Royale Rumble (Working on Attaching Pics)

Wrestlemania, showcase of the immortals. Headlining the most prestigrous show of the year forever etches ones name in wrestling history. Main eventing a night of memories is the dream of every single athlete to step in the ring. That honor is decided tonight, as the Road to Wrestlemania begins. 40 men enter the ring to determine who is to head to the grandest of all stages, and compete for the World Title of their choice. That honor...

40 voices: Belongs to me.

(Godsmack: When Legends Rise begins playing as flashes of each superstar fill the screen.)

Hogan: Tonight, the nWo finishes its takeover. We hold both titles and after tonight, it'll be an all nWo main event when we sweep the Rumble.

Flair: There's no way in hell I'll let that happen. I may not be in the ring tonight, but Sting, Booker T, and Cactus Jack will die before any member of the nWo wins the Rumble.

Edge: Tonight, I will be the first man ever to step in at Number one and win the prize. And it will be in the biggest Rumble in history. The Royale Rumble will be Rated R.

Orton: Tonight is about the youngbloods, as I Unify the Intercontinental and United States titles, while Batista wins the Rumble, and Ken Kennedy works his way into the X Division Championship.

RVD: Tonight, Rob Van Dam will win the Whole Damn Rumble.

Raven: Come hell or high water, the Flock will do what it always does, destroy everyone in our way to get what we want.

Stone Cold: Tonight's all about the Elite. We're gonna stomp a mudhole in the nWo and walk it dry. We're coming home with both belts and the Rumble victory. Austin 3:16 says Stone Cold is gonna whoop everyone's ass in the Rumble.

"It's burning hot. It's burning high. When ashes fall and legends rise. "

Kane: Tonight, the Rumble goes Hardcore. Blood will be spilled, bodies will be broken and weeping will be guaranteed. I will do whatever I have to to keep this Hardcore Belt around my waist and out of the hands of the Flock.

Hall: It doesn't matter who wins the Rumble. Tonight, Hunter and I go to hell. No disqualification for the WWF Championship. Falls count anywhere. Tonight, the bad guy plays the Game for the last time.

(Flashes of HHH and Scott Hall beating the hell out of each other. Hunter Pedigrees Hall on the ramp. Hall Outsiders Edges HHH into the wall backstage. HHH hits Hall with the Sledgehammer. Hall spraypaints HHH at the contract signing.)

HHH: Tonight I will show why the cerebral assassin is the greatest man to ever step in the ring when I destroy Scott Hall and end his career. Scott will be sliced on the Razor's Edge and Triple H will go to Wrestlemania as the WWF champion.

Steiner: It doesn't matter how many shows you've stopped Shawn. Tonight, the Heartbreak Kid will have his back broken. Let's see how well you shimmy in a wheelchair you son of a bitch.

(Flashes of Michaels superkicking Steiner off the stage. Steiner suplexes Michaels onto the ring steps. Michaels does the leap of faith off the titantron onto Steiner. Steiner Frankensteiners HBK off the top rope through a table, followed up by pummeling him with brass knuckles.)

Michaels: Steiner and I have been at each other's throats for months. Tonight, I end his dreams. I go home with the belt and he goes to the hospital. He will be the latest show I stop.

The Road to Wrestlemania begins tonight.



We cut to the arena, as the pyros go off. Mick Foley is already in the ring.


Commissioner Mick: Tonight, the Road to Wrestlemania begins. And we have a hell of lineup to start off the grandest leadup to the Showcase of Immortals ever. We have two main event title matches, which are guaranteed to rival whatever occurs at Mania, as the Heartbreak Kid takes on the Master of Suplexes, Scott Steiner and Triple H and Scott Hall meet in a no disqualification match, with all outside interference banned. Rhyno takes on Randy Orton in a title Unification match, and Shark Boy defends his X Division title in a unique take on the rumble. And the Rumble itself is the largest we have ever had. But, as is often the case, in setting up such a momentous event, sometimes things slip through the cracks. Tonight, we have overlooked one of our greatest stars.

(Rey Mysterio's music hits, and he explodes up from the stage, coming to meet Mick in the ring.)

Mick: I apologize for the oversight Rey. You are truly one of our greatest stars. I cannot imagine the biggest Royale Rumble ever without you. Tonight, since you have one of the greatest feuds of all time, spanning 5 continents, I can think of no better way to start off the Road to Wrestlemania than by reigniting this rivalry after a decade. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, our opening match is Rey Mysterio.....vs....Psychosis!

(Psychosis' music hits and he saunters to the ring. After a brief stare down, he extends his hand, and Rey takes it.)

JR: This starts with a show of respect. These two men have faced off literally hundreds of times. Every single match has been a classic.

Taney: I can think of no better way to start of this show. We are in for a true treat.

( The bell rings, and the two men square off. For several minutes, every single move one does is countered by the other. Hurricanranas are tossed off. Hip tosses lead to full flips, landing on their feet. Dodges and reversals are the name of the game. After 5 minutes, both men pause. A momentary tension leads to a brief smirk and nod by Psychosis before he extends the hand again.)

Taney: These two men know each other so well. They have literally grown up together, and have faced off in hundreds of countries. Each man knows the other's moves as well as he knows his own.

(When Rey takes Psychosis' hand, he pulls him into a knee into the gut. Taking advantage of the loss of breath, he whips Rey into the corner, and then clotheslines him down.Picking him up, he throws Rey with a full flip german suplex, landing him on his stomach.)

JR: It's not pretty, and it's not what you want to see in a match like this, but, unfortunately, it's going to have to be surprises like that that let either man get an edge.

(Psychosis takes advantage, following up with several brutal moves. Doing a running turnbucklebomb, he flows into a vicious brainbuster and then locks Rey in a rear naked choke, demanding the ref call the submission. Rey however, refuses to tap and manages to reach the ropes. As Rey is released, he tries to use the ropes to pull himself up, but Psychosis quickly wraps Rey in the ropes, and uses the five count to wear him down. As Rey pulls himself free, Psychosis executes a nasty kneebreaker into another flip suplex.)

Taney: Like it or hate it JR, keeping Rey off his feet and taking away his ability to execute those high flying moves is good strategy.

JR: This is a different game than we normally see from Psychosis. Normally, he's as high flying and risk taking as Mysterio.

Taney: But that's exactly what Rey expects. By taking himself out of his normal game, he has been able to gain the early advantage.

(When Rey kicks out, Psychosis pulls him into a verticle suplex then faceplants him over the ropes onto the apron. Rey tries to pull himself up, but Psychosis drop kicks him off the apron. Playing to the crowd, Psychosis finally sees Rey is on his feet and goes for a suicide dive. This time however, Rey meets him with a spinning kick to the face.)

JR: Apparently Psychosis isn't the only one who came prepared to change up his game. We've never seen that move out of Rey before.

Taney: And it's a game changer. Despite taking all the punishment so far, Rey is now more in it than Psychosis.

(After doing a few moves on the downed Psychosis, Rey mounts the steps for a crossbody. However, Psychosis catches him and runs him into the ring post. He picks him up and rolls him into the ring.)

JR: And just like that, the comeback is over.

