In Quest of Greatness

Summary: Benoit loved the feeling of wearing the gold and in his quest to get it back, many obstacles stand in his way. Featuring Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin and a few more.

Disclaimer: Any character, moves etc. that appear on WWE programming, remain the sole property of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment.

The confetti fell all around him, as everything seemed to move in slow motion, the camera flashes, the lights, everything felt so surreal. He was the World Heavyweight Champion, the number one wrestler in the world, no one stood on a higher pedestal than himself. He had finally done it, achieved the moment that every wrestling fan dreamed of. To stand at the biggest stage of them all and hold the World Championship aloft.

'That was last year though,' Benoit thought as he snapped out of his daydream. He had been at the very top, but there was no use in dwelling on that now, he wanted to get there again and the only way to do that, was to move forward. He craved that feeling of knowing that everyone was looking up to him, gunning for him, he thrived on that challenge. To have everyone believe that he was going to fail, only to prove them wrong through nothing more than sheer hard work.

This was his big chance to get back into the World Heavyweight Title race, a six man ladder match. The winner getting a World Championship shot, anytime in the next twelve months. He knew it was going to be dangerous, he knew it was going to take every ounce of strength that he had to get over the line. He had five opponents that were every bit as hungry to get a shot at the World Title and would do just about anything to make it happen.

He sat in the stand of the arena in LA, taking the atmosphere in, making sure that he was mentally ready for what he was about to embark on. The arena was pretty much empty, except for some of the ring crew making some last minute adjustments before show time. There were also a few of the guys wondering around, going through similar thought processes that Benoit himself was going through. One man caught his attention, wondering through a maze of seats on the far side of the arena, one of the men who would be his opponent in a few hours. Shelton Benjamin looked deep in thought, so he should be, Benoit thought to himself. He had a huge opportunity to skyrocket his reputation with a win tonight, he was going to have to get passed one determined Wolverine to do it though.

Benoit wondered back down to the ring area, preparing to go backstage and take it easy until show time. As he hopped over the barricade, he was startled from his thoughts, by a familiar voice, 'how's it goin' esse?'

Benoit turned to greet the man, who had been one of his best friends for more than a decade; 'I'm alright Eddie, how about you?'

'Couldn't be better man, this is Wrestlemania esse vatto, the biggest stage of them all, where legends are made and I plan on becoming one of them tonight.' Eddie smiled in the direction of his good friend, Benoit half expected Eddie to break into his little shimmy right there and then, he was ready to go. Then Eddie turned serious, 'another big night for you though hey?'

'Yeah,' Benoit said with a sigh, as he looked in the direction of the ring and the rope and they were raising to the ceiling, ready to be lowered for the contract-containing briefcase later that night. 'Can you believe it's already been one year?'

Eddie knew Chris better than most and he put one hand on the Wolverine's shoulder and simply said, 'I know you'll blow them all away tonight, but be careful out there, you know more than most how dangerous ladder matches can be.'

'Thanks man,' Benoit replied as he headed in the direction of the locker room.

The crowd was hot, and the first couple of matches of the night had really got them going. Paul London, a guy that Benoit had been really impressed by of late, had won the Cruiserweight Title from Eddie's nephew Chavo. Big Show had won the sumo match, a match that Benoit didn't really understand, he had a hard timing coming to terms with two five hundred pound men in nothing more than large thongs.

Benoit found himself wondering through the halfway backstage, eventually coming upon Batista doing an interview with one of the new Divas, Benoit didn't know here name, he couldn't keep track of them all. He stood to the side and Batista eventually stopped mid-sentence and looked at him. Benoit stepped forward and looked Batista in the eye, 'I know we've had our differences over the passed year Dave, but there is one thing I've learnt over the course of my career. That is, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, so good luck tonight and make sure you kick Hunter's ass,' and with that Benoit stuck out his hand.

Batista glared at Benoit for a moment, before cracking a half smile and taking up Benoit's offer of a handshake, 'thanks man, consider it done.'

Benoit continued on to find a monitor so that he could watch Eddie in action against another of his friends, Rey Mysterio. He eventually found one, not to far from the gorilla position, but he saw Chris Jericho there watching, a man who he had known since 1995, wrestling in Japan, a man who was probably his toughest competition tonight.

'Hey man,' said Jericho turning his attention away from the television long enough to notice the presence of the wolverine.

'Hey,' was all that Benoit replied with.

'Listen man,' started up Y2J, 'it's every man for himself out there, so I just want you to know that there is no hard feelings whatever happens'.

'All's fair in love and war,' responded Benoit.

Jericho nodded, but before turning back to the television he added, 'as long as it's nothing but war out there where alright', drawing a smirk, before Benoit also turned his attention to the monitor.

Finally it was time, Benoit although buoyed by Eddie's close win, was a little drained as he had already wrestled the match a hundred times in his head, when he got the call to move up to the gorilla position. He saw Christian sitting there with Edge, neither man speaking to one another, only glaring. He finished some warm up exercises, before Howard Finkel on the microphone caught his attention, 'the following match, is a six man, money in the bank ladder match. The first contestant to climb the ladder and unhook the briefcase will be declared the winner!'

Then Benoit's music hit, he was first out, it was show time…