Punk refused to turn around. He couldn't tear his eyes away from John, his hurt showing all over his face. He felt a chin rest on his shoulder and an arm wrap around his waist.
"I have no idea why you look like someone died; you were the one kissing Zack Ryder last night at Raw. I got an awesome shot of the tender moment, and then forwarded it to Phil of course. You say you're Mr. 'Hustle, Loyalty, Respect,' which is a joke by the way because you seem to be only able to manage one of out the three. You were definitely hustling something last night," Ziggler said viciously, making John's face crumple more.
"Phil, I don't know what he told you or what you saw but I didn't kiss Zack last night, I would never, I love you."
"Oh Cena, you really are a liar. What did you think would happen when you put Phil on the shelf for Ryder, that no one else would want him? You let him go a long time ago, which I thank you for, wholeheartedly."
"Phil?"
"Get the hell off me Ziggler," Punk said shrugging out of Ziggler's embrace. "Ziggler's insane but exactly right. He sent me a picture of you and Ryder, both of you way past the line for physical contact for someone you said was just a friend. You stopped caring about me a long time ago and replaced me with Ryder. I was just stupid enough to hang around and be treated like crap."
"So you and Ziggler…" John forced out, practically in tears.
"No, not that it should matter to you, but I forgot to lock the adjoining door and he snuck in here last night."
"I don't care what happened last night, I'll forgive you anything, just come with me now," John begged, stepping forward and placing his hand on Punk's hip, holding tight to the skin that had his name etched on Punk's skin.
Punk was seconds from giving in when he saw Vickie walk past the open door and turn her head to scope out the situation. Punk heard her footsteps stop and she backed up to stare into the room, her face turning red.
"Didn't I tell you last night to stay away from each other! You two should be fighting, not fucking!"
"Wait…last night…when?" John asked quietly.
"You should have heard them in the ring during the Foley incident, like they were on a date, not out there to humiliate each other like they're supposed to be doing!"
"Phil, you said…"
"Oh, he's just being nice and not calling you the cheating bastard you are. The truth is that when you stepped out on Phil I stepped right into the place you willingly vacated. Nothing went on behind your back, ask anyone on the roster, they all know. You were just too blinded by your sickening love for Ryder to notice that you had…you know what; I won't even call it competition. I'm his perfect match. Take away your looks and there's not much there. You could have never kept him interested in the long run you fucking boy scout."
"That is fucking it! Ziggler, stop calling me Phil and get the hell out of my room and take your shrieking harpy with you. John, go back to Ryder, you chose him over me long ago and I'm not going to take one more minute of being second place in your affections."
"You know what Phil, fuck you too! Zack and I are just friends and I can't help it if you're too insecure to handle that. I did nothing wrong while you've apparently been running around with Ziggler and it seems the entire roster knows what a fool I've been for you, trusting you to stay true when you've never been loyal to anything in your life. Ziggler's going to screw you over and break your heart and if he makes you feel like I do right now you'll fucking deserve it!"
John turned away and Punk slammed the door behind him. His room was now Vickie and Ziggler free. He locked the adjoining door and pulled the dresser in front of it for good measure. Punk collapsed on the floor and this time the tears came freely. He knew he wasn't wrong about Ryder having an ulterior motive of some sort but it was John's angry words that wounded him the most. Punk knew John gave him a pass for some of his less than admirable characteristics, but the words John assaulted him with proved that his failings were never far from John's mind. Punk had left John because of his attentions to Ryder but John's reasons were due to Punk's failings as a person. Punk was disloyal except where John was concerned and no amount of John's reassurances ever convinced Punk that one day John would come to his senses and realize that he wasn't worthy of him.
John's conjectures about him and Ziggler were patently untrue, but John had come to believe they were based solely on Ziggler's comments. Punk should have told John that Ziggler was completely delusional but the whole situation had shocked Punk into silence and Ziggler had filled that silence with damning comments that made him look like he and Ziggler were carrying on some grand affair. Punk knew he should have just punched Ziggler in the face the first time Ziggler showed interest but again his insecurities concerning John allowed Ziggler to get closer to him, more than Punk should have ever allowed. He and John had completely fallen apart and there was no way to recover what they once had.
