Chapter VII: NXT TakeOver: Phoenix

Saturday, January 26th, 2019 - Phoenix, Arizona

For Ced, it's been a hell of a ride so far. From a Professional standpoint everything was going perfect. He was booked tonight as one of the marquee matches for NXT TakeOver: Phoenix, adding a sense of legitimacy to his new moniker or gimmick he was looking to adapt over the course of his NXT run, "The Big Ticket". While "The Big Ticket" moniker was mostly known for being used by Kevin Garnett, there wasn't a reason Ced couldn't try to use it for his NXT run. And with his tonight being his in-ring televised debut happening live on a NXT TakeOver, NXT's premier wrestling live events, this was adding fuel to his already bright flame.

As for Cedric, things have been magical since Christmas with his family. Keana had left such a lasting impact on the family, his family was already planning the next family event and hoping that Keana would attend. They were even more excited when they found out she was going to be present for his match tonight. He was just as ecstatic about attending her game tomorrow and seeing her ball.

But he was determined tonight to make due on the opportunity that the NXT was giving him with a debut match for the NXT TakeOver: Phoenix for the NXT North American Championship.

Ced pulled up outside the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona in his F-150 with a frown on his face. He was dressed in a pair of black slacks with Italian loafers and a green henley sweater and gold chain, bracelet and Rolex on his wrist. With Premium Live Events like this it was best to dress up and step out in a more presentable way. It sold the fact that these shows were big deals and they were more premium than a regular television taping like NXT TV, Raw or SmackDown.

As he waltzed in through the back he noted the energy was different in the building. It was more tense and everyone seemed more focused. Some of the women were sitting in the make-up chairs getting their make-up done while the male talent were stretching getting ready to compete. The thing is the talent still had 3 hours to get ready till it was show time.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Trevor Mann sitting on a crate in his ring gear with the title belt in his hands. Cedric saw this and walked over to check on his friend.

"Hey Trev, What's got you down man?" Cedric asked as he stood next to his friend, leaning up against the crate.

"Nothing man," Trevor said as he looked up and offered a small smile at Cedric, making Cedric smirk.

"Trev, I've known you for years, most people can probably buy that shit but not me."

"I just got word that after tonight, I'm going to be up on the main roster."

"Word?" Cedric asked, chuckling.

"Word," Trevor said, chuckling.

"Congratulations man, that's great," Cedric said as he pated Trevor on the shoulder as Trevor chuckled, "You can go show the world and the rest of these fools just who the hell Ricochet is."

"I just might do that. That means tonight I'm gonna have to drop the strap to you, Paul wanted to wait and be the one to tell you that you were going over tonight but I just couldn't help myself," Trevor said as Cedric's smile grew larger as he took a look at the belt Ricochet had in his grasp. Trevor then handed him the title so he could hold it for himself. Cedric held the title in his grasp looking at the gold playing on the burgundy strap.

"Man, I can't lie, that's a beautiful belt."

"Well, I hope that you take care of it and make it better than before," Trevor said as he patted Cedric on the back leaving him alone with the title momentarily.

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Cedric stood backstage next to the gorilla position waiting for his cue. He was sporting the wrestling boots he was given by his sister for Christmas. They were your standard black leather wrestling boots with a roaring lion head on the side in white. His knee pads and the usual style of trunks in black with green designs and a white outline. He had black wrist tape on both of his wrist and on his right fist.

His match with Ricochet was the opening match of NXT TakeOver which put a lot more pressure on him and Trevor to put on a show and set the tone for every other match on the card.

As Cedric stood there getting ready, Paul Levesque had walked up to him with his hands in his pockets with his headset still on. Tonight, he was acting as a producer for tonight's show making sure that he kept close eyes on everything.

"This is it. Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Everything that you've ever worked for, all the extra work in the gym. The countless hours of travel, all of it leading up to this moment. This is the moment that will kickstart your career and send you down a path of success or failure. Go out there and show me and the entire world, just who the hell you are," Paul said as he looked Ced in the eyes and saw the fiery passion he had in his soul.

