Disclaimer: You've heard it before.
ALLO! It's finally here! After seventy one chapters and fifteen months we have reached the final showdown between Jason and John in a loser leaves WWE ladder match, who will win? Which Cena will survive? Let's find out!
HERE WE GO!!!
Brotherly Hate-Chapter Seventy Two-The End Of An Era
Jason Cena hesitated as he walked through the doors of the arena, he glanced up at the Judgement Day logo and smiled. One year, one year to the day since he'd debuted, he found himself thinking back through his time in WWE, the match with Hardcore Holly, JBL, all the matches with Shawn, the 'Deadly Games' tournament, the tag title reign and John's betrayal. It all came down to this match, either he would send John packing from WWE, which a lot of people would love, or he was done, Shawn stood next to him and slapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Nervous?"
"Yup".
"Don't worry kid, what's the worst that could happen?"
Jason laughed. "Figures, the one time I main event a PPV and it could be my last".
"Don't talk like that kid, you'll survive, you always do".
"Yeah, I'll survive".
"You wanna go in?"
Jason nodded and they walked into the WWE arena for possibly the very last time.
The atmosphere in the locker room was even more tense than it had been on Smackdown, all the guys Jason had met along the way were hanging around the locker room wishing him luck, offering him advice and talking about the party they were gonna have when he won, he wished he had their confidence, then there were the phone calls, every so often his phone would go off and he answer to find some guy from some Indy promotion offering him a job, in the end Shawn snatched his phone out of his hand, told the guy to get lost and stuffed it in his bag leaving Jason to prepare in peace. Mara was warming up for her match with Trinity, Shawn was sitting next to Jason watching the teen try and focus on the match.
"Y'know kid, I never thought it would come to this".
"Me neither, it's gotta happen though".
"Yeah, it's gonna be a little weird without your brother kicking my ass every week".
Jason laughed. "Well, I could always do it for him".
Shawn laughed as well. "Remind me to ask Teddy for another match with you after this".
"Why?"
"I ain't letting you go round saying you're two-to-one over me".
"What're you gonna be like when I say I'm three-to-one?"
"Don't even get me started".
Mara stood up. "I gotta go".
"Good luck" said Jason. "Knock out a tooth for me".
"I'll knock out three!"
"You're so cute when you're pissed".
She smiled in response and headed out for the match, Jason sat back and flipped on the monitor.
John Cena sat alone in one of the corridors, the Squad and Henry were watching Trinity's match with Mara, he hated to admit it, but he was nervous, Jason had been on a roll the past few weeks while he had squeeked out victories, then there was Randy, since the 'Lgend Killer' had began helping out Jason he had been unable to contact him unless it was a staredown. What were Randy's motives for helping the kid? What the hell was he getting out of it? Why was he helping him after spending the better part of a year trying to convince John to get rid of him? He was desperately confused about the whole situation, he stood up and headed back to the locker room to get ready, a loud "Damnit!" from Kenny told him Trinity had lost as he walked in to see Mara celebrating, the Squad and Henry all stood aside to allow him to reach his bag.
"Tell Trinity she better not show her face round me" he muttered without turning around. The Squad all nodded and allowed him privacy, Henry sat down and went back to watching the monitor as the minutes ticked away.
"You know what you gotta do right big man?"
Henry growled and nodded.
"Good, I'm counting on you Mark, don't let me down again".
"Not your best match then?" Smirked Jason as Mara removed the icepack from her eye.
"Shut up".
"You wanna stay back here?" He asked.
"No way! I'm not missing this match for anything".
"Thanks". There was a knock at the door.
"Come in" called Jason, then stood up as Teddy Long walked in.
"Wassup playa? Just wanted to wish ya luck out there".
"Thanks".
"No problem playa, just make sure ya beat him, the last thing I need is your brother on my case for a title shot every week".
"I'll do my best".
Teddy smiled and left the room, Jason finished getting ready and headed out towards the ring, as he was walking through the backstage area all of the guys ran up to him and shook his hand or patted him on the back. He bumped into Shawn right before he got to the entrace.
"This is it kid".