January 22, 2012
Punk had unwillingly picked up a new sidekick in Kofi Kingston. Kofi had knocked on his door about 15 minutes after the altercation in the hallway. Kofi said it was to bring him the pieces of his phone that he had smashed at Raw but when Punk realized that Kofi's room was across the hallway from his, he knew the man had probably had a front row seat to his emotional devastation. Kofi's usual sunny personality was absent due to his abrupt demotion after Evan had been suspended yet again for a wellness violation. They had lost the tag titles and Kofi was quickly fading into obscurity. Their strange friendship had resulted in Punk's crying jags ceasing and Kofi was getting used to the idea that if he wanted to regain his footing in the WWE, he would have to take it all upon himself and not rely on people like Laurinaitis to advance his career.
What also helped was the absence of John, Ryder and Ziggler. While he wasn't forced to see John and Ryder together, that didn't stop Punk from having nightmares about what the two of them were off doing. Punk wished that he had never bought a new cell phone. His SIM card was salvageable so the picture of John and Ryder was always only a few clicks away. He was also dodging calls from both Ziggler and Randy. He couldn't deal with Ziggler and his flirting and he was avoiding Randy because while they were friends, he was John's friend first. He didn't need Randy telling him how stupid he was, when Randy had been absent and not seen the dangerous relationship happening between John and Ryder, but there was always one number that he could call no matter the situation or time.
"Phil, what the fuck is up with this picture you just sent me. Tell me John has some valid reason to be 2 seconds away from kissing that spiky haired stalker," Melina said, as incensed as Punk was when he saw the picture for the first time.
"You think the picture is bad, I was ready to kill when I woke up only to find Ryder in bed with us plastered to John's side."
"Is Ryder trying to get himself killed?"
"Not when John is playing knight in shining armor to his damsel in distress."
"How much do you think it costs to have someone killed?"
"I have the money but I don't think I can bring the belt with me to court when I get indicted for conspiracy to commit capital murder."
"You could always just lay a vicious beating on him."
"Ryder would just love that. He'd probably just lay back and take it, knowing it would drive the last nail in the coffin of John's and my relationship."
"Then don't do it yourself."
"I'm supposed to just walk up to someone on the roster and ask them to kick Ryder's ass? That doesn't sound like a favor anyone would be willing to do for me."
"I think you're missing the obvious…Kane."
"You want me to plot with the guy who choked out John repeatedly. That's crazy."
"Crazy enough to work."
January 23, 2012
Monday Night Raw
Punk arrived early at the arena in Phoenix. He hadn't decided whether or not to feed Ryder to Kane. He had done some dastardly things in the past but plotting with a psycho like Kane seemed a bit beyond the pale.
He wasn't the only person that had elected to show up early for Raw. He walked into the locker room to find John with Ryder in the alcove next to him. John quickly turned his attention away from the door he had just walked through. He was concentrating on the locker in front of him like it held the keys to the universe. With John's back turned Ryder took the opportunity to smirk at him.
That was fucking it. Melina's plan was so on. He was too distracted thinking about Ryder coughing up bone shards that he neglected to notice someone else had entered the locker room.
"So did you miss me," Ziggler said, leaning against the locker closest to his, invading his personal space.
"Not in the slightest. How do you keep showing up everywhere I go? Do you have me low jacked or something," Punk responded, not even sparing Ziggler a glance.
"I have my ways."
"Are you mentally deficient or something? We are fighting each other at the Royal Rumble in 6 days."
"Which I fully intend to win, but don't worry, I'll kiss all your wounds better. You won't even remember you lost the match until the morning after."
Punk turned to face Ziggler to tell him to back the fuck off. Ziggler stared at him steadily for a moment before rushing forward, wrapping his arms around Punk's neck and pulling him into a kiss. Punk pushed Ziggler off him, hearing the locker room door slam. He looked to the other side of the room where Ryder was alone and smirking at him yet again.
"You're making this so easy," and Ryder left the locker room, probably to hunt down John and inflame the situation even more.
Punk turned back to Ziggler to find the man staring at him with an odd expression Punk couldn't label.
