The Counter Invasion

by Jay 2K Winger

CHAPTER 28 IS UP! The Storm has broken Stone Cold's neck. The Gemini continue to cause problems, and who's the Alliance's fourth entrant in the Women's Title Tournament? (RR please!)

16. Violence Breaks Out

The Counter-Invasion
By: Jay Winger

Timeline Note: This chapter picks up the Monday after the last one.

Teaser: The line in the sand has been drawn. The Alliance wants the WCW Championship back, but The Storm is dead-set on keeping it. How long can The Storm stay sane with the stress he's put on himself? Also, other tensions continue to build, including the violent break-up of a beloved tag team.

Rating: R - for violence and profanity

Disclaimer: All things WWF and WCW are property of WWFE, Inc. All things ECW are property of whomever the frell owns ECW. All things CIW are property of me. The characters of "The Storm" Matthew Skinner, Claire "Rain" Whittaker, Billy Rose, Brad "Brick" Dickerson, the band Cold Steel, et al. are also my property. Please ask before you use them. Viper, Rattler, Soul, Cobra, Python, and all other creations of Boulder are his property and are used with his permission. Lyrics from "Defy You" by Offspring are used without permission.

Previously: Rain v. Stacy Keibler ended in a "no contest" when Torrie Wilson continually interfered. After the match, Ivory ran out and defected to the Alliance. Rhyno and Test came out with Shane and added to the punishment. When The Storm ran out, Rhyno gave him a Gore for his trouble. Billy Rose came backstage to try and warn The Storm about the Hellions, but The Storm, furious at what had happened to him and still distrustful of Rose, told him in no uncertain terms to get lost. Victor E def. Kanyon to become the new U.S. Champion. Backstage, Undertaker met Scion face-to-face for the first time... only it wasn't the first time. The two discussed the growing threat of the Darkside -- a subject on which Taker was well-versed -- in regards to The Storm. Scion warned Taker that if The Storm became Agony -- his cruel, sadistic side when he was in the Hellions' thrall -- then no one was safe. The Storm v. Test ended in a "no contest" after continual interference from Shane and Rhyno. The Storm finally chased them off with his ugly-stick and showed his defiance and challenged them to come back and try again.

FYI: List of Champions: WWF - Triple H; Intercontinental - Edge; European - Eddie Guerrero; Hardcore - Rob Van Dam; Light-Heavyweight - X-Pac; WWF Tag Team - Dudley Boyz; Women's - Rain; WCW - The Storm; U.S. - Victor E; Cruiserweight - Billy Kidman; WCW Tag Team - Undertaker & Kane

Chapter 16: Violence Breaks Out

Raw: February 3

Edge arrived about forty-five minutes later to the Air Canada Arena in Toronto than his brother did. Christian was waiting for him. "Dude! Tonight's gonna be soooo awesome!" the younger of the two said.

"I know," Edge grinned. "Tonight, I'm so totally gonna kick the ass of that stick-in-the-mud Lance Storm to retain my Intercontinental Title!"

Christian blinked, then nodded. "Yeah, but I'm also gonna get a title shot too!"

"Really?" Edge asked, enthusiastic. "Which one? The Hardcore title against Mr. Points-to-Self?" He mimicked Van Dam's thumbs gimmick. "Or-- hey! You've lost weight recently, right? So you're gonna go after the Cruiserweight Title against Just-a-Kid, Man? Or maybe the Light-Heavyweight Title against that chumpstain X-Pac?"

Christian shook his head. "No, no, I talked to Shane McMahon, and he let me have a shot at the U.S. Title!"

Edge blinked, then pulled his sunglasses off. "Uh, dude, that means you're gonna fight Victor E. He's on our side."

Christian waved it off. "So? He'll understand, man. Listen, I gotta go. Gotta go polish the lenses on my crazy-ass sunglasses!" He walked off as Edge looked at him strangely.

* * *

Jonathan Coachman stood in front of the WCW VIP Room, interviewing Shane McMahon. "Shane, a lot of people are wondering what your feelings are after last week. You put Matthew Skinner into no less than three title defenses in one week, and he still has the title around his waist."

