Chapter 2

Backstage at Smackdown...

'Matt, Jeff, this is your first ever cage match. Edge and Christian have already competed in several. With their experience, and the fact that this match is the headline feature tonight, what's going through your head right now? Are you nervous?' Kevin Kelly asked, as he interviewed the boys before their match.

'Hell no! Sure, we haven't fought in a cage match, but that doesn't mean the fans won't get the Hardy quality that's expected of us! We're going to give it our all and go for the win. If we don't get it, then we'll just work harder and prepare ourselves for next time. Because believe me, if we lose here tonight there will be a next time!' stated Matt

'Yeah, the fans should still expect to see our usual high-flying moves. Just because we're in a solid steel cage, it won't affect our abilities!' added Jeff, before the two Hardy's walked to the curtain and waited for their cue.

'Well J.R., the Hardy Boys certainly sounded confident in their pre-match interview! Let's see if they can deliver the goods. Oh, here we go!' said Jerry 'The King' Lawler.

'I certainly hope so, King. I'd like to see these two young studs go far in this federation.' replied Jim 'J.R.' Ross.

As their music started playing, Matt and Jeff could hear the crowd's wild reaction as they realized that the main event was about to start.

Matt and Jeff bounded down the ramp to ringside, flashing the gunz at the fans all the way. Once they were in the ring, instead of climbing to the top turnbuckle as usual, they climbed to the top corners of the cage and stood, pumping up the crowd.

As Edge and Christian's music started playing, the reaction of the crowd changed instantly from screams of delight and cheers, to that of booing, and hatred of the 'bad guys'.

Edge and Christian strode to the ring in their usual no-nonsense way, and taunted the crowd in their usual way. Edge took off his long coat, and the referee closed and padlocked the door shut. The only way out was up and over.

Christian and Jeff started out. Matt and Edge were in opposite corners, behind the ropes. Jeff started out strong with a front drop-kick to Christian's back as he was taunting the crowd. Christian rushed at Jeff, who used a drop toehold, sending Christian crashing face first onto the mat. Jeff then hit a Senton Bomb, before tagging Matt. Matt came in and they did the Poetry In Motion on Christian before Jeff got out of the ring.

Matt carried on isolating Christian. As Matt was setting Christian up for a running powerbomb, Christian reversed the move and stopped Matt in his tracks with a DDT. He then managed to get to his corner and tag Edge before Matt had struggled to his feet. Edge got in the ring, and as Matt stood up, and turned towards him, Edge charged at Matt and hit him with a devastating spear. The crowd groaned as they saw Matt go crashing to the mat. They knew that the Hardys were being overpowered now.

Edge and Christian were now on the offensive, and double-teamed Matt with a suplex as the referee was distracted by Jeff trying to go to his brother's aid.

Eventually the referee turned round to see both Edge and Christian in the ring. He shouted at Christian who immediately threw up his hands and climbed out of the ring. Edge, was distracted and momentarily took his attention from Matt. This was all Matt needed, with the referee's attention still on Christian, he low-blowed Edge, who fell to his knees in pain. Matt dived towards Jeff and made the tag. Jeff jumped in the ring and did a front drop-kick to Edge's face, knocking him flat on his back. Jeff signaled for the Swanton, and started climbing to the top turnbuckle. But, he didn't stop there, he climbed right to the top of the cage, but instead of climbing out, he stopped. He flashed the gunz, and dove headfirst off the top of the cage and toward the mat. At the last second, Edge rolled out of the way, and Jeff landed on his back, the wind knocked out of him. The crowd gasped in horror.

With Jeff trying to get his breath back, Christian attacked Matt, leaving Edge to climb up and out of the cage. When he saw Edge was safely out, and the match was won, Christian left Matt and climbed out of the cage himself, leaving the two Hardys lying battered and broken in the ring.

Backstage...

As Edge and Christian celebrated in their locker room, Matt and Jeff were making their way to Vince McMahon's office. Knocking on the door, they waited to hear Vince call 'Come in!'.

As they entered, they were surprised to see Vince and the current WWF tag champs the APA sitting in the office. All three men turned to look at Matt and Jeff. Matt was holding his ribs and Jeff was holding the back of his head.

'Matt, Jeff? What can I do for you? I'm kind of busy here...' asked Vince, gesturing to the APA.

'We want a rematch with Edge and Christian!' Jeff blurted out

'Yeah, they just screwed us over!' added Matt.

'Well boys, this is a little difficult. I've just granted the APA a match with Edge and Christian for the tag titles for RAW.' said Vince apologetically.

'Hey, we know how good your matches are, but we'd like to fight Edge and Christian too. Mostly we'd just like to beat their asses, because they're cocky and because we need beer money! You can have them when we're finished' Bradshaw told them, trying to solve the situation.

'But, we've been fighting them for the last two weeks! We're enjoying this feud!' protested Matt.

'I think I can see a way round this boys.' said Vince, thoughtfully, 'As you know, our Unforgiven Pay-Per-View is coming up this Sunday. How about, we give Edge and Christian their match on RAW, there will no doubt be a rematch on Smackdown, no matter who wins. Then, you can fight Edge and Christian at Unforgiven, possibly for the titles. What do you say?'

'Weelll, if there's a possibility of us going for the titles, then I say we go for it. What do you think Matt?' said Jeff slowly

'I guess so...if we get to go for the titles. That would be a dream come true if we won those.' Matt replied, just as slowly.

'Okay, Vince, we'll go for that. We'll fight Edge and Christian at Unforgiven. Oh, if it's for the titles, it has to be a Ladder Match. They had their stipulation last time, so we get one this time.' said Jeff, turning back to Vince and the APA.

'Okay, that's no problem. I'll get that match put on the card as soon as we know what kind of match it will be. Now, if you'll all excuse me?' Vince said as he showed them all to the door.

'Hey, Bradshaw, Faarooq? Do you think we'll be going for the titles?' Matt asked the two big men, trying to work out how the match would work.

'That depends little man, on whether they know how to fight fair. If they do, they'll lose, but if they don't, you'll have a title shot at Unforgiven.' replied Faarooq uncertainly.

'Okay. Anyway, we better go get showered and changed! We stink!' replied Matt, feeling a little more confident about getting a title shot.

Faarooq and Bradshaw laughed as Matt and Jeff hurried off to their locker room.