Disclaimer: You've heard it before.
Heya peeps! Well it's finally here, after weeks of buildup it's Jason vs. AJ II, 'The Showstealer' vs. The Phenominal One, who's gonna walk out with the title, will Jason remain undefeated? Will his promises of blood, a five-star match and a new champion come true? Let's find out!
Here We Go!
Rebirth-Chapter Twenty Four-Jason vs. AJ II: No Surrender!
Jason Cena sat on a wall opposite the Impact Zone, he'd been there for the better part of half an hour just staring at it, when he went out for his run he'd just stopped and stared down at it, since laying out AJ on Thursday night he'd thought of almost nothing else but the match, even now thousands of ideas for what he was going to do were running through his head. He turned his mind back to Victory Road when he and AJ first went one-on-one, he doubted there was a single person in the arena who had thought he'd beat AJ, even the one's who cheered him probably thought he was going to lose, he smiled when he remembered how stunned everyone had looked when he pulled off the shooting star press and got the three. Ever since then the TNA crowd had had more respect for him than before, especially after he won the ladder match just a few days later, respect, it was amazing how a word could cause such a feud between two people, AJ still had no respect for him but Jason didn't care, maybe if he beat him again that would change. He sighed and stood up, he glanced down at the arena one more time and headed for home.
"What kept you?" Asked Mara as he walked back into the apartment.
"Had things on my mind".
"Wanna talk about them?"
"Nah, it's nothing really, just thinking about the match again".
She nodded. "You're up for it then?"
"When have I ever not been? Have you seen my gear?"
"It's in the bag already, but you're gonna need to wear a different shirt, I couldn't get AJ's blood off it".
"Whoops" he shrugged. "Better not make him bleed as much next time".
Mara shook her head as Jason walked into the lounge, when she followed him in he was sitting on the sofa with his feet on the table watching the TV, she laughed and shook her head again.
"What?"
"It's just, there are guys who prepare for a match from the moment they wake up then there's Jason Cena who worries all night, goes for a run then sits and watches cartoons!"
"I like cartoons, they keep me relaxed, and I get a laugh outta it".
"You really are just a big kid aren't you?"
"I'm only eighteen Mara, look at Shawn, he's in his forties and he's just as bad".
"True, but come tonight it's all business right?"
Jason's grin vanished. "Got that right, and not just cause I want the belt back, I'm gonna finish what AJ started".
"Don't you think you're obssessing over that thing he said?"
"Just a little, but it's more than that now, he's made me bleed, I've made him bleed, we gotta finish it sooner or later".
"Just don't go too far".
Jason smiled. "You know me".
"That's what I'm afraid of".
"Don't worry, after tonight it's gonna be over, I promise".
That night Jason and Mara walked into the arena together, there was a strange tension in the air, as though everyone knew something was going to happen but didn't know what it was, Jason and Mara both sensed it but didn't say anything, they were walking through the parking lot when Jason noticed something move out of the corner of his eye, he glanced up then sidestepped as AJ came flying off the hood of a car! AJ landed on his feet and turned to be met with a flurry of punches by Jason, the two began exchanging punches and battled it out towards the entranceway, the pre-show had just started and the fans were stunned into silence as AJ threw Jason out of the tunnel and into the arena, they brawled down to the ring and continued to fight it out as TNA security ran out to pull them apart yet again, the security team managed to get a hold of AJ while Jerry led Chris, Jay and Sonjay to grab Jason before the two were pulled up the seperate ramps back to the locker room.
In the locker room the other guys were all giving Jason a wide berth in the hope that he'd calm down, Chris had managed to sneak a PS2 in without Jerry noticing and was goofing around with it while Jay and Sonjay just talked in a corner, Jason was standing in an opposite corner dressed to compete and warming up, he was staring at the place where he used to hang the title when he had it, soon he'd be doing it again. Jay and Sonjay came over to him.
"C'mon kid, just relax, you'll get him later".
"Relax? Guys I have a belt to win do I look like I can relax?"
"C'mon Jason, chill, or I'll make Jay do his you know who impersonation again".
"What? You don't make me do anything, I do it when I feel like it".
"Which seems to be whenever I ask you to".
The two seemed to completely forget about calming down Jason and walked off arguing with each other, Chris left his game and tried his luck.
"Y'know as dumb as those two are..."