Ced heard his theme song playing, making his face turn into a frown as he was handed a water bottle. He unscrewed the cap taking a huge swig of water before he poured the rest over his head as he started to make his way up the steps and through the curtain.

"Rise of the Young Ones" by Cliff Lin Hits

Boos could be heard throughout the arena as some of the lights emerged into darkness while the other set started to go around in a frenzy of colors. Ced emerged through the curtain onto the stage, looking down at the stage floor. He slowly raised his head looking up with a frown before he spat out a mist of water and started to make his stride down the ramp.

He sauntered down the ramp soaking up the energy from the crowd as his music played on the PA system. Once he made it around the ringside area, he paused looking over the fans in Phoenix, Arizona until he walked around to the steel steps. He walked up the steps and entered the ring making a beeline straight to the corner. He hopped up onto the top and middle turnbuckle and looked around at the crowd seeing his family, Keana and a woman that he didn't recognize 3 rows from the barricade at ringside. He held his arms wide doing his signature pose as the boos rained in.

He jumped down from the turnbuckle and locked eyes with Keana who was looking at him with a smirk. He sent her a wink as his music faded away.

"One and Only" Hits

The fans who once booed started to cheer loudly for the NXT North American Champion, "The King of Flight" Ricochet. The lights in the arena had darkened as Ricochet walked out onto the stage title around his waist with his hood on. He walked towards the center of the stage and raised his hand up in the air before he then let it fall down to his side before he threw a fist into the air as the lights went to their normal color. He then walked down the steps before he slid under the bottom rope and then did his usual theatrics in the ring landing in a hero like position with the title still around his waist. He then stood up and raised it in the center of the ring while Ced had stood on the outside looking on.

As the music faded off into the background Ced had walked over the steel steps and had walked up onto them before he got up onto the ring apron and entered the ring. Ricochet took the Championship from around his waist and handed it to the referee.

Ding...

Ding...

Ding...

The lights then turned into a spotlight solely focused on the ring.

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the NXT North American Championship." Kayla Braxton announced as Ced stood in the center of the ring staring at Ricochet with a death stare while the fans cheered.

"Introducing first from Charlotte, North Carolina. Weighing in at 252 Pounds. Ced!" Kayla announced Ced raised his arms up in the air in pre-match victory while the fans booed.

"And his opponent from Paducah, Kentucky. Weighing in at 188 Pounds. He is the NXT North American Champion, Ricochet!" Kayla announced as Ricochet raised his hand up in the air much like he did on the stage while the fans cheered. The referee then walked in between the two and raised up the Championship in the sky. The official gave the title belt off to the ring crew as Ced backed up into the corner while Ricochet did the same, both men getting ready for their long anticipated battle.

Ding…Ding…Ding

Ced and Ricochet locked eyes with one another as the NXT Universe cheered at the top of their lungs for this much anticipated match-up. For the past few weeks, Ced had been a thorn in Ricochet's side and things had gotten personal between the two former friends, but now enemies. Ced broke his gaze from his opponent to gaze around at the fans who had packed into the Talking Stick Resort Arena.

"Ric-co-chet! Ric-co-chet! Ric-co-chet!" The NXT Universe cheered as a smirk snaked its way onto the face of the challenger, Ced. The two started to slowly step to the center of the ring talking trash and exchanging heated words. The tension in the arena was palpable, and every word spoken between them seemed to ignite the atmosphere even further.

The two continue talking until Ced raised a finger in Ricochet's face before Ricochet smacked the finger out of his face and continue talking trash. Ced took it upon himself to slap Ricochet across the face making the fans boo as the sound echoed throughout the arena. Ricochet's head snapped to the side from the force of the slap, his eyes burning with anger. The NXT Universe erupted with a mix of boos and gasps, shocked at the audacity of Ced's actions.

