Ascendance: Money in the Bank

Monday night Fusion episode 89 kicks off as usual with an incredible fireworks display atop the stage which sets off the packed crowd roaring with anticipation and excitement. They are all ready for yet another night of CMV action as well as the fallout of Purgatory. We’re now officially on the final stretch towards the grandest stage of them all, Ascendance, and some colossal matches have already been set with many more to follow still. As the fireworks finish, a poor Dashing, sitting at the commentary table with his cowboy hat and mountain dew, struggles to welcome everyone watching from home as he always does due to his fading voice and sheer noise of the fans in attendance. He powers through though and before anyone has a chance to settle, a familiar sounding superstar’s theme hits the arena.



The pride of Scotland, Jacob Ziegler, walks out onto the stage to a standing ovation after his win over his old rival Paul Divine last night. Of course kitted in his iconic dank leather jacket and gold chain, Ziegler stands tall and proud for a moment with his old almost cocky grin which has been missing since his return 1 month ago. Although things haven’t been going exactly the way he would have wanted since returning, everything looks to be back on track after 2 massive wins in the past week which has definitely put out a statement that the Scotsman absolutely belongs where he thinks he should be, and that is in the main event. He begins making his way down the centre of the ramp towards the ring, as usual ignoring all the fans desperate for a high five but taking in their ovation all the same. He collects a microphone from Edith as he enters the ring and waits for his music to stop. Of course the fans are still cheating and chanting his name but instead of waiting for them to quiet down completely, he simply talks over them.

Jacob Ziegler
Now that was how things were supposed to go!

With a huge grin still across his face Ziegler lowers the mic and now allows the fans time to cheer, clearly he’s in a good mood tonight.

Jacob Ziegler
Be honest now, which of you were starting to doubt me? Come on there has to be a few of you. I know for a fact a lot of the guys backstage were starting to and hell, I was even beginning to doubt myself a little so I don’t blame any of you. I came back with all the hype in the world and haven’t delivered but now? Now I’m feeling invigorated, I’m feeling on fire, I’m feeling like I could take on the world baby! Who knew all I needed was some classic one on one matches against a few of the biggest stars in this company to showcase just how good I can actually be. No tag matches where I have to look out for my partners, no stupid triple threat matches where I don’t actually have to be pinned to lose, none of that. Just me against one other guy who I can wipe the floor with without any other distractions.

Ziegler’s hyped up attitude tonight is only encouraging the fans to keep screaming and cheering which this time forces the Scotsman to stop as he can barely be heard over them. He doesn’t mind though, nothing is going to bring his mood down tonight. After a minute they quiet down enough for him to speak again.

Jacob Ziegler
Last week I fought a man who still to this day thinks he was my mentor and still thinks he’s better than me. Just like I did a year ago, I shut that shit down! Granted he’s improved since last year and has the gold to prove that but last week I proved that no matter how damn good Xander Slate is, I’m still just so much better. We fought for almost a full half hour in what many are calling a match of the year candidate already but even despite his cheap tactics and how good he is, I walked out with the win, and Xander? Well, he walked out with a concussion. Credit where credit is due though, he fought through his injury last night and is still the United States champion so congratulations Xander. Count your blessings though, after I beat your ass last week I was offered a chance to beat you yet again for that championship you hold over your shoulder but I respectfully declined. No, no offence to Xander Slate and his United States championship but I have a much bigger goal in my sights.

Ziegler briefly lowers the mic and looks around the arena thinking what he should say next. Still grinning though, it’s clear he knows something.

Jacob Ziegler
Before I get to that though I want to quickly touch on my match from last night and address Paul Divine directly. Now don’t come out here though because I know you have a habit of getting all up in my face, just listen to me. A few weeks ago I said that you were slacking and you don’t have that same fire that you had around this time last year. After last night I stand by that statement. You have a spot in the main event of Ascendance and if you arrive with the same attitude and lack of desire that you still have right now, I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that it’ll be the same sad old Paul Divine/Sushi-X story where you can’t do it on your own and you need that backup from your big old joke of a brother, or now seemingly from the sniveling little shitweasel that is Schmidty. If that turns out to be the case Paul then you can kiss goodbye to any shred of respect that you’ve earned from me and all these people over the past year. Pull your finger out of your ass and start getting ready and if you decide to stay on Fusion and if you somehow turn it around and win the championship, I’ll see once again very soon.

The sudden serious shift in tone does a lot to calm the crowd down but you can tell it’s not going to stay that way. As Ziegler is finished addressing the Asian Sensation he turns his head towards the stage as if expecting him to come running out but he doesn’t. After a minute, the grin comes back and he speaks once more.

Jacob Ziegler
Now let's get to why I’m actually out here right now shall we? Dumbass- I mean Dashing over there, the good old voice of CMV, made a really good point last night, apologies big Den. Dashing said that despite my big wins against our United States champion and Royal Rumble winner, both of them actually have a spot on the Ascendance card. I on the other hand do not. Well, until now anyway. You see I had a few words with Johnny Sampson and we spoke about how I deserve some sort of opportunity after my recent performances. He agreed with me and like previously stated, offered me an opportunity at Xander Slate’s United States championship. As grateful as I am for that, I’m aiming for more so I said no. Johnny had another idea in mind though and this one, this one I like. So ladies and gentlemen I’m happy to announce that I will indeed be going to Ascendance and I will be joined there by 5 other guys in a Fusion exclusive, Money in the Bank ladder match!

