Chapter 12: Shane O'Mac Returns
Raw was airing live from the Arrowhead Pond Arena in Anaheim, California. It was a bit of an overcast day, but it was still warm enough for me to just wear a cardigan over my black spaghetti-strapped sundress. I pulled my hair back into a bun, letting two strands frame my face. Dragging my suitcase behind me, I walked into the arena, anxious to see what was in store for the WWF Women's Champion. The joy I felt was quickly replaced by another pang of disappointment when I saw that I was only going to be on commentary tonight, that Jackie, Terri, Tori, and Kat were going to have a tag team match. Even though Shane explained to me how things work around here, the idea of doing commentary still made me feel nervous; the idea of having Vince inside my head for any period of time also didn't strike me as a good idea.
I went to the Divas locker room, dropped my bags off, and quickly changed into a pair of low-rise jeans and a black halter top that showed off some cleavage and a little bit of midriff. Placing my dress and cardigan into the bag, I pulled the elastic out of my hair and dropped it into the bag. Leaving the empty locker room with my title over my shoulder, I first went to hair, where they decided on soft waves around my face, followed by makeup, where they decided on purple eye shadow and pink lips. I thought the look was better suited to Trish, but I went with it.
After I left hair and makeup, I went to get myself a bottle of water from catering. Turning the corner, I felt a surge of relief when I saw Shane. dressed in a light blue button-down shirt and black slacks. He was leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, talking to Stephanie and Hunter. We locked eyes and he smiled at me. It seemed like his eyes lit up. He excused himself made a beeline for me. Stephanie and Hunter were watching us as he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly.
"Hey. Welcome back. I missed you last week," I told him quietly.
"I still watched. You've got this at No Mercy," he told me. He pulled back. "You ready for tonight?"
"I am. I'm just hoping I'm a decent commentator. I didn't get to do it in WCW."
"I promise you that everything will be fine. There's a direct line between us and you, so just follow what's being said. React, act natural. You'll be great."
"Have I ever told you that you're way too nice to me?" I asked. He smiled.
"You've given me the same in return. Now, go out there and kick some ass." I laughed. Waving at Stephanie and Hunter, I continued to get a bottle of water before the show started.
"You can't run the race, the pace is too fast – you just won't last."
The music blared through the speakers in the arena and I walked out onto the stage, stopping in front of the ramp and holding up my championship. Tori, Kat, Jackie, and Terri stood in the ring watching me, their hands on their hips, none of them looking especially happy to see me. Tori was dressed in a plain green vinyl halter that exposed her midriff and black pants, her strawberry blonde hair curled around her face. Terri was dressed in a black pantsuit with a rhinestone belt that hung off her slender hips. Jackie wore green. Kat wore an electric blue wig with a little leather number.
I walked around the ring and made a beeline towards the commentary table, taking my seat beside Jerry Lawler and reaching for the spare set of headphones on the table. The girls were scowling; I waved at them.
"Oh my God, JR!" I heard King shout as I put the headset over my ears. "Look who's joining us! It's the Women's Champion!"
"Stay calm, King, and for the love of God, keep your hands on the table," JR instructed. I blinked.
"Wow. Thanks for that," I said with a grimace.
"What brings you down this way, beautiful?" King asked. I suddenly felt my skin crawl.
"I'm just out here for some good old-fashioned women's wrestling," I said, sitting back in my chair. Terri and Kat started off first, the two women locked in a bitter feud that's lasted months.
"You might have to wait awhile," JR told me, "because the two lovely ladies in the ring aren't the most technical."
"Rinoa, you're in a fatal four-way match at No Mercy. How do you think that's going to go?" King asked.
"How do I think...?" I shook my head. "I am walking into No Mercy as the Women's Champion, and I'll be walking out of No Mercy as the Women's Champion. That's just all there is to it."
"The champion doesn't need to be pinned to lose the championship in a fatal four-way setting," JR reminded me.
"I know. I know that the odds aren't in my favor here, and that's why I'm out here scouting my competition." I found myself easing up; an experience I expected to be absolutely terrifying my first time out was going far smoother than I had expected. We chatted, and I did my part to also call attention to the action inside the ring. The match came to an end when Jackie hit Kat with a kick that looked absolutely vicious. After a three count, Jackie turned her attention to me as her music blared, motioning across her chest as if to say the title was going to end up there. I took off my headphones and stood, holding the title high above my head. My music was suddenly blaring through the loudspeakers, a reminder to the girls in the ring that I was the one sitting on top of the division.
I came back through the curtain, into Gorilla, where Shane was sitting with Vince and Brisco. Shane was already on his feet, waiting for me with a warm smile. Vince still had his headset on, seated to the left of Brisco. He was watching the two of us. "Hey - great job out there," Shane offered.
"Thank you."
"It was fine," I heard Vince say, "But you really need to work on loosening up out there. You looked nervous until the headset came off. It was almost like you've never done commentary before."
"I haven't." Vince looked surprised, as if he legitimately had no idea how to respond to that.
"Well, then," he said, clearing his throat. "Well done."
"Come on. I'll walk you to catering," Shane offered, ignoring the stare Vince was giving him. "I need coffee."
I nodded and tried my best to ignore the feeling of Vince staring into my soul. He was watching the two of us very intently. I saw the look in his eyes, and I wondered if he had heard some of the whispers about us around here. With a gentlemanly hand ghosting on my spine, he led me through the curtain and down the steps into the backstage area. I waited until the two of us were out of earshot before I spoke.
