"Randy, you got a minute?" Bret stuck his head in the locker room door.
"Make it quick, pal; I got a match once these two teams finish up," Savage, in the middle of putting his ring gear on, pointed at the nearby TV set, where the Young Stallions were battling the team of Hercules and King Kong Bundy.
"Randy, I couldn't help noticing how upset you seemed out there when Hulk got that trophy," the Hitman stepped into the room, "Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you could have been a little more supportive there; Hulk did earn it for how long he's been champ..."
"Too long if you ask me," the Macho Man snorted, "Three years is too long for anyone; other guys need to be given their own shot, guys like you and I..."
"And we'll get our shots, Randy. Remember what I said after Summer Slam, that good things come to those who wait? Jealousy destroys, Randy; you can't give in to..."
"I can't help it," Savage said out loud, slumping his head against a locker, "I want the shot at the gold; I ain't gonna be young forever, and neither will you. Elizabeth deserves the gold; I promised I'd get it for her this year...if he keeps holding the belt forever..."
The door opened behind them. "Oh, sorry, wrong room," it was Sherri, and she did not sound apologetic at all. "Well, my despicable failure of a wrestler," she sneered at Savage, "It must be a good life you lead, being Hogan's lapdog and all that."
"I ain't his lapdog, Sherri; I'm...!" Savage started to retort.
"Well, it seems all he wants you to do is carry his bags, cover his back, and all that kind of slave stuff," she said, a dark smile spreading, "Yeah, you've made terrific progress in your career since you forced me to dump you. Oh, and I know you've said you don't believe anything I say, but word going around is that Hogan's got the hots for your luscious Liz; just thought you'd like to know..."
"OK Sherri, you said you made a mistake coming here, now go, please, now," Bret pushed her out the door. "Don't believe anything she says, Randy, she's the jealous one; she knows she can never be as good as Liz is..." he tried to tell the Macho Man.
"She's got the point, though," Savage mused thoughtfully, "What have I really done since we formed the Mega Powers? Covered his back while he walked away with the gold..."
"Randy, don't do this to yourself, please; you and Hulk are a team, just like Paul Roma and Jim Powers," Bret pointed at the screen, "They stay together through thick and..."
But it was at that moment that Roma, on the apron, suddenly kicked Powers in the back as he bounced off the nearby ropes, sending him sprawling to the mat. "Huh?" Bret was surprised, "What's going on here? What the hell is Roma doing...!"
Roma in fact climbed into the ring and helped the legal Hercules pound away on Powers's back. He then climbed up to the top rope on one side of the ring, watched Hercules drag Powers up the other and suplex him to the mat, then leaped himself, delivering a hard elbow to his partner's chest. The two of them then whipped Powers hard into the corner and tagged Bundy, who delivered his dreadful Atlantic City Avalanche to Powers, who crumpled limply to the mat, allowing Bundy to cover him for the pin. "Well, I guess he didn't want to be in a tag team no more, yeah," Savage mused, watching an ecstatic Heenan raising Roma's arm in the ring as well as his charges.'
"OK, this was just coincidence, Randy; maybe we misjudged Roma all this time, but he's wrong to do this. Don't make the same mistake out of jealousy, Randy," the Hitman begged him, "What you and Hulk have..."
"Seems a whole lot more like an unequal partnership if you ask me," Savage muttered, sauntering towards the door, "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a match with Ted DiBiase, in which I should try and prove I'm just as good as Hogan, yeah."
He exited the locker room, nudging past Davey Boy Smith as the British Bulldog entered. "Everything going OK, Bret old chap?" he asked his brother-in-law.
"I hope so, pal," Bret turned to the TV, "Let's just hope Randy wins this match impressively; he might be heading for a dark place if things go wrong."
"Jealous, huh?" Davey nodded knowingly, "I knew that look he gave during the trophy presentation; Tom gave me that look when I went solo and started doing well without him. Well, maybe it'll pass-I hope."
Out in the hall, Savage weaved his way through somewhat heavy traffic towards the curtain, passing Heenan and his cronies at the interview area, where an incensed Okerlund was laying into them all: "...the meaning of this, Paul Roma; you turned on your partner in the middle of the match!" the interviewer shouted at him.
"I've had it with him holding me back," Roma insisted, "I'm better than him, and he knew it; I decided to get myself a better partner," he put his arms around a grinning Hercules, "One who isn't a pretty boy or a coward."
