The moment the match begins, an almost sick smile creeps across Cody Rhodes face and he begins to slowly walk towards Rey Mysterio. The luchador remains still and prepares himself for the incoming onslaught with his fists raised defiantly in front of him. However, when Cody is just a couple of feet away from his adversary - his eyes only focusing solely on his prey - he is bundled in the side of the head with a sharp forearm from a charging Curt Hawkins. Mysterio watches Rhodes tumble to the outside, allowing the Long Island Loner to boot him in the gut and unload a right hand to the top of his head. Another punch follows and Hawkins then backs his opponent into the nearest corner with a heavy thud. As Rey rests his back against the corner, Hawkins delivers a third brutal shot to his face before pulling him up and whipping him towards the centre of the ring. Rey counters in mid move and attempts to launch Curt into the opposite corner but the luchadors inferior weight allows Hawkins to reverse himself, smacking the Master of the 619 into the turnbuckles. Just a mere second after the Mexican bangs back first into the corner, Hawkins charges at Mysterio with his right arm raised and runs directly into the upturned feet of the luchador. The recluse stumbles back awkwardly clutching his jaw and Rey pounces straight onto him, blasting him with a couple of quick fire forearms to the mush.
With an angry snarl, the Long Island Loner shoves Rey back against the ropes but with the momentum behind him, Mysterio launches straight back and cracks Hawkins in the nose with a sharp boot. The crowd cheer heartily as Rey adjusts his mask, gets his opponent in his sights and takes a step backwards, placing both of his gloved hands on the top rope. As a stunned Hawkins steps forward, Mysterio immediately springs off the ropes and adjusts his body mid-air so that he can wrap his legs around the neck of the recluse and snap off a beautiful hurricanrana! Rey gets straight to his feet with the crowd urging him on loudly, and notices, just like the WWE Universe has, that Hawkins is positioned perfectly across the second rope for his most popular manoeuvre, the patented 619. With a finger towards the sky and a glance at Hawkins, Rey sprints back off the ropes behind him and heads directly for no, Rey is tripped up and quickly yanked to the outside by Cody Rhodes!
Although Mysterio lands nimbly on his feet, he seems frozen to the spot as Cody Rhodes stands just feet away from him, a sick grin easily visible underneath his plastic face guard. In a flash Cody rushes forward with a swift punch but Rey avoids the contact. Cody turns back around to face his nemesis and swings another wild punch but once again, Mysterio ducks it. Before Cody or Rey can do anything more however, something out of the corner of their eyes forces the duo to turn their attention to the ring. Curt Hawkins stands boldly against the ropes and he doesnt hesitate in launching himself over the top rope with his body outstretched, his dirty blonde hair flailing in the air as gravity soon takes hold. Mysterio rolls out of the contact immediately but Cody is not as lucky as he takes the brute force of Hawkins entire weight crashing down on him, his back slamming onto the outside padding. Cody screams out in pain and clutches his lower back as Rey, with a little bit of difficulty, peels Hawkins off the ground and throws him into the ring. The luchador nimbly leaps to the apron and flies over the top rope into the ring with his legs splayed wide, allowing the rope to flip him over so he can perform a beautiful snap moonsault onto a prone Hawkins. To another huge cheer, Rey rolls onto a squirming Hawkins and hooks the leg...
1...
2... HAWKINS POWERS OUT EASILY!
