All Good Things
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards
-Soren Kierkegaard
¤Raven is seen sitting backstage, his XHWF World Heavyweight championship around his waist, looking very tired from the previous months¤
Raven: 9 months. 9 months is a long time. 9 months is how long it takes for someone to be born. So how appropriate is it that 9 months after the conception of just Another stable it's going to die...
Do you remember when just Another first started? I do...maybe even better then you, because I haven't been caught up in it the whole time. Do or Die. Do you remember that? It was supposed to be the greatest event in the history of the XHWF. But nobody cared, and XHWF nearly died. So you started 'The New Generation'...
¤Shows a clip of the New Generation being started¤
Riot: Therefore, I came out here to announce my new plan, a new plan that will forever change this federation. I call this plan, "THE NEW GENERATION"
Raven:...which gave way to just Another stable...
¤shows a clip of the jAs being formed¤
Riot: Me and the NWO will proove to you son of a bitches that the only people who deserve to be icons are us, the New..World..Order. Starting March, when the XHWF re-opens, me and the NWO will destroy everything in our path.
¤Back to Raven¤
Raven: You, Hell Hound, Super K, Bret Hart, and Justin Payne.
And while that was going on, there was Sam The Egg vs. JCval, and that's where I came in...
¤Shows a clip from the 3/8/2002 Warzone¤
SAM THE EGG: JCval, I have had to put up with you for a week now, and I think that it's time to end this. I also think that you'd agree with me. But I'm not gonna fight you. See, I'm too good to soil my hands by wrestling you. I am SAM THE F'N EGG! I've brought someone in who, while also too good to wrestle you, is willing to kick your ass in my place! Now, you had your little poem about me, so I have a very special poem JUST FOR YOU!
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! -- prophet still, if bird of devil! Whether Tempter sent, or whatever tempest tossed thee ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted --
On this home by Horror haunted -- tell me truly, I implore -- Is there -- is there balm in Gilead? -- tell me -- tell me, I implore!
QUOTH THE RAVEN: NEVERMORE!
¤As he says the last line 'Sober' by Tool begins to play on the PA system as a very familiar face walks down the entrance ramp¤
Jim Ross: OH MY GOD! RAVEN'S BACK!
Paul Heyman: RAVEN HAS COME BACK, AND HE'S WITH SAM THE EGG!
¤Back to Raven¤
Raven: But beating up JCval wasn't enough for you was it, Sam? I had to fight them
But that was fine, I did your dirty work, even got the North American championship.
¤Shows a clip of Raven vs. Buster at Battle of LA¤
Rvn gets up and Hart clothelines him. Bret then picks him up, but rvn counters it with a low blow,
rvn then evenflows Hart, Earl Hebner is then seen running to the ring,
rvn pins buster, hebner counts 1............2.............3!!!!!!!!!
Raven: And where did that get me?
¤Shows a clip of Raven vs. Bret Hart from the 2/4/2002 Rage¤
::The ref hands Raven the North American Title, Raven raises his Title in the air as the fans cheer him on, suddenly, Super K and Hell Hound are seen running down the ramp with steel chairs in hand. They get in the the ring, SK then runs at Raven and smacks him on the head with the chair. As raven lays on the matt floor unconscious, HH places his chair on rvn's stomach. HH then signals Sk to go up the top rope, super k gets up on the top rope turnbuckle and performs one of his finishers, the Super Splash right on the chair on top of rvn. HH then leaves rvn in the corner of the ring. Suddenly, Sam The Egg is seen running down the ramp!::
Jim Ross: Its STE Paul!
Paul Heyman: Uh oh!
::STE gets in the ring and gets between raven and the team of X-Rated, STE then picks up both of his fists, acting like he's ready to fight::
Jim Ross: I don't think thats such a good idea.....
::STE then rips off his raven shirt to reveal an nWo shirt! STE then turns around and gives raven a clotheline!::
Jim Ross: GOOD GOD ALL MIGHTY PAUL! DAMNIT! DAMN THIS! SAM THE EGG HAS JUST STABBED RAVEN IN THE BACK! DAMNIT! DAMN THIS TO HELL! DAMN THOSE NWO MEMBERS!
Raven: Heh. I guess it's what I get for playing second-fiddle to a manager. I could see where it was going, so I got out.
¤Shows a clip of the 6/4/2002 Raven promo¤
Bret, I alone here truly feel your pain. And it saddens me to see you with Just Another Stable, because as much as I’d like to help you free yourself from it, I won’t.
Because I just don’t care anymore. This crap with Just Another Stable was just too much for me to tolerate.
And after 14 years, it’s just not worth it anymore. It’s going to be a while before you see me in a wrestling ring again.
Quoth the Raven: Nevermore…
¤Back to Raven¤
Raven: And while I was out, a lot happened. Snake was hospitalized for the zillionth time, the pink panthers became the tag team champions, and
one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, Lou Thesz, died. And, of course, just Another stable was running rampant
in XHWF. But I stayed out, no matter how many times Heyman or anybody else asked me.