"Bobby Heenan, did you induce Roma into betraying Powers?" Okerlund accused the Brain.
"Calm yourself, Okerlund you humanoid. I had some contact with Paul here before the match, yes, but I merely affirmed his belief that Powers was holding him back," Heenan insisted, glancing conteptuously at the groaning Powers as he was carried by on a stretcher, "And so, I invited Paul into the Heenan Family, and he accepted. So say hello Okerlund, and say hello, America, to my new tag team, Power and Glory!" he raised Roma's and Hercules's arms high.
"Long live Power and Glory!" Bundy added, raising both men's other arms.
"Now wait just a minute here, all of you; I find this whole situation utterly reprenhensible, and I'm sure the viewers at home do as well!" Okerlund gestured at the camera, "the Young Stallions were a team, Paul Roma, a team! How could you possibly have the gall to stab Jim Powers in the back like this after everything the two of you have done together?"
"Maybe because of what he said earlier, Gene; he was tired of being overshadowed and held back, yeah," Savage spoke up, making Okerlund spin and frown in surprise, "Keep that in mind the next time you ask, yeah."
"Like Macho said, Okerlund; Paul had enough," Heenan continued as Savage walked off, "And as the greatest manager in all of wrestling, I've made it my custom to take in guys who have no place elsewhere. And I strongly predict that in the very near future, Power and Glory will reach heights here in the WWF never before..."
Savage heard little else as he continued towards the curtain, where Elizabeth was already waiting. "Thought you weren't going to make it," she greeted him.
"Had a little on my mind," he grumbled, "I'm ready, though, and DiBiase's going down; I'm going to beat him in record time, I know it..."
"Well, that would be nice," she admitted. "Wow, I can't believe they actually made Hulk a trophy," she remarked, not noticing Savage's scowl return, "But of course he has earned it being champion all this time..."
"Hey Macho, where's your trophy?" DiBiase called out as he and his entourage approached the curtain as well, "Feels bad to be left out, don't it?"
"I've got one coming, I've just got to find the right place to earn it, DiBiase, and that includes beating you one-two-three right now, yeah!" Savage stuck a finger in the Million Dollar Man's face.
"Dream on, Macho; you couldn't beat me if every bone in my body was broken," DiBiase laughed contemptuously. "And forget about getting your own trophy; your whole purpose in life is clearly just to be Hogan's lapdog, am I right, Virgil?" he laughed at his bodyguard, "Of course, I couldn't have that problem; I'd just buy my own trophy-or the trophy company if if they refused me service. But since you don't have the money I do, you're all out of luck-and stuck with Hogan for life."
"Ted, let it go, all right; it doesn't matter who has a trophy and who doesn't," Elizabeth told him sharply.
"Or does it?" DiBiase raised an eyebrow, "See you in the ring, Savage, and no amount of good work on your part's going to get you any lauds, right Jimmy?"
"You tell him, Ted; let's go," the Mouth of the South cackled, leading DiBiase and Virgil out as the Million Dollar Man's theme roared to life over the sound system. "I'm going to rip him up, yeah; limb from limb!" Savage swore, his fists clenched.
"Now Randy, don't give into emotion, please; Ted DiBiase's a bully, plain and simple; he's trying to deliberately...Randy, wait!" she cried as he rushed through the curtains after DiBiase before his own theme had even started. Savage leaped into the ring, flattened the Million Dollar Man with a hard forearm smash before he was even out of his suit, charged Jimmy and Virgil to get them out of the ring, then started climbing the top rope right. "Macho Man on a tear already, and it looks like he's going for the elbow right off the bat!" announcer Vince McMahon roared into his headset at the broadcast position, "I've never seen him so pumped up before!"
"I haven't either, but I think I know what's making him tick, and you're not going to like it, McMahon," Jesse 'the Body' Ventura smirked in the seat next to him.
"Macho Man perched high in the air, here he comes-no, DiBiase rolls out of the way in time, and only now does the lovely Elizabeth make it to ringside; Macho Man was off like a rocket there."
"Almost like he has something to prove if you ask me, McMahon," Ventura grinned darkly.
"And what does he need to prove? He's more than proven himself a terrific talent here in the World Wrestling Federation."
"Oh, simply the fact that Hogan has the belt and he doesn't. If I were Macho, I'd be rather upset that Hogan hasn't given him a title shot yet."
