Disclaimer: This is unassociated with any of my other stories, and I do not own any of the members of this story. I simply write this story due to my interest in Raw, especially with these certain Superstars that have major roles.

Pairings: Kane/Lita, attempted references to this story's Edge/Lita past, Jericho/Maria one time pairing possibility due to the close time proximity of WrestleMania.

Rating Info: This story is rated PG-13, as all of my stories are, for safety purposes.

The Stones of Raw by Prime Time, Legend Champion

Chapter 16: The Final Stop

Following 3/28/2005 episode of Raw

Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, TX

Tonight is the final stop before WrestleMania 21. We've got three intense moments coming up tonight: Trish Stratus and Christy Hemme will compete in an arm wrestling match, Muhammad Hassan finally gets shut up by Shawn Michaels, and Triple H will have a face-off with Batista in the middle of the ring!

The show begins with Raw is Jericho, and Y2J again proudly introduces the two names to his show. He says we're only six days away from WrestleMania 21, and the anticipation is even bigger than the entire state of Texas. It's the night when men can become legends, dreams come true, and history is made. He did it when he became the first ever Undisputed Champion, and he's gonna do it when he wins the first ever "money in the bank" ladder match, sign the contract, and get a chance at the World Heavyweight Championship at any time in the next year. Jericho claims that he hungers for the World Title more than anyone else in this match. He then introduces two opponents as guests, the first being Chris Benoit, who received much respect and a standing ovation, much like the other guest, Shelton Benjamin, the Intercontinental Champion. Shelton came out in a very pompous manner. Oh, did I mention the ladder in the middle of the ring?

He was glad that the two of them could come out, since they were actually friends, but it's any man for himself at Mania, and he'll do whatever he has to do to either one of them to win. Benoit's problem, though, is because of the hunger claim that Jericho had the most. Benoit mentioned how last year's WrestleMania saw him become the World Heavyweight Champion. There is no greater feeling to him, and he will do anything to regain it. Benoit mentions that his neck was broken in a ladder match, but there is nobody hungrier than him. Benjamin cuts in, saying that just because Benoit broke his neck doesn't make him the hungriest. He hasn't been the World Heavyweight Champion, so he isn't just hungry: Shelton's starving. And, unlike anyone else in the match, he current knows about being a champion. Then, out came Christian, with Tyson Tomko alongside. As he walked down the ramp, he told them that he thinks they're not hungry, but full of crap. Christian has the most incentive to win the match, since nobody's picking him to win, much like they didn't pick him last year to beat Chris Jericho, remember that? And, also, unlike the men in front of him, he's got a couple of WrestleMania ladder match victories. Edge showed up angry as usual, and, sorry to break it to you, Christian, he got those same two ladder match victories "from when you and I, were a tag team". But, Edge says, he's gonna win his third on his own and get that chance for the World Title, even if he has to snap all three of the necks of Benoit, Jericho, and Benjamin. Benoit counters with the words, "Not if I break yours first", leading to chaos.

Over the break, we've got Tyson Tomko, Edge, and Christian in a six man tag team affair against Shelton Benjamin and the Chris Team of Benoit and Jericho. The early going after the break saw Christian being basically controlled by Jericho, then Shelton Benjamin. Tomko, the Problem Solver in black jeans, eventually got to overpowering Benjamin when he got tagged in, but Shelton got out of the double team predicament. With a hard slam, though, Tomko started teeing off on the Intercontinental Champion. Tomko tagged in Edge, during the control of Benjamin. Edge even went as far to try backing up his neck snapping claim by choking Benjamin on the ropes. Next in the ring was Christian, who was finally on the good hand. Benjamin, though, broke up a headlock feeding on the crowd. Christian kept on the headlock, which eventually hid a tag Benjamin made to Benoit from the referee, who became distracted by Chris's entry into the ring. This led to a temporary mugging which got Edge into the ring. Turns out Edge and Benjamin ended up double clotheslining each other. Benoit came into the match following a detected tag, and then started going on fire all over Edge's team, even getting a Sharpshooter on the Artist of Awesomeness. Christian saved it, but got the triple German suplex for it. Tomko came and got a headbutt when Benoit tried to go for the diving headbutt, but Edge hung him up. The sequence led to Benoit being bloodied, then giving Edge a German suplex, and the two of them were down when we reached commercial break.