"I know".
"Relax kid, you'll beat him, I already got the surprise party planned".
"You planned a surprise party?"
"Yeah... well OK it's not a surprise anymore, but I got soda's, chips, dip and I managed to get a kareoke machine!"
"Good clean fun huh?"
"Yup, so you can treat everyone to 'Summer of Sixty-Nine' to your hearts content and not just in the shower".
Jason laughed. "Where would I be without you Shawn?"
"Not about to put your WWE career on the line, that's for sure, but in all seriousness, you're gonna win tonight, I got faith in ya".
"Thanks man, I appreciate it, I'll see ya when it's over".
"Good luck".
The two shook hands and hugged before Jason waited for his music to hit, Shawn smiled as he saw Mara slip her hand in Jason's and the two kiss each other for luck, the other guys all came up behind him and yelled encouragement to Jason before the DX music hit and he stepped through the curtain.
Jason fought the nerves down as he stepped out into the arena to a deafening cheer from the crowd, the reaction alone was enough to pump him up and get the adrenaline flowing, there was a ladder set up on the aisleway with several others lying around ringside, the teen climbed the one that was set up and crotch chopped the crowd before continuing down to the ring, the briefcase was already hanging several feet above the ring, his eyes locked onto it and he stared at it for a long time, his future was inside that case, his career was inside it, all he had to do was reach it. John's music hit and the older Cena came out to the ring, he ran his hand across the ladder as he walked by then stared down Jason as he got in the ring.
Every fan in the arena was standing as Jason and John went face-to-face, neither one said anything, they just stared, John's eyes slowly went to the briefcase hanging above them, Jason's followed and John tried a sucker punch but Jason blocked it and hit a big right hand, the two brawled it out to kick things off, neither one giving an inch, the only referee was outside the ring so they didn't have to worry about being pulled apart, after several seconds of punches John finally hit one that caused Jason to reel, he hit another and sent Jason back into a corner, he unloaded with more punches then Jason suddenly switched round and began pounding on John, he whipped his brother across the ring then caught him with a backdrop as he came out of the corner followed by a dropkick. He whipped John, it was reversed but he came off the ropes with a spear then opened up with more punches, John pushed him away and climbed back up but Jason hit a clothesline that sent both Cena's over the top-rope to the outside.
Jason continued to pound away on his brother and slammed his head off the announce table before suplexing him on the floor, he picked John back up and whipped him towards the steel steps but John reversed it and made him collide with them instead, he picked up the steps as Jason tried to get up and nailed the teen in the head with them! he made sure that the edge of the steps connected with the teens forehead and when Jason staggered back to his feet blood was pouring out of a large cut. John waited until he was standing up and hit him with the steps again to knock him into the crowd! He finally dropped the steps but grabbed a chair as he hopped the rail and went into the crowd, Jason was trying to fight back to his feet but John smashed the chair down across his skull! Jason went down in a heap and John hit him with the chair repeatedly as he was down, after several shots he dropped the chair and threw Jason back over the barricade, he rolled Jason back in the ring and grabben another chair before going after his brother again. He waited for jason to stand back up then hit him with the chair so hard it broke! Jason dropped to the mat as Mara screamed in shock, John tapped Jason with his foot a few times and when he got no response rolled out of the ring and went after the ladder on the aisleway, he took his time folding it up and strolled down to ringside with it, he casually started to slide it in the ring but Jason suddenly jumped up and hit a baseball slide to knock the ladder back in John's face! He then vaulted over the ropes but John moved and the teen got nothing but ladder as he crashed to the ground.
John quickly regained the advantage and began stomping on his brother's head, the crowd, which earlier had been at a fever pitch now sat in stunned silence at how violent John was being in the early going, he slammed the back of Jason's head against the steel steps before picking up the ladder and smacking it over the teen's head sandwhiching it between the ladder and the steps! He stomped Jason down then rolled in the ring and set up the ladder then began climbing, he was about halfway up when he saw Jason start to roll back in, he smirked and dropped down, he clotheslined Jason down then folded up the ladder and dropped it on Jason. He rolled the teen onto his back then began unloading with more punches then exposed the steel turnbuckle, he picked Jason up and rammed his skull into the steel! Jason went down and John stomped him a few more times before throwing him between the ropes into the ringpost, he then casually set up the ladder and began climbing again but Jason started climbing to his feet, he laughed and muttered. "Unbelievable!" Before climbing back down to continue the punishment.
