Disclaimer: Did y'all miss me? I have no claim to the WWE product or talent, the arena or songs mentioned in the story. Once again, I'm changing Drake's theme song. Read to find out.
Beyond The League: A New Journey
Chapter VI
Final Ascent
The rivalry between Drake Williams and Edge over the WWE Title is about to reach its crescendo; in a Ladder Match for the gold. If that was not enough to cause distress, John Bradshaw Layfield had challenged the winner for the championship at Unforgiven. The Champion had more added pressure since the match was to take place on Raw in Toronto, Canada; Edge's hometown. Long before the show started, Drake roamed around the Air Canada Centre thinking about everything he went through since WrestleMania. That is when he stopped dead in his tracks in front of a ladder. Drake started climbing the ladder, finally stopping when he reached the second to last step. He looked down at the floor below and sighed; when asked if he was scared of heights, Drake said it was not the height that bothers him. Rather it was the known fact that he can take some of the more brutal bumps by falling off a ladder.
'Edge's got the clear cut advantage this time,' Drake thought. 'This is his kind of match, no question about it.'
Drake climbed down the ladder and made his way to his locker room to prepare for the event. All through the day and into the event itself, Drake's focus was almost solely on preparation for the championship Ladder Match. He spoke to no one; he has been very quiet and even intentionally missed several calls on his cellular. Drake was not trying to be some antisocial jerk; he just did not wish to be distracted at any juncture as the main event drew closer. The young wrestler was also aware of a rumor that he would from now on be using the "Deadly Game" theme song as his own shortly after SummerSlam. Drake did confirm the rumor to be true and cited Theory of a Deadman as one of his favorite bands. In any event, Drake made one last adjustment to his gear before going deep into thought. However, Edge barged into the room and Drake was vertical right off the bat and they stood face to face.
"What the hell do you want?" Drake demanded.
"Just thought I'd stop by before I kick your ass tonight…" Edge surprisingly stuck his hand out. "And say good luck." Drake very warily accepted Edge's gesture and was pulled in closer to his face. "Because you're gonna need it."
Edge went to leave but Drake still kept a firm grip on his hand before pulling Edge in, again bringing them eye to eye. "I'm not the only who'll need luck. But you're gonna have to kill me before you climb that ladder and take what's mine."
"One way or another," Edge said. "This thing between you and me is gonna be over."
Drake finally let Edge go and they still stared at one another before Edge left the room. It soon came time the Ladder Match for the WWE Championship. The cameras had shown the WWE Championship belt hanging high above the ring as Lillian Garcia ran down the rules. Afterward, she introduced Edge as the challenger as he got a mixed reaction his hometown of Toronto. Ironically, this was a role reversal of sorts; Edge is the challenger for the WWE Title in his hometown just as Drake Williams was the challenger at WrestleMania in his hometown. Drake Williams made his way out as the WWE Champion but not with the belt in tow as it was hanging above the ring. Even while sporting "Deadly Game" as his entrance music, the champion also got a mixed reaction from the Toronto fans.
Both rivals came eye to eye once more as the Toronto was clearly split over who to cheer. Regardless of who liked who, the match was underway with Williams and Edge slugging it out right from the get-go. Williams took the early advantage and hammered Edge in the corner but Edge was able to fight out before running off the ropes. Williams lowered his head only for Edge to kick him in the chest but Williams was still able to backdrop Edge over the ropes to the floor. The Champion followed to try and ram Edge's face into the ring steps, but Edge stopped him and rammed Drake's face instead. Edge gave Drake a suplex on the floor that rattled the champions back.
Edge did not waste any time in sliding the ladder into the ring with him but Drake Williams came in and hit a quick German suplex follow by two more. Jim Ross commented that this match has turned ugly in a hurry; and it would only get uglier from here on out. The champion wasted little time in using the ladder to climb for the gold but Edge recovered to stop him. Edge pulled Williams down for the ladder and rammed his face into the ladder much to the joy of some fans in Toronto. Now Edge tried to climb the ladder but Williams would clothesline him off and he too picked some cheers from the crowd; but that was follow by a chorus of boos. Drake noticed they were not directed at him but at the entrance ramp and he looked to that area; there stood John Bradshaw Layfield. JBL was the number one contender for the WWE title and had to be out there to scout his potential prey.
