Chapter Sixty-Eight: Special Referee
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(A/N: I'd like to start off by saying the YouTube is an amazing website. After just one day you can find three different clips of matches and segments from the passed night. The opening segment was done word for word… until I changed it.)
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Raw was live from Anaheim California. To start the show the Game hit and Triple H came down to the ring wearing street clothes and a bandage on his forehead from when he had been busted opened last night. Last night at No Way Out, Triple H won the Raw Elimination Chamber, earning himself a WWE Championship match in the Main Event at WrestleMania. HHH got a mic and then addressed the fans.
"I gotta tell ya I'm pretty happy tonight," Triple H began. "Twelve months ago I wasn't so happy. See, last year at this time I was sitting in a wheelchair, getting ready to go to Detroit, to Ford Field, to sit behind that stage," Triple H pointed to the set. "And watch eighty thousand WWE Fans go absolutely crazy at WrestleMania." HHH paused and the fans cheered. "I had to sit back and watch the game from the sidelines. Well after last night, after the Elimination Chamber, after beating five other guys… I can tell ya this… THE GAME IS BACK! Back where I belong, back in the Main Event at the Grand Daddy of 'em all," Triple H pointed to the WrestleMania XXIV sign hanging from the rafters. "At WrestleMania! And you can bet your ass, when I get there, I am gonna become a twelve time WWE Champion! Because at WrestleMania the King…"
Triple H was cut off and turned his head to the stage as Burn in My Light hit. The Legend Killer, Randy Orton came out from the back with the WWE Championship on his shoulder. Orton got in the ring and got a mic then addressed Triple H. "We've really come…" Randy started but was cut off when the fans chanted You Suckover and over again. Clearly they weren't happy with what he had done to retain his title at No Way Out. "We've really come all the way around full circle," Orton finally said. "Haven't we Triple H? Last night it was John Cena, before him Jeff Hardy, Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels… before all of them it started with you, Triple H, the man that I beat for the WWE Title." Orton paused and allowed the fans to react how the wanted, then continued.
"We've known each other for a long time," said Orton. "And in that amount of time a lot of things have changed. But your jealously for me has always been the same. Four... four years ago, when I became the World Heavyweight Champion, you were jealous of me then, and you're even more jealous of me now cause I am that much better." Orton paused and stared at HHH who just grinning in response while the fans reacted loudly. "It makes me happy to hear you out here proclaiming your victory at WrestleMania already. Because it make you just like all the rest, Triple H. And I have beaten all of the rest. So if you wanna have your moment…"
Orton was cut off when My Time is Now played. Orton stared at the entrance ramp as the former number one contender John Cena came out from the back. Cena was met with his usual reaction as he headed down the ramp and got in the ring with a mic of his own. "Wait one second, wait one cotton-pickin' minute," said Cena, causing Orton to glare at him. "Yeah, yeah I just went there." Cena paused and circled around the ring then motioned to Orton. "Ladies and gentlemen I present to you the WWE Champion, Randy Orton!" Cena paused and the fans responded with boos, (but some cheers were mixed in).
"A very, very unique individual," continued Cena, "because he is the first WWE Champion to be both a liar and a loser. With all the corruption in sports now-a-days, baseball, basketball, football, only fitting that finally, disgrace come to the WWE Title. Randy Orton, WWE Champion, within astrics, the only champion, to lose his way to WrestleMania Wait, wait, wait, wait," continued Cena. "I got an idea, I got an idea! How 'bout tonight, we have a rematch?" Cena paused and the fans cheered the prospect of a WWE Title match tonight. "Yes, yeah, yes," continued Cena. "Let's not taint the WWE Championship. Tonight for the WWE Championship, Randy Orton a.k.a. Captain No-Nuts, VERSUS JOHN CENA!" Cena stopped and the fans cheered loudly in approval. "The winner, the winner of that match," said Cena as he plowed on. "WILL be the WWE Champion and face you, Triple H." Cena turned to face the Game and pointed to the WrestleMania XXIV sign, "At WrestleMania!"
