Disclaimer: You've heard it all before but I'm still gonna say it; I hold no claim to World Wrestling Entertainment or the Continental Airline Arena. Drake Williams is however my creation so don't you dare steal him away.

Kurt Angle, this one is for you.

Beyond The League: A New Journey
Chapter XIII
Shadow of the Deadman

The WWE Championship has always had a rich history. The men who have held the gold reads like a who's who from Billy Graham to the Iron Sheik to Hulk Hogan and to Bret Hart. From Stone Cold Steve Austin to The Rock to Triple H and to Kurt Angle. From Chris Jericho to Edge to Eddie Guerrero and to John Cena. Drake Williams now carries the WWE Championship, which he has defended with honor and distinction. But now he faces his greatest challenge; The Undertaker.

The opening pyrotechnics go off to start New Year's Revolution live from the Continental Airline Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The show will be headlined by epic confrontation between Drake Williams and the Undertaker for the WWE Championship. As the opening match is about to get underway, Drake Williams is backstage doing every known form of stretching he could. He gets a knock on the door and Shawn Michaels steps in.

"I can see you're getting ready tonight," he said. "How's your back?"

"It's about as healed as it's gonna get," answers Drake. "But I could use a little pep talk though."

"Well for one thing," Shawn started. "If I were you, I'd keep moving; try to ware down Taker. Get the big shark in the shallow water so he can't breathe."

"Yeah, but how do keep him down," Drake asked. "I hit my finisher on him and he sat right up. He stared me right in the face."

Shawn could sense the doubt in Drakes' voice and says, "Drake, I've been where you are; I fought Undertaker countless times in my career.

"But you said it yourself; a cornered animal is the most dangerous, "Shawn continues. "And you're in the corner. So go out there and prove just how dangerous you can be."

"Thanks, Shawn, "Drake said. "That was a hell of a pep talk."

Shawn gives Drake a pat on the back and leaves the room. All through the night, Drake stayed active in preparation for the match. He also worked to put the obvious fear of the Deadman on of his mind. By main event time, Drake Williams was all hyped up as he waited at the gorilla position for his queue.

Before the match, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler take the time to review the tale of the tape. Obviously, the Undertaker would have the big match experience and this is a big match environment. He is close to 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighs in at 305lbs. Taker has been the WWE Champion four times. Drake will need to be wary of the Tombstone Piledriver as well as the Chokeslam and the Last Ride. Taker is also well versed in submission and is perhaps the best pure striker in the WWE.

Drake Williams is no slouch though; he is the WWE Champion and has proven time after time that his reign is no fluke. At a height of 6 feet 3 inches and weighing in at 253lbs, Drake quite frankly is no small man. Drake is a powerhouse in his own right and possesses great leverage; being able to hoist someone twice his size up for the Celestial and is just as good in the submission category. Drake will also use the high risk factor went necessary. All in all, this match is a toss up.

With the tale of the tape out of the way, the music of Drake Williams starts up in the Continental Airline Arena as the WWE Champion steps out to a mixed reaction from the fans. Drake is no stranger to East Rutherford as he had his very first match four years ago in this arena. Now he returns here to defend the WWE Championship against the legendary Undertaker.

The ominous gong and menacing thunder sound as lighting strikes the stage. The Deadman cometh as the Undertaker makes his bone-chilling long walk to the ring. Taker enters the squared circle and removes his coat and hat as Drake Williams looks on; he must a cold shiver running down his spine. Drake removes the title from his waist and kisses it perhaps for the very last time before handing to the referee. He holds it high for everyone to see.

Lillian Garcia does the old school announcement for the match. "This contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for WWE Championship."

"Introducing the challenger; from Death Valley weighing in at 305 pounds, the Undertaker." The fans give a huge pop for the Phenom.

"His opponent; from Baltimore Maryland, weighing in at 253 pounds, he is the WWE Champion, Drake Williams." Drake gets a big pop too, though not quite as big as Taker had received.

The bell sounds and this match is officially underway for the WWE Championship. Undertaker wastes little time and goes for a big boot right from the get go and Drake ducks out of the way. Drake backs off trying to out-maneuver Taker as they lock it up. Taker forces Drake into the corner and attempts a strike. Drake ducks again and catches Taker with a headlock before Taker sends him into the ropes. Drake runs off and tries a shoulder tackle but Taker does not budge and it is the champion who goes down. Drake is shocked.

Undertaker runs off the ropes as the champion rolls to his gut. Drake is up and runs again but Taker hits his own shoulder tackle; Drake gets hit so hard that he goes spiraling out of the ring. Drake Williams looks shell shocked as the Undertaker has so far overpowered the WWE Champion. Drake nods at his rival and gets back into the match. They lock up again this time with Taker getting a headlock applied on Drake who sends him into the ropes; Taker knocks the champion down again.

