Hank's big match.
Disclaimer: This is the 1st update of "American Bulldog" in months, so obviously Bobby Roode lost the NXT Championship to Drew McIntyre at NXT: Takeover Brooklyn III a few weeks ago, but this is my story so I do things my way. This is taking place during WrestleMania XXXIII, So Brock Lesnar is not the WWE Universal Champ yet. ENJOY!
It was the day of NXT: Takeover Minneapolis and Hank woke up early at 6:00 AM and he got up, took a shower, then had some breakfast before he went to the gym to workout and exercise for over an hour before he went back to his hotel room and took a quick nap before it got into the afternoon and then he drove in his 2016 Toyota Camry and arrived at the Target Center where the show was taking place as he parked his car, and got into the arena.
"Afternoon." Hank said to Drew McIntyre.
"Hey Hank, good luck tonight." Drew said to Hank.
"Thanks." Hank said back before he went into the locker room and got settled down.
"Hey kid." Paul "Triple H" Levesque said to Hank.
"Hey Mr. Levesque." Hank said to Paul back as they shook hands.
"I just wanted to say good luck tonight against Bobby Roode." Paul said to him wishing him luck.
"Thanks Paul." Hank said to him.
"No problem, how are you feeling?" Paul asked him.
"I'm feeling okay, kind of nervous a bit. Like Rocky before he faces Apollo Creed the first time, but to me I just try to have fun in the ring." Hank said to Paul who chuckled.
"I know dude, wrestling can be fun if done right." Paul said to him.
"Mr. Levesque, I wrestled all over Minnesota, I went to the exact same farm where Verne Gagne had his training camps in his AWA Days as you know he trained Scott Norton, Hulk Hogan, Baron Von Raschke, Larry and Curt Henning, Ric Flair, Gene, Lars, and Ole Anderson, and countless others. I was undefeated all over the independent scene and sure I wasn't the strong and freakish Brock Lesnar, and I wasn't like you in your prime no offense." Hank said to Paul who took no offense.
"Hey, it's fine." Paul said before Hank continued.
"But pro wrestling or sports entertainment as you call it, is my life, the ring is where I feel the most comfortable as even though I had two parents that were school teachers and they could not afford to go to Wrestling Shows all the time, but they had connections with people in this venue from their high school days and that's how I came and saw shows when I was a little boy. Well that and I love football and baseball also." Hank said to Paul.
"Good to know, that's why you put on ESPN a lot on TV." Paul said to him.
"Anyway, I got to talk to the producers about the show's card, and more. So, take a walk around for a bit and if you need me for anything, I'm one text message away." Paul said to Hank as they shared a hug.
"Thanks Paul for listening, and sorry for going on and on, I needed to vent." Hank said to Paul.
"It's okay." Paul said as he left but popped in for another second.
"Hey, someone wants to see you." Paul said to Hank before Hank's family arrived.
"Mom, Dad, Ezekiel, Austin, Kurt, Gwen, Courtney!" Hank said as his whole family gave him a group hug.
"Yep, your family's here. I allowed them in, and they are invited to watch from ringside tonight, and they are allowed backstage as long as they behave themselves." Paul said to Hank and his family.
"Thanks." Hank said to Paul.
"No problem, now really I have to go." Paul said as he finally left.
"I am so glad you guys are here." Hank said to his family.
"Me too sweetheart!" Amanda which was his mom said as she and Hank hugged.
"Son, how are you feeling?" Ronald which was his dad asked Hank.
"Just a bit nervous, but other than that I am doing alright, Dad." Hank answered his Dad.
"Good son." Ronald said as he and Hank shared a hug.
"So, bro what's it like?" Kurt, which is Hank's 16-year-old brother asked.
"It's cool, but the travel is a pain in the butt besides, I miss my family all the time." Hank answered and said to Kurt.
"Did you meet Goldberg?" John asked Hank.
"You mean WWE Universal Champion Goldberg?" Hank asked John back.
"YES!" John answered back.
"Dude, first off…relax, and secondly no." Hank answered him.
"It's alright." John said to Hank.
"Besides, I gotta get my mind focused." Hank said to his family.
"Okay sweetie, we'll leave you be." Amanda said to Hank as she and Ronald left with Kurt, John, Austin, Gwen, and Courtney.
"Bye guys, thanks for visiting." Hank said before he stretched and then he walked around the arena before he walked to the entrance area, and walked past the gorilla position and walked through the curtain and walked to the ring.
"This is where I belong." Hank said to himself before he walked around the ring and ran softly as Bobby Roode arrived.
