Chapter Fifty Eight: A Match Between Friends
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(A/N: Happy New Year everybody! Even though that happened like a week ago. I'm really sorry about the late update, I've been really busy lately. I'd like to say what I've been doing was important but then I'd be lying. I have off until the 22nd so I've been spending a lot of time with my High School friends. One of them recently purchased Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 for the Wii so I've been going over his house a lot to play it.
For the most part I left Raw the way it was, the one change that needs to be made is that only Carlito came out for the Marella/Hardy match. That having been said, here we go!)
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Raw was airing from Greensboro North Carolina, Umaga had just destroyed Hacksaw Jim Duggan in a Royal Rumble qualifying match, and now the Samoan Bulldozer had himself a spot in the Royal Rumble. The cameras then cut to the back and showed Raw General Manager William Regal heading down a hallway backstage. Regal had his match against Hornswoggle later tonight, but he was still the General Manager, so he needed to take care of some business. Shouting was coming from the room next to Regal, the General Manger glanced at the door and saw that it read "Chaos Inc Locker Room".
Regal shook his head and muttered, "Why am I not surprised." Regal knocked quickly then let himself in.
Inside Machetti, London, Kendrick, and Maria were gathered around a TV screen and from the looks of it, Machetti had just beaten Kendrick in Smackdown vs. Raw 2008. "YEAH THAT'S RIGHT YOU'VE GOT NOTHING!" Machetti shouted at Brian as he jumped to his feet then noticed Regal standing in the door way.
"What the devil is going on in here?" demanded the General Manager.
Machetti answered quickly, "Well once again in your infinite wisdom, you left us all off the card for tonight's show. So Paul, Brian, Maria, and I are spending the night back here in the locker room. You don't want to do your job, so I guess that means we don't have to do ours. We wanted to see the Flair/Triple H match so we decided not to hold the show hostage tonight."
"And you're spending your time playing a video game?" questioned Regal.
"Well as soon as the show's over we're out of here," replied Machetti, "it's almost the new year and we plan on celebrating tonight. Brian made the mistake of choosing to play as you, and I used a big scary red friend of mine to chokeslam you through a flaming table. I guess you're wrestling skills aren't what they used to be, huh?"
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" asked Regal as he glared at Machetti.
"What? The developers were apparently very selective with this year's game. The only one of us who even made it in was Maria! And she's not even playable!"
"Not that you little whelp," snapped Regal, "the comment you made about my wrestling abilities!"
"Oh," said Machetti, "well Brian managed to get in a shot with some brass knuckles but even after that he couldn't get a pin. You were once a great wrestler, former European Champion, former Tag Team Champion, former Intercontinental Champion, former Hardcore Champion, but if this game is any indication, you're not the wrestler you once were. You're washed up, when was the last time you actually hit someone with a set of brass knucks? You've gotten soft."
"Gotten soft have I?" questioned Regal as he glared at Machetti with dislike, "well I guess I can't let the same thing happen to you can I? So tonight, you're doing to defend that Intercontinental Championship of yours."
"You serious?" asked Machetti, "here I was thinking the four of us were going to be sitting backstage all night. Thanks Regal!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself," warned Regal, "I haven't told you your opponent yet." Regal looked away from Machetti and glanced at London, Kendrick, and Maria who were all watching the interaction with interest. Regal smirked evilly, then turned his attention back to Machetti, "Machetti, since none of you have a match tonight you're going to fight your little friends Paul London and Brian Kendrick in a triple threat match for the Intercontinental Championship!" Regal let out a chuckle, "Now, while I won't be able to get the title away from you little blaggards, I will surely enjoy watching the three of you beat the hell out of each other for the gold. We'll see who's washed up won't we?" Regal headed to the door, "Oh and that match is next," Regal called out to the four Chaos Inc members before heading out the door. "Happy New Year!" Hornswoggle was in trouble… or was he?
"Well that was nice of him," commented Machetti, once Regal had gone.
"What are you talking about?" asked London, "he wants us to beat the living hell out of each other, how could that be nice?"
"Unless of course you want us to just lay down for you," suggested Kendrick, "Paul and I have our tag team gold, if one of us wins this match it'll be tough defending both belts."
