Wrestling Universe

Raw 11

I do not own any of the characters, people, or events involved that are associated with either ROH, WWE, TNA, and independent rights. This series is a writing exercise for myself and posted for those that wish to read.

"Are you ready?" Said the voice that caused the arena to stand on their feet. Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and the Outlaws all entered the stage and gave the old D-X solute to the crowd as green pyro crossed over behind them.

They paraded toward the ring and inside, the antics of that pleased the crowds and DX alike continued until Triple H lifted a microphone to his mouth and uttered, "For those of you that have forgotten; we are Degeneration-X." The crowds responded loudly with cheers.

"Tonight," Triple H continued, "D-X is going to own Raw and the Wrestling Universe."
"That's right!" Shawn said through a second microphone, "the fatal-four-way match is of no interest to D-X, at least not until we find out who our unlucky victim is going to be, but for tonight and every night onward, D-X is going to run things a little differently than snobby little Nathan Black."

"Who is he anyway? I didn't know anyone could be able to buy a second rate company from Dixie Carter, or even manage to wrestle a boring, outdated company from the old dead grip of a deluded man such as Vince," said Triple H, pondering how the transaction may have occurred.

"That doesn't matter, Hunter, but what does matter is that Mr. Black has run this company with a strict rule that seems to have kept things in order, and boring, if I might add."

"Right, Shawn. You see, we're going to prove to you and everyone here that Order leads to Degeneration and Degeneration leads to higher ratings and much more screen time for you and I."

The owner then cut them short. He stood at the stage with a microphone, dressed all in white and accessorizing with an expression of confusion and annoyance on his face.

"What are you doing?" Nathan asked. "I work very hard to ensure that each show is good and things go accordingly. I have been generous with giving wrestlers like you all the chances you guys claim you need. The last thing I need is--"

"I'm sure the last thing you need is a microphone, because you're boring us to sleep with your voice." Shawn interrupted.

"Listen, you can say what you want. Bring Kai En Tai or Jeff Jarrett out here to shut us up, but there's one thing you can't do." Triple H leaned against the ropes, staring down the owner from across the arena. "And that is to bring us down."

"I can't bring you down?" Nathan began to sound more perturbed as he spoke, "I can't bring you guys down? Do you know who I am? I bought WWE from Vince McMahon. I single handedly swept TNA off of Dixie Carter and Jeff Jarrett. I am the richest man in this industry and I get what I want and what I want is for you two buffoons to step back in line before I prove you wrong."

Shawn mocked a scared expression, chasing it down with laughter and raising his microphone to reply, "and what are ya gonna' do about it? If you don't like us, then that's fine. If you think we aren't able to bring Raw to the top and show the world that we still are the greatest faction -- clique -- around, then that's fine."
"But if you think you can stop us, then we got two words for ya'" Triple H leaned next to Shawn and the Outlaws as they spoke in unison, "SUCK IT!"

"Oh, I can stop you. I'll put you two in a tag team match against Kai En Tai." He pointed to the Kip and B.G. James, saying, "that'll be next!" He then turned his sights to Shawn and Triple H, saying with a deep bitter tone, "you two will have some ring time tonight as well, but it's going to be in a handicap match against Sun Xun, William Regal, and a woman you'll find more than capable of man handling any guy here on the Raw Roster; and that is Chyna! Have a happy reunion, Degeneration-X," declared the owner before he retreated to the back.

After a quick break occurred, the Outlaws remained in the ring. They had no reason to return to the back, just to come down to the ring within a span of two hasty minutes. The two waited in the ring, contemplating who of the two would start the match off, and which two members of Kai En Tai would take them on. They knew it wasn't going to be Sun Xun as he was booked to face Shawn and Hunter later on, so that left Funaki, Taka Michinoku, or Tajiri to be their possibly opponents. The wait was short and they soon learned which men they'd face for the match as Taka Michinoku and Funaki both entered the stage, accompanied by Sun Xun.

Kai En Tai walked to the ring with their spirits high. They had the full support of the owner and a few tasks given to them by him as well that would need to be completed over the course of the night in order to prohibit as much chaos caused by Degeneration-X as possible. Kai En Tai seemed to now hold the titles of Enforcers for Nathan Black. No longer just a faction of Japanese wrestlers banding together to gain control of all the title belts available on Raw, but a new order of enforcers that would be his ears, eyes, and fists.

Funaki started the match with Kip.

