The arena went black as the full house roared. Outside the arena, the area was full of spectators watching the event on screen. Fans at home were able to stream it live through the internet, and PPV companies had managed to grab rights to air the event, right from under Ric Flair's nose, and sold it for ten bucks a pop. The Rock smiled as the light shone down on him and only him in the dark setting. This had been a part of his plan all along.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a joint production of both Raw and SmackDown. I give you, House Show!" The pyros shot off from each turnbuckle. The fans roared as the light started to go up. "As you know this event is very special, for I will be challenging the champion Edge for his title. Nobody may interfere on my behalf, but anyone and his uncle can come and help Edge. That's just how confident I am that I'll win. For you see, Edge and his friends each hold a little secret, a secret which I intend to share with you all tonight." Backstage, Edge tensed, his body cringing. "You see, Edge and his friends, are living a lie. They're the champions for one reason, and that reason alone isn't from talent itself, like yours truly. You see, that reason seems to be…."
Edge's theme cut him off, Rocky turned to see Edge appear on the ramp, "Whoa, hold it Rocky! First off, what do you think you're doing? You can't tell the world something like that!"
"Oh I intend to."
"And another thing! You too share that secret."
"But I'm not a champion, yet, I didn't use that 'gift' to my advantage in this company."
"Hypocrite! You intend to do that very thing in our match tonight!" Rocky just smirked at Edge's comment. "Folks, Rocky isright, we are all living with a secret, many of us in the back, even he himself." Rocky frowned, folding his arms. "But the fact of the matter is, I will defend my title and all of my friends involved in this mess will be by my side." At that note, everyone came out from backstage. Edge led them into the ring, all but Flair, Kurt Angle and Dan, they stood at ringside to show their support. "And I would just like to say one last thing before our fight begins."
"Oh, and what's that?"
"That whoever beats you, if I'm taken out of the ring and somebody else gets the win, they become WWE Champion!" The fans roared at Edge's statement. Everyone began to look at each other, Eddie's hands found themselves in a Mr. Burns 'excelent' pose. Chris Benoit looked over at Chris Jericho, he was just as shocked as all the rest, but he knew what Edge was doing. "And with that said, sound the bell!"
The bell sounded and the fans roared as Edge and Rocky began to circle each other, but just then, "Hold up there!"
Everyone turned, "Hulk Hogan?"
Hogan parted through the group, hands on hips, "Edge, you're giving away the title to whoever beats Rocky? Well stand aside, I'm the greatest champ in the history of this business, I'll take down The Rock and become the champion too."
Edge was stunned but stepped aside, "Fine then, be my guest. But please, be careful."
"Don't." Flair shook his head. "Just let him go and don't encourage him."
"But he doesn't have any…." Jericho felt a hand go over his mouth, he looked up to see Benoit shake his head, and then Jericho understood.
The fans roared for their long time hero with chants of, "Hogan, Hogan, Hogan, Hogan!"
Edge's team watched as Hogan went eye to eye with Rocky, "Come on buster, I'll even be so graceful as to allow you the first sympathy blow."
Rock shook his head, "All I need, is one shot." Rock raised his hand and swatted Hogan across the face. Everyone gasped in shock as Hogan flew up the ramp and fell onto the vacant announce table. Rock turned back to Edge, "Such a waste of time. May we begin now?"
Edge nodded and got face to face, "We may."
Edge and Rocky began to circle each other. Everyone stood back against the ropes, waiting for their moment to come help Edge when he needed it. Edge and Rocky finally locked into a grapple and the fans cheered. Edge growled, his teeth clenched, Rocky pushed down, he was more powerful.
Rock smiled, "Come on Edge, power up to Super Star, you might stand a chance."
Edge tensed, he looked around slightly, noticing the cameras recording every move, but he realized that if he didn't transform, he could be in serious trouble, he sighed,"The world will understand, they can forgive me." Edge cried out and exploded into a yellow light. Everyone gasped at the new Edge standing before them. "There Rocky, are you happy now?"
Rock smirked, "Yes, quite." He pushed him back against a turnbuckle. "But you still don't match me!" He began to smash him, Edge cried out.
"Edge!" Jeff Hardy was about to run into help, but Edge stopped him.
"No, wait, it's ok. I'm just getting warmed up." Waves of energy began to flow from Edge as he pushed back, causing Rocky to step back now. The crowd was awestruck, whatever was going on in that ring was absolutely amazing. "Hey Rocky look, isn't that your manager with a new movie contract?"
"Where?" Rocky turned around eagerly, that gave Edge his chance.
"Kamehame- HA!" Edge shot the energy blast, it hit Rocky right in the back.
He turned with a scowl, much to Edge's dismay, "Is that all you got? That was powerfully, weak. Haha." Edge froze in shock, Rocky grabbed him by the neck and threw him down, he skidded back by his friends. "Go ahead, tag someone in."
