(One week later)
Luke had returned from his tour around to provoke Vince McMahon and his corporate team when he made appearances at Philippine Wrestling Revolution, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling. Using his $1,000,000 check he got from Tony Khan, the Nomad bought a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Luke took a picture with the car and sent it to his girlfriend.
(Meanwhile)
Liv was riding with Cesaro as the two were on their way to the arena for SmackDown. She looked at her phone to see the picture.
Liv: aww Luke bought a new car
Cesaro: wow, that's a nice one
Liv thought of texting him back, but decided to call him.
Luke: hi babe
Liv: hello Lukey, a great car for my handsome man, are you coming to the show?
Luke: I'm coming, just go ahead with Cesaro
Liv: okay Lukey, see you soon
Luke ended his call and parked his car near the arena entrance.
(Meanwhile)
Vince was holding a meeting with Prichard, Laurinaitis and Khan regarding plans for the next shows in the future. As the meeting went on, one of the staff came in.
Staff: sorry to interrupt sir, but Luke Ardiente is in the building
Vince's eyes widened and his teeth gritted as he quickly got up and followed the employee.
Vince: take me to him, take me to that son of a bitch! Take me to him, come on! Go go go go go go! Go go go go go go go go go! Where that son of a bitch?! Where is he?!
Prichard, Laurinaitis and Khan followed Vince to the parking lot.
(Outside the arena)
Luke acknowledged and saluted to the fans, thanking them for their support as they are hyped for TLC. As the Nomad was about enter the arena, he was approached by the corporate four.
Luke: ohh, it's the welcome committee rolling out the red carpet for me?
Vince: you got guts for showing your face here again
Luke smirked.
Luke: aww, still feeling hurt seeing one of your champions in another show?
Vince was too agitated to speak, so Laurinaitis stepped in.
Laurinaitis: well now that you're here, Vince has set you up for a welcome back punishment match
Luke: a punishment what match? I can't quite make that out, clear your damn throat and speak up
Laurinaitis: you will have a match!
Luke: oh, I will have a match? Alright, who is my opponent?
Laurinaitis: the only hint we will give you is that your opponent is from Raw, so you will meet him in the ring
Luke: alright then, this meeting is adjourned, get the old man some water for his grapefruits
The Nomad smirked as he bumped his shoulder against Prichard and enters the building.
Once inside, he walked down the hall to his locker room until he heard the steps of skipping coming near to his location. As he turned around, Luke saw Liv running and jumping into his arms.
Liv: Lukey!
The Jersey native proceeded to pepper kisses all over his face and cheeks, making Luke smile.
Luke: I missed you too
Liv wrapped her arms and legs around his body, keeping him close.
Luke: and you will watch me because I have my first match for my return
Liv: ooh, any idea who your opponent might be?
Luke: all I know is that it's someone from Raw. I wish it was from NXT so I can kick Grayson Waller's ass again
Liv: uhh babe, speaking of NXT, you have to see this?
Liv took out her phone and went to the NXT section of wwe.com and showed a picture of WALTER.
Luke: it's WALTER
Liv: nope
Luke: no? What do you mean no? Livvy, that is WALTER
Liv scrolled down to show the new name of the Ring General. Luke's eyes widened and cringed at the name.
Luke: Gunther?! Gunther?! They changed his damn name?!
Liv: I'm afraid so
Luke: oh my god
Luke rubbed his forehead in frustration.
Luke: his name is WALTER, and it's already popular enough!
Liv: not for Vince
Luke: of course Vince did this
Liv: hey hey babe, calm down, take it out on your opponent tonight, send a message to Vince, okay?
The Jersey native calm her love down by planting a kiss on his cheek.
Luke: thank you babe, I need that
Liv smiled.
Liv: of course babe. Now go kick some ass, I'll be watching... closely
Luke: closely?
Liv winked as she ran his hand on his chest before she walked away. Luke had a confused look on his face as he went to his locker room.
(Time skip)
After Pat McAfee and Michael Cole announced the card for TLC, it was time for the main event as Luke has a one on one match against a member of the Raw roster per Mr. McMahon.