He started to pick the bloody teen up but Jason slipped out and hit a right hand, then another, he went for a third but John killed the momentum before it could get started with a knee to the gut and dropping him with a DDT, he dragged Jason towards the apron and left his head exposed by the ringpost, John rolled to the outside then ran forward and kicked his head against the post! Jason dropped to the mat as John grabbed another chair and smacked it over his head! Jason was out on the mat and John went to get in the ring but stopped and began looking under it then pulled out a table! He set it up at ringside and put Jason on it before rolling back in the ring, he dragged the ladder next to the ropes and began climbing, Jason had somehow managed to get to his feet and began climbing the ladder from the other side, they began exchanging right hands at the top of the ladder, a fall to the ring for John or a big drop through a table for Jason, the teen got a kick through the rungs to John's legs allowing him to set up John for a superplex through the table! John fought for all he was worth and managed to avoid it and superplexed Jason from the top of the ladder to the mat! Both brother's felt the effects of this but John already began to get up.
John folded up the ladder so he could move it and set it up but Jason started to stir, John sighed and waited for Jason to stand, he started forward but Jason avoided it and dropkicked the ladder into John! He went down and Jason began stomping him, he dragged John to the corner and leant the ladder against him, the teen then set up the chair and used it to hit a running dropkick to the ladder and John! John dropped down in the corner, Jason then grabbed the chair and hit a running dropkick to send it into John's face then legdropped it into his face again, John rolled to the outside as Jason grabbed the ladder and set it up by the ropes he climbed up it and waited for John to stand before coming down with a cross-body! He landed perfectly and began opening up on John with right hands before lifting up the steps, he started forward but John kicked him below the belt and grabbed them instead, he went to hit Jason but the teen ducked and hit a drop-toehold which caused John to bounce his head off the steel, Jason quickly followed up with a legdrop to bounce his head off them again before rolling back in the ring.
Jason grabbed the ladder and set it up under the belt, he began climbing but John rolled in the ring and nailed him in the back before dragging him down, he whipped Jason into the corner then folded up the ladder and rammed it into the teen's ribs, he then slammed the teen, leaned the ladder against the turnbuckle and climbed to the top-rope, he jumped and pulled the ladder down across Jason's body before grabbing the chair and repeatedly hit the ladder over Jason with it, he dragged Jason out from under the ladder and stood him up before hitting a throwback, then the Five-Knuckle-Shuffle and called for the F-U, he lifted Jason up but the teen slipped off his shoulders and hit some right hands, he went for a whip but John reversed it and went for an elbow only for the teen to duck and hit a flying forearm, they both lay on the mat, John used the ropes to pull himself to his feet and Jason nipped up!
The two both began to exchange right hands, John gained the advantage and went for a whip but Jason reversed it and hit a powerslam then quickly followed up with a shining wizard! He set the ladder up in one corner as John climbed up in another, the bloody teen hit a few more punches then whipped John across the ring into the ladder! He then followed up looking for the stinger splash but John moved! The teen hit the ladder full force then staggered out of the corner for John to hit a bulldog into the steel chair, the older Cena then set up the ladder and started climbing, he got to within arms reach but Jason stopped him with a punch to the kidneys, the teen the climbed up the ladder after his brother and hit a reverse DDT! This took a lot out of both brothers but Jason started to stir, he stomped John a few times before going to the ladder, it was a bit shaky so he took his time adjusting it before testing it and slowly started climbing, he got about halfway when he heard Mara scream a warning to him just before John nailed him in the back with the chair, he then climbed up to the teen and hit the spinout powerbomb! Again both brothers crashed to the mat and didn't move.
