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!)

22. NO WAY OUT

The Counter-Invasion
By: Jay Winger

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

Teaser: No Way Out is here. Powder kegs fill the card, as conflicts between various parties reach a head, and what will the Alliance do to The Storm after what he's done?

Rating: R - for violence and profanity

Disclaimer: All things WWF and WCW are property of WWE, 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: A nervous Mr. & Mrs. Helmsley arrived at the arena, where they were told by Justin Credible that the Alliance had gotten there early and had combed the arena for The Storm, and that he wasn't there. The Storm, however, was there, and promptly took on Justin and Triple H, then abducted Stephanie, taking her to the basement of the arena, where all the lights but one were out. Meanwhile, Chris Jericho cut a promo against Kurt Angle, and did color commentary for Angle's tag match with Victor E against Booker T & Test. Booker T & Test def. Kurt Angle & Victor E with the Boot to the Head. After the match, Booker did the spinaroonie, but Angle, who had tried to chase off Jericho, ran back and put him in the Angle Lock. Jericho then hit the ring and chased off Angle, hit Booker with the chair, and got a Boot to the Head from Test as well. In the basement, The Storm tormented Stephanie, considering things he could do to her. Meanwhile, Victor E accepted a U.S. Title challenge from Booker, and Scion remarked that The Storm was dangerously close to "falling into darkness." Elsewhere, the Gemini and the Brothers of Destruction had a brief staredown prior to Kane and Castor's tag match. Kane & Castor v. DDP & Tommy Dreamer ended in a Double Count-Out as Undertaker, Kane, and the Gemini started fighting outside the ring and the Alliance team joined in. Meanwhile, The Storm continued to torment Stephanie, calling her a slut and suggesting she'd do him if she thought it would save her. He then told her he wanted her to make a "no disqualifications" stipulation to his match at No Way Out. He left her to think it over. Kanyon def. Edge via Count-Out when Christian ran out and interfered, leading to Edge chasing him off. He then ran back and hit Kanyon with a Buzz Killer before Christian gave him the Unprettier. Back in the basement, Stephanie finally conceded to signing the new stipulation, after which The Storm told her to give Triple H a message -- a title belt-shot to the head, and the promise that he'd come after Triple H when he was done with Rhyno.

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

Chapter 22: NO WAY OUT

Sunday: No Way Out, February 23

The fans cheered wildly as "Papercut" by Linkin Park -- No Way Out's theme music -- underscored the wild bursts of pyros at the Pay-Per-View's set. It featured a giant steel framework resembling a prison cell door, with the TitanTron screen centered in the top portion, with three smaller screens underneath it, the center screen flashed the PPV logo while the other two featured the WWF & CIW logos and the WCW & ECW logos respectively. As the smoke faded into the air, the music increased in volume as thousands of fans waved their banners and signs and foam in the air.

"We welcome you to WWF No Way Out, live on Pay-Per-View from the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio! The fans at WWF New York in the heart of Times Square, where it's standing room only, with over 50,000 fans here in attendance, and many more watching at home, on a night which will have serious repercussions leading toward Wrestlemania -- as the WWF Champion, The Game -- Triple H -- has to defend his title against the Texas Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and the WCW Champion, "The Storm" Matthew Skinner faces serious consequences from the Alliance's #1 Contender, the Man-Beast -- Rhyno!"

The cameras cut to show Jim Ross and Jim Pickett at the announce desk. "Hello, everyone, I'm Jim Ross, alongside the Voice of CIW, Jim Pickett, and unfortunately..." He trailed off for a moment as the camera pulled back to show Paul Heyman seated on the other side of J.R., his neck still bruised and bandaged. Ross continued, "... unfortunately, we are once again joined by the Voice of the Alliance, Paul Heyman--"

"Are you done?" Heyman interrupted. His voice was a bit raspy as he glared at his broadcast partners. "Because if you are--"

"J.R. may be, Paulie, but I'm not," Pickett cut in. He looked to the camera, ignoring Heyman's glare. The sandy-haired, bearded commentator went on, "Folks, I apologize ahead of time for the obnoxiousness you will have to put up with from Mr. Heyman, and I will do my best to make up for his presence here at ringside."

There was a slight pause from Heyman as Linkin Park faded out, replaced by the CIW trademark, a snippet from the Offspring's "Defy You." "We... are... ALIVE!" It segued into a triumphant march-like number as Victor E emerged on the ramp, wearing his WCW U.S. Championship. The CIWer raised his arms in the air and flashed a 'V-for-victory' sign as he approached the ring. (Heyman snapped at Pickett, "You are so rude." "This coming from the guy who whacked Cactus Jack in the head with a cell phone during a match?")

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the WCW United States Championship! Introducing first, representing CIW, from San Diego, California, weighing in at 255 pounds... he is the United States Champion... VICTOR E!" Victor wore his usual blue-and-black tights with his name down the side, as well as his Always Triumphant T-Shirt, which bore the slogan on the back and a large silver V on the front. He removed his belt and climbed up on the corner, raising his belt in the air and flashing another 'V-for-victory' sign. "Victor E, baby!" he shouted. He handed the belt down to the referee, then pulled off his shirt, tossing it out to the crowd. He brushed his long blond hair out of his face and crouched in wait for his opponent.

"Can you dig it? Sucka!" Hip-hop music started up as the fans booed the former five-time WCW Champion came out, wearing blue trunks with BT on the front and Booker T on the back. "And the challenger, representing the Alliance, from Houston, Texas, weighing in at 250 pounds... BOOKER T!" Booker jerked his head and raised his hands in the air as flame pyros burst behind him. He stared at Victor in the ring as he came down and stepped through the ropes.

The two stared each other down to start as the referee -- Teddy Long -- held the U.S. Championship belt in the air. Victor gave a confident smirk, stretched out his shoulders, then raised a hand and flashed the 'V-for-victory' sign again in his opponent's face. "Victor E, baby!"

Booker raised his right hand, showing his palm to Victor, then staring into it himself. "Yeah? Well I'm a five-time WCW Champion, sucka!"

"Sucka is right," Victor replied, swinging and smacking the Texan across the jaw. He followed up with a forearm to the head, then grabbed an arm and shot Booker into the ropes, catching him with a kneelift on the rebound, flipping him over onto his back. Booker grunted as he hit the mat, then came up with a right hand of his own. Victor reeled, retaliated, then shoved him back into the corner, where he chopped the Booker-Man across the chest a few times before aiming some kicks at the right knee.

Booker shouted in pain as Victor propped the leg on the ropes and kicked at the thigh. "And now Victor's showing why he was the greatest CIW Champion of all time," Pickett was saying at commentary. "He's being smart and trying to take out Booker's leg, to prevent him from doing the Scissor Kick later in the match, or even--" He smirked at Heyman, "heaven forbid -- the spinaroonie."

"Don't count out Booker T," Heyman replied as Booker managed to drive the champion back with some knife-edge chops. "He is a former five-time WCW Champion, and the most electrifying man in sports entertainment today!"

"True, but Booker's title reigns were only a few months when you add them together," the CIW announcer pointed out. "Victor's title reigns, when you add them together, totalled to over two years!"

"Oh, yeah, real impressive," Heyman sneered. "That's real impressive coming from a bush league promotion."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you operate out of a bingo hall?"

"And now Booker T's making a comeback," J.R. interrupted, steering the chatter back to the match. "Quickly putting the heat onto the U.S. Champion, Victor E, from CIW."