"Are you gonna let him come out here and interrupt what we've got going on at WrestleMania?" Orton asked HHH. "It should be you and me at WrestleMania. It should have nothing to do with John Cena." Orton glared at Cena, but Triple H decided that he had been quiet for long enough.
"I don't know Randy," commented Triple H. "Quiet honestly I don't give a crap which one of you is champion. When it comes time for WrestleMania, all I know is that I've got the shot. I'm facing the champ, and I'm gonna beat whoever it is." Triple H paused and the fans cheered, but then William Regal's theme music hit.
The Raw General Manager came out from the back with a fourth mic and stood on the stage. "Gentlemen," said Regal as he addressed the three men in the ring. "As General Manager I am going to try and resolve this dispute as fairly as possible. Triple H did win the Elimination Chamber, and so you will definitely be going onto the Main Event at WrestleMania, that's a lock." Regal paused and then addressed the WWE Champion. "Randy Orton, you intentionally got yourself disqualified against John Cena last night by hitting a referee in the face. That may be all well and good for you, but it does not reflect very well on the Raw Brand, and it doesn't reflect well on me. So tonight seeing as though John Cena won last night, he will get a chance to fight for the WWE Championship, in a Special Referee Match tonight. Where the winner, if it is John Cena, going to the Main Event of WrestleMania in a Triple Threat Match."
"Whoa, whoa," interrupted Triple H. "Hold on a second."
"No you hold on," scolded Regal. "It will be, if John Cena wins, John Cena versus Triple H versus Randy Orton for the WWE Title."
"That don't work for me Regal," said HHH. "I won my shot last night. One-on-one against the Champ, that's how it goes."
"I know this, doesn't work for you," Regal told Triple H. "But this where it gets interesting. Because tonight, in the Main Event Match, that will decide the Main Event at WrestleMania, we will have a Special Guest Referee. The Game, Triple H." All three men stared at Regal, but then the General Manager continued. "Now Randy, since I can't trust you to compete fairly, I had to enlist the help of someone else. Tonight it will NOT be a rematch. Instead John Cena will be facing another one of Raw's Champions. A Champion, who, despite my personal dislike for him, defends his title with honor." The fans cheered or booed when they started to understand. "That's right, Cena, tonight you will be facing a champion, but it will be the WWE Intercontinental Champion, Machetti, in the Special Referee Match!" Regal's music played again, and the General Manager headed to the back, leaving three surprised superstars in his wake.
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Raw came back from a commercial, King promoted WWE dot com then the camera cut to the back and showed Triple H in his locker room talking on his cell phone. "That's right," Triple H said to the person on the other end, "That's what I'm saying. It's not gonna matter anyway. Honestly it really doesn't make a difference to me." Triple H noticed someone coming into the locker room. "Look, hey, can you call on a second? Let me call you right back." Triple H hung up his phone and stood up to face Randy Orton. Triple H took the referee uniform he had and put it on his shoulder.
"Look Hunter," said Orton. "Our match at WrestleMania, I can't be a Triple Threat Match. John Cena can't win tonight, he doesn't deserve it. After all, we wouldn't want what happened two years ago at WrestleMania to happen again, do we? You know, when John Cena made you tap out? When he embarrassed you on the biggest stage of all, you don't want that to happen. That's why it needs to be you and I, at WrestleMania. Forget John Cena, huh? You'll call it the right way, right? You with me?"
"Randy, you trying to play mind games with me?" asked Triple H. "You trying to swerve me, make me see things your way. Who taught you how to do that, huh? Who's the guy that taught ya how to play those mind games? You can't put nothing over on me. I'm gonna call it, the way I see it, Randy. And if it favors anyone… it'll favor me."