Drake started jaw jacking at Bradshaw, not seeing Edge behind him with the ladder in his hands. Edge threw the ladder as hard as he could and the object crashed into Drakes' back; thus getting a big pop from the crowd. The champion bounced off the ropes and backed into an Edge-o-Matic from Edge as JBL looked on. Edge hammered away on the face of the champion before taking the ladder and rammed it into Drakes' sternum over and over again before setting it up in the corner. Edge picked up Williams and again threw his face first into the ladder repeatedly before going to the opposite corner and preparing for a Spear. Once Williams was vertical by the ladder, Edge charged full steam ahead; but Williams could almost feel it coming and flapjacked Edge into the ladder. Edge went down and now was the champions' turn to inflict some damage.
In a surprising twist, the Toronto crowd booed Williams; before this they cheered Edge. The champion inwardly could care less who it was that they cheered for so he picked up the ladder, held it up and waited for Edge to get up. Edge was up and Williams charged, ramming the top of the ladder into Edges' stomach and then dropped the weapon across his back; this time the fans cheered for Williams.
'This Toronto crowd is on the weird side for sure!' Drake thought.
Drake Williams kicked the ladder out of the ring and brought Edge back to a vertical base but Edge scored with a hard right. Williams fired back with his own rights and the match became an all out brawl; meanwhile JBL remained at the ramp and did not seem all that impressed. It looked as if Edge was getting the better of the fight until the Williams duck a shot and dump Edge over the ropes. But the ever resourceful Edge had a plan as he reached under the ring and pulled out a steel chair. The challenger waited for his prey; Drake Williams started climbing through the ropes and Edge blasted the WWE Champion in the skull with the weapon. Williams tumbled lifelessly to the floor while Edge produced a sick smirk on his face before sending the ladder back into the ring.
Edge decided to forget about his foe and focus on setting up the ladder. Who could blame him when the WWE Title literally hangs in the balance? Edge started climbing the ladder, albeit slowly but Williams managed to recover and catch the challenger halfway up. Williams put Edge on his shoulders and gave him an Electric Chair drop from the ladder; now they were both down.
After several minutes of being laid out on the mat, Drake Williams finally managed to get to his knees; and eventually his feet. He wasted no time in making his assent up the ladder but this time Edge caught him and tried to position the champion for a powerbomb. The plan sort of backfired when Williams shifted his balance and tried a hurrican-rana than sent both champion and challenger sailing over the top rope to the floor. Considering how big Williams actually is, that was a rare moment. JBL continued to keep his watchful eyes fixed on the action with a sly smile. He clearly enjoyed watching Edge and Williams beat the holy hell out of each other.
Drake Williams was barely able to get up after that brutal spill and he was on "spaghetti legs" right now. He picked Edge up and tried again to drive him head first into the ring steps, but Edge stopped him and rammed Williams' head into the steps instead. Edge would then clothesline Williams over the barricade into the fans before going out after him and they brawled again. It was almost safe to assume they just do not like each other. Soon they returned to ringside as Edge tossed Williams back over the wall before standing on the wall. Edge would wait to get up before coming off the wall but got a stiff shot to the stomach from the WWE Champion. Drake mounted Edge and threw every hard right hand he could muster before tossing Edge back into the ring where the still upright ladder was waiting.
Drake folded the ladder and propped it in the nearest corner before he went back to work on Edge. Once again the Toronto crowd changed their allegiance; as they have done throughout much of the match. This time they chanted for Edge and booed Williams, who honestly did not give a damn as he prepared to Irish whip Edge into the ladder. But Edge was able to reverse the attempt and it would Williams who crashes into the ladder; Edge followed up with a Spear. They do not call him the Rated R Superstar for nothing. Afterwards, the Edge reset the ladder so it was upright but still near the corner and he started climbing as Drake Williams was down on the mat. When he reached the second to last step, Edge looked down on his prey before going all the way to the top and coming down and splashed Williams from maybe ten feet high.
The crowd erupted with a very familiar chat of, "HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT!"
Edge, despite clearly being hurt from the prior maneuver repositioned the ladder in the center of the ring but was unable to climb right away. He was vertical but was holding his midsection in pain; that will not stop Edge though, not with the WWE Championship on the line. The Rated R Superstar started climbing again only for Drake Williams catch him. Edge kicked Williams away only for the champion to come off the ropes and push the ladder over; Edge would come crashing and burning and almost hung himself on the top rope. Edge was down again while Williams simply collapsed from fatigue. The WWE Champion soon recovered enough reset the ladder and starts his climb toward the belt but Edge was stirring and started climbing as well. Williams looked to be a fingertip away from the title until Edge struck him in the midsection; now they were both on the ladder and trading shots. But the end of the fight saw both men strike each other so hard that they both went falling off the ladder to the mat below.
