|
Page 6 of 31
Rob Van Dam and William Regal vs. CM Punk and Sergio Griffon
Once again we return to ringside, Lillian stood in the center of the ring the bell indicating there is a match upcoming. “Ladies and gentlemen the following is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.” Lillian declares to a very small pop from the fans. However, the small pop soon becomes a smallish amount of boos when the screeching guitar of Killswitch Engage’s ‘This Fire Burns’ hits.
The pair of CM Punk and Sergio Griffin slowly walk out from behind the curtain, neither wasting any time on the stage, beginning their descent down the ramp towards the ring. “Introducing first, from Chicago Illinois, weighing in at two-hundred and twenty-two pounds….CM Punk!” Lillian announces to indifference from the crowd. Punk and Sergio both pause on their way to the ring only to spit some trash at a rather rotund fan in a Michael Shane shirt. “And his partner, hailing from Queensland Madrid……weighing in at two hundred and thirty pounds….Sergio Griffin!” Lillian finishes the team’s announcement, this name getting more heat than it’s predecessor.
“Well folks, both of these men are extraordinary athletes. CM Punk is a former Intercontinental Champion, Sergio Griffin a former ECW Tag Team Champion. They’ve both had successes in their careers but both entered what I can only describe as a slump. From what I’ve pieced together that is why Suffering recruited them into his Gathering, he gave them promises of grandeur, he promised them titles and a way to get back at all of the people who took their careers from them.” JR begins, both Punk and Griffin getting into the ring, the former pulling himself up onto the ropes and stepping in, the latter sliding in.
“However.” JR starts again, pausing for a moment as Punk and Sergio stop to confer for a moment. “Since joining The Gathering their careers haven’t skyrocketed like Suffering’s has, they haven’t won titles, if anything they’ve regressed deeper into the slumps in their careers. Couple that with the savage beating they’ve both incurred at the hands of Michael Shane and God only knows what either of these men’s psyches are like at this moment in time.” The Oklahoman theorizes with a small hint of concern.
“Come on JR, they’re both whiny little failures, just come out with it.” King laughs with faux anger.
Both Sergio and Punk now stand in the ring, hands on their hips, discussing the match quietly as confirmed by he nodding of their heads, ‘This Fire Burns’ cutting.
The dull, low tones of “Gladiators” being played over the PA system, the crowd dishing out some moderate heat, the Englishman clearly over in the minds of these fans despite his loss at No Way Out. After a few moments, Regal pushes his way through to curtain, his traditional black robe with it’s royal gold trim wrapped around his form, the man from Blackpool fixing the black tape around his wrists, pausing at the top of the stage to sneer down at the ring in the direction of his opponents tonight.
“And their opponents….first, hailing from Blackpool, England….weighing in at two-hundred and forty-four pounds….William Regal!” Lillian announces to some more heat from the crowd, ignored by Regal who makes his way down the ramp at a brisk pace, his gaze not leaving the ring for a moment. “If there’s one word I could use to describe what we’ve seen from William Regal over the past few months it would be intense. Many of us may remember the bumbling, somewhat posh Englishman but that is not William Regal anymore, he’s transformed himself in recent months, he’s become a vicious character both in the ring and out and while he may not have had the breakout career many have been expecting this year he’s certainly established himself as a man you don’t wanna tick off.” JR claims, Regal pulling himself onto the apron, stepping into the ring, both Sergio and Punk showing some reluctance judging by their demeanor as Regal sneers at them both.
“JR vicious isn’t the word for this guy anymore, he’s just filled with this searing disdain for everyone around him, he doesn’t care who you are, what you do or anything else, he wants to drive a knee directly into your temple, he wants to hurt you.” King buts in, JR quick to agree with him however. ‘Gladiators’ cuts shortly after Regal disrobes, his black trunks with gold trim matching his robe.