"You think I'm not aware of this, or something, Coach?" Shane snapped. "I'm perfectly aware that Matthew Skinner still has the WCW Championship. Every time I wake up at night, I'm plagued by the fact that our championship is in the enemy camp. It makes me sick! Why else do you think I put him into three title defenses last week?" Then he smiled. "But you see, this is what Plan B is all about, Coach. I figure I might as well let Matthew Skinner know what's in store for him."

He faced the camera. "So, Mr. Force of Nature, if you're listening, listen good. From this moment forward, the WCW Title will be on the line in every single match you have. And you will defend it every single night. But just to let you know, if by some miracle, you manage to hold onto that title until No Way Out, you will go face-to-face with the Man-Beast, Rhyno." He smirked. "And that, Skinner, is your Storm Warning."

* * *

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the WCW U.S. Championship!"

"You think you know me..." Clips of the grinning masters of offbeat shenanigans played as Christian came down the ramp, wearing a toque and a pair of his famous crazy-ass sunglasses. "Introducing first, the challenger, representing the WWF, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, weighing in at 215 pounds... CHRISTIAN!" Once in the ring, the Canadian pulled off his sunglasses and cap, then faced the ramp.

"We... are... ALIVE!" played prior to the triumphant horns of the champion. Victor E. strode out, wearing a new T-Shirt. The front had a large silver-gray V on it, while the back read Always Triumphant - Victor E. He wore his U.S. Title around his waist. "And his opponent, representing CIW, from San Diego, California, weighing in at 255 pounds... he is the U.S. Champion... VICTOR E!"

Victor pulled off his title belt and held it in the air before he stepped into the ring. He handed the title to referee Charles Robinson, then was attacked by Christian. The Canadian started pummeling him with right hands and forearms before getting him into the corner. Christian kicked him in the midsection until he was slumped in the corner, then started throttling him. Robinson had to pull him back to lecture him on the rules. When the former seven-time WWF Tag Champion turned back, Victor raked his eyes to get himself some breathing room.

The U.S. Champion stood up and pulled his T-Shirt off, throwing it in Christian's face so he could start kicking him in the ribs and stomach. Soon the shirt fell loose and Victor smacked him across the jaw. Robinson turned away for a moment to throw the shirt out of the ring, and so he missed Christian abruptly kick Victor in the groin to halt the CIWer's rally.

When Robinson turned back, Christian had slipped behind Victor for a quick school boy. 1... 2-- and Victor kicked out. Christian slapped his hands at the referee, then pulled Victor up for some more pummeling. He got him into the corner, then whipped him across into the other corner, following up with a corner clothesline. Christian prepared to do it again, but Victor reversed the whip, throwing his body weight into the movement, causing Christian to collide hard with the turnbuckle and fall over.

Victor slowly got to his feet, then pulled Christian to his, sending him into the ropes before connecting with a dropkick to the chin. Standing back up after the move, Victor raised his hands in the air, flashing the V-for-victory sign. "Victor E, baby!" The fans cheered as Victor went to pull Christian up again, but the wily Canadian hit a drop toe-hold which sent the CIWer throat-first into the bottom rope. Christian got up and quickly pulled the rope against Victor's neck as he pressed down on his head, choking him. The fans booed as Christian did so, while Robinson started a five-count. The challenger released him at four, then pulled him away from the ropes, pummeling him in the head.

Finally, Christian pulled him up and prepared to hit the Unprettier. As he turned Victor around, however, the last CIW Champion shook his arms free, then hooked Christian into a pumphandle. He swung him onto his shoulders, the spun him around into a flapjack in the Victory Slam. He quickly turned him over, then folded him up for the 1... 2... 3! "Here is your winner, and still the U.S. Champion... VICTOR E!"

Victor rolled out of the ring, collecting both his title belt and his discarded T-Shirt. As he left up the ramp, he raised the shirt in the air, then threw it out to the fans, who dived after it. In the ring, Christian looked stunned at his quick defeat, running his hands through his hair in shock.

