Backlash 24 - Knight vs McIntyre - UWF Title HIAC

[AndyDNU]

Blue lights begin to flash around the building as "We Care A Lot" by Faith No More begins to play. Anyone that was having a good night is most likely about to have it ruined as Drew McIntyre steps out from behind the curtain and onto the stage. The Scotsman slowly walks towards the top of the ramp before stopping and looking directly at the ground. After five to ten seconds of build up, The Claymore King lifts his head and arms up which sets off fire pyrotechnics all around him. The flames continue to go off intermittently as The Destroyer makes his way down the ramp at a steady pace. As he reaches the bottom, he stops in order to look up at the Hell in a Cell structure frame which is currently being held up in midair by support chains from the rafters. After soaking it all in, he turns and heads for the steel ring steps before climbing up and entering the squared circle. With a microphone already in hand, the music fades out and McIntyre stops dead in the middle of the ring and precedes to share his thoughts with those watching on.

Drew McIntyre: There's a saying which I'm sure most of you will have heard being said before, and that's "anything you can do, I can do better"... For a good while now I've been of the belief that LA Knight is big on living his life by those words, and the concrete proof then came when he took my request for the two of us to face off one more time inside of a steel cage, and turned it into this...



McIntyre stops for a moment in order to point at the cell structure hovering ominously over the ring.

Drew McIntyre: In this particular instance, I've got no problem with him thinking that he's gotten one up on me, because I for one am incredibly satisfied with the situation that we now find ourselves in. On the inside I am buzzing at the nature of this spectacle... watching on as the cell lowers down to the ground... the door being padlocked shut... leaving just myself, the greatest destructive entity in the history of this business... Loser Ass Knightmare... the flawed pretender champion... and a poor morsel in black and white who will count the fall and make my moment of redemption official.

Unsurprisingly, most of the crowd have no desire to see McIntyre back on top, but the Scotsman was seemingly prepared for such a response.

Drew McIntyre: Oh, you don't like that prospect? Well tough titty! For weeks I've had to put up with the horrendous sight of a fraud standing in the place that is rightfully mines, and now the time has come to put things back to the way they were before the great Wrestlemania train robbery took place. Unlike that fateful night in Tampa however, things are going to play out very differently, and that goes for more than just the final outcome, because within these chained walls and roof, I am going to punish and pulverise LA Knight to within an inch of his life. So if there are any families out there that had planned on watching this match as a group activity, a word of advice to the parents... put the kids to bed, because by allowing them to watch what ends up going down inside this cell, you're exposing them to the kind of nightmares that will continue to haunt them in full grown adulthood!

The chilling nature of McIntyre's words seem to actually have a lot of people on edge, but rather than jeering there's an overall stunned silence as the former UWF Champion goes on to explain his intentions.

Drew McIntyre: In an environment of this nature, it really is a case of kill or be killed. But trust me, my name won't be the one that gets summoned to the early grave here, because when that bell sounds, my only intention is to thrive. I don't care what form it takes, whether I'm pulling the steel grates apart and twisting the wires around LA Knights limbs until the circulation supply cuts out, or inflicting deep flesh wounds by driving parts of him into something sharp and metallic, I am making him pay the ultimate price for winding up on the wrong side of the nastiest prick that the UWF has ever seen!

McIntyre has done a good job of controlling his understandable rage up till this point, but it's not certain how much longer this will last as he continues his verbal tirade.

Drew McIntyre: But the good stuff can wait, because believe it or not, before things turn really nasty, I actually want LA Knight to have one more opportunity right here tonight to give me a piece of his mind. I want to see that immeasurable confidence, I want to hear him talk the big game, remind everyone that he got one over on me and try to rub my face in it... Why exactly?.. Because it's only fair that such a notorious troublemaker be entitled to his last rights. So L...A... how's about you don't keep me and all of these goons waiting and march your arse on out here for one final night in heaven, before I end up sending you to hell!

And with the invitation sent, McIntyre lowers the microphone and awaits the arrival of the UWF Champion...

[Cwalker]

L...A....Knight!

The music of the UWF Champion begins to play and the arena gets to their feet. McIntyre turns his head towards the stage just as the "Man of The Hour" walks out from behind the curtain and out onto the stage. Knight takes a moment to stare at the structure McIntyre stands underneath. The Champion motions for "Welcome To LA" to be cut and pulls a microphone out his back pocket and retorts to his challenger. 