"Don't be crazy!" exclaimed Machetti, "I want the two of you to go out there tonight and give me everything you have, maybe you'll win maybe you won't, but no matter what happens I know two things, one, no matter who wins the Intercontinental Title is going to stay with Chaos Inc, and two, with the three of us going all out, we're going to blow the roof off of this place."
"Well if that's the case," commented London, "Machetti, I'd like to be the first of offer you my condolences on your second incredibly short Intercontinental Title reign."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," laughed Machetti as he smirked at Paul, "you haven't won the match yet. And don't think for a second that I won't do anything it takes to retain my title."
"That's good," said Kendrick, "because when I beat you tonight and win the Intercontinental Championship, I want you at your best, that way you won't be crying about getting screwed the entire way back to the hotel."
Off to the side Maria shook her head and rolled her eyes at the three of them. London, Kendrick, and Machetti were closer than some brothers, but tonight that was only going to serve to make the match even more competitive and intense. All three of them knew each other incredibly well, and each of them was intending on leaving the arena with the Intercontinental Title, but only one could. This was going to be a wild ride. Raw then went to a commercial break.
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Raw came back and JR and King showed a recap of Regal making the Intercontinental title match between London, Kendrick, and Machetti. Lillian Garcia got in the ring and began her introductions, "Ladies and gentlemen the following contest is a triple threat match and is for the Intercontinental Championship!" Lillian paused and the fans cheered, the cheering grew even louder as Riot Time hit. "Introducing first, from Detroit Michigan, weighing in at two hundred and fifteen pounds, being accompanied by Maria, he is the WWE Intercontinental Champion, MACHETTI!" Machetti and Maria stood on top of the entrance ramp as the fans cheered, Machetti held the title belt over his head then put it on his should and grabbed Maria's hand and then they sprinted down to the ring. Machetti picked Maria up in his arms then jumped up onto the ring apron and stepped through the ropes and got in the ring. Machetti put Maria down and they both ran to a corner on the other side of the ring, then at the same time they back-flipped off of the middle rope and landed next to each other in the middle of the ring. Maria gave Machetti a hug and then a kiss on the cheek for good luck, then left the ring and stood in front of the announce table.
London and Kendrick's theme music hit and Paul London came out from the back with his half of the World Tag Team Championships wrapped around his waist, "and the opponents, first, from Austin Texas, weighing in at two hundred and five pounds, he is one half of the World Tag Team Champions, PAUL LONDON!" London sprinted down to the ring and then jumped up and slid under the bottom rope and into the middle of the ring. London glanced at Machetti for a moment then went to one of the corners Machetti and Maria hadn't gone to and climbed up onto the middle rope. London then did a back-flip and landed in the middle of the ring to a decent pop from the fans. London turned around to face Machetti, who came forward and held his hand out. London smiled then shook Machetti's hand, then they both turned to face the entrance ramp.
Hey You, Brian Kendrick's old theme, hit and the other half of the World Tag Team Champions came out from the back with the tag team title belt around his waist as well. And from Olympia Washington, weighing in at one hundred and seventy five pounds, he is the other half of the World Tag Team Champions, BRIAN KENDRICK!" Kendrick ran down to the ring and slid inside, then went to the only corner that hadn't been used yet and climbed up onto the middle rope. Kendrick back-flipped into the middle of the ring then turned to face his two friends/opponents. Just like he had with London, Machetti held out his hand to Kendrick, and Kendrick wasted no time in shaking Machetti's hand.
The referee came over and London and Kendrick handed over the World Tag Team Titles, they obviously weren't on the line, but it wasn't like they could wrestle with the belts on. The referee came back and took the Intercontinental Championship from Machetti and then stood in the middle of the three competitors and held the belt up over his head, signifying that it was on the line. The referee showed the belt to Kendrick, London, and then Machetti, then turned and handed it to someone at ringside. The referee rushed back to the middle of the ring and called for the bell, this one was underway.
London, Kendrick, and Machetti circled around the ring, wondering how to start this off. London nodded at Kendrick then the two of them turned to face Machetti with smirked on their face. Machetti saw the way they were looking at him and quickly bailed out of the ring and stood next to Maria, he didn't want to be subjected to a two on one beat down. Machetti smiled back at London and Kendrick, then motioned for them to get going.
