Chapter IV: Statement Made!
Wednesday, December 19th, 2018 - Orlando, FL
Everything had seemingly been on the up and up for the young stud known to the wrestling world as Ced, his career was thriving. He was set for a big marquee match against Ricochet for the NXT North American Championship in just his first ever match in NXT and his first ever match would coincidentally be his NXT TakeOver Debut as well. Not a lot of superstars can say they made their in-ring debut at a premier NXT event like NXT TakeOver but Ced was one of those ones. Wrestling Twitter had loved just about msot of the the things heard about him some saying: "A piece of cardboard had more charisma" or some saying "This guy wishes he was a big star!" or "Who hired this guy my blind grandmother has more charisma and more talent?". And those were some of the lighter things said about him but one thing he has always prided himself on was his desire to prove his haters wrong and make sure that they felt his wraith and that he proved all of them wrong. And his match at TakeOver would be just the start of this.
But from a personal standpoint everything was going for him, his date with Keana went exceptional. The two had a very interesting dinner in which they found out a lot of information about one another or at least enough information. Cedric still felt that Keana was hiding something but he had to get to know her a bit more which was understandable before he would get to know everything. He knew and understood that. But he had a strong desire to learn everything there was to learn about Keana Parker. And he meant everything.
But he did ask her the ultimate question or at least the current ultimate question which was would she be down for him to fly her out to Phoenix for NXT TakeOver: Phoenix to which she answered yes under the sole condition that she would get to bring smeone to accompany her to which he happily obliged but she did let he know that she would have to leave that morning to catch a flight for a game against Virginia Tech. And he agreed that if she came to support him for his match, he would do his part by supporting her and making sure she had the fastest flight back home for her game.
Currently the young stud stood inside of the WWE Performance Center inside the ring in a pair of compression pants with shorts over his pants with a compression top and with his knee pads and his wrestling boots.
Cedric leaned up against the ropes panting for his breath, taking a moment to soak in the atmosphere of the WWE Perforamnce Center. He stood inside the ring, his proverbial sanctuary. The place in which he would conduct all of his business. The place where he did all of his work and the place that he had loved the most.
The sound of grunts and the thud of bodies hitting the mat filled the air, creating a symphony of determination and passion. This was where dreams were forged and where Cedric aimed to solidify his place among the wrestling elite.
He had been training relentlessly for his upcoming match at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix. The opportunity to compete for the North American Championship against Ricochet, a high-flying sensation, was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. Cedric knew he had to leave it all in the ring and prove his worth to the doubters.
As he went through his drills, executing crisp movements and perfecting his signature moves, Cedric's mind drifted to Keana. The memory of their exceptional date lingered, fueling his motivation and reminding him of the support he had both inside and outside the ring. He couldn't wait to share this moment with her, to see her cheering him on from the crowd.
"Having fun?" Cedric heard making him look up to see one of the few friends he could say he made down in NXT, Montez Ford dressed in his gear getting ready to work out. Cedric chuckled as he sat down on the ropes lowering them fro Montez. Tez stepped up tonto the apron and stepped into the ring.
"Hell yeah, you ready to get in and run a few laps?" Cedric asked.
"Yeah, let's get it," Montez said as he got in a position to lock it up with Cedric.
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The young stud who had seemingly put NXT on the notice just a few weeks ago when he made his debut on the Developmental Brand, NXT walked in with a newfound smirk and a spect of confidence in his step. He had a lot going for him at the moment, he was beginning a new relationship with a woman whom he liked a lot and his in-ring career was starting to take off.
He waltzed in sporting a simple pair of black joggers with his "Mocha" Jordan 3s and his t-shirt. He looked around and noticed that the eyes were on him. And one set of those eyes were none other than the current NXT Champion, Tomasso Whitney or as most people knew him as Tomasso Ciampa. Tomasso nodded towards Cedric and sent him a small salute.
At least some people in the back still though fondly of him while some not so much. But he didn't care. He didn't come to NXT to make friends or to make allies. He came to submit himself as the future of WWE and a lot of people believed in him and he wasn't going to disappoint them. And he damn sure wasn't going to disappoint himself. He had goals in that he set for himself. And step one on that list of goals was to hold some piece of Championship gold in NXT and he was going to do it no matter what.
Cedric walked towards the locker room but he was stopped along the way by a crew member.
"Hey your presence has been requested in Mr. Matthews office."
"Now?" Cedric asked.
"Yes Cedric, now." The crew member replied.
"Alright let me put my stuff down first." Cedric said as the crew member nodded and walked away while Cedric opened the door and walked into the locker room.
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Cedric walked into Darren Matthew AKA William Regal's office with a serious look on his face. Regal was on the phone as Ced walked in but he said his goodbyes on the phone before he hung up while Ced sat in one of the chairs in front of Regal's desk.