(Psychosis goes for a powerbomb, but Rey reverses it into a hurricanrana tossing Psychosis into the ropes. After a quick breath, he hits the 619. While he is waiting for Psychosis to get up, Kaiodai members Akio and Sakoda hop over the barracade and attack Rey, pulling him off the apron. Sakoda slides into the ring and makes quick work of Psychosis. Motioning for Akio to toss Rey in, Sakoda slams him to the mat with the YinDrop to let his partner hit the Yang time.



JR: Not like this damnit. This isn't how this is supposed to end.

Taney: There is a certain poetry to this. We are left without a clear winner or loser. Rey and Psychosis stand on equal ground.

(Akio and Sakoda pose proudly over their victims.)

(Backstage, the Sandman is tossing back a beer, talking to a female interviewer, when Finley comes up out of nowhere and attacks him. After several interesting uses of the scenery to assault Sandman, he hits the Celtic Cross on the concrete and leaves him in a broken heap.)

(When we come back to the ring, Chris Benoit is already in it, his theme song playing as he flips off the booing crowd. Sylvester Turkay's music hits and he starts to make his way to the ring. Before he can get there, the World's Greatest Tag Team Ambushes him. The two men procede to pummel him, knowing the bell hasn't rung. After several minutes of assault, they roll him into the ring. Benoit demands the ref call for the bell and goes for the cover.)

Taney: We may see the quickest victory in Royale Rumble history right here.

JR: What a despicible tactic.

Taney: Are you surprised, JR? Team Angle has made it clear that their goal is to destroy this man for "his disrespect" to their founder.

JR: I know, I know. They've done every underhanded thing in the book. I shouldn't be shocked, but damnit, that doesn't mean I have to like it.

(Turkay kicks out at two, to the shock of all three men. After complaining to the ref, Benoit locks in the crossface.)

Tenay: I'm impressed he kicked out, but this has to be it.

JR: Damnit, Turkay, fight! Beat these cheating bastards.

(As if hearing JR, Turkay makes it to the ropes. Benoit is livid and calls WGTT to the ring. As the ref warns that they will be disqualified, they lift Turkat up. Before Benoit can do anything, Elijah Burke runs to the ring and suplexes Haas out of the ring. Benjamin tries to intervene, but Turkay catches him for a side overhead suplex. )

JR: The odds have been evened!

(Benoit starts assaulting Burke, but leaves himself open to Turkay, who catches him in his own endless german suplexes. While Turkay handles Benoit, Burke hits the EB express double knee slam into Benamin in the corner barracade. Hass tries to intervene, only to be given a nasty suplex into the stairs for his trouble. Turkay finally drops Benoit, only to lock in a nasty submission move. Though Benoit holds out for a few seconds, he quickly taps, as he is nowhere near the ropes.)

JR: I can't say that's the match we were hoping for. But damned if I don't like the result.

Taney: Benoit got outside forces involved and it hurt him badly. Burke's interference made the difference, and it wouldn't have been allowed, but for Benjamin and Haas getting involved.

JR: Serves them right!

(Burke slides into the ring to raise Turkay's hand as WGTT help Benoit limp to the back, issuing threats the whole time.)

(Backstage, A-Train and Raven are seen confronting the Commissioner in the hall.)

Raven: Damnit, Foley, what are you going to do about Finley attacking Sandman tonight?

Foley: Write a strongly worded letter?

Raven: Do you think this is funny?

Foley: Well, as JR so often reminds us, 'this ain't ballet'. How many people has the Flock attacked backstage again?

Raven: Not the point! Damnit! I want Finley!

Foley: (shrugging) I have no issues with that. Tomorrow night on Raw, you got him. I tell you what, since he likes to brawl, we'll make it a falls count anywhere match.

Raven: I.....well, that actually works...But what are you going to do about our hardcore title shot? The Flock deserves that belt!

Foley: I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you're about to suggest that I just let the Flock replace him with someone else? And....since you have A-Train here, I'm going to assume he's the replacement. Somehow, I doubt Kane will object. So, we'll make that change as well.

Raven: You better....oh. Well...that's right Foley. At least you know what's good for you.

(Raven storms off, and A-Train remains behind trying to menace the Commissioner. Foley reaches into his pocket.)

Foley: Tic tac? (A-Train glares and growls.) Are you sure? You kinda need it.

(3D's music hits as we transfer back out to the ring.)

Announcer: The following match is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the Tag Team Championship. Introducing first, the challengers: The Dudleyz, Team 3D.

Before the Dudleys can get to the ring, the Gymini Brothers run down and attack them on the ramp. The two men focus on D-Von, ramming him into the ring post before throwing him in the ring. As they enter, they demand the ref call for the bell, and go for a pin.

JR: You're kidding, after everything...

Tenay: And the Gymini are still wearing the Road Warrior's famous shoulder pads that they took from Animal at Armaggeddon when they won the belts.

JR: No one has seen either of the Road Warriors since that vicious two on one handicapped match. Animal is not a small man, but they picked him apart for ten minutes. He barely landed a blow.

Tenay: And of course it was a handicapped match because Hawk was brutally attacked backstage two weeks before their match. Then, Road Warrior Heidenreich lost a match and was banned from ringside.

(Before the ref can count two, D-Von has kicked out.)

Tenay: The Dudleyz aren't dead yet. But one has to wonder how much this sneak attack took out of them. Kicking out of the first pin doesn't mean they can go the long haul.

JR: The Dudleyz made this challenge after how these men treated a legend. They may come to regret that.

(For several minutes, the Gymini ruthlessly attack D-Von, tagging in and out and delivering vicious moves to him. After several minutes Bubba makes his way back to the apron. The Gymini work well in keeping D-Von from his corner. No matter how hard he tries to get back, the two continue to mercilessly divide him from his partner.)

Tenay: It doesn't matter if you like or you hate the Gymini, there has never been anyone better in wrestling in separating a man from his partner and picking him apart.

JR: It was almost four months before we ever saw a single man get a tag in against these men. Their first 30 or so matches were essentially 2 on 1, they were so good at the tag team game.

Tenay: It's easy to destroy a single man. But, even now that Bubba Ray Dudley is back in the game, the Gymini have, essentially, kept this a two on one match,

(Finally, after several minutes of back and forth, Jake makes a mistake, allowing D-Von to hit the Testify Bomb and drop both men to the canvas. The crowd goes wild encouraging D-Von to tag in his partner, as both men crawl to their corners. D-Von makes the tag a second before Jesse does.)

JR: And business, as they say, has just picked up.

(Bubba dives into the ropes and clotheslines Jake before knocking Jesse off the apron. He delivers a bunch of punches before giving him a power slam. Seeing D-Von on the apron. HE gestures for the Wassup. As D-Von slowly climbs the turnbuckle, Jesse pushes him off into the barricade.)

Tenay: It doesn't seem to matter what the Dudleyz do, the Gymini are always a step ahead.

JR: Had it not been for that vicious pre-match assault, D-Von would've hit that move.

Tenay: That's possible. But we're dealing with the reality, where the Gymini have Bubba two on one.

(As Jesse crawls into the ring, Bubba pummels him. Jake attacks him from behind, and pulls him up, only to receive a surprise Bubba Cutter.)

JR: That was out of nowhere!