Ricochet slowly turned his gaze back to Ced, his face a mask of determination. Without uttering a single word, he lunged forward, unleashing a flurry of lightning-fast strikes, each one precision-timed and fueled by his pent-up frustration. The crowd erupted in cheers, rallying behind Ricochet as he unleashed his fury.

Ced, caught off guard by Ricochet's sudden onslaught, struggled to defend himself against the relentless barrage. Blow after blow landed on Ced, each strike punctuating the pain and betrayal Ricochet had felt. The crowd's boos turned into thunderous applause, appreciating Ricochet's display of resilience and his refusal to back down. Ced stumbled back to the ropes. Ricochet grabbed him by the wrist and tried to whip across the ring but Ced reversed.

Ricochet refused to allow Ced to get back into this fight and sent Ced crashing down with a powerful clothesline. The 6'3, 252-Pounder rolled out of the ring to gain some distance from Ricochet and regain his composure. Ced stood at a vertical base, eyes locked onto Ricochet with intensity and anger as he checked his mouth for bleeding.

1…

The NXT Universe continues cheering Ricochet on. Ced looked around the arena at the fans, a small smirk snake its way onto his face as he walked around to the steel steps and proceeded to walk up the steps, stepping onto the ring apron.

2…

He took his sweet time stepping between the ropes ending the referee's count right before 3. He and Ricochet circled around the ring as both men were looking for the strategy for their next attack before both men lunged towards the center of the ring as if they were going to lock it up in a collar elbow tie-up but Ced had other plans and kicked Ricochet right in the gut and clocked him with a hard right hand that sent him to the canvas. Ricochet popped right back up and was sent back down with another right hand that caused him to stumble to the corner.

Ricochet leaned back-first against the turnbuckle dazed in the corner until Ced put the fist to him with an assault of right hands until he was pulled off by the NXT Official. The official began jawing off at him, warning him until Ced pushed him out of the way and went back to the offense, putting the boots to Ricochet causing him to drop down in the corner before he put his boot on the throat of Ricochet, choking him.

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4..., Ced released the choke right at 4 as he then threw up his hands and backed up away from Ricochet.

"King Ricochet huh? You ain't a King! You ain't nothing!" Ced shouted as he locked eyes with Ricochet before turning to the crowd, "He don't belong in the ring with me!"

He shifted his attention back to his opponent as he walked towards the corner and picked Ricochet up by the head and neck and lifted him up and whipped into the corner across the ring. Ricochet hit the turnbuckles hard in the corner making him drop down in pain as the camera focused on Ced as he looked at his opponent and smirked.

"I can do this all day!" Ced shouted as he rose up to his feet and slowly sauntered over to Ricochet and stomped down on his hand making him scream out in pain as he then rose up while gripping his hands. Ced picked him up and grabbed him by the head and neck. As Ced held Ricochet in his grip, the NXT Universe erupted in a mix of boos as they hated seeing this onslaught that Ced was unleashing on the NXT North American Champion.

But Ced ignored the crowd's reaction, his focus solely on asserting his dominance over his former friend turned bitter enemy.

"You thought you could escape me, Ricochet? You thought you could rise above? Well, I'm here to show you just how wrong you were!" Ced sneered, his voice dripping with disdain as he dragged him over to the corner and tried to smash his face into the turnbuckle but Ricochet still had some fight in him and elbowed Ced in the gut and then smashed his face into the turnbuckle making Ced stumble away from corner before Ricochet ran to the ropes.

Ricochet popped off the ropes and caught Ced with a hurricanrana that put Ced flat on his back before he rolled out of the ring. Ricochet looked at his opportunity and ran to the ropes across the ring and when he popped off, he taunted Ced with a springboard jump off the top rope to land in the center of the ring like a superhero while he looked at Ced who scurried away from the ropes like a coward.

"This close," Ricochet taunted as he used his fingers to show Ced a tight space while Ced glared at him outside the ropes. As the NXT officials count neared 5, he ran into the ring sliding under the bottom rope and quickly popped up trying to clothesline Ricochet but Ricochet ducked it and ran towards the ropes trying to get a maneuver going but Ced caught him with a High Knee that sent the NXT North American Champion down to the canvas. Ced quickly hopped into the cover.

