Wrestling Universe
iMPACT 8
Note: I do not own these characters and do not own the titles of the events or anything in this series. This is merely a writing exercise for myself and for any whom wish to read.
In the ring stood the thorn that has been a pain in everyone's side at each iMPACT taping since the roulette switch: James. He stood with a microphone in hand, his black outfit on and ready to wrestle, but he didn't seem quick to start anything until he got a word in or two before whatever match he was planning on bullying someone else into. In the previous show, he had called out Abyss. After successfully defeating the man, the backstage noticed James was even cockier. He had promised to call out another person that he believed was a waste of space and proof the iMPACT roster was the weaker of the two despite having been placed on the Brand as well.
"Last week, I called out Abyss. The pathetic butt-child of Mankind and Kane. Seriously Abyss. You're pathetic. No wonder you got put on this brand. Could not risk being seen on a brand you probably wished you could get into, but wasn't good enough." He said, "you'll always be a joke, Abyss. Much like the rest of the main roster here on iMPACT. It seems like everyone I see around here is ridiculous." He then turned to the strage, ignoring the boos of the crowd. "Get out here Gangrel," he called out. "You've gone so far to keep up this vampire joke, but in truth, you haven't gotten anywhere with your career. You're nothing. I'm going to prove that here tonight."
Gangrel answered the call. The arena fell into a deep red coloration. He rose up from inside a wide ring of fire off to the side of the stage. He seemed calm, smirking as he passed through the line of fire. Goblet in hand, shades hiding his eyes, Gangrel stepped to the side of the ring with the beat of his theme song. Gangrel stopped atop the steel steps to sip at the red liquid within the golden goblet. A mist of red spread outward through the air and Gangrel grinned, revealing the fangs that rested over his bottom lip.
He entered the ring. James grabbed Gangrel's hair and pulled him closer so he could drop his opponent with a scoop slam before the bell even rang. James followed up with a running leg drop. Gangrel was completely blindsided by the sudden offensive. He lay in the ring trying to regain his sense of awareness whilst his opponent was moving off to the corner. The referee yelling to him, but it was all just jumbled words to Gangrel at this point. If he could just get up -- get up and fight back, he thought. Gangrel mustered up the strength and stood up slowly, he was ready to pull the ball into his court and teach that coward a lesson.
James whipped around. Gangrel saw a red mass splash into his eyes. Then there was red. Gangrel could not see through the red film of liquid over his face so he wiped it off with his sleeve. James took advantage of this, dropping Gangrel with a roundhouse kick from the second rope. Gangrel was smacked into the canvas again and blinded. James hurried to his knees, scooped up his opponent in a pinning position and the referee reluctantly pinned. James popped up. The three count was his. Another one down. He was proud of himself, even though he had cheated to win.
Abyss ran down to the ring to save Gangrel, but James had booked it. The younger man was out of the ring before Abyss could even come off the aisle. He escaped through the fans. Don West said of the event, "what a coward! He cheated and then ran away from Abyss! If Abyss is so pathetic, James, then why run away?"
"James is quick-witted, but I think he let's his bias cloud his judgements." Nathan commented. "You know what? I'm going to book him in a match against both Abyss and Gangrel in tag team table match."
"Wow! I'd like to see him try to weasel himself out of that one," Don West chortled. "Who will his partner be? If anyone is willing to be his partner, that is."
"We'll find out next week. But for right now, I think it is time for a quick break." Nathan took the show into a short commercial break.
The tag team of Sean Morely, previously known as Val Venis, and Steven Richards walked out together from behind the black curtains. They wore matching colored outfits and both descended the steel mesh ramp to ringside. Hoping to become contenders for the Universal Tag Titles, the two had united and were now ready to display their skills as partners in the ring. Sean entered the ring first, from the steps. He was a fan favorite from the moment he stepped through the curtain. A face of the past that they knew, made it easier to accept them as on of the "Good Guys."
Steven slid in and the two prepped as their opponents entered the arena. The uncoordinated, mismatched partnership of Santino Marella and Umaga. Having both been switched over to iMPACT, and both having lost what gave them a leg up in on their former brand, they seemed to have found an uneasy partnership in one another. Santino taunted and paraded down the aisle as Umaga simply stalked forth. Santino had lost the European Title, lost his chance at the Hardcore championship, and was beginning to lose his slot on the ladder. This was one of his last attempts at championship gold before he'd be forced to build himself from the ground up. His last chance.
