Summary: The race for the World Heavyweight Championship is heating up and Chris Benoit is determined to put himself at the front of that race. Also featuring Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Triple H and a few more.
Disclaimer: Any characters, moves etc. that appear on WWE programming, remain the sole property of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment.
Note: My deepest apologies for taking so long to update this story, I had exams, a lot of overtime at work and a few issues. Thanks to everyone who is actually still reading this.
The fireworks exploded, the crowd was a buzz to see what was in store for tonight's RAW. Highlights were shown of last night's Backlash, in particular Triple H defeating Batista to win his eleventh world title. After they were through, the crowd erupted into extreme displeasure when the music of Motorhead blared throughout the arena. The telling factor however was that it wasn't 'The Game' being played, but 'The Line in the Sand', the theme song of Evolution. Triple H walked out with Ric Flair and the World Heavyweight Championship. The crowd roared their displeasure at what Triple H had done to Batista the previous night. Triple H continued his usual rant, how he was the greatest in the world and no one was going to challenge him.
"I've been at the top of this industry, almost as long as you people have been standing in welfare lines," continued Triple H, pointing to members of the crowd who weren't getting any quieter. "To stay at the top of this business you have to adapt, you have to evolve and last night at Backlash, Evolution evolved.
"This business is all about survival of the fittest, the strongest members survive and prosper, like the 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair and 'The Game'. The weakest members will be killed off because they can't handle the pressure. Last year at Unforgiven, Randy Orton couldn't handle the pressure that comes along with being the World Heavyweight Champion. He couldn't handle having the target on his back, having every member of that locker room gunning for you. Last night, the same thing happened to Batista. At Wrestlemania, Batista got lucky, he was awesome for one night, but legends aren't made on one night. You see, Ric Flair and 'The Game' are called the best because we've handled the pressure for more than one night, we've dominated this industry for years and from what I see in the back, I really don't see that changing anytime soon. "But before I go any further here, I think I should introduce the future of this industry. The two newest members of Evolution, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin!"
The music of Evolution hit the arena, accompanying Charlie Haas and the Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin to the ring. When they reached Ric Flair and Triple H they all shook hands and Benjamin took the microphone. The crowd hooted as Benjamin explained how Flair and Triple H had shown them exactly what they were capable of in this industry. How Triple H and Ric Flair were the best of all time and they weren't going to make the mistakes that Orton and Batista had made and turn their backs on Evolution.
As Benjamin was talking the music of Eric Bischoff started up and the crowd gave a mixed reaction. Some positive for cutting off Triple H, but Bischoff will always be hated by the fans of WWE. "Triple H! As you and all the fans know by now, my primary interest in running this brand, is to make money. I don't care who wins matches, I don't care who loses matches so long as it makes money. What doesn't make money however, is putting one of the most popular superstars on the roster, in Batista, on the shelf for several months."
"Bischoff, I don't appreciate you coming out here and running your mouth,' said Triple H retaking the microphone. "Seeing as though I am in a good mood tonight though, I will let it slide. I'm curious though, how exactly did you plan on doing anything about what Evolution did to Batista?"
"Well, seeing as the match is over there really isn't a lot I can do about the result and seeing as though Batista is having surgery on his knee, he's in no position to accept a re-match. One thing I can do however is, starting tonight, sanction a tournament to decide the number one contender. The first match starts now and involves Shelton Benjamin with the rest of Evolution banned from ring side."
Eric Bischoff smiled at the members of Evolution and headed backstage. Triple H wasn't happy with the decision made by the General Manager, but was forced to head backstage with Flair and Haas. Benjamin stood in the ring, awaiting his opponent.
Benoit waited behind the curtain for his music to go off, nodding in the direction of Bischoff as came through the curtain. He was a little sceptical when Bischoff had told him that he was in the first match, but he had been pleasantly surprised with what Bischoff had to say. Finally his music hit and the crowd went nuts, Benjamin however didn't.
