Chapter Twenty One: Handicapped
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(A/N: Okay, I just wanted to clarify one thing involving the order of the segments for Raw. The Intercontinental Title Match is going first, followed by the Santino/Maria segment. The Cade/Murdoch and the Highlanders tag team match happens after all of that.)
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Raw was live from Lafayette Louisiana. Bobby Lashley had had his match with King Booker, but it had ended suddenly when Ken Kennedy ran down and attacked Lashley. This prompted Jonathan Coachman to come out and make a tag team match for later on that night. Lashley would be facing off against Kennedy and Booker with a partner of his choosing, and if he didn't find a partner, he would be in a handicap match.
Umaga had just demolished Santino Marella in an Intercontinental title match. Which led all four members of Chaos Inc to find him sitting backstage in what was apparently a great deal of pain. "Aw, you didn't lose again did you?" taunted Machetti. "I told you that you didn't deserve to be Intercontinental Champion, and now you're not. But unlike you, I retained my title last week and beat John Cena."
"Yes, but you cheated to win," replied Santino, "unlike you I fight with honor."
"Yeah, but unlike you," snapped Machetti, "I do everything I can to win matches and I walk away on top. While you do everything you can to win matches, and walk away the loser. Clearly I must be doing something right."
Santino slowly stood up and glared at Machetti, "at least when I was Champion, I fought with honor, dignity, and determination. You just hide behind your friends here, if it wasn't for them carrying you, you wouldn't be the WWE Champion."
"Is that so?" questioned Machetti, before turning to face the other three Chaos Inc members, "guys, I can handle this."
"Are you sure?" asked Paul.
"Of course I'm sure," said Machetti, "and don't you have a match to get ready for? Shelton lost his match last week, so I want you to teach him a lesson. Also if was either of you two I would do some scouting during that Cade and Murdoch match, otherwise you're never going to win those belts."
"Alright, we'll see you later," Paul and Brian quickly left, but Maria stayed behind and looked a little uncertain.
"Machetti don't hurt him," pleaded Maria.
"Maria, he's had this coming for a long time, and all I'm going to do, is teach him his place."
Maria glanced at both Santino and Machetti then walked off leaving the two alone. "There, now it's just you and me," said Machetti.
"Well if this is how you want to settle this, then so be it," replied Santino, who despite the pain he was in, swung at Machetti.
But Machetti quickly ducked Santino's punch, then kneed Santino hard in the stomach. Marella doubled over and Machetti quickly pushed him backwards, causing the former Intercontinental Champion to fall to the ground.
"Now, let's get one thing straight," taunted Machetti as he walked over to Santino, who was slowly trying to get back up, "I don't hide behind anyone and I don't need anyone's help to win matches for me. You on the other hand, need all the help you can get."
Santino had gotten back up to his feet, and he quickly swung at Machetti again. But Machetti sidestepped the punch, then charged at Marella and rammed him back-first into a wall. Then Machetti grabbed his shoulders and tossed Santino down to the ground.
"You know, I'm glad we got to have this little chat," laughed Machetti as he stood over Santino, "now you've learned you're place. There's no way you could ever beat me, I'm leagues better you. So you had better show some more respect for your betters, otherwise, more beat downs like this are going to be coming your way."
While Machetti was taunting him, Santino had fought back up to his hand and knees, and was once again trying to get back up. But Machetti suddenly ran forward and kicked Santino hard in the side, knocking him on his back again. Machetti smirked down at Santino before turning and walking off.
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The diva tag match had just ended and King Booker and Queen Sharmell were shown in the locker room with Mr. Kennedy. "Alright, Super Crazy has been taken care of," said Kennedy, "so that leaves only one thing left… Bobby Lashley."
"You know he's right," came a voice as Machetti walked into the locker room, followed by Paul London and Brian Kendrick.
"You have some nerve coming in here after what you pulled last week!" snapped Booker as he glared at the three Chaos Inc members.