Sure enough, Booker was steadily wearing down Victor, chopping him in the chest and clotheslining him around the ring. Finally as Booker sent him into the ropes, the CIWer went low coming off, dropkicking his opponent in the knee -- the same knee he'd been working over earlier. The WCWer went down as Victor got up and kicked at Booker's knee some more. He dragged Booker toward the corner, sliding out of the ring and looking to wrap the weakened knee around the ring post.

The Booker-Man, however, was not out of the game yet. He jerked his legs, then yanked them back, pulling Victor face-first into the ring post. The champion fell to the floor, holding his jaw, as the challenger got up, sliding out to throw Victor into the barricade. He then lifted him up and dropped him face-first on the barricade a second time before rolling him back into the ring. Booker followed, bouncing off the ropes to deliver a stalling knee-drop to Victor's sternum.

Booker went for a cover, but only got a two-count. He argued with the referee, pulling Victor up, wrenching the arm, and preparing to deliver a hook kick to the head when the CIWer dropped to the mat, maintaining his grip on Booker's hand. This put him in the pumphandle position. He started to set Booker up for the Victory Slam, but Booker elbowed free, hip-tossing him to the mat.

Booker looked for the Scissor Kick as Victor started to get up, but the CIWer raised his head out of the way, but hit an enzuigiri dropkick to Booker's bad knee, then struck. With Booker face-down on the mat, Victor twisted the weakened leg into a deathlock, then leaned forward, hooking an arm and locking his hands over Booker's face in an STF. "And Victor's got it locked on!" Pickett crowed. "The Jaws of Defeat! It's over! It's over!"

"No! No!" Heyman was shouting. "Get to the ropes, Booker! Get to the ropes!"

But it was not to be. Booker was just too far away from the ropes. He screamed as he made one last valiant reach, then started pounding the mat with his hand. The referee called for the bell and handed the belt to Victor. The CIWer raised the belt in the air, then rolled out of the ring. He smirked, raising the belt with one hand as he flashed the 'V-for-victory' sign again. "Here is your winner, and still the U.S. Champion... VICTOR E!"

"A great way to start off No Way Out here tonight," J.R. remarked, "than with a strong and decisive title defense by Victor E."

"And it's a taste of things to come as well, J.R.," Pickett said. "The WWF-CIW Coalition is going to come out triumphant tonight over the Alliance."

"Don't count the Alliance out yet," Paul E. growled. "We will still get our titles back -- and we'll keep what we have, too. Mark my words -- Triple H will walk in the WWF Champion and he will leave the WWF Champion. Mark my words."

* * *

Backstage, Zed and Zeta were busy preparing themselves for their Four-Corners Elimination Tag Team Match for the WWF Tag Titles. Zed was busy taping up his wrists and hands while Zeta was stretching, jumping around their commandeered restroom like a kid with too much sugar.

"Zait, calm down, you're giving me a headache over here," the ex-boxer said, pulling the black tape tight and tearing it off. He went to throw away the extra piece.

"Hey, wait a sec," Zeta said. He took the tape from him, then tore three small strips from it length-wise. Walking over to the mirror, he put one strip under his left eye, making it almost look like the stripes under a football player's eyes. He took the second and third strips and put them on under the first so he had a black Z on his left cheek under his eye.

"Hey, nice!" Zed grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. He turned to one of the stalls. "Dee! Whaddaya think?"

The stall door opened, showing Dee Meaner hanging upside down by her knees on the top of the stall wall. She grinned and gave a thumbs-up, blinked, frowned at it, then turned it so she was giving a thumbs-down -- which would be a thumbs-up from the Z-Men's perspective. "Awesome!"

"You gonna come out to the ring with us?" the smaller Z-Man asked as he smoothed the Z on his cheek.

"Naturally," the brunette bombshell replied. "The Duds are gonna have Stacy K with them, the Hardys are gonna have La Lita Loca, and the Hurri-Twins are probably gonna drag Miss Bar-o-Soap out too. Gotta represent, ya know." She grinned, then bent at her waist, leaning up and grasping the top of the stall wall with her hands. She then flipped her legs up and down, landing sharply on the floor. "Cuz we're gonna bring those titles back! Damn skippy!" She grinned and raised her hand in the air, flashing the CIW sign, which the Z-Men happily returned.

* * *

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Championship!"

"Christian! Chris-TIAAN! At last, you are on your OOOOOOWN!" The operatic music switched to a rock tune as golden sparks rained from the overhead lighting structure, more sparks fountaining up from the stage. The fountain stopped, revealing the treacherous Christian standing with his arms spread wide, a sardonic smile plastered on his face. He'd traded in his usual semi-see-through brown top for a red mesh top, sporting tights with his emblem in gold down the sides. As usual, he wore a pair of crazy-ass sunglasses, this time bright orange goggle-like ones. "Introducing first, the challenger, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, weighing in at 215 pounds... CHRISTIAN!"

The fans booed as Christian slid into the ring and climbed onto the ropes, rolling his shoulders, then pointing his thumbs back into his chest, laughing. He stepped down and pulled the sunglasses off, smoothing back his hair and waiting. HIs music trailed off. "You think you know me..." The fans cheered as Edge's old entrance video played, lights strobing under the TitanTron. "You will never know me..." Rob Zombie music started up as a dry ice cloud fountained up from the stage. "Yeeeah... my Durango, number 95..." Edge came bounding out of the fog, wearing one of his slick black trenchcoats and white tights, wearing his title belt around his waist. "And his opponent, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, weighing in at 240 pounds... he is the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Champion... EDGE!"

Edge ripped off his silvery-framed sunglasses and glared at the Cain to his Abel. He threw off his trenchcoat, pulled his belt off and tossed it into the ring as he slid in after it. Christian immediately started beating on his head and neck as he got up, but Edge shook it all off and retaliated with right hands of his own. The two traded off blows for a while before Edge sent Christian into the ropes and caught him with a flapjack. As Christian got back up, Edge quickly looked for the Buzz Killer DDT, but Christian slipped free and out of the ring.

"Oh, no, you don't!" Edge snapped, sliding out after him, trading more blows with him there. "You're not getting off that easy, bro!" They fought up the ramp, where Edge got the upper hand, knocking his brother down and then hooking his legs under his arms. He dropped backward, catapulting the "deranged maestro" into the set. The referee had followed them, trying to get them back into the ring. Edge shot the ref a look, then pulled Christian back up, slugging him in the head and sending him reeling down the ramp to the ring.

Once there, Edge threw Christian's head off the turnbuckle. He backed up and prepared to deliver a vicious Spear to his brother, but Christian dodged aside and hurled him shoulder-first into the steel post. He toppled to the outside, where the challenger, pulled him up and threw him shoulder-first into the steel stairs. "I'm gonna be the champ!" Christian shouted at him. "I'm the better brother! Me!" He rolled him back into the ring, standing him up, hooking his head from behind, dropping him back onto his knee in a backbreaker for a two-count.

Snarling, Christian stood him up, then grabbed his hair and threw him to the mat. He did it a second time, then whipped him into the ropes to hit a powerslam for another two-count. "Come on, ref!" he snapped, slapping his hands quickly for emphasis. He snatched his hand down around Edge's throat, choking him for four seconds before the ref stopped him. He took Edge to the corner and started slugging away on him, then choking him with his boot. He pulled him upright, reared back to hit him again, but the Edge got his second wind. He reversed positions and started unloading punch after punch on him.