John stirred first and slowly forced himself back to his feet, Jason seemed to be out so he started climbing, Jason forced himself back up and started climbing after his brother, John managed to get one hand on the briefcase but Jason stopped it with a puch to the ribs, John responded with several shots to the cut on Jason's head before wrapping a hand around Jason's throat, he started to choke the bloody teen out but Jason started grinning, John looked confused and Jason suddenly spat his own blood into John's eyes! John let go of him and Jason grabbed him and locked on a Koji Clutch on top of the ladder! John immediately began tapping out but Jason ignored it and kept the hold on tight, eventually John's taps got weaker and slower, Jason kept it on for a few more seconds then let him go, unfortunately the way he let him go allowed him to land on his feet momentarily as he hit the ring before falling sideways into the ladder, the ladder tipped and Jason fell with it before crotching himself on the top-rope! He fell from the ropes but one of his legs got tangled up leaving him trapped upside down in the ring!
When John finally shook off the effects of the clutch he looked round for Jason in confusion before his face cracked into a huge grin when he saw the position Jason was in, he grabbed the cair then smacked it into Jason's leg! The teen screamed in pain while John screamed it was payback before slamming it into his leg again! Jason was still stuck and John hit him three more times with the chair before he came free, John stomped on his leg, then set up the ladder and began climbing again, Jason tried to stand but his leg gave out under him, he tried again as John got hold of the briefcase! He started to unhook it but Jason forced himself to jump up and nailed John to stop him, despite the pain and blood loss he managed to climb up the ladder after John again, they exchanged punches before Jason headbutted his brother, he then grabbed John and hit the impaler! The impact of the move hurt Jason big time as he began writhing around holding his leg allowing John time to slowly recover from the impaler.
Jason crawled over to the ladder and set it up, John was stirring as he started to climb slowly to the top, he managed to grab hold of the briefcase but John nailed him in the leg with the chair! Jason screamed in pain and grabbed his leg as John climbed up, he grabbed his younger brother and lifted him up onto his shoulders for the F-U! He was just about to hit it but Jason escaped and hit a sunset flip powerbomb to the mat! Again both brothers were down but they both got up and began exchanging right hands again, Jason ducked one of John's and hit a neckbreaker and cralwed to the corner, he took a second to wipe the blood out of his eyes then started climbing, he reached the top and came down looking for a frog splash but John moved, he rolled through it to his feet but John kicked his injured one out from under him, the older Cena then reached into his pocket and pulled out the trusty steel chain, the chain that had put the two on the path to this match, he wrapped it round his fist and charged Jason but was met with a superkick! Both went down in heaps but Jason crawled over to John and pulled the chain off his fist before wrapping it round his own, he pulled himself up and waited for John to do the same before charging forward and smacking John between the eyes with it! He then threw the chain to the crowd and leaned over John.
"You started it! I finished it!"
He then spun round and began climbing the ladder and John hadn't moved, he slowly reached the top and still no movement, he had a hand on the briefcase and still John hadn't moved! The crowd were on their feet willing him on as he started to unhook it... then he looked down, John was motionless on the mat and the idea of inflicting more punishment entered his head, Mara was screaming for him to unhook it, the crowd was screaming for him to unhook it, he was certain all the guys backstage were screaming for him to unhook it, but his mind was sreaming for revenge, he looked from John on the mat, then to the case in his hand, muttered. "Damnit!" Before turning back to John, giving him a crotch chop and coming off the ladder with a frog splash! John didn't move and Jason crashed down on him, he felt all the air leave his body and pain shoot down his leg, but he felt a huge amount of satisfaction for dong it, he began crawling back to the ladder but the Spirit Squad hit the ring to save John's job.
Jason tried to fight them off but the comination of numbers, blood loss and injuries allowed them to beat him down to the mat then hit the high spirits, they all stood over the teen taunting him before they ordered Kenny to go for a legdrop from the ladder! Before the youngest member of the Squad could do that however Shawn's music hit and he sprinted to the ring to save his friend, the Squad all met him but he ran through all of them with right hands, one-by-one he threw them to the outside, he screamed for Jason to get up before going out after the Squad, eventually the numbers got too much for him but before the Squad could take control Kennedy, Finlay, Lashley and Matt came running down to help out. They all brawled with the Squad as Jason and John began to stir, then Randy Orton walked out through the curtain, he surveyed the brawl taking place on the aisleway then casually walked down to the ring past all the fighters, he stopped when he got to the ring and exchanged a look with Mara before turning to watch the action.
