Time Scale: 12 Days After Hell In A Cell 2019 - Location: WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live - Backstage.

Destroyer's Personal Observation:

Both me and "The IIconics" arrived backstage at Smackdown Live - Cassie and Jessica having coffee in their hands as they came in, whilst I had a Dr. Pepper bottle in my hand. What? I don't drink hot drinks, and I didn't want any water right now.

Anyway, once we'd arrived: Billie and Peyton both kissed my on my cheeks before heading off to sort something out, and figure out what was going on today. I was heading to the locker room to get ready for the evening, finding out that I had only 2 things going on for me tonight. 

The first? I didn't know what it was or what it is just yet, but no doubt Hunter would fill me in on it, and the second? Offering up an open challenge match for my Universal Championship in a regular match on the Smackdown before this years Crown Jewel. The reason why? Well, you'll figure out later, won't you?

When I got to the locker room, I was met by Roman and Braun, both of whom having not long arrived themselves, weirdly, and Braun himself was skimming through the script for the show...a script that, I have no doubt, will probably be scrapped half-an-hour before Smackdown begins like the countless other times it has throughout the year because of old Vinny Mac.

"I'd memorize that quickly, if I were you Adam. Ya never know if the old man has a change of mind before the show begins." I half-joked - calling Braun by his actual name, as the two of us got on fairly well outside of the ring. Well, if the night out last week wasn't any indication. 

Braun smirked a bit, as did Joe (Roman), as the latter person threw me a bottle of chilled water after fist-bumping me. "My man! How was last week?" Joe asked me, given that he hadn't gone out last week because he'd gone back to his hotel that night. 

"Can't complain at all, mate. As I'm sure Adam 'ere can testify, right?" I said as me and Braun bro-hugged one-another. 

"Got that right. Still couldn't believe you couldn't get drunk then." We all had a laugh at that as we sorted our stuff out in the locker room, and even listening to each others tales from our time apart after the show and night at the bar last Friday night...Did I just unintentionally quote the name of an old song or something?

Soon we were pretty much ready for the show, with Roman himself only needing to sort out 1 or two things before the show. But as I got my big red toy of a belt out from one of my travel bags, we got a knock on the door from one of the backstage crew, who also told me that Hunter wanted to speak to me about something urgent.

"Better not keep him waiting." Roman said, fixing his combat vest as he did so. I nodded in agreement and soon headed off after fist-bumping both Braun and Roman, and made my way to find Hunter. Surprisingly, I didn't have to wait too long to find him, as he was outside of his office talking with one the tech guys over some last minute stuff. 

When he saw me though, he smirked a bit and we shook hands. 

"Good to see you. I've got something for you to check out before tonight's show." he began, and both brought a championship bag out, and opened it up to reveal what was inside of it...and my god, it was f***ing pretty! 

Not as pretty as Jess and Cassie of course.

I know what you're thinking: 'Well? What the hell does it look like!?' right? Well, first of all, calm down mate. Second, you'll see what it looks like later.

I could hear Hunters chuckle though from where he was standing, and no doubt it was from my reaction to - as my good friend Toni Storm would say - the 'Shiny Shiny'. 

"I'm guessing you like it then?" he asked me, which I nodded in response almost immediately. I then felt Cassie and Jessica pounce on my back and see what I was looking at, and even they were amazed.

"Oh mate! That beauty looks schmick!" Billie spoke first, in a way that did make me slightly cringe, but otherwise was kind of sweet. Peyton looked up to Hunter and asked him "Is this the new look for his title?" Hunter simply nodded with a smirk, at first. 

"One of them." That did confuse us at first, but we would soon find out what he meant. I certainly would do later. 

Needless to say, this was going to be an interesting evening.

End of pov.

Later On:

https://youtu.be/Xe-JnRO89vI

As soon as "The IIconics's" music began to play in the background, the crowd cheered and booed them in equal measure...but wow, what a loud reaction they did get though as they made their way down to the ring after doing their stage pose with 2 championship-like bags in their hands. 

That last part got peoples minds racing, as they couldn't help but wonder what was in the bag - or more specifically what kind of title was in the bag. When they did get into the ring, they took a couple of microphones as they placed the belts in the bags on a large podium-like table of sorts that was conveniently in the ring.

"Settle down, settle down!" Billie said as the crowd began to quieten down a bit after a while, which only made them cheer and jeer more, and caused both ladies to roll their eyes a bit and cover their ears. 

"Now...I'm sure all of ya want to know what's in these little things 'ere? Well, for that answer, we need a certain someone to come out here, don't we!" Peyton said with a smirk, and then they both looked to the stage...before Destroyer's second theme song began to play - which the crowd popped at - before 'The King Destruction' came out to the ring in his more...casual/street fight style gear.

https://youtu.be/p9p9bMtLYko

Weirdly, Destroyer was carrying his Universal Championship in his hand similar to how Tetsuya Naito drags a title he held along the floor - whilst "The King of Destruction" himself was soaking in the numerous reactions he got from the crowd. 