After a minute of this, Edge hit Christian with a side Russian legsweep, then went upstairs, looking for a missile dropkick. He leapt, but Christian dodged out of the way. Edge, however, showed remarkable agility, turning himself in mid-air and landing on his feet. Christian started to turn around, but Edge grabbed him by the waist and hurled him back and over his head in a German suplex for a two-count. As Christian got up in the corner, Edge again lined him up for a Spear, and again Christian sidestepped it, causing Edge's bad shoulder to strike the post yet again. The mad maestro pulled him out and covered for a two-count, leading to another trading of blows. They both went off opposite ropes, looking for a crossbody, causing them to collide chest-to-chest and knock the wind out of each other.

Edge started beating on Christian as he came around, hair-tossing him to the mat, much as Christian did earlier. Christian fought back with a knee-lift, then went for a DDT, but Edge kneed out of it and yanked Christian down to the mat in the Edge-O-Matic for a two-count. As he got back up, Christian grabbed his tights and hurled him to the outside, but Edge crawled under the ring apron. Christian slid out after him and looked under the ring, wondering where his brother went. Edge, for his part, crawled back out on the other side, climbing back in the ring, then springing over the top rope in a pescado. He rolled Christian back in the ring for a two-count.

Now Christian was getting frustrated. Try as he might, nothing was working. Edge just kept getting back up. He came off the ropes and hit a Spear for a two-count. Snarling, he slid out of the ring, grabbing the timekeeper and ring announcer's chairs, bringing them into the ring. Edge was still feeling the effects of the Spear, enabling Christian to place a chair on the mat, setting him up for the One-Man Conchairto. As he raised the chair, however, Edge clipped his legs and took him face-first to the mat, knocking him silly. Edge looked at the chairs, then started to smile. He grabbed the chair and positioned Christian, raising the chair. "Hey!" the ref grabbed the chair away from him. "You can't do that!"

As Edge turned to argue with the referee, who was passing the chair out to a stage hand, Christian got up, grabbing the extra chair and slipping it between Edge's legs, then snapping it up into his gonads. Edge groaned, doubling over as his brother slid the chair out of the ring, then rolled him up. The referee turned around, then counted the 1... 2... 3. The fans booed heavily at the tainted victory as Christian grabbed the title belt and rolled out of the ring, retreating up the ramp with a malicious sneer. He put the belt over his shoulder and slapped it with a laugh as Edge came around in the ring, his smoldering eyes burning a hole in his brother. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

* * *

Backstage, the Alliance section of the arena was on high alert after The Storm's incursions into their territory the previous week, especially at how he'd managed to fool their search parties. Evidently, he'd snuck into the arena by hiding on one of the WWF equipment trucks, and thus had evaded their initial sweep, and just waited for Triple H and Stephanie to show up. Nobody had seen where he'd taken Stephanie after that, and apparenly nobody had thought of checking the basement. (Indeed, most of the Alliance's roster hadn't been aware that the arena even had a basement.)

Stephanie was a quivering wreck, firmly ensconced in her VIP room, under heavy guard from some hired security people. Triple H was none the worse for wear after having spent the majority of Thursday evening locked in the trunk of his own limosuine. He was extremely ill-tempered, however, and nobody wanted to tell him that they had not yet located Matthew Skinner, that he may very well not be at the arena yet.

While all this was going on, Lance Storm was walking through the halls, mentally preparing himself for his match later that night. He walked around a corner, turned and looked back behind him. With an accompanying self-made "Whooosh!" his tag-team partner The Hurricane leapt into view. The self-proclaimed superhero stared into the distance, posing as Lance spoke. "Look, I just wanted to say, I think you're doing a great job." He gestured at his partner's attire. "I mean, what better way to illustrate the over-the-top, cartoonish nature of the World Wrestling Federation than by mocking them and pretending to be a superhero?" He almost -- almost -- cracked a smile. "I mean, you're throwin' it right in their face. It's pure genius!"

The Hurricane nodded, then turned his head sharply to look at him, pointing a finger. "Thank you, Citizen Storm! And I appreciate you're joining me in the fight against evil and injustice." Then he frowned. "But my hurri-senses are confused! What to you mean 'pretending' to be a superhero? Are you denying my hurri-powers? Are you saying my hurri-skills are not enough?" He spread his arms. "Wassupwitdat?" He wagged a finger. "Do not be a sanctimonious nonbeliever, Citizen Storm, oh no. Have faith--" He spun about and hit the hurri-pose, "--in the Hurricane!" He stood up, hands on his hips. "But first I must retrieve Sidekick Ivory, and then we go to the hurri-ring!" He leapt off, with another "Whooosh!" and left Lance Storm to stare after him, wondering just whether or not he'd made a wise choice in tag partners.

* * *

"The following contest is the Four-Corners Elimination Tag Team Match for the World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Championship!"

Pulse-pounding music started up as the words 2Xtreme flashed on the screen. The fans -- particularly the girls -- started screaming as the Hardys appeared on the stage, accompanied by Lita. "Introducing first, representing the WWF, from Cameron, North Carolina, being accompanied by Lita, at a combined weight of 440 pounds... Matt and Jeff... the HARDY BOYZ!" The brothers from North Carolina -- each wearing a Hardy Boyz shirt (Matt with the "guns" hand and their symbol, Jeff one of their Live for the Moment shirts) -- slid into the ring and proceeded to pose on adjacent corners as Lita posed at the ropes. They jumped down and ran to opposite corners to pose again as Lita turned around to face the ramp.

A drum beat started up, with a guitar joining in, spotlights circling the arena before the vocalist shouted, "Whoo-hoo!" The screen lit up with the legend Zed & Zeta as the Z-Men emerged, with Dee following. Zeta was wearing the CIW - Innovators of Extreme since 1990 T-Shirt under his red jacket, while Zed wore a Men of the Z T-Shirt cut to be basically a drape over his ring attire. Dee wore a Men of the Z shirt as well as her usual baggy orange pants. "And representing CIW, being accompanied by Dee Meaner, at a combined weight of 475 pounds... ZED & ZETA!" The trio hit the ring, where Zed climbed up on one corner and boxed the air before raising his fists in the air. Zeta leaned out over the ropes in the other corner, wagging his tongue and flashing either a metalhead sign, the CIW sign, or the Z sign. Dee just danced a bit in place, then turned and flashed a grin at Lita, who nodded back. The Z-Men turned and faced the Hardys, who flashed the "guns" at them. Zed tapped his fists together, then flashed the Z, while Zeta flashed the CIW sign.

"Stand back!" proclaimed a voice from the TitanTron. "There's a Hurricane comin' through!" Heroic music started up as the first three Alliance members walked out. Lance Storm wore black-and-silver tights, with Ivory wearing a black number. The Hurricane was clad as usual in his superhero garb, lips pursed in a frown as he came down the ramp. "And from the Alliance, being accompanied by Ivory, at a combined weight of 431 pounds... LANCE STORM & THE HURRICANE!" Lance slid into the ring and stared down his opponents as The Hurricane faced them, then did his hurri-pose, with Ivory raising her hands to boos.

The three teams stared each other down, with the three women exchanging somewhat heated looks as well before a bomb whistled on the TitanTron. "Yeah, we're comin' down now..." Pyros exploded at the top of the ramp as the Dudleys emerged, carrying their titles, with Stacy Keibler smirking and walking between them. "And also from the Alliance, being accompanied by Stacy Keibler, at a combined weight of 515 pounds... they are the World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions... Bubba Ray, D-Von, the DUDLEY BOYZ!"