Kendrick and London faced each other, London shrugged, if they wanted to win this match, they needed to face off eventually. London and Kendrick met in the middle of the ring and locked up, but London slipped behind Kendrick and got in a wrist lock. London shoved Kendrick away from him and into the ropes, then suddenly he ran across the ring and slid under the bottom rope and caught Machetti by surprise with a baseball slide. Machetti slammed back into the announce table and slowly pulled himself back up to his feet. In the ring London got back up and stood near the ropes, but suddenly Kendrick ran in, ran up London's back, and launched himself up into the air and took down Machetti on the outside with a high flying body press.
Kendrick rolled off of Machetti and into the announce table, then pulled himself up to his feet before reaching down and pulling Machetti back up as well. But suddenly London hoisted himself up onto the top rope, and came off with a back-flip, then came crashing down on top of Kendrick and Machetti for a shooting star press plancha. Maria, who had backed up to the ring post when the bodies started flying, looking on in surprise, all three competitors were now down on the outside.
London was the first one up, he quickly grabbed Machetti and pulled him up to his feet then rolled him into the ring and made a quick cover after getting in, ONE… TW… Machetti reached out and grabbed the bottom rope. London got off of Machetti, who pulled himself over to the ropes, then got back up to his feet. London and Machetti met in the middle of the ring and locked up, London got in a side headlock, then grabbed Machetti and went for a hip toss, but Machetti blocked it, then went for a hip toss of his own, only for London to block that one. London jumped up onto Machetti's shoulders and went for a hurricurana, but Machetti grabbed London's sides and slammed him back-first down to the mat for a powerbomb, then flipped over him and did a bridge, ONE… TWO… London rolled to the side and got his shoulders up.
Both London and Machetti quickly scrambled back up to their feet, and once again faced off in the middle of the ring. London glanced over Machetti's shoulder and saw Kendrick climbing onto the top turnbuckle, behind Machetti's back. But what London didn't know was that Machetti was looking over London's shoulder at the TitanTron, so he saw it too. Kendrick launched himself off of the top turnbuckle and went for a missile dropkick, but Machetti suddenly dropped down onto his stomach, causing Kendrick to nail London in the stomach. London rolled across the ring, under the bottom rope, and dropped down onto the floor.
Kendrick looked on surprise, he hadn't meant to do that, but since this match was every man for himself, it worked out alright anyway. Kendrick got back up and turned around, only for Machetti to kick him in the stomach, Machetti followed up and went for an Impaler, but Kendrick grabbed Machetti and popped his hips, slamming Machetti back-first down to the mat for a northern lights suplex. Kendrick kept his hold on Machetti with a bridge and went for a pin, ONE… TWO… T… Machetti kicked out.
Kendrick got off of Machetti and both of them got back up to their feet. Machetti charged at Kendrick for a clothesline, but Kendrick ducked it and ran passed Machetti. Both competitors whirled around to face each other, but Kendrick quickly grabbed Machetti and whipped him across the ring into a corner. Kendrick ran at Machetti and jumped and did a back-flip off of him, then jumped up and went for the dropkick, Dr. Smoothie's Secret Reci—but wait, Machetti grabbed Kendrick's legs and slammed him down to the mat, then Machetti kept his hold on Kendrick's legs and launched him face-first into the turnbuckle.
Machetti rolled away from Kendrick and backed across the ring. Kendrick turned around and leaned back against the turnbuckle, then Machetti ran across the ring, did a handspring, then a front flip, turnbuckle sento—Kendrick dove out of the way, and Machetti slammed back-first into the turnbuckle. Machetti slumped against the turnbuckle, while Kendrick got back up to his feet. Kendrick smiled when he saw the position Machetti was in, then he grabbed Machetti, ran up the turnbuckle, SLICED BREAD NUMBER TW—Machetti held Kendrick up in the air, then slammed him down to the mat with a back-suplex. Machetti got up to his knees, then flipped over Kendrick for a bridge, ONE… TWO… TH… London suddenly flew coast-to-coast across the ring and connected with Machetti's side with a missile dropkick, Machetti was launched off of Kendrick and flew through the middle and bottom rope, then crashed down to the floor.
London glanced down at Kendrick, then went to the corner and got on top. London stared down at Kendrick, then flipped off of the turnbuckle, 450 SPLA—KENDRICK ROLLED OUT OF THE WAY! London hit the mat hard, and Kendrick capitalized and rolled London onto his back and went for the pin, ONE… TWO… TH… Machetti, who had been helped to his feet by Maria, reached in the ring and grabbed Kendrick's foot, then yanked him off of London and out of the ring.