"Hey, I wanted to talk to you about possibly doing a special on the WWE Network detailing your path leading up to NXT. As NXT's next up-and-coming Superstar, we want to make sure that you get all the exposure that you need in order to become the next big thing here in NXT."
"Yeah, I can do the special. What would it take?"
"Just a few interviews. And maybe we fly you out to where a few of your Insurgence Wrestling shows were and tell us about the experience."
"Okay, I can do that."
"Alright we're gonna get the production going and we might need a few of your family members to do a few interviews as well."
"Alright, If you can give me a week, I can get them to agree to it."
"Good. Now as for tonight I got an idea. I've already talked to Trevor and Paul, they're both willing to do it but only if you agree to it," Regal said with a smirk on his face while Ced looked on.
"Go on, I'm listening," Cedric said with a smile.
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The NXT North American Champion, Ricochet stood in the center of the ring as the referee raised his arm in victory while he had the NXT North American Championship firmly in his grasp. The referee let go of Ricochet's wrist and went onto the check on the opponent, Raul Mendoza.
Ricochet waltzed over to the corner after competing in the ring and stepped up onto the middle turnbuckle and raised the Championship high up in the air as the NXT cheered him on.
"Rise of the Young Ones" Hits
A chorus of boos came around the NXT Universe as the entrance music of Ced rang out around Full Sail University. Ricochet took a deep breath and jumped down from the turnbuckle and turned his attention to the stage. He walked over to the center of the ring with the title in his grasp looking on as he stood tall and ready for a fight.
But there was no sign of Ced at all coming from the trance way. His posure growing taught as time passed on. Ricochet starting jawing off looking to the entrance way for Ced, trying to goad his adversary. But paranoia seeps in as no attack materializes. His breath started to shorten under the incessant stress of waiting.
The predator Ced emerged from the crowd eyes laser-focused on his pray as he had his steel chain in hand around his fist. He ran in and slid under the bottom rope making a beeline for Ricochet and attacking him with a clubbing blow to the back of the head with the chain-wrapped fist.
The fans booed as the music faded away. Ricochet dropped down to the mat as Ced continued his assault repeatedly as he used the chain to slap Ricochet's back with the chain, proverbially tattooing it across his spine. The referee came into the ring trying to pull Ced off of Ricochet but Ced had other plans when he clocked the official with a forearm to the face. The official rolled out of the ring as Ced turn his attentions back to Ricochet.
The NXT Universe booed as this man looked on with a frown, he then took off his shirt and tossed it into the crowd.
"All of this is on you Ricochet," Ced said as he kneeled down and spoke into Ricochet's ear.
He then grabbed Ricochet by the head and neck and threw him into the steel ring post shoulder-first. Ricochet once again screamed out in pain before Ced walked over and grabbed him before he threw him out of the ring. Ced then exited the ring and turned his attentions over to the steel steps smiling sadistically.
Ced walked towards Ricochet looking down at Ricochet who reached up for Ced and started to try to pull himself up grabbing onto his belt. Ced looked down at Ricochet with a smile before he did his cut-throat motion and picked Ricochet up by the head and shoulder and threw him into the steel steps making Ricochet land with a thud.
Just like it was planned Ced grabbed a microphone that was handed to him by a member of the ring crew. He took off the NXT cover and threw it at the body of Ricochet before he raised it up to his lips.
"You know your brought this on to yourself Ricochet. At NXT TakeOver, I'm going to end you. Considering if you make it to NXT TakeOver: Phoenix,"
Ced said as he threw the mic at Ricochet's damn near limp body. He walked over to the steel steps and ripped off the top piece attaching to the steps before he turned his attentions back to the NXT North American Champion. He grabbed Ricochet forcing him up to his shoulders.
The fans then started to chant "NO! NO! NO!" as Ced carried him. He put Ricochet flat onto the steel steps with a thud with the Deathbomb.
The fans went quiet as they watched Ricochet went limp from the impact while NXT GM, William Regal and Triple H both walked out being followed by security and a medic team who had a stretcher in hand. Ced sat on the steel steps looking on at Ricochet with a chuckle. He then looked up and saw Triple H and William Regal looking on with a frown. Regal walked towards Ricochet while the medic team followed and Triple H walked around them to confront Ced.
"This is not how we do things!" Triple H shouted at Ced who looked at him with a smirk on his face.
"That's how I do things!" Ced shouted back at Triple H while he pointed at Ricochet.
"Get him out of here now!" Triple H said as he looked into the eyes of Ced with a face full of intense anger. The security team then walked up to Ced and started to try to direct him of the arena. Ced chuckled on before he walked around the ring until he reached the ramp. He turned his head and looked at the medic team trying to help Ricochet before he sauntered up the ramp soaking up all the boos that the crowd gave him. Once he reached the stage, he did a cut-throat motion one final time before retreating back through the curtain.