As soon as the Dudleys hit the ring, it erupted in an all-out brawl. The Z-Men ran straight for the guys who had taken their titles before Lance and Helms jumped them. The Hardys joined in on beating on the Dudleys until eventually it all spilled out of the ring, leaving the Dudleys in the ring with Jeff Hardy, Bubba having tossed Matt over the top rope to the floor, almost landing on top of Zed. The Dudleys whipped Matt into the ropes, then hit him with a big double flapjack on the rebound, with Bubba staying in the ring to stomp and drop elbows on the hapless Hardy. He finally tagged in D-Von, who started unloading stiff right hands. He took Jeff to Lance and Helms' corner, kicked him in the stomach, then tagged in Lance, who kicked Jeff in the ribs.

The serious Canadian continued the assault, working the young Hardy over with sharp and strategic attacks, focusing on the ribs and generally trying to keep the high-flier grounded. He took Jeff back over to his corner and tagged in The Hurricane before hoisting Jeff up onto his shoulders. He pivoted as Helms ran in and swung Jeff into a neckbreaker as Lance dropped him in a Samoan drop variant. The crowd groaned at the move, booing, but The Hurricane didn't go for the cover right away. He struck the hurri-pose over Jeff's body, then dropped into the cover for a two-count.

The deluded cruiserweight stood up, frowning, struck the hurri-pose again, then ran off the ropes, aiming a front dropkick at Jeff, who caught his legs, looked to the crowd. "Goin' downstairs now!" he called to the crowd before dropping his legs into The Hurricane's hurri-gonads. He lunged and tagged in Matt, who ran into the ring, clobbering Helms with a right hand before whipping him into the Z-Men's corner. He dropped into a crouch, as Jeff ran, sprang off his brother's back, and hit Helms with the Poetry in Motion. Standing up, Matt tagged in Zeta, who helped whip Helms into the ropes before hitting him with a double back elbow. Matt left the ring as Zeta stomped away on The Hurricane.

"Come on, Hurri-crack!" Zeta yelled at him. He dropped an elbow, then whipped him into the ropes for a drop toehold and a elbow drop to the back. He stood up and flashed a metalhead sign, wagging his tongue out, then ran to his corner, hitching himself to the second rope for a missile dropkick. He stood up, looked to Zed, who was cracking his knuckles, then over to the Hardys. His partner looked at the Hardys as well, then shrugged and gave his partner the high thumb. Grinning, Zeta pulled The Hurricane up to his feet, then went over to tag in Matt Hardy again.

Matt fed Helms more right hands before he went to his corner, going to the second rope and flashing the "guns." All at once, Lance Storm ran in, slugged Matt in the stomach, bealing him out to the center of the ring, then elbowed Jeff off the apron. He returned to his corner as The Hurricane got up, staggered, then tagged in the nearest Alliance member he could see -- Bubba Ray Dudley.

Bubba gleefully went to work on Matt Hardy, stomping him and beating him around the ring. He finally scoop slammed him and dropped an elbow on his chest, stood up and did it a second time, then stood up, yelling and flashing the "guns" before dropping a double axe-handle on his chest. He tagged in D-Von, who began to unload stiff right hands to the older Hardy. He whipped him to the ropes and landed a spinning back elbow before standing up and yelling, "Who's da man!?"

He went and tagged in Lance Storm, who continued the attack before clamping on the Maple Leaf. Matt yelled in pain, trying to get to the ropes, which he finally managed to do after about a minute. Lance went over and tagged back in Bubba Ray, who ran across the ring and knocked Jeff off the apron, then dished out two right hands to the Z-Men. He went back to Matt and whipped him into the ropes for a clothesline. The WWF and CIW wrestlers tried to get back in the ring, but the referee held them back as The Hurricane and Lance ran into the ring and cut the Z-Men off at the pass. Jeff charged at Bubba and D-Von, who caught him and stungunned him on the top rope.

Bubba kicked Jeff out of the ring as D-Von pulled Matt up and shot him into the ropes, carrying him back into Bubba's now ready grip for the 3-D. Bubba covered as D-Von pulled the referee away from the fighting outside to count the 1... 2... 3. The Hardys were eliminated.

The Dudleys wasted no time, however, in bringing their next victims. They rolled out of the ring and dragged Zeta into the ring as Lance and Helms kept at beating on Zed. The eight-time ECW Tag Team Champions continued to isolate Zeta and brutally beat on him for a few minutes. Finally, Zed managed to get back up from where he lay on the mats outside the ring. He pulled Lance off the apron and threw him into the security barrier, then clotheslined The Hurricane as he lunged. The ref was distracted by this, enabling Bubba to spread Zeta's legs and set him up for the Wassap Drop (sans Wassap) from D-Von.

Zed returned to his corner and stretched out his hand, anxiously waiting for his partner to tag him in so he could exact some righteous retribution on the Alliance wrestlers. Zeta stretched to make a tag as D-Von grinned and pulled him back. He threw Zeta into Lance and Helms' corner, then tagged in The Hurricane, who started kicking at Zeta's chest before tagging in Lance. The Canadian continued the focus on Zeta's ribs, locking on an abdominal stretch. The smaller Z-Man cried out in pain as Zed paced angrily on the apron. Lance sneered, then glanced back and reached out his hand, locking grips with The Hurricane, who helped him stretch out Zeta.

The referee noticed this, however, and broke the grip, destabilizing Lance enough for Zeta to hiptoss him. He staggered toward Zed and tagged him in, and the crowd popped as the burly ex-boxer charged into the ring, dishing out hard right hands to first Lance, then Helms, then each of the Dudleys. He thumped his chest with his fist and then yelled to the rafters. "You got some hits coming!" He pulled Lance to his feet and drilled him with a clothesline, then clocked Helms with a right cross.

The Dudleys got back up, but Zed grabbed their heads and conked them together, turning around and kicking Lance in the stomach, then hooking him to hit the Z-Slam. He covered, but only got a two-count as The Hurricane broke it up. He set Zed up for the Eye of the Hurricane, but the CIWer shoved him into the ropes, then flattened him with the Jawbuster. He turned around and ate a superkick from Lance, but then Zeta got up and sprang off the ropes, leaping and twisting his body in the Zetasault, flattening him. He pulled Zed on top of Lance, but got double-teamed by the Dudleys, who charged into the ring and threw Zeta over the top rope, following to continue the punishment.

The referee counted the fall on Lance, eliminating him and The Hurricane, then turned to the outside, where the Dudleys all at once hit Zeta with a 3-D on the floor. Zed reached over the ropes to grab at D-Von, who jumped up, grabbed the sides of his head, then dropped off the apron, hot-shotting him back into a double superkick from Lance and Helms. Bubba slid into the ring, climbing up to the top turnbuckle as D-Von scooped Zed up and handed him up to his half-brother, who stood upright, then delivered a Tiger Bomb out into the ring. The referee counted the pin, 1... 2... 3. The Dudleys retained the WWF Tag Team Championship.

The crowd was not pleased. Dee Meaner was checking on Zeta, who was curled up in pain on the outside, while Stacy Keibler laughed from nearby. The CIW bombshell got up and smacked Stacy to the floor with a big right hand, only to have Ivory grab her to spin her around. Dee retaliated with a big back elbow, yelling at the traitorous diva as she retreated with Lance Storm and The Hurricane. The Dudleys collected their titles and their valet, retreating up after their fellow Alliance members as Zed and Zeta lay on the mats inside and outside of the ring.