In the ring, Jason had managed to fight his way up, John was also up and the two began exchanging punches, Jason went for a whip, it was reversed but John lowered his head allowing the teen to come back with a punch to the face followed by an X-Factor! He stood over his brother then hit his version of the Five-Knuckle-Shuffle and called for the F-U! He lifted John up but the older Cena slipped out and kicked his leg, the older Cena then lifted him up and F-U'ed him over the ropes to the outside! Thankfully he missed the table but he was out on the floor and John was in the ring with the ladder, he adjusted it and began climbing, Randy started to get in the ring but stopped and slid back out as Mara hopped in instead, John was starting to unhook the briefcase but Mara hit him with a low blow! She then climbed up the ladder with him and brought him down with the Angels Wings! The landing jarred her back painfully and she lay there hurt as Jason came back in, he instictively went to her side.
"What are you doing?" She yelled. "Get up that damn ladder!"
Jason nodded and began climbing as Mark Henry came down towards the ring as quickly as he could, Randy dived in the ring just as the big man entered and cut him off with an RKO! Jason had started to unhook the briefcase as Randy stared down at Henry... then he spun round and tipped the ladder! Jason tried to hold onto the case but couldn't as he fell off the ladder, out of the ring and through the table! Randy stared at the teen's body, smirking slightly at Mara's screams of "YOU BASTARD!" He turned round and set up the ladder as John started to get up, with Randy helping him the older Cena made it to the top of the ladder... and got the case!
John dropped from the ladder to the ring, holding the briefcase as though it were his first born son, Randy helped him to his feet and the two hugged in the middle of the ring, they both leaned through the ropes and tapped the sides of their heads at Jason before hugging again and leaving the ring as Shawn and the others came in, they walked backwards all the way up the aisle with John holding the briefcase up high, signalling that he had kept his job.
When Jason came to he was lying amidst the wreckage of a table, Mara was cradling his head and he could hear John's music playing over the arena speakers, he closed his eyes and groaned, realising what this meant, he was done, after less than a year in WWE he was gone, never again to set foot in a WWE ring, he climbed to his feet and looked around, the desolate look on his face reflected how he felt but he was determined to give a proper goodbye, he hugged Mara before turning and shaking Michael Cole's hand, he offered the same hand to JBL, he stared the teen down in disgust but shook his hand and muttered. "Good luck".
"Thank you" replied the teen before rolling in the ring, the guys who had tried to help along with the others who had wished him luck were all in the ring, he shook hands and hugged each of them, accepting their condolences and apologies, when he got to Shawn he noticed that his mentor was almost as devastated as he was, he forced a sad smile which Shawn returned before the two hugged again. Some of the more heartless members of the crowd had started the 'Goodbye' song but were drowned out by the rest standing up and chanting. 'THANK YOU JASON!' The teen smirked and grabbed a mic.
"No... thank you, I'm sorry it had to end like this but before I leave I got one thing to say, one last time everyone, if you're not down with the fact that it was fun while it lasted... I got two. Words. For ya..."
The crowd finshed it and Jason handed the mic back, he went to each corner of the ring and crotch-chopped for the crowd, he went back to the centre of the ring and knelt down, most of the fans were standing and clapping as he kissed the canvas before rolling out of the ring with the others following, no music hit as he walked up the aisle, this was good as it allowed him to hear the crowd, both Shawn and Mara put an arm around him as they left but at the top of the aisle he stopped and turned back round, saluted the crowd one last time and walked through the curtain for good.
End Of Chapter
Well, there ya go, it's over... John won, Jason lost, Randy stuck another knife in Jason's back and the teen is now looking for a job. Just one chapter left, what's gonna happen? Wait and see.
R&R
HOO-RAH!!!