Told you so, upon hearing the announcement the fans once again erupt. We all know how chaotic a match it will be regardless of who is in it and now that it’s confirmed for Ascendance, the show of shows is looking to be even grander.

Jacob Ziegler
Now I have absolutely no idea who the other 5 men will be, I’m not even sure if Johnny knows. It doesn’t matter though because with how I’m feeling right now, there’s no doubt in my mind that come Ascendance it will be me climbing the rungs and standing atop the ladder, pulling down the briefcase and guaranteeing myself a shot at the title I want. So to those other 5 guys, sorry but you’re just… I guess, not that good.

As it looks like the Scotsman is done, he takes one last moment to take in the cheers from the fans before walking over towards the ropes. Before having a chance to exit though he is stopped by the music of another superstar which causes him to lose his grin and back up back into the center of the ring.

(Open to Rifted)

--The all too familiar theme of Adam Valentine plays, announcing the man as he steps out on stage looking as smug as ever. There's a commotion heard off-screen, causing the shot to cut to a wide angle. Now we see as Shane Scott, running perpendicular to Valentine, launches himself up and off of the ramp, delivering a flying right knee flush to the side of Adam’s face. Taken unawares, the momentum sends Valentine tumbling to the edge, his left arm dangling limp in the air. Shane kneels down next to him and tilts his head, wearing a mixture of admiration and absolute glee on his face. Scott ruffles his hair before standing up to deliver two additional boots to Adam’s side, pushing him off the edge and down to the floor. He then turns down the ramp, smooths his jacket out, and jaunts down to meet the superstars in the ring. On the way, he passes Bad Men Inc., faux-jumping at them as well.

As he reaches the end of the ramp, Scott politely extends his hand to a confused ringside personnel, who in turn doesn't react quick enough for his liking. Shane pushes past him, grabbing a microphone and, unfortunately for the poor man's hydration, his bottle of water. Scott climbs the steps and dips in between the ropes gracefully, surrounded on all sides by competitors. Despite this, he looks incredibly cool and collected, a wiry smirk on his face. Taking a moment to unscrew the cap and take a sip, he scans the faces of the men in the ring, nodding slowly. After re-capping the bottle and tossing it to ringside, he raises the mic to his lips and makes an exaggerated noise of satisfaction.--

Shane Scott
"Ahhhhh... you know, hydration is important, especially when it comes to whooping the asses of those who would think that this is their opportunity. Because it isn't. It isn't even close. See, you all might be there, and you might be involved, but do not dare to think that because you are in the match, this is your chance. Don't think that you," he says, pointing to Spade, "or you and you," jabbing the same finger at Devious & Briggs, "have any minuscule hope of climbing that ladder and retrieving that briefcase. Because you don't. I refuse to allow for my opportunity to be squandered by a couple of butt buddies and this coal shoveler. That's right, kids. If you couldn't tell from poor Adam boy over there, Filth has entered the Money In The Bank ladder match.

And you can talk about odds and numbers all you want, boys. You can talk about your sixty-six and one third percent chances, you can use the Pythagorean Theorem, you can find the tangent of the line.. it just doesn't matter. Numbers do lie. Numbers don't account for the dastardly and vile lengths I'm willing to go through to win this match. Numbers can't factor in Shane Scott being willing to drive you head first from the top of the ladder down to the outside of the ring. Make no mistake about it: I am willing and able to end all of your careers in one fell swoop. Your careers and livelihoods... and quite frankly, your lives, mean nothing to me. That Money In The Bank briefcase is an ass-strapping rocket that will guarantee to take your... MY career to new heights. And none of you deserve that..."

--Scott pauses, now turning to Ziegler. He smiles surprisingly pleasantly as he locks eyes with Jacob.--

Shane Scott
"Well, maybe not none of you. See, Ziegler here has something the rest of you don't: my respect. It'll be an honor to do battle with a man of this caliber. When I decided to enter into this match, I thought I'd be coming from the bottom. I thought I'd be the secret threat, a snake among wolves. But, looking now at all of you, the only true challenger I see is him. My only competition."

--Scott extends his hand toward Ziegler in a show of respect, something almost completely out of character for him. He nods at Ziegler who in turn stares back. Scott licks his lips, chuckling slowly.--

Shane Scott
"I really can't blame you. At the end of the day, I'll crack your skull just as quickly as anyone else in this match. It was worth a shot for both of us, though, and I'd hope you consider a sort of makeshift alliance. Neither of us need it, of course. But I'd love to test my mettle against an actual decorated superstar at Ascendance. Just something to think about... but maybe you'd be smart to not just the filth."

--Scott tsk tsk's, shooting fingerguns at Ziegler before bowing out of the ring. He goes to make his way up the ramp but spies Briggs & Devious waiting for him. Turning on his heels, he climbs the barricade and disappears into the crowd, the last thing he says from the mob of fans being, "There is poison in the fang of the serpent, in the mouth of the fly and in the sting of a scorpion; but the wicked man is saturated with it. And I'm a wicked, wicked man."--