"Are you trying to ruin my life!"
"No, I'm trying to improve it exponentially," Ziggler said with a smile, stepping into Punk's personal space again. "Let me kiss you again, I know you liked it, how could you not."
"If you don't get out of this locker room in ten seconds I'm going to punch you so hard in the mouth you won't be kissing anyone for months."
"Fine. We'll be seeing each other tonight, I guarantee it."
After Ziggler left Punk pulled on his gear and then pulled his street clothes over them. He walked through the arena to find the guys who could tell him where he could find Kane…the pyro guys.
"I need to know where to find Kane."
"Why should we tell you Punk?"
"Because I need to speak to him. Do you see me carrying around a weapon or anything; I just need to have a brief conversation with him."
The pyro guys gave him a room number, probably thinking they were sending Punk to his certain death. He found the room in a practically abandoned area of the arena. He pushed the door open and Kane turned to face him.
"You were right. Ryder is the key to John embracing the hate. Demolish him and John won't be able to control his himself."
Punk watched as Kane gave him a sickening smile and Punk left the room. The guilt was already pressing upon him.
Punk returned to the monitor bay to find John sitting next to Ryder, Ryder whispering in John's ear. Punk took a seat near the back but he couldn't stand to watch them for one more second. He felt the need to embrace the hate himself and his favorite whipping boy was always available. Punk walked to the arena entrance, had his music queued up and entered the arena to the usual cheers, but he felt undeserving of them at the moment. The fans had no idea exactly how reprehensible he was.
He made his way to the ring and grabbed a mic, taking a seat in the middle of the ring. Punk straight up admitted to the crowd that Ziggler had beaten him 3 times in the past month, but it was Laurinaitis' interference that had made those 3 losses possible. He tore into Laurinaitis, calling him a failure at life. Punk hesitated before speaking again. Usually that was enough to bring Laurinaitis out to the ring. He kept going when it was obvious that Laurinaitis would not be making an appearance. He communicated his complete unsurprise that Laurinaitis intended to screw him out of the title at the Royal Rumble. He stood up, outright calling Laurinaitis to the ring.
The breath caught in his throat when John's music hit. John knew just what buttons to push, knowing Punk hated being interrupted mid tirade. John had a cruel smile on his face. Punk didn't think that Kane needed to push John much farther because he seemed to be doing a bang up job of embracing the hate all on his own. They hadn't faced off like this since Money in the Bank. Since Punk was positive that this confrontation wasn't going to lead to illicit kisses from John in his hotel room he fired the first shot.
"I can see how you are confused. I'm out here talking about a company man named John. I didn't want John the boy scout, I wanted John "nobody gives a crap about me" Laurinaitis."
"Sorry I was just sick of hearing you ramble. You're out here to talk; I'm out here to do business. Watch and learn."
That business of course would be the plight of Zack Ryder and the loss of his US Championship. Of course Laurinaitis would respond to John's summons but not his. Laurinaitis pulled out his usual shtick but then he shocked Punk to his core. Laurinaitis announced Ryder vs. Kane in a falls count anywhere match. He added that if John got involved Ryder would never get another US Championship match…ever. If he didn't know any better he would think that Laurinaitis was trying to get on his good side.
That didn't last for long when he also announced that he and John would be teaming up in a tag match. Of course the opponents that came out to take them on were Ziggler and Swagger. Both Swagger and Ziggler were smiling sadistically at John. Swagger no doubt wanted to pay John back for last week and Ziggler obviously just wanted to twist the knife a little deeper. Punk turned to John to see who would start the match but John wouldn't even acknowledge his existence. He just stepped out of the ring and let John take the lead, starting out against Ziggler. He could see Ziggler and John trading off verbal digs but he couldn't make out what they were saying. Ziggler got free of John and strutted in the ring, showing no respect for John, grinning at him as he tagged Swagger in.
He heard the crowd behind him yelling, the word bitch the most common epithet. He looked down; Vickie was standing a few feet away from him. Once she was sure she had his attention she mouthed the word "slut" at him. Punk just shook his head and returned his attention to the ring. John knocked Swagger to the ground with one punch and then mocked Ziggler's strutting, and then blasted Ziggler with a punch to the face, knocking him to the floor. Ziggler jumped back up, Swagger distracting the official, and blasted Cena right back. Swagger took advantage of John being stunned and began to beat him down.
