Chapter 49: Respective Territories
Smackdown was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Candice Michelle's hometown, and Jeff was competing in a Fatal Four-Way match against Shelton Benjamin, MVP, and the Brian Kendrick for a chance at the WWE Championship at No Mercy against Triple H.
"Eddie's Angels," Brittany, and Ulysses were in their locker room preparing for what could be a huge confrontation between them, the Big Show, and Vickie Guerrero.
The Angels were as usual dressed to kill and were putting makeup on and doing their hair like they were ready for a fight and Ulysses was taping his fists ready to pound on the Big Show. Brittany, however, had other things on her mind……starting now.
Smackdown was on and Triple H's entrance theme played and he comes out from the curtain. He walked down the ramp to the apron of the ring and did his usual thing and then he got into the ring and got on the turnbuckles and raised his arms in the air. Then Triple H got down and asked for a microphone and said,
"If you didn't see Unforgiven, you need to. If, for some reason, you didn't get to see the Championship Scramble matches, trust me, you need to. The second it comes out, run out and buy the DVD; partly because I get really good residuals from that, but also because it's awesome, what a night it was. It was unbelievable. The championships changed hands like, I don't know, like hundreds of times or something. There were thousands of pinfalls; it was unbelievable. C.M. Punk got punked out by Randy Orton, it allowed Chris Jericho basically win the lottery. Matt Hardy finally put it together and won the big one. A giant cheated death and Rey Mysterio, Rey Mysterio came out with the craziest mohawk you'll ever see in your entire life. But only one man, one man walked into Unforgiven as champion and walked out as champion. You see, they said I had an eighty percent chance that I would lose the WWE Championship in the match. Maybe for those other guys, but not for me. I'm the Game and if you see my name on the card, bet on it, because it's a sure thing. That championship scramble match was one of the most difficult matches that I have ever been in my entire life. But yet as always, I found a way with just one tiny little second, just one little second, I was able……."
Then Jeff's entrance theme played and he comes out from the curtain with Brittany following him. Brittany was wearing a purple plaid tube mini dress, black net stockings, black lace hand warmers, and her hair curled. Jeff did his usual bump and grind with Brittany and the two walked down the ramp slapping the hands of the fans and got into the ring. Triple H looked at Jeff as he got on the turnbuckles and raised his arms in the air and got back down.
"Congratulations, Triple H," Jeff said. "Is he not the man? I mean, you beat me fair and square in that scramble match. I did everything I could to win and yet you still won, you're still the champ. You truly are the King of Kings, I mean, you are awesome. Everybody here, everybody in that locker room, they look up to you and respect you, and you know what, Game? So do I." Jeff then applauded. "And in the WWE universe, man, you're like a legend, you're like a god. You've got strength, you've got talent, you've got power. Man, you've got it all."
"Okay, hotshot, okay, alright, Jeff," Triple H said. "While I appreciate you coming out here and giving me all of your heartfelt praise, I really do appreciate it. Let me reciprocate, Jeff, and tell you how much I respect you. I do, I respect you. I admire you, I admire your passion for this business. I admire your desire, I respect the fact that each and every night you go to the ring and you put your body on the line like no other superstar in the history of this business has done. I respect the fact that you're an individual, that you dance to your own drum and don't care what anyone thinks about it and more importantly than anything else, I respect the fact that night after night, no matter what, you come down and you reach up for that brass ring, Jeff. You reach right there to try to grab that brass ring, but you're just always one second away. That's kind of the story of your life, isn't it, Jeff?"
"You know what, Triple H? Maybe you're right. Maybe I am always one step away or maybe I just never had the right people to push me along. Maybe I never had the Clique, maybe I never had DX, or maybe I didn't just have the family. Because if I did, I might have what you have."
"Maybe that's true, maybe you would have that, although have you forgotten about your brother Matt. You know, you remember your brother Matt, right? You were in a tag team with him, matter of fact, it's when you had the most success you ever had in your entire career. Hell, in your entire life. Matter of fact, a lot of people thought you were better one of that, but yet, Matt today is a champion. You know, the thing is it wasn't that you were better than……you weren't a better wrestler, you weren't more talented than, the fact is you had your brother Matt. You had your brother Matt to keep you on the straight arrow, you had your brother Matt to keep you focused because the fact is, since you've been away from him you haven't been able to focus on business long enough to keep your extracurricular activities from preventing you from getting what you want in life. Now that might sound harsh, but I don't want to get into some bitter argument with you, some bitter war of words. It doesn't do you any good and it doesn't do me any good. The fact is whether you believe it or not, be honest to God, truth is, I do respect him. I respect everything you've done in this business and tonight, Jeff, you have a Fatal Four-way match. The winner becomes number one contender and goes to No Mercy to challenge me for the WWE Championship. One more shot at the brass ring. I hope you win, Jeff."
"I will win."
"I hope that you do, I hope that tonight, you prove me wrong because no matter what happens tonight, you'll pretty much guarantee when you get to No Mercy, you'll prove me right."
