WWE Fantasy Universe S1 Ep.6: The Next Big Thing

The Raw after a PPV, for the first time in a long time, is not opened by the mockery of The Rock and his crew. It is opened by the Texas Rattlesnake, Steve Austin. Team Hollywood thought they put Austin out for good but “AH-AH” they can’t keep Steve Austin out of the WWE for long. Unfortunately for Austin, he cannot get the vengeance that he wishes he could get because he is still not cleared for action, but that is not going to keep him away from Summerslam. Steve Austin reveals that for the main event match between The Rock and Brock Lesnar, Steve Austin will be special ring enforcer ready open a can of whoop ass on any dumb son of a bitch willing to cross him. That includes The Rock, Brock, DDP, Kidman and it most certainly includes that “geriatric SOB Hulk Hogan”. Sheriff Austin is back on duty. Hell Yeah!

Road To Summerslam

The Next Big Thing

Whenever The Rock comes out, he always has a lot to say about the fans, Steve Austin and other adversaries but he is not talking about Brock Lesnar. Paul Heyman comes out and says the reason he is not addressing Brock Lesnar is because he is scared of Brock Lesnar. The Rock says he fears nobody, especially some meathead rookie jabroni. Brock Lesnar comes out and he takes on Team Hollywood on his own. He launches Billy Kidman and DDP around with ease, then throws Hogan across the ring with a German suplex. By this point, The Rock has already left the ring and up the ramp, showing that he does indeed fear Brock Lesnar.

In another promo, Hulk Hogan promises Rock that they will not let the WWE title leave the hands of The Great One. Steve Austin comes out and comes face to face with Hogan. Austin reminds him that he will be ringside and he will not hesitate to stun Hulk’s ass until it is red and yellow again, brother. Austin is not the only one with his sights set on the Hulkster.

Dream Match

Hulk Hogan parades around with the unofficial World Heavyweight championship. Although he acknowledges The Rock as the best WWE champion of all time, this title means that Hogan is the greatest of all time. There has never been a single wrestler out there who can lace his boots. One man takes exception with this and that is Shawn Michaels. HBK says that their paths never really crossed properly because by the time he broke out as a major star, Hogan defected to the competition. It was a good thing too because if Hogan stuck around he would never have managed to remain relevant as long as he did.

Hulk Hogan takes credit for not only making wrestling popular, but reviving it in 1996 by being the third man. He mocks Michaels for being part of a watered down version of the nWo made to sell merch and not because it means anything. Team Hollywood is the new and improved nWO. Hogan says the fact is, he is still a wrestling mega star whilst Michaels needs the nWo to remain relevant. Shawn retorts saying he is the Heartbreak Kid, the controversial guy who helped usher in the hottest era in WWE history, whilst Hogan dragged a rival promotion into the ground. At Summerslam, Michaels challenges Hogan in a first time dream match to prove once and for all who is the superior star.

With Us or Against Us

Booker T & Goldust are once again approached by The Rock and Team Hollywood. The Rock says the time is now to Booker, the final time he is going to pose this question. The Rock reminds Booker of what they have done to people who have gotten in their way. He doesn’t want him to make the same mistake. He wants the tag titles in Team Hollywood, Booker T can bring in anyone he wants as his partner as long as it’s not this “gold freak”. Rock wants Booker T to accept, otherwise he is going to become a target. He advises Booker mull it over and give it some real thought this time.

Booker T is also approached by Kevin Nash and the cruiserweight champion, X-Pac. They warn him about considering Rock’s offer, but Booker says he cannot deny that it would be a career advancement in WWE, plus they have been running things around here for months. Booker has not been taken seriously here as he was in WCW and this could be his opportunity to rise up like DDP has. Nash and X-Pac tell him that they cannot take risks anymore with Team Hollywood. They attack Booker T, telling him that his tag team titles will be on the line at Summerslam against them.

The Rock wishes Booker T luck at Summerslam and looks forward to hearing Booker T’s final answer on joining Team Hollywood by the end of the night. He knows Booker will make the correct choice. DDP walks past Booker privately and looks at him earnestly saying “do the right thing”.

Legacy

Chris Benoit confronts the Intercontinental champion DDP, the one who was responsible for costing Benoit’s match with the Rock at Judgement Day. Benoit still has revenge on his mind and is gunning for his gold. He calls DDP a soulless sellout who tainted his legacy for a prize.

DDP rejects this idea. He admits that he sold his soul, but he did not taint his legacy, he preserved it. Unlike Benoit, Guerrero and other former WCW guys who jumped off a sinking ship, DDP remained loyal to a company that made him even in its darkest hour. He had to deal with a lot of shit, but he was rewarded too. He got to be a US champion, a tag champion and a world champion. Since coming to WWE, he has been treated like a nobody. WWE care more about pornstars (Val Venis) and naked women than they do about former WCW champion DDP. He doesn’t agree with how Team Hollywood operate all the time, but he is willing to do whatever it takes so that he can retire and say that he made an impact in the WWE. If Benoit wants to fight him for that, then be my guest.