"Hey Bobby." Hank said to Bobby.
"What's going on Hank?" Bobby asked him.
"Nothing just thinking about the match." Hank said to Bobby.
"You nervous at all?" Bobby asked him.
"A little bit, I had a long talked with Paul Levesque." Hank answered Bobby.
"Same here, I had a long talk with him last night." Bobby replied back.
"My family visited me, and it was awesome, or should I say "Glorious" No Pun Intended, or No Offense." Hank said to Bobby making a pun of his nickname/moniker and Bobby laughed a bit.
"Good one Hank, and it's okay, I wasn't offended." Bobby said to Hank.
"Bobby listen I know we got to discuss the match with Paul but first, before we do that, remember during your time in TNA/Impact Wrestling when you were a part of Beer Money Inc, or even when you were a part of Team Canada?" Hank asked him.
"Of course, I do, it was a fun or excuse me it was a "glorious" time…got to work with Eric Young, Scott D'Amore, Teddy Hart, and even I got to work with James Storm during Beer Money Inc, and I had a lot of fun, in the end it just got complicated." Bobby answered and explained to Hank.
"I see that, well when I was a kid, I saw you a lot and I saw you as a cool dude, except for the beer drinking, sorry." Hank said to Bobby.
"It's okay." Bobby Roode said to Hank.
"No matter what happens tonight, let's make this match a memorable one and one of the greatest NXT Matches ever." Hank said to Bobby.
"Done." Bobby said back as they bumped each other's fist as they left the ring and discussed the match with Paul Levesque backstage, where they even discussed the finish where the winner and loser is decided.
"Now, that's the way it's gonna go, and work on it in the ring but not too hard for 15 minutes and then get ready." Paul said to Hank and Bobby.
"Yes sir." Hank and Bobby said as he left Paul and went to the ring and worked on the match for a good hour before they finished.
"That was awesome, and let's get it done tonight in the ring without messing it up." Bobby said to Hank.
"Yes sir." Hank said to Bobby as they shook hands and went their separate ways for the next few hours, and the arena was packed with 15,214 WWE and NXT Fans.
"NXT!" The crowd chanted as the show was in full swing and the matches went on as follows.
Roderick Strong, Kassius Ohno, and Tye Dillinger defeated Sanity in a 6-man tag team match, Asuka defeated Ember Moon, Ruby Riot, and Nikki Cross in a Fatal 4-Way Match for the NXT Women's Championship, Authors of Pain defeated The Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championship in a 2 out of 3 falls match Aleister Black defeated The Velveteen Dream in a squash, and finally Pete Dunne defeated Wolfgang for the WWE UK Championship and the show was a success so far, and now it was time for the main event.
"Hank goes out first, and then Bobby goes out next." A producer said.
"Okay you two, have a great match." Paul "Triple H" Levesque said to Hank and Bobby.
"Thanks." They said to him as Bobby and Hank were in their wrestling attire and the bell rang.
"The following contest is scheduled for one-fall! And it is for the NXT Championship!" Mike Rome announced.
"This match is a homecoming for the challenger." Mauro Ranallo said as "American Made" by Jimmy Hart started to play.
"Gotta go, it's showtime." Hank said as he and Bobby shared a quick hug before he went up the stairs and walked through the Gorilla Position as he came out sporting his Red White and Blue Jacket, his Red White and Blue Tights, his boots of the same color, and he also had facepaint that was exact to Sting's from the 1990 Great American Bash and then he waved the American Flag on the stage before he gave the flag to a fan and then he high fived all of the fans before he got into the ring and took off his jacket and he was ready, and then Bobby Roode made his entrance with "Glorious Domination" by CFO$ played as he walked to the ring and took off his ring robe and he sported black trunks, knee pads, boots, and elbow pads of the same color and his music stopped as he had the NXT Championship Belt around his waist.
"Introducing first, the challenger…from Hibbing, Minnesota…weighing in at 255 Pounds he is "The American Bulldog" Hank Jones!" Mike Rome announced and the crowd roared like madness already.
"His opponent, from Toronto Ontario, Canada…weighing in at 230 Pounds! He is the current NXT Champion, he is "The Glorious One" Bobby Roode!" Mike Rome announced as the crowd gave him a mixed reaction and Bobby gave the belt to the official who hoisted it up high, then he gave it to the timekeeper as the ref signaled for the bell to ring, the bell rang thus the match started.
"This match for NXT's highest honor is underway." Nigel McGuiness said as the two began the match with a staredown before they began grappling for position.