LA Knight

Loser Ass Knightmare. That's real cute, Drew. How long did it take 'ya to come up with that one? Knowing just how dumb 'ya are, L...A....Knight is going to assume that one has been on 'ya mind since the Royal Rumble and 'ya been waiting for the perfect time to bust it out. Well, L...A....Knight is glad 'ya were able to get that out 'ya system. But there's one thing that 'ya can't seem to shake. 'Ya say that inside 'ya, 'ya buzzing. Well two things, first, L...A....Knight recommends that 'ya see a doctor and get that checked out...

Bad joke but it does receive a couple chuckles.

And second, 'ya have no right to be buzzing on the inside. The only people that should be buzzing and feeling goosebumps are "The Masterpiece" Chris Adonis, "The Million Dollar Champion" and the people right here in Oakland, California. 

That's a Mick Foley level cheap pop

And that's because come Backlash, L...A....Knight is going to accomplish what he thought he accomplished at WrestleMania. And that's put an end to Drew McIntyre once and for all. But before L...A....Knight can do that....Let Me Talk To 'Ya!

Now Drew, 'ya come out here week in and week out, running 'ya mouth 'bout losing this here UWF Championship. But the thing that yours truly has been trying to explain to 'ya since day one is, that this Championship was never yours to begin with. 'Ya lucked into this Championship 'cause 'ya faced someone that wasn't ready for the moment they were in. And for eight months, they just lined up undeserving challenger after undeserving challenger. Hell, outside of O'Reilly, did anyone 'ya beat during 'ya reign actually earn the right to face 'ya? Or were they just given title opportunities cause they begged for it like Eddie Guerrero? Or they were hot for two months like Roman Reigns? Or my personal favorite, they kidnapped 'ya worthless manager? Now, did L...A....Knight have to politic to get his shot at Mania? Did L...A.....Knight have to take out the worthless trash known as Stokely to get his shot?

Knight puts his hand on his chin, obviously feigning deep thought.

NAH NAH!

L...A....Knight earned his shot in that ring, doing what he does best. What he does better than everyone else in that locker room. And that includes 'ya too. 'Ya see Drew, L...A....Knight brought all that up 'cause 'ya walk around here calling The Million Dollar Megastar a "pretender Champion" when the truth of the matter is this, 'ya entire eight month run was nothin' more than 'ya playing the game on easy mode. 'Ya had no real challenge because 'ya had no real competition. But come WrestleMania, when a real challenge approached 'ya, 'ya went down faster than Stokley's mom on prom might. 

Okay, that got a pop from the crowd. 

And allow L...A....Knight to play spoiler. Come Backlash, the result is going to be the same again. 'Ya think 'ya the one that's happy that this is a Hell in A Cell Match? L...A....Knight is ecstatic! 'Cause ever since L...A....Knight won this Championship, he's had to deal with 'ya jumping him from behind every chance 'ya get. But inside that Cell, there will be no sneak attacks. There will be no coming up from behind. It's just going to be 'ya, 'ya kilt and a very pissed off Champion. Hell is an understatement in regard to L...A....Knight plans on putting 'ya through come Backlash. For everything that 'ya have put L...A...Knight through. For everything that 'ya have put The Masterpiece through, L...A....Knight is going to pay it back two fold. And when it's all said and done and that Cell raises, 'ya going to left with the same question that 'ya asked L...A....Knight once upon a time. 

Drew looks confused. 

Before WrestleMania, 'ya looked L...A....Knight in the eye and asked "How is he going to deal with defeat?" 'Ya thought maybe he'd turn his back on Adonis. 'Ya thought maybe he'd take six months and re-invent himself. We never really got the answer to that question, but now it's time L...A....Knight flips it on its head and asks 'ya, what happens when 'ya lose....AGAIN? What are 'ya going to do? UWF is probably better off without Stokely Hathaway and Braun Strowman has been useless since 'ya brought him in, so 'ya might as well cut bait. But where does that leave Drew McIntyre? A Champion in his mind only. About as useful as snow shoes in July. Well L...A...Knight hopes that 'ya have something figured out, 'cause when the announcement is made and it rings all throughout Oakland "AND STILL", L...A....Knight has a strange feeling Drew McIntyre won't be seeing this Championship again for a very long time. 

Champion and Challenger stare one another down as Knight unhooks the title from around his waist and holds it up in the air. 

'Ya said when the door on that Cell is shut and locked, it's kill or be killed. That is the only logical thing that 'ya have said to L...A....Knight in four months! And 'ya right! Because for as long as it took L...A....Knight to earn this; for the SIXTEEN months L...A....Knight had to fight to call himself "Champ", the only way that 'ya are leaving Backlash with this title is if L...A....Knight takes his last breath in the middle of that ring. And if we're being perfectly honest Drew, as someone that's been in the ring with 'ya, L....A....Knight doesn't think 'ya man enough to pull that off. And that's not an insult; THAT'S just a fact of life!