"Of course it will," came a voice. Machetti walked over and stood next to HHH and Orton. While Triple H had a bandage on his forehead from the match last night, Machetti had a much larger one, having been busted opened multiple times in the Chamber. Both Orton and Helmsley stared down at Machetti. Machetti was only 5' 11" both of them had at least 5 inches on him. "Randy, you might be right. I'm sure Hunter remembers tapping out to John Cena quite vividly. I remember that match too, of course, I was there too. Of course, I was dressed as a gangster but that's beside the point. Triple H can do whatever he wants in the match tonight. He has the power. If he wants John Cena to lose, John Cena will lose."
"Do you have a point?" asked Orton.
"I'm getting there," replied Machetti. Then he turned and stared up at Triple H. "But the question is; will Hunter's overlarge ego allow him to let me win the match? It might be easier fighting one guy at WrestleMania instead of two. Remember what happened last time, Hunter, at WrestleMania XX? It was a Triple Threat Match, and you lost that match too, didn't you? A Singles Match would be easier for both of you, but that means I have to win tonight." Machetti turned and stared up at Orton. "But the problem with that is. I'm sure he remembers the Elimination Chamber last night. The reason he has that bandage on his forehead… is because of me. Hunter," Machetti turned to the Game again.
"I took you to the limit last night," Machetti reminded him. "You hit me with everything you had and I kept coming. You got desperate and did something new, and managed to win. But how do you know you didn't get lucky? What makes you think you can beat me again? Triple H, you once said you'd pedigree your own Grandmother to get a WWE Title shot. But will your ego allow you to make the call when I beat John Cena? Will you be able to make the three count? Will you be able to call for that submission? Will you disqualify John Cena if Randy attacks me? Maybe you will, and you and Orton get to face off as planned at WrestleMania. Or maybe you still can't come to terms with the fact that punk kid like me took you to the limit last night, and almost beat you on multiple occasions. Hunter, after last night, I know I can beat you, and I think you realized it too. But will you be able to award me the match when I beat the guy you lost to two years ago? Whatever happens in that match will be the result of your decisions, and the outcome will benefit you over everyone else. But you need to decide, if me winning benefits you. See ya, my girlfriend is announcing whether or not she's going to be posing for Playboy. I want to see what she decided."
Machetti smirked at Triple and Orton, then backed away from them and headed for the door. The Game and the Legend Killer stared at each other. The camera cut to the arena for the Big Show/Maywether segment, but the question was, had Machetti gotten into the head of the Cerebral Assassin? Would anything he said impact Triple H's decisions tonight? Would HHH be able to award Machetti the match just twenty-four hours after they had nearly killed each other in the Elimination Chamber? The fans didn't know for sure, but were even more excited for the Main Event now.
(A/N: For the record, I'd pedigree Triple H's grandmother for a WWE Championship match.)
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Raw came back from the commercial break, before it Triple H was shown putting on his referee shirt, and before that Maria had come out and after seeing the results of the poll decided to pose for Playboy. But then Santino had come out with a Playboy contract, and told Maria that she would be posing for Playboy… if she won a match against Women's Champion Beth Phoenix. For the most part Beth dominated the match, with Maria having occasional spurts of offense. But suddenly Candice Michelle came out from the back and returned to Raw. Both Beth and Maria were surprised by the return, but Maria was focused enough to take advantage. She rolled Phoenix up and got the win. Marella looked shocked and reluctantly gave Maria the contract. Candice escorted an ecstatic Maria to the back.
But now the bell rang and it was time for the Main Event. "The following is a non-title match," announced Lillian. "But if John Cena wins he will go on to the Main Event at WrestleMania XXIV." But before Lillian could start the introductions for any of the participants, Burn in My Light hit and the WWE Champion Randy Orton came out with his title and headed down to the ring. Orton walked around the ring and grabbed steel chair from the time-keeper's corner then set it up in front of the announce table and sat in it. Since the outcome of this match concerned Orton's WWE Championship, he decided he wanted to have a front row seat.