Benoit hit the ring and immediately went to work on Benjamin laying some hard rights to the side of his head. Benoit then forced him into the corner and proceeded to lay some vicious chops to the chest of Benjamin.
Benjamin had only about three seconds to prepare for this match and Benoit had to take advantage of this. He continued at Benjamin for about five minutes, never letting up, his intensity at fever pitch. Benoit hit three belly to back German Suplexes and set Benjamin up for the flying head butt. Benoit signalled to the crowd, who responded in kind with another huge roar. Benoit climbed to the top turnbuckle and dived off, arms outstretched. Benjamin however, had just enough energy left to roll out of the way and Benoit hit nothing but mat.
Both men moved to opposite sides of the ring in order to give them a couple of seconds to recover. Benoit was the first get his senses back in working order and kept up the assault of Benjamin. He grasped his arms around Benjamin's waist yet again and flung him back, Benjamin's head and back slamming to the mat three more times. This time Benoit didn't give Benjamin any time to breathe, he jumped straight back on Benjamin and put him in the sharpshooter. Benjamin screamed, the pain shooting up his back. He slowly inched his way toward the rope, eventually grabbing the bottom rope.
Benoit let go of Benjamin in frustration, which grew when Benjamin pushed Benoit into the referee, who in turn bounced out of the ring. Benoit fell to the mat and took a couple of moments to gather where he was and what had happened. He turned straight into Benjamin and his T-Bone Suplex. Benoit hit the ring and felt a hazy cloud drifting around his head. His instincts told him to roll over to the direction of where he thought the ropes were to prevent Benjamin getting an easy pin.
After a few seconds of no pin, presumably because the referee was still on the outside Benoit started to make it to his feet. He looked around and saw Benjamin running at him with the title belt, but Benoit managed to duck underneath it and grab Benjamin and hit yet another German Suplex, forcing the title belt to spill from Benjamin's hands and to the outside. Benjamin slowly got to his feet and as the referee crawled back into the ring, Benoit applied the Crippler Crossface. The referee asked Benjamin if he wanted to give up, Benjamin said no despite the fact that he was screaming in agony. He tried to reach out for the ropes and after a couple of tries to reach them he tapped out. Benoit let go of the hold and rolled to the outside, he wanted to get out of there as fast as possible, he didn't know whether Evolution were waiting in the wings or not.
After making it back to the locker room, he met up with Chris Jericho who didn't look like he was in a good mood. "Good win out there," Jericho said as he sat down on the bench just down from where Benoit had parked himself.
"Thanks, what's wrong with you?" Benoit asked.
"Bischoff just told me that I'm not in the tournament, all because I already have a shot at the title. Bischoff feels that it would make better television if there were eight other guys in the tournament, including some guy from the trade."
After talking for a while Benoit and Jericho watched Kane defeat Edge in a brutal match, to move through to the next round to face Benoit. Benoit wasn't altogether thrilled with the idea of facing Kane in the mood he was in, but he really didn't have a choice. Eventually Benoit and Jericho came upon the topic of what they were going to do about Evolution. "You know that as long you have that contract from Wrestlemania that they will be gunning for us," stated Benoit in a very matter of fact manner.
"Yeah," was all Jericho replied with, deep in thought.
Benoit and Jericho decided to head out and check out one of monitors to see the identity of the new RAW member Bischoff had managed to secure in the trade. In the corridor they passed Christian who had just become the third member to move through to the next round. It ended in a short war of words between Jericho and Christian who still weren't seeing eye to eye.
Charlie Haas was the first man of the final match of the night and he waited in the ring to learn the identity of his opponent. After a couple of moments, Breaking Point's 'One of a Kind' started up and the new member of RAW was Rob Van Dam!
Things didn't end up finishing well for Evolution, as RVD finished off Haas with the Frog Splash. One thing that could be guaranteed however is that things were only getting started as far as Evolution was concerned.