* * *

Backstage, Matthew Skinner was arriving at the building, his expression masked by his ever-present black sunglasses. His duffel bag was slung over one shoulder and he carried his WCW Title belt on that same shoulder, clipped around his bag's strap. He looked to be in an extremely bad mood, and so most of the wrestlers who were hanging around (fortunately, they were all WWF or CIW) gave him a wide berth. Michael Cole, however, came up to him with a cameraman and a microphone. "Mr. Skinner, wait, please. Have you seen the interview that Shane McMahon gave earlier tonight? What are your thoughts on that?"

The Storm stopped and turned around. "My thoughts? Michael, you don't want to know what my thoughts are. You don't want to know how it felt to take my WCW Title belt--" he tapped it on his shoulder strap, "--and use it to split Diamond Dallas Page's skull open. You don't want to know how it felt to stretch Booker T's neck back until I could feel it ready to snap. You don't want to know how it felt to take a steel chair and cave in the brain cavity of that traitor, Test. Do yourself a favor, Michael, and stay the hell out of my way. Take that message to the rest of the Alliance. I will do whatever I have to do to keep my title. Anyone who thinks they're going to take it away from me is going to end up either in traction or in a bodybag. And anyone who thinks I need any help is going to find my boot up their ass."

He paused, then adjusted his sunglasses before turning to Cole again. "As for Shane's little decision to make me defend my title in every match I've got, I tell him to be very, very careful. While I welcome a challenge, you can only push a man so far before he snaps and goes ballistic on your ass. If Shane pushes me that far, I will go ballistic on him. And that is his Storm Warning." Abruptly, The Storm turned around and walked away.

* * *

Christian was leaning against a wall, a dazed look still on his face from his abrupt defeat earlier that night. His brother Edge walked up, looking at him. "Hey." No reaction. Edge blinked and tried again. "How ya doin'?" Still no reaction. Edge shrugged and said, "You gave it your best shot. Maybe after tonight, we can go out and--"

But now Lance Storm walked up, almost breaking his usual fixed expression with a semi-sneer. "Well, well. Nice job, loser." He directed this at Christian. "You're almost as big of a loser as this city. At least you're keeping the streak alive." Edge stared at him angrily as Christian continued to act catatonic. Lance continued, "Toronto lost its bid for the Olympics, you lost your match, and Edge here, you're making it three for three when you lose the IC title to me later tonight. I guess you guys are living proof, nothing good ever came out of Toronto. This whole place is pathetic."

Finally Edge had enough. "You wanna know what's pathetic, Lance? Getting eliminated from the Royal Rumble by a simple low-bridge is pathetic. Having the personality of a dried prune is pathetic. Being a thirty year old man who's never kissed a girl, now that's pathetic. But tonight, Lance, you're not going to have to worry about any offbeat shenanigans, because I am going to straight-up kick your ass."

Lance sneered. "Oh, yeah?" There was an awkward pause as the serious Canadian tried to come up with a retort. Finally, he just said, "Well, we'll just see about that."

Edge nodded, a confident smirk on his face before leaving. Christian remained leaning against the wall, still looking dazed and not having moved at all during this whole exchange.

* * *

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Championship!" Harsh, serious-sounding music played as Lance Storm came out. "Introducing first, the challenger, representing the Alliance, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, weighing in at 240 pounds... LANCE STORM!" Storm raised his fists in the air as he came down the ramp. He entered the ring, then faced the ramp, waiting in a crouch.

"You think you know me..." Edge came out, grinning at the cheering hometown crowd. "And his opponent, representing the WWF, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, weighing in at 240 pounds... he is the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Champion... EDGE!"

Lance didn't even let Edge get his pose in the corner in before attacking him from behind. The Alliance member dished out a few right hands before Edge reversed it. The champion whipped Lance into the other corner, then caught him on the rebound for a back body drop. Lance got up slowly, only to get a clothesline, then a second. Edge went for an Irish whip, but Lance reversed it. On the rebound, Edge wrapped his legs around the other Canadian's head in a headscissors takedown. The momentum took Lance out of the ring. Lance crawled onto the apron, where Edge smacked him with a right hand and went to suplex him into the ring. Lance blocked and tried to suplex his opponent back out, but Edge countered that and succeeded in suplexing Lance over the top rope and into the ring.