The kick-out doesnt bother the veteran as he simply drags Hawkins back up to his feet before he can get a chance to catch his breath. Mysterio straddles the Long Island Loner into a side headlock and holds on tight for a number of seconds but after receiving a couple of sharp shots to the gut, Rey loses his grip. Hawkins slaps Reys arm over his shoulder and lifts the luchador high into the air for a back suplex but, quick as a flash, Mysterio flips over his opponents shoulder and lands on his feet. Rey unloads a couple of quick kicks to his Hawkins thigh, simply infuriating him further and causing the former tag team champion to throw an easily avoidable right hand at the luchador. As Hawkins spins on his heels and attempts to grab a hold of the slippery superstar, Rey sprints past him, makes a beeline for the ropes opposite and springs off them. Mysterio charges forward, avoiding Hawkins once again and as he meets the ropes on the other side of the ring, he leaps to the second rope in order to bounce back and take down his opponent with a flying crossbody. The capacity crowd explode with joy as Rey picks up the pace once again, blasting off the ropes and immediately cracking Hawkins in the knee with a dropkick. Curt falls down to one peg and he is battered once again as Rey slides across the canvas to plant two boots squarely in the side of the Long Island Loners head. After getting to a stable base Rey completes the sequence by dropping an incredible flipping leg drop across the neck of Hawkins, then jumps straight into a tight cover...
1...
2... TO A HUGE GROAN FROM THE WWE UNIVERSE, CURT HAWKINS SNEAKS OUT A SHOULDER!
With only Hawkins and himself in the ring Mysterio seems anxious to put away the Long Islander as quickly as possible and the Mexican luchador bounces from foot to foot as he waits for Hawkins to get to his feet. After a quick glance at the fans, Rey bundles into Hawkins the moment he gets to a stable base and carries the moody loners arm over his shoulder. Mysterio struggles to lift his opponent up and over for a suplex on a couple of occasions and, after blocking the third attempt by putting his foot forward, Curt counters directly into a snap suplex. After executing the manoeuvre Curt springs up to his feet and collides with the ropes, dropping his elbow as he rebounds back but falls directly into the mat! Mysterio himself jumps up off the ground after avoiding Hawkins attack and sprints at his backtracking opponent but, with ease, he is lifted high into the air and dropped neck first over the top rope. Rey staggers into the middle of the ring, coughing harshly as he holds his throat but he is given no reprieve as Hawkins charges forward and grabs the luchador in his clutches. After getting a grip on his opponents head, Hawkins twists it one hundred and eighty degrees before sitting down to the canvas and dropping the masked mans skull onto his shoulder in the process. Obviously not done there, Curt drags Rey directly up from his shoulder up to his feet and allows the stunned luchador to stumble around groggily as the Long Islander gains his bearings.
Hawkins doesnt need much time to make up his mind as, just a couple of seconds later, Curt sprints back off the ropes and heads back towar- no! Hawkins goes tumbling over the top rope as Cody Rhodes pulls down the ropes! Cody quickly slips through the ropes and, with the crowd unloading heat upon him, he stares hungrily at the downed Mysterio. Rey soon stands and turns around to see where Hawkins got to and instantly locks eyes with his arch rival, a grotesque smile growing underneath the second generation stars face guard as he deliberately wanders forward. Rather than waiting for Cody to slowly come to him, Rey charges forward and the two adversaries lock up in a fierce collar and elbow tie-up. With his obvious size and strength advantage Cody Rhodes swiftly takes control over his rival but before he can fully take advantage, Rey slips behind his opponent. Rhodes throws a crazy back elbow but Rey ducks under the blow and then avoids a right hand as Cody turns on his heels in an attempt to get his hands on the luchador. Mysterio continues to scramble after avoiding Rhodes attacks and heads for the ropes, spring boarding off them and flying directly into a vicious lariat!
A huge groan sounds out around the arena as Rey crashes into the canvas after being cracked in the jaw with Rhodes bicep and the Mexican rolls around in serious pain. Rhodes yells out emphatically towards the fans and then drops done to one knee over the prone figure of Rey Mysterio. Ever so slowly, Cody lifts Reys head up off the canvas and then brutally begins to unload punch after punch to the head of his most hated of rivals. Cody is lashed with heat as he stands up and stomps every exposed part of the luchadors body with vicious intent; the Mexicans arms, legs and torso are battered with shots. Before Rey even has time to clutch at his hurting body, Cody drags him off the canvas and drives him directly back into it with an inverted suplex slam. The luchador almost bounces off the mat and as he lifts himself off of the ground with an arm around his gut, a big knee lift crashes into his face before Rhodes turns around and boots him in the side of his mask.