When he got in the ring: he placed the Universal Championship on the closest turnbuckle, and then climbed up onto the turnbuckle on the other side and watched over as the crowd cheered loudly for him...even if he wasn't doing anything in particular on the turnbuckle beyond overseeing his domain.

When he got down, he looked over at a smiling IIconic duo who looked like they were trying not to look at his showing scars. Destroyer soon put the Universal Championship over his shoulder before grabbing a microphone and looking at the audience briefly.

"I'll be honest here, folks...your guess as to why they called me here is as good as mine, but somehow I think that these Aussie beauties have something for me." he said with a little bit of a cocky edge - speaking in a more natural way with a slight bit of unintended humor - but the crowd went "Ooooh!" at 'The King of Destruction' calling The IIconics 'these Aussie beauties'.

Billie then came up and took the Universal title from Destroyer's shoulder - which got a raised eyebrow from said person from underneath his sunglasses - before Billie and Peyton spoke one after the other.

"First of all, I think it's safe to say that that big red...thing, for lack of a better word, doesn't suit this brand or you." Billie began. "So we've managed to get ya a new belt with a more...fitting look, for you to carry around." Peyton finished. 

The crowd did cheer a bit at the sound of a newer look for the Universal Championship, instead of Smackdown having the big red Universal Jampionshit cluttering up Smackdown's screen. Even Destroyer seemed intrigued by the sound of that as he crossed his arms over his chest. Both Billie and Peyton did raise their hands up a bit.

"Hold on! Hold ya horses people!" Billie said, tempering down the crowd. "We can't promise this look is gonna be better than...well, that red eye sore..." she continued, pointing at the red Universal Championship as she said the words 'red eye sore' before Peyton finished off what she was going to say.

"But given the choice between what we have for ya Destroyer, and that thing...Eh, it's an upgrade I'd say." And with that, they soon got the new, updated look for the Universal Championship from the first of the two bags. 

[Note: Imagine that the side plates aren't "The Fiend's", but is basically these ones down below. The first without Stone Colds initials, naturally].

The crowd had a mixed reaction to this new bluer look for the Universal Championship. It certainly fit for the brand colour scheme, and it certainly did look better than its Raw red counterpart. Though no doubt fans were already nicknaming this updated look as 'the Blueniversal Championship' instead.

The IIconics soon handed the title to Destroyer - who walked over as they did so and had a look at the new look for the Universal Championship - and 'The King of Destruction' inspected the title before nodding and speaking into his microphone.

"It's definitely a better look than the one I came out with, I'll say that." He then looks over to Billie and Peyton and smirked a bit before the two eagerly helped attach the title around the waist of 'The King of Destruction'.

However, he then looked over to the other bag with a look of confusion, yet intrigue. He then raises his microphone up and spoke into it as he looked at the remaining bag still. "What's in that bag?" he asked simply, to which Billie and Peyton smirked a bit and tried not to laugh. Peyton spoke first.

"Weeelll...we might 'ave slightly told a tall tale!" "We didn't just get ya one new belt!" Billie continued, before both said at the same time as they unveiled the championship in the second bag ""We got you two new belts!"" And with that, they unveiled the second title.

Now, despite the fact that Destroyer had seen it earlier when Hunter had asked to speak to him, Destroyer couldn't help but whistle in amazement at the look of this belt. Whilst it would probably divide some people, it was a much better design than the red belt and his new blue belt by a major mile. 

Billie and Peyton handed the second new belt to a gaping Destroyer - his look being a rather priceless one to the fans, and they didn't blame the reaction either to be fair - and Destroyer brushed a hand across the front center plate of the belt before placing it over his shoulder with a smirk on his face. Even when he had a microphone back in hand, he was still trying to get over his speechlessness a bit.

"I think I speak for us all when I say this...but F***ING hell, this thing looks pretty!" He didn't much care if there were some who disagreed, because to him: it was as perfect as his girlfriends in the ring with him...though, to him, they were more prettier to be fair.

He soon smirked a bit before looking at the crowd, moving the topic on that had some relevance to his new titles. "Now...I know there are some of you who are wondering 'What's my plans or opponent for Crown Jewel?' right?" He got an understandably reasonable booing reaction at the mere mention of Crown Jewel, giving how bad said event had been the year prior. 

Destroyer merely chuckled a bit, before adopting a far more serious expression as he continued. "Well, hate to tell all of ya who actually do care about that, or who actually want something...different, for that show. Buuuut I'm afraid that, legally and religiously, I'm not actually allowed into Saudi."

That was something that surprised the crowd and The IIconics - the latter two knowing that Destroyer himself wasn't religious by any stretch of the imagination, even if he slightly believed in a god. 

Destroyer waiting for the boos and the changes of 'What!' to subside. He then continued. "Look, I'm in no way religious. But I have family who are, and in no way will I go to Saudi because I respect my family! And I don't give a crap if that makes old Vinny Mac mad, or if he loses his mind over the fact that I'm costing him his 'oh so important' blood money!" 

The crowd were surprised by that roasting of and him shooting on Vince McMahon. 