Getting back up, Lance went to kick Edge in the stomach, but the blond-haired Canadian caught the kick, only to get an enzuigiri to the jaw. Lance hurled him over the top to the outside, then followed. He bounced Edge's head off the barrier, then rolled him back in. Lance climbed the turnbuckle and sprang off the top with a springboard diving forearm smash for a two-count. Angry, the Calgary native bounced Edge's head off the turnbuckle, then hit a jawbreaker. Edge staggered back, only to catch a dropkick on the jaw. 1... 2... and Edge kicked out. Lance sneered and rubbed Edge's face across the mat. "It's my title!" he shouted.

This managed to galvanize Edge into action. He managed to hit a few elbows to Lance's midsection, then smacked him in the face before coming off the ropes. Edge went for a clothesline, which Lance ducked before going off the other ropes. Both men went for a crossbody, and so they collided in mid-air with a smack. Teddy Long, the referee, started a ten-count, but both men were up by six. Lance started off first with a right hand, but Edge retaliated. The two traded right hands before Edge came off the ropes with a shoulder block, then a second. Edge came off the ropes a third time with a spinning wheel kick for a two-count. Pulling him back up, the champion went for a whip, which was reversed, but Edge managed to counter the move and pulled Lance down to the mat from behind in the Edge-o-Matic for another two-count.

Edge shot him into the ropes again and ducked his head for a back body drop. Lance, however, saw it coming and kicked him upright, then went for the superkick. Edge caught the kick, kicked Lance in the gut and went for the Buzz Killer. Lance blocked that, then hit a nasty chop-block to the knee before tying Edge into the Maple Leaf. The hometown hero cried out as he reached desparately for the ropes, but Lance pulled him toward the center of the ring. Straining, his knee screaming in pain, Edge crawled forward and managed at last to grab the ropes. Lance held the Maple Leaf on for four more seconds before releasing him. Sadistic, the Alliance member started kicking Edge in the back of the injured knee before the champion shoved him back. Lance came right back and did it again. He grabbed the leg for the Maple Leaf again, but Edge flipped himself forward and rolled Lance up for the 1... 2... 3! "Here is your winner, and still the WWF Intercontinental Champion... EDGE!"

Furious at the loss, Lance immediately dropkicked Edge in the knee to knock him down again. He dropped an elbow on the injured knee, then grabbed a chair from the outside. However, as he got back in the ring, he saw Christian running down the ramp with a chair of his own. Lance quickly took a powder and retreated backstage. The younger brother helped Edge up, then gave him a hug. Christian then retrieved Edge's title belt and handed it to him. Edge raised it in the air--

And Christian abruptly swung his chair up and into Edge's head with a CRACK! With a blank look in his eyes, Christian raised the chair in the air, then swung it down into Edge's ribs. Edge doubled over in pain as the dazed expression on Christian face finally broke. "You did this to me!! You did this! You deserve this! It's all your fault!" The fans were clamoring in shock as Christian slid his chair under Edge's head, then placed his title belt across the side of his head. With a vicious snarl, Christian raised the other chair -- the one Lance Storm had left behind -- then smashed Edge in the head in a vile One-Man Conchairto. Edge lay limp and senseless on the mat as Christian stood over him, quivering with rage and tugging out his hair.

The younger brother dropped his chair on the mat and slowly walked up the ramp, leaving Edge behind as referees and EMTs came out to check on him. The fans stared in shock as the officials pulled Edge to his feet and literally had to drag him up the ramp.

It was clear to everyone what had happened, though: the E&C Dynasty, the Brothers Grin, Edge & Christian had broken up.

* * *

Thunder rumbled on the TitanTron and the fans cheered as the lightning flashed and shut the lights off. "This is your Storm Warning!" The siren blared and the music of Cold Steel roared up as The Storm came out, wearing his I am a Force of Nature T-Shirt and carrying his ten pounds of gold. "The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the WCW Championship. Introducing first, representing the WWF, from Dallas, Texas, weighing in at 240 pounds... Matthew Skinner... "THE STORM!""