1…

2, No kick out at 2 by the Champion. Ced smiled as he then stood up and kicked Ricochet in the spine making Ricochet drop down to the mat. Ced then ran to the ropes and when he came off the ropes, he dropped down with a fist drop to the top of the head of Ricochet before he once again went for the cover.

1...

2, No kick out at 2 once again by Ricochet. Ced chuckled as he got up and walked towards the corner.

He climbed up the turnbuckle and stood on the middle rope before he raised his arms in pre-match victory while he trash talked to the crowd before Ricochet with the amount of time he was given, was able to get up and fight back. He grabbed Ced by the feet allowing Ced to fall off and hit his face on the turnbuckle rod. He stumbled around, dazed from the impact, into a European uppercut by Ricochet that sent Ced crashing into the corner. Ricochet ran to the corner across from the ring and allowed his back to hit the pad giving him enough momentum to the point that he was allowed to run back into the corner that Ced stumbled into and hit him with a European uppercut that left him dazed before Ricochet ran back to the corner. Once again, he came blazing out of the corner and hit Ced with a jumping forearm in the corner before he jumped over the top rope. Ced came stumbling out of the corner and dropped down to a knee momentarily before he got back up while Ricochet stomped on the ring apron getting the fans alive. He jumped up and hit Ced with a Springboard Missile Dropkick from the Top Rope.

The fans clapped and cheered for Ricochet who quickly went into the cover.

1...

2, Kick Out at 2 by Ced who looked a bit dazed while Ricochet sat up panting for his breath.

He looked at the referee and held up 2 fingers while the referee nodded confirming his suspicions. Ced then rolled over onto his stomach and started to try to get up to his feet but Ricochet quickly got up to his feet and ran to the ropes but when he came off the ropes, he managed to hit Ced in the side of the head with a basement dropkick to the side of the head making Ced fall over onto his back. Ricochet jumped up and tried to go for a Standing Moonsault but luckily for Ced he was able to back up a bit before he managed to kick Ricochet in the ribs with both legs making him shift in the air a bit before he dropped down to the mat in pain clutching his ribs.

Ced lifted his head and looked at Ricochet clutching ribs in pain and dropped his back down to the canvas and started to sadistically laugh at Ricochet writhing in pain. Ced got up to his still feeling the effects of the dropkick to the side of the head by Ricochet.

"Ricochet. Give. Up. Now." Ced said as he walked over to Ricochet and started to talk in his ear. Ricochet grabbed onto the middle rope and used it to lift himself up before he grabbed onto the top rope and used it to pull him up as well.

"Never." Ricochet said as he looked at Ced frowning. Ced ran towards the ropes trying to clothesline Ricochet over but Ricochet ducked out of the way and rolled to the center of the ring allowing Ced to hit the ropes before he turned around and looked at Ricochet who taunted him. Ced once again ran towards Ricochet looking for a strike but Ricochet ducked it and ran towards the ropes but once they both came off the ropes, Ricochet got the upper hand and hit Ced with a Discus Lariat that put Ced flat on his back once again while Ricochet started to flex and give off a battle cry while many of the fans cheered and stood up to their feet clapping. Ricochet went for the cover on a dazed Ced.

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Thr-No, kick out right before the 3 count by Ced. Ricochet screamed out as the fans cheered at Ced's resiliency here. Ricochet put a lot into that lariat against Ced and even believed that that could've beaten down any normal man. Ced rolled over onto his side looking on with a dazed look in his eyes. Ricochet picked Ced up the head and shoulder and started to hit him with a series of forearm shots before he ran towards the ropes and when he came back, he tried to swing at Ced but Ced ducked it and allowed Ricochet to be grabbed from behind. Ced went for a German Suplex that made Ricochet land on his shoulders and neck making him then somehow flip onto his feet dazed. Ced took this chance and kicked Ricochet in the gut before he DDT'd Ricochet in the center of the ring on his head. Ced covered Ricochet thinking it was over.

