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Renegade had lost control of this match once again. He got put back on the mat by Bad Boy's arsenal of moves, this one causing him to land on the back of his head and torso. Young wrapped his arms around the back of his head after the impact of the move had tested his pain tolerance even more.

One!
Two!
Th-

Two!!

Young swung his arm out toward the heavens to barely get the shoulder up by the count of three. This match was arguably the most grueling match of his career. Renegade was getting put in his place by Bad Boy and there was only so much assault someone could take before they lost the ability to continue fighting. Every part of his body was sore and everything on Young's body, especially his ribs, had been exposed.

One of Bad Boy's legs was interlocked with Renegade's, but Young knew that he would submit if the Cloverleaf was locked in. He didn't even know it was a cloverleaf, but submissions that began with interlocking the legs while being on his back were more than likely targeted at his torso. Being a man who really prided himself on submissions came to advantage, but it wouldn't mean a damn thing if he tapped out to one. As soon as Bad Boy put his leg in front of Young's, the California Kid went to shift his body towards the Rumble winner's other leg and turn the attempted submission into a small package!

Young stood himself up slower than Brad, still recuperating from the Nightmare on Helms Street, and was presented with the opening he had been looking for. This was a chance to humble Bad Boy and end this close contest once and for all. The opportunity to establish himself was going to be seized.

Because that ******** arm was right in front of him.

Renegade went to evade the clothesline by going the direction parallel to Bad Boy's fist. He tried to catch the arm and drop to his keep, hoping to yank the Rumble winner flat on his stomach. If all went according to his plan, Young would go to wrap his legs around that very arm and lock in his finish, Welcome 2 the West Coast!

Young had rivalries that lasted more than a match, but he had made this personal. He didn't care who was putting him down; the California Kid was going to prove to everyone that he belonged here as soon as Bad Boy submitted. Renegade pulled back fiercely on the Rumble winner's face, his closed eyes serving as a reflection of how much effort he was putting into the submission.

Welcome 2 the West Coast was still locked in. Young wanted Bad Boy to tap and regret the moment he ever undermined the king of the indies. Renegade pulled on Bad Boy's face with all his might, his eyes tightly shut still. He had no idea his shoulders were on the mat. Robinson was in a position to first notice the California Kid being flat on the canvas, rather than Bad Boy breaking the hold or using the ropes as leverage.

One!

Perhaps that was just the sound of Bad Boy beginning to tap out or stomping the ground. He didn't even hear the referee.

Two!

At the count of two, Young heard the call from Robinson and opened his eyes to see the referee counting the pin. See, the independent legend was prideful. This would be a good time to let go of the hold and get his shoulder up. But he was worried that the opportunity of locking in his sole finisher would not come again, had he and Bad Boy's match continued. Young went to roll back to the center of the ring... but Bad Boy seemingly weighed twice as much as he did earlier. Surely it must have had something to do with all that weight on his damaged ribs. Renegade could not get the shoulder up or change positioning.

Three!



The California Kid was defeated. By nature of his respectful habits and traditions, he released the hold. His initial thought was that he had lost fair and square. How wrong and cheated he would feel moments later.

Renegade rolled to his knees with a facial expression that read heartbreak. This was one of the first few opportunities he had to show he was better than everyone else thought he was, and in his eyes, that would be proven with a win over an elite wrestler. Close matches didn't cut it. He immediately began thinking of what he could have done better as he stood up and hung his head down, leaning his elbows against the turnbuckles. However, once he looked towards the top of the ramp, a replay was shown, and it had revealed to Young exactly what had happened. Frustrated, he turned to Robinson to argue the call, but he could not reverse the decision and even the California Kid was aware of that. Shortly thereafter, Renegade walked the direction of the ring announcer on the outside and gave profanity-laced demands for a microphone. It wasn't that Young was an a*****e, but a disappointed competitor cheated out of the biggest match of his career. Once he was handed a microphone, the music died down and he turned to face Bad Boy at the top of the ramp. He spoke with heavy breathing between each phrase, exhausted from this wrestling classic.

"When they show... highlights... of this match," he said before wiping the sweat of his face and snot from his nose. "They're going to show how you cheated... how you cheated to beat a man who doesn't belong here." More heavy breathing. Young stumbled back, a sharp pain in his ribs from the previous onslaught shooting through his veins. He winced and groaned, making sure to put the microphone away from his lips before he did. Renegade lifted the microphone back to his mouth as he muscled himself back up to stand up straight. He wasn't a man who spoke too much, but tonight was appropriate, especially after the in-ring spectacle the two put on.

"I just hope they don't leave out the part... where you begged me to stop kicking your a**."

The crowd cheered and hollered for Young's proposed highlight reel. Bad Boy was asking for forgiveness almost immediately following his opening speech. The California Kid soaked in a few seconds of audience approval before finishing his message.

"I hope you win that belt, Bad Boy... I really do. I hope you put all your energy... and all your effort into that match at Wrestlemania. Because... at the grandest stage of them all... I'm taking that Money in the Bank briefcase..." The sold-out audience roared loudly, knowing that the babyface who just had a kick a** match and had proved himself tonight, was going to have a date at Wrestlemania. Renegade smiled at the crowd reaction; it had significantly grown since the Rumble. He walked toward the ropes closest to the titantron, shooting imaginary daggers into Bad Boy's soul.

"... and by the end of the night, we'll really see who belongs where!"

Renegade Young, one of the hottest rising stars, had announced himself as a contestant in the annual Money in the Bank match, and the fans of the World Wrestling Federation were given hope that these two would meet again. The California Kid grabbed his native flag and draped it over one of his shoulders, climbing to the middle turnbuckle and staring down Bad Boy once more.