* * *

In the Alliance VIP Room, Triple H paced, swinging his arms and stretching for his match later. On the couch, Stephanie watched him nervously. "Have they found Matthew Skinner yet?" she asked.

"No," Triple H muttered, snarling. "No sign of him, but I swear to you, Steph, when he gets here, he's not going to leave with the WCW Title."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," remarked The Storm from the doorway. The Helmsleys both jumped and turned to see him smirking, his title on his shoulder. He walked into the room.

"What happened to Stasiak and Morrus?" Triple H asked.

"They're not deserving of whatever bonus you're giving them, Hunter," Matthew Skinner replied. He sneered at the Owner of ECW. "Hello, Stephanie."

She whimpered and shied away from him on the couch. Triple H took a step forward. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I'm here to tell you, Hunter," The Storm took a step forward as well, lips curling in a disturbing smile, "that even though this match tonight is a No-Disqualifications affair, I don't want anybody interfering in my match."

Now the Game smirked. "Yeah? What're you gonna do if somebody does? I'm not afraid of you, Skinner."

The Storm just smiled. "I know you're not scared of me, Hunter, but your wife is." They both turned and looked at her, and Stephanie -- eyes fixed on the man who had tormented her the previous Thursday -- shied further back. Triple H looked back at The Storm, who was still smiling. "If someone interferes in my match tonight, Hunter, I'll come for your wife, and believe me, there are things I can do to her that will make your blood freeze."

He smirked and rapped his knuckle on Triple H's WWF Championship, which was draped on his shoulder. "And just so you know, Hunter, I'll be coming for that one day." Still smiling that insane smile, The Storm turned and left. "Have a nice night, Hunter!" He gave both Stasiak and Morrus a kick as he left.

* * *

After this, Chris Jericho successfully defended his Wrestlemania WWF Championship number-one contendership against Kurt Angle. Angle had been quite upset that he didn't have another shot at Triple H, given that his attempt to win the title at the Royal Rumble had ended in a controversial finish when Stephanie had gotten involved and led to a cheat-to-win strike by the Game. Jericho, however, had made it clear he was going to come after Triple H again, and unlike his previous attempts, succeed in defeating the Cerebral Assassin.

Angle had used his amateur and technical wrestling skills to great effect in the match, steadily wearing down Y2J and suplexing him around the ring. Jericho refused to go down without a fight, however, and continually rallied back, eventually managing to hit the bulldog and go for the Lionsault. Angle, however, had it scouted, and rolled out of the way. Landing on his feet, Jericho was then easy prey for the Angle Lock, as the enraged Olympian screamed for him to tap out. Jericho struggled in vain to reach the ropes for over a minute, and when he finally did grab the bottom rope, the gold-medalist simply dragged him back into the center of the ring.

Another painful minute later, Y2J managed to get his free leg under himself, stood up, then hit a reverse enzuigiri straight into the side of Angle's head. He quickly went for the cover, only to get a near-fall as Angle kicked out, then threw him between the turnbuckles and straight into the ring post. Frustrated, Angle left the ring and grabbed a steel chair, sliding it into the ring as the referee checked on Jericho. The referee turned, saw Angle with it, but Jericho recovered before Angle could swing. He grabbed Angle's legs and promptly twisted him over into the Walls of Jericho, causing Angle to scream in pain as he struggled to reach the ropes.

Eventually, Angle managed to indeed get to the ropes, then ducked under a chop from Jericho and go for the Olympic Slam. Jericho slipped free, however, and in his attempt to face his opponent again, Angle smacked into the referee, who stumbled into the corner. Jericho acted quickly, grabbing Angle in a full-nelson as he came back, then swept his legs out from under him, driving him face-first into the steel chair, which still lay where Angle had dropped it. At ringside, J.R. and Pickett were both clamoring over the "Breakdown" (as Jericho called the full-nelson facebuster), while Heyman griped about the WWF's "cheating tactics" to win a match. Pickett quickly shut him up by pointing out the Alliance's lack of a clean record.

Jericho slid the chair out of the ring as the referee turned back around, then turned Angle over to pin him for the 1... 2... 3, thus successfully defending his number-one contendership. The crowd seemed split on how to receive his somewhat underhanded method of victory, but continued to cheer him as he left up the ramp, with Angle angrily trying to convince the referee of what had happened.

* * *

The history package for WCW Championship Match

Black screen. Slow, dramatic music. Muted cheering sounds from the crowd. Words appear on the screen: SIX WEEKS AGO...

Fade in. Smackdown, January 9. Booker T v. The Storm. The Storm is apparently down and out, Booker does the spinaroonie.

Tazz: Yeah, there it is, Cole! The real most electrifying move in sports entertainment! The spinaroonie--

As Booker gets back up, The Storm suddenly trips him up and slaps on the Necksnapper. Booker screams and tries to reach for the ropes.

Tazz: Hey! No!
Michael Cole: The Storm's got Booker in the Necksnapper! This match is over!
Tazz: Come on, Booker! Get to the ropes!

Booker taps as The Storm wrenches it in. Bell rings. The Storm is awarded the belt.

Tony Chimel: Here is your winner... and the new WCW Champion... THE STORM!

Black screen. THE STORM IS THE WCW CHAMPION...

Cut to Raw, January 14. The Storm responds to a promo by Shane McMahon and Booker.

The Storm: You see, Shane, now the belt belongs on someone who actually deserves it. Someone who has spent eight years of his life giving his blood, his sweat, his life wrestling in California, in Japan, and finally right here in the World Wrestling Federation! I can think of no one better to give this title meaning again!

Cut to black screen. ...BUT FOR HOW LONG?

Music speeds up. Montage of The Storm's title defenses against Booker, Test, Rob Van Dam, his tag-team matches, all focusing mostly on the beatings he was taking.

Shane McMahon: (voice-over) 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...

Shot of Rhyno coming down the ramp, thumping his chest. Series of shots of Rhyno Goring The Storm.

Shane: (voice-over) ...the Man-Beast, Rhyno.

Black screen. Music is replaced by a heartbeat. DESPERATE MEN...

Series of shots of The Storm, bloodied, with the bloody streaks under his eyes, seething, about to snap.

Black screen. ...DO DESPERATE THINGS.

"Papercut" by Linkin Park starts up. Series of shots of The Storm going off on his opponents, the referees, Billy Rose, and even Brick with a steel chair or his title belt.

Jim Ross: The Storm's snapped!
Paul Heyman: Matthew Skinner has gone off the deep end!

The shots continue for a few more moments.

The Storm: (voice-over) I will show them what agony really is.

Fade to black. TWO WEEKS AGO...

Fade in. Smackdown, February 13. Rain v. Ivory. Rain hits the Downdraft on Ivory, but the crowd starts booing and the camera swings over to show Test coming into the ring, and Rhyno behind her.

Cole: Wait a minute, what's going on here? No!

Rhyno suddenly slugs Rain in the stomach, then holds her in place for a Boot to the Head from Test, followed by a series of shots (from different angles) of Rhyno Goring her to the mat.

Cole: Oh, and the Alliance has just gang-attacked the Women's Champion!

Cut to black screen. THE STORM SNAPS. Cut to later that night, as Rain is being taken to the hospital. The Storm arrives and goes berserk.

The Storm: Claire! Are you okay? What happened? Who did this to her?!

Shane walks up.

Shane: Hey, Storm!