"I heard that!"
"... they have a point" continued Chris without missing a beat. "If you go out there in the mood you're in you'll end up DQ'ed".
"Chris, I want that belt back, after everything I had to do to get it and keep it I think I have a right to be a little annoyed at the situation".
"A little? Kid you're like a damn volcano! Just relax and wait... I'll even let you beat me at MK".
"I don't need you to let me do anything, we all know I'll wipe the floor with you".
"C'mon then! Put your money where your mouth is" replied Chris sitting down and offering Jason the other control, the teen smirked and grabbed it out of his hand, meanwhile...
"Oooo yeah!"
Chris rolled his eyes then threw his boot across the room, he smirked at the thump and "Owww!" That came from Jay as the boot connected with his skull.
It was almost time, Jason had managed to calm himself down as the night wore on and was now fully focused on regaining the title, he was sitting in a corner of the room with his head bowed pumping himself up for the match.
"Kid, time" Jason nodded at Jerry's voice and stood up, Chris, Jay and Sonjay all patted him on the back and wished him luck as he walked out the door... and right into JB.
"Jason?"
"Two minutes JB, go".
"Well ladies and gentlemen we are just moments away from our No Surrender main event featuring the X Division champion 'The Phenominal' AJ Styles and my guest at this time 'The Showstealer' Jason Cena..."
" The Showstealer? Nice JB guess you are more intelligent than you look".
"Thanks... anyway we are just moments away from your match with AJ Styles for the X Division title, any last thoughts?"
"Just one JB, last Thursday I made three promises, blood, a five-star match and yours truly... 'The Showstealer' walking out here still undefeated and X Division champion again! AJ, there can only be one and you are looking at him, there is no risk I won't take to put you down, and there are two things you can do about it, nothing and like it!"
He smirked into the camera then handed JB back the mic and walked towards the ring.
Jason's music hit to play the teen and Mara out to the ring, he smirked and posed for the TNA crowd as he pyro's went off then walked down to the ring, the crowd seemed pretty split, half were cheering and half were booing but every single member of the crowd was reacting to him, he got up on the apron and vaulted into the ring, he gave the crowd another smirk as his music stopped and everyone waited for AJ. After a slight pause his music hit and he walked out to the ring, he and Jason never took their eyes off each other as walked down to the ring and hopped onto the apron, he took off his jacket and belt and dropped them to the mat before climbing in the ring and getting in Jason's face, his music stopped as they stood in the ring staring each other down, the TNA crowd was already on it's feet calling for them to fight but they just looked into each other's eyes, Jason suddenly swung a punch but AJ blocked it and hammered the teen with one of his own to kick off the match.
Jason and AJ immediately kicked off the match the way they'd spent the past few weeks, brawling, they hit punch after punch, neither one giving an inch when AJ took the advantage by tackling Jason to the ground and opening up with right hands, Jason managed to roll over and hit a few of his own before AJ kicked him off, Jason grabbed AJ and threw him into a corner and hit punches and chops before AJ reversed it and hit some of his own then whipped him across the ring only for Jason to explode out of the corner with a clothesline, he picked AJ up and whipped him before hitting a dropkick then charged only for AJ to duck and hit a kick to the stomach before setting him up for the Styles Clash! Jason quickly twisted out of it then lifted AJ up for a C-Bomb! AJ fought out of it and went for a clothesline but Jason ducked and rolled him up for a two-count, he whipped AJ and went for a whirl backbreaker but AJ landed on his feet, he went for one of his own but Jason escaped and rolled him up again for another two-count. He bounced up and hit the ropes but AJ caught him with an amdrag, he quickly rolled to his feet and hit one of his own then AJ got a takedown, he went for another but Jason escaped and got yet another roll-up for another near fall, AJ got up in a corner and Jason quickly followed up with a whip, AJ staggered out and Jason hit a backdrop and a dropkick to send AJ to the outside.