The demented young star yells out in a gratified fashion to the WWE Universe, garnering him even more hate, before he lifts Mysterio off the mat and to his feet. Cody blasts Rey in the face with a right hand and then doubles him over with a boot to the gut, swiftly putting the luchador between his legs and then hauling him onto his shoulders. Rey struggles to avoid any further damage by battering away at the exposed head of Rhodes but Cody doesnt budge, and proceeds to sprint towards the nearest corner with only one thing in mind. But as he draws nearer to the turnbuckles and attempts to dump his adversary directly into them, Cody loses his grip on the luchador. Rey slides over his opponents shoulder and lands directly on his feet, turns on his heels and rolls up Rhodes into a schoolboy cover...
1...
2...
3... NO, NO! CODY DRIVES HIS SHOULDER UP AT THE LAST SECOND!
The duo scramble up to their feet but the younger, fresher Cody Rhodes manages to gain the advantage first, kneeing the luchador directly in the gut before charging his adversary into the nearest set of buckles. Rhodes peppers the Mexican with shot after shot until the official is forced to step in and drag the demented superstar away from the corner. However the moment that the referee steps aside Rhodes charges back at his prey, viciously pulling Mysterio out of the corner before launching him straight back into it with incredible force. As the luchador holds at his back in pain and winces harshly, Rhodes looks back towards the ropes and bounces off them, building up momentum as he sprints back towards his rival. Cody bursts forward at his opponent but Rey avoids the contact and sends Rhodes crashing into the corner, the crowd cheering valiantly as he does so. Rhodes staggers backwards and Rey resists the urge to collapse to the canvas as he cracks the former tag team champions in front of him with a kick to the gut and lines up the ropes behind him, preparing to springboard. Rey leaps to the second rope but, quick as a flash, Cody rushes forward and tips the luchador forward as he grabs a hold of both of Mysterios legs.
While Rey hangs precariously over the top rope Cody Rhodes shuffles his arms into position, takes a deep breath and then boots the luchador in the gut whilst he sways in mid-air. Mysterio crashes to the floor and flops around on the canvas while Cody slowly and methodically gets to his feet, eyeing up his next offensive manoeuvre through his plastic face guard. Rhodes quickly swamps the downed luchador, cradling him in his arms before lifting him up high onto his shoulders in a firemans carry. But Rey knows that taking any more damage could signal the end for him in this match and he valiantly unloads elbows to the side of his adversarys head, allowing him to slide free and crash to the mat knees first.
Cody charges forward at his rival but Rey drops under the attack and flips Rhodes onto his back with an arm drag, sliding the demented young man across the ring. Mysterio struggles up to a stable base and has to react sharply to dump Rhodes straight back to the canvas with another arm drag as he comes rushing forward once again. The legendary luchador steps into the view of Rhodes and swings a leg at his opponents gut which Cody promptly catches. A small smile spreads across his face as he has Mysterio is his grasp once agai but Rey swings around with his free leg and batters his face guard with an enzuigiri. Rhodes crashes against the nearest ropes and stumbles straight back into Mysterio who takes him down with a beautiful dropkick, blasting his rival between the eyes with both of his heels. Mysterio then leaps into the cover, collapsing on Rhodes as he hooks a leg...
1...
2... CODY POWERS OUT, PUSHING REY OFF!