On the last Smackdown however, DDP ambushes Benoit backstage with a chair and leaves him injured. Benoit’s status for Summerslam is in doubt.

National Pride

William Regal calls his victory over Rhyno a historical one. He has saved the good name of Europe and the United Kingdom from being besmirched by these inferior nationalities. He dreads to think at what a travesty it would be if the European title was replaced by the United States championship. He wouldn’t stand for it. Regal goes on a tirade against Americans, using stereotypes and insulting their culture. This brings out Olympic hero Kurt Angle to once again come to the defence of his country. Kurt now goes on a tirade about British people, mocking their stereotypes and such. The only thing they agree on however, is how they’re glad there is no such thing as a Canadian championship. Kurt Angle wants to challenge Regal for the title at Summerslam.

Chris Jericho comes out without the rest of the Un-Americans. Whilst he admits that he is stuck with a pair of Jackasses in Christian and Lance Storm, he also isn’t prepared to sit back and listen to a pair of dorks insult his heritage. Jericho tries to talk about how Canada is better than America in certain ways which he knows because he has experienced both. This should generate boos and heel heat from the crowd which angers Jericho. He lashes out and calls Americans small minded pricks and maybe there should be a Canadian champion. If Kurt is getting a match, Jericho deserves to be in thanks to beating Angle last month. So, the triple threat is set up.

Sex Sells

In the weird land of early 00s wrestling, choosing to cover up and keep your dignity is a bad guy move. Trish is massively over with the crowd not just because she is a good wrestler, but she is incredibly hot and not afraid to flaunt it. Molly Holly does not like Trish flaunting her “goods” around like a flea market salesman and she is determined to bring back class to women’s wrestling. She is backed up by Ivory, they form a partnership to get rid of “sluts” and bring back “real women”. Trish Stratus says she is more real and genuine than both of them. Molly says that there is nothing real about Trish, referring to her, well, you know.

Molly Holly won the contender match and at Summerslam she kills this era of wrestling and ushers in a new one.

Payback

Billy Kidman gets himself a rematch against X-Pac for the cruiserweight title. During the match DDP interferes and it looks like the title is going back to Team Hollywood. Then, we hear the revving of a motorcycle. The Undertaker returns, riding down to the ring and ready to lay down an almighty ass whooping. X-Pac retains his title, Undertaker drops Kidman with a chokeslam.

The Undertaker tells Kidman that he signed his death warrant attacking him at King of the Ring. There will be hell to pay and at Summerslam, the debt will be collected.

Best of Seven, Part 2

Jeff Hardy scored a victory over brother Matt at Vengeance, going 1-0 up in the Bo7 series. It has been bad luck for him ever since, losing 3 matches on the trot. Matt has beaten him in a submission match, a Street Fight and tables match. With victory in sight, Matt Hardy wants to beat Jeff in a match they are famous for. A TLC match. Matt will pull down a briefcase, win a shot at the IC title and also prove once and for all to be the superior Hardy boy.

Hardcore Challenge

Spike Dudley proves to be a fighting champion, coming out on Raw and even Smackdown to offer the open challenge for anyone brave enough to fight him. On the go-home show before Summerslam, Spike challenges any of the Raw roster to come meet him backstage and fight him for the title, if they have the balls.

Land of Opportunity

Vince and Stephanie McMahon want to prove that WWE is the place to be for opportunity. They each choose 3 members of their roster to compete in a 6-man battle royal, the winner will be next in line for a world championship match.

Summerslam

The biggest party of the Summerslam opens with a 6-man Battle Royal for a future shot at the world title. Edge, Randy Orton and Maven from Smackdown. Big Show, Kane & Rhyno from Raw. It is an all out fight between all 6 men to start. Edge had a good appearance in this match, eliminating both Kane and Maven. Unfortunately for him, he gets caught in Rhyno’s line of sight for a Gore and an elimination. Rhyno tries to Gore Big Show but it is countered into a chokeslam. Show and Orton are the last men standing. Ric Flair is on the outside trying to coach him. Orton has him against the ropes but Show backdrops him out to win. Big Show has a world title opportunity in the future.