"Yeah I know, and I'm sorry," apologized Machetti, "but you need to look at this from my perspective. Regal pulled that 'Beat the Clock' thing last week, so that means I'm going to be facing one of four different contenders for my title. And on top of that, I have to fight Cena at the end of the night just to make sure I can fight who ever wins the Beat the Clock challenge. Booker…"
"That's KING Booker!" interrupted King Booker.
"Right, King Booker," said Machetti, "look, you were once World Champion, and if I remember correctly you did everything you could to keep your title. Well, that's what I'm doing now!"
"Still, you could have let one of us win the Beat the Clock challenge," Kennedy pointed out.
"There were a lot of things that I could have done," replied Machetti, "I figured if I took all of you out then I'd be left with no one else. But Shelton couldn't win a fixed match, so Lashley ended up winning. Now I'm pretty sure none of us are happy about that."
"That's right!" answered Booker, "I have beaten that peasant before, and I can beat him again! He doesn't deserve to be the number one contender!"
"Right, but now his name is on the contract and there's nothing any of us can really do about it," reasoned Machetti, "except the fact that we can make sure that he is as far from one hundred percent as possible. So that come the Great American Bash, I can beat him easily and still be champion, then once it's all over we can go about making either of the two of you contenders."
"That sounds good to me, what did you have in mind?" asked Kennedy.
"Well," answered Machetti, "it's highly unlikely that Lashley will find a partner by the end of the night. So I'm pretty sure the two of you will be facing him in a handicap match. Now, incase you didn't notice, I picked apart Lashley's ribs last week. You two need to do as much damage as you can, pick him apart, make it so that come the Great American Bash, Lashley can barely stand!"
"But what if, Lashley does find a partner tonight?" questioned Booker, causing Machetti to turn to him and smirk.
"Well then you two just need to leave that to the three of us," Machetti laughed then nodded to Booker, Shamell, and Kennedy, before leaving the room, followed closely by London and Kendrick.
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It was now time for the main event. Earlier in the night Paul London had beaten Shelton Benjamin in a singles match. The fans really didn't know what to make of the match seeing how they booed both competitors when they came out. But now it was time for the main event tag match. Raw had just come back from commercials and King Booker was in the ring with Queen Sharmell.
But then, Mr. Kennedy's music hit. Kennedy came out to the ring and did his self-introduction. When Kennedy finished Bobby Lashley's music hit and he came out to the ring for the second time during the course of the night. Lashley was still bandaged up from lash week and his fight with Booker earlier hadn't done him any favors. Lashley stood in the ring with Kennedy and Booker for a moment, and it looked like the match was going to be a handicap match.
But suddenly Jeff Hardy's theme music hit and Jeff was met by a large ovation from the crowd. But Jeff hadn't taken two steps down the ramp, when suddenly Machetti ran out from the back, with an eight foot ladder. Machetti smashed the ladder into Jeff's back and knocked him down to the ground, then lifted up the ladder and drove on end of it into Jeff's back.
Machetti tossed the ladder to the side and pulled Jeff back up to his feet as London and Kendrick came out from the back and walked over to the ladder so they were standing on either side of it. Machetti whipped Hardy over to London and Kendrick, who caught Jeff, then launched him up into the air, then brought him crashing down onto the ladder with a double flapjack.
Lashley had seen enough, and quickly left the ring and headed up the ramp to face off against Chaos Inc. But as he was making his way up the ramp, Machetti dragged the now unconscious Jeff Hardy off of the ladder and instructed London and Kendrick to pick it up. Brian and Paul picked up the ladder, then ran at Lashley and rammed the side of it into Lashley's taped up ribs. London and Kendrick stepped backwards as Lashley doubled over in pain, then ran forward and took him down by ramming the ladder into his head.
Machetti laughed then reached down and pulled Jeff back up to his feet, then picked him up and hit the Machete's Blade, onto the hard steel stage. Machetti got up off of Jeff and walked over to Lashley, London and Kendrick. Machetti knelt down next to Lashley, and laughed at him while he held his ribs in pain.
"Hey Lashley, it looks like your partner can't compete tonight. I guess you're going to have to fight in a handicap match now!" Machetti stood back up and turned to Paul and Brian, "guys, I think you might want to take Jeff to see the trainer." London and Kendrick nodded and went over to Jeff and pulled him to his feet, then dragged him to the back.
