Friday, June 25th, 2021 – Houston, Texas

It's been nearly a month since the former Intercontinental Champion stepped foot into a WWE ring or an arena for a WWE show. After Backlash, he decided to take some time away to go do some of the things he needed to do in his personal life. Including going to marry the love of his life, the now Mrs. Kalani Rose-Harvey. The couple married on Saturday, May 29th in Lajas, Puerto Rico. It was a beautiful event with his family, Denzel and his family, and a few of his friends from the WWE in attendance. The couple spent a huge chunk of their honeymoon exploring Puerto Rico before returning to the states a little over 2-weeks ago.

It was nice to have a little break from the WWE but now he is back and ready to come for the one thing that has alluded him in his WWE Career and that is the WWE Championship. But with John Cena returning to the WWE at Money in the Bank, a new challenge has entered his path and he's determined to eliminate that roadblock and go straight on the path leading to the title.

The newly married individual walked into the Toyota Center sporting a simple pair of light-wash skinny jeans with a pair of the "White Oreo" Jordan 4s with a simple gold chain around his neck with a gold Cuban link bracelet and a gold Day-Date on his wrist. On his left hand, he wore his new wedding band on his ring finger. Little did he know a simple little ring would make his whole world and change his outlook on life.

With Cedric now having a family, it motivated him to work 10 times harder. This wasn't just his legacy he was fighting for; it was just as much theirs as it was his.

Cedric's thought process was cut off when he felt someone jump onto his back making him grunt as he felt the weight of somebody 200-plus jumping on his back.

He turned his neck slightly peeking over his shoulder to see Ken on his back making him roll his eyes.

"Is there a reason that you are on my back?"

"I missed you buddy!" Ken joked before jumping off of his back. Ced rolled his eyes again and gave him a dap as the two reunited after a minute away from each other. The two started to make their way to the locker room.

"Missed you too man! I missed this place."

"Yeah, it's missed you. How was the honeymoon?"

"It was fun. Glad I had the chance to get some time with the wife."

"Any chance we gone get another baby boy?"

"That's a negative. Not going to be another one of those for a little minute. Me and the wife decided to wait another year or two." Ken chuckled as he patted Cedric on the shoulder making Cedric look at him with a confused frown.

"What?"

"it's the way your face lights up every time you say 'wife'. You're really excited about this, aren't you?"

"Yeah man, I never thought I would've gotten a second chance with her again."

"But you did, don't screw this one up."

"Trust me, I won't bro."

"And if you ever make her mad, just do this," Ken said before he whispered something into Cedric's ears making him look at Ken with a shocked expression.

"Bruh, I'm not doing that!"

"You say that, but every married man does it at least once in their relationship."

"Is that how managed to stay with Bianca so long?" Ken shrugged his shoulders and started to walk away leaving Cedric standing there thinking about what he said.

(!)-(!)-(!)-(!)

John Cena stood in the ring with a microphone in hand as the WWE Champion stood across from him in the ring wearing a white "Head of the Table" shirt as Paul Heyman carried had the coveted WWE Title in his grasp.

"So, the answer to your challenge, John, is no!" Roman said the fans booed in the background while John chuckled shaking his head in disappointment. John raised the mic to his lips, that is until he heard the music of a superstar, that made Roman immediately irritated. Roman turned around facing the stage with a frown on his face.

"Icon" Hits

The boos that once rang out in the arena immediately started cheering as the lights in the arena started to go around in a frenzy of colors as the titantron was the only video in the arena playing. Ced walked out onto the stage, head lowered looking down at the stage. He raised his head slowly looking down the ramp at the superstars in the ring before he spat out his water in a mist-like form and started his descent down the ramp while the graphics in the arena started to resume.

He walked down the ramp with a purpose as his eyes never left the WWE Champion, Roman Reigns. Once Ced made it to the ringside area, Roman began jawing off at Ced as he stood there emotionless before walking around to the steel steps. Ced walked up the steps and entered the ring making a beeline past Roman and John to the corner.

Ced stepped up onto the middle rope and looked out among the crowd before going for his signature pose as the fans cheered. He jumped down from the turnbuckle and grabbed a microphone from a member of the ring crew with a frown on his face as the music faded away.

The cheers in the arena were damn-near deafening as the former Intercontinental Champion stood proudly in the ring with the two men who were Past and Present Faces of the WWE.

"Roman, you look as if you've seen a ghost," Ced joked as the fans cheered, "I've been gone for a little while but I'm back. And I'm back for that." the former Intercontinental Champion said as he pointed to the WWE Championship.