After who knows how much time went by, both the champion and challenger made it back to their feet; looking eye to eye with the Toronto crowd now behind both men. Drake Williams and Edge both got their second wind and went punch for punch in an all out war. This is what being the WWE Champion meant to both Edge and Williams. Drake soon got the better of the brawl leaving Edge on the ropes and charged; only for Edge to send him flying out of the ring. Edge proceeded to fold up the ladder and held on to it, unaware that Williams was coming back; with the chair Edge used previously. When Edge turned, Williams struck the chair into the ladder and into Edge and he went down with ladder in hand. Now Williams took the ladder away from and held it vertical and upside-down; ready to literally jam it into the sternum of Edge. Edge had other plans and scored with a low blow, sending the champion down in major pain.
Even on his knees, Edge continued the assault on the champion; dragging him to the fallen ladder and smashing him face first into it. In due time, Edge brought Drake back a vertical base and tried for the Edgecution but Drake countered with the Celestial onto the ladder. Even though Edge was writhing in pain from the impact, the move took a lot out of Drake Williams as well but he still stood upright. The WWE Champion had a strange idea in his head as he positioned the ladder with Edge laid out on it. Williams then ascended the turnbuckle and flew off for a splash of his own but Edge moved at the very last second; thus the champion would crash and burn big time. Both wrestlers struggled for dear life to stand up and they made it; Williams would soon walk right into the Edgecution from Edge and the champion went rolling out of the ring. The Toronto crowd roared in approval, hoping to will Edge on; even though he was utterly battered into exhaustion.
"Lets go Edge, Lets go Edge," was what half of the crowd was chanting this night. They so wanted Edge to win this time.
"Lets go Drake, Lets go Drake," was chanted by the other half cheered for the fallen champion Drake Williams.
The Toronto crowd was now clearly torn between both men; this atmosphere was almost reminiscent of that of the Hogan/Warrior match from many years ago. Edge was finally vertical but struggled to get the ladder in position; meanwhile Williams was out of the ring and barely moving. With the ladder in position directly under the belt, Edge began climbing. The pain riveting through his body made it difficult for Edge to ascend the ladder. It was not until Edge was halfway up the ladder that Williams returned and started climbing himself.
Edge was close enough to reach for the gold; a fingertip away but Williams was there to stop him. Once again they traded shots while on top on the ladder with the WWE Championship at stake. Edge poked Williams' eyes but the champion would not be denied and caught Edge in the midsection. Williams then repeatedly rammed Edges' head into the top rung before trying for a superplex off the ladder. Edge fought out but ended on the shoulders of the champion. Of all things; Williams actually gave Edge a Celestial off the ladder and all the way to the mat below while Williams hung on for all he was worth. With Edge out of the way, Williams took one more step and finally pulled the belt down, thus ending the match and successfully retaining the WWE Championship.
Here is your winner and still the WWE Champion, Drake Williams." as announced by Lillian.
"King, I've gotta tip my hat to both men," said J.R. "What an amazing effort; as good a match as I've ever seen."
"J.R., listen to this crowd," replied Lawler. "Their giving these guys a standing ovation for the effort they put into this match."
After the match ended, JBL rushed to the ring as Drake Williams was climbing down the ladder. The weary champion never knew what hit him and then BOOM; JBL swoops in and hits the Clothesline from Hell. Leave to JBL to pick up the pieces after a match; naturally, the crowd booed the hell out of him. Then Bradshaw calls for a mic before getting in the champions' unconscious face.
"I will see you at Unforgiven, Champ." was all Bradshaw would say.
John Bradshaw Layfield took the title belt, which is not even his and stood over the fallen champion. Then he would lay the belt across Drakes' chest and left the ring smiling as the show came to a close. When the show was over, Drake himself was leaving the ring when he spotted Edge sitting by the barricade quite dejected. Drake walked over to his rival, looked down on him and then took Edge by his arm and pulled him up. The champion then patted Edge on his face and raised his hand, garnering a tremendous ovation from the audience.
They may not have liked each other at all, but on this night Drake Williams and Edge have one thing in common; they have earned the respect of their peers, the fans and each other. That was what the WWE was really all about.
Author's note: I hate JBL personally. If given the chance, I'd whoop his egomaniacal ass and have no remorse it all; that's okay because Drake's gonna do it for me. Anyway, this would be my latest entry into the story so R&R (Read and Review) Honk if you love the divas! OH HO!
For those of you who happen to be from Canada, I apologize if I was insulting in any way.
I'm sticking with Theory of a Deadman and their cover of Deadly Game. Fin' rocks! Again I don't own the rights to the band or the song.