Though far smaller, Funaki was still more agile than his opponent. He was able to dodge several attempts to reaching grabs and punches. He raced toward his taller opponent and flung himself into the air as if he had been blasted through a cannon. He was caught in mid-air by his opponent after attempting a running crossbody. Kip smirked, amused at Funaki's attempts and then slammed him down onto his knee. Kip then began to push down on Funaki's neck and waist, stretching his back over his knee. He released his smaller opponent after decided to pull him to his team's corner and punish the Kai En Tai member further.

Restricted to the corner of the degenerate Outlaws, Funaki was beaten and kicked, smacked with elbows, hips, and running shoulder strikes. He was exhausted, defeated, and far from his team member who was shaking with frustration. Taka Michinoku wanted in, but Degeneration-X refused to pull Funaki far from their corner.

Funaki's saving grace came in the form of the purple-haired Sun Xun. He snuck around the the ring as D-X continued their assault on the smaller heel and then like a crocodile bursting out to snap its jaws around an unsuspecting prey, he latched onto Kip and yanked him off the rim of the ring. He threw his opponent into the black padded barricade and turned his head sharply, his sights now were locked onto B.G. James.

Kip wasn't finished. He had been surprised by the attack, but he wasn't going to let some goon of the owner's get him and his friend down for the count. He struck Sun from behind and began to fight back with ferocity. The attention of the referee was averted from the match, but only for a brief moment. Kip was no longer the legal man in, it did not concern him, it did not matter to what was currently going on in the ring. He ignored it.

Inside the ring, however, Funaki managed to strike a few blows against B.G. James. He kicked and ran up the ropes. Upon return, his opponent dropped him hard onto the canvas with an exaggerated jab. He pinned the exhausted Funaki for a full three count. Degeneration-X won the match, but backstage, plans were already being made by the owner to ensure the second match did not end with the same results.

Ready to compete for a chance to enter into the match for the newest title, Goldust entered the arena slowly as sparkling gold confetti gracefully fell from the ceilings. In his trademark wig and robe, he slowly descended to the ring and removed them after sliding in and posing for the crowds. After he had finished, the theatrics slowly ceased and Goldust slouched in one of the far corners of the ring to wait for his opponent in the qualifying match.

That opponent happened to be the short, but fleet-footed, Evan Bourne. He quickly made his entrance to the ring, ignoring the crowds around him to ensure the match got started fast.

Speed was the key word for this match. Goldust had to be just as quick as the man across the ring from him. If he allowed Bourne to overload his senses with his agility and sharp attacks, he would be out for the count in no time. Goldust had a plan though. This plan was going to guarantee him a slot in the match at the super-show. The winner of this match would face off against the winner of the qualifying match on iMPACT for the same title shot. Being first up, Evan and Goldust finally met in the ring with a right first, dodged with a swift run to the ropes and connecting dropkick.

Goldust, keeping composure, rose up to his feet and dodged the enzuiguri from Bourne by grasping his arm, jabbing it with an elbow, and twisting around in a dragon twister. Evan smacked his back into the canvas and Goldust regained control with the counter. He pinned Evan, failing to pick up the win however, he then pulled his opponent up and whipped him across the ropes.

Evan watched the fans around Goldust. He saw the golden man ahead of him, but it was the odd signs he suddenly focused on until the very second before impact where he snapped out it. He tried to dodge Goldust's inverted atomic drop, but the distraction had pulled down his chances of a successful counter like a syringe. The signs in question belonged to a couple of young men that snuck in rather perverted drawings to distract the female wrestlers with.

The match continued after another failed cover. Goldust was beginning to get aggravated. How many times is he going to break out of this, he would think to himself. Goldust knew just the remedy for an uncooperative heel like Evan: Shattered Dreams.

Goldust placed each leg of his opponent's behind the second rope and sat him in the corner at the perfect height for kicking the most sacred of areas.

Goldust slowly backed away. Charged, then kicked Evan Bourne between the thighs. Bourne collapsed onto his face and Goldust immediately covered him for a successful three count. He had finally gotten the victory over his agile opponent with a move that could bring down the biggest of wrestlers in the industry.

After the match, Goldust turned to find out that Chyna had come down to the ring to attack the winner. She jabbed Goldust with a right hook and then positioned him between her knees. Once in her control, Goldust was hoisted up over her shoulders and slammed down into the canvas like a rag-doll. The powerbomb nearly knocked the wind out of the man.