Umaga stayed behind the ropes in their respective corner. Sean would start the match with the eccentric, mischievous, and quirky Santino. Sean got off on the right footing, quickly applying a bell-to-back suplex and then performing a successful elbow drop on his opponent. He dragged Santino off the canvas and butted his forehead into his opponent's. Santino doubled over, checking his head for any blood. Nothing. He was in the clear. Sean didn't give his opponent much of an option in movement, keeping one arm tightly in grasp, he dragged Santino over to Steven Richards where the two began a double-team. Tagged in, Steven stepped through the ropes and punched at the exposed ribs of his opponent and then whipped him across the ring.
Steven caught Santino in a full nelson. He brought him down to he knees, transitioning it into a camel clutch. Santino squeeled and yelled until the hold was released. He needed a tag. He needed it now. Santino began to roll! Rolling as fast as he could, he reached his corner, but only to be dragged back to the center of the ring by his mildly amused opponent. Steven hit Santino with a Spike DDT and then began to position him for a piledriver. Punishment seemed to be Santino's name for the night and he was wearing it well. Too well.
Santino countered the piledriver, but he was exhausted. He needed to reach Umaga fast before he too would punish Santino. The tag was finally made and the look on Steven's face went drastically changed from uplifted and excited, to horrified and pale. Umaga crashed into him with a terrible forearm smash that knocked Steven into the air and almost landing him on his head. Umaga then drove that spiked thumb into the chest of Sean Morley and turned back around to initiate a dramatic and aggressive military press slam on Steven. Holding him high with both hands, using him like weight before finally slamming him down into the canvas. Umaga pinned Steven and the victory was sealed.
The odd partnership had worked. Santino celebrated as Umaga bashed his chest and yelled unintelligibly. They exited the arena as the two bodies tried to collect themselves in the ring. After clearing, Sting and Booker T entered the ring.
"Booker and I have had several differences, but I think what is going on far surpasses that. All these young stars coming in to the Wrestling Universe think they can walk and talk like they were champions before the industry even existed." Said Sting.
"A complete lack of respect. Especially from Orton and his lackeys. Yo Orton, you think you have what it takes to be the champ, then you come down here and you face me! I'm am five time, count it, five time world heavyweight champion in WCW!" Booker T continued, "most of you haven't even seen what a championship title looks like, let alone hold it."
"You want to form Legacy to ensure that you cheat your way to the top tier, Orton? Then I'll reform the Main Event Mafia, to make sure that you have to struggle just to earn a chance to compete for the contender spot." Sting stated, "Booker T will face you tonight in the main event in a ladder match! If you win, Orton, I'll take your challenge for the belt, I'll give you a chance for it."
"Dig it, sucka? We're going to teach you what that respect is earned, not given! The gold is earned, not given!" Booker T said.
"Sting. . ." Orton stepped out onto the stage with Brian Christopher and Cody Rhodes, saying, "you and Booker T are old enough to be my grandparents. You think combining forces is going to do anything to stop me from getting what is rightfully mine to begin with? I don't have to respect you to get what I want, I simply need to take it from you at Summer Bash."
"If you want it, you have to beat Booker T tonight." Sting replied. "Do you accept that offer?"
"I do, under one condition." Said Orton.
"What?" Booker asked, angered by Orton's attitude already.
"Sting can't come to the ring, but Legacy can." Orton proposed. "Those are the conditions. Take it or leave it."
"Orton, I don't think you understand. I'm the champion." Sting nudged the title on his shoulder. "I decide how the contender is chosen. If you don't face Booker T tonight, without Legacy, then I'll find another opponent for Summer Bash." He stood closer to the ropes, knowing he had the higher ground over Orton, "take it or leave it?"
"I'll take it." Orton reluctantly agreed, he looked over toward his lackeys and then back at Sting. "But if you come down to the ring, Sting, consider Legacy legally allowed to interfere as well."
"We dig." Booker replied for Sting.
After break, Christian, accompanied by Chris Jericho, walked to the ring. Neither bothered much to pander toward the crowds with a pose or any form of acknowledgement. The audience wasn't worthy of them and was not worthy of being their fans. Jericho stayed outside, serious in his demeanor. The more laid back Christian waited in the ring for his opponents to arrive. The previous week saw Edge finally battle with one of the Hart members. This week would be Christian's turn. They hoped to soon turn the entire group on their heads and into the dirt. Christian would see how his lucked faired as Tyson Kidd walked out with Bret and Jimmy Hart.
