Disclaimer: WCW-bad, WWE-good. TNA-Great. I own none of these however.
Heeeeyyy! Guess who's back yet again? Three updates in three days? I just broke my personal record! Go me! So here we all are, the night of The Great American Bash. Anyone expecting to see Jason versus JBL is gonna have to wait just that little bit longer cause this chapter is gonna cover the hours leading up to the showdown. So sit back and enjoy.
Here We GO!
Brotherly Hate-Chapter Thirteen"So, this is The Great American Bash?"
John nodded and continued to unload his and Jason's gear from the car. Sunday Night Heat, one hour before 'The Bash' and approximately three hours away from The Cena brother's respective bouts with JBL and Christian. Nerves were once again starting to set in, not just for Jason but John as well, the older Cena had been in a hell of a bad mood since he and Jason had been laid out on Smackdown and the three days leading to 'The Bash' had seen each brother dealing with their feelings in separate ways. John had spent most of his time in the gym pounding the hell out of punching bags and anything else that wasn't breakable. Jason had isolated himself from everybody else and spent long periods of time in quiet reflection and thought, when it had finally become time for them to leave the hotel they were swamped by fans wishing them good luck and asking for autographs. Now they were at the arena and, for once, Jason was trying to lighten the mood.
"I mean, the posters are a nice touch, you, Christian and the title but if they really wanted to sell tickets they should've put up a giant picture of me".
"Don't take offence kid" replied John. "But one look at you would have had fans all rushing to return tickets and leave this place bankrupt".
"John, may I remind you whose match got the highest TV ratings last week?"
"That's only one time, I draw ratings, and fans, every day of the year!"
"So how come this show, with you as part of the main event, only sold out last week when tickets had been on sale since before I came here?"
John's response was to throw Jason's bag rather heavily at his little brother, slam the trunk of the car down and spin round with a mad look on his face.
"Touchy subject?" Asked Jason taking a step backwards.
"Not really, just wanted to see if I could still scare you".
"Well you failed".
"No I didn't! You got scared, I saw the fear in your eyes".
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Please! Children, we're here for a reason remember?" Said Mara putting an end to the brother's argument.
"Sorry Mom". They chorused before laughing and walking into the arena, a camera was set up by the door recording all the superstars as they walked in, John walked right by without even looking at it, Jason gave it a nervous grin before following after his brother.
Locker room. Two and a half hours to go. Jason, John and Mara were now settled in the room, each lost in their own thoughts. Jason and John had each been called to record a promo for The Great American Bash. Almost every wrestler competing at 'The Bash' had recorded one of these, which would be pieced together for the opening video for the show. Fans were still filing into the arena; Josh Mathews was working overtime getting interviews from them on who they thought would win the main event. Most thought that John would retain, but more than a few said that there would be a new WWE champion walking out of 'The Bash'. Tensions were starting to rise.
Two hours left. 'The Bash' was underway. The show began with the pre-recorded promos.
Voices: "Tonight… tonight… tonight".
Teddy Long: "Tonight scores will be settled".
Voices: "Tonight".
Teddy Long: "Tonight heroes will be born".
Voices: "Tonight".
Teddy Long: "Tonight history will be made!"
Chris Masters: "Tonight I finish what I started".
Shawn Michaels: "Tonight I get my revenge!"
Kurt Angle: "Tonight someone will tap!"
Undertaker: "Tonight Kurt Angel will rest… in… peace!"
JBL: "Tonight I end a career!"
Jason: "Tonight my star will rise!"
John: "Tonight I teach a punk some respect!"
Christian: Tonight I become champion, because that's how I roll!"
Voices: "Tonight".
Teddy Long: "Tonight is The Great American Bash!"
The pyro's went off on the arena; Tazz and Cole introduced the show to the world, then MNM made their way to the ring to defend their Tag Team Titles against The Mexicools. After a back and forth match MNM retained after Melina got herself involved, distracting Super Crazy so Mercury and Nitro could hit the Snapshot. Jason and John watched the celebration with disgust; Jason however, had another thought on his mind.
