Disclaimer: I do not own the WWE talent names or property rights, nor do I own any venues that may appear in the story.

The Road to Wrestle Mania: One Man's Journey to the Top
Chapter IV
The #1 Contender

The fireworks went off and the audience was electric as Friday Night Smackdown emanated from the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Tazz and Michael Cole welcomed everyone to the show and ran down the matches for the night. At the top of the card was a Fifteen-Man Battle Royal to name the number one contender for Booker T's U.S. Championship at the Smackdown exclusive PPV, Armageddon. Drake Williams was going to be part of the match, as were Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio, Orlando Jordan and even JBL among others.

Drake was in his locker room preparing for the Battle Royal. He had reviewed the list of competitors who are involved in the match; Chris Benoit, JBL, Rey Mysterio, Orlando Jordan, Mr. Kennedy, Hardcore Holly, Matt Hardy, Christian, Randy Orton, Eddie Guerrero, Johnny Nitro, Joey Mercury, Simon Dean and Sylvan. That would be the main event later that night, so Drake had plenty of time get ready. He had spoken to Chris Benoit earlier in the day, saying Drake was going to win the match and then beat Booker T at Armageddon. For now, Drake Williams had to worry about fourteen other wrestlers.

An hour and a half past by and now was time for the Battle Royal. Drake Williams was seen walking through the backstage area as the show went to commercial brake. When Smackdown returned, eleven men were in the ring as John Bradshaw Layfield was making his entrance. Next up was Rey Mysterio as the crowd went nuts him. Drake Williams came out next and he seemed to be gaining a cult fan base in his own right. Chris Benoit came out last to a big ovation and the rules are simple; a wrestler is eliminated when he is tossed over the top rope and feet hit the floor. As soon as Benoit got into the ring, Simon Dean started talking trash to everybody else; they all ganged up and eliminated him. The remaining competitors went at it with the winner going for the U.S. title at Armageddon.

Drake dragged JBL outside the ring and they got into a brawl. Neither was eliminated as they both went under the bottom rope, so they were still alive in the match. Back in the ring, Rey tossed Christian over but he hung on while Hardcore Holly eliminated Sylvan. Randy Orton and Mr. Kennedy double teamed Eddie Guerrero in the corner until Benoit gave Kennedy a German suplex. Drake and JBL wound up back inside and Drake eliminated Kennedy, then Orlando as the show went to commercial.

Back from the brake, they showed both Nitro and Mercury being tossed out by Benoit and Drake at the same time. Randy Orton tossed out Hardcore Holly but walked into a Clothesline from Hell from JBL. The self-proclaimed Wrestling God turned around and walked into Matt Hardy's Twist of Fate. Drake caught Hardy with his signature move and slammed Hardy down hard, but Guerrero hit Drake with the Three Amigos. As Eddie celebrated, Benoit snuck up on him and hit three German Suplexes. Christian got up and knocked out Benoit with the Unprettier, but Rey Mysterio shoved him into the ropes and hit the 619. Randy Orton got back up and the RKO on Rey, and now everyone is down.

JBL eventually got up and was about to hit Orton, but Orton ducked and JBL eliminated Christian. Randy Orton tried to sneak up on JBL but Orton was back dropped and eliminated as well. Six men remained and all the faces surrounded JBL, each one taking pot shots before eliminating him. Benoit tossed out Eddie Guerrero and the match was down to the final four; Drake Williams, Rey Mysterio, Matt Hardy and Chris Benoit. All four men fought it out in a free for all. After a good few minutes of action, Benoit eliminated Hardy while Drake tossed Mysterio out.

Now it was down to Drake Williams and Chris Benoit; two friends vying for a U.S. title shot at Armageddon. Drake dared Chris to come and get him, and Chris obliged. They started trading chops on each other until Benoit got the better of Williams. Benoit tried to scoop Williams over the ropes but Drake raked Chris's eyes before throwing him over the ropes. Benoit manage to hold on and rammed his shoulder into Drake's gut whenever he approached. Chris Benoit got back in and hit a German suplex, but Drake reversed it and hit one of his own. Benoit countered and hit another suplex and Drake countered back; at this point it was difficult to say who had the momentum, if at all.

Eventually, Benoit got Drake down and went to the top rope. From there, Chris Benoit went for his diving head butt, but Drake moved at the last second; now both men were down. When they got back to their feet, Drake Williams and Chris Benoit traded right hands with Drake getting the better of the fight. When he missed a right hand, Benoit countered with a back suplex hoping to eliminate Drake, but he hung on. Drake pulled Chris over the top rope and now they were fighting on the ring apron; both were in great danger of being eliminated. After a great struggle, Williams and Benoit fell off the apron, hitting the floor at the same time and the referees called for the bell.

"You're winner of the Battle Royal is…" Tony Chimel could not finish as the referees argued over who won.

Referee Nick Patrick raised Drake's hand saying he won, and referee Chris Kay raised Benoit's hand saying he won. The crowd was split between the two as they showed a replay of the ending. The footage was shown from different angles but it was too hard to tell whose feet touched down first. At that moment, Theodore Long came out to the stage, hopefully to settle the dispute. Chris Benoit and Drake Williams went back in the ring to plead their cases to the General Manager until Long silenced them.

"Seems to me that we have some controversy over who should be the number one contender." Long said. "Luckily, I have the solution; next week, we 're going to have a match. It's going to be Drake Williams verses Chris Benoit and the winner will be the number one contender for the United States Title. Holla, holla, holla!"

Theodore Long left the stage as Benoit and Williams stared at each other. Neither of them was happy with Teddy Long's as Smackdown went off the air. After the show, Drake returned to his locker room and took a seat to collect his thoughts. He felt so sure that he won the Battle Royal, but now he had to wrestle Chris Benoit for the right to wrestle for Booker T's title. There was a knock on the door and when Drake answered, he was surprised to see Christy Hemme.

"Hi, Drake. Can I come in?" she asked. "Um, sure." Drake said. "Sorry about what happened in your match tonight." Christy said. "Don't be, I'm not." Drake replied. "I think it's cool to know I'll be wrestling Benoit next."

"Aren't you at all worried that you could lose?" Christy asked. "I mean Chris Benoit is a former World Heavyweight Champion."

"I know, but I can take him." Drake said. "That tells me that I'm on my way to the big leagues. Is that why you came to see me?" he asked.

"Well, I just worry about you sometimes." Christy said. "Sometimes I wonder if you're in over your head." Drake said, "Well maybe I am sometimes, but that's what keeps me going. Don't worry about me." Christy nodded in approval and said, "Okay, I'll try. Good luck next week." "Thanks." Drake said.

Christy left at that moment and Drake could not help but watch her leave. He would never admit it, but Drake was a bit taken with the fiery redhead. Drake eventually came out of his daze and returned into him room to pack up his belongings and call it a night. Nine days remained until Smackdown presents Armageddon, and Drake Williams was going to be there, one way or another.

Author's note: Who's says a story can't have a few cliffhangers? No, seriously, who says that? Just review and don't steal Drake, jerkies! As Ric Flair would say; WOO!