The fans and the man in the ring waited impatiently to find out who The Storm's opponent was going to be. They got their answer as music started up before a man shouted, "One of a kind!" Rock music by Breaking Point played as the fans started cheering again, only louder. This was because on the ramp was none other than Mr. Monday Night, the Whole Fucking Show, Rob Van Dam. He carried his Hardcore Championship on his shoulder and did his usual Van Dam grin to the crowd. "And his opponent, representing the Alliance, from Battle Creek, Michigan, weighing in at 220 pounds... he is the World Wrestling Federation Hardcore Champion... ROB VAN DAM!"

As RVD started to climb the steps, however, his music was interrupted by that of someone else. "Here comes the money! (Here we go - Money talks.) Here comes the money..." All the cheering and bobbing thumbs in the stands abruptly turned to boos and rude gestures. Shane McMahon slowly walked out on the ramp, then down to ringside. The Boy Wonder wore one of his usual semi-casual shirts and slacks as he paced around. The Storm glared at him, removing his sunglasses to fix him with a burning gaze.

At last, Skinner turned his attention to Van Dam, who had tossed his cracked gold out of the ring and started circling. Referee Charles Robinson circled with them, not noticing Shane pull a chair out from under the ring and slide it into the corner. Quickly, the WCW Owner rushed to the next corner over and jumped on the apron. Robinson zipped over to cut him off before he could get involved, but Shane's ploy had worked. Van Dam grabbed the chair off the mat and tossed it to The Storm, who had been half-distracted by Shane. The Force of Nature caught it, and as a result he was easy prey for RVD, who promptly jumped off the mat and snapped his foot into the chair in the Van Daminator.

RVD slipped the chair back out of the ring as Shane hopped off the apron, pointing into the ring. Robinson turned and saw Van Dam in the cover. 1... 2... and The Storm kicked out as well as thrusting one of his arms in the air. RVD thought nothing of this as he went over to the corner, preparing to deliver the finish he saw as academic. But as he grasped the top ropes, he was abruptly barrelled into from behind by an enraged Matthew Skinner. The Storm slammed Van Dam sternum-first into the corner, then started bashing his head off the turnbuckle.

Shane jumped on the apron again, shouting at him. Skinner spun around and lunged, swinging a fist at him. The young McMahon nimbly ducked, then grabbed The Storm's head as he dropped off the apron, hot-shotting him off the top rope. Robinson had not seen this as he was checking on RVD in the corner. Staggering back, Skinner was again left easy prey for the challenger, who swept his legs out from under him with a sweep kick. With The Storm laid out flat, RVD went off the opposite ropes, then went into a somersalt before flattening himself out in a senton in the Rolling Thunder. Van Dam covered. 1... 2... and The Storm again kicked out.

As RVD backed up to consider his next attack, it became apparent that Skinner's forehead -- which had been busted open a few times over the past few weeks -- was again bleeding. Turning over to stand himself upright, The Storm felt his forehead with one hand, staring at the blood on his fingers. His lips curled back in a snarl as his rage started to boil over.

But then something strange happened. He looked up at Van Dam with a wild look in his eyes. He raised his bloody hand to his mouth, then licked the blood off his fingers. As RVD and Shane reacted, the Force of Nature suddenly grabbed the top rope and started jerking it up and down, yelling at the top of his lungs, like a raving madman. The fans were shocked as well, especially as The Storm turned around to face Van Dam with a manic grin. He beckoned Mr. Monday Night to bring it on. Van Dam obliged.

The two started trading blows, but none of RVD's punches seemed to be having any effect on the Force of Nature. Soon Skinner had backed Van Dam into the corner where he started pistoning his arm in and out of the corner with blow after blow. Finally he stopped, flashed a wicked grin at Shane, then reared back before snapping his arm across RVD's chest in a knife-edge chop. Van Dam winced and held his chest, only to be pushed back upright and have it done again. Another wince, and The Storm repeated it. Before Van Dam could wince, however, Skinner swung his hand back in an open-handed slap to the chest, then back the other way in the knife-edge chop, then back again in the slap. Chop, slap, chop, slap, chop.