The moment that the pair stand up, Rey rushes into his adversary and reels off three quick forearms to Codys mush. As the former tag team champion clutches at his face, Rey clambers up his body and wraps his feet around his neck in an attempt to hurricanrana his opponent. But Rhodes hangs on, lifts the luchador up and onto his back and gets in position so that he can prepare to take a page out of Hardcore Hollys playbook and dump his opponent with the Alabama Slam! However, Rey wriggles down and rolls down Rhodes back with his legs clasped under the young mans arms in order to dump him neck first with a sunset flip powerbomb! The WWE Universe explodes with joy at the reversal and then watch as one of their heroes wrap his arms around the waist of Rhodes and rolls backwards, going straight into a pin in the process...
1...
2...
3... WAIT, NO! CURT HAWKINS PULLS A SITTING MYSTERIO OFF OF RHODES TO SAVE THE MATCH!
The returning Hawkins springs straight back into the action as he drags a sitting Mysterio up by his scruff and plants him into the canvas with a DDT. As he notices Cody getting to his feet Curt bounces off the ropes to build up some speed and, with a mean glint in his eye, nearly decapitates the demented star with a devastating clothesline. Hawkins isnt given a chance to cover a downed Cody Rhodes as a slightly jelly legged Rey Mysterio advances towards him and ducks his wild punch. Having taken less damage than the former world champion before him, Curt is quicker on the return and catches the luchador in his grasp as Rey leaps towards him in an attempted crossbody. After turning his nose up at the captivated WWE Universe, Hawkins lifts Rey up through the air before slamming him directly into the mat with the ferocious Upside Down Frown. Curt scoots past the prone luchador and bundles into Cody Rhodes as he attempts to sneak up on the Long Island Loner, driving him into the mat with a neckbreaker. Hawkins glances around at the two down and out superstars before him and without taking a second look, he springs towards the nearest corner and ascends it until he reaches the top rope. Curt remains perched on top buckle for a couple of seconds before he stretches out and leaps into the air, his elbow positioned to strike the cold, black heart of a prone Cody Rhodes but the demented star shifts his chest out of the way, causing Hawkins to strike his elbow into the canvas!
Sensing an opportunity Rey Mysterio springs off the canvas and launches himself at the visibly hurt Curt Hawkins, taking him down with a beautiful head scissors. The two get to their feet and Rey charges forward, clambers up his opponents body with a wheelbarrow and grabs the loners head to drive it into the canvas with a bulldog but Curt blocks it! Holding the luchador in mid-air, Curt thunders forward, drives the Mexicans boots into the mush of a recovering Cody Rhodes and then steps backwards in order to crash Rey into the canvas with a spectacular Blue Thunder Driver! Curt smiles devilishly as he sits directly into a cover, hooking a leg...
1...
2... REY KICKS OUT JUST IN TIME!
Before Curt even has time to assess his next move, he is roughly dragged off of Rey Mysterio by an enraged Cody Rhodes. The freakish superstar hauls his opponent off the mat by his tights and sprints towards the corner, launching the Long Island Loner shoulder first into the steel ring post. As the entire ring shudders with the impact and Hawkins lets out a pained shout, Rhodes turns his focus back to his nemesis lying on the canvas in the centre of the ring. Cody yanks the luchador to his feet and whips him into the nearest set of turnbuckles with vicious force before following him into the corner, a smirk on his face. As Cody gains closer, Rey tries to fight his way out of the corner but the demented star over powers him and lifts him to the top rope after booting him in the gut. The pair stand precariously over the ring and Cody slaps Rey in the gut so that he can pull the luchadors arm over his shoulder in preparation for a superplex. A huge gasp sounds out around the arena as Rhodes lifts the weary luchador up over the ring, delaying the pain for a number of seconds so that the blood rushes to his adversarys head. However before the former tag team champion can dump his rival to the mat, Hawkins sprints towards the commotion and ducks under Rhodes, lifting him onto his shoulders and unsteadily stepping into the middle of the ring with two men above him. Curt strains to carry the two men and so, with a shrug, leans backwards to crash his two opponents into the canvas. Hawkins rolls on top of Rhodes and shoots the half...
1...
2... CODY BLASTS THROUGH THE COVER, POWERING OUT!