Chyna surveyed the damage she had caused to Goldust and once she felt satisfied with her work, she turned her attention to Evan, who had just started to get back up on his feet, knees wobbling and hands holding his inured groin. She laid him out across the ring with the same powerbomb as Goldust and then retreated to ready herself for her own match with Degeneration-X.

"Chyna has just disemboweled Goldust and Evan Bourne!" Jim Ross exclaimed in surprise.

"It appears that Chyna really wants this new title and is willing to get involved in the qualifying matches," replied Michael Cole.

The third match of the night -- Ted DiBiase versus Miz -- was prepared and soon the first to enter made arrival. Followed by his father and manager, Ted DiBiase senior, the young DiBiase stepped down the aisle.

DiBiase had evaded the newly reformed Legacy. He was now a member of the new Raw and as one of the 'good guys' of that brand, he knew he would not be able to hold that image if he was seen with the likes of Orton in any way shape or form from then on. His father was what helped keep that image intact and blossom on the new show.

On the other hand, after having nearly begged entry into the company, Miz had continued a path of trying his hardest to open past wounds and cause as much mayhem as legally possible within the company to market his own name and image. Now friends with the equally bitter and unpopular John Cena, Miz had managed to pull himself into an upper-card status in the Wrestling Universe.

He made his entrance after DiBiase. Stepping up to the rim of the ring and then inside, ready to strike and show those backstage that it could easily be them that he defeats.

With a swift Forward Russian legsweep, Miz took the initiative in the match, but only as the starting maneuver. After an attempted strike using a high knee drop, the younger Dibiase hastily dodged and countered once he was up on his feet.

Ted was able to pull Miz into a cobra clutch with only a minor struggle. Miz resisted at first, trying hard to kick back against his opponent, but DiBiase kept his grip tight and his will to inflict the submission hold on his rival was even tighter. It was soon locked and now Miz faced an uphill battle for survival. Could he tap and call it a day? Try again another time? Or would he try to fight it off and come back harder, tougher, higher?

The support that poured in from the thousands in attendance all fell on the shoulders of the younger DiBiase. Miz felt the pressure mounting and his will beginning to minimize into a nearly microscopic hole that could barely encourage himself to even nudge his opponent.

After feeling confident enough that Miz would no longer retaliate against him, and that the hold was fixed tightly in place, DiBiase jumped backwards to slam his opponent down against the white canvas with a loud thud. He rolled onto the fallen man quickly after and gained the swift victory through a full three count.

After having defeated Miz with his father's submission hold transitioned into his own variation, DiBiase celebrated with is father in the ring. They pitied Miz. He whined and complained too much, just to find himself in a place where he could now survive. Only he could swim, the ocean would not carry him to where he wanted to go. DiBiase knew the currents are strong, but a man's will can be stronger and with that, he was able to rise up in the new company once again and no longer be the fodder for a top worker or the second-hand goon for anyone that didn't deserve the spot he gave to them. The two Ted's promptly exited to continue their celebration in the back.

Also in the back -- as shown on the jumbo screen -- was Degeneration-X. Their match was next, no longer the centerpiece of the night as the owner decided to allow John Cena's complaining to come through and not give Degenerates the main event.

After the previous week's qualifying matches for the brand's top title slot at the coming pay-per-view, the Massachusetts bred Cena decided that he had deserved the shot and not The Rock. He still seemed bitter after being defeated by the most electrifying man in the sports entertainment -- as The Rock called himself -- and demanded that he challenge for the slot Rock had gained. Under heavy stress and frustration given to him by the actions of Degeneration-X both in ring and backstage; the owner reward Cena's complaints with the match.

A pattern was beginning to emerge from the Owner's actions. He began to favor the heels over the face. Reward the vicious behavior that otherwise seemed downright despicable, but when a man considered to be a 'good guy' would demand or complain, he would punish them. The stress of giving away all opportunities to everyone, and finding the unsatisfied to complain even further when they did not win, had finally broke the camels back. The emergence of Degeneration-X was the result of his allowing the heels to now overtake the Raw brand.

And so, backstage was Shawn Michaels and Triple H standing in their locker rooms talking about the match ahead.

"We have William Regal, who is nothing to us." Said Triple H, counting their opponents with his fingers, Regal being the index finger that he then promptly folded downward.

"Sun Xun, who apparently is from no-one-knows where." Shawn recited to himself, wondering why a faction of Japanese wrestlers even found favor in an American wrestling organization. Triple H then folded down his ring-finger, leaving the middle finger raised high up as the owner suddenly walked into the room.