With Orton's interruption done, Lillian continued where she left off. "Introducing first, the Special Guest Referee… TRIPLE H!!" The Game hit and Triple H came out from the back wearing a referee shirt. He headed down to the ring and did his usual entrance, complete with spitting the water up into the air and everything else. Triple H turned and stared at Orton, who held his hands up and confirmed that he was just here to watch. Triple H's attention was drawn back to the entrance ramp when Riot Time hit.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Machetti came out from the back with in his usual ring gear. He had his title belt on his shoulder and his usual smirk on his face. "Introducing first, from Detroit Michigan, weighing in at two hundred and fifteen pounds, he is the WWE Intercontinental Champion, MACHETTI!" The entire way down the entrance ramp Machetti stared at Triple H and refused to look away. The referee glared back at Machetti, no one had any idea what was going through HHH's head at the moment, but judging by the expression on the Game's face, it was an unpleasant thought involving the Intercontinental Champion. Machetti got in the ring, his smirk still present then he held his IC title out to HHH. He didn't bother doing his usual back-flip out of the corner, he decided to mess with the Game instead. Triple H reluctantly took the belt then handed it to someone at ringside.
My Time is Now played and John Cena came out from the back as Triple H was walking back into the middle of the ring, Machetti finally looked away from the game and focused on his opponent, John Cena. "And from West Newbury Massachusetts, weighing two hundred and forty pounds… JOHN CENA!" Cena stood on top of the entrance ramp for a moment, then he saluted the fans and headed down the entrance ramp and got in the ring. Cena pulled off his hat and shirt and threw them out of the ring, while HHH, Machetti, and Orton all stared at him.
Triple H called for the bell, and the match started. Machetti and Cena circled around the ring then met in the middle for a lock up. Cena was the stronger of the two and quickly managed to back Machetti up into a corner. Cena grabbed Machetti and whipped him across the ring then ran after him. Machetti reached the opposite corner and jumped up onto the top rope, then back-flipped off MOONSAULT!! Machetti stayed on Cena for the first pin attempt of the match, Orton applauded while Triple H came over and did the count, ONE… TW… Cena kicked out.
Machetti got up and pulled Cena up to his feet, Cena punched Machetti in the stomach on he way up, then followed up with a knee to the stomach. Cena turned around and ran to the ropes then came off but Cena ran into a corkscrew dropkick. Machetti stood up and smirked at Triple H then raised his arms up into the air. Cena rolled across the ring and under the bottom rope. Cena stood up but Machetti ran into the ropes, came off then rammed into Cena, Cena went flying off of the ring apron and fell right into the lap of Randy Orton, knocking the WWE Champion's chair over in the process.
Machetti and Triple H stood in the middle of the ring, Machetti glanced at HHH and shrugged, then watched as Orton pushed Cena off of him and got up to his feet. He pulled Cena up to his feet and then rammed him back-first into the ring apron. Triple H came over and yelled at Orton, but didn't disqualify him. Orton rolled Cena into the ring and shouted up at Triple H, "He attacked me first!" In Orton's mind, his actions were completely justified.
In the ring, Machetti pulled Cena up to his feet and whipped him into the corner. Machetti ran at Cena, but Cena got his legs out and Machetti ran into them and got a pair of sneakers to the face. Machetti staggered backwards then Cena surged out of the corner and leveled Machetti with a clothesline, then picked Machetti up and slammed him down to the mat with a scoop slam. Cena ran to the ropes, came off, and made a cover, HHH counted, ONE… TWO… Machetti kicked out.
Cena stood up and pulled Machetti up to his feet then whipped him into the ropes. Cena ducked down but Machetti held onto the ropes, then quickly slipped out of the ring and turned around, only to find himself face-to-face with Randy Orton. Cena suddenly rushed across the ring, slid under the bottom rope BASEBALL SLIDE TO MACHETTI! Machetti was launched into Orton and both of them slammed into the announce table, then fell down to the floor. Machetti and Orton staggered back up and Orton looked like he was going to attack Machetti like he had done to Cena. "What are you gonna hit me?" taunted Machetti. "If you do, Cena loses… come on… hit me!" Machetti slapped Orton across the face. Orton retaliated and slapped Machetti in return.