"Enjoy those belts while ya can boys!"
One hour left. The show has been in top gear all night. Every superstar had put in their best efforts to the matches. Jason was now fully dressed and pacing the room nervously while John was sat staring at his belt as though he would never see it again. Other wrestlers were coming in to wish Jason luck in his match, from Jason's buddies Paul Birchill, Funaki and Spanky, to top tier stars such as Chris Benoit and Rey Mysterio. Even the Boogeyman gave Jason his support in his own way, popping up from behind the sofa and singing a rendition of 'America the Beautiful' before reciting a rhyme that Jason was to busy trying to get as far away from him as humanly possible to listen to. One person who hadn't turned up to wish Jason luck however was his on/off mentor Shawn Michaels. "You'd think after all he's done for me so far he would at least turn up to say 'good luck,'" Jason had thought to himself. He sat down next to his girlfriend and began went back to his own thoughts. The match was slowly coming closer.
Almost time. The final match before his was approaching its end. Shawn Michaels against Chris Masters. Jason secretly never wanted it to end, that way he couldn't make himself look like an idiot by getting beat down in under five minutes. Only one person had ever done that to him, and the crowd had never let him forget it whenever he wrestled in that town since. At least that match had only been seen by about three hundred people and wasn't televised around the world, the last thing he wanted was to be known as the kid who blew his big chance on a worldwide stage, if he did that he'd be letting himself, Mara, John, his friends and… his Mother down. He was brought out of his thoughts by the ringing of a bell and looked up to see Shawn standing over 'The Masterpiece' celebrating his victory. He sat there for another minute trying to mentally prepare himself, but he couldn't get into the right frame of mind. He stood to leave.
"You going?" Asked John.
"Yeah, here goes nothing" he replied.
"Good luck" John held his hand out and when Jason took it pulled him into a hug.
"Listen kid, win, lose or draw, I'm proud of you for making it this far and I'll be proud of you no matter what".
"Thanks" was all Jason managed to get out, before pulling free and leaving with Mara. John watched him go with a small smile.
"You can do it Jason, I know you can!"
There was a chill in the air as Jason walked through the backstage area, every single wrestler, official and technician watched him walk by, some whispering, just loud enough so he could hear them, that JBL was gonna "Squash him like the jobber that he was". As he made his way to the sound area he met the one and only HBK.
"How're ya feelin' kid?"
"Like I'm gonna hurl up my lunch".
"Don't worry, that's just the nerves speaking, I got faith in ya kid, go make yourself famous".
"I will, and Shawn…. Thank you".
"For what?"
"For your advice, for your help for… for everything really".
"If ya wanna thank me kid go out there and give the performance of your life!"
"I'll try, see ya after"
"Yeah, see ya after".
Jason walked off with Mara in tow, Shawn turned towards his locker room.
"This is your big chance kid, grab it in both hands".
Jason reached the sound area, JBL was going in the ring alone, the was confetti and hundred dollar bills with his face on them falling from the rafters. "No matter what I think about JBL, the man knows how to make an entrance". JBL's music stopped; there was a few seconds of silence where Jason and Mara could hear the crowd chanting his name.
"JAY-SON! JAY-SON!"His music hit and the crowd went nuts, Jason laughed out loud then stopped, everything he and JBL had done to each other played over in his head, every sneak attack, every ally and every staredown. It was now time. He felt Mara's hand slip into his own. He turned to face her.
"Ready?" She asked flashing him a smile.
"Yeah… yeah I'm ready, let's go".
With his girlfriend by his side Jason Cena Stepped through the curtain to do battle with John 'Bradshaw' Layfield in what was the biggest match of his young career so far.
And here we are, it's upon us folks. Jason and JBL are finally gonna go at it! The promo thing? Yeah I know, some friends and me did it for a Smackdown vs. RAW tournament so I decided to work it in somehow. Coming up Jason vs. JBL, who is gonna finally settle the score? And again, Enjoy Wrestlemania!
R&R (Pleeeaaaasssseee? I know you're out there!)
Viva La Raza!