And with that, Knight lowers his microphone and prepares for the Challenger's response.

[AndyDNU]

Instead of responding immediately, McIntyre appears to be gathering his thoughts as he moves around the ring at a steady pace, unfazed by the cell or the crowd making noise in the background. After a good thirty seconds or so, the Scotsman stops and looks at Knight atop the stage before lifting the mic up to respond.

Drew McIntyre: It seems to me that having a few extra pounds of gold about your person hasn't done anything to actually enlighten your mind in any way. Because despite coming out with a little bit of extra shine every week and drooling more frequently over the sight of flashy, expensive cars, the LA Knight I see before me now is still very much the same LA Knight that I've had the displeasure of seeing for these past sixteen months plus. Attitude, music, quips... it's all like for like and lacks real inspiration for someone that claims to be a "Million Dollar Champion". The way I see it, you come out here and preach facts when all you're really doing is spouting opinionated bullshit. You basically claim to be the bees knees of the industry, but in actuality you're playing dumb to the fact that your success is down to you having had one of the luckiest runs in this company's history. Now I won't stand here and deny that when it comes to momentum, the ball is very much in your court at present, and that is something I have to be prepared for. But if you're coming into this bone shuddering structure with the mindset that you've already got this match in the bag, then that shortcoming entirely on you for failing to acknowledge and appreciate the gravity of the horrible situation that awaits you.



McIntyre turns his gaze back towards the cell hovering above and takes the time to examine every aspect of it before tilting his head down and back towards the Thursday Night Thriller.

Drew McIntyre: You know, from just standing here and taking the sight of the cell in, I'm actually feeling a slight sense of regret... regret over the fact that I didn't think to push for this to be in place at Wrestlemania. Sure, an easy thing to admit when I'm currently standing here without the UWF Title on my shoulder, but had I known that underhanded tactics were going to end up being the deciding factor in me leaving Tampa empty handed, I'd have ensured that the traditional wrestling match was off the table right from the get go. That night I admittedly made the mistake of underestimating the low lengths that you'd swoop to in order to emerge victorious, but to answer the reversed question that you put forth, bringing the momentum to a halt and tearing you apart limb from limb until there's nothing left but a broken mess is how I'm going to deal with that defeat. Because lightning isn't gonna strike twice, and in a chilling environment of this nature, trust me when I tell you that I am ready for anything and everything that you're hoping and planning to throw at me this time around.

Some may have expected the Claymore King to have blown up with rage by this point, but he's done a pretty respectable job of keeping a lid on it for now as he continues to air his views.

Drew McIntyre: If you were truly as smart as you think you are then you'd know to prepare for the worst, but it's been clear for quite some time now that the significance of my words are lost on you, and that it's actions which end up being the real difference maker here. That ended up being proven during your title celebration last month on Revolution when I could tell from your demeanour that you already had the prospect of trying to fend off other challengers on your mind, and that I had subsequently been placed in rear view mirror and was set to become an afterthought. Naturally, I wasn't having any of that, and so I went about crashing your pitiful party in order to ensure you left that night in the knowledge that your short run as champion was going to be anything but smooth sailing. So for all you may have dreamt about getting one over on O'Reilly again in a big way or being the one to prove that Tommaso Ciampa is nothing more than a bald fraud, as long as I am still around and still capable of kicking heads off necks at full force, every great standing tall scenario that you've ever dreamt up will forever remain a figment of your pathetic imagination.

Although seemingly content with his place in the ring, McIntyre decides to lean forward and use the ropes for support whilst continuing to verbally berate the champion.

Drew McIntyre: So in closing, and to prove that despite being pissed off, I'm still the only one of the two of us with any class or dignity, I give you both my thanks for keeping the UWF Title warm for me these last few weeks, and my apologies that it's all going to come to a painful and quite likely tearful end for you. The reality of the situation is a simple one LA, there are those like me that can prosper and enjoy having easy eight month long title reigns, and then there are those like you who get fifteen minutes of fame and once it's done, it's done... In the past, both Stokely and I have referred to it as the natural order of things, and once this steel structure has been lowered to the ground, the time will be upon us for natural order to be restored once again.

There's a slight err of smugness about McIntyre with his parting words as he lowers the microphone and awaits Knight's response.

[Cwalker]

The very smug McIntyre doesn't have to wait long for the Champion to respond. The brash Megastar pulls the mic back to his lips and retorts. 