Jimmy shouted with his megaphone to get him. Tyson didn't take the respectful walk and pause that David Hart Smith had with Edge and the others. Tyson rushed down to the ring, slid in and got straight to business. He wasn't letting anything go to chance on this. Edge, Christian, and Jericho were nothing but disrespectful to the Harts the previous weeks and for that, they would be taught a lesson. Tyson twisted Christian's arm around his back and then pushed him forward. Christian turned to meet Tyson's spinning heel kick. Christian fell flat on his back, but was up quickly and not happy about the side swiping attack.
Christian ran up the ropes to catch up with his opponent's momentum. Tyson hit another spinning wheel kick to the air, but Christian ducked under it. He ran up the other ropes and came back to land his opponent with a bulldog. At this time, Bret and Jimmy Hart both reached the ring and kept a close eye on Jericho. They didn't trust him or his intentions. Jericho didn't have a clean record when it came to his behavior toward past legends either, so Bret had distanced himself from him. He didn't need the trouble and Jericho didn't need the beat down that would come as a result.
Tyson connected his boots with Christian's chest, like a wrecking ball pushing back a wall of bricks, Christian stumbled back and then fell into the ropes. His hands tied up between the top and middle rope. Kidd smirked, seeing the opportunity just laid out before him. He charged Christian for an attack. Jericho suddenly burst into action. He had shocked some of the ringside fans with his sudden energy. He pulled Christian from the ring just as his partner's opponent lifted up for a wheel kick. Tyson wasn't too pleased about having to land on his hip. He rolled out of the ring to confront the two, but Jericho and Christian pummeled him quickly before sliding him back in the ring.
Christian joined him and pinned his opponent. Christian picked up the victory. Fresh off his win, Christian celebrated with Jericho, but it was short lived. Jericho had other things on his mind and in his sights. He spotted Bret and Jimmy Hart entering the ring to aid the boy. Jericho climbed in, pushing Jimmy away when he protested the man's actions. He then stood up in Bret Hart's face, speaking to him with a cocky grin and pushing the legend. Bret tried to ignore him, he wasn't there to wrestle and neither was Jericho. He wasn't going to give into a bully's actions, but with further provocation that had lead to an eventual attack across Bret's back, he fought back. Bret pushed Jericho and they began to brawl.
"What is Jericho doing? He knows Bret can't wrestle!" Don West exclaimed, shocked at the actions of the star.
"Jericho has an attitude problem when he's around great stars of the past and I suppose Hart is no different than Superfly or anyone else Jericho has pushed around." Nathan said, "good thing Tyson and Jimmy are now keeping Jericho back -- with help from officials."
"Hey Bret," said Jericho.
The rest of the new Hart Foundation had come out to break the fight, now escorting themselves up the aisle when Jericho spoke out. He stood in the ring with his eyes locked on the legend.
"What are you? I know you're not a coward Bret, but lately I've been getting the idea that perhaps you've been waiting for this kind of thing to happen. You come out every time one of your little nephews or niece have a match and you seem antsy, Bret." He stepped closer to the ropes, watching the group move off to the stage. "If you're not a coward then why don't you face me in a match. If you're truly the best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be, then you should still be able to put on one last great match." He shrugged. "I personally don't think you ever once were what you claim to be."
Bret and the rest of the group had escaped backstage as the challenge was issued, but it was still heard. Only time would tell if it would answered, but Jericho smirked his cocky grin and then exited the arena with Christian to the boos of the crowd.
After a return from a break, Ultimate Warrior ran down to the ring, nearly exhausting himself just from the short entrance. As he collected himself on the rim of the ring, he then picked up what tattered trace of energy he had left and shook the ropes violently. He was given mixed reactions from the crowd. Those loyal would still cheer the man, but his past was troubled and he was the maker of that trouble. The owner had once been asked why he had hired Warrior, knowing eventually the man would want more money, or threaten to not appear, or even just skip shows altogether? He said "if it came down to that, then I have no problem letting him go, but if it came down to that, I will ensure his last match is truly his last."
Batista was next to burst through the curtains with almost the same kind of energy as Ultimate Warrior. He received a more accepting reaction from the crowds. He posed and yelled with excitement, flexing his muscles at the stage before coming down to the ring. Leaving the exploding pyro behind to trickle down into a sparkling, fading mist. It wasn't often that the audience were graced with the presence of the Animal since the buyout of WWE and TNA. He took whatever odd match they gave him in hopes that he would return to the main event where he felt he belonged.