Curt doesnt let the frustration of the near fall show and instead moves straight towards a downed Mysterio, hooking both of the luchadors legs...
1...
2...
3... NO, ONLY A TWO, MYSTERIO JUST SLIPPED A SHOULDER UP!
Sensing his advantage, Hawkins quickly heads back towards a recovering Cody Rhodes and lifts him up to his feet. The Long Island Loner attempts to immediately plant his opponent into the canvas with the Recluse Abuse but Cody adjusts his body and floats over Hawkins shoulders, landing sharply on his feet. Rhodes charges forward, swings a punch that is avoided by Hawkins and as he misses, his momentum leads him directly into the path of Rey Mysterio. The luchador snaps off an incredible hurricanrana as he rival wanders in front of him, causing the demented superstar to tangle himself across the opposite set of ropes. Curt too sprints at Rey but the former world champion avoids the sharp clothesline and cuts away at the loners knee, dropping him neck first into the second rope. With his two opponents splayed across the second rope side by side Mysterios eyes light up and he flips a finger towards the sky, quickly turning on his heels and blasting off the ropes. Rey sprints forward, springs through the ropes with his feet outstretched and manages to connect with no-one! Curt and Cody just avoid the double 619 and clamber to their feet, using each other to get to a stable base. As the pair stagger up, they notice Rey Mysterio spring board off the top rope and fly directly at them, his body outstretched. The luchador makes contact with his two opponents but they are able to catch him in mid-air.
Hawkins and Rhodes fight to gain control of the luchador between them, pulling and tugging on the Mexicans body. Rhodes seems more determined to gain control of his nemesis and yanks on his legs, breaking Hawkins grip on Rey and sending the small man flying across the ring. The moody loner doesnt seem to care who he hurts so he begins to hurling heavy right hands at the demented star opposite him. Cody returns the favour and with each punch he takes he just dishes another straight back. The duo exchange several sharp shots but before either man can gain the advantage, Rey Mysterio flies towards them and takes down Hawkins with a stunning seated senton, driving him into the canvas. Rey flies to his feet, turns to face Cody Rhodes and is quickly scooped up in the demented superstars arms before he is planted into the canvas with the Alabama Slam! As Mysterio convulses slightly on the canvas, Cody dashes to the corner and ascends to the top rope, his back facing the downed luchador. With a sharp, smug smirk to the WWE Universe Cody leaps towards the ring with a moonsault but Rey avoids it, sending him thundering rib first into the mat. The crowd voice their approval as Cody clutches at his ribs and Rey badgers past him, springs up the corner and without hesitation, he pulls off a moonsault of his own to crash into a stumbling Rhodes. The WWE Universe explodes as Rey bundles Rhodes into a cover, hooking a leg...
1...
2... CODY JUST KICKS OUT, JUST!
The duo staggers up to their feet in order to gain the first advantage after the cover, only for Hawkins to sprint into the action. The recluse is immediately cracked in the face by an elbow from a turning Cody Rhodes, but this distraction allows Rey Mysterio to take advantage. Rey reels off a pair of forearms to Rhodes plastic face guard but the shots dont seem to faze the freak and as the luchador goes in for a third attack, his arm is caught in a tight vice. Rhodes stares deep into Reys eyes with rage evident beneath his face guard and raises his right hand back behind his head to strike his nemesis in the face! However, Hawkins comes back into the picture and batters into the back of Cody, incidentally slamming the young mans face guard into Rey Mysterio, launching the Mexican to the mat and rolling towards the ropes. Cody stumbles backwards and Hawkins senses his best opportunity to win the match thus far, he is going to steal one here with the roll-up...
1...
2...
3... NO, NO! CODY SLIPS UP AN ARM!
