NIGHT AFTER PAYBACK
Stephanie McMahon pulled into the Bankers Life Fieldhouse with her battered husband in tow. Last night had given Stephanie a new perspective on her career in her WWE. Both her and Triple H had been embarrassed by Brie Bella and The Shield. Something had to change - and Stephanie was starting to believe she was going to be the one who had to do it.
"Don't worry Steph. I know last night might not have been the best night for us - but we have a Plan B now. And with Bryan likely needing to vacate the title anyways - we'll be on top again soon enough." Hunter reassured her, sporting a fresh black eye.
"Alright, Hunter" Stephanie responded. She questioned him. "But, Hunter. If are going to have to vacate the title - why don't we just take it ourselves? You, I mean. We always entrust other people with that title. Orton was a failure. Dave was a failure. I think it's time you take this title for yourself-"
"Steph!" Triple H scolded. "No. I have respect for that title. Remember Zigglers first "reign" as World Heavyweight Champion? That wasn't a reign. We don't gift world titles like that."
Stephanie was silent. She understood was Hunter was saying - but she didn't see another way to go about this. Are they gonna give the title to Seth Rollins? The man who tried to kill her husband last night? Or Kane? Back to Orton or Batista? They were out of options. But she digressed - this seemed to be her husband's fight more than it was hers.
"I understand. And I quit." Batista said, as Randy Orton and Triple H both stood in shock. Stephanie sighed watching from backstage. She did not blame Batista for this - she blamed her husband. He had let The Shield get to his head, and even with Rollins in his hand now - which he was yet to reveal to anyone other than Stephanie - his frustration with not being able to beat them was getting to his head. And now The Authority had lost one of their most valuable players.
Stephanie shut off the TV monitor and sat down on the couch in her locker room. She already knew what was going to go down tonight, she didn't care to watch. But as she watching RAW that night, she though of something else.
She called Bill Goldberg.