Machetti went to whip Kendrick into the steps, but Kendrick reversed it and Machetti ended up going full speed into the steel ring post. Machetti's head slammed into the steel, but his feet kept going, causing Machetti to flip up into the air and land hard on his back. Despite being in a match, Kendrick and Maria ran over to Machetti and glanced down at him, the contact his head had made with the ring post had made a bloody gash on Machetti forehead. Maria glared at Kendrick who gave her a look that said, "oops."
Kendrick shook his head and remembered he was in a title match and that was what he needed to do to win this thing. So he reached down and pulled Machetti up to his feet, then grabbed him with a side head lock, ran up the ring apron, and up to the middle rope ,then flipped off, SLICED BREAD NUMBER TWO ON THE OUTSIDE! Machetti was down and out, Kendrick got back up to his feet, then glanced down at Machetti, but instead of going after him, Kendrick got back in the ring, and went after London who was still laying on his back in the middle of the ring. Kendrick went over to London, but London was playing possum and grabbed Kendrick for a surprise small package, ONE… TWO... THR… Kendrick managed to kick out.
London and Kendrick rolled away from each other and got back up to their feet. The World Tag Team Champions stood on opposite sides of the ring, then met in the middle for a lock up, London slipped behind Kendrick, then rolled him up for a quick pin, ONE…T… Kendrick kicked out and both men got to their feet. Kendrick ran at London then jumped up and spun around in the air so his legs went around London's waist, then Kendrick flipped London onto his back for a pin, ONE… but London kicked out and they both scrambled up to their feet.
London and Kendrick stood across the ring from each other, while on the outside, Maria was kneeling down next to Machetti, who was still out cold. London and Kendrick circled around the ring then locked up again, but this time Kendrick managed to take advantage and got in a side headlock. London pushed Kendrick into the ropes in an attempt to get the hold broken, but Kendrick pushed off of the ropes and dragged London back into the middle of the ring. London then took his foot and pressed it into the back of Kendrick's knee, forced Kendrick down onto his knee, then quickly slipped out of the headlock, and locked in one of his own. Kendrick pushed London into the ropes, then shoved London and launched London off of him and across the ring. London came off of the ropes on the other side of the ring, then ran at Kendrick and took him down with a shoulder block, then made a cover, ONE… TW… Kendrick bridged himself up off of the mat and slipped out from under London.
Kendrick backed away from London and the World Tag Team Champions once again circled around the ring. They locked up again, and London quickly got in a side headlock, then flipped Kendrick over him and onto his back. London kept the headlock locked in on Kendrick and attempted to press his partners back down to the mat. But Kendrick suddenly brought his legs up and wrapped them around London's neck for a leg scissors. London rolled around on the mat, and eventually got onto his hands and knees. London launched himself up off of the mat and flipped onto his feet, causing him to effectively slip out of the leg scissors.
London and Kendrick turned to face each other, but London quickly hit a hard kick to the mid section on Kendrick, then jumped up into the air and went for a dropsault, but Kendrick grabbed London's legs and slammed him down to the mat, Kendrick flipped over London for a bridge, ONE… TWO… London rolled out. Kendrick got up quickly, London followed, Kendrick qui8ckly grabbed a side headlock then ran to the corner and ran up it, only for London to run up the turnbuckle with Kendrick. London suddenly grabbed Kendrick and launched both of them out of the corner and slammed Kendrick down to the mat for a back suplex off of the middle rope.
Both men were down, but before London could attempt to get a pin, Kendrick rolled over to the ropes. London got back up to his feet, while Kendrick pulled himself back up. London and Kendrick circled around the ring then London charged at Kendrick, but Kendrick caught London with a side headlock takedown, then pressed London's shoulders down to the mat with a headlock of his own. The referee saw that both of London's shoulders were down so he made a count, ONE… but London rolled his shoulder up off of the mat. London then fought up to his knees, then up to his feet and got back to a vertical base, but Kendrick still had the headlock locked in. London pushed Kendrick into the ropes, then pushed Kendrick off of him and across the ring.