Machetti smiled as his friends left, then reached down and pulled Lashley to his feet, then dragged him down the ramp over to the ring, then rolled him inside. Machetti smirked up and Kennedy and Booker then told them to, "have fun!" With that the referee reluctantly rung the bell to start the match. Booker and Kennedy laughed at Lashley, who could barely stand, then Booker got out of the ring and onto the apron.
Machetti meanwhile went back up the ramp and got his ladder again, then came back down to ringside and set it up next to the ring. Machetti climbed up the ladder and then sat on top of it, now not only did he have a front row seat for this match, but he could watch his opponent at the Great American Bash get picked apart.
In the ring Lashley had finally made it back up to his feet, the referee was restraining Kennedy so he could make sure that Lashley could continue and wanted to fight in the match. Lashley being the devoted competitor that he was, Lashley nodded and said he was going to fight. The referee slowly stepped back and let Kennedy and Lashley start the match.
Lashley rushed forward and suddenly took Kennedy down with a clothesline, Kennedy got back up and rushed at Lashley, but Lashley caught him, lifted him up and slammed him down to the mat with a scoop slam. While Kennedy rolled around on his back, Lashley held his ribs, the effort involved in lifting Kennedy over his head and slamming him down to the mat had taken its toll on his ribs.
But once Kennedy got back up, Lashley kept going. Lashley grabbed Kennedy and whipped him into the corner, then ran at him and drove his shoulder into Kennedy's stomach. Lashley came out of the corner with Kennedy on his shoulder, and then walked into the middle of the ring. Lashley turned to Machetti and glared at him, then dropped down to his knees for a gutbuster. Lashley got down next to Kennedy and rolled him onto his back, then went for the pin, ONE… TWO…. Booker came in and broke it up by kicking Lashley in the side.
The referee ushered Booker out of the ring, while Lashley pulled Kennedy up to his feet. Lashley pulled Kennedy up and held him in the air for a vertical suplex. Lashley kept Kennedy up in the air and turned to face Machetti, who smirked and waved at Lashley. But Lashley quickly drove Kennedy down to the mat, then went for another pin, but kept his eyes locked with Machetti's. ONE… TWO… TH… Kennedy kicked out.
Lashley slowly stood back up and pulled Kennedy up to his feet, then Lashley tried to whip Kennedy into the ropes, but Kennedy reversed. Lashley hit the ropes and was about to bounce off, when Booker, who was on the ring apron, brought up his knee and drove it into Lashley's back. Lashley fell forward on his hands and knees, while Booker quickly went back to his corner and grabbed the tag rope.
Kennedy came over and kicked Lashley hard in the side, knocking him on his back, then Kennedy started stomping on Lashley, and focused mainly on Lashley's injured ribs. Kennedy pulled Lashley up to his feet then whipped him into the corner Booker was in. Kennedy ran forward and drove his shoulder into Lashley's chest, driving him back into the turnbuckle. Then Kennedy tagged in Booker.
Kennedy pulled Lashley away from the turnbuckle and held his arms behind his back. Booker came forward and nailed Lashley hard in the ribs with a sidekick. Kennedy let Lashley fall down to the mat and got out of the ring, leaving Lashley at the mercy of King Booker. Lashley crawled away from Booker and fought up to his feet, but Booker came after him and kneed him hard in the gut, then swung his foot around and took Lashley down with a hard spinning kick.
Booker walked back over to Lashley and pulled him up to his feet, then Booker slipped behind Lashley and locked in an abdominal stretch. A look of intense pain appeared on Lashley's face as he struggled to find away out of the hold. Over on his ladder, Machetti was laughing and clapping as Booker worked over Lashley. Lashley reached out with his free hand and tried to grab for the ropes, but Booker was holding him back and there was no way Lashley was getting over there for a rope break.
Seeing how he wasn't going to get a rope break Lashley reached back and tried to grab Booker, but Booker responded pounding Lashley in the ribs with his own free hand. Booker continued his assault and was now not only working over Lashley with the abdominal stretch, but now, he was pounding on him and working over Lashley with his fist.