Upon return from the intermission, Benoit is being dominated by Captain Charisma, though he does manage to kick out. The Rabid Wolverine eventually breaks out of a Peep Man headlock, then goes for a ton of chops. Christian took down Benoit, but Benjamin cut into a pinfall cover and saved the match. Benoit used his bloody head as a battering ram up at the turnbuckle on Christian and somehow got that falling headbutt on him! Tomko and Jericho broke into the ring. Edge received a springboard dropkick. Shelton and Christian were on the outside, Jericho and Tomko inside. The match eventually breaks down when Edge accidentally Spears Tomko, leading to a confrontation between Edge and Christian. Benjamin tries a spinning leg lariat, but ended up hitting Benoit instead of his normal partners. The action deteriorating, Christian hit Edge with a falling reverse DDT, then took the T-Bone Suplex, and the All Street American got the Big Boot from the King of Tattoo, who then tapped out to the Walls of Jericho! Christian got up as Jericho celebrated, and rammed a ladder into his midsection or penis. Suddenly, Kane's fire burst, and out came the Demon on Fire himself. His tasks: boot Christian's ladder straight to his face, ram it into Benjamin and Jericho, go on to Chokeslam Edge to Hell, and then set up the ladder in the center of the ring to step on it and activate his flame at the corners! He then stood with his satanic lighting, dominant over all the carnage in the ring.

The "When Kurt Met Christy" trailer with the two going insane at the table was played at the instruction of Jerry Lawler. That pointed out the Wrestle

Batista was in his locker room, and in came Eric Bischoff. As General Manager of Raw, Bischoff wanted to make it clear to Batista that there was not to be any physicality in the face-off, since he couldn't afford the carnage in the ring with Kane, or any possible resulting injury. Batista says that he won't start anything, but he'll finish it if Triple H starts it. Bischoff says Trips will make sure he knows that, then asks if he was serious for the "used car salesman" joke. Mistake, man. This led to another claim, this one being that the General Manager reminded the Leviathan of the Gimp from Pulp Fiction. Eric's getting angry with the comical claims of Big Dave.

Lilian Garcia introduces the Diva Search Winner, Christy Hemme, first for this arm wrestling competition. Christy is in a red dress, accompanied by Lita. Trish, however, is in a tanktop and jeans, obviously thinking about this competition. She constantly holds up the Women's Championship to annoy her opponent and other eneny in this matter. Three embarrassing goes, though, for Trish, as she was completely unprepared. The first time, she pulled out to do curls with her championship belt and show off her arm muscles, and the other two times, she wasn't ready for Christy's reflex speed, as apparent from her immediate defeats. Trish, flustered about the announcement that Christy won twice, kicked Lilian, then the overconcerned Lita, walking down with an evil kind of pride. Randy Orton was seen walking out.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin's Corporation Beer Bath in 1998 was shown. The Legend Champion came out to the ring, and the events surrounding his girlfriend last week were shown. What does the Man of Destiny have to say about that? Here goes.

Last week, he asked Stacy Keibler a question: did she think he could beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania? She hesitated. His judgment was that if you're not with him, you're against him, and she wasn't with him, thus making her a distraction. He said that he wasn't going to allow himself any distractions, also claiming that he knows that all of The Undertaker's opponents were scared to death of him, but Orton refuses to be afraid. He says he's seen his future, and it doesn't involve a headstone. Rather, it involves a Hall of Fame plaque which sees Orton as a third generation Superstar, the youngest Heavyweight Champion ever, and the only man to beat Taker at WrestleMania. Suddenly, the lights darkened a little bit, and the titantron went on Taker Static, eventually showing black and white footage of all twelve of The Undertaker's WrestleMania victories. The final message: Orton is next to rest in peace. The shocking followed, as a holy to hell flame burst and flared on the turnbuckles. Undertaker's music went on, and Randy's heart beat fast. We came back from break with Randy looking to escape the arena, when his name was called. Kane suddenly appeared, telling Orton that his eyes spoke a different message than his mouth, which keeps saying he's not scared of the Dead Man. Kane faced his brother twice at WrestleMania, and both times, the Big Red Machine was lucky to walk away with his soul. Randy doesn't understand the power he's messing with, and he can't beat what he doesn't understand. The Unmasked Beast then tells the Legend Killer that he's got six days to prove he's not afraid of The Undertaker, and then leaves with a maniacal laugh.