"You motherfu--" He held the words tightly in his throat.

"Woah," Triple H noticed his finger up and then hid it behind his back. "What's up?"

"What's up, doc?" Shawn stood up, trying to act cheery, but coming off as humorously sarcastic.

"You bastards have soured my mood for the entire night." Nathan griped, "I want to know who it was that left a.--" He was cut off by Shawn Michaels.

"Wasn't me." Shawn quickly stated.

"Shut up! Both of you!" The owner glared, "when I find out who thought it would be funny to drop a deuce on my office desk, that person is going to find themselves in the worst predicament in their entire life." He then pointed toward the two and said through gritted teeth, "now I'm betting it was one of you two! You want to be funny, be the degenerates that get the crowds all riled up and chanting for you, but this juvenile behavior has got to stop."

"We're just trying to put on a good show, sir." Triple H said, jokingly.

"That kind of behavior may have been looked at as promotable in the WWE during the attitude era, but that kind of attitude is not promoted by me. You work your matches, your promos, but you leave me the hell alone. Now get your degenerate asses out there and do your jobs for once, before I 'clique' your asses out of here." He said threateningly before slamming the door.

Just moments after the owner had left, B.G. James and Kip returned, laughing to themselves.

"You're not going to believe what we did. . ." Said one of them, causing Shawn and Triple H to look at one another trying to hold in a chuckle and a shocked expression.

The screen transitioned into the video package used for Kai En Tai. Sun Xun parted the black curtains and walked out onto the brightly lit steel mesh stage. With him was, in order from left to right -- with Sun Xun in front of them -- was: Tajiri, Funaki, Taka Michinoku, and his partner Chyna.

They all descended to the ring, entering as a unified gang to show that they weren't scared of Degeneration-X. Nathan Black had assigned Kai En Tai as his enforcers and they took this seriously. Serious enough to surround all four corners of the ring in case any 'funny business' was to occur with Sun Xun's opponents.

William Regal was the second of the three official wrestlers to come out. He wore a black robe sporting his name in red glitter on the back. Regal paid no immediate attention to Kai En Tai or even the crowds around him that booed heavily, throwing up middlefingers, and waving their negatory signs like fish out of water.

Before he even had time to pass through the blackened ropes, William Regal's entrance was cut short by Degeneration-X. They paraded onto the stage with pyro and cross-chops signaling their arrival to the crowds. This was going to be their match, their night, and their show. They made sure to show everyone in the ring that if they didn't like how D-X handled things, they only need remember two words.

Shawn took the aisle first, posing and slapping hands as he went down. Triple H appeared more focus. He had a reason to, at least in his mind he did. Chyna was in the match and he knew her well. He wondered how Shawn could come into this so enthusiastically. It was Chyna, he thought.

They've been on the same brand for a while, even in the same company, but they had only just now encountered one another. However the match turned out on the brand and in this specific match, he knew after this encounter, things would change for them.

Once the match was underway, the fairness of the event became apparent: There was no fairness. Under the rules of the match, the three were allowed to gang up on one opponent, but D-X had to tag in to fight Regal, Chyna, and Xun. With that was Kai En Tai spread out across the ring.

Shawn was the first to interact with the great wall that was his opponents. Chyna waited against the ropes, leaning back and seemingly unappeased by the match itself, or perhaps she was saving herself for Triple H. She watched as Sun Xun and Regal soon preyed upon Shawn Michaels with kicks, punches, double-teaming maneuvers.

Shawn began to fight back as best he could. A punch here. A kick there. With the two eager to dismantle the legendary Heart Break Kid, they trapped the man like a shark in a net. Struggling as hard as he could, he would only fasten himself tighter in the knots and nets weaved around him through the hard hits and holds that Regal and Xun applied.

Triple H rolled his eyes as he watched. He knew it was a losing battle if Shawn remained inside the squared circle with the dangerous assault that threatened Shawn's very career. He would occasionally try to interfere, but the referee paid more attention to The Game, than the match.

He finally managed to break through when, by sheer accident, William Regal sent Shawn to the ropes with an irish whip. Otherwise a normal move, he had inadvertently sent him close enough to Triple H to allow a tag even the biased referee could not ignore.

Time to play the Game!

Triple H bursted through the ring like a bomb in the middle of a busy city. Knocking everything in his path into oblivion. He laid out Sun Xun with a spinebuster and then quickly disposed of William Regal with a hasty, but powerful pedigree. The tables had finally turned and Michaels was up -- just barely -- on his feet to help his partner with the very last person still standing in the ring after the decimation of Regal and Sun Xun.