(Before Bubba can get a pinfall, Jesse breaks it up. He tries to get offense in, only to get a Bubba bomb. As he rolls out of the ring, Bubba tries to pick Jake up, only to get a thumb in the eye, which the ref doesn't see. Before he can capitalize, D-Von dives over the ropes and takes him out. The two roll out of the ring brawling. As Bubba is distracted, Jesse slides in behind him. As Bubba turns around, he gets the Warrior's shoulder pads to the face.Tossing it out before the ref sees, Jesse goes for the pin.)

Tenay: Not this way.

(D'von rolls in to break up the pin. Jake slides in behind him as the two trade blows. As D-Von goes for another testify bomb, Jake hits him with a diving clothesline, and throws him out. The Gymini pick up a stunned Bubba and hit the Cross Trainer. A quick 3 count follows . They grab their shoulder pads and hold their belts over Bubba's prone body.)

JR: You can't take anything away from the Dudleyz. They did their damnedest, but are the latest victims of the Gymini.

Tenay: And we'll never know if they would've pulled it out, because of the sneak attack to start the match.

JR: But now, ladies and gentlemen (he puts his hand to his ear)...wait a minute, I've just been informed that the Hardcore Title match scheduled for later tonight has already begun backstage.

(The camera cuts to the back, where A-Train and Kane are already trading punches. Kane grabs Train by the throat, but he quickly jerks Kane's mask down over his eyes. While he tries to fix it, Train grabs him by the hair and rams him face first into the wall. Taking a step back, he delivers a vicious Axe kick to the back of Kane's head, making a sick thud against the concrete. As Kane crumples, Train goes for a pin.)

Tenay: This is, of course, all legal with the hardcore title. No rules, anything goes, falls count anywhere.

(The ref begins to count, but Kane kicks out at two.)

JR: No one is exactly sure what happened. But the commotion drew the attention of other wrestlers about 5 minutes ago. They got officials, and the camera crew just got back there. It was decided to simply start the match then and there.

Tenay: Isn't this just like the Flock to sneak attack and try and steal a victory.

JR: I won't disagree, but we don't actually know who started it. For all we know, A-Train went to try and get into Kane's head and Kane started throwing real jabs to Train's verbal ones.

Tenay: Given the Flock's history, I'd say it's more likely that A-Train tried to get the jump on his opponent and it backfired.

(Reaching up, Train grabs a stack of crates and pulls them down on Kane. Pulling a loose plank out, he wields it like a club and starts hitting Kane.After several blows, he throws it down on Kane. Grabbing his leg, he drags him over near the stairs and prepares for a slingshot.)

Tenay: Oh for the love of...I know I said no rules, but that's too much.

JR: Don't do it Train, you may kill him.

(Before A-Train can get both legs, Kane starts kicking him. He pushes him hard backwards, and Train has to catch himself so that he doesn't fly over the rail. He staggers back, only to be caught with a knife edge uppercut to the throat. Holding his neck, he takes a few steps back, allowing Kane to deliver several more as he rises. He drops to one knee, and Kane begins to club his back mercilessly with clotheslines.

JR: A-Train may be having a little bit of buyer's remorse about stepping up to fill Sandman's shoes.

Tenay: Kane is one of our most dominant Hardcore Champions that we've ever had. You don't have six successful title defenses in one night if you're not a bad bad man.

(Kane grabs Train by the throat with both hands and pushes him towards the stairs. Hesitating a second, he instead suplexes him by the throat the other way, his back cracking against the concrete floor. Rather than go for a pin, he drags Train to his feet and whips him into the wall. When Train staggers back, Kane grabs him in a sidewalk slam, and crashes him right through the crates. )

JR: Kane's chiropractic services are effective, for all the wrong reasons. It goes without saying that no one deliberately seeks him out.

Tenay: Unfortunately, he is all too willing to find his own patients, and deliver his services to them. The only upside is that they're free.

JR: Oh, no, Tenay. I'd say A-Train has paid a lot for that service.

Tenay: You never come out of a match with Kane unscathed.

(Train starts trying to crawl away, but Kane grabs his foot and drags him back. Grabbing a chain, Train wraps it around his fist, and when Kane goes to grab him, proceeds punching him. When Kane drops to a knee, Train wraps the chain around his neck and jumps on his back.)

Tenay: Desperation is the mother of invention.

JR: I think it's occurred to A-Train that he doesn't want to keep going toe to toe with Kane. He's bleeding from his back from the slam into the crates. His eye is starting to swell. And Kane doesn't seem slowed at all.

Tenay: Kane's not exactly the type to give up though. If he's trying to get the submission, Kane has never tapped before.

JR: He doesn't have to tap, though Tenay. If he passes out, A-Train wins the same as if he tapped.

(Kane fights through the lack of air, pushing himself to his feet. Grabbing Train's legs, he lunges backwards into the wall, and again. One the grip is loosened, he jumps and puts both of them through a table. As they lay there, the ref begins to count.)

Tenay: No matter what A-Train does, Kane seems to have an answer.

(Train weakly gets a shoulder up right before the third slap of the ref's hand.)

JR: He's down but not out.

Tenay: Though he may wish that he just let the ref end this, the way this is going.

(Crawling out from under Kane's still body, Train reaches into a nearby toolbox and pulls out a hammer. Staggering back to Kane, he grabs his hair and starts to pull back when Kane sits up and grabs his throat for a chokeslam. Train drops the hammer and grabs Kane's arm.)

Tenay: Vintage Kane.

JR: A-Train had some bad intentions, but from the look on his face, he sees Kane has some bad intentions too. And the fear in Train's eyes says it all.

(Before Kane can fully get to his feet and deliver the deathblow, A-Train kicks him in the groin. As Kane doubles over, Train lurches away gasping heading for the stage. As Kane follows, Train grabs a chair and slams it over his head. All this does is anger Kane, who starts chasing him. Train pauses again twice to hit Kane with the chair as he retreats. On the third time, Kane big boots the chair into his face, sending him flying through the curtain. )

JR: And, after all this time, the two men finally make their way into the arena.

(Kane pulls Train into a powerbomb position. Doing the trademark throat cut motion, he lifts him into a drop down powerbomb, right onto the ramp. As the fans chant Holy crap, he pulls him up and launches him off the side of the ramp, right into the barracade. )

Tenay: Good lord, did you hear the sound that made JR?

JR: Human flesh loses to cold steel everytime. Between the unforgiving ramp, and the unmoving barracade, I'm not certain which is worse.

Tenay: Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that if you have children watching, you have sent them out of the room. This is not fit for young eyes.

(Kane hops down from the ramp, lifts the man onto his shoulder and starts carrying him to the ring. When he gets to the end of the ramp, he runs and launches A-Train face first into the ring post. Without giving him a second to breathe, he quickly flips him into an Alley Oop right onto the ring steps. )

JR: The human body is not meant to withstand such treatment. Come on Kane, that's enough. You're going to put this man in the hospital.

Tenay: Right or wrong, JR, this is what these men sign up for when they ask for a shot at the Hardcore Title.

JR: Not to this level Tenay.

(Kane goes for a pin, but A-Train kicks out at 2.)

JR: Stay down, Train. Just stay down. It's not worth it.