Batista entered the ring and was immediately struck by his opponent. Warrior charged and bumped his shoulder into him. It had no major effect on Batista but amusement. Warrior wasn't as bulky or as youthful as he had once been. Like flicking a fly off his shoulder, Batista ran his big boot up into Warrior's face the next time he tried to charge him. Warrior collapsed flat on his back, twitching like a fly swatted on a hard surface. Batista peeled him off the white canvas and then dropped him with ease using a powerbomb, his signature maneuver. Ultimate Warrior seemed out for the count.
Batista pinned his once energetic opponent, but somehow, some way, Ultimate Warrior managed to break the cover. He started to shake, turn and grunt. Batista knew this, he had seen it in Hogan and in John Cena when Cena thought that if he pretended he was Hogan, people would like him. It failed for Cena, but it seemed to do well for Warrior. Warrior rose up to his feet, shaking and then ran up the ropes. Batista was pushed backward a few steps. The next hit came and he was knocked off one foot. Warrior tried again, but this time he plowed past Batista with a clothesline.
Successfully Warrior had fought back. He was ready to apply his finisher to Batista. He was a man of vengeance and no one threw him like a rag doll the way Batista had. Only Andre the Giant had ever done that and that was because Andre despised Warrior. He hoisted Batista up with his bare hands, still able to hold up the weight of a muscular wrestler. He then dropped him behind, stepping forward in doing so. Batista landed with a loud, heavy thud and Warrior soon ran up the ropes. When he returned, he splashed down onto Batista's back and pinned him after rolling the man over.
It failed. Batista had been out for the count, but a certain pressure on his leg pulled him out of the ring. It was Ric Flair! Ric punched and smacked Warrior and then rolled him back into the ring for Batista. Shocked himself, he just took the blind opportunity and landed his opponent with a spinebuster. It was enough to gain him the win. Had it been a title match for the National Championship Title, he would have been the victor, but it wasn't. Ric clapped slowly as he backed away, watching the wrecked remains of his nemesis lay motionless in the ring, devastated and annihilated.
"Ric really has it in for Ultimate Warrior. Ric has told me he thinks Warrior should have retired when he found out he had no in-ring ability." Said Nathan.
"Ultimate Warrior is certainly a character, as Ric Flair is also, but there's a third element in all this. Hulk Hogan. Hogan also has a troubled past with both men and it won't matter if Flair tries to psyche out one man, because another is ready to attack from behind." Don West commented.
"I can now report that next week, some how we will see Bret Hart face off against Chris Jericho," announced Nathan.
"Bret Hart is getting in the ring with Jericho?" Don was flabbergasted at the idea, and mortified. "I don't know if that is wise for Bret, but he may still have it in him to teach a punk like Chris Jericho some manners."
"Also at the super show will be James and an unknown partner versus Gangrel and Abyss in a no-disqualification tornado tag match." Nathan continued, "and lastly on the iMPACT front, in a sort of mash up with Raw, we'll see the Main Event Mafia team up with Triple H to face off against Legacy. Orton, Rhodes, and Christopher."
"For Sting of all people to reunite the Main Event Mafia here in the Wrestling Universe, he must really want to put Orton in his place." Don wondered, "do you think it will get as big as it had in TNA?"
"No. I know factions are bound to happen, but I won't ruin my match cards with nothing but Legacy or nothing but Main Even Mafia matches, et cetera. This show has variety, unlike WWE and TNA." Nathan replied sharply.
Don West, a bit annoyed by the insulting response, shook it off. He said, "well, I don't know, but let's move on to the main event! Booker T has issued a challenge to Randy Orton and he has accepted. I can't wait to see what Booker does to that punk. That's now!"
Booker T entered the stage alone. He didn't need Sting to help him fight his battles. He also did not need Cody Rhodes and Brian Christopher coming down to the ring and letting the numbers game take over. He posed for the crowds in front of a red fiery display of sparks and pyro before coming down to the ring, filled with energy and confidence. It wasn't a hard transition for him to go from heel to face without so much of a notice. He just had to associate with Sting again and the crowds would take him back, it was a better place for him right now. Too many heels already, he thought. Don't need more.
That is when the idea came to him to reform the Main Event Mafia. Sting had trouble with Orton. He knew he couldn't take on Legacy alone each and every show, but he knew he would try. Booker T approached Sting, though troubled as their past was, and together in an uneasy truce had decided to reform the faction and take down the target youth of the company that would shout and rant about pride and the disability of the older wrestlers. They would soon learn what it meant to have experience in the ring. What it meant to have to swallow your pride and make ends meet to get what you needed, not what you wanted.
