Disclaimer: I have no claims to the WWE talent, products or venues.
The Road to WrestleMania: One Man's Journey to the Top
Chapter V
The Spirit Of Competition
Drake Williams arrived early at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center with luggage in tow. Two days remained until Armageddon on Pay Per View and he was focused on being on hand for the event. But first he had to get by Chris Benoit because if Drake could defeat Benoit tonight, Drake would earn a shot for the WWE United States Championship against Booker T. The show would start in about five hours so Drake decided to drop off his gear in his locker room and go help set up the stage, or at least work out for the time being. It was not long until Drake found his way into the arena area that he ran into Batista.
"Yo Dave, what going on?" Drake asked. "Nothing out of the ordinary but then again, we're anything but ordinary." Batista said.
Drake shook his head and said, "I heard that! You wouldn't happen to if Christy came in yet, would you?" "Why, you lonely?" Batista asked. "Oh very funny, Animal!" Drake said.
"I think she's backstage with Stacy." Batista answered. "Thanks, big man." Drake said before taking off.
Drake scoured the halls until he reached the woman's locker room. He dared not enter for fear that the divas would abject to his presence so he decided to wait until later. Five and a half hours passed by and Drake's match up with Chris Benoit was up next. Drake slipped on both elbow pads and hurried out of his room. As he walked down the hall to the gorilla position, Drake passed by other wrestlers who had matches of their own. Some of them had finished their bouts while others were setting up for other bouts. Drake continued on his way before being confronted by Booker T.
"What do you want?" Drake asked. "I hope you ain't got you're hopes up," Booker said, "See, I don't give a damn who I get at Armageddon; I'm still walking out the U.S. Champion. Now can you dig that, Sucka?"
Drake licked his upper lip and said, "Booker, you better pray that I lose tonight, because you won't have one damn clue what you'd be up against. Can you dig that…Sucka?"
Drake Williams took his leave and Booker T could only say one thing, "He didn't say that. Tell me he didn't just say that."
Friday Night Smackdown returned from commercial and Drake Williams made his way to the ring for his match against Chris Benoit. The winner would go to Armageddon to challenge Booker T for the United States Championship. Chris Benoit came to a big pop from the audience; he knew as did Drake what was on the line. Drake and Chris got nose to nose as the referee tried to separate them before the match even started. Eventually the bell sounded and the match got underway.
Benoit and Williams locked up and started with some chain-wrestling in the center of the ring. Benoit tried going for the Crossface early but Williams rolled out of it before going for the Sharpshooter but Benoit kicked him off. The crowd gave them a round of applause as they locked up again and Drake, being the bigger and maybe stronger of the two, powered Benoit into the corner. Chris Benoit turned the pressure around and chopped Drake's chest. Drake answered with a chop of his own as the crowd responded with woos, in reference to Nature Boy Ric Flair.
Drake Williams turned the pressure back and chopped Benoit again before the referee broke them up. Drake backed away and challenged Chris to a test of strange. The Rabid Wolverine was more than happy to oblige as he and Drake locked up. Since he was about six feet and three inches tall, Drake utilized the added leverage to force Chris Benoit back down to the mat. Benoit was still able to bridge out and managed pull himself back to a vertical base. Eventually, Chris Benoit tripped Drake Williams before locking in an armbar.
Drake managed to fight out of the hold and locked up Benoit's leg. Drake attempted to go for a figure-four leg lock but Benoit rolled up Drake in mid-move for a two count. Drake immediately went for a clothesline but Chris ducked and attempted a backslide but Drake flipped over Benoit's before going for a bridge and a two count. The crowd was split between the two wrestlers as Benoit and Williams locked up again and Williams got Benoit a side headlock. Benoit manage to throw Williams into the ropes, only to get shoved down by Drake. Drake ran the ropes again as Chris rolled to his gut and quickly stood up to knock Drake down.
Chris Benoit went the Sharpshooter but Drake kicked him away. Benoit went on the attack with a snap suplex for a count of two. Chris Benoit picked up Drake and gave him another chop before Drake Williams fired back a hard right hand and now they started trading blows. Drake eventually wound up outside of the ring and Chris Benoit went for a suicide dive through the ropes and hit it and both men were down as Smackdown went to commercial.
When the show came back, Chris Benoit had Drake Williams against the ropes and tried to Irish whip him, but Drake reversed the move. As Benoit ran the ropes, Drake went for a clothesline but Benoit ducked. Drake ran the ropes himself and he and Benoit collided with a double clothesline; now both men were down. The referee began counting and reached a seven count before Benoit and Williams got back to their feet.
Drake tackled Chris into the corner and buried his shoulder into Benoit's chest. Benoit managed to fight back and pushed Drake away before charging. Drake caught Chris and hit a spine buster for a two count. Drake Williams broke off his ground attack and to the top turnbuckle. Chris Benoit cut Drake off before he set Drake up for a superplex and hit it. Chris Benoit draped an arm over and got a very close near fall.
Chris Benoit got Drake Williams back to his feet and hit a germen suplex, but Drake reversed into his own german suplex. Benoit reversed it back and hit another suplex, and Drake returned the favor. Chris Benoit managed to win the game and went to top turnbuckle and came off with a headbutt as the ringside announcers made a reference to the bout from the previous week. Benoit hooked the far leg but only picked up a near fall. Chris Benoit continued the attack and bounced off the ropes but Crake caught him and hit his reverse Death Valley Driver but both wrestlers were down again. Tazz pointed out that the move was called the Widowmaker. Drake made the cover but only got a two count.
Drake Williams pulled Chris Benoit back up but Benoit countered into the Crossface. Drake rolled through and caught Benoit in the Sharpshooter. The referee asked Benoit if he wanted to give it up but he refused and made it to the ropes. Drake dragged Benoit back to the center but Benoit reversed the hold and now the pressure was on Williams. Williams tried to crawl to the ropes but Benoit quickly released the Sharpshooter and locked in the Crossface. Drake Williams tried everything he could to break the hold from reaching the ropes to rolling through but it was no good. Chris Benoit looked to have the match won until Booker T rushed the ring and attacked him and Williams. A very competitive match up ruined by a coward.
Booker T hit Benoit with the scissors kick but forgot about Drake Williams who went after the U.S. Champion. Drake went for the Widowmaker but Booker got out and hit a low blow. Booker T picked up his title belt and hit Drake between the eyes. By this time, Drake was busted open for first time in his fledgling career. Then Booker T did the same to Benoit before leaving the ring, only to witness Theodore Long come out.
"Booker T, if you think you got yourself out of a match at Armageddon, think again." Long said. "At Armageddon, it gonna be Booker T verses Chris Benoit verses Drake Williams in a triple threat match for the Unites States Championship, playa."
Booker T was totally livid in the ring after hearing the announcement. He failed to notice Chris Benoit sneaking up and was caught in a german suplex followed by the Crossface. Booker T tapped out like crazy before rolling out of the ring. Chris Benoit's music hit as he went over to check on Drake as Smackdown went to a commercial. During the brake, Chris helped Drake back to the locker room. Drake looked to be out of it, but he was going to be at Armageddon on Sunday night. At least he hoped so but with his face bloodied, chances were not good. By the time they reached the backstage area, Drake collapsed and Chris called for help. Another referee and Christy Hemme arrived on the scene. When Drake's eyes flickered open, the first and only image he saw was Christy' face before he blacked-out.
Author's note: Sorry I took so long with this one. I'll back with another chapter ASAP. Bank on it! I'm also considering changing the name of my main character and that would a lot of editing. Damn! Gimme your opinion if you think I should so. How does Evan Gelion sound, other than fimiliar?