Big Show wins in 9:22

Next we have Spike Dudley’s Hardcore Open Challenge. Cameras follow Spike Dudley who is at the local train station waiting for his opponents. Hardcore Holly, Shawn Stasiak and Mark Henry all rock up ready to fight. Civilians are at awe watching these 4 beat each other up. Spike hits the Dudley Dog on Stasiak whilst Henry hits the World’s Strongest Slam. Both men go for the pin and the referee counts the 3, but who for? He raises Spike’s hand in victory. Mark Henry does not look pleased by the result

Spike Dudley retains in 5:28

The 5th match in the Hardy Best of Seven Series is a must win for Jeff and it will be a TLC match. Matt and Jeff go to war in a match that made them both famous. They are both fighting at the top of a ladder, with two tables set up nearby. Matt tries to back drop Jeff over through the tables but Jeff counters, hitting a sunset flip powerbomb and destroying Matt. Jeff makes the climb back up and retrieves the contract winning the match. The series is 3-2.

Jeff Hardy wins in 3:52.

Next is The Undertaker vs Billy Kidman. This is a one-sided dominant performance by the returning Undertaker. He beats Kidman’s ass confidently and puts him away with the Last Ride.

Undertaker wins in 3:30.

Trish Stratus defends the women’s Championship against Molly Holly next. Trish taunts Molly throughout by posing in seductive ways, making her uncomfortable. Ivory tries a run in but it backfires, she hits Molly instead who falls into a Chick Kick and loses.

Trish Stratus retains in 4:53.

Next is a European Championship match. William Regal defends against Kurt Angle & Chris Jericho. 3 incredibly proficient technical wrestlers here, trying to out perform each other. Christian and Lance Storm try to do a run in but Jericho is against it. However, after hearing the crowd chant more for Angle, he grabs the title and goes to bash him with it. Angle ducks, hits an Olympic Slam and and wins the match.

Kurt Angle wins the US title in 5:17.

DDP is set to defend his IC title against Chris Benoit but the challenger comes out and says he is not able to wrestle tonight. However, he has a more than suitable replacement. Eddie Guerrero makes his return to WWE and attacks DDP before the bell. Guerrero puts up a good fight but he ultimately falls short in his return match.

DDP retains in 5:55.

Tag Titles on the line next. Booker T & Goldust defend against Kevin Nash & X-Pac. Commentary reiterates that The Rock will be watching this intently. This is a great match, both teams went all out to try and win the match. Booker & Goldust work together to hit a double DDT and pin X-Pac to win.

Booker T & Goldust retain in 12:08.

The dream match is next. Shawn Michaels vs Hulk Hogan. Both men hit the classics and play to the crowd. Shawn Michaels catches Hogan with a Sweet Chin Music and defeats him.

Shawn Michaels wins in 2:48.

Our main event is The Rock vs Brock Lesnar for the WWE title, Steve Austin is the enforcer at ringside. Austin remains impartial and doesn’t get involved but he talks a lot of trash. This match is in 3 parts. The first part shows off the impressive power of Brock, no-selling Rock’s offence and throwing the champ around with ease. The second part starts when The Rock low blows Brock behind the referee’s back. He now beats down Brock but the Next Big Thing shows off his resiliency, being able to kick out of everything Rock throws at him. Brock Lesnar starts mounting a comeback and eventually hits an F-5.

This is when the final part of the match begins. Brock has Rocky beaten but DDP comes out and puts a foot on the rope. Brock stares down DDP, Steve Austin runs over to DDP and jumps him with punches. Billy Kidman appears holding Rock’s WWE championship and he knocks out the referee with the belt. Kidman then jumps Austin and works with DDP to beat him down. Rock, DDP and Kidman prepare to assault Lesnar but Eddie Guerrero comes out to try to make the save. He and Lesnar fight hard but they are eventually overwhelmed as The Rock grabs a chair to use in his favour.

We hear the revving of a motorbike as The Undertaker comes out to even the score. He clears out the foes and allows Rock vs Lesnar to resume as normal. They trade counters, The Rock hits a Rock Bottom but Lesnar kicks out at the last second. Then, Undertaker is clobbered from behind by Hulk Hogan with a chair. Hogan hits Austin with the chair, Guerrero too before handing it to Rock. Rock and Hogan double team Lesnar, until we hear the music of Triple H. Now HHH enters, sledgehammer in hand and he attacks The Rock. Hogan takes out Triple H, then Lesnar takes out Hogan. Finally, Booker T runs in and grabs one of the chairs that has been used prior. Lesnar has his back to him and Booker teases hitting him with a chair, The Rock cheers him on but Booker turns around and cracks Rock with the chair.

Booker T leaves the ring. Steve Austin drops DDP and Kidman with a stunner each on the outside, then Brock Lesnar hits The Rock with an F-5 to finally pin and win the match.

Brock Lesnar wins the WWE title in 5:22.

Steve Austin and Brock Lesnar stand face to face, before Austin hands him the championship and raises his hand in victory. Team Hollywood assist The Rock to the back. Brock Lesnar stands tall as the new world champion.

The Rock is finally defeated at the hands of rising star Brock Lesnar. How will Team Hollywood bounce back? Can anyone defeat the seemingly unstoppable Brock Lesnar? Tune in next week for episode 7.

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