IMPACT Wrestling was in for a shock when former 5x Champion Rico Rhodes stormed back into the Impact Zone four nights after his WWE title Loss to Ethan Bourne. Rhodes issued a challenge to IMPACT World champion Josh Alexander, who accepted.

Rhodes swiftly defeated Alexander with some help from a Low Blow the ref didn't catch, followed by a Halo On Fire Brainbuster. Rico Rhodes is now a Six time TNA IMPACT World Heavyweight Champion.

The next week, On Raw, the crowd was in for quite the shock. They'd just returned from Commercial break when...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_0Q2jI0Ewc

Confusion first hit the Crowd, followed by Anticipation, as no name appeared on the titantron for a solid 45 seconds...

The Crowd Barely even Popped due to the sheer Shock of the situation. Even more so when he walked to the ring holding the TNA Impact World championship! Rico grinned ear to ear as the confusion turned to Mixed reactions, but mostly Boos.

He asked for a Mic, and was given one.

"Why if it isn't the WWE Universe. Y'all miss me? Of course you did! You see, I took a little vacation to my ol' stomping grounds of "Tits N' Asses" Wrestling... that's a Rib on TNA, if you're too stupid to understand a joke... And While I was there I decided to bring home a Shiny new Souvenir. Something the WWE Universe had never seen before: The Impact World Championship! And for anyone who knows my career, this' my SIXTH reign with this title. And No, I don't have to vacate this, because in my contract is a clause that states, I'm allowed to hold AND Defend other promotions' titles not only while under WWE Contract, but also ON WWE PAY PER VIEWS! HAHAHAHAAAA!!" The Boos grew even louder. Rico was Basking in the Seething hatred of the Fans, who originally saw him as a Traitor who went back to TNA after he lost his title now saw him as this Greedy, Dirty player who was desperate for Gold around his waist, so he took another promotion's top title.

"But that's not the thing, you see. People here in WWE Say I'm a '2x World champion'. Well, fact check time. I'm a former WWE Champion once. Universal Champion Once. SIX times a TNA World champion. So, to quote Chris Jericho... Long Live the Ocho! Because I'm an EIGHT TIME World Champion now, and You Ingrates who Booed me for winning my 7th Against Rowan, you people who CHEERED when Burns put me through a sheet of Glass, YES, ALL of you will be forced to ACKNOWLEDGE my Accomplishments. I'm an 8 time World Champion, And I'm not stopping here. I still have a little thing, called a Rematch Clause. You bet your asses I'm using it in the future... but Defending this one comes first." He patted the Belt on his shoulder. "So, With this in mind... the Impact World Title is now fair game for the WWE roster. Who wants a shot?"

No one answered. Rico laughed. "It took luck, a Cash-In, and a Lashley beatdown to best me the first time. What, Nobody got the Balls to step up? Alright then, I guess-"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mFEHOhWssY

Rico laughs. Saraya? What was she doing out here?

"Sorry, Shady boy. Couldn't really sit back anymore, I was... Kinda tired of your boring speech. I thought you'd be interested to know..."

Rico cut her off. "What I'd actually like to know is..." He leaned against the ropes. "How's your neck, Bitch?" Saraya bit her lower lip. Her nose twitched. "As I was saying, I found a guy willing to fight you. You know 'em rather well, I'd reckon." She motioned to the stage...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP9ELP-bjMs

Saraya grinned as A returning Jake Cross, Face blank, Strolled out to meet his old opponent.

Rico laughed as the pair got in the ring. The first words out of Jake's mouth were, "Where's Gio?"

Rico groaned. "Oh my GOOOOD. Do you ever change?! You can't be serious, Gionna DOESN'T WANT YOU! She hasn't for a year Plus now, and Y'know what? I don't wanna enter this loop agai-"

Jake slaps the mic out of his hand. "I wasn't asking for Her back. I was asking so that she wouldn't have to see what I do to you."

Rico snickered, then picked up his mic. "Cute comeback. Did you pull that one from the John Cena book of Wrestling Promo comebacks?" Rico took notice of Cross' newer attire. It had a "B.C." on his knee pads, as well as the word "Switchblade" on the right side. Rico grinned. "So, Did Jay White lend you his tights because your ol' Trunks shrunk in the wash? If so, Thanks Mister White, because Jake Cross in trunks too small for him? NO ONE wants to see that... On the other hand, Saraya in skimpy underwear... well, pretty much any man who's been on the Hub knows what that looks like, so-"

Jake, out of nowhere, Launched a furious right hand that caught Rico by surprise and Knocked him off his feet. Jake knelt over Rhodes. "Don't you ever... and I mean EVER talk about her like that again! You Understand?!" Cross got up, Then backed into the corner. Rhodes stumbled to his feet, with his knees going all wobbly. Cross attempted a Blade runner STO, but Rico regained his senses quick enough to counter! He ducked out of the move, Slid under Cross, Rolled to his feet, then hit a Spinning back Kick right to the temple of Cross! Saraya stood frozen across the ring. Rico eyed her, then grinned. A wave of Horror washed over the crowd as Rico took a step forward... then another... then another. By the time Saraya tried to get out of the ring, it was too late, as Rico gripped her by the arm firmly. She tried a Low Blow to escape, but He just blocked. He kneed her in the gut, then hooked her arm... oh God no! RHODES WITH THE HALO ON FIRE BRAINBUSTER! TO SARAYA!! But Rhodes wasn't done. He powers through to a Vertical Base, Holding Saraya in a familiar Cradle Position with her head still under his arm. Oh, no... RHODES PLANTS HER WITH THE RAM-PAIGE! HER OWN MOVE!! Rhodes then took it one step further, Locking in the Fade to Black choke hold.
Cross finally comes to. He grabbed a Baseball bat from under the ring, then charged in! Rhodes released the hold, rolling out of the ring just in time to avoid becoming the victim of a Bat beating.

Cross visibly shook with anger. "YOUR ASS IS FUCKING DEAD, YOU HEAR ME?!?!"

Rico Grinned, Holding his title up. "3-0, Jakey boy. Rent Free. IN YOUR HEAD!"

In The following weeks, it was decided that Rico would Indeed Defend his TNA Impact World championship against Cross at Summerslam.

These two have a well documented history, however, there's one important side note:

This will be the first time they face off in a match under normal rules.
Their first 3 matches were as follows:

1. Wrestlemania 37: Rico Rhodes defeats Jake Cross (c) 2-1 in a 2/3 Falls match to win the Universal Title.

2. Rico Rhodes (c) Defeats Jake Cross in a Gates of Hell Match (Where the winner must score 4 diffetent types of Falls, Once each: Pinfall, Submission, Table Breakage, and escaping the Cell) at Backlash

3. Rico Rhodes defeated Jake Cross in a No Holds Barred match to Open night 2 of Wrestlemania 38.

This marks the first time that rules will be enforced between these two men. Can Cross finally overcome the man who tormented him for so long? Or will Rhodes' crafty, strategic mind and skill be too much for The former Universal Champion to handle?!

Find out... AT SUMMERSLAM!!!

Thanks again to JakeCross_WWE for Letting me Reignite this all-timer of a feud! Can't wait to write more of this, my man!