AJ took his time on the outside to recover and think up strategy, Jason went to vault over the ropes but AJ moved away, the teen landed on the apron then used the ropes to hit a springboard moonsault! It was so perfect that he managed to hit AJ and land on his feet, he quickly pulled the Phenominal One and threw him into the crowd barrier before clotheslining him on the floor, he rolled AJ back in the ring and hit an elbow drop for a two-count, he threw AJ into a corner and hit some chops before trying a whip, it was reversed but Jason used the ropes to go up and over only for AJ to spin round and hit a huge clothesline! He quickly began opening up on Jason and hit some right hands then whipped him and knocked him down with an elbow before hitting a jumping kneedrop for a two-count, he backed Jason up into a corner with punches, chops and knees before pullig him back out and hitting a suplex, he quickly followed that up with a slam then went out to the apron, he waited for Jason to stand then jumped to the top and hit a forearm, he hit the ropes while Jason was recovering and caught the teen with a swinging neckbreaker for a two-count.
Jason got up and retreated to a corner, AJ charged but ran into a boot, he reeled away and Jason came sprinting out of the corner but AJ sidestepped and threw him out over the top-rope, he waited for Jason to stand then ran forward and backflipped over the top-rope! He crashed down hard on Jason again, he took a few moments to recover then hit some right hands before picking Jason up and dropping him over the crowd barrier, he slammed Jason into the steel steps then rolled him back in, he whipped Jason and went for an elbow, Jason ducked but when he came back AJ caught him with an enziguri for another two count. AJ stomped Jason and threw him into a corner, he came forward but Jason elbowed him away then jumped onto the middle-rope and try a clothesline, AJ ducked but Jason landed on his feet only to receive a DDT for a two-count. The TNA crowd were now solidly behind AJ as he picked Jason up again and went for the pumphandle gutbuster but Jason slipped out and went for a reverse DDT but AJ countered it into a jawbreaker, he charged at Jason but the teen ducked then caught AJ with a neckbreaker!
AJ was quick to recover from the shock while Jason struggled back to his feet, AJ came over but Jason hit a kick to the stomach followed by some right hands, AJ put a stop to that with a knee to the gut then hit the ropes but Jason hit a powerslam! He covered but AJ kicked out, Jason quickly tried to followed it up with a shining wizard but AJ ducked, he went for a back-suplex but Jason flipped behind him and hit a reverse DDT for a two-count. AJ staggered up and went to a corner and Jason went for a stinger splash but AJ moved, Jason landed on the ropes then jumped off and hit a tornado DDT for a two-count, he went back up to the top-rope and came down with a huge cross-body for another two-count, he whipped AJ and went for an elbow but AJ ducked, used the ropes to backflip behind Jason and hit a reverse DDT! He covered but Jason kicked out at two. AJ quickly pulled Jason up and hit a pumphandle gutbuster for a two-count, Jason rolled to the outside but AJ followed and threw him into the announce table, he snatched Don West's bottle of water and took a huge gulp of it then spat it in the teen's face.
AJ dragged Jason back to the ring and rolled him back in the ring, he climbed to the top-rope and went for his version of the frog splash and got it! He covered but Jason managed to kick out, AJ stared down at him for a second then quickly turned him over into a Boston crab, he kept it locked on tight and pulled Jason away from the ropes, Jason suddenly tripped AJ and went to put his own version of the move on but AJ kicked him away, he charged the teen only to be backdropped over the ropes, he landed on the apron and hit Jason with a right hand to knock him away, he went for another springboard forearm but Jason dropkicked him out of the air! AJ was out on the mat and Jason put an arm over him but only got a two-count. They both struggled to their feet and Jason tried a whip but AJ reversed it, the teen ducked an elbow, he hit the ropes and landed a flying forearm, he lay on the mat for a few seconds then nipped up! AJ tried to cut him off but Jason grabbed him and hit an atomic drop then ran through him with a couple of clotheslines, he slammed AJ then climbed the ropes and came down with an elbow! It connected then he crawled to a corner and began stomping his foot like Shawn would, he went for the superkick but at the last second AJ ducked then hit the Pele! He covered but Jason kicked out.
AJ pulled the teen to his feet and slapped him in the face a few times then set him up for the Styles Clash! Before he could hit it Jason took out his legs and catapulted him into the turnbuckle then hit the dragon suplex! He held on for the pin but AJ kicked out, the teen quickly grabbed AJ and went for a suplex but AJ escaped, held on and dropped Jason with a neckbreaker, he covered but only got two. He whipped Jason and went for a backdrop but Jason dropped down and punched him in the face then hit an X-Factor! He covered but only got a near fall, he went to whip AJ into a corner but it was reversed, AJ charged but Jason ducked then lifted him up and dropped him across the ropes leaving him hanging upside down, Jason then backed off and hit the hesitation dropkick! AJ dropped down and rolled to his knees and Jason hit the shining wizard! He covered but AJ kicked out.