Seeing that Lashley was in trouble the fans started to get behind him and started chanting, LASHLEY over and over again. Lashley suddenly reached back and grabbed Booker, then flipped Booker over him and onto the mat in front of him. The fans exploded in loud cheers as Lashley rushed at Booker, who had gotten back up, and took him down with a clothesline.
Booker got back up but Lashley came over and grabbed him, then whipped him into the ropes, when Booker came back Lashley grabbed him and launched him up into the air for a back body drop. Booker rolled on the mat over to the nearest corner, which conveniently was his own, Booker reached up and tagged in Kennedy, then rolled out of the ring and onto the apron.
Kennedy got in the ring and charged at Lashley, but Lashley sidestepped him, then when Kennedy turned around Lashley took him down with a clothesline. Lashley went over to Kennedy and pulled him to his feet, then lifted him up onto his shoulders. Kennedy struggled and tried to get out of it, but Lashley suddenly dropped down to his knees for a gutbuster. Kennedy fell to the ground and Lashley went for a pin, ONE… TWO… THR… Kennedy kicked out.
Back on his ladder Machetti was standing up on the top rungs now and was yelling at Lashley. Lashley got back up to his feet and walked over to the ropes and stood across from Machetti. Then Lashley raised his hand and flipped Machetti off. The fans cheered loudly as Machetti glared at Lashley, who turned around and went back to Kennedy. Lashley pulled Kennedy up to his feet and whipped him into his own corner. Lashley charged at Kennedy looking for a spear.
But suddenly Booker got in the ring and stood in front of Kennedy. Lashley didn't have time to put on the breaks and ran right into Booker, who lifted Lashley up and planted him with the Book End, slammed Lashley's back hard down to the mat. The referee rushed over and yelled at Booker to get out of the ring, which Booker slowly did. Lashley was laid out in the middle of the ring, but Kennedy was still leaning against the corner, and seemed out of breath.
Booker took matters into his own hands and grabbed the tag rope, then reached down and tagged himself in. Booker quickly got into the ring and went over to Lashley, then went for the pin, ONE… TWO… THRE… LASHLEY KICKED OUT! Booker having to tag himself in had given Lashley enough time to recover and kick out. Booker couldn't believe it and quickly went for another pin, ONE… TWO… TH… but again Lashley kicked out.
Booker slowly got back up to his feet and pulled Lashley up with him. Booker whipped Lashley across the ring and into the ropes, then when he came back Booker lifted him up in front of him, then slammed him down to the mat with a spinebuster. Again Booker went for a pin, ONE… TWO… THR… but Lashley kicked out. Booker looked down at Lashley in shock, then looked over at Machetti two was still standing up on the ladder.
Machetti couldn't believe it either, then he yelled at Booker to stay on him. Booker slowly nodded and got back up to his feet then pulled Lashley up and whipped him into the corner. Booker ran at Lashley and drove his knee hard into Lashley's ribs, driving him back into the turnbuckle. Booker then grabbed Lashley and lifted him up into the air for a suplex, then fell backwards and drove Lashley down into the mat.
Booker slowly got back up to his feet, then went back over to the corner and climbed up onto the top rope. Booker lunged off of the corner and came crashing down on Lashley with an elbow drop, right to Lashley's taped up ribs. Booker stayed on top of Lashley and went for the pin, ONE… TWO… THRE… LASHLEY KICKED OUT! The fans erupted in cheers while Booker freaked out.
Booker slowly got up to his feet then went over to his corner and tagged in Kennedy. Kennedy rushed over, then jumped up into the air and came crashing down, elbow-first, onto Lashley's ribs. Kennedy pulled Lashley up to his feet and whipped him into the ropes, when Lashley came back Kennedy tried for a hip toss, but Lashley suddenly countered by hitting Kennedy with a hip toss of his own.
Booker saw that Lashley was gaining momentum and quickly rushed into the ring. But when he approached Lashley, Lashley grabbed him and whipped him into the ropes, then Lashley charged forward and clotheslined Booker over the top rope and down to the floor. Lashley turned around, but Kennedy suddenly kneed him in the stomach.
