Backstage – The Fallout of Raw
Vince McMahon was furious.
Jaxon Cross should've been broken after that match with The Acolytes. He should've been carted out on a stretcher, left in a pool of his own blood, humiliated in front of the world.
Instead?
He got up.
And he laughed.
That moment—a bloodied, half-broken Jaxon smirking into the camera—was already spreading like wildfire. Fans weren't booing him anymore.
They were cheering.
Jaxon Cross wasn't just surviving Vince's punishment. He was thriving in it.
That had to stop.
"We need to end this now," Vince growled, pacing in his office. "I don't care how tough this son of a bitch is. I want him put down."
Standing across from him, arms crossed, was The Rock.
The Great One. The People's Champion. The most charismatic man in wrestling.
"So let me get this straight, Vinny Mac," Rock said, raising an eyebrow. "You got some bald-headed, no-charisma, walking pile of beef running around acting like he's the toughest guy in the business. And you need The Rock to shut him up?"
Vince nodded.
The Rock smirked. "Say no more."
---
Monday Night Raw – The Promo Battle
The arena was electric. The fans knew something big was about to happen.
"IF YA SMELLLLLLLL… WHAT THE ROCK… IS COOKIN'!"
The crowd exploded.
The Rock strutted to the ring, soaking in the cheers, microphone in hand. He climbed the turnbuckle, raised his eyebrow, and then turned toward the entrance ramp.
"Now The Rock was in the back, drinking a little bit of the People's Water, eating a little bit of the People's Pie… when he hears some jabroni running his mouth like he's the baddest man to ever step into a WWE ring."
The fans cheered.
"So The Rock has to come out here, stand in front of the millions—"
"AND MILLIONS!" the crowd chanted.
"—of The Rock's fans, and ask one simple question…"
He turned to the camera.
"Who in the blue hell… is Jaxon Cross?"
The crowd popped.
Then—Jaxon's music hit.
No theatrics. No special effects. Just cold, aggressive music as he marched to the ring.
Jaxon stepped through the ropes, locked eyes with The Rock, and grabbed a microphone.
The crowd buzzed.
This was it.
"You wanna know who I am?" Jaxon asked, voice low, dangerous. "I'm the guy who doesn't give a damn about your catchphrases. I'm the guy who walked into this company and made people bleed. I'm the guy who doesn't need the fans to chant his name to know that I'm the most dangerous man in this business."
The Rock smirked, pacing the ring.
"Ohhh, the tough guy act. That's cute. Let The Rock tell you something, Jax—you come out here, you run your mouth, you act like you're bigger than this company, but the fact of the matter is this… you haven't done a damn thing yet."
The crowd ooh'd.
Jaxon chuckled. "That so?"
"That's so," Rock shot back. "Because The Rock has done it all. Main events. Championships. Sold-out arenas. The Rock built this business. And your bald-headed ass is out here acting like you're something special? Nah. You're just another wannabe tough guy waiting to get his ass whooped."
Jaxon stepped closer, nose-to-nose with Rock.
"You done talking?"
The Rock grinned.
"Oh no, no, no, no, no—The Rock isn't done talking. No, no, no, The Rock wants to make sure you understand one thing, Jaxon: You step into the ring with The Great One, and your candy ass is going to get beaten, broken, and smacked all over this arena until you finally realize… you ain't on The Rock's level."
Jaxon smirked.
"Then prove it."
The Rock's eyes narrowed.
Jaxon dropped the mic.
The challenge was set.
---
Backstage – Vince's Next Move
Vince McMahon watched the promo from his office. It was exactly what he wanted—Jaxon vs. Rock was already feeling like a main event feud.
But Vince wasn't done stacking the deck.
He picked up the phone.
"Next week on Raw, book Jaxon in a match… against The Big Show."
---
Next Week – Raw: Jaxon Cross vs. The Big Show
Jaxon knew it was a setup before the match even started.
The Big Show was Vince's insurance policy. A seven-foot, five-hundred-pound monster, built like a damn wrecking machine.
And now, Jaxon had to go through him.
The bell rang.
Big Show charged.
Jaxon sidestepped—then chopped at his legs!
The crowd roared as Jaxon launched into a brutal assault, targeting Big Show's knees. Kicks, elbows, anything to slow the giant down.
But Show was too strong.
One massive chop sent Jaxon sprawling.
Jaxon staggered back up—Big Show grabbed him by the throat.
CHOKESLAM!
The ring shook.
Big Show smirked. Vince watched from the ramp, arms crossed, waiting for the pin.
1… 2…
Jaxon kicked out.
The crowd exploded.
Big Show scowled, dragging Jaxon up for another chokeslam—but Jaxon countered!
Steel elbow to the skull!
Another!
Big Show stumbled—Jaxon lifted him—FALLAWAY SLAM!
The crowd lost their minds.
Big Show had never been thrown like that before.
Jaxon collapsed, exhausted, but he crawled toward Show's fallen body. He hooked the leg.
1… 2… 3.
Jaxon had won.
---
Backstage – The Rock is Watching
The camera cut backstage.
The Rock stood watching a monitor, arms crossed.
For the first time, there was no smirk.
Just silent, cold focus.
Jaxon Cross wasn't a joke.
And at the next PPV…
He was about to become The Rock's biggest problem.