Then Triple H left the ring as Jeff was still standing in the ring not even looking back but Brittany was looking at Triple H as he was walking up the ramp slapping the hands of the fans. Then Jeff finally turned around and looked at Triple H who looked back at him as Smackdown went to a commercial break.
Later, Vickie Guerrero was standing in the middle of the ring.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the General Manager of Smackdown, Vickie Guerrero," Justin Roberts announced.
"Excuse me for a moment," Vickie said as the crowd booed. "I said excuse me! Excuse me! The Undertaker made several threats towards me before Unforgiven. He threaten to take my soul, he threaten to send me to the fiery depths of hell. But just as all of you witnessed, the Undertaker did not send me to hell at Unforgiven and he did not take my soul. He couldn't even take my job as I am still your General Manager of Smackdown. The Undertaker threatened me and in response, I literally spit in his face. But I didn't do this alone, ladies and gentlemen, please let me introduce to you, the man who helped me stand up to Undertaker, he is the world's largest athlete, The Big Show."
Then Big Show's entrance theme played and the pyro went off as he came out from the curtain. He walked down the ramp with a serious look on his face and got into the ring and asked for a microphone from Vickie.
"You see," the Big Show said, "a couple of weeks ago, the Undertaker destroyed Edge at Hell in the Cell and Vickie's family abandoned her. Vickie approached me and asked for help. Now at first, I didn't want to do it; I mean, what the hell did Vickie Guerrero ever do for me? So I started thinking and I realize who the hell the Undertaker think he is? Every single Smackdown superstar has to follow the rules and regulations issued by the General Manager or they're out of a job and that includes me. I mean, if I don't want to do something, there's not a man, a machine, or a beast on this earth that can make me do it. You see, the Undertaker thinks he's special, the Undertaker thinks he's above all that. Undertaker, you may be above many things, but no one's above me. So at Unforgiven, Vickie and I made up a plan. We showed the Undertaker that if he has to play by the rules, then so do I and I follow the rules on Smackdown because I know what's best for Smackdown. I know what's best for all of you. But after showing the Undertaker who is in charge of Smackdown, I started seeing the fact that I have a good thing with a mutual alliance here helping Vickie. You see, this is a true power couple. There won't be any wedding rings or any sweet nothings whispered in anyone's ears. This is strictly business. I can help Vickie get Smackdown where she wants to be and Vickie can help me get where I want to be and that's a journey that leads to the WWE Championship around my waist. But in order to get that, I have to get Vickie what she wants and what she wants is an apology from you, Undertaker and you will apologize because if you're not sorry now, I will personally make sure you will be."
Then "Eddie's Angels" entrance theme played and they came out from the curtain. Nicole was wearing a yellow low-cut top, denim shorts, and her hair in ponytails. Amanda was wearing a yellow halter midriff top, denim capris, and her hair straight. Rochelle was wearing a yellow brushstroke foil print split panel halter top, black pants, and her hair curled.
"Big Show," Rochelle said onto the microphone, "the last time we checked, we don't have to do a damn thing Vickie Guerrero tells us to do. We own Smackdown and let us explain something to you: there are three of us here and Vickie, if you try anything sneaky, your ass is exposed and you're gone……permanently. Big Show, the Undertaker is all that and special……with a sweet sixteen winning streak at Wrestlemania and you're not. Come to think of it, speaking at Wrestlemania, wasn't it this year that Floyd 'Money' Mayweather defeated you? I could smell all that cash floating in the air. As far as we're concerned, you may be the World's Largest Athlete but you're not all that and more. The reason you're never gonna become the WWE Champion is because of what you've done at Unforgiven and what you're doing now. You can't make the Undertaker apologize and there is someone that will make you apologize."
Then Ulysses' entrance theme, the instrumental version of "Black Suits Comin'," by Will Smith, played, and he came out from the curtain. He and the Angels walked down the ramp and got into the ring as Vickie quickly got out of the ring.
Ulysses and the Big Show went face-to-face and then Big Show brushed off Ulysses as he left the ring. Then the Big Show and Vickie walked arm-in-arm around the ring and up the ramp as the Angels smiled knowing that Big Show wasn't as tough as he think he was as Smackdown went to a commercial break.
Later, it was time for the Fatal Four-Way match between Jeff, Shelton Benjamin, MVP, and the Brian Kendrick for a chance at the WWE Championship at No Mercy against Triple H. Every man made their way to the ring as the referee called for the bell.
Brian bailed out of the ring and Jeff fought off Shelton and MVP with right hands and kicks and Jeff whipped Shelton to the ropes and got a back elbow as Brian got back in the ring but bailed out again as Jeff went after him. Then Shelton rolled-up Jeff for a one count and Jeff rolled through for a cover but MVP got a right hand to the head and he got another one and kicked Jeff in the back sending him to the corner and Shelton got a right hand several times to the head and stomped on him and MVP followed stomping on Jeff.
Then the two whipped Jeff to the ropes and got a flapjack and MVP & Shelton eyeballed each other and circled around the ring and MVP grabbed Shelton's leg and Shelton rolled MVP for a two count and got a huge right hand as Brian got in the ring and covered Jeff but Shelton broke the count kicking Brian in the head. Brian rolled out of the ring as MVP attacked Shelton from behind and got a forearm before hitting the throat and MVP got a jawbreaker before whipping Jeff hard to the corner and clubbing him in the back of the head.