The Storm looks at him, then tries to attack, but is held back by officials.

The Storm: Let me go, I'll kill him!!

Cut to later that night. The Storm is in the ring.

The Storm: Test, you get your ass out here!

Heyman emerges instead.

Heyman: All you have to do to stop the constant attacks by Rhyno and Test and the rest of the Alliance is lose the WCW Championship. Don't get snippy at me just because you weren't here to save your girlfriend.

The music swells to a crescendo as The Storm suddenly swings about and strikes Heyman in the throat with his title belt. The Storm stands over the choking Heyman.

The Storm: I grow weary of the noises you make.

Fast snap cuts of The Storm attacking Heyman, and locking him in the Necksnapper.

Cole: The Storm's absolutely lost it!
Tazz: Somebody get him off Paul!

Flashes of The Storm backing up the ramp, smiling a disturbed little smile as he surveys the carnage he's left.

Cut to Raw, February 17. Series of shots of The Storm decimating any Alliance members he finds backstage as he stalks Shane. Shane runs for his limo, where The Storm corners him and beats him down, throwing his head through the window, then snarling in his face.

The Storm: You picked the wrong person to piss off. You think you know what pain is, Shane? I will show you what agony really is.

The Storm gives Shane the Downdraft on top of the car, then runs him off the hood and into a stack of boxes.

Cut to Smackdown, February 20. Triple H and Stephanie arrive at the arena. The Storm promptly attacks and locks Triple H in the trunk of the limo, then kidnaps Stephanie.

Cut to shot in the darkened basement, where The Storm menaces Stephanie, holding up a contract.

The Storm: I want you to make it a No Disqualifications Match.

Stephanie, terrified, signs the contract.

The Storm: I want you to take a message to your husband for me...

The Storm suddenly blasts her in the back of the head with the belt.

The Storm: Tell him, when I'm done with Rhyno, I'll be coming for him next.

Back to the black screen, with images of The Storm, smiling that disturbed smile, superimposed alongside a snarling Rhyno.

* * *

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship!" The crowd popped and cheered, then started booing as the low, aggressive music of Rhyno started up. "Introducing first, the challenger, representing the Alliance, from Detroit, Michigan, weighing in at 280 pounds... the Man-Beast... RHYNO!" The last ECW Champion emerged, wearing his usual ring attire, colored black-on-black this time. He thumped his chest with a fist, then raised both fists in the air, roaring, "Who's da man!?" He slid into the ring and went to one corner, repeating the schtick, then stepped down and faced the ramp, squeezing his wrist as he waited.

The drum roll of thunder and lightning started up as the fans started cheering, and they all chanted the words that followed the cymbal crash: "This is your Storm Warning!" The guitar wailed and pyros exploded as Cold Steel's "Force of Nature" played. "I'm a Force of Nature, I'm outta control! I live in the lightning, let the thunder roll! I kill the sunshine, bring on the rain! I am The Storm, and I'll bring ya the pain!" The cheers became louder as The Storm himself emerged from the smoke of his pyros, wearing his GeT SeT To GeT WReCKeD T-Shirt and carrying his title on his shoulder. "And his opponent, representing the World Wrestling Federation, from Dallas, Texas, weighing in at 240 pounds... he is the WCW World Heavyweight Champion... Matthew Skinner... THE STORM!"

The Storm's eyes were hidden, as usual, behind his black sunglasses, but his mouth was fixed in that disturbing smile as he walked slowly down to the ring. Rhyno paced inside, keeping his eyes on the champion, squeezing one wrist, then the other. Skinner circled around the ring, pausing as he passed the announce table. He turned and looked at Paul Heyman, who was looking at him somewhat nervously. The Storm smiled again, feinted toward the Mad Scientist of Sports Entertainment, then laughed as Heyman practically toppled backward over the barricade.

"A bit jumpy, are we, Paul?" Pickett grinned.

"Sh-shut up!" Heyman snapped, adjusting his headset and baseball cap.

The Storm turned to the ring and rolled under the bottom rope, standing and raising his title belt in the air, then facing Rhyno. He tapped the belt with his fist, then his chest. "Mine," he hissed at the ECWer. "This is mine. It's gonna stay that way." As the Man-Beast glowered, Skinner passed the belt to referee Charles Robinson, who held it in the air, then passed it to the timekeeper. The Storm reached up and finally removed his sunglasses, tossing them to the outside as his cold gray eyes fixed on Rhyno's beady black eyes.

The staredown lasted perhaps five seconds before some unvoiced agreement passed between the two men. At that moment, they launched themselves at each other, going for a tie-up, which The Storm immediately broke as he smashed his fist across Rhyno's face. He followed it up with a second swing, then a third, quickly backing his opponent against the ropes. There, he tapped his fingers on Rhyno's sternum. "Right there!" he snarled. "You ready?" Without waiting for a reply, he snapped his forearm across the Man-Beast's chest. The crowd whooped its approval as the ECWer cringed. The Storm pushed him back upright, tapped the sternum again. "One more time!" Another vicious chop and another whoop. Grinning now, The Storm stood him up a third time, tapped the sternum again, hissed, "Once more for posterity!" and chopped him across the chest again.

He grabbed Rhyno's arm, whipping him across the ring and catching him with a clothesline, knocking him flat. The Storm quickly dropped an elbow on the now-sore ribs, then a second, and a third before going for a cover, only to get a two-count. The Storm, rather than look angry, smiled at Rhyno. "I didn't think it was gonna be that easy," he chuckled before snapping his fist into Rhyno's throat. Robinson quickly jumped in, warning him not to use the closed fist, but the damage had been done. The Man-Beast rolled out of the ring, clutching his throat and wheezing for air.

The referee tried to keep The Storm back as he did the ten-count, but the Force of Nature pushed him aside, grabbed the top rope, crouched, then catapulted himself up and over in a pescado onto Rhyno. "Told you it wouldn't be that easy!" laughed Skinner as he pulled himself up. He dragged his opponent to his feet, then pointed at the ring post. "Right there!" He grabbed Rhyno's head and started running. "Get ready, you son-of-a--agkh!" That last came out as the Man-Beast shoved him off, straight into the post, knocking him momentarily senseless.

Rhyno took a moment to catch his breath through his bruised throat, then went over to The Storm, who was shaking his head, trying to clear the cobwebs. The ECWer threw him head-first into the steel post again, then a third time before rolling him into the ring. There, The Storm staggered to his feet, looking a bit punch-drunk, the bandage on his forehead flapping loose. Rhyno saw this and went for the still scabbing cut there, snapping his fist into it several times, driving Skinner back into the corner.

There, Rhyno pushed his head back, sneering. "Right there," he growled, tapping the sternum of the champion seconds before chopping him there. The Storm grimaced in pain, arm curling protectively over his ribs. The Man-Beast didn't let that stop him. He pulled The Storm's arm back, then chopped a second time. He did it a third time, but then suddenly Skinner retaliated with a chop of his own. Rhyno reeled back and returned the chop, only to get one back as The Storm kept chopping back. Soon the Force of Nature was backing Rhyno out of the corner, chopping, then hitting an open-handed slap on the backswing before chopping again. He kept up this chop-and-slap-and-chop-and-slap rhythm until he had backed his challenger into the opposite corner.