Tenay: I'm impressed A-Train still has the capacity to kick out after all that. As you can see on the screen, the sound that first alerted people to the fight was when Kane put A-Train through the locker room door.

(As Train tries to pull himself to his feet, Kane lifts the top half of the stairs. He runs at Train, but, at the last second, Train drop kicks his knee, and Kane drops face first onto the stairs he was carrying. Grabbing a nearby chair, Train proceeds to repeatedly crash the chair against Kane's head, driving him face first into the stairs. Pulling him out, he sets him against the railing, props the stairs in front of him, and delivers a running Axe kick into the metal. This only nets him a 2 count on the pin.)

Tenay: The fans are saying it for us. "Holy S" indeed.

JR: How do you kick out of something like that? Kane is not human.

(Train complains in disbelief to the ref. Pulling a table out from under the ring, he sets it up. Grabbing the Big Red Machine's legs, he positions him under the table. Taunting him with the throat cut, he whips him up into the bottom of the table. When it doesn't break, he does it again. The third time is enough, as Kane crashes up through the wood.)

JR: OH MY GOD. That's the move he normally does on the bottom rope...the train wreck.

Tenay: As unpleasant as being put through a table is, Kane just went through the metal supports before the wood, increasing the risk of injury.

(Again with the cover. This time Kane kicks out an inch before the third count. Train falls off of him in total shock.)

Tenay: He has to be wondering at this point just what he has to do to keep Kane down.

(Rolling Kane onto the apron. Train delivers a series of elbows to the chest and neck. After a running high knee to the back of Kane's head, he removes the padding by his opponent and hops up to the apron himself. He lifts Kane up for something...but we never get to find out what because Kane grabs him without warning and chokeslams him off the apron to the floor below.)

JR: He might've just broken his spine on that one.

Tenay: That backfired in a big way.

(Kane drops to the floor and grabs a chair, tossing it into the ring. A- Train is sent rolling in after it. Finally, Kane walks over and grabs the ring crew's camera. Sliding into the ring, he waits for Train to make his way to his feet.)

JR: Oh, come on, Kane. You could've finished this already. Enough.

Tenay: I think he's determined to send a message. To the Flock, and maybe to the whole roster.

(Once Train gets to his feet, Kane smashes the camera over his head. Taking the cord, he wraps it around Train's neck and begins strangling him, placing his foot in his back and arching backwards to completely cut off the air. Within moments, Train is limp. The ref raises his hand.)

JR: Brutal as it was, this one is over, ladies and gentlemen. A-Train has been retired in the station.

(Before the ref can drop the hand the third time, Kane releases the cord and lets Train fall limp. He walks over to the chair.)

Tenay: Not quite, JR. I think he wants to add the exclamation point to this statement.

(Kane sets the chair up. Dragging Train's limp body over, he picks him up, and delivers a Tombstone Piledriver onto the open chair, which crumples under the move. He pins and the ref counts three.)

JR: Good lord, he just broke A-Train in half.

Tenay: He just showed why he is our Hardcore Champion, and the Flock will likely think twice before they try him again.

JR: I don't like the way he did it, by god. But it was effective.

Tenay: What do you want to bet Sandman is sitting in the hospital right now, grateful that Finley put him out tonight?

JR: Speaking of, we have just received word on Sandman. He has suffered a broken arm and a concussion from Finley's assault tonight. We wish Sandman the best and hope he returns soon.

(Going backstage, we see all the remaining people in the Royale Rumble drawing their numbers. After Hogan pulls his number, he approaches Edge.)

Hogan: Hah. You see that? (silence) I'd love to wish you good luck, but we both know that by the time I get to the ring, you'll be long gone.

Edge: Old timer. Not only will I still be there when you get there, I promise I will eliminate you personally.

(The screen goes to Shark Boy holding up the X Division title.)

Shark Boy: I don't give a damn what anyone says. THIS belt is the reason to be here. It means more than both the world titles combined. So what I'm going to do, is I'm going to do the biggest X Division match up in history. While 40 men fight for the chance to challenge for the belt, we will have ten men challenge FOR the belt. This will be the biggest title match ever.

(Quick flashes of the violent matches for X Division qualification.)

Foley: In honor of Shark Boy's request, we are going to have a unique and fascinating championship match. Since we are at the royale rumble, we will start with two men. Every minute we will add a man. Until all 10 men are in the ring, the match is over the top Royale Rumble style. However, once Shark Boy steps into the ring, as the last competitor, we will go to a single fall match, pin or submission.

(After several flashes of qualifying matches, we cut to Sabin and Shark Boy backstage.)

Sabin: You do this alone, and I promise, you're not walking out of Rumble without the title. Let me in, I'll watch your back.

(As Legends Rise plays, we see clips of the ten stars in this match all hitting high flying moves on each other, culminating in Shark Boy hitting the Deep Sea Drop on Christian before Sabin lifted him into the cradle shock. The two men raise each others arms.)

Shark Boy: I'm the baddest champ we've ever had, and, no matter how many people we have against me, I'm walking out with the title at Rumble.

(The camera cuts to the center of the ring, where Shelton Bejamin and Ken Kennedy are standing.)

Benjamin: Right now, you have the two best men to carry the X Division Title in the ring. And yet, neither of us were even offered a qualifying match to be in contention.

Kennedy: Between the two of us, we have scored 19 victories over the men about the get in this ring tonight. Put bluntly, the two of us should be challenging Shark Boy for the belt with no outside influences. But, I guess Mick Foley can't stand self proclaimed bungholes excelling over his asskissers.. So...

(Foley's music hits and he walks to the stage.)

Foley: Now, if it were up to me, I'd tell you both to do things that are anatomically impossible to yourselves. However, the champ has just informed me that he wants you too included. He won't have you little "whiny women" running around claiming that he's only champ because you were excluded. So...

Kennedy: Now we're talking,Foley. You see..

Foley: You shut the hell up! (fans pop) I agreed that I would include you. But it;s on my terms. You two are the first in the match. Which means we start, now!

(As the fans go crazy, and a ref slides in, Benjamin and Kennedy look at each other. Laughing, they shake hands and face the entrance.)

JR: Damnit, Foley thought he was teaching these two a lesson, and yet they got the better for him.

Tenay: You don't have to like it, JR, but it's a hell of a ring strategy.

(Once the countdown ends, Super Crazy's music hits. He walks down and pauses at the end of the ramp.)

Tenay: What is he doing JR?

JR: What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Crazy is simply waiting until he has better circumstances to go in.

(After a minute, Latino Heat hits, and Chavo comes walking down. He and Crazy hug, and then slide into the ring. While Chavo is intercepted by Kennedy, Benjamin misses an opportunity to stop Crazy. Once he's committed to a sprawl, Crazy pulls him out under the bottome rope and slams him into the stairs before he slides behind and breaks up Kennedy's beat down on Chavo.)

JR: The strategy seemsed pretty sound, until their enemies used the same tactics against them.

tenay: Kennedy and Benjamin planned a two on one. They just didn't realize they'd be on the "one" side.

(As the seconds count down, Tajiri;s music hits, and he runs to the ring. On his way, he gives Benjamin a nasty kick to the head before sliding in. )

JR: The head of Kaiodai has made his presence felt in taking out Benjamin before getting in the ring.