Cody slips up from the mat, sweat pouring down his chest, and swings a wild punch at his opponent. However, the shot doesnt hit its target as he is booted in the gut with Curt Hawkins boot. Curt grabs a hold of the dazed man in front and absolutely plants him face first into the canvas with the Taste of Pain, Taste of Pain connects! Hawkins collapses onto his opponent and hooks both of his legs...
1...
2...
3... NO, REY FLIES THROUGH THE AIR WITH HIS LEG OUTSTRETCHED IN ORDER TO BREAK UP THE COVER!
Curt dashes away from Cody to avoid a flying Rey and the luchador soon crashes his leg across the neck of his rival, driving the air out of Rhodes body. Mysterio stumbles up to his feet and nearly has his masked blasted from his face by a charging Curt Hawkins but the luchador side steps him, hurling him through the second rope by his scraggly blonde hair. Rey turns around as Cody gets to his feet as well, and as the demented superstar clutches at his throat, Mysterio executes a perfect drop toe hold in order to drape the young man across the second rope. With the majority of the crowd getting to their feet and craning their necks in anticipation, Rey bounds off the opposite set of ropes, sprints towards Cody, swings through the second rope and drives both of his feet into the mush of Cody executing the 619. Rhodes flies backwards into the centre of the ring and as he does so, Mysterio waits patiently on the apron with his hands resting on the top rope, his eyes focused beneath his bright yellow mask. Cody staggers up to a stable base and as Rey quickly spring boards off the top rope, Rhodes avoids the seated senton and makes his move. After he charges at the nearest set of ropes, bounces off them and cracks Rey Mysterio in the side of the head with a brutal Beautiful Disaster kick.
Mysterio crumples to the mat but as soon as Cody recovers his wits he pulls the luchador straight back up, delivering a devastating Cross Rhodes in order to drive Reys face into the canvas. After a sharp, longing glance at the Intercontinental Championship on the outside Cody calls the official over in order to make the count but, after thinking for a split second, he changes his mind. Instead the sick star raises the luchadors head off the mat and begins to once again mercilessly beat him in the skull with closed fist after closed fist. After five excruciating seconds, the referee has to pull Cody away from his prey but the former tag team champion isnt fazed as a sick smile spreads across his face. Rhodes seems to have something in mind as he peels Rey off the canvas and carries him to the side of the ring, laying him upside down with his feet lying over the top rope, Cody himself supporting the back of the luchadors head. Booker T gives a prediction but the entire crowd, and surely the entire pay-per-view audience, knows what is coming next a vicious Cross Rhodes from the top rope! However, as Rhodes bends his knees in order to pull off the deadly move, Hawkins springs back into the fray and rolls Cody up, pushing his weight down onto the demented stars legs...
1...
2... RHODES SLIDES HIS SHOULDER OUT FROM UNDER HAWKINS WEIGHT!
The Long Island Loner doesnt even garner a two count as Cody pushes through the school boy manoeuvre and uses the momentum of the move to jump to his feet and Curt in his grasp, swiftly scoring with another Cross Rhodes! Despite having both of his opponents incapacitated, Rhodes prefers not to go for a cover on the near unconscious Curt Hawkins and, after licking his lips, he heads straight towards Rey Mysterio. The luchador hangs precariously with his two feet wrapped over the top rope and Cody blazes towards him, his eyes alight.
Cody reaches out towards his nemesis but Rey had sufficient time to recover and after luring Rhodes in by playing possum, he grabs onto the second rope with his hands and uses his legs to powerfully whip Rhodes over the top rope. After watching Rhodes crash to the outside, his arm jarring against the outside padding, Mysterio sprints along the apron and swiftly ascends to the top rope. The entire WWE Universe spring to the feet and watch with glee as Rey motions to the heavens before leaping high into the air and crashing down hard onto the sternum of a groggy Curt Hawkins. Mysterio shoots the half as the crowd urges the official to drop to the mat so that he can count...
1...
2...
3!!! REY HAS THE WON THE MATCH, THE VACANT INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP IS HIS!