Both Orton and Machetti turned to Triple H and looked at the Guest Referee expectantly. HHH glared at them then shouted, "GET IN THE RING!!" Machetti smirked at Triple H, for his lack of a decision, then got in the ring. Cena rushed over and they started trading punches. But Machetti ducked one, then kicked Cena in the stomach, swung Cena around and drove his head down to the mat, IMPALER!! Machetti made the cover, ONE…. TWO…. TH… Cena kicked out. Machetti rolled off of Cena and stared at Triple H, that seemed a little slow.
Machetti pulled Cena up off of the mat, then whipped him into the corner. Machetti ran at him, did a handspring, and then a front-flip, TURNBUCKLE SENTON!! Machetti dropped down and rolled out of the way, causing Cena to fall forward and land on his face. Machetti rolled Cena onto his back and dragged him into the middle of the ring. Machetti ran to the ropes, bounced off, did a handspring followed by a back-flip, HANDSPRING MOONSAULT! Machetti stayed on Cena and made the cover, ONE…. TWO…. THR… Cena got his shoulder up.
Machetti sat up and stared at Triple H that seemed like another slow count. A grin appeared on Machetti's face, then he got up and pulled Cena up to his feet. Cena came up swinging and connected with a series of three punches, sending Machetti staggering. But Machetti came back with an uppercut and Cena stumbled backwards. Cena came back and punched Machetti, who backed up into the ropes. Then came back and swung at Cena, Cena ducked down and slipped behind Machetti, lifted him up then slammed him down SPINOUT POWERSLAM! Cena stood up and stared down at Machetti, then ran to the ropes, came back, FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE!! Cena got back up and stepped back, waiting for Machetti to get up.
Machetti got up and turned to face Cena, Cena grabbed Machetti and hoisted him up onto his shoulders. Orton jumped up onto the ring apron and looked like he was gong to get in the ring, HHH turned to face Orton and yelled at him to get the hell off of the ring. Cena continued his attack, F-U—MACHETTI SWUNG AROUND AND COUNTERED WITH A DDT! Machetti rolled away from Cena and over to the ropes, then pulled himself up. Orton jumped down off of the ring apron, and Triple H turned his attention back to the match.
Machetti went over to Cena and pulled him up to his feet, then whipped him into the corner. Cena ran and went face-first into it, then slumped against it with his back to Machetti. Machetti ran over, grabbed Cena, then ran up the turnbuckle, SLICED BREAD NUMBER TWO!! Machetti rolled away from Cena and got back up, then ran at him, jumped up into the air and did a back-flip, STANDING SHOOTING STAR PRESS! Machetti made the cover, ONE…. TWO…. THRE…. Cena kicked out. Machetti sat up but instead of being angry he looked at HHH and smirked, Triple H was counting slowly, that meant he didn't want Machetti to beat Cena. But did he want Cena to win?
Machetti got up to his feet and went to the corner, then climbed up onto the top rope. Suddenly Cena shot up and pushed the top rope, Machetti lost his footing, slipped and fell down to the mat. Cena made a diving cover, ONE… TWO… TH… Machetti kicked out. Cena stood up and pulled Machetti to his feet then whipped him into the ropes. Cena ran at Machetti and took him down with a running shoulder tackle. Machetti got back up while Cena ran into the ropes, then took him down with another shoulder tackle. Machetti got up and Cena grabbed him, lifted him up onto his shoulders, Cena launched him off, F-U!! CENA HIT THE F-U!! Cena went for the pin, ONE… TWO… THRE… MACHETTI KICKED OUT!!