Jason quickly pulled AJ out to the middle of the ring before going to the top, he came down looking for the frog splash but AJ moved, Jason rolled out of it, ducked AJ's clothesline and hit the impaler! He covered but again AJ kicked out, the teen argued with the referee then turned back to AJ only to be taken down and put in the Muta lock! Jason tried to grab the ropes but AJ shifted his weight so the teen couldn't reach them, AJ continued to tighten the hold then Jason suddenly went limp, suprised AJ loosened the hold allowing Jason to escape and roll him up! AJ quickly jumped up and clotheslined Jason back down, he then grabbed the teen and dropped him with a brainbuster and went to the ropes, he climbed to the top as though going for the spiral tap but Jason was already up, the teen ran forward, jumped from the mat to the top-rope and brought AJ all the way down with an impaler! He slowly rolled into a cover but AJ kicked out, Jason shot a stunned look at the referee while AJ rolled to the apron, Jason grabbed him and went to suplex him back in but AJ escaped and hit a cutter over the ropes, Jason flew back to the middle of the ring and AJ followed with a springboad 450! He covered but Jason just got a shoulder up at two!
AJ looked stunned for a second then pulled Jason up and went for the Clash again but Jason countered into a backdrop then hit AJ with a superkick! He covered but only got a two-count, the teen tried to keep the momentum and threw AJ to a corner and tried to follow with a stinger splash but AJ moved! Jason hit turnbuckle hard then staggered back into AJ who grabbed him, set him up and finally dropped him with the Styles Clash! He immediately rolled into a cover and the referee counted but Jason somehow kicked out! AJ lay back on the mat and shook his head in disbelief, how could Jason keep doing this? He quickly snapped out of it and pulled Jason back up then went for another Styles Clash but Jason slipped out of it, the teen went for a clothesline but AJ ducked and hit a neckbreaker, he climbed the ropes again and came down looking for a spiral tap but Jason moved! AJ hit the mat hard then bounced up into Jason, the teen lifted AJ up, got him in the torture rack, then spun it into the C-Bomb! The teen struggled to roll over and draped an arm across AJ but the Phenominal One just kicked out!
The TNA crowd were now completely split, half were screaming for AJ and the other half for Jason, the teen slowly pulled himself up and staggered over to AJ, he stood over the Phenominal One and taunted him only for AJ to nip up and hit a hurricanranna into a pin! The referee counted but Jason kicked out, AJ almost collided with the referee but managed to stop himself, Jason charged forward but AJ sidestepped and Jason clashed heads with the ref, he reeled around and AJ tried a clothesline but Jason ducked and took him down with a reverse STO and locked on the Koji clutch! AJ screamed and tried to break the hold but the teen had it on tight, suddenly Jason looked at the downed official and broke the hold, he walked over to the referee and checked on him before rolling out of the ring and grabbing the championship belt, he came back in and measured AJ, he swung for the fences but AJ ducked, Jason spun round but was met with a kick to the stomach which caused him to drop the belt, AJ then lifted him up and dropped him with a brainbuster on the belt! He disposed of the evidence and covered as the referee slowly came to, he crawled over to where the pin was and counted... but Jason kicked out!
AJ staggered to his feet and began calling for Jason to stand, he grabbed the teen and went for a DDT but Jason escaped and went for Chris's cradle shock but AJ slipped off, he went to suplex Jason but the teen broke out and hit Jerry's piledriver! He rolled into a cover but only got a two-count, the teen whipped AJ but it was reversed, he ducked an elbow then AJ tried a leapfrog but Jason caught him and hit a powerbomb! He kept a hold of AJ and pulled him partway back up then dropped him with his own Styles Clash! He rolled it into a cover but AJ kicked out. Jason almost lost it then and there, he began screaming at the referee before ripping his own shirt off and wrapping it around AJ's neck, he choked away as the referee began counting but broke at four, he picked AJ up and whipped him then yanked on the shirt allowing him to hit a neckbreaker over his knee, he covered but only got a two-count, he choked AJ with the shirt again and broke on four, the referee managed to get the shirt off AJ as Jason went to the top-rope, he went for a cross-body but AJ caught him, the Phenominal One then threw Jason up to his shoulders and sent him to the mat with a C-Bomb! He covered but Jason kicked out!