Simon Dean and Maven, along with La Resistance were in the ring, and we've got a triple threat tag team match for the World Tag Team Championships. The Champions, William Regal and Tajiri, came out to defend their titles. William Regal was controlled early, but when he finally tagged in Tajiri, the Japanese Buzzsaw went on fire. It was only a matter of time before he gave Maven the Buzzsaw Kick and tapped him. 1, 2, 3.

A seething Triple H was looking into a mirror, then Eric Bischoff entered his room and told him he wanted a civil engagement between the two World Heavyweight Championship opponents, because he couldn't risk an injury. Turns out, there's somebody that's just not gonna listen. Trips told Bischoff this was all his fault. Eric was pushing so hard for Batista to participate against Triple H and stay here on Raw for the World Title.

Before the match against Shawn Michaels, Muhammad Hassan went on another self political tirade. He claims the people don't know what they're screaming about. We are six days away, six days until he has to face the prejudice and bigotry at WrestleMania. He hasn't been pinned on Raw, yet he is still excluded from the biggest show of the year. But tonight, he says, is a different story. Tonight, he will have the satisfaction of pinning Shawn Michaels, the "so-called" Mr. WrestleMania, right here, right now, in his home state of Texas. Daivari then spoke more Iranian crap, and the only things we understand in there are "HBK", "Muhammad", and "WrestleMania". Shawn Michaels, thankfully, cut him off, much like he will cut off Kurt Angle if he tries to embarrass his song with the Heartbreak Kid's former manager Sensational Sherri again like he did on Smackdown. Unlike Hassan, Angle and Michaels will compete at WrestleMania against each other. Daivari is continuing to talk, and it pisses me off. The Arab Renegade, Hassan, is enjoying control for the moment, until the HBK chants come and Michaels gets a few chomps. Daivari tried to trip up the Showstopper, only to get stomped on his hand. Back from the break, we see Hassan with the surfboard stretch on Shawn, and a couple of unsuccessful covers, among other things. I beg Khozrow Daivari to shut the hell up, so I can't even spread much more detail on this match until Michaels gets to business. Michaels eventually fought his way out of a submission maneuver, and looked like he was about to start with the momentum, until the stop. Eventually, Hassan and Daivari distracted the ref for one another to get a bow and arrow lock on Michaels using the post. Though Hassan failed to get what I call the Rebellion Crash Buster in on Michaels, he applied the Camel Clutch, but Michaels hit the ropes. Shawn eventually got on a huge momentum surge, including the nip up, bad back and all. Michaels looks like he is on fire, and the Shawn Michaels Band started tuning up for Sweet Chin Music. Kurt Angle came and tried to assault Michaels, eventually getting past Mike Chioda's restraining business. Momentum switched to Michaels, as he dodged a punch from Angle, which hit Hassan. Michaels went for Sweet Chin Music on both men, hitting Hassan, and - along with security - forcing Angle to retreat. Hassan's music started going up, but it was corrected for that of Michaels. A musical jinx has been placed on the Motormouth of Iran and the Arab Renegade. But more importantly, Shawn Michaels is standing tall prior to his WrestleMania confrontation with Kurt Angle.

Eric Bischoff, angry about that last piece of chaos, decides to assemble the four nearest security guards and tell them to get security guards to get all the other guards to safeguard the face off situation.

Guards all in play, Eric Bischoff introduces Triple H to the ring. He is accompanied by Ric Flair, and apparently in a fiery mood. However, he does get nonchalant when he sits down on his side of the table. When Batista shows up, he's boasting out his strength, and when he finally enters the ring, Triple H gets up and begins his speech. Notice that both men are dressed to wrestle, even though this face-off is no official match. Trips was busy talking about how he was going to destroy Batista at WrestleMania, and how Big Dave was "ungrateful" to the Game and the Nache for teaching him everything he knows and making him who he is in this business. Batista simply commented by calling Flair a legend, and Trips an asshole, causing the Game to tip over the table that was between them. After an intense staredown, the two eventually had a fight that had to be restrained by security. Oh, and Batista won the upper hand in that, leaving his music on and Trips staggering up the ramp as the show ended, so once again, Batista has one-upped Triple H.