There are a few tense moments that occur, until finally the guitars begin…..building to a crescendo…..BANG! ‘ONE OF A KIND!’ The pyro bursts, followed by the roar from Breaking Point’s vocalist and indeed a roar from the crowd who give a pretty big pop for the Michigan Native. A further pop occurs as Van Dam bursts through the curtain, attired in one of his many unique singlets, this one perhaps one of his most famous Dragon versions, a red and white singlet with the Yin and Yang symbol emblazoned in the eye of the beast. “THE FEAR I SEE WHEN I LOOK IN YOUR EYES MAKES YOU BELIEVE I’M ONE OF A KIND (ONE OF A KIND). FEAR I LEAVE IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND MAKES YOU BELIEVE I’M…….(ONE OF A KIND!)”. The song continues, Rob issuing his signature thumb point, the crowd chanting along with every syllable.
“And the partner……weighing in at two hundred and thirty eight pounds and hailing from Battle Creek Michigan….ROB….VAN……DAM!” Lillian announces, the crowd chanting along with her.
“What an impressive return we’ve seen from Van Dam over recent weeks, like his partner tonight he’ll be competing in the Money In The Bank match at the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania in a couple weeks time, King.” JR explains, Mr. Monday Night slapping hands of all the fans on either side of the guard rail before sliding into the ring, doing his usual 360o spin upon entering, doing his signature thumb point once more, ‘One of a Kind’ cutting.
Sergio Griffon is quick to exit the ring allowing Punk to start this match, Rob Van Dam approaching the center of the ring to start the match but a furious Regal pulls him back, the two getting into a quick showdown, both spitting thrash at the other before Van Dam finally relents, stepping out onto the apron and allowing Regal to start the match. “This one is certainly going to be interesting, Van Dam and Regal appear to be having communication problems before this match even begins, a big contrast to The Gathering who have shown they can be a cohesive unit despite all of the problems in the group over recent weeks.” JR goes, referee Mike Chioda ringing the bell to officially start the match. No sooner had the bell rung when Regal charges forward at Punk, grabbing a collar and elbow tie-up, whipping him into the ropes, smacking him down with a wicked stiff clothesline on the rebound, Punk back up…..another stiff clothesline, into the pin….one…tkickout, Punk getting the shoulders up quick.
Regal isn’t dissuaded though, quick to his feet be springs off the ropes, rebounding and leaping into the air, letting gravity bring that knee down right into the face of Punk, the Straightedge superstar rolling around in pain, managing to pull himself into his own corner and tag in Sergio Griffon who enters the ring at a quick place, ducking a Regal clothesline attempt, looking for the head scissors take down, wrapping those legs around the neck…..but Regal counters it into a tilt-a-whirl Backbreaker. “Did you see that JR! Sergio’s back is NOT supposed to bend that way.” King winces, the crowd letting out a bit of a gasp, Regal going for the pin…..
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
Sergio manages to shove the shoulder off the ground at the last minute, Regal not letting up though, pulling the young Spaniard up by his hair. In the flash of an eye however, Sergio slaps Regal’s hands out of the way, connecting with a picture perfect dropkick that sends the Englishman staggering into his own corner….RVD making the blind tag. Rob enters the ring, despite an enraged Regal staring after the him, the referee eventually persuading Regal to go to the apron.
“Now this is something I think a lot of us have been waiting to see….Sergio Griffon and Rob Van Dam hooking it up, I’d suggest none of our viewers blink for the next couple of minutes.” JR chuckles, Van Dam and Griffon sizing each other up. In a flash the pair drive forward, Sergio ducking an attempted RVD spinning heel kick, rebounding off the ropes….Van Dam ducking Sergio’s clothesline attempt, both men looking for the cross body block on their rebounds, the two men colliding in mid-air, collapsing in heaps on the floor.
The pair eventually crawl to their feet, Van Dam using the ropes to aid him. Sergio sees this and charges forward…..but Van Dam expects it, backdropping Sergio up into the air but the Spaniard manages to hold onto the ropes, landing expertly on the apron….Van Dam staggering forward not seeing it. Griffon waits for Van Dam to turn before pulling back on the ropes and launching himself into the air….springboard cross body…but Van Dam rolls under, Griffon crashing and burning, clutching his ribs in pain as he rolls to his back. The crowd roar as they notice Sergio’s position, Van Dam apparently seeing it himself as he rebounds off the ropes for the umpteenth time, rolling on the canvas towards the prone Griffon, executing the perfectly timed flip with the momentum from the roll, landing directly on the already hurting ribs of Griffon. “And there’s the Rolling Thunder, this could be it!” JR exclaims, Van Dam into the lateral press……
ONE!