Kennedy grabbed Lashley and whipped him into the ropes, then when Lashley bounced off of them he charged forward. But Lashley leap-frogged Kennedy, causing him to bounce into the ropes, then Lashley quickly spun around as Kennedy came back, and out of no where Lashley nailed Kennedy with a spear, almost breaking the loud mouth in half. Lashley then went for the pin, ONE… TWO… THREE! LASHLEY WINS!
Machetti looked on in disbelief as Lashley stood tall in the middle of the ring. Lashley turned to face Machetti and gestured to his waist, saying that he was going to win the title. But much to Lashley's surprise, Machetti simply smirked and shook his head. Then in a flash Machetti lunged off of the top of the ladder, flew over the top rope, and connected with a missile dropkick, driving his feet into Lashley's injured ribs in the process.
Machetti got back up, then ran at Lashley, who had rolled across the ring. When he reached Lashley, Machetti jumped up, did a back-flip, then came crashing down on top of Lashley for a Standing Shooting Star Press. The fans booed loudly as Machetti stood up and smirked down at Lashley. But Machetti paid them no mind and quickly left the ring to get his ladder.
Machetti folded the ladder back up, then slid it into the ring, before getting in after it. Once in the ring Machetti got up and leaned the ladder against the corner. Machetti went over to Lashley and pulled him up to his feet, then whipped him into the ladder in the corner. Machetti quickly ran at Lashley then drove his shoulder into Lashley's ribs, causing him to be crushed against the ladder.
Machetti stepped back and turned around to find that Booker and Kennedy were back on their feet and were in the ring with him. Both Booker and Kennedy glared at Machetti and walked over to him and the three of them came nose to nose. But suddenly, grins appeared on all of their faces and as one they all turned and smirked at Lashley. Kennedy walked over to Lashley and pulled him out of the corner, then dragged him across the ring into the opposite corner.
Kennedy then lifted Lashley up onto the top rope, and climbed up onto the middle rope in front of him. Kennedy then took Lashley and hoisted him up onto his shoulders. Across the ring, Machetti saw what Kennedy was doing and suddenly yelled for him to stop. Kennedy looked at Machetti, with confusion written all over his face, but Machetti simply smirked back, then turned to the corner and grabbed the ladder.
Machetti walked back into the middle of the ring, and placed the ladder down on the mat, then looked up and gave Kennedy the thumbs up. Kennedy nodded his head, then lunged forward and flipped off of ropes, and drove Lashley, back-first, down onto the ladder with the Green Bay Plunge.
While Kennedy recovered, Booker went over to the ladder and pulled Lashley up to his feet. Then Booker lifted Lashley up and drove him down onto the ladder with a Book End, causing a loud thud to each through the arena as Lashley's back met the ladder. Machetti smirked as Booker stepped back, then he ran forward, jumped up and came crashing down on top of Lashley for a Standing Shooting Star Press, but this time Lashley was on the ladder.
Machetti rolled off of Lashley and got up to his feet, then pulled Lashley up with him. Machetti lifted Lashley up in front of him, then turned around and was about to hit the Machete's Blade, when suddenly… he stopped. Machetti put Lashley down, and looked down at him for a moment, then reached down and picked Lashley up again, but this time he held him the opposite way. Machetti then launched Lashley over his head and hit the Machete's Blade, but this time, he drove Lashley stomach-first down onto the ladder, then came crashing down on top of his back for the moonsault.
Riot Time hit as Machetti got back up and stared down at Lashley. Machetti then looked up and stepped over Lashley so he was standing with Booker and Kennedy. Machetti reached out and shook hands with the other two, then they all joined hand and raised their arms up into the air in 'victory.' The fans booed loudly as Raw went off the air.
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That's it for this chapter. But I thought I'd be nice and give you guys a spoiler for next chapter. No matter what happens on Raw, Jeff Hardy is going to want revenge after being assaulted by Machetti and a ladder. So he and Machetti are going to face off in a ladder match.
'Till Next Time…
Peace!