The Rise of an Icon

Part II: CRUSH

October 25, 2015, Monday Night RAW

As I'm cruising in my rented 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, I get blindsided by an SUV. He or she accidentally hits me on the bumper of the car at full speed, which knocks me unconscious for about 10 minutes. Police are on the scene, and Rusev and Lana get out of the SUV. Everything's all blurry and I can't hear anything at this point. Suddenly I regain consciousness and I begin to get a massive headache. 

"Hahahaha, I told you you were nothing compared to Rusev, but you didn't listen, so we decided to send you a little message!"- Lana

"YOU'RE GONNA REGRET WHAT YOU JUST DID TO ME!!!!!!!!!! PAYBACK IS COMING!" I scream to her. 

The paramedics arrive, but I don't get on the stretcher to go to the hospital. I can take heavy amounts of punishment, as long as I take an aspirin and rest, I'll be fine just in time for Raw.I'll get my revenge. 

(Kayfabe)

(2 hours later)

Looks like that little nap did me a huge favor, because I'm out of my hotel room and I am ready to tear Rusev apart! 

The crowd is fired up after a show-stealer match between Dolph Ziggler & Dean Ambrose. I walk around backstage, and there's no sign of Rusev anywhere. Next I know, his music hits and he & Lana comes out to tons of boos. Let's face it, no one likes Rusev, but they love Lana.

I come out right behind Rusev with a chair (but he doesn't know that), and unleash a surprise attack on him. The crowd erupts. 

Lana is standing there in shock, like she didn't see it coming. 

I get on the mic and say, "Rusev, you knew payback was coming, if you poke a shark in the eye, you get swallowed whole!" 

On the titantron, a video of the car accident I had earlier plays, which shocks the crowd. I tell the crowd the whole story about  the accident and make a declaration of war between Rusev and I. While he's still knocked out cold, I stand over him and say:

"You want a war? You just got one!"

After Rusev gets up, I tell him straight to his face that next week on RAW, I want to face him for the Intercontinental Championship in a TLC match, but Triple H comes out and says I have to wait until Survivor Series, unfortunately.  Everyone knows how sneaky Triple H can be. He just wants time to set up some kind of screwjob, I know that. Unfortunately for him, that scheme won't work.

I happen to overhear him backstage a few minutes later. 

"Ok so here's the plan, we're going to make sure that B+ player doesn't get the title at Survivor Series. When it seems like he's going to win, we (The Authority) will come down to the ring and jump him. We're going to beat him so bad he won't make it out in one piece."- Triple H to Rusev & Lana

These days, Triple H is just all talk. I remember a time when he would actually back up whatever he said he was going to do. 

I get ready for a six-man tag team main event which is me, Dean Ambrose, and Chris Jericho against the Wyatt Family. I'm actually very excited because this is my first main event match that is not on NXT. 

We beat the Wyatts in a hard-fought battle to close out RAW. 

November 22, 2015, Survivor Series 

For the past few weeks, I have endured lots of torment from the Authority, but I'm here tonight, ready to become Intercontinental Champ. The TLC match is one of the most dangerous matches in WWE history; any wrestling fan who's seen this kind of match knows that it can take years off of your career. Tonight, I'm going to do just that. My goal is to destroy Rusev, and put an end to this rivalry.

My music hits. The crowd gives me a huge pop because they are tired of seeing Rusev, week after week, come out and disrespect the USA. After Rusev & Lana come out, Lana grabs a mic.

"Danger, prepare to be CRUSHED by the Super Athlete, Rusev."-Lana 

The crowd gives her tons of boos and Rusev slides in the ring and we brawl. 

After 5 minutes of trading shots back and forth, I suplex him and grab a table by the ringside area. 

"Tables! Tables! Tables!" The crowd chants. 

As I slide it in the ring, Rusev dropkicks it out of my hand. I take a fall and barely hit the announce table. He gets out of the ring after he sets up the table and throws me back in the ring. After I get up, I hit him with some brass knuckles. He gets groggy for a minute and eventually falls on the table. 

"Perfect." I think to myself. 

I grab a ladder from outside of the ring to make things interesting. I set up the ladder and begin my ascension up the ladder; everyone's thinking that I'm going to grab the Intercontinental Championship hanging. I pull a "Jeff Hardy" by diving off the ladder, crashing through the table where Rusev is lying motionless. 

"This is awesome! (Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap) This is awesome!" The crowd chants.

Here comes the Authority. Rusev and I are still lying on the mat, motionless. All of a sudden, Seth Rollins helps Rusev up and helps him climb the ladder. While both of them are on the ladder, I push the ladder and they fall to the outside. It takes me a while to get up, but when I get up, I climb the ladder and grab the IC Championship.

The crowd erupts with a standing ovation.