Taker runs the ropes again as Drake rolls to him gut then gets up quickly. He leaps over Taker and hits a back body drop, getting Taker off his vertical base for a count of one. The champion stays on the challenger with another headlock. Taker gets back up and throws Drake into the ropes and tries for another big boot. Drake ducks again and Taker lowers his head; Drake catches Taker with a face buster but the big man does not go down. Drake runs the ropes one more time and pays for it; Taker delivers one hard, swift right hook that knocks the champion down.

Drake Williams rolls out of the ring right away and by the announce tables, holding his mouth in pain. Taker goes out after him, takes Drakes' left hand and drives it into the steps. Taker throws Drake into the ring but leaves his head and shoulders positioned on the apron. Undertaker then climbs onto the apron himself and drops a leg onto the defenseless champion. The Deadman reenters the ring and drags Drake up by him left arm and twists it. Then he literally lifts Drake by that same body part; the ref asks Drake if he wants to give it up and Drake audibly refuses.

Undertaker brings Drake down and climbs up the ropes, then comes off with some Old School on Drakes' shoulder. The Deadman makes the cover for a two count. Undeterred, Undertaker locks in a short-arm scissors on the injured left arm of Drake Williams. The champion somehow rolls through and catches Undertaker in a pin for a one count; Taker had to release the hold.

The Deadman picks the champion up and drapes him over his shoulders, then drops him head first on the turnbuckle for snake-eyes. Undertaker comes off the opposite ropes for another boot but Drake ducks; Taker gets hung up on the ropes and Drake knocks him off.

Undertaker crashes into the barricade while Drake takes a minute or two to recuperate. The WWE Champion soon goes outside and starts laying into the Deadman with every shot imaginable. Drake picks up Taker and whips him into the steel step; Takers' knees collide with them. Drake notices Taker holding his legs and decides to capitalize on that. He throws Taker back into the ring, and then drags him by his legs to the corner. Drake goes back outside still holding the leg and violently wraps it around the ring post; twice.

Drake Williams quickly rolls back into the ring to break the count then goes back out to continue the assault. Taking a page out of Bret Harts' playbook, Drake applies a Figure Four on Takers' legs around the post. The referee starts counting and Drake release the hold at four before returning to the ring.

The referee gives the riot act on Drake Williams while Undertaker struggles to pull himself up. Whatever fear Drake had within him seems to have been replaced by a more vicious, animalistic side of the WWE Champion.

Drake Williams stay right on the attack, kicking the legs out from under the Deadman. The champion hits a chopblock then again applies a Figure Four leglock. Undertaker can be heard screaming from the pain but somehow reverses the pressure onto Drake who releases the hold himself.

The champion remains fixed on the attack and place Takers' leg on the bottom rope. He jumps straight up and comes straight down on the limb once, then again a second time. On the third time however, Taker uses his free foot to push Drake Williams up and over the top rope near the announce tables.

Undertaker uses this time to get some feeling into his injured leg before going after Drake Williams. Taker catches Drake and drives an elbow into his jaw then goes to ram his head into the table. Drake counters and rams Takers' head into the table instead then grabs a steel chair. Drake gets ready to swing but the referee intercepts him and they get to arguing. Drake turns back into a clothesline from Undertaker, who then proceeds to dismantle the table.

Undertaker signals for a Chokeslam, looking to put Drake Williams through the table just like last Monday. He grasps Drake by the throat but Drake kicks his way out of death grip; then he gets Taker up and hits the Celestial on Taker through the table. The crowd erupts in a "Holy Shit" chant as the WWE Champion rolls back into the ring.

The referee starts the count on Taker who lay in a heap outside as Drake lay in the ring exhausted. This was going to be a fight and it is living up to that. The referee gets to nine before Drake stops the count. The WWE Champion does not want to win on a count out, not with all the pride in him. He wants to beat the Undertaker in the ring one, two and three with no excuses. It is as though Drake Williams has something to prove.

Drake ventures outside and starts laying into the Deadman with hard, piston-like right hands. He attempts to whip Taker into the steel steps but Taker reverses and sends Drake into the steps. Taker rolls Drake back into the ring and uncharacteristically climbs the turnbuckle. Drake recovers in time to stop Taker and climbs up to meet him. Drake sets Taker up for superplex but Taker will not budge; he pounds on the back but Taker still does not move. Drake violently pounds on Takers' back before climbing all the way up and coming all the way down with a top-rope supexplex.