LA Knight

"Fifteen minutes of Fame." "One of the luckiest runs in company history." Do 'ya hear 'yaself Drew? Excuse after excuse as to why 'ya standing there looking at the Champ instead of being the Champ. And the sad part is, nobody believes 'ya excuses except for 'ya. Fifteen minutes? In case 'ya haven't been paying attention to the show that 'ya supposedly were the focal point of, L...A....Knight has been running hot since September! That's a lot longer than fifteen minutes, Jack! 'Ya life would be so much better and 'ya may even be a little happier if 'ya just came to accept the fact that when I say this is the L...A....Knight show, I'm not telling a lie! Nothing about L...A....Knight is a lie. So 'ya wanna talk about L...A....Knight being the same guy in terms of his swagger and his smart mouth, well 'ya God damn right about that. Because that's what makes L...A....Knight who he is. That's why L...A....Knight is successful. That's why L...A....Knight is the UWF Champion and 'ya just a sad little man clinging to his glory days. 'Ya know the old expression, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." So 'ya can bet 'ya bottom dollar that L...A....Knight is going to be the same today, when he walks into that Cell and when he walks out that Cell with the UWF Championship still on his shoulder. 

Almost on cue, Knight adjusts the title that is on his shoulder.

'Ya want to talk about reality McIntyre? Let's talk about it. Let L...A....Knight tell 'ya the real reality of this situation. The truth of the matter in regards to Backlash is simple. And here it is. THAT...

Knight points to the Hell in A  Cell structure hanging above McIntyre's head.

Is more intimidating that 'ya will ever be. This is L...A....Knight's first time walking inside that structure, And L...A....Knight's heard all the tales 'bout this structure taking years off 'ya career. Nah. scratch that, years off 'ya life. Some people walk inside that Cell and when they walk out, they're never the same. And to tell 'ya the truth, is it a little daunting? YEAH! But L...A....Knight has never met a challenge that he wasn't ready to face. And if we're going to continue to address the reality of the situation, L...A....Knight has no problem going through all that pain that comes with being locked inside that Cell. The broken bones, the blood, potentially an inferior way of life, L...A.....Knight will gladly risk all of that if it means you don't leave Backlash with this title! Because for as much as 'ya hate it, the truth is, and L...A.....Knight will look 'ya dead in 'ya beaty little eyes as he tells 'ya this, 'ya don't deserve this title. This Championship should be held by the absolute best and let L...A....Knight remind 'ya something he's already told 'ya once, 'ya not the best Drew. 'Ya a very good Number Two that can't seem to cope with the fact that he is and always has been the "beta male". 

The Oakland crowd lets out a copious amount of "Ohhhss" after that one. Normally, McIntyre would be seething but this Drew has kept his composure. 

'Ya think L...A....Knight is looking past 'ya. 'Ya think L...A....Knight is looking at the O'Reillys and the Ciampas and the Rudes and wondering who is next in line for a shot at the Champ. 'Ya couldn't be any more wrong. 'Ya forget, L...A....Knight lost the Prime Time Medal faster than it takes Braun Strowman to recite the alphabet. L....A.....Knight is not looking past 'ya Drew McIntyre. L...A....Knight is looking dead at 'ya. And 'ya know what L...A....Knight sees? L...A....Knight sees a man who is beaten. And we''re not just talking physically. L...A....Knight sees a man that's been beaten mentally. Because the second 'ya walked through that door, 'ya ran roughshod over everybody. And then 'ya met me. Ever since January 29th, when L...A....Knight won the Royal Rumble and pointed at the WrestleMania sign, he's been in 'ya head. And whether 'ya want to admit it or not; whether 'ya want to keep making excuses, the simple fact of the matter is, L...A....Knight is the only person to shoot at Drew McIntyre and not miss! And 'ya don't know how to react. That's why 'ya keep jumping L...A....Knight from behind.  Because 'ya know when 'ya look L...A....Knight in the eye, 'ya just don't measure up. Lightning doesn't need to strike twice. When 'ya L...A....Knight, 'ya simply better than the person that is standing across the ring from 'ya. It's not luck; it's not momentum. It's inevability. Dread it, run from it, it comes just the same. 

'Ya thought WrestleMania was a bad night for 'ya, I promise, 'ya ain't seen nothing yet. Because when that Cell lowers and that door is padlocked, L...A....Knight will do anything and he means ANYTHING to make sure we are not subjected to another eight months of Drew McIntyre thinking he is at the top of the food chain. So come Sunday night, 'ya can keep 'ya class. 'Ya can keep 'ya dignity. But L...A....Knight will be keeping the UWF Championship.

Knight lowers his mic. The Champion and Challenger continue to give one another the evil eye. We're lucky there's space between the two of them. Because if not, we may get a early preview of Backlash.