As RVD's chest turned red under the straps of his singlet, The Storm grabbed him by the head and pulled him from the corner. Once out in the middle of the ring, he suddenly grabbed him in a half-nelson, then delivered a nasty snap suplex, folding RVD in half and knocking him senseless. The fans gave an "OHHH!" of surprise and alarm, which was echoed by the commentators. Paul Heyman was almost pitching a fit at seeing one of ECW's icons "broken in half," to use the ECW mastermind's words.

Rather than go for the pin, however, The Storm stood up and turned in a slow circle until his eyes met those of Shane McMahon. The co-owner of the Alliance saw something in those crazed eyes, and he didn't like what he saw. Shane started running as The Storm slid out of the ring and gave chase. For all of Shane's vaunted swiftness, he made the mistake of trying to jump the announce table and take off through the crowd. This slowed him down enough for Skinner to catch him. He grabbed Shane by the back of the shirt and hauled him back over the desk. Gripping the Boy Wonder by the collar and the belt, The Storm pivoted around and hurled Shane into the steel stairs.

In the ring, Robinson was more concerned with Van Dam, who after finally falling flat and lying spread eagle in the ring, wasn't moving. As a result, the referee didn't see what happened outside the ring next. The Storm stood over Shane's senseless carcass and grinned maliciously, not spotting the hairy and sweaty male form who jumped out of the crowd. Matthew Skinner turned around and was promptly Gored into the security barrier behind him by Rhyno. The fans shouted and promptly started booing as the Man-Beast thumped his chest and raised his fists in the air. "Who's da man?!"

The boos turned to cheers as a chair-wielding Billy Rose came running down the ramp, cracking Rhyno in the head before the ECWer saw him coming. Rose set the chair on the steel steps and dragged The Storm to his feet, rousing him slightly before rolling him into the ring. Robinson turned and saw the WCW Champion lying on the mat in a similar state as RVD, and so began the ten-count. Van Dam, who had been taken out sooner than The Storm, was the first to get up as the ref counted seven. RVD looked at Skinner, who lay near the corner, but too close for a Five-Star. Van Dam stepped over him and into the corner. He hitched himself up, ready to deliver the Split-Legged Moonsault, but Rose wasn't feeling that magnanimous. He raised his chair and blasted Van Dam in the head with it.

Charles Robinson saw this, and promptly started ringing the bell, calling for the disqualification. Rose entered the ring and set the chair down, going to help The Storm to his feet. Robinson handed the belt to Rose, who slipped it into Skinner's hands. By this point, however, Shane and Rhyno were both starting to come around. The two entered the ring and immediately pulled the Californian off of The Storm and began applying a two-man beating. Van Dam came around and angrily joined in, pissed at being screwed out of double gold.

The fans cheered again as The Storm pushed himself upright, brushing blood off of his forehead, running his fingers down his face, leaving two bloody smears down his cheeks under his eyes. He hoisted the chair up and smashed it into Rhyno's head, sending him rolling out of the ring. He pivoted and brained Van Dam, sending him packing as well. Shane whirled around and barely had time to get his hands up to try and cushion the blow that hit him in the face. The young McMahon hit the mat and rolled out of the ring, retreating up the ramp with his two comrades, staring in the ring at the bleeding lunatic with the steel chair.

The Storm paced in the ring, the blood starting to dry on his face, when he noticed that Billy Rose was starting to get up in the corner. He stared at him, then gripped the chair with both hands. The fans, sensing what was coming, started yelling, as if to dissuade the Force of Nature from doing what he was about to do. Rose heard the sound from the crowd and turned around. CRACK! The steel chair hit him square in the forehead, sending him right back to the mat.

The Storm threw the badly-dented chair to the mat and grabbed his title belt from where he'd dropped it in the corner. He walked back over and stood over Rose's unconscious form, holding his WCW Title over him. "You see this, Rose? This is mine! Not yours! I'm the one who defends it, not you! Next time you try to get involved, I'll break every bone in your fucking body!!"

-more to come-

Next: No Way Out draws closer and closer as The Storm begins to strike out at anything that approaches him -- friend and foe alike. How much more can one man take?

If you have any ideas for possible feuds/relationships for any of my characters, drop me a line at jay_winger_2k@hotmail.com.

-=Jay 2K Winger=-
Live and Almost Legal
June 20, 2002