AJ looked up in shock then shook his head and rolled out of the ring, he grabbed a steel chair and walked back to the ring, the referee tried to stop him but he wouldn't let go, while they were arguing Jason struggled to his feet, he ran forward and hit the stinger splash on AJ but got the referee again, AJ staggered back and Jason went for a reverse DDT but AJ swung the chair over his head and nailed him with it. AJ then placed the chair over Jason's chest and climbed to the top-rope, he went for the spiral tap but Jason drove his knees and the chair into AJ's back! AJ reeled away in pain as Jason held up chair for the crowd, they cheered so he spun round and smacked it off AJ's skull! He threw the chair to the ground then pulled the referee over to AJ, who was now busted open, he covered, the referee counted but AJ kicked out! The teen flipped and hit AJ with several right hands, stopping only when his fist was almost as red as AJ's face, he set the chair up in the corner then dragged AJ to it, he sat the Phenominal One in the chair and hit some right hands before backing away, he charged forward but AJ dropkicked his knee causing him to fall face-first into the chair! He bounced back up and AJ hit a German suplex! He held on but Jason kicked out at two.
When the teen managed to recover he felt warm blood pouring down his face, before he could see how bad it was AJ grabbed him and hit a slam, he went to the top-rope but Jason cut him off, they battled it out then AJ hit Jason with a headbutt, the teen fell to the mat then AJ came down with the spiral tap! He covered but Jason got his foot on the ropes, AJ pulled him away and covered again but Jason kicked out, AJ pulled the teen to his feet and went for a discus clothesline but Jason ducked and hit a spinebuster, he climbed up the ropes, stood up straight and hit the shooting star press! The move drove the air out of him but he managed to make the cover, the referee counted but AJ kicked out! Jason screamed in frustration and began punching the mat, he stood up and walked over to the chair, he folded it up and headed back to AJ but the referee stopped him, Jason shoved the official to one side then swung for AJ but the Phenominal One ducked, the chair bounced off the top-rope then came back and hit Jason in the face! The teen reeled away and AJ sent the chair into his face again with the Pele! He covered but at the last second Jason kicked out.
AJ staggered to his feet and looked down at Jason, he shook his head but his eyes showed a grudging repect for the teen, he pulled the teen up and went for another Styles Clash but Jason escaped and hit a DDT, the teen then whipped AJ and tried an elbow, AJ ducked it and went for a headscissor but in mid-move Jason sat down and turned it into a piledriver! He covered but AJ kicked out, the teen backed AJ into a corner and lifted him up to the top, he climbed up as well and went for a superplex but AJ began fighting out, Jason started to fall back to the mat but AJ grabbed his legs, Jason looked up in confusion then began fighting to free himself when he realised what AJ was going to do but it was too late, AJ hooked the teen's arms then brought him down with a top-rope Styles Clash! He rolled Jason over as the referee counted... and got the three!
Neither one moved after the three count was made, the TNA crowd was giving them a standing ovation as Mara came into the ring to check on Jason while the referee helped AJ, the teen managed to use the ropes to pull himself part of the way up then Mara helped him to his feet, AJ was up too and had the X Division belt over his shoulder, they stared at each other then Jason turned to leave when he felt AJ grab him and pull him back out to the middle of the ring, Jason tensed up as they went face-to-face again, AJ stared at the teen then slowly stepped back and offered his hand, Jason looked at the offered hand then back to AJ's face, he couldn't be sure if it was a trick or not, AJ seemed to read his mind.
"No trick, you've earned it".
Jason didn't take his eyes off AJ's as he slowly extended his own arm, there was a split second stare down then the two shook hands! AJ nodded in approval then turned to leave as his music hit again, Jason left and staggered up the opposite ramp, Mara came up next to him and supported him as Jerry and the others came out, they, like the crowd were appluading as they helped Jason back up the tunnel and out of the arena.
End of Chapter
Well there ya go, the undefeated streak is over, he didn't win the title but he did earn AJ's respect and that's gotta count for something right? Anyway where to now? Will Jason continue to chase the gold? Or will he face a new challenge? Find out next time!
R&R
See Ya!
HBKJOH