"What?"
"New rules!" Rocky announced. "Edge can only have someone come help him if he tags them in."
"What!"
"And…. there is no pin fall or submission, no count outs or giving up, the only way to win is a KO."
Edge growled, "You….! Fine." Edge turned to his friends. Chris Benoit stuck out his hand to receive the tag, but Edge looked next to him. Crash, RVD and Rey Mysterio stuck out their hands at the same time. Nidia and Big Show leered over at Rocky. Edge nodded to himself."You, I choose." He tagged both of them and they took his place inside the ring.
"A girl and a tool? Ha! It's only fair that I let them attack me together." Rocky smirked, only pissing off Nidia even more.
"You killed my boyfriend, Jame Noble, right in front of me!" Nidia's words caused the fans to all freeze, The Rock, their beloved favorite, was a killer? "You will pay for what you've done!" Nidia screamed and her body exploded into waves of energy.
Show reached out his hand to stop her, "No Nidia, wait!" Nidia jumped up and ran to attack Rocky but he swatted her back with a simple gesture as if she were no more than a mere fly. Nidia screamed as she flew back, but Show caught her. "Are you ok?"
She held her head, "Yea, I'm fine."
Show looked over at Crash, "Here, look after her for me."
Crash nodded, "Ok, sure." Crash took Nidia and helped her down to sit on the steps where Kurt, Dan and Flair went over to see how she was fairing.
Show turned back to Rocky, "You killed one friend and terribly hurt the other, I will make you suffer in a pain far worse than death for what you've done." Show stomped over and loomed above Rocky, but he wasn't intimidated at all. "You can't defeat me, and you know it."
Rock frowned, "Watch me." He went to punch with a right, but Show caught it. Rocky gasped.
"Too slow." Show began to crush his hand, causing Rocky to scream. The fans all stared with their jaw dropped.
Finally Rock broke away, tearing his hand back and jumping to the other side of the ring where he rubbed his wrist, "You nearly broke my hand Big Show." He smirked. "I have to give you some credit." He stood strait. "But I've got a trick of my own." His hands began to glow, and Edge gasped, was that what he thought it was? "Ka, me, ha, me, HA!" Rocky blasted Big Show over the ropes and to the bottom of the ramp with the Kamehameha attack. Edge shook for a moment, how did he learn his attack?
"How dare you Rock!" Edge ran back into the ring and threw a punch at Rocky, but he blocked it with his own. Both of them began to punch and kick each other so rapidly that the fans could barely keep on track.
Rocky smirked, "You didn't tag in, but I'll let it slide. I have to pin you to win."
"Show!" Jericho, the closest to him, jumped down from the apron and ran to him. "Hey, are you ok?" Jericho gasped, Show had a serious head wound from hitting the steel floor, it was bleeding badly.
Big Show groaned and opened his eyes, "Chris. I'm sorry. I underestimated him. Don't make the same mistake I did. He's strong, really strong, maybe too strong for Edge. Please, tell Nidia I'm sorry and that I really cared about her, I tried to… ugh."
"No Show, it'll be ok. Just hang on." Jericho's eyes shook, Show was fading fast from the loss of blood and the force of the Kamehameha.
Show closed his eyes, "I know how you feel about this Chris, we all feel the same way. We want to end it at all costs, even if it means ending our lives. My life lost might make the difference, I don't know, all I can do is hope that my efforts made a difference. We're all a little scared, Chris. Even me. You're not alone Chris, don't be afraid, you might be the difference maker in this, just please, don't let him hurt Nidia anymore." And with that Show lay still and silent.
"No, Show, wake up, Show." Jericho lay his head down and tried hard to hold back the tears. "You gave your life Show, I won't let that be in vain!" Jericho stood up and yelled, transforming into his Super Star state.
The fans once again gasped, their jaw dropping at what all was going on. Edge turned around from fighting Rocky and saw the rage exploding in Jericho, his hidden potential unlocked, he realized that now was the time for his plan, now was the time for the difference maker.
"Jericho!" Jericho turned growling at the call of his name, he saw Edge walk over and extend his hand. "I'm tagging you in." Everyone gasped, the superstars, the fans, everyone.
Even Rocky was a little confused, folding his arms, "Him?"
"Yes him." Edge turned to Jericho, still holding out his hand. "You're the difference maker, there is a power hidden deep within you, I saw it just now. You are the one to win this, you will be the one to save us all and retain the title for the good of the world. You, Chris, I choose you."
Jericho looked down at Edge's hand, he then looked around at everyone else, they were looking at him, waiting expectantly. Finally Jericho smiled and tagged Edge's hand, "Ok man, I'm in." He got in the ring and looked at The Rock. "You can count on me."