"Unbelievable, kids. That is damn unbelievable! Yet again, Dave Batista has gotten the better of me! Unbelievable!" Triple H yelled, obviously in a panic over the fact that at WrestleMania, he could very well lost the Heavyweight Title of the World. Again, Ric Flair and Trish Stratus were with him in the hall.

"Hey, did you two get embarrassed again tonight? How long is it gonna take for this funk of yours to die out? Come on!" Shelton Benjamin immediately entered the conversation.

"Well, if itsn't my own personal Terrell Owens," Trish responded to the All Street American's interference within grumpy Evolution affairs.

"Trish, don't cry. I'll admit, I was all over you. But it took a mighty big while, and that was only for the satire of it all, cause Vince had it happen. T.O. was doing something entertaining, cause that's just him, and he's my homeboy. So don't put his name in your mouth because we imitated his and Sheridan's MNF gig to start a Raw. Plus, if I'm right, I think that I'm gonna be the man beatin' you up for the Heavyweight Title, Triple H. That is, if you somehow get past my homeboy in the locker room, and that's Batista," Shelton got into the head of his Evolution partners. "And, Trish; I've been to one of Christy's training sessions, along with Kane and his bro, The Undertaker. From what I've seen, I know she can beat you. Better keep on your toes and think on your feet rather than on your back. Besides, if the two of you get beat by somebody that you guys have groomed into being who he is in this business, and before that, somebody you called a hot Playboy slut, it'll teach you guys to stop worrying about having too much glamour and shining yourselves up for an icky bedtime. And by that, I mean your focus on in-ring affairs will rise once again," Shelton spoke, an irritating speech to Evolution before walking off.

"You'd better walk away, boy! You had better walk away! Cause if you get back here, I will make you tap out, take that back, and call me uncle out of fear of broken legs before your lil' ladder match at WrestleMania! I think Edge or Christian will win that match anyway, you pompous son of a bitch!" the frustrated Dirtiest Player in the Game threatened Benjamin, who walked off with a grin on his face.

"Ah ah ah," a voice suddenly came up behind Evolution. Its holder: the Bionic Redneck, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

"Back off if you know what's good for ya, Austin!" Trips immediately threatened him.

"I think you forgot who I am, Triple H. You're lookin' at Stone Cold, the Texas Rattlesnake, Austin 3:16, the toughest son of a bitch in the history of this company. And I'm gonna have me a whole lotta fun on Piper's Pit, while your little lackey takes you outta your Championship," Austin spoke, causing the Cerebral Assassin to think about that possibility one time too many.

"If you dare being up Batista as a member of Evolution EVER AGAIN, I WILL MAKE YOU REGRET IT!" Trips threatned Austin, pointing fingers. Speaking of fingers, the Texas Rattlesnake flipped the bird on all three of them, then issued Flair the Stunner! With that, he "dusted" off his fingers so as to show that business has just been handled. Walking away, Stone Cold. Walking in, Hot Rod.

"Well, Triple H. It seems you've just been embarrassed by Shelton Benjamin and Steve Austin, haven't ya?" Roddy Piper noted towards the Game.

"You're gonna make me want to destroy somebody, Piper, so look out for yourself,"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, be quiet, and hold on for yourself, man!" Piper halted Trips. "Now, let me make a few comments. Trish, I hear you've been sleepin' for money, and you've been makin' fan boys kiss your Women's Title at the spot where it says "Women's" just to boost your dignity."

"Now, that is just not true!" she objected to those claims.

"Whoa, but let me keep goin', cause you're gonna have to make what you just said the truth if you want my utmost respect for anything other than your skill and cleverness in the ring," the Crazy Scotsman interrupted Trish's cut. "But really, I respect Ric Flair. He's my good friend. But I still have to make this joke. You're gonna have to free him from the clutches of your evil ways, Triple H, cause if you're the Game, and he's kissing your ass, and he's the Dirtiest Player in the Game, wouldn't that make him the dirtiest player in you? Ha ha ha ha ha!"