"I know you thought you got rid of me after Backlash but Roman, you can't get rid of me that easily. And I should probably be thanking you right now if I'm being honest, it's because of you that I had time to go and take care of some personal business. And it's because of you that I have newfound determination and I have a new goal that I am determined to achieve, and that goal is to end your WWE title reign. And I will do that. And that brings me to you," Ced said as that last line made him turn his attentions to the 16-Time World Champion, "The Leader of the Cenation", John Cena.

"John Cena, the name and face of the WWE for the past 20 years. The 16-time World Champion, the man who has done more in this company than this jackass could ever dream of," Ced said as he pointed towards Roman.

"John, I grew up watching you. I studied you. Hell at one point, I hoped I could be like you. John, I know you, but you don't know me. So, allow me to re-introduce myself."

"I am Ced, the former 4-time Intercontinental Champion, former King of the Ring Winner, former SmackDown Tag Team Champion, former NXT North American Champion. I am the man who retired "The Game" at WrestleMania and I am the man who is going to end this son of a bitch at SummerSlam!" He said as he once again pointed at Roman who continued to look on with a frown.

"You had your chance at the Royal Rumble. You couldn't get the job done then and you won't get the job done at SummerSlam because I'm going to be the one to face Roman for the title," John said on the mic as the fans in the crowd "ooo"ed as Ced stepped back to the ropes leaning up agianst them as he felt the roast from the 16-time World Champion.

"Neither of you are going to face me at SummerSlam," Roman said as the crowd booed while both men turned their attentions over to him.

"I've smashed everyone who has come into my path. I've beaten you before John and Ced, I beat you earlier this year. Neither one of you are in my league. I don't know why I'm wasting my time with you two. Wise man!" Roman said on the mic as Paul perked hearing Roman calling him forward.

"Yes, my Tribal Chief!" Paul said as he stepped forward.

"Let's go,' Roman commanded before he dropped the mic and exited the ring along with Paul. The boos in the arena were deafening as Ced and John watched Roman walk up the ramp exuding arrogance.

Here Comes the Money!

"Here Comes the Money" Hits

The boos quickly turned into cheers as the music of SmackDown Commissioner, Shane McMahon rained out onto the PA system. Shane walked out onto the stage holding a blue and black WWE microphone as the fans cheered him while Roman stopped in his tracks looking on with a frown. Shane raised the mic to his lips as the music faded away.

"Roman, Roman, Roman. Normally I hate to be the bearer of bad news but in this case, I'm happy to be the bearer of bad news. Roman, at SummerSlam, you will be defending that WWE Championship against one of those two gentlemen in the ring," Shane said as the fans cheered loudly as Roman ran a hand through his hair pissed off by that revelation.

"But the now question is, which one? Roman since you've been champion, you have never faced John Cena. But John, you haven't been around the block, and in the interest of fairness I cannot simply name you the number 1 contender for the WWE Championship," Shane said some of the fans booed while John looked on in disappointment.

"And Ced, you've had your opportunity at the title earlier this year. Now while you lost due to interference, the fact of the matter is that you still lost. And I can't simply name you the number 1 contender for the title in the interest of fairness," Shane said while the boos rained down once again.

"But there is one thing that I can do. I can make a Number 1 Contenders match at the returning Unforgiven Pay-Per-View event," the fans cheered at the announcement of that, "On July 18th, 2021, in Rosemont, Illinois, it will be John Cena going one on one with Ced and the winner faces Roman Reigns at SummerSlam for the WWE title!" Shane said as Ced and John looked on with smiles on their faces.

"And as for you, Roman. Tonight's main event will be a Fatal 4-Way match in which the winner will face you at Unforgiven, "Shane said as he lowered the mic while his started to play on the PA system while Roman started jawing off at the commissioner as John and Ced stood in the ring.

Shane started to make his retreat backstage as Roman turned around facing the two men in the ring who both stood near the ropes staring daggers into his soul as Paul Heyman started trying to talk him down before he started to make his way to the back. John turned, facing Ced who looked on with a frown on his face. John held a handout to Ced looking for a handshake as a sign of mutual respect.

Ced looked down at his hand and looked on with a smirk before grabbing a hold of the hand giving it a tight, firm handshake before he put the mic up to his lips, "See you at Unforgiven."

Ced threw the mic down and yanked his hand away before stepping out of the ring and started to make his way up the ramp as Cena's music played on the PA system.