"I think your dad hates me," I said sheepishly. Shane laughed.
"You? How could anyone hate you?" He shook his head. "He's just suspicious. He's been hearing some of the rumors around here, so he thinks he's doing his part by keeping an eye out. I'm not gonna lie, Noa, the whispers start whenever I'm around any woman, whether or not there's a spark. There were whispers here about Chyna and I, and we were nothing more than really good friends."
"When did those whispers stop?"
"When you arrived."
"Oh." We fell quiet, walking down the long hallway towards the catering area.
"Noa, I know I haven't had a chance to say it to you tonight, but thanks for everything you did a couple weeks ago. I don't think you'll know how much it means to me. I just...I really appreciate it."
"It's fine - all good. It's what friends do for each other. I meant that, too - my phone is open for you anytime."
"Thanks." We fell quiet again, turning a corner.
"I know it sounds ridiculous, but it felt strange not seeing you back here last week."
"Aw, did you miss me?" he teased. I rolled my eyes.
"I can't answer that – it's going to go to your head." He laughed.
"I'll just have to be here every week then. When I can," he added.
"You don't have to do that," I said with a laugh. "If you don't mind me asking, where did you go last week? Stephanie said she was worried because she couldn't reach you." He shrugged.
"The thing you need to know about Stephanie is that she's the type who needs to be in control all the time. She needs to know everything, and it drives her absolutely crazy when she thinks she's the last to know something. I told everyone I was taking a vacation, but I actually just locked up my house and hid out."
"Did it work?" I asked.
"More or less. There are no days off when my father is involved." We stopped at a drink table. I grabbed a bottle of water. He grabbed himself a cup of coffee. "What are you up to tonight?"
"No plans tonight."
"You should come out with me. I'm going drinking with the Brothers, Show, and Chris."
"Chris? Like, Jericho?" I asked. He nodded. I was surprised because Chris hadn't mentioned anything about going out with Shane. I had my suspicions that he did that on purpose.
"Before you get any crazy thoughts, Kane and Show talked him into it. He was just gonna drive to the next town."
"I was going to do the same."
"Oh." He was visibly disappointed, and I felt terrible instantly.
"But I could always spend an hour or two with you guys before heading out on the road. I'm traveling alone this time around. Am I going to be overdressed for this place? Do I need to get changed?" I asked.
"Nah. You look terrific." I felt myself blush.
"Thanks." He spotted Show down the hall. "Have you met Show yet?"
"Of course. We were in WCW together. Why do you call him Show?"
"Because there's like twenty guys by the name of Paul back here."
"Ah, okay." We walked over to Show, who was making himself a plate. He's the biggest guy I've ever met, so tall that I have to stare up at him to make eye contact. He turned to us and smiled.
"Hey, Shane. Rinoa," he greeted. His eyes were darting between the two of us, and I knew immediately he had been hearing some of the gossip weaving through the backstage area. "Great stuff at Unforgiven," he told me. I thanked him for the praise. He looked over at Shane. "Is she coming drinking with us tonight?"
"For a little bit," I answered. "Then I'm on the road, so I won't be drinking."
"I've heard she doesn't do Jager too good," Shane told Show with a laugh. I shook my head.
"Don't feel too bad, Rinoa – you've never seen this man knee deep in Kamikazes."
"She'll get to; it feels like a kamikaze night."
"You think he's a suicidal motherfucker before he gets into it..." Show said with a laugh.
"It's part of the fun. Anyway, I need to get back to work. Show, keep an eye on Noa tonight." My eyes widened and I saw something flicker in Show's eyes. Shane was gone before I could say anything else, rushing back to Gorilla, where his father and Brisco were waiting. I looked over at Big Show.
"Breathe easy – Shane's one of my best friends," he assured me. "I'll try to keep him off the SoCo kamikazes until after you're gone." I blinked.
"Sorry – I'm not on the up and up with my drink compositions – what is that?"
"That's where they replace the vodka in the Kamikaze with Southern Comfort. Once Shane gets on the Southern Comfort, he can get pretty wild. He's competitive, and if you aren't careful, he'll drink a bar under the table."
"That's good to know. What kind of a super-drunk is he?"
"A fun one. You don't have to worry about him getting belligerent and trying to start fights. He just drinks to have a good time." I was relieved to hear that. "Besides, you're gonna be among giants. We won't let anything happen to you."
"Glad to know that, too."
"Here comes the cavalry," Chris said. The two of us were standing in the parking lot at the end of the night. Turning, I saw Shane approach, flanked by Taker, Kane, and Show. They towered over Shane. I must have been staring a little too intently because Chris nudged me in the side with his elbow. "Close your mouth," he whispered softly, "You're attracting flies."
"Noa, this is the Brothers of Destruction. Guys, this is Rinoa." We once again shook hands. Taker's handshake was warm and very firm. I was surprised at how weak Kane's was. "Are we ready to go?"
"Do you have a designated?" Taker asked. I shook my head.
"I'm not drinking. I'm heading to the next town after."
"Good girl." His voice rumbled. Even with sunglasses on, I felt like his gaze was burning a hole through me. He had a way of making me feel like I was his daughter, of making me forget that I'm a grown woman. His lips pursed into a narrow line and I found myself taking a step closer to Chris.
"Well, let's go and get this show on the road. I know a little place just up the road here," Shane told us. We all separated and went to our cars. I watched them all pull out of their spaces and I followed, last in line.