¤Shows a clip from the 23/4/2002 Raven promo¤
Raven: It seems like no matter where I go just Another stable is there. I could go to any of a dozen Indy promotions and just Another would pop up there, too. I could go to Japan, but then I’d deal with just Another international stable. It’s like God is mocking me.
¤looks up ¤ Is this some sort of sign? Am I supposed to join them or something? ¤looks back down to the ground ¤
I can’t have anything to do with them anymore. And I can’t fight Sam Berkowitz.
Heyman: And why not? He stabbed you in the back! You should go kick his ass!
Raven: No…if I take my revenge now, it wouldn’t end. I’d attack him, just Another stable would attack me,
I’d fight back, sides would be taken, and it would all end up like it always does, with me out of a job, doing Indy appearances.
¤back to Raven¤
Raven: But in the end it was Snake that brought me back... while I was gone, I was watching, and looking at different people, and it was Snake who caught my eye. It wasn't the constant trips to the hospital, it wasn't him fighting just Another stable, it was him constantly saying that he doesn't need help.
Now, I didn't think much of it at first, nor did I make any sort of conection between it and myself. But something made me keep my eye on him. But when he was going to go into that tag title match
against the Pink Panthers, it finally clicked. It brought back a flood of memories, none of them good, and I realized where it was going, and I booked the first flight available to Lincoln, Nebraska for Ground Zero.
¤Shows a clip of the Tag Title match from Ground Zero¤
Snake then picks up jc and powerbombs him. snake pins jc, the ref counts 1…2…rafael runs in and breaks the count, jc picks up snake, JC whips Snake hard into the ropes and Raph drops him with a clothesline. JC gives the signal for the JCval Stunner...and Raven runs in!
Jim Ross: ITS RAVEN! ITS RAVEN! GOOD GOD ALL MIGHTY RAVEN HAS RETURNED!
Paul Heyman: RAVEN IS HERE!
He turns JC around and gives him the Evenflow! He covers...1...2...3!!!
Jim Ross: SNAKE AND RAVEN HAVE WON THE MATCH!
Paul Heyman: GOOD GOD JR! SNAKE AND RAVEN ARE THE NEW XHWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!!!!
:: Raven tosses one of the tag team belts to snake, and lifts up his tag belt and North American belt while doing the crucifix pose before leaving through the crowd... ::
¤Back to Raven¤
Raven: Sure, at first you didn't want my help. And understandably so. I ran into your match and even though I helped you, I stuck my nose in your buisness.
☼Shows a clip of 'Face Off'☼
¤Raven is walking in the back with his NA title belt and one of the tag title belts over his shoulder. Snake runs up to him¤
Raven: yes?
Snake: What the hell was that? Huh? Who the hell do you think you are? Better yet, what the hell did you think you were doing out there?
☼Back to Raven☼
But, slowly but surely, brick by brick, your wall was slowly being unbuilt, and you were beggining to accept my help.
☼Shows a clip from 'Barren'☼
¤The scene begins for the viewers with a wide camera shot of the arena, now
empty of viewers, vendors, fans. Its an empty, desolate, perhaps depressing
scene. But then the camera angle changes, and we are taken to a ring side view.
Two figures can be seen sitting in the empty aisles, seperated by a few empty seats
in a few empty rows. Upon closer inspection, we see Raven, sitting in the
first row, and Snake, sitting four rows behind him. Snake is seen eatting pop
corn. Both seem to be in thought, but then again, when do they seem any other
way?¤
Snake: This pop corn is good you know.
☼back to Raven☼
And while that was going on, a turning point in my non-feud with just Another stable took place. My promise to myself not to fight Sam was broken...
☼Shows a clip from 'Broken'☼
¤Raven turns around, any hint of injury gone¤
Oh, you gonna glare at me again? Oh, no! I'm so fu-
¤Raven kicks him in the gut and evenflows him! The crowd goes NUTS! He picks him up and evenflows him again! He picks him up and does it again! He whips him into the ropes and hits the drop toehold onto the chair! He lifts him up and dumps him over the top rope!¤
Raven: I've had it with you, Riot, and just Another stable. I want elimination by any means necessary.
(Voice Over Raven: And I finally got to vent my frustrations with him in a match...)
☼Shows a clip from Sam Berkowitz vs. Raven from Explosion☼
Raven picks the bloody carcass of Sam up and drags him to the center of the ring and sets him down. He asks for a mic and the mic wrangler tosses him one. ¤
Raven: Sam. ¤Sits down at Sam’s side¤ I told you that I would stain Indianapolis with your blood…
¤Raven picks Sam up and Evenflows him in the center of the ring. The part of his shirt and arm where he had Sam’s head is red from his blood. ¤
Raven: You brought this on yourself, Sam.
¤Raven picks him up and Evenflows him again. ¤
Raven: I warned you what happened when someone joined just Another stable, Sam.
¤Raven picks him up and Evenflows him again. ¤
Raven: I feel your pain, Sam.
¤Raven picks him up and Evenflows him AGAIN. ¤
Raven: This could’ve been avoided, Sam.
¤Raven tries to pick him up again, but Sam’s unconscious and his body is flaccid. ¤
Raven: GET UP, SAM!