Booker T entered the ring as his opponent slowly approached the stage to the theme of Legacy. He watched Orton pose for himself. It wasn't for his fans, if he even had any at this point. It was for himself. He loved himself and he loved to show himself off. People would kill to have his body and he didn't have to lift a finger for it. Orton also kept his eyes on Booker T. Trust was not an issue in this match, it was flat out eradicated. He knew Booker T would try to destroy him, and Booker knew Orton would try the same exact thing. A race to the finish with devastating results, but who would come out the winner? Would there be a winner in such a powerful collision?
Orton took his time. He wasn't in any rush to enter the ring, but when he did, he was even slower. He just posed on the turn-post, wasting Booker's time. Making his temper boil hotter, his impatience grow thinner, his muscle tense tighter. Booker T wasn't one to wait for the likes of Orton. He charged! One forearm later and Orton was on the canvas fighting for his life. The two punched away at one another, but it was clear that Booker T was the dominant force in the ring. He whipped Orton diagonally across the ring, then charged after him.
Orton tried to block the forearm smash, but Booker was strong enough to break through. He pushed Orton over the ropes. It amused him to see the punk tumble to the floor like a wet noodle. The fans found it equally amusing had had cheered Booker T into a pose at the center of the ring. Booker had enough antics and slid out of the ring to follow up with a fist across Orton's broad back. It kept the boy down for a few moments, but he tried to regain control with a few hits of his own. Booker T cancelled out Orton's actions by slamming the young punk's head down into the black padded barricade and then rolling him over onto the hard cold floor where the fans sat and yelled above Orton.
Randy raised up on one knee, his head held close to the ground. He was trying to stand up when Booker T dropped an axe kick that smacked Orton's face into the cold surface of the floor. He rolled over, hands covering the spot that would soon bruise over. Orton finally struck when his opponent tried to pull him up for a maneuver. Booker T climbed away, over the barricade and back into the ring just before the count of nine. He rolled back out to allow them the ability to fight outside further. Orton charged him swiftly! Arm out and eyes bulging with anger, he smashed Booker T into the side of the ring, then threw him down like he was an unwanted cur.
All the referee could do in a match like this was yell. It was his only job when it came to unruly talent like Orton and Booker T. Who were they going to listen to? Years of instinct and rage or one scrawny referee trying in a futile effort to control a match that is essentially uncontrollable? The wrestlers chose instinct and rage. Orton did, however, roll his opponent back into the ring to continue without the aggravation of having to roll in and out of the ring just to restart a ten second count. He slid in after Booker T and checked his face again whilst he had the chance. Bruised, he thought as he felt the tender skin where he had smacked the bare flooring.
Booker T was still down. Crawling up on all fours. Orton could see it now. Kick him! Kick him, he said to himself again and again. He backed into the corner, carved a grin of anticipation across his face and waited impatiently for Booker T to move in just the right spot for him to punt him as hard as his boots could. It would be lights out for Booker T and a victory for Legacy over the Main Event Mafia. Booker T finally clicked into position. Orton lunged forth. Booker T turned his head to see the boot swinging toward him. He rolled, his ribs got the kick, but he had managed to escape a far worse fate.
Orton was livid. Pissed, he stomped on his opponent's head and yelled bitterly at him. He had screwed up his chance to annihilate the man. He'd give him an RKO. That would do it, he thought. Drop him with the RKO! Orton pulled Booker T off the canvas and then wrapped his arm around his neck, another over his head. Booker T felt the maneuver coming and pushed his rival off. Orton tried again, but Booker T swooped his arm across Orton's chest, raised him off the canvas and then slammed him down for the Book End! Orton was flattened!
Cody Rhodes and Brian Christopher raced down toward the ring. Their feet carrying them with speed almost unheard of. Just as they slid inside, the count was ended. Booker T rose up, victorious in his endeavor and then gave each Legacy Member a Book End of their own. Sting rushed to the ring as well to aid his partner and soon the ring was cleared. The Main Event Mafia was victorious over Legacy. There was still some fight left in the older stars, more than enough in fact to continue to take out all the over-proud youngsters like Orton that thought they could take out the legends of wrestling as if they were yesterday's trash. The show ended with Orton backing away, confused and yet livid at the loss. Legacy surrounding him to help him escape.