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Thr-No, kick out right before 3. Ced sat up and looked at the referee in disbelief and shock. He then got up and backed the referee into the corner talking trash in his face while the referee cowered in fear before Ced turned back to Ricochet who was up to his feet. Ricochet dropkicked Ced who fell into the referee while Ricochet dropped back down to the mat and laid there getting a chance to regain his composure while Ced checked his mouth for bleeding and turned around to look at the referee. It was like a light went off in the head of Ced making him look at his surroundings before he turned his attention back to Ricochet. Ced rolled out of the ring and walked over to the announce table. He then took the cover off the table and ripped the monitors out of the socket while some of the fans cheered and some booed. During this Ricochet got up to his feet and looked around before he ran to the ropes getting the fans to cheer before Ced turned around was hit with a suicide dive that sent him crashing over the Spanish announce table and into the commentators who weren't able to get out of the way. The English commentators moved out of the way completely walking over to the announcer's area.

Ricochet crawled over the ring apron and managed to pull himself up using the ring apron before he got up to his feet and walked over to where Ced was and grabbed him from the wreckage of commentators and tried to drag him to the announce table but Ced elbowed Ricochet in the side of the face and then dragged him to the announce table. He smashed Ricochet's face into the announce table making his head bounce off the table. Ced threw Ricochet up onto the announce table and hit Ricochet in the head and shots the head before he got up onto the announce table. He grabbed Ricochet by the head and neck lifting him and tried to put Ricochet up onto his shoulders but Ricochet elbowed his way out. Ricochet turned Ced around and set him up for a Uranage slam that put both men through the announce table while the fans cheered for both men. Ced stared up at the ceiling of the arena feeling the effects of the assault Ricochet had managed to do on his body.

"This is Awesome!" clap-clap-clap-clap-clap "This is Awesome!" clap-clap-clap-clap-clap "This is Awesome!"

The fans' cheers made both men smile even though they were putting each other to the limit. Ricochet was the first to crawl away from the remains of the announce table and Ced. Ricochet managed to use the steel steps to pull himself up and get him back up to his feet. Once Ricochet let go of the steps, he dropped down to a knee clutching his ribs once again in paint before he walked over to Ced and grabbed him by the head and neck once again and lifted him up before he threw him into the ring. Ricochet got up onto the ring apron and walked towards the turnbuckles and was able to climb up the turnbuckles onto the top rope. Ricochet started to try and balance himself up looking for one of his signature top rope moves but Ced was able to jump up onto his feet, he ran towards the corner and jumped up onto the top rope and throw Ricochet over with a Super Belly to Belly Suplex as both men were sent crashing back down to the turnbuckle. The referee started to come around and awake as Ced groggily crawled over to Ricochet and draped his arm across the chest of Ricochet.

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Thr-No, kick out right before the 3 count. Ced rolled onto his back and ran his hands over his face in frustration. He was ready to end the "One and Only" Ricochet and become the new NXT North American Champion. The referee then crawled over to the corner and laid slumped over in the corner. Ced slowly reached over for the ropes with a face showing off the pain in his body. He crawled out towards the ropes to try to pull himself up. Ricochet rolled over onto his gut and reached out for the ropes to crawl out to. Ced pulled himself up using the ropes before he stumbled over to the corner and laid in the corner looking at Ricochet with a frown as sweat drenched down his face while Ricochet was able to get up to his feet while the crowd cheered for the match that these two men put on. Ricochet turned around as a raging Ced ran towards Ricochet only for Ricochet to jump up over Ced, who then ran into the steel ring post allowing Ced to go into the ring post shoulder first. Ricochet ran towards the corner and used the ropes to pull off a tiger feint kick that smacked Ced in the face sending him onto the mat while Ricochet landed on the ring apron. He then walked over to the turnbuckle and climbed up the turnbuckles and started to balance himself on the top rope.