Kendrick went into the ropes then came off and flipped over London's head and grabbed London's arms on the way down and caught him with a backslide pin, ONE… TWO… London pulled himself free and onto his knees. Kendrick got back up onto his knees and grabbed one of London's arms, probably looking for an Okalahoma roll, but London grabbed Kendrick's legs and flipped him onto his back, then pressed Kendrick's shoulders down to the mat for a lateral press, ONE… TW… Kendrick rolled his shoulder up.
London kept Kendrick pinned down to the mat, but with London still pushed his arms and shoulders down, Kendrick did a nipped up. London kept his hold on Kendrick's arms and bent him over, London hooked both of Kendrick's arms then lifted him up onto his shoulder's for a tigerbomb, but Kendrick pulled free and rolled down and got in a roll up, ONE… TWO… but London rolled through and pinned Kendrick's shoulders down to the mat, then hooked both of Kendrick's legs for a pin, ONE… TWO… TH… Kendrick kicked out of it.
London and Kendrick got back up and circled around the ring, Kendrick rushed in and locked in a side headlock, but London pushed him into the ropes, then pushed him off of him and across the ring. Kendrick came off of the ropes, but London dropped down onto his stomach, Kendrick ran over him and into the ropes on the other side of the ring, then ran at London who jumped up into the air and leap frogged Kendrick. Kendrick went into the ropes, as London jumped up and spun around in mid air, while at the same time Kendrick jumped up into the air too, London went for a crossbody, while Kendrick went for a jumping calf kick, both men collided in mid air and went crashing down to the mat. London and Kendrick were both down.
Suddenly the fans started cheering, outside of the ring Maria was helping Machetti back up to his feet, he had finally regained consciousness. Machetti climbed up onto the ring apron and got in the ring. The blood from the gash on Machetti's forehead had dripped down a little bit and was nearing Machetti's eye, but it was nothing compared to some of the bloody gashed Machetti had in the past. Machetti saw that both London and Kendrick were down, and quickly ran across the ring and drove his feet into Kendrick's side for a baseball slide, causing Kendrick to roll under the bottom rope and drop down onto the floor.
Machetti got back up and went over to London, then pulled him up to his feet. Machetti went to whip London into a corner, but London reversed it and sent Machetti running toward the opposite corner instead. London turned and chased after Machetti, but instead of hitting the turnbuckle, Machetti jumped up onto the top rope, and back-flipped off of it looking for a moonsault, but London ran under Machetti and jumped up onto the top rope, while Machetti landed on his feet. London came out of the corner with a crossbody, but Machetti caught him in mid air, MACHETE'S BLADE! Machetti hooked both of London's legs and went for the pin, ONE… TWO… THREE! MACHETTI RETAINS!
Riot Time hit as Machetti rolled off of London and got back up to his feet, the referee came over and handed Machetti the Intercontinental Championship. "Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner and STILL the WWE Intercontinental Champion, MACHETTI!" Maria joined Machetti in the ring and raised his arm up into the air, while Machetti held his title belt up with the other one. Machetti lowered the belt and put it on his shoulder then wrapped his arms around Maria and hugged her. But in response Maria jumped up and wrapped her legs around Machetti's waist, then quickly kissed him. Machetti smiled at Maria then noticed London struggling back up to his feet.
London turned to face Machetti and Machetti gave him a smirk the clearly said "Gotcha!" London nodded at Machetti, good point, then came over and held out his hand. Machetti shifted Maria and held her with one arm, then used his free hand to shake London's. London and Machetti then turned and saw Kendrick getting back in the ring. Kendrick approached Machetti cautiously and seemed worried about making him bleed. But much to his surprise, Machetti held his hand out. Kendrick smiled and shook it, then Machetti told him, "Don't worry about it, remember what happened the last time we fought?"
Kendrick thought for a second, then started laughing. Their last triple threat match had been a blood bath. London and Kendrick went and got their World Tag Team Titles back, and Machetti finally put Maria down. The four of them left the ring and headed to the back. Then the Flair/McMahon segment aired.
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The end of that match might have been a little quick, but I think its alright. The last time London, Kendrick, and Machetti fought in a triple threat match it was a Extreme Rules Triple Threat Match. That match is Chapter Two of Can I Ask You Something. Sorry again for the late update.
'Till Next Time…
Peace!