TWO!
THRNO!
Punk dives in to make the save at the last minute with the double axe-handle…but Regal enters the ring, not looking one bit too happy, charging in and clotheslining Punk over the top and down to the floor. Despite the referee’s pleas, Regal measures the rising Griffon and charges forward…..WHAM, driving that knee directly into the temple of the Spaniard. “There it is! Regal with that sick knee shot right into the head of this poor young man.” JR remarks, Sergio collapsing in a heap….perpendicular to the turnbuckle.
Regal himself just sneers at Van Dam, the two exchanging glances….neither moving for what seems like an age until Regal exit’s the ring, beginning the long walk up the ramp and to the back. “Well clearly Regal feels he’s done what he had to do….he’s made his point to Van Dam and the fans here tonight.” King adds.
The crowd roar once more as they notice Griffon’s position, roaring even more as Van pulls himself up onto the top turnbuckle in one swoop…..flying off the top, folding his body in mid-air…..crashing down on the chest of Griffon with such force that Van Dam himself bounces onto his back after he lands. “THERE IT IS! VAN DAM WITH THE FIVE-STAR FROG SPLASH!” JR exclaims, Van Dam eventually pulling himself into the cover……
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
“ONE OF A KIND!” The music roars along with the crowd, Van Dam staggering to his feet with that usual cocky grin plastered across his face, the referee raising his arm high in victory. “Here are your winners……the team of William Regal and Rob….Van….Dam!” Lillian declares, Van Dam doing his signature thumb point again after each word.
After a couple of minutes celebrating Van Dam makes his way to the outside, slapping hands with fans either side of the ramp as he exit’s the ring area.
The camera centers once more on he ring, CM Punk trying to revive a woozy Sergio Griffon….eventually bringing the young man to his feet. Sergio however, shoves Punk away, the two exchanging words that we can’t make out. “These two seem to be having a bit of a falling out.” JR states the obvious, Punk eventually waving his hands in front of Sergio and leaving the ring to ascend the ramp.
Sergio paces around the ring for a few moments, eventually retrieving a mic from a stage hand at ringside, breathing heavily as he speaks, the sweat pouring off of his slight frame. “At the Royal Rumble…..I was approached by a man who told me he could save my career, that I could become a Champion right here in the WWE.” Sergio starts, pausing briefly between sentences to take deep breaths.
“During that time my career was in the dung heap, I was going nowhere, I was told by some that my position with the company was being considered. So this man….this man seemed like a savior, a man that I could trust, a man that could save me and help me to get my revenge on all of those who counted me out….” The Spaniard continues.
“Looking back now I can’t believe I bought that bullshit, Suffering….I can’t believe I drank your kool-aid.”
“Mickie James is right you know, The Gathering was never about salvaging our failing careers, The Gathering was always about one man, Suffering himself.” Griffon claims, his voice dripping with venom as he says the name.
“The Gathering has done nothing but bring me further misery, further defeat, it’s done nothing but take what little momentum I had left in my career, I’m in a worse position than I was before I joined.” He continues, running a hand through his spikes hair, his nostrils flaring, the man clearly absolutely livid.
“NO MORE!” Sergio roars, the crowd remaining silent to allow Griffon to speak.
“I’m going to salvage my OWN career, I’m going to take my destiny into my OWN hands…..I’m entering myself into the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania….and I’m going to prove to all of you little peons that I am NOT a loser.” Griffon concludes, growling by the end.
“I….I didn’t expect that Sergio Griffon…he’s entered himself into the Money in the bank? Can he do that?” King asks, JR quick to respond. “I don’t know King but with this new attitude of his….I don’t wanna be the one to tell him otherwise.” JR adds….we get one final shot of the intense look in the eyes of Sergio Griffon before we slowly fade to black..…
|
|
Wrere It All Begins Again