"All in due time, Jesse. Macho Man still with his ring gear on as he gets back to his feet-and a big slam of DiBiase and a cover: one, two...Virgil in to make the save. In a related note, we here at the World Wrestling Federation are happy to announce that the Macho Man's brother, the Genius Lanny Poffo, has signed with us in a managerial capacity, and will be making his debut with us in a week or two."
"Word is, McMahon, he's aiming towards managing the boys from Shaker Heights, Ohio, the Beverly Brothers, and that would be a good connection. Lanny Poffo had a good career in ICW, and he has quite a bit to give to Beau and Blake Beverly that can help them go far in the tag team ranks. You know, it's just too bad that ICW's on its last legs; the bottom kind of fell out when Macho left."
"What are you saying, Jesse?" McMahon frowned at him, "Are you saying it's the Macho Man's fault that International Championship Wrestling is likely about to go bankrupt?"
"I'm just pointing out the simple fact that the promotion's best days were when Macho was headlining with his brother," the Body leaned back in his chair, a smug look on his face, "Without him, his father, the great Angelo Poffo, didn't have as big a draw. So yeah, I guess from a certain point of view, it is Macho's fault ICW's going under."
"I'll request you not word it that way, Jesse; the wrestling business has its own quirks, and Randy Savage is in no way responsible for ICW's impending termination, if that is in fact what happens."
"What's this 'if' business, McMahon' it's dead in the water, and if I were Macho, I'd be ashamed to look his father in the face after this..."
"Randy Savage pushing Ted DiBiase into the ropes and whaling away at him; wow, I've never seen Savage punching so hard before in his life!" McMahon exclaimed, noting Savage belting the Million Dollar Man hard.
"That's how he got the name Randy SAVAGE, McMahon. And I'm willing to wager that right now, he's seeing DiBiase as Hogan, and taking out his frustrations on being held back by the champ on the Million Dollar Man."
"Are you trying to start something here, Jesse Ventura?" McMahon glared at him, "I know the way your mind works, and if you want something done..."
"You can't prove anything, McMahon; I'm just doing my usual job as an unbiased journalist, unlike you."
"You're trying to start something, I just know it, Jesse. Your disdain for Hulk Hogan knows no bounds, I know that much, and if you're in any way trying to drag Randy Savage into that vendetta, I strongly advise you to stop. Randy Savage flipping Ted DiBiase over his head, now goes off the ropes-and Jimmy Hart trips him from outside the ring, come on!"
"Jimmy Hart's just watching his man's back, McMahon. Now Elizabeth, I'm not too sure; word is she's spending an awful lot of time with Hogan these days..."
"Now stop that, Jesse; I will not allow you to spread vicious rumors about a truly caring and inspiration person like Elizabeth. She cares for her man, and she stands by her man, end of discussion."
"And how would you know, McMahon? How often do you get to interview her?"
"Often enough to know there is absolutely nothing between her and Hulk Hogan. She is loyal to Randy Savage, and always will be. A look of deep concern on Elizabeth's face at the moment, however, as Ted DiBiase now pounding the Macho Man's head into the turnbuckle repeatedly. As we noted, the Macho Man's brother will be arriving soon here in the WWF; we would also like to welcome back to the WWF Jim 'the Anvil' Neidhart, who has agreed to return, and will now be partnering with Bret Hart's brother, 'the Rocket' Owen Hart, in a team that shall be known as, fittingly enough, the New Foundation."
"I think that's a step down for Neidhart, though, McMahon; nothing can possibly top the success the Hart Foundation used to have. Owen Hart has potential, but potential don't get you the belts unless you..."
"DiBiase with a sprialing kick sends the Macho Man halfway through the ropes-and look at this, Virgil with a cheap shot-and another one; turn around, ref!" McMahon roared in disgust, "Virgil rolls the Macho Man back into the ring; DiBiase stomping on his chest, and now climbing the ropes; it looks like he's setting Randy Savage up for that elbow backdrop of his. DiBiase measures the Macho Man, and here he comes...and he misses!"
"He took too much time up there, I'll grant that."