¤Raven knees him in the gut and forces him up and Evenflows him again. ¤
Raven: This is your own fault, Sam…
¤Raven forces him up and Evenflows him again. This time he puts a single foot over Sam’s chest and makes the crucifix pose for the cover …1…2…3! Raven wins the match. ¤
☼Back to Raven☼
And, understandably so, he was out for a while. And with him out of the way, Snake and I could finally, truely, fight just Another stable.
☼Shows a clip from the TLC match from Night of Imfamy☼
He turns and gives Riot an Evenflow! He sets the ladder back up and puts Riot in a fireman’s carry and climbs the ladder and HITS A DEATH VALLEY DRIVER OFF THE LADDER THROUGH THE COMMENTATORS TABLE!!! SWEET JESUS RIOT IS DEAD!!! Amidst the commotion of Riot’s recent passing, HH sneaks back in the ring and climbs the ladder, but Snake catches him and climbs up as well. They trade blows…er…they punch each other atop the ladder just below the belts. HH catches an attempted left by Snake and has him set up for a Hell Crusher. He lifts him up and swings him over but as they fall, Snake hooks his legs around the title belts. He punches HH in the head until he goes crashing into the canvas! Snake bends up, unhooks the belts and nearly lands on his head on the canvas…but with the title belts! Snake and Raven win the match!!!
☼Back to Raven☼
Somewhere in there we fought Cobra and Rob, but I won't even dignify them with more than that.
Also during that time, I was on a mission. Hell Hound, the first person to join my Flock, was in Just Another Stable. Somehow, Riot had gotten into his head and gotten him to believe that Just Another Stable would help him get to the top. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're the world champion, aren't you already on top? I tried, as hard as I could, to get Hell Hound out, but he just wouldn't listen. ¤Raven at this point gets frustrated, and he hits an equipment box next to him¤ Try as I might, I failed Hell Hound. His shell was just thicker than Snakes, or I just didn't try hard enough, either way, I failed and tomorrow I'm wrestling Hell Hound along with the rest of them, with everything on the line.
In September the company closed. For three months, everybody waited in nervous anticipation, wondering if we were going to have a job to go back to. For three months, nothing happened. Then, in January, XHWF re-opened. I'd like to say that things had changed, but nothing had changed. But... January was Do or Die. The circle was complete. Not only had Just Another Stable gone a year being on top, but you had stuck me and Snake in the tournament, which, looking back, was smart on your part. We both went through the tournament fairly easily. But then, we had to fight each other.
¤shows a clip of the DOD tournament finals¤
Snake can barely stand, and Raven seemingly has no use of his arm, and now can barely walk. How, HOW are these two even standing?? Wait, they're....SMILING AT EACH OTHER!!! They get to the middle of the ring, and Raven punches Snake. Snake punches Raven. Raven hits him again, and kicks him. He goes for the Evenflow, but Snake shoves him back. Raven bounces off the ropes, and Snake gives him the VENOM INDUCER!!!! The crowd ERUPTS!!! Snake covers Raven. 1!!!!!!!!! 2!!!!!!!!! 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Snake wins!!!!!!!!! Snake wins the match!!!!!!!!!!!!! Snake wins the tournament!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
¤back to Raven¤
Raven: Yes, Snake had won, and I was fine with that, I still am. But it wasn't enough for you, was it, Riot? You had us in a tag match against you and Hell Hound for our titles a week later. We won, but you brought in your new sheep Maretta in and all of you beat us down. At this point, everybody either feared or hated Just Another Stable, or both. Snake and I found 2 others who only hated you, and all of us came together and fought back...
¤Shows a clip of '4pocalypse Now'¤
*Super K gets up on the barrier and gives Riot the Permanent Solution! Snake gets another chair and hits the chair on Riot’s head over and over again until the chair falls off, and starts smashing it against Riot’s bare face until the tape tears and Riot falls to the ground. They all get back into the ring, JJ dragging Riot’s flaccid body with him. *
Snake: What you’ve just witnessed is the beginning of the Apocalypse of the nWo.
¤Back To Raven¤
Raven: And then you took Snake's title shot away from him and gave it to me. Heh. I guess maybe you were trying to drive a wedge between us. So while I took on HellHound, Snake got his shot at you. We both won, but it still eats me up inside that my title shot belonged to somebody else. The world title, the thing that makes you the best in the federation, is meaningless if it doesn't prove that. And I didn't even accomplish what I set out to do, get HellHound out of just Another stable. I failed HellHound before and I failed him then.
I think this is where we left off. We challenged you to a War Games match and that's about it. This has been going on for so long I'm almost gonna miss it. Sometimes the hunt is all we have to keep us going. But another part of me, the majority of me, is glad that this feud is going to come to a finish. I don't know how this is going to end, I don't know whats going to happen afterwards. I can only hope that the answers will come to me in my sleep, and that when the end does come, I'll be able to breathe a sigh of releif, because there will be so much to look forward to.
You've had a good run at the top, nWo, but all good things must come to an end.
Quoth the Raven: Nevermore...
¤Raven puts his head down and the screen fades to black¤