Tenay: Tajiri is one of the most gifted and vicious competitors we have ever seen in this ring. And now that he has Kaiodai behind him, he seems unstoppable. He hasn't lost a match in 8 months.

(Tajiri stops them from eliminating Kennedy. Dodging moves from both, he delivers his signature martial arts style kicks to both. Dodging a clothesline, Tajiri hit a springboard backfist to Crazy. As Chavo broke it up, the countdown ended. Hardy's music hit.)

JR: And here comes matt Hardy, number 6.

(Hardy slides in and starts kicking Tajiri off of his victims. Kennedy tries to pull him off onto to receive a side effect for his trouble. Without thinking, Matt goes for a pin.)

Tenay: Small as it may seem, that kind of mistake can cost a competitor a match.

(Benjamin slides in and begins to club Matt. Tossing him into the ropes, he's floored when Matt ducks a clothesline and delivers a springing crossbody. )

Jr: And, it's almost time for another body in this meat grinder.

(AS he speaks Christian theme hits. He runs to the ring, taking out the various "bad" competitors first. Once the bad guys are down, he tries an "I'm Prettier" on crazy, which he struggles out of.)

JR: We really haven't seen much cooperation in this match.

Tenay: There can be only one, JR. Remember that.

JR: I do, but temporary alliances win matches like this.

(After thirty seconds of brutal fighting, JTG makes his way to the ring. He hits a spinning elbow on both Christian and Benjamin before doing a dive over neckbreaker on Chavo. He and Kennedy start to brawl in the corner. Seeing an opportunity, Hardy picks up Chavo and signals for the twist of fate.)

Tenay: It looks like we're about to see our first elimination.

(Before he can hit it, Tajiri kicks him square in the jaw, sending him stumbling backwards over the top rope to the floor below.)

JR: We did, but not the one we expected. Tajiri draws first blood in the match.

(JTG tries to capitalize on Chavo's weakened state. He picks him up for a move, but Chavo slides behind him. As he turns, Chavo kicks him in the gut and hits a Gory bomb.)

Tenay: JTG took too much for granted on that and has paid the ultimate price.

JR: Does Chavo have enough left to capitalize on it though?

(Slowly, Chavo gets to his feet, dragging JTG to the ropes. Just when it seems like it's too much for him, Crazy runs over and helps him unceremoniously dump JTG to the outside.)

Tenay: There's the teamwork you wanted to see.

JR: I'm sure it's the last thing Cryme Tyme wanted. He just got straightarmed.

(Chris Sabin's music hits. He runs to the ring and begins clotheslining down every competitor hToo Cooe sees.)

Tenay: This is Shark Boy's ally. The man watching his back. He entered himself in this competition simply to make sure Shark Boy could not get overwhelmed and lose the belt due to the odds against him.

JR: In Sabin's words, it is his job to clean house and eliminate the competition before Shark Boy ever comes out.

(Dodging a crossbody from Christian, he dropkicks him. Following this up, he back body drops Chavo right onto Christian. When Kennedy tries to take him out, he catches him in a suplex, right on top of the other two men.)

JR: True to his word, Sabin is cleaning house.

(Benjamin misses a clothesline, only to get a drop kick to the knee. Sabin grabs him, for a DDT on his growing pile. Tajiri stops his momentum with a nasty kick to the gut. As he goes to toss him from the ring, however, Sabin reverses it and sends Tajiri over instead. He catches himself, but turns into a dropkick, sending him to the floor.)

JR: The Rising Sun has just set, courtesy of Chris Sabin.

Tenay: While the other competitors may not like it, Sabin has just taken out a massive threat to Shark Boy's title, and has given him a huge advantage in this match.

(Benjamin starts to pound away on Sabin from behind. When 2 Cool's music hits, and Scotty starts dancing to the ring, he gets distracted. Kennedy grabs him in his signature hold and slams him to the mat.)

Tenay: What the hell? Kennedy just hit the mic check on Benjamin.

JR: I thought these two were allies.

(Quickly lifting him onto his shoulders, Kennedy hits the diving senton, and then uses his momentum to toss Shelton right out of the ring. Even dazed by the two finishers, Shelton stares at him in disbelief from the floor. Kennedy dusts off his hands in exaggerated pleasure.)

JR: Well, this shows there is no honor among thieves.

Tenay: There are also no teams. Kennedy saw his moment and he took it. The two most dangerous competitors have now been eliminated. He saw his moment and he took it.

(Kennedy turns into a barrage of punches from Sabin. He staggers back into the three amigos from Chavo. As Scotty slides into the ring, all of the other competitors signal that it's his turn.)

JR: Well, maybe he should've waited a few more minutes. His betrayal looks like it's about to bite him in the you know what.

(As the fans cheer, Scotty throws his arms wide. Dancing he hops around the ring before doing the Worm and delivering his signature chop to Kennedy's throat. Recoiling from the impact, Kennedy rolls out of the ring.)

JR: Just desserts if you ask me. Live by the backstabbing, die by the backstabbing.

Tenay: BUT, JR, lest the fans at home forget, you can only be eliminated by getting tossed over the TOP rope. Sliding out under the bottom, Kennedy is still in this match.

(Before he can rest, Shelton, recovered, runs up and gives him a quick Dragon Whip, followed by a signature T-Bone suplex on the outside. Refs force Benjamin to the back as Kennedy writhes in pain.)

JR: I cannot think of a single individual on the roster who deserved that more than Ken Kennedy.

Tenay: You questioned whether it was the right moment for Kennedy to eliminate his only ally. It would appear that the answer is "no".

(As the stars go back to brawling, MNM's music hits, and Joey Mercury makes his way down.)

JR: And Joey Mercury is the last competitor. The men now have three minutes to eliminate each other before Shark Boy is set loose and the match becomes about pinfall or submission.

Tenay: Once Shark Boy comes down, it is every man for himself. The fewer men remaining, the better your chances of winning.

(With renewed vigor, the remaining men go all out, hammering on each other, trying to weaken their competitors. Kennedy is still on the outside as Crazy and Chavo double team Scotty. Sabin and Christian square off in the other corner. Crazy goes to the top as Chavo scoop slams Scotty to the floor.)

JR: This is the high risk District.

(Kennedy jumps to the apron, and tries to push Crazy off, but instead gets a kick to the face, sending him back to the floor.)

Tenay: That risk could've cost Super Crazy his shot.

JR: HE has earned his name Mike Tenay. Everything is about risk with this man.

(Crazy moonsaults off the top rope, not only landing on Scotty, but taking out Chavo as well.)

Tenay: He missed his mark! He hit Chavo more than Scotty.

JR: Are you sure? I'm not sure he didn't take an opportunity to eliminate one of his strongest competitors.

(Sure enough, Crazy picks up Chavo and tosses him over the rope before he can recover. Christian runs up behind him and hits the Unprettier as he is distracted. Lifting his limps carcass, Christian eliminates Crazy from the match as well.)

Tenay: Crazy saw his opportunity to eliminate Chavo, but in doing so left his back unguarded.

JR: Well, we got our answer as to whether it was an accident.

Tenay: We did at that. And now, this match has four challengers to the X Division title.

JR: Only a minute remains until the champion comes out.