"Macho Man back to his feet, grabs DiBiase's legs, and a slingshot into the corner coming up-yes! Savage grabbing DiBiase by the beard, and here he goes over the top rope-and back snaps the Million Dollar Man! Savage going up to the top rope; here comes the elbow again. Macho Man about to take flight...wait a minute, what's this, who's that coming up the aisle...the Earthquake!" McMahon gasped at the sight of the Walking Natural Disaster jogging at full gallop towards the ring, "Randy Savage off the top rope and hits the elbow on DiBiase, but Earthquake coming into the ring; turn around...oh no!" he groaned as Earthquake flung himself hard on top of Savage, prompting the referee to immediately wave for the bell, "Earthquake with blatant outside interference, and now he's kicking away at the Macho Man-and here comes Virgil into the ring, and now he's kicking him as well! DiBiase laughing as he gets to his feet, and he joins the carnage as well; Randy Savage being unfairly triple teamed here!"
"And Liz just stands there looking horrifed in the corner; some help she is."
"Elizabeth in fact now running off for the curtain; I suspect I know exactly where she's going..."
"I do too, McMahon, and I'm not surprised in the least," Ventura rocked confidently in his chair, "And I suspect Savage ain't gonna like it."
"Unfortunately, Randy Savage continuing to take a beating from the Million Dollar Man and his cronies. Jimmy Hart jumping around in the corner, shouting instructions at his men through that accursed megaphone of his...and here comes the tremors from Earthquake!" McMahon grimaced as Earthquake commenced his trademark stomping around Savage, "Randy Savage about to take a full-on jolt measuring at least eight on the Richter Scale...ooooooooooh my!" he grimaced harder as Earthquake coldly delivered his finisher square to Savage's chest, "Macho Man taking a beating; DiBiase and Earthquake laughing hard-and more tremors! He's going to give him another one!"
"Well of course he is, McMahon; surely you and Gorilla have the brains to know Earthquake's victims always get more than one Earthquake," the Body said coolly, "Now the question is whether help for Savage arrives in time..."
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a loud roar rose up throughout the arena as a familiar figure in yellow and red rushed at full speed towards the ring, a steel chair in hand. "AAAAAAAAAALL RIIIIIIIGHT, here comes the Hulkster!" McMahon roared happily, "Hulk Hogan into the ring with a steel chair, and a hard shot sends Earthquake stumbling! Jimmy Hart yelling at his men to bail out as Hogan clears the ring of all of them-Virgil with a final cheap kick at Savage, though. The Hulkster standing guard over Randy Savage, protecting his good friend as the Million Dollar Man and his cronies exit the arena quite rapidly, passing a concerned Elizabeth..."
"Yeah, she's only showing her face again because the danger's over, and because she can't be seen with Hogan in public."
"Now I said stop that, Jesse Ventura; you have no evidence to support your statements and you know it. Hulk Hogan helping his fellow Mega Power to his feet, thrusting Savage's and Elizabeth's arms in the air; another great save by the Immortal Hulk Hogan!" McMahon praised the champion. The announcement rose up over the ring microphone, "Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout, as the result of a disqualification, 'Macho Man' Randy Savage!" It was, however, Hulk's theme that rose up over the loudspeakers next rather than Savage's. A smiling Hulk ripped his shirt through again, eagerly cupped his ear to the crowd to soak in the tremendous applause, then scooped Elizabeth up and hoisted her onto his shoulder in celebration...
At the exact moment Savage turned around, more or less recovered from the whipping he'd taken. A look of dark rage crossed his face at his partner holding his wife up, with his hand unfortunately in a discomforting location, likely by accident. In a flash, he seized Hulk's shirt and flung it into his face. "No thanks, brother, let the crowd have it," Hulk remained oblivious as he lowered Elizabeth back down, "Good thing I was right nearby in case..."
"Come on!" furious, Savage grabbed Elizabeth's arm and led her quickly out of the ring, glaring up at the loudspeakers overhead as they continued blaring "Real American" rather than "Pomp and Circumstance." Hulk stared puzzledly after them for a moment, then shrugged and thrust his index finger skyward to more cheers. "Listen to this ovation; everyone simply loves Hulk Hogan here!" McMahon declared, also oblivious.
"ALMOST everyone, McMahon," Ventura grinned darkly. The plan was coming along very well so far.
"Uh oh, looks like you're right, old chap; this could be trouble," Davey mumbled worriedly as he glanced at the locker room monitor, which was fixated on Savage's angry expression as he left the arena, Hulk's theme still blaring at full strength over the loudspeakers, "And Hulk's not really helping much. Maybe we should have a word with him and let him know how Randy feels."
"Now let's just hope he's willing to listen," Bret confessed, looking worried himself. As far as he knew, Hulk trusted Savage implicitly and might not be inclined to believe there could be any trouble in the Mega Powers...