There, The Storm grinned and twisted Rhyno's right arm back over the top rope, then started punching him straight in his stretched shoulder. He grimaced in pain and shook his arm loose, but as he curled his arm under him, he exposed his shoulder again. The Storm immediately snapped his elbow down into the shoulder, getting another pained shout from the Man-Beast. Still grinning that disturbing smile, the WCW Champion pulled Rhyno out of the corner, as though going to whip him across the ring, but he held on, pulled him back, and short-whipped him back into the corner. Rhyno bounced back out, whereupon he was snared in a drop toehold, falling on his stomach.

The Storm now stretched Rhyno's right arm out, holding it down, then driving his knee into the shoulder, further weakening it. "Matthew Skinner's playing this smart," Pickett said. "He's focusing on the shoulder, trying to make it harder for Rhyno to pull off the Gore."

"Don't be too sure," Heyman replied. "Rhyno's from ECW. He knows all about functioning with injuries. Having a bad shoulder won't stop him from Goring The Storm and bringing the WCW Title back home to the Alliance."

After several knee-thrusts, The Storm stood up, then quickly dropped an elbow onto the shoulder, causing Rhyno to shout and curl up over his injured shoulder. As the referee checked on him, The Storm turned around and started pulling the cover off the top turnbuckle. The referee turned to look at him, but Skinner -- as if telepathic -- turned back around and kicked Rhyno in the bad shoulder, causing him to roll away. The referee noticed what Skinner was up to, however, and started shouting at him. The Storm turned around and smirked. "No DQ, remember?" he told him before going over to Rhyno, who suddenly shot his arm into The Storm's stomach. With a loud grunt, The Storm bent over, allowing Rhyno to grab the head and a leg for a small package. A two-count later, Skinner was free from the hold and considerably displeased. He hit Rhyno in the back of the neck with a double axe-handle, then grabbed a reverse armbar, stretching out the shoulder again.

After several long moments, The Storm released him and stomped him in the shoulder before pulling him to his feet. He chicken-winged Rhyno's bad arm, then swung him into the exposed top turnbuckle, further damaging the shoulder. The Man-Beast shouted in pain before the Force of Nature pivoted and hit a neckbreaker. The Storm slid out of the ring and pulled Rhyno's legs around the ring post, apparently getting ready to crotch him there, but the ECWer snapped his legs back, pulling his adversary straight into the post, head-first. The Storm bounced to the floor, grabbing his forehead, grimacing in pain.

Still wincing at his neck and shoulder, Rhyno rolled out of the ring and pulled Skinner up, throwing him into the steel steps, then going over to the timekeeper and grabbing his chair. The Storm got up shakily, a little punch drunk, before Rhyno clobbered him with the steel. The champion went down in a heap as Rhyno dropped the steel, then rolled into the ring long enough to break the ten-count from the ref. (The match was, after all, "no disqualifications," but not "no count-outs.")

The Man-Beast promptly hurled The Storm into the barricade, then rolled him back into the ring, setting him up in the corner, where he began to soften him up with stiff shoulder thrusts to the midsection. After five of these, Rhyno pulled him out and sent him into the ropes, catching him on the rebound with a monstrous spinebuster. He hooked a leg, but only got a two-count as The Storm impossibly kicked out. Rhyno snarled at the ref, then punched The Storm in the head as he started to come around. The bandaged wound on the Force of Nature's head had begun bleeding again, if sluggishly.

Rhyno slid out of the ring to collect the steel chair again, bringing it into the ring, moving to smash it across The Storm's head again. As he raised it, however, The Storm suddenly lunged, jabbing his knuckles into Rhyno's throat again, causing him to stagger back and clutch at his neck, gagging for air. Skinner scooped up the fallen chair, then swung about and slammed it into Rhyno's bad shoulder. The Man-Beast fell over with a cry, as his opponent staggered back into the corner, still collecting his wits.

The Storm dropped the chair on the outside as he clutched at his bloody forehead, then slid his fingers down his face, leaving the two bloody streaks under his eyes again. He started to pull himself upright, but then Rhyno got up and blindly charged, driving his bad shoulder deep into The Storm's abdomen.

"GORE! GORE! GORE!" exulted Heyman, before his voice croaked out.

"Don't pop a vein on us, Paulie," Pickett remarked sarcastically.

Unfortunately for Rhyno, The Storm fell on the outside of the ring after the Gore, doubled over in pain. As for the challenger, he was no better than his recent victim. He lay on the mat, clutching his shoulder, which he'd foolishly used for the move. Matthew Skinner stirred on the outside, slowly pulling himself to his feet using the American announce table. He raised his head and looked at the three men behind the table.

Jim Pickett took one look at Skinner's blood-streaked face, the maniacal gleam in his eyes, and insane grin on his face, then jumped back in his chair. "Oh, jeezus!" he yelped. The Storm just grinned again and turned away, picking up the chair as Rhyno rolled out to face him.

"A bit jumpy, are we, Pick?" Heyman taunted, echoing Pickett's words to him earlier.

"Shut up, Paulie," Pickett said after he recovered. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

The Storm swung the chair around and brained Rhyno with it, knocking him back into the apron, then promptly adjusted his grip and spiked the rim of the chair into Rhyno's shoulder again. He laughed and stood his opponent back upright and smirked in his face. "Ready for your total ass-kicking now, Rhyno?" He spiked the chair into the stomach next, then the shoulder again, driving Rhyno to the floor.

Grinning now, he pulled him up and rolled him into the ring, climbing up to the top rope and poising himself, waiting as Rhyno painfully got to his feet and turned around before getting flattened by the Windfall. Instead of going for the cover, however, The Storm shook his head, still grinning sadistically. He stood up, pulled Rhyno to his feet, then hurled his shoulder into the exposed turnbuckle again, then a second time, then a third time, getting louder and louder shouts of pain out of the Man-Beast each time. After this was finished, The Storm finally hit the Downdraft, then turned him over to lock on the Necksnapper. Rhyno, stuck in the middle of the ring, woozy and already feeling quite a lot of pain from his shoulder, had no choice but to tap out.

Charles Robinson called for the bell as The Storm kept the submission locked on for several more moments before releasing him, getting up and reclaiming his belt, which he raised in the air. He then dropped down and lifted Rhyno's head. He pressed the belt against his face. "See this, motherfucker? This big gold belt belongs to me. Nobody, not you, not even Triple H, is taking it from me!" He stood up, sneering as he stepped out of the ring with his belt and left up the aisle.

* * *

Backstage, as The Storm walked toward the trainer's room to get his forehead looked at, he passed by Triple H, who was leaving the trainer's room after getting himself taped up. The two stopped and looked at each other, the Game's face set in his usual frown, the Force of Nature's in that disturbing smile. Their eyes met, and they held in a long stare for a moment before The Storm stepped back and gestured for him to pass. "Go ahead, Hunter. I can wait."

Triple H stepped out of the doorway, still looking at The Storm, whose smile slowy faded, until both men had their "game faces" on. Almost in unison, they each lifted their respective belt onto their shoulder and continued the staredown before they reached a silent agreement and turned away, Triple H leaving for his locker room, The Storm into the trainer's room. Neither man had said anything, but the point had been made.

Sooner or later, they'd be clashing for the other's belt.

* * *

After the carnage in the ring from the last match passed, four more teams clashed over the WCW Tag Team Championship. The Brothers of Destruction -- Undertaker & Kane -- had to put their titles on the line against the Jersey Duo (Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon), the Gemini (Castor & Pollux), and Tommy Dreamer & Raven. The two Alliance teams seemed to be working well together, tagging in and out several times amongst each other against Kane, who played the so-called "face-in-peril." The WWF and CIW teams, however, were practically at each other's throats, after the explosive confrontation the two teams had the previous Thursday.