"Well these two have been in a very intense rivalry for the past few months, but they have never met in the ring except to sign a contract for this match." Mauro Ranallo said to Nigel and Percy.
"What is it going to take for Hank to win it tonight?" Mauro asked Percy and Nigel.
"Hank has the height and weight advantage but also he has to take his moves and use them in the ring." Percy said to Mauro.
"He is a young hungry lion out there, while Bobby Roode is the older more experience lion, and Bobby might come out on top by the time this thing is over." Nigel said to Mauro and Percy as Bobby won the early advantage by nailing an Arm Stunner.
"Wow, a Stunner to the Arm by Bobby Roode and that won the advantage for Bobby Roode early in this match." Mauro said as Bobby also nailed a backbreaker and even nailed a back-to-belly Suplex before going for the cover early.
"1…" The ref counted before Hank kicked out early.
"Hank kicks out after one early in this NXT Championship and Hank is well known all over Minnesota for his Wrestling, and for his football not just in college but also in high school." Percy said.
"Percy, this is an NXT Championship Match, we can mention his accomplishments later." Mauro said to Percy while Hank got up and nailed a kick to Bobby's stomach before nailing several forearms and then nailing several back-to-belly backbreakers, and then he nailed several German Suplexes to Bobby, then Bobby countered with a delayed vertical Suplex.
"What a battle already." Mauro said as Bobby got Hank to the corner and nailed several corner clotheslines before he got him up to the top turnbuckle and the crowd then stood up.
"No…no…the top is the most dangerous area of the ring." Nigel said as Bobby Roode nailed an Avalanche German Suplex and the crowd cheered.
"AVALANCHE GERMAN SUPLEX!" Mauro said before Bobby went for the pin.
"1…2…" The ref counted and Hank kicked out and Bobby grabbed Hank and even nailed a Spinebuster.
"Cover." Percy said before the ref began to count again.
"1…2…" The ref counted again before Hank kicked out once more as Bobby picked him up and attempted to nail Glorious DDT but Hank countered it with The Strike of America aka Discus Punch.
"Hank countered with The Strike of America to Bobby Roode!" Mauro said before Hank nailed a Tiger Suplex with a Bridge as it was Liberty Suplex.
"Hank nails Liberty Suplex!" Mauro Ranallo said before the ref began to count.
"1…2…" The ref counted before Bobby kicked out and kicked Hank in the gut and nailed "Glorious DDT" as he pinned Hank.
"1…2…" The ref counted and Hank kicked out again and they both looked at each other as the crowd cheered, applauded and started to chant.
"This is Awesome!" The crowd chanted for a minute.
"Agreeing with this crowd, and this match is awesome!" Mauro said as they started hammering away as they countered each other's moves for a minute and a half before Bobby was about to set up "Glorious DDT" once again but then Hank countered it with "Red, White, and Blue Slam" which is a Running Powerslam and the crowd started to go nuts.
"RED WHITE AND BLUE SLAM!" Mauro shouted.
"Come on!" Hank's family shouted as they were cheering him on.
"Hank's family and friends are at ringside cheering, encouraging their oldest to win this NXT Championship Match." Mauro said before Hank pinned Bobby Roode.
"1…2…3!" The referee and crowd counted and the crowd roared.
"HANK JONES HAS BECOME THE NEW NXT CHAMPION!" Mauro Ranallo screamed in pure shock.
"HANK JONES HAS MADE HISTORY!" Nigel said also.
"Here is your winner and new NXT Champion... "The American Bulldog" Hank Jones!" Mike Rome announced and the crowd went wild.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, at 21 years and over 8 months old he is the youngest NXT Champion in history." Mauro Ranallo said before Hank was handed the NXT Championship Belt and he got down to his knees and started to cry, before he got the belt and raised it high and he ran to his family at ringside embracing in a group hug.
"What a moment." Mauro said before Hank got back into the ring and he even hugged Bobby Roode.
"This was an amazing NXT: Takeover." Percy Watson said as the camera was shut off and the show as over.
20 minutes later…
"Congratulations champ." Bobby said to Hank.
"You deserve it, defend it proudly for all of us in NXT." Bobby said as well.
"Thanks." Hank said as he went to the locker room.
"Hey son, we're proud of you." Ronald said to Hank.
"Thanks Dad." Hank said as he and Ronald hugged.
"Kid, great job out there tonight." Paul said to Hank as well.
"Thank you." Hank said to Paul as they hugged.
"Go home now, celebrate it." Paul said to him and Hank went back to the hotel room, took a shower, and went to bed.
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