He left himself and a few workers in the back laughing, while Triple H and Trish stood absolutely embarrassed.

Onto another situation.

"I'm gonna win that ladder match. I don't care about Edge, or Kane, or anybody else. In fact, I blame Kane! Cause if it wasn't for him, Edge and I wouldn't have such a problem getting along in that match!" Christian yelled in his locker room.

"Yeah. I know, man. I just feel sorry for Edge, cause Lita was so important to him, you know?" Tyson noted.

"You're right, but there's gonna be no pity come WrestleMania. I'm gonna go all out to win that match! It's money in the bank, baby, for Captain Charisma!"

"Money in the bank for you, Christian? I've been screwed over too many times in this past year for me not to win this ladder match," Edge pointed out, suddenly appearing, much to the chagrin of Christian for once.

"Hey, I'm the most prolific TLC winner ever, remember?" Christian made sure Edge knew of this.

"I don't care! I just lost Lita, and the cause of it just thought he could curse me with even more bad luck! I'm gonna prove to him, to you, and to everybody else in that match that there is no way-"

"You get past me to win this ladder match and face Batista or Triple H!" Chris Benoit's voice suddenly made itself heard. The Rabid Wolverine did indeed enter the room behind Edge, Tomko, and Christian. "I'm telling you now, I will do whatever it takes to win that match, and anyone that denies my heart's desire to win will-"

"Have a greater one, and eventually move on to become the World Heavyweight Champion for the second time in his career!" Chris Jericho made his decision to cut into the discussion. "And, just to let all you assclowns know, I won the match tonight, and I'm gonna climb the ladder and get the briefcase faster than you can say, 'Y2J is the King of the World'! And, unlike you, Edge, I actually have a motivational date before WrestleMania. You might want to look into that."

"Hey, how dare you bring that up! I'll make sure you never walk again for that!" Edge threatened Jericho, who walked out with a smile on his face. Christian had no choice but to laugh.

"Shut the hell up before I spend my time destroying you!" Edge commanded his best friend, who will actually be one of his Mania opponents. Speaking of Jericho's date…

"Maria, did you see the way I just embarrassed Edge? As soon as I mentioned that I had a date, he was livid. You didn't even have to show your face!" Jericho yelled, sending the girl next to him into a good piece of laughter.

"Well, let's see here; are you up for the moment?" Maria asked Chris. Slowly, they entered that kiss Lita entered with Kane two weeks ago outside the alley, and Edge, who walked out to see what Y2J was talking about, was now in that explosive mood yet again.

Elsewhere, Randy Orton was being confronted by Kane and Lita.

"You should be ashamed of yourself! Stacy was my good friend, and you RKO'd her! I refuse to believe that a good man could be so cruel to her. Which is why I want Undertaker to crush you at WrestleMania and register you into a hospital that will treat you for life," Lita threatened Randy Orton.

"That's just not gonna happen, because I'm not afraid of The Undertaker-"

"I was afraid of him once. And I see 'back down' in your eyes addressed to me and Lita. If that's true, how could you not be remotely afraid of my brother, the great Undertaker? He can't join me today, but let me make his three words short and sweet so you can savor them, as well as the last hours of your wrestling life; rest in peace," Kane said. He and Lita left, that evil laugh of Kane's echoing through the ears of Orton.

And that is where we leave Raw. For sixteen weeks, we took a trip on the streets of Raw, exploring what life is like backstage. The last sixteen Raws before the great WrestleMania were given in detail, along with the insanity of backstage moments. For your reading pleasure, I give the world questions: what will come of Evolution's Championships? Will Christy Hemme and Batista become first time Champions and dethrone Evolution's hold on Raw gold? Who comes out on top in that six-man ladder match? Will Kane's brother, The Undertaker, indeed kill Randy Orton's legend killing ways at WrestleMania, or will the Grave Master be taken down to 12-1 by the Man of Destiny? Plus, there's another mystery, one that revealed its presence last week: will the recently paranoid Artist of Awesomeness, Edge, ever get over being dumped down by Lita?

All these questions are to be answered in the near future. My peeps, as well as Christian's, I bid you all farewell for now. My next project: the Edge & Christian Show. Peace, peeps!