(With Scotty down, Christian and Sabin start to trade rights. It seems Christian has the better of the battle until Kennedy slides in behind him and clubs both men down. He sets Christian up for the mic check, but Sabin drop kicks him out of it. )

JR: There may be no allies in this match. But it seems like Kennedy has painted a target on himself. Sabin's even willing to stop him from weakening Christian.

(Sabin and Christian toss Kennedy into the corner, lifting him onto the top, both men prepare a superplex. Before they can hit it, Scotty runs over, and gets both men in a reverse suplex. Mercury adds himself to the mix, getting Scotty for a powerbomb, and all the men fly off in a tower of doom.)

Tenay: The fans hit it again. The Holy S chants barely do that justice.

JR: And they couldn't have chosen a worse time to take themselves out, because here comes Shark Boy.

(As tha announcer states the change of rules, Shark Boy dives into the ring. He takes out Mercury, then Scotty. Going back, he dropkicks Mercury. He then crossbodies Christian. As Kennedy gets to his feet, he pummels him into the corner, punching him until he drops, and then delivering boots.)

JR: And Shark Boy comes in like a typhoon, taking out everyone.

Tenay: HE is the fresh man in this competition. Everyone else has been fighting and taking punishment. He has a tremendous advantage.

(Mercury tries to pull him off, only to get a Stunner for his troubles. Shark Boy goes for the cover, but Christian breaks it up before the ref can even get a one count. He tries to pick Shark Boy up, but gets a stunner himself.)

JR: Everyone is already worn down, except for Shark Boy. Even the numbers advantage may not mean anything.

(Scotty pulls Shark Boy up and gets a couple good hits in before Sabin spins him around and hits the Cradle Shock.)

Tenay: Not only is he the fresh man, but he has Sabin watching his back.

(The two men lift Scotty into a double suplex, but, before they can go any further, Mercury leaps off the top rope with a cross body taking Shark Boy out of the ring. He lifts Sabin halfway into a suplex, then drops him into a DDT, a one man version of the Snapshot. As he stands for the cover, Christian quickly hits the I'm Prettier and goes for a pin. The ref can't get even a one count before Scotty hits the end of the worm, forgoing all the pagentry.)

JR: And this has completely broken down. Every man is desperate to get the pin while no one else is looking.

Tenay: With this many men in the match, a quick, decisive blow is the only way you're pulling out the W.

(After the remaining men brawl for several minutes, Kennedy climbs to the top and launches himself off with a Senton, taking both men down. He quickly lifts first Christian, and then Scotty up to hit a mic Check to each.)

JR: Well, someone was listening to you, Tenay. Kennedy executed that perfectly.

(Before he can go for a pin, Shark Boy spins him around for a snap stunner. Flipping with the move, Kennedy bounces out of the ring. )

Tenay: And, yet, it wasn't enough to secure the win. The predator of the deep was on him before he could capitalize.

(As Shark Boy starts to taunt his victim, Sabin slides in behind him. Seeing an opportunity, he rolls up Shark Boy from behind, grabbing the tights, as the ref counts three.)

JR: What the hell? Chris Sabin, shark boy's best friend, has just stolen the title from him.

Tenay: He was a legal competitor, JR. He had every right to get a pin.

(Both men look shocked as the ref gives Sabin the belt. As Shark Boy charges him, he quickly slides out of the ring and heads up the ramp, all while Shark Boy surses at him from inside the squared circle.)

JR: It's the principle of the matter. He was supposed to be out here to help Shark Boy and he screwed him instead.

Tenay: Nevertheless, we have a new X Division Champion, and I can't wait to see how this plays out.

(The camera cuts away to a video package. We see Alpha Male in front of the camera.)

Brown: This ain't a school yard. It ain't a play ground. This...is the Serengeti.

(We see Brown ambushing R-Truth. He hits the Pounce in the middle of the ring.)

Brown: There is no play. There is no fun. There is only survival of the fittest.

(The Alpha Male pounces R-Truth backstage through a scenery piece. Grabbing a chair, he clubs him.)

Brown: Eat or be eaten. Prey and predator.

(R-Truth is dancing with Too Cool when the Alpha Male suplexes him over the top rope. Taking out both members of Too Cool, he wipes his scent o the top rope.)

Brown: R-Truth is not fit for these wilds. A herd, a pride is only as strong as it's weakest member.

(Brown ambushes Truth in his locker room, battering him withing its confines.)

Brown: That member is "The Truth." And, when the weakness is identified, it can either be culled from the group, or the group itself can die. Come Rumble, the weakest member...his time is up. And he'll be taken out by no less than the Alpha Male.

(The camera cuts to Truth.)

R-Truth: I have no idea what made Monty Brown target me. I have never disrespected him. I have never even faced him.

(We see Brown try to ambush R-Truth, but, at the last second he does the splits and then spin kicks him as he turns around. Once down, he begins pummeling the Alpha Male.)

R-Truth: I think he assumes that, because I like to dance and joke, I'm not a serious competitor. He thinks I'm going to be a pushover.

(R-Truth breaks a chair over Brown's back, interrupting an interview.)

R-Truth: I don't have to be serious to get the job done in the ring. I can goof around and still get the one, two, three. But Brown, he wants to target me....I'll show him that I can be dead serious.

(R-Truth slides into the ring after an Alpha Male celebration to deliver a scissor kick.)

R-Truth: Come Rumble, there's no jokes. There's no games. Monty Brown, there's just you, and me. And we'll see if, when the dust settles, if we don't have a New Alpha Male.

(Alpha Male's music hits and he comes out, pausing at the end of the ramp to do his trademark sniff of the camera, before sliding into the ring and marking the ropes.)

Tenay: Last month the Alpha Male cost R-Truth a chance to be in the Royale Rumble. And it seems like it's for nothing more than his displeasure that R-Truth has a good time and enjoys entertaining the fans.

JR: Monty Brown has stated that this is serious business. It's not about goofing around or playing games. He has made it clear that he couldn't care less about the fans. This is about him and the pride.

Tenay: And it wasn't enough to cost R-Truth the Rumble shot, as he felt R-Truth shouldn't even be in a contendership match, but he just kept attacking him. He seems dedicated to ending R-Truth's career.

(R-Truth's music plays. He's not wearing his normal gear, instead wearing ring trunks and MMA gloves. There's no dancing; instead he marches down with purpose, sliding straight into the ring.)

JR: For a month, Brown has said that Truth isn't serious enough. He doesn't focus enough. He's not a real competitor, or even a real man.

Tenay: And it seems like R-Truth is prepared to make him see different. This is not the Truth we are used to seeing.

(Before the bell can even ring he takes Monty Brown down, landing haymakers, switching back and forth between punches, forarms and elbows.)

JR: Alpha Male got exactly what he wanted tonight. R-Truth came to fight.

Tenay: I'd be lying if I said I didn't agree with Brown. I didn't think he had it in him, but I was wrong. And Brown is reeling. He was caught seriously off guard, and he's struggling just to keep from getting knocked out.

(Brown keeps blocking the blows, but finally catches an arm, and uses his superior size to roll Truth off him. Even beneath him, Truth keeps throwing hands, forcing Brown to get off him. As Truth tries to follow, Brown knees him in the gut and tosses him into the corner before landing blows of his own.)