"But! Don't mistake me! Just because I'm not going to Saudi to defend the titles, doesn't mean I'm not defending the title anytime soon!" He looked to the entrance. "If anybody in the back wants a shot at these titles, next week on Smackdown...then get your ass out here, right now! I don't care if you're at the top of the food chain, or at the bottom of the pile, I'll take you on one-on-one next week for these titles!"

And, as if on cue....

https://youtu.be/8NFoDwzhBs0

The crowd popped at that as Shinsuke Nakamura's theme began to play - even if they did groan at him bringing Sami Zayn with him - because some remembered the very rare times that Destroyer and Nakamura clashed with one-another in New Japan.

The crowds reaction to Nakamura and Destroyer being in the same ring as one-another didn't die down for a good while. Even when Sami attempted to speak on Nakamura's behalf, the crowd just wouldn't let him speak. It was something that brought Destroyer no end of amusement, yet also a slight bit of annoyance as well - "The King of Destroyer" keeping his sights on the IC Champ alone.

"Well, well, well! Isn't this a familiar sight!?" Sami began in an obnoxious way, glancing between both "The King of Strong Style" and "The King of Destruction" as he continued cockily. "Two guys who have taken each other to war on a very rare number of occasions! Two men who can, and will, knock your teeth out, and make you bow down to their superiority! Two men...!"

He was able to finish, as Destroyer looked over at Zayn and cut him off mid-declaration. "Oi! Sami! Does us all a favor, will ya mate, and SHUT THE HELL UP!!!" The crowd popped loudly for that - and Sami himself looked quite pissed off at being told to be quiet, more-or-less. 

Destroyer glanced over at Nakamura, who looked at him with an intense stare as Destroyer spoke. "As for you, Shinsuke..." He took both of his titles, and laid them down on the ground in front of both of them in a similar fashion to Tetsuya Naito with the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships. 

[Note: I know, I'm a little far ahead of the timeline with that reference, but it was the first one that came to mind at the time].

"You want a shot at these belts, don't ya?" Destroyer asked, and Shinsuke smirked a bit as he simply nods. Destroyer glanced at Nakamura's Intercontinental Championship, rubbing his knuckles under his jaw before speaking...but it was the language in which he spoke in that surprised fans, and even both Sami and "The IIconics".

"それで、中村は何と言いますか？ あなたと私は私のユニバーサルチャンピオンシップに1対1で行きますか？" 

[Translation: "So, what do you say Nakamura? You and me go one-on-one for my Universal Championships?"]

Destroyer did pause after the first part of the question - smirking as he listened to the reactions he got, and saw it in Sami's and, to a lesser extent, on Nakamura's faces as well. He couldn't help riling up the crowd a bit, as well as Nakamura with what he next said.

"驚いた？ はい、日本語が話せます！ 私は何年もすることができました！ 質問は残っていますが、中村さん、私に向かいますか？"

[Translation: "Surprised? Yes, I can speak Japanese! I've been able to for years! The question remains, though...will you face me, Nakamura-san?"].

Nakamura gave a cold look towards "The King of Destruction", but soon got face-to-face with the Australian and nodded in agreement before the two began brawling one another with fists flying - bloodying each other from the mouth as stiff elbows collided with one another, before Destroyer sent both out of the ring with a Cactus Jack-like Clothesline!

Nakamura attempted to hit the "Kinshasa" on Destroyer when 'The King of Strong Style' quickly got up first, only for 'The King of Destruction to lift him up on his shoulders and hit the "Death-5" onto Nakamura onto and through the Announce Table next to them!

Destroyer knelled down in front of Nakamura as Sami ran over to his client - which seems like an appropriate word to use given that Sami is Nakamura's manager - and he spook to 'The King of Strong Style' in Japanese as Billie and Peyton approached with both of Destroyers new Universal Championships.

"私はあなたが気づいて覚えていることを願っています... そして、私を病院に連れて行く準備ができていることを願っています！"

[Translation: "I hope you realise and remember...just what you're getting yourself into...Nakamura! And I hope that you're prepared to send me to the hospital to do so!"].

With that, he dropped the mic down onto the ground and walked away with Billie and Peyton - both smirking with devilish smirks on their faces as they backed off and Destroyer's second theme song played in the background - Destroyer smirking darkly as he brushed the blood from his jaw and waved creepily in Nakamura's direction.

The match was set...a new challenger had been selected...now, the question is...who will come out of the match as champion....?

Author's Note: Before I wrap up here, I do want to let you know that - depending when you read this or not, and depending if it's not already out - I will be doing an extra chapter set between the day of this chapters Smackdown episode, and the last chapter with his debut to Smackdown.

The extra chapter will be more of Destroyer having fun on a rare night out with some of his friends in WWE...and possibly outside of it too, we will see.....So keep an eye out for that one when it does eventually come out. This might become a theme with my Extra Chapters though, depending on how many Extra Chapters I do in the story going on or if I do more, so I do apologise in advance, but it's so I can focus on the main chapters more when I can. 

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and the look of the alternate Universal Championship that I used for this story and chapter. Please stay safe, let me know what you think of the second Universal Championship look that I've chosen, and I hope you all have an amazing day!