Chyna.

She suddenly stood tall like a lioness that had finally found interest in a kill. Her eyes surveyed the damage laid out before her. Sun Xun rolled himself out of the ring to tend to his tender knee and Regal remained flat in the center where Triple H had left him.

Kai En Tai attacked!

From all sides, Degeneration-X was forced to fend off the japanese wrestlers. Shawn used the sweet chin music to send Tajiri flying over the ropes. Funaki and Taka had quickly been disposed of with pedigrees from Triple H, but as the commotion continued, Sun Xun and Regal rose up to fight again. Like zombies, refusing to die, they began unite with Kai En Tai and close in on Degeneration-X.

"This is your fate!" The owner yelled as he walked out onto the stage. "You mess with me and how I run things here, and you will be annihilated!"

Shawn and Triple H found themselves cornered. Trapped like mice in a room of ravenous, livid tigers ready to devour them at any given moment. Nathan was proud of the display of power Kai En Tai and Regal showed, controlling D-X for him, that is, until the unexpected occurred and his smile of pride melted and dropped almost to the floor.

Chyna sided with Degeneration-X! She whipped funaki out of the ring and immediately continued her attack, encouraging the rest of D-X to fight back and the Outlaws to come out and aid their friends in the ring.

In a matter of seconds, the ring was cleared and D-X stood tall over Kai En Tai and Regal. Nathan watched, his face turning almost bright red in anger, like a ripe tomato.
"What are you doing!?" He yelled to her, collecting his enforcers on the stage.

Chyna picked up a microphone, given to her by Triple H. "I may never like Triple H like I used to, but I'll be damned if I turn my back on the people that made me who I am in this business."

"And if you're not down with that," Triple H said, sharing the microphone. "We got two words for ya: Suck It!"

"Degeneration-X has triumphed over what was flat-out an unfair match." Jim Ross said.

"Right," Michael Coal replied, "and to see Chyna return with them is really surprising! I didn't think something like that could ever happen again."

"Anything can happen in this industry, Cole." Jim Ross explained. "Just like John Cena could very well steal the contender slot in the fatal-four-way at Night of Hell."

"John Cena versus Rock for the chance for a title shot! That's going to be something!" Cole commented.

As crowds soon came off their high as John Cena entered the arena. Brought down to a low murmur and rejecting boo, the crowds waited impatiently for him to finish off his unnecessary taunts and entrance. The wanted one man to come through those curtains: The Rock.

Once Cena had entered the ring, The Rock soon pleased the crowds with his presence. The presence of a man with a higher list of maneuvers than Cena and a man with a greater list of accomplishments. It was no wonder that Cena had worked hard to fight him. He wanted to be him.

Rock stepped into the ring, ascended the corner, and found himself being attacked from behind. Cena lunged and threw his jealousy into his opponent with a hard, malevolent forearm smash. He pulled his opponent down from the ropes to continue the brutal assault. He punched Rock, then used a quick chop across his chest. He whipped his opponent, and then threw himself forward for a shoulder-block.

Rock dodged the direct attack, transitioning the failed maneuver into a hasty DDT that bought him the time to rise up and collect himself. He didn't like the sneak attack and he didn't John Cena. Rock thought it was humorous that John continued to heckle him about the business, but once he had returned, the assaults he thought would decrease after their match at WrestleJam only increased.

He finally decided to remain a while longer, there to aid the younger talent, to rise up once again, and most of all: squash John Cena. He pulled up his new rival to his feet and then positioned him for the rock bottom: one arm across his broad chest, the other holding the waistline of Cena's shorts.

Rock hoisted up his opponent high into the air and dropped forward. He smacked Cena down into the canvas with a loud thud and then covered him quickly for a possible win.

One!
Two!
Three!

Rock rose up over his rival, glaring down at him and saying something to him, unheard by the audience. Most likely telling him that he had a long way to go before he could measure up to the likes of the most electrifying man in sports entertainment. The bitterness Cena held for him only grew and it devoured what good had shown brightly in his duration with WWE. This would certainly come to him as a lesson not to bite off more than he could chew. Cena was guppy trying as hard as it could to devour a great white whole.

The Rock left Cena in the ring, giving him his humility as Rock celebrated backstage. Ending the show on a close up of the fallen man finally realizing what had happened to him. Embarrassed and defeated.