Soon enough, however, Kane had to make a tag, and he was not close enough to his own corner to tag his brother. He tagged in Pollux, who charged in and creamed Dreamer with a clothesline, then turned and knocked Raven off the apron before whipping the Innovator of Violence into the corner for a turnbuckle clothesline. Kanyon ran in and tried to help his fellow Alliance member out, but Castor ran in and took him down with a jumping calf kick before getting up and dragging Page over the top rope and throwing him into the Brothers' corner. Taker forgot about the tension between himself and the Gemini and remembered the tension between himself and the stalker, promptly wading into DDP with soup-bones.

Dreamer managed to grab Pollux and whip him into the corner, but he slipped out of the way of Dreamer's follow-up charge, allowing the ECWer to smack into the turnbuckle. Pollux ran off the ropes, then came back and all but decapitated Dreamer with a move not unlike the Clothesline from Hell. Pickett called it the "Apollo-line," and was gloating as Pollux covered Dreamer for the three to eliminate him and Raven from the match.

Pollux went and slapped Taker on the arm to signify a tag, then stepped back to his corner, smirking identically with Castor as the Dead Man grabbed Page by the throat and promptly chokeslammed him to oblivion for the fateful three-count. Now the Undertaker stood up, with Kane walking up beside him to face down the Gemini, who looked back at them.

The staredown lasted a couple of seconds before Castor launched himself at Kane and Pollux at Taker. The two sets of brothers exchanged blows before Castor managed to send Kane into the ropes and land the Slash Kick Pollux, meanwhile, continued to trade right hands with the Dead Man, who eventually backed him into the corner. He sped up his rhythm and started snapping Pollux's head back, then tossed him over the top rope, turning around just in time to get a superkick from Castor, which sent him to the outside.

Unfortunately, then the Gemini with the educated feet turned around to find Kane back up and on the top rope. The Big Red Machine launched himself and took Cas down with a flying lariat, then stood up and stretched his gloved hand back, waiting for him to get back up. Sure enough, as soon as Castor stood up, he got chokeslammed to hell by Kane, but by then Pollux was back up, and he landed another Apollo-line on the masked wrestler.

Undertaker was back in the ring by now, however, and he forearmed Pollux in the back, then kneed him in the gut before setting him up for the Last Ride. Upon the flip, however, Pol suddenly punched Taker in the face, causing him to topple backwards, inadvertently hot-shotting Pollux off the top rope. The American Badass was not down yet, though, as it took more than a punch in the head to take him down. He pulled Pollux back over, took him by the throat, lifted him high, then chokeslammed him to the mat for the 1... 2...

NO! Castor pulled the ref from the ring, then slid into the ring, ducking under Taker's clothesline and coming back with a massive spinning wheel kick. He helped Pollux up, then whipped Taker into the ropes. The crowd all stood in unison, yelling in shock as the Gemini caught him on the rebound, lifted him high, and then powerbombed him to the mat with the Twin Terror Bomb.

All three announcers were likewise shocked. "God Almighty!" J.R. shouted at ringside. "Oh my GOD!" Paul Heyman cried. "Ho-lee shnykes!" Pickett added.

"That's gotta be the first time I've ever seen the Undertaker powerbombed like that!" J.R. stammered, astonished.

"I don't think anyone's even powerbombed the Undertaker, period!" Pickett pointed out. "The man's six-foot-ten, three hundred pounds!"

Pollux hooked a leg as Castor pulled the ref over to count the 1... 2... 3. The crowd was half-cheering at the impressive finish by the Gemini, half-booing at seeing them dethrone a pair of fan favorites. The Twins' ominous rock music started up as they were presented the belts, which they raised skyward, then backed up the ramp, smirking and laughing in unison as Kane hit the ring to check on his brother, who was feeling the effects of the Twin Terror Bomb. Nonetheless, there were new WCW Tag Team Champions... and it looked like they already had a rematch lined up.

* * *

And in spite of all the hot matches so far, there was still one left. The WWF Championship Match between the traitorous Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin. The fans were pumped to see a confrontation between the two perennial rivals, and they didn't disappoint. The Game and the Rattlesnake picked up right where they left off, tearing into each other as if the months between their last clash had never happened. Austin was geared up to get his hands on the coveted WWF Title belt, and Helmsley was as paranoid as ever about keeping it.

It did seem as though Triple H's mind was not on the match, however. He continually looked up the ramp, as if expecting to see either his wife (who was backstage, surrounded by every Alliance wrestler they could spare) or The Storm come running down the ramp. Austin, on the other hand, was so focused, it was as if he hadn't had a thing to drink that day, which of course was a bare-faced lie. Austin fought tougher than a junkyard dog while sober, and he got tougher the more beer he drank.

Neither man could get the upper hand for very long, however, as the other would get back up and rally back to put his opponent on the defensive. They even tried to steal each other's moves. Hunter hit Austin with a Lou Thesz Press at one point, and even managed to hit a whiplash spinebuster. Austin, likewise, even busted out a high knee (made more dangerous with his knee braces -- both for him and for the Game) and the facebuster on the knee.

Soon enough, as it came down to the wire, Triple H even managed to hit a Stunner on Stone Cold, who managed to get a foot on the ropes to break the pin. When Hunter argued with referee Earl Hebner, Austin got up and promptly gave Triple H a Pedigree. That looked to be it, but then Stephanie -- in defiance of her husband's orders, the Alliance's concerns, and her own fears -- came down and pulled Hebner out of position. Austin turned, flipped her the bird, then waited for Triple H to get back up, poised to deliver a Stunner of his own.

That's when the crowd started clamoring as The Storm appeared in the aisle, head bandaged, but face still streaked with his own blood. He carried his WCW Title in his hands as he slowly stalked down the aisle. Stephanie caught sight of him, shrieked in terror, and ran around the ring away from him. The Storm just leered as he strode up to the ring. Austin caught sight of him and faltered for a moment, then turned back to Triple H, booting him in the gut before giving him a Stunner.

Austin went for the cover, but then The Storm pulled Hebner out of the ring and threw him to the floor hard. He sneered and flipped Austin the bird, then hefted his belt into a ready position as Austin rolled out of the ring to face him. The two exchanged heated words.

"The hell you doin'?" Austin demanded.

"None of your fuckin' business," The Storm replied.

"You mighta cost me the damn match!"

"What I did or didn't do is my business, not yours!"

By now, Triple H had recovered and rolled out of the ring behind The Storm. The Force of Nature looked back at him, then at Austin, then swung about and clobbered Triple H with the title belt, bloodying him. Austin promptly clobbered Skinner from behind and threw him into the ring to finish the punishment. He sent The Storm into the ropes, preparing to Stunner him, but Skinner shoved him off and smashed the belt across Austin's head as well before rolling out of the ring and leaving up the aisle. Triple H crawled into the ring even as Hebner got back up. The Game covered, the ref counted. 1... 2... 3. Triple H was still the WWF Champion, and he had Matthew Skinner in part to thank for it.

The crowd was thoroughly displeased and made it clear as they began chanting "Skinner Sucks! Skinner Sucks!" The Storm, for his part, just smiled and tapped his belt as he looked at the bleeding Triple H in the ring before disappearing to the back.

-more to come-

Next: The Storm cost Stone Cold the title at No Way Out, but doesn't look to be defecting to the Alliance. What is going through his head?

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
October 3, 2002