Then Brian went back into the ring and went for the Brian on Shelton but MVP caught him on his shoulders and used his legs to hit Shelton's head and Brian escaped an attempted running powerslam and Jeff kicked MVP in the midsection and got a running lariat clothesline. Then Shelton got the T-Bone suplex on Brian and Brian rolled out of the ring as Jeff was kicking MVP in the corner and Shelton attacked Jeff from behind and went to whip him in the corner but Jeff hit the Whisper in the Wind for a two count.
Then Jeff got a couple of right hands and went to whip Shelton to the ropes but Shelton reversed and Shelton threw Jeff over the top rope and Jeff hit his knee and then MVP attacked Shelton from behind clubbing him and got a scoop slam and MVP had Shelton in a headlock in the ring. Then MVP hit a kneedrop to the face and covered for a one count and MVP got a front facelock as Shelton got some right hands to the side and to the face and he whipped Shelton to the ropes and Shelton went to kick MVP but MVP grabbed his leg and Shelton got a spinning heel kick.
Then Jeff was about to go into the ring but Ezekiel grabbed his leg and Brian got into the ring and got a dropkick to the back and stomped on Shelton as he got to the corner and Brian danced and then hit Shelton with a running low dropkick for a near fall and then Brian got Shelton in a camel clutch as Ezekiel kept Jeff from returning to the ring by attacking him and throwing him into the security wall. Then Shelton slowly got to his feet and ran Brian's back into the corner but Brian held onto Shelton in a sleeper hold and then Shelton escaped hitting a back spinebuster and covered for a two count.
Then MVP got back into the ring and got a low dropkick to Shelton and the two traded blows until Shelton got an advantage hitting right and lefts and Shelton went to whip MVP but MVP reversed and got a throw for a one count. Then MVP got a neck vice quick and got a two count and Jeff rolled back into the ring and got a right hand to MVP and to Shelton and MVP clubbed Jeff in the back and threw him out of the ring.
Then MVP went for a suplex but Shelton countered and got a German suplex for a two count and Brian kicked Jeff in the head outside the ring and MVP & Shelton both got a right hand to each other and MVP kicked Shelton in the head and went for the cover but Shelton rolled through for a one count. Then Brian got back in the ring and covered but MVP pulled him off and got an elbow drop for a two count and Brian crawled to the apron but MVP grabbed his leg and Brian kicked him off and crawled out of the ring as Shelton knocked MVP over the top rope as Jeff got back in the ring.
But Shelton threw Jeff back out of the ring and he was left in the ring until MVP got back in and Shelton got a back suplex for a two count and MVP got a quick right hand and Shelton got one back before he went for a modified cross armbreaker on MVP as Jeff beat on Brian at ringside and ran him to the security wall. Jeff entered the ring as Shelton's shoulders were down for a one count and Jeff got right hands on both MVP and Shelton and Jeff got Shelton in the corner with right hands and got a diving leg drop for a near fall.
Jeff went to the top rope and went for a Swanton Bomb but MVP moved Shelton out of the way pulling him then went to cover Jeff but Brian blocked that pin attempt and MVP held Jeff and Brian bounced off the ropes but MVP clotheslined him and then MVP grabbed Jeff and got a right hand and he went to whip Jeff but Jeff hit the Whisper in the Wind on MVP for the cover only to be broken up by Shelton. Shelton again threw Jeff out of the ring and MVP attacked Shelton from behind and he whipped Shelton to the corner and went for a kick but Shelton moved and surprised MVP with the Paydirt.
Brian surprised Shelton with a running boot to the side of his head and went to whip Shelton but Shelton reversed and Shelton missed a corner headbutt and Brian hit the Kendrick as Jeff fended off Ezekiel with a baseball slide and then climbed the top turnbuckle for a Swanton Bomb and hit Brian, who had Shelton covered, and scored the pin on Brian.
Then Brittany got into the ring and hugged Jeff as he was lying on the mat and then Jeff got to his feet and his arms were raised by Brittany and the referee. Then someone's entrance theme played and out came from the curtain was the undefeated Moscow Mauler named Vladimir Kozlov. Vladimir walked down the ramp as Jeff and Brittany stared at him and then he entered the ring and Brittany left the ring as Jeff ducked a clothesline and Jeff got some right hands to the head and then Vladmir whipped Jeff into the ropes and headbutted his chest on the rebound. Vladimir kicked Jeff in the chest sending him to the corner and drove his shoulder into the midsection several times in the corner and got a right hand to the face and a kick to the midsection and Vladimir followed with his finisher.
Brittany covered her mouth in fear as Vladimir looked down at Jeff and Vladimir left the ring as Brittany got inside the ring and checked on Jeff. Vladimir walked up the ramp and Brittany cradled Jeff wondering how Jeff was going to make it No Mercy with Vladimir Kozlov on his tail as Smackdown came to a close.