Tenay: And the Alpha Male asserts his dominance. He is on top once again.

JR: But those early moments have taken their toll. He's not as fast or taking as much control as he normally does. He was rocked, and it still shows.

(He prepares for a charge, but Truth gets both feet up,kicking him in the face. As he staggers back, Truth hits a spinning leg lariat, dropping him. Using the momentum, R-Truth bounces off the ropes and hits the Scissor Kick. He goes for the pin.)

JR: So much for that dominance. R-Truth landed his most devastating move in record time.

Tenay: And Alpha Male is about three seconds away from learning to regret treating R-Truth like a joke.

(Kicking out at two, Brown looks stunned. Without missing a beat, Truth jumps back on top of the Alpha Male and goes back to pummeling him.)

JR: He kicked out, but barely. But R-Truth isn't giving him any breathing room. He is determined to beat respect into Alpha Male.

Tenay: Alpha Male asked for a different, a more vicious R-Truth. He may not like what he's seeing.

(Picking him up, R-Truth whips him into the ropes and follows with a spinning forearm that knocks Brown over the top rope. Building up speed, he launches between the ropes with a suicide dive that drives Brown into the announcer's table.)

JR: The Alpha Male has never been put back on his heels like this. R-Truth can feel it. He might be the one to end the almost two year long winning streak.

(Climbing back to the apron, Truth runs and dives at Brown, but this time Brown catches him and runs him back first into the ring post. Both men drop, and Brown retreats back to the ring.)

Tenay: But this is why Monty Brown is the Alpha Male. He pulls a rabbit out of his hat and turns the match around in the blink of an eye. You may rock him, you may temporarily get ahead, but the Alpha Male always ends up on top.

(Truth barely makes it in before the ten count, but Brown is ready now. He rains down knees on his head, then mounts his back and unleashes a flurry of blows on the back of his head. Twice the ref makes him break it at a 4 count, only the have Brown try to choke him out.)

Tenay: This viciousness, this mean streak has made the Alpha Male the King of his Serengeti, as he always says. He is one of the most feared stars in the back. No one wishes to cross him.

JR: Well, hell, you don't even have to try to cross him as Truth found out.

Tenay: He keeps saying it. In the law of the jungle, you're a predator or you're prey. And, unfortunately for Truth, he has determined he is prey.

(Truth manages to get to the ropes and the ref breaks the hold. But, tasting blood, now Brown stays on the attack, lifting him with a swift gut wrench suplex, landing Truth on his face. While Truth holds his front in pain, Brown delivers a diving clothesline to the back of his neck.)

JR: I think Truth would dispute that characterization very much. I'm sure he'd say that he's the hungrier younger lion, challenging for the pride.

(Dragging him up, Brown delivers a vicious turnbuckle bomb, and grabs him on the rebound for a snap belly to belly suplex.)

Tenay: The Gazelle may not feel like it's dinner, but that really doesn't matter to the lion.

JR: Do you really think he looks like a Gazelle?

Tenay: No. Right now, he looks like roadkill.

(Brown stalks him and lines him up for a full nelson, but Truth wiggles out and rolls him up. He kicks out at one and roars in anger, swinging with a wild clothesline, which Truth dodges with the splits. Jumping up, he delivers a high kick to the side of the head and spins away. Staggering back, he's met with another spinning forearm.)

JR: Not bad for roadkill.

Tenay: Pure desparation, JR.

JR: Tonight may be the night that the prey defeats the Predator.

(Truth doesn't let him get up, kicking him in the gut and signalling for the scissor kick.)

JR: Could it be? Has Truth become King of the Serengeti?

(At the last moment, Brown moves, and rebounds with a sickening pounce, sending Truth careening into the turnbuckle. He crumples and Brown goes for the cover.)

Tenay: Not tonight, JE. Monty Brown has turned away another upstart cub.

(Once the ref counts one, Brown pulls him up, shaking his head. He drags Truth to his feet.)

JR: Oh, come on. You had the match won, "Alpha Male". This is unnecessary.

Tenay: He told us what he wanted JR. This was not about beating R-Truth. This was not about a victory. He wants to hurt R-Truth. He wants to send a message to everyone by picking him apart until he's bones.

JR: I hope it bites him in his pompous ass.

(Tossing him into the ropes, Brown hits another Pounce. He picks him up for a third one. Then he mounts him and pummels him without cease.)

JR: That's enough Monty. You've made your point.

Tenay: He wants to make sure Truth understands.

JR: What else is he going to learn? I think he's out.

(The ref starts yelling at Truth that he needs to fight back or it's over. He tries to check on him, but Brown pushes him away. Rolling him over, Brown locks him in a modified Steiner recliner, but pulling his head back and locking it in his armpit.)

Tenay: That is vicious. We've never seen Brown do anything like that.

JR: He's going to cripple him.

Tenay: I think that's what he's going for.

(The ref finally calls for the bell, announcing that R-Truth is unable to intelligently defend himself. Brown refuses to let go and two more officials have to come down to pry him off. As medical staff checks on Truth, Brown walks up the ramp, arms raised in victory. He yells at the crowd to shut up as they boo him.)

JR: You can't take anything away from R-Truth.

Tenay: Except for perhaps his ability to walk, or wrestle.

Alpha Male: I own this Serengeti. This is my hunting ground. Remember that. Mine.

Tenay: Next up, we have our unification match.

JR: And this may not be any easier to watch than our last one.

(The video package starts with Rhyno raising the United States Title in victory. As he celebrates, Orton spins him around and delivers an RKO. While he's down, Orton delivers a punt.)

JR: He didn't even get to celebrate before the Jackals attack.

Tenay: They promised that the would keep the title off of him by any means. I guess they meant it.

(It cuts to backstage, where Rhyno is about to give an interview when Kennedy and Batista attack him. As they beat him down, Orton talks to the interviewer.)

Orton: We told the world that this belt would never be around Rhyno's waist. That he didn't deserve our title. Mercury couldn't keep up his end of the bargain, so we stepped in. MNM let him have the belt, but we'll be damned if he keeps it. He will have no defenses, no matches, no appearances. We will make his championship mean nothing.

(Rhyno is walking to the ring when Orton blindsides him with a chair. Kennedy joins in and uses a chain to whip him. Batista gives him a Batista Bomb on the ramp.)

Orton: Stay down, Rhyno. You have no place here.

(They continue to beat him. The camera cuts to Orton smiling about to talk to the interview when Rhyno runs on from off screen and Gores him through the backdrop. He pounds Orton until Batista runs on. Lifting him off Orton, he spinebusters Rhyno on the concrete and helps Orton escape.)

Orton: Obviously, we're not getting through to Rhyno. He's just not getting it. So, we're going to have to hammer it home.

(We see the Youngbloods surrounding a home as Orton kicks the door in. Rhyno and his wife are sitting on the couch. Jamie Noble holds the wife back as the rest of the Youngbloods hammer away on Rhyno. Orton addresses the camera as the rest leave Rhyno bloody.)

Orton: You see this, Foley? Rhyno is done. Come Rumble, his belt is mine. Make the match happen, or we get more of this.

(HE hits the RKO, and the rest pitch Rhyno down his basement steps headfirst. The camera fades as we see Rhyno broken at the bottom of the steps. )

(We cut back to the ring, where Orton is smiling broadly, holding a mic.)