Both champion and challenger are down as the referee starts the count out. Drake slowly but surely drapes an arm over Taker but only gets a long two count. Drake gets a look on his face that translates into "What the hell do I have to do to beat this man?" Out of nowhere, Undertaker sits up and stares Drake right the face then grasps him by the throat. Both men are vertical and Taker tries for a Chokeslam but Drake gets out and hits a German suplex. He keeps the hands locked and hits another one, then another and it goes on and on until he hits seven in a row.

Drake Williams goes topside and goes for the Arc Angel but Undertaker move out of the way at the last minute. Both men are down again but Taker sits up; he stands up and measures the WWE Champion. Undertaker grasps Drakes' throat and finally hits a Chokeslam just as his knee buckles. The Deadman makes the cover but only gets a long two count.

Undertaker stands up and signals for the Last Ride; he gets Drake in position and this could be the end. Not this time as Drake Williams somehow trips the Deadman and locks in the Sharpshooter. Taker struggle frantically to claw his way for the ropes only for Drake to pull him back every time. Taker finally grabs the bottom rope and Drake must release the hold. Drake drags Taker back up and gets him up for the Celestial but Taker slips out and lock in a Dragon sleeper.

Drake struggles to reach out for the ropes but now looks to be fading away; Undertaker has the hold synched in tight. The ref lift Drakes' arm and it falls once, then it fall again. On the third try, Drake shows signs of life and counters the Dragon sleeper into a DDT and they are down again. Drake makes the cover for a two count.

Both men start to stir and Taker throws a right hand; Drake answers back with one of his own. They trade shots back and forth until they get to vertical where Undertaker gets the advantage. Drake gets a low kick to the gut and runs the ropes but Taker catches him with a boot that knocks him. The Deadman hits a leg drop for two.

Undertaker signals for the Tombstone and gets Drake Williams on his shoulder. Drake somehow reverses and gets Taker in position for the Celestial and he hits it. Drake hooks the leg and makes the cover but only gets a two count. Drake goes for the legs again but Taker catches him in a triangle choke hold. Taker applies all the pressure he can as Drake tries to fight his way out, finally getting his feet on the bottom rope.

Undertaker releases the hold and crawls to the corner while Drake Williams uses the ropes to pull himself up. Drake charges at Taker full steam ahead but Taker backdrops him over the turnbuckle. The champion winds up taking the nastiest bump in his career, slamming head first into the steps then crashing back first into the barricade. The referee goes outside to check on Drake; his eyes are glazed over and he looks to be in another orbit.

Undertaker drags Drake up and tosses him into the ring; the champion is way out it and looks to have a laceration over his left eye. Taker tries to pick up Drake but he is dead weight so Taker signals for the Last Ride. Undertaker tries to put Drake in position but he keeps falling to his knees. Undertaker finally gets Drake ready for his fate and gets him up. Just as Taker elevates him, Drake somehow rolls through into a sunset flip. Then he flips over Taker into a jackknife bridge roll up and gets the three count and retains the title. What a match!

"Here is your winner and still the WWE Champion, Drake Williams." Lillian announces.

Many in the crowd were absolutely shocked by the outcome of the match but no more so than the Undertaker. Drake Williams lay in a heap as the referee places the WWE Championship on his waist. The champion has a far away look in his eyes; he may have a concussion after landing on his head. A fuming Undertaker chases the referee out of the ring and goes over to Drake. He grabs the champion by his hand and pulls him up then shoves him into the corner.

"You were lucky this time," Taker says in an audible tone. "But it won't last forever. Sooner or later, your luck's gonna run out."

Undertaker gave Drake a pat on the side and walked off. Drake Williams slumped down in the corner exhausted as the event came to a close. After the event, several officials came down to escort Drake back to the locker room. Shawn Michaels and Triple H came to his side and could tell that Drake had a deafening stare looking beyond them. Later on, Drake was being examined by the doctor who was trying to talk to him. Shawn and Hunter were there as well.

"He's got a far off look in his eyes, Doc," Hunter says. "I mean, he came down pretty hard on those steps."

"Drake's gonna need seven stitches to close the wound, "said the doctor. "He'll have a noticeable black eye but the worst damage was done to his brain."

"A concussion, huh," Shawn exclaimed. "How bad are we talking about?"

"At least Grade One," the doctor answers. "He probably gonna be nauseous and confused for some time. I'd strongly advise Drake to take a couple weeks off."

Shawn and Hunter left Drake to be worked on. If anything, Drake Williams just wrestled the match of his life and it came at a price. The concussion resulted in some moments of confusion and Drake often ended up puking. In spite of the aforementioned confusion, he did remember the words the Undertaker. Sooner or later, Drake Williams' luck will run out and he will lose the WWE Championship; it is just a question of when and to whom.

Authors note: Drake is a survivor, but how long until his luck runs out? Read, Review and REST IN PEACE!