A new entrance theme played, and the audience saw it was Luke's new theme. The fans instantly got into the choir part of the song as the Evil HERO Assassin Nomad walked out to loud, cheering fans. The Nomad slowly raised his head and opened his eyes, sporting his signature coldhearted look.
To add insult to injury, Luke wore a special leather jacket with the back sporting logos of PWR, New Japan and AEW, the companies he appeared to piss off Vince.
The Nomad walked down the ramp and got in the ring and stood in the center to raise his Intercontinental Championship. His new theme stopped playing and the crowd cheered loud while Luke waited for his opponent.
After a few seconds, however Vince's theme played.
Luke stared daggers and tilted his head as the CEO came out doing his signature power walk to the stage.
Vince: now Luke Ardiente, are you curious to find out who your opponent is?
Luke can only stare daggers, showing no intimidation
Vince: well your opponent from the Raw roster is... this man!
Luke's opponent was the 7 foot 400 pound Colossus from Monday Night Raw, the big tower known as Omos. The Colossus did his battle scream and shook hands with Vince as he walked down the ramp staring daggers at Luke. However for the Nomad, he did not seem unfazed of the big tower walking to his direction.
Omos got to the center of the ring and did his battle scream again. Luke and Omos stared each other down as the bell rang.
(Luke Ardiente vs. Omos)
Immediately after the bell rang, Omos went for a shot, but Luke ducked it and wrapped his arms around the Colossus' waist and attempt for a German suplex, but Omos shook him off by connecting elbows to Luke's head, fazing the Nomad. Then Omos threw Luke to the turnbuckle and went for a shot, but Luke got out of the way and connected chops and kicks to somehow and attempt and ground the 7 footer.
However, Omos once again shook it off and pushed Luke to create space and then following it up with a big lariat to ground the Nomad. Meanwhile, on the stage Vince had an evil grin on his face as he is loving every minute of Omos grounding Luke.
(Fast forward)
Luke was at the corner and stopped a charging Omos with boots to the face. The Nomad climbed the turnbuckle for an aerial offense as majority of the match, he can't find a way to take the Colossus off his feet. The Nomad measured and jumped, but he was caught midair with a slap from the tower.
Vince nodded and clapped as he shouted at Omos.
Vince: Omos, finish him! Finish him!
Omos picked up Luke and grabbed him by the neck to end it with a chokebomb. As he got Luke up, the Nomad fought back with multiple punches to the head, forcing the Colossus to let go with Luke landing on his feet. Omos regained his senses and charged at the Nomad, but Luke got Omos up and took him down for a monstrous spinebuster, getting the crowd on their feet.
Vince was shocked and upset as he watched Luke taking down Omos.
Luke looked at his TLC opponent with a smirk on his face and shouted a warning.
Luke: watch this, McMahon!
The Nomad measured and as Omos got up, Luke lifted and got the 7 foot 400 pound Colossus on his shoulders in the fireman carry's position, much to the shock and awe of the live crowd, and especially fan favorite commentator Pat McAfee as they were amazed at the feat of strength of Luke.
Luke screamed in determination and strength and took down Omos with the Super Polymerization and went for the pinfall to claim victory as the Evil HERO Assassin Nomad toppled the Colossus.
Luke breathed heavily and got to his knees while the referee handed him his title. Liv and Cesaro went down and helped their friend up. The three rebels stared down at the WWE owner while Luke's new theme played. Liv and Cesaro raised the Nomad's arms while Luke grabbed a mic and sent a warning to McMahon and also Laurinaitis, Prichard and Nick Khan as they walked out to calm Vince down.
Luke: it all ends at TLC, assholes! All three of us will be champions! Liv will be the new SmackDown Women's Champion and Cesaro will be the World Heavyweight Champion!
Vince threw his coat away, but was held back by Laurinaitis and Khan, while in the ring Luke, Liv and Cesaro raised their arms up as SmackDown went off the air and the crowd was sent home happy.