YOUR Hardcore title!" The Ladder match last night brought in so much success that the WWE wanted to use that match again. "But wait . . . since its 'Hardcore' so basically any one who climbs the ladder and gets the belt will be the champion! And IF, by ANY mere chance that YOU win Matt, and Batista loses, he will have to defend his World Tag Titles along with Ric Flair against THE DUDLEYS in a tables match!" This made the two other men in the ring smile. "And all of the secondary matches will take place ON THAT SAME NIGHT of the Royal Rumble, after the First Blood match between you two . . . it will only be a miracle if you could even walk to the ring. But you have to, and you have to fight if you want to win, winner gets 29 other superstars, looser gets challengers! Think about it!" But Batista was against it, he snatched the microphone from Bischoff saying that; "NO! Matt will try to sneak attack me! I want to be in 100% before I can fight him at the Rumble!" He could see the anger boiling in Hardy's eyes . . . this would be just when he needed to punish this man, this would be everything he needed to pay back and claim vengeance for what Batista did to his Amy.

"FINE! Matt, you can't touch Batista until Sunday at Royal Rumble, you are here by put in a RESTRAINING order from me!"

"NO WAY!" Matt screamed back, "If I'm restrained so should he!"

"FINE okay! Both Batista and Matt Hardy are here by put in restraining orders until their First Blood match at Sunday. IF one of you pulls the first blow, you will be stripped of your title indefinitely and suspended for one whole month . . ." Bischoff dropped the microphone on the floor and pushed Batista and Flair to follow him backstage, Flair moved, so did the Dudleys . . . but not Matt Hardy nor Batista removed their eyes from one another. They stared down . . . in about 13 days . . . Matt would get his revenge. He would get what he wanted, and he would make Batista pay for what he did. The real world didn't know the secret behind this rivalry; the fans didn't know the real reason of their feud. It wasn't only for the sake of the Hardcore Title, it had a lot more history behind it than only a matter of 1 month . . .

The night continued without the involvement of Matt, Amy or Batista for the continuing tense of the show. Jericho had a singles match against Mark Henry, which featured Trish and Jazz. After the blonde diva ran down at ringside and started fighting the earlier competitor, the referee missed the sight of Chris forcing Henry to tap at the Walls of Jericho. When he released, Mark blindsided him for the pinfall.

~ Later that night ~

"God DAMN that Hardy!" Dave Batista walked around his room that was occupied with his fellow team members; Randy Orton and Ric Flair. Not surprisingly Triple H wasn't involved . . . yet. "Dave, man you gotta relax, its only a match." The show ended about three hours ago, but Batista's mind was still racing as the battle between him and Hardy came near, he literally counted the hours! "You expect me to RELAX now?!" He shouted at him. Truth be told, Randy was getting a bit scared by that look in Dave's eyes . . . it wasn't a very friendly glare. He didn't say anything.

"What's the time?!" Dave was very nervous, he couldn't rest, he couldn't eat, he couldn't stay up. The only thing that would calm his mind was either Molly Holly, who came by for a little 'catching up' after the show ended, or those pictures that involved Lita in that state. "I dunno . . . like . . . 12 AM I guess . . ."

"You're LOOSING it Dave, can't you take it easy for a while? You were easy when that Holly girl showed up." Flair was always the one with the right ideas.

"Yeah . . . yeah . . . you're right Ric . . . I ah . . . I think I need to cool off." His brain was starting to relax, very slowly but it moved.

"Go look at those pictures of the bitch . . . maybe it will remind you of her, that might cheer you up." While Batista walked through the room with nothing but wearing the same pair of boxers he wore at the night of the rape, the same pair he never washed, he looked around for his cellular. It was weird, he couldn't find it anywhere, "Where's my phone?!" He screamed loudly at both men,

"Where did you put it?"

"I don't KNOW! If I knew would I have asked you?! Where is the cell with the pictures?!"

~ Parking Lot ~

"Here are the pictures . . . both mine and his . . . just like you said." Chris Jericho would do anything, he would cross any borders to achieve his needs. Right now, he betrayed the people he —used— to betray his friends with. And now, the people he betrayed them for, were the friends to begin with. But now they weren't his friends, they were bigger enemies. The parking lot was very quiet and largely empty at an hour like this. There wasn't another living creature crawling around the entire basement . . . it made Chris think second thoughts about coming here alone. Matt Hardy stood before him, wearing his average clothes, he checked the mobiles Chris handed to him and went through the various photos of the woman he loved so much. It made him clench his teeth tighter than it already was.

"Are these the only copies?"

"I'm SURE. I stole it from Batista and . . . he had the only other copy besides me." Their voices created echoes throughout the empty space, but it also gave chills to the lower parts of Jericho's spine.

"Well," Matt spoke firmly, "I should give you my cellular just now but . . ."

"But?! There were no buts Hardy! I gave you what you wanted now you give me what I want!" Jericho spat at the calm face of the Hardcore Champion.

Slowly, Matt told him that "—but there is just another reason you are here tonight." And before Chris could react, Matt took a full swing and smashed his knuckles straight across Jericho's face, forcing him down to the ground exactly like he forced Randy Orton on RAW . . . only this was harder.

Looking up, Chris saw that Matt wasn't the only Hardy in the building.

(To Be Continued)

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A/N: Next update tomorrow night!

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