He then jumped off the top rope and while the fans cheered before Ricochet jumped off with the 630 Senton only for Ced to put his knees up. Ricochet's back hit Ced's knees making him get up to his feet screaming in pain while Ced got up to his feet and waited for Ricochet to turn around. Once he did Ced put him on his shoulders and put him down with the Deathbomb. Ced quickly went for the cover.

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Ding...Ding...Ding...

"Here is your winner and new NXT North American Champion: Ced!" Ced rose up slowly clutching his ribs as the fans booed him.

"Rise of the Young Ones" Plays

A small smile snaked its way onto his face as the official grabbed the NXT North American Championship from the ring crew and handed Ced the title. The official raised Ced's arm high in the air as he clutched the title close to his chest.

Once the official released his wrist, he walked over to the ropes and stepped up onto the middle ropes looking out amongst the crowd until his eyes set upon his family and Keana. He slowly raised the title into the air as he locked eyes with Keana who looked on with a proud smile.

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Ced walked through the curtain with a smile on his face as he had the title belt on his shoulder with a water bottle in his hand. He took a sip as Charly Caruso stood next to him with the cameraman standing in front of them counting from 3 to 1.

"I am standing here with the new NXT North American, Ced. Tonight, in your in-ring debut for NXT here at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix, you defeated Ricochet to take the NXT North American Championship. What is running through your mind?"

"I told everyone that would listen that I was going to become the new NXT North American Champion. And I did just that tonight when I put Ricochet down in the center of that ring and put an end to his pathetic reign. This is the ushering of a new era in NXT. My Era. And it begins now. There isn't a man alive today that can do what I do in that ring. There isn't a man alive that can hold a candle to anything I do in that ring. I'll be damned if anyone thinks they can take away my title. Everyone in the NXT and the WWE will have no choice but to witness my greatness!" Ced said as he then walked out of the camera shot with a frown on his face.

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Cedric stood in his hotel room in Phoenix in the window with the title in his hands, in his grasp. He looked down at the title in his grasp. He was only the 3rd ever NXT North American Champion in the history of the title which made him even more proud and currently he was the youngest to ever hold that title. Meaning he was creating his own legacy right now.

"Hey you alright?" he heard making him break his gaze on the title as a small smirk snaked onto his face, "You've been quiet ever since we got back from dinner."

"Yeah, I'm great now," he said, turning around to see Keana walking out of the bathroom in a pair of black biker shorts and one of his hoodies. Her face was clear of make-up giving him a view of her natural face and it really didn't make a difference since she didn't really wear a lot of make-up to begin with. The shorts gave him a view of her shapely toned legs.

Cedric swallowed nervously as his eyes trailed up and down, taking note of her look. She looked at him with a bewildered look on her face. Tonight they were sharing a room which was her idea by the way and they would be leaving for the airport tomorrow morning at 6 AM since her game was at 2:00 PM at Virginia Tech.

He was extremely nervous about laying in the same bed with her knowing that attraction he felt for her and knowing how close their bodies would be. And knowing how slow she wanted to take it, this seemed like it was moving too fast. And the crazy thing is he hadn't even officially asked her to be his girlfriend yet so they were kinda in a weird position.

"You sure about this?" He asked. He was extremely nervous about laying in the same bed with this woman. He knew how hard it would be to resist the temptation of doing anything physical. The wild thing is he could go out wrestle in front of thousands and thousands of people like it was nothing but one night in a bed with a woman like Keana made him nervous.

"Yeah, it's fine," she said with a smile on her face as she walked around the bed to stand in front of him.

"I can sleep on the floor if it makes you comfortable or-"

"Cedric, I am completely comfortable with you. Plus you just wrestled a grueling match tonight, there's no way I'm letting you sleep on the floor, now let's lay down and get some rest, it's late," she said as she grabbed a hold of his hand and led him to the bed that the two would share for the night. And thus taking another step in the right direction for their relationship.