Cena was shocked, the fans were shocked, JR and King were shocked, Triple H was shocked, even Orton was in shock. HOW DID MACHETTI KICK OUT OF THAT!? Cena stood up and ran to the ropes, bounced off then hit a running elbow drop on Machetti. Then stood up rolled Machetti onto his stomach, AND LOCKED IN THE STF-U!! CENA HAS THE STF-U LOCKED IN! Machetti screamed in agony as Cena pulled back and applied pressure, Triple H crouched down in front of Machetti, "Tap out," suggested the Game. "DON'T TAP!!" shouted Orton who was leaning into the ring.
Machetti gritted his teeth and glared at Triple H then pushed himself up off of the mat with Cena still on his back, the hold locked in. Machetti suddenly rolled to the side, reached out and grabbed the bottom rope. MACHETTI GOT THE ROPE BREAK! HHH seemed reluctant to call for the rope break but slowly counted for it, ONE…. TWO…. THREE…. FOUR…. FI… Cena broke the hold and slowly got back up and laid panting on the mat, the additional five seconds that Cena had kept the hold locked in had done a number on him.
Cena stood back and watched as Machetti pulled himself up with the ropes then ran at Cena, Cena ducked down and Machetti ended up on his shoulders. Cena went for the F-U, but Machetti slipped off of Cena's shoulders, then lifted him up and held him in front of him. MACHETE'S BLADE! MACHETTI HIT THE MACHETE'S BLADE!! Machetti hooked both legs for the pin, ONE….. TWO….. THRE… CENA MANAGED TO KICK OUT!
Machetti got up then turned reached down and went to pull Cena up. Cena shot up and lifted Machetti up onto his shoulders! F-U! NO! Machetti swung around and sent Cena into the ropes with a head-scissors take down. Machetti jumped back up and ran at Cena, grabbed him as he ran passed, then jumped up over the top rope and dropped down to the floor on the other side, snapping Cena's neck down on the top rope. Cena was launched backwards and landed on his back in the middle of the ring.
Machetti pulled himself up with the ring apron, then climbed up onto it. Machetti waited for Cena to stand up, then hoisted himself up onto the top rope and springboarded across the ring. CENA CAUGHT MACHETTI ON HIS SHOULDER! F-U! CENA HIT A SECOND F-U!! Cena hooked Machetti's legs for the cover, ONE… TWO… THREE! CENA GOT THE PIN! My Time is Now played as Cena got up off of Machetti, but Triple H kicked him in the stomach, bent him over and hooked his arms, PEDIGREE TO CENA! The music stopped as Triple H stood over Machetti and Cena.
Orton got into the ring and stared at Triple H then showed off his WWE Championship. HHH shrugged then turned to leave the ring, Orton went over to Cena and stomped on him, he was pissed that Cena made it to WrestleMania. But suddenly Triple H came back, kicked Orton, he hooked the arms, PEDIGREE TO ORTON!! Triple H picked up the WWE Championship but then he noticed Machetti pulling himself up with the ropes. Machetti turned around, Triple H kicked him in the stomach and bent him over, then hooked Machetti's arms, PEDIGREE—MACHETTI SHOT UP FOR A BACK DROP!! Machetti dropped down and rolled out of the ring while Triple H got back up and glared at him. Machetti held up his hand and holding two fingers close together, Triple H was 'that close' to getting him. "Sorry, try again," taunted Machetti from the floor.
Machetti went to the time keeper's corner and got his Intercontinental Title. Triple H tore off the referee's shirt, "GET IN HERE!" yelled HHH. Machetti shook his head and walked around the ring then stood at the bottom of the entrance ramp with the IC title on his shoulder. "You win that WWE Championship, and then we'll talk," said Machetti, then he turned and headed back up the entrance ramp to the back, leaving Triple H standing tall over Orton and Cena, but glaring after Machetti as he headed to the back. Raw then went off the air.
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There you go, Cena v. Orton v. Triple H for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, only this time, Machetti had a hand in it. Also Maria decided to pose for Playboy and now she has the 'contract'. Her shoot is next week, what's Machetti's reaction to all this?
'Till Next Time…
Peace!