Orton: Good times. Good times. That brings back memories.

JR: And no one has seen Rhyno since. He hasn't shown, no one has talked to him. Nothing.

Orton: All right, Foley. Tonight is the night. I want you to come out here and hand me my Intercontinental Title. (After several seconds, he shrugs.) All right, then, we'll do this the other way. Referee, count to ten, and hand me my damn title.

JR: He's so proud of himself. Becoming champion by default after injuring his opponent.

Tenay: As you know, JR, a win is a win. He'll be remembered as the unifier of two titles.

Jr: With an asterick beside it.

Tenay: I don't think they put side notes when you're the only holder of a record.

JR: Not that Orton would care. He's not that kind of champion.

(The ref slowly counts to 9 until the lights go down. "GORE" blares.)

Tenay: No way. After everything, it can't be.

JR: YES! This is exactly what everyone wanted to see.

(His music and lighting effects hit, as the bulky shadowed form appears on the stage. One arm throws high as the other stays close to his chest, and his pyros go off. As the lights come up, he rushes the ring.)

Tenay: Randy Orton looks as shocked as everyone in the ring. He thought he crippled Rhyno. He thought he ended his career.

JR: His eyes are as wide as the Grand Canyon. His mouth is down to his knees.

(He recovers as Rhyno tries to get in between the ropes. He kicks the ropes, crotching Rhyno before the bell rings. Grabbing his head, he pulls him in, with his feet on the middle rope. He tries to DDT him, but Rhyno fights him, slamming into his torso. After several sledgehammer blows, Orton drops him and falls away holding his gut.)

Tenay: No...no one has ever...EVER stopped Orton from hitting that killer DDT.

JR: Orton can attack him all day long, he can sneak attack, he can two on one, three on one, but he cannot, CANNOT break Rhyno's spirit. He is in for a fight tonight.

(As Rhyno gets into the ring, Orton rushes him, only to be caught in a high belly to belly suplex. He lets Orton get to his feet, only to hit a rare drop kick, taking him out over the ropes. As the fans cheer, he plays to the crowd, raising his one good arm.)

JR: Orton came in expecting to be handed the belt, and now he has to earn it. This night just went sour for the New bloods.

(Rhyno slides out after Orton and runs him face first into the stairs. Picking him up, he drops him onto the barracade. Pummeling him, he forces him back into the ring. This time, when he tries to follow, Orton targets his injured shoulder.)

Tenay: This is the problem with facing Randy Orton. The man can smell weakness. He can hone in on weakness. If you make a mistake, he will jump on it. And he will make you pay for it.

JR: He's a damned viper.

Tenay: Right. And like a viper, you let him strike, you end up dropped.

(Orton spends several minutes just striking Rhyno, attacking his arm and his head, then locking him in a hold to weaken his gore arm. He goes back and forth between snap moves to impact the shoulder, strikes, and submissions.)

JR: Rhyno had better do something, or Orton will perminently damage that arm.

Tenay: I don't think Rhyno is as worried about that as he is beating Orton.

JR: What good is beating Orton if you can't defend it after? If it ends your career If you can never use your arm again?

Tenay: I think it's a matter of pride. He'd rather destroy Orton than anything else. He doesn't care about tomorrow, as long as he takes Randy out today.

(Orton picks up Rhyno and starts wrenching his arm around the ring rope, but Rhyno punches his way out of it. He uses his good arm to lift Orton up in a back suplex. As he fights to his feet, Rhyno manages, with one good arm, to lift him in a AA spinebuster.)

JR: Rhyno is so obsessed with victory that he doesn't care that he's hurt. He is working harder with one arm than most men work at 100%

Tenay: And, in a normal match, that might mean something. But, you can't face Orton hurt. You can't show weakness to the Viper. He might look impressive now, he might drag it out. But he's already lost. It's just a matter of when.

(The two men go back and forth. Rhyno uses his superior power to beat on Orton, but then Orton targets his weakness and gets a few move in himself. But then Rhyno powers through and regains momentum.)

JR: This has looked more like a boxing match that a wrestling one. We've seen more punches thrown than the last UFC title bout.

Tenay: You don't have to execute suplexes and submissions to hurt your opponent, JR. This shows that simple fist on face violence can work just as much as the best technical match.

(Rhyno ducks a clothesline to get a massive powerbomb in. As he goes for a pin, Jamie Noble jumps over the ringside barricade and jumps to the apron. The ref never even notices, as he focuses on Noble.)

JR: Of course, Orton has never faced Rhyno one on one. Why would he start tonight?

Tenay: Like it or not, this is why the New Bloods are effective.

(Rhyno runs over and clubs Noble off the ring apron. But, as he is distracted, Orton hits his over the ack neck breaker.)

JR: He's not a viper...he's a damned hyena. If it wasn't for the dozen other hyenas who run with him, he'd never win a match.

(Orton goes for a pin, but Rhyno kicks out at two. Orton mounts him and starts raining down punches. When the ref pulls him off, he starts dropping knees on Rhyno's head.)

Tenay: Orton's the kind of man, he doesn't care how the match goes, as long as he gets the W.

JR: That kind of man is called a scumbag.

Tenay: The question isn't whether you approve, JR, but whether he succeeds.

(As Orton tries to pull Rhyno up, he fights back yet again. Plowing Orton over, he hits a belly to belly. He prepares for a Gore, but Noble gets on the apron again.)

JR: Rhyno will never be able to get ahead so long as the rest of the New Bloods are at ringside.

(As the ref focuses on Noble, Rhyno gores him off the apron. While everyone is distracted, Kennedy runs down and slides the Intercontinental Title to Orton. He uses it to clobber Rhyno as he turns around, and then tosses it out before the ref turns. The count starts.)

JR: Not this way.

(Rhyno kicks out a fraction of an inch before three. Orton throws a tantrum that the count is not there.)

JR: At least he didn't get the unification that way.

Tenay: YET, JR. Yet. This is just a matter of time the way this is going.

(Orton sets up for the RKO. As he jumps for it, Rhyno catches him and holds him for a second, before dropping him in a nasty suplex.)

JR: He didn't just stop the RKO, he held him mid air and reversed it. We're getting lots of firsts tonight, and none of them are in Orton's favor.

(Seeing Orton in bad shape, Kennedy jumps to the apron. As Rhyno grapples with him, Noble slides in the United States title. Orton grabs it and prepares to get Rhyno.)

Tenay: First time almost ended it. This one will likely be the death blow.

(Almost like he sees it coming, Rhyno dodges Orton's swing at the last moment, letting him take out Kennedy with his belt. )

JR: YES! The SOB got what he deserved.

(Orton stands in shock for a second before turning around into a GORE GORE GORE. Rhyno goes for the pin.)

JR: ONE. TWO. THREE.

Tenay: I can't believe it. Rhyno overcame all the odds, all the injuries, and ended Orton's dreams of being the only title holder.

JR: Tonight, Rhyno has destroyed the last obsticle in his way to being a true champion. He is both the Us and Intercontinental Champion.

Tenay: Three months of machinations have come to nothing. Rhyno is now the unified champion, despite all the efforts of MNM and the New Bloods.