John had an opportunity to tag out but continued to ignore him, preferring to take a beating than even touch him briefly to tag out. Ziggler was soon back in, doing sit up's next to John's prone body. John finally deigned to tag Punk in to face off against Ziggler. He was putting together a brutal series of offensive moves. The official was blocking the corner that Punk needed to ascend to drop a flying elbow. He moved the official out of the way and climbed up. He felt the ropes move and lost his footing on top of the turnbuckle. He jumped back into the ring to see Laurinaitis holding the ropes, yelling at him for putting his hands on an official. He grabbed Laurinaitis by the lapels and pushed him off the ring apron. Out of nowhere Ziggler rolled him up and could feel him grabbing his tights, enabling Ziggler to pin him yet again. He could see Laurinaitis walking back up the ramp. What set Punk off is when he turned around to smile at Punk. He needled Laurinaitis until the stupid man agreed to meet Punk in the ring that night. Finally, he was going to get his hands on Laurinaitis beyond the usual shove.
He finally looked around the ring and found John and Swagger standing by opposing turnbuckles. John just turned around without a look and made his way back up the ramp. Swagger turned his head to Punk and made to get in the ring and vent his anger on Punk. Ziggler barely inclined his head toward the ramp and began walking away, a confused Swagger and irate Vickie following him.
Punk made his way backstage to find Jericho standing at the gorilla position. Jericho gave him that lopsided sneer of his.
"Oh, shut the hell up Jericho. Oops, I forget you patented that phrase," and Punk continued to the locker room. He had a while until his match with Laurinaitis. He knew the man wouldn't place himself in anything but the main event. He undressed and made his way to the shower. He had his back to the door and turned around suddenly when he heard a whistle, he turned around quickly to find Ziggler, his eyes roaming all over his naked body.
"Could you stop perving on me and get the hell out of my locker room."
"What? You can't blame me for wanting to get a look at the ass I had my hands all over in the ring."
Punk quickly pulled the towel around his lower half and entered the main part of the locker room which was blessedly empty due to the roster being in the monitor bay.
"Can you get the fuck out of here so I can change?"
"Don't make me sweetheart. Do you want to know what your ex said about you in the ring? He called you a whore and said I was welcome to you. Now that we have Cena's blessing why don't we find a dark corner and let me put my hands all over you again."
"You're insane," Punk bit out, pulling his clothes on under his towel like he was in middle school gym again. He walked out the locker room, passing John entering at the same time. John caught sight of Ziggler in the locker room and pinned Punk with a scowl before turning and storming away. Punk continued to the monitor bay, taking a seat away from the rest of the roster. That didn't seem to help matters because everyone had been there for the altercation last week and then had seen the mess in the ring during the match. Punk ignored the stares and turned his attention to the monitor, unfortunately to see Jericho showing a video package of his greatest hits. If he managed to outwit Laurinaitis and keep his Championship Jericho was next on his list. He thought to himself that he just found his top pick to win the Rumble.
Next up was the match between Kane and Ryder. It was going to be a brutal, bloody affair, and Punk knew he had some small part in guaranteeing Ryder's beat down. Ryder came out, his ribs still taped from last week, the tape standing out like a target around his midsection. Punk watched as Kane viciously destroyed Ryder, feeling a little guilty for helping to assure another human be subjected to as much pain as possible. The fight was all over the ring area and ended up at the head of the ramp. Kane lifted Ryder up by his neck and choke slammed him through the ramp. Eve ran out in tears and he wondered if she would be so upset if she knew exactly how much she was being played. Of course John came out as well as Ryder was being loaded onto a stretcher. Seeing John so upset over that snake in the grass suppressed the guilt he was feeling. Eve berated John for being responsible for Ryder's injury. Josh Mathews tried to get a comment from John. John didn't speak, just stared into the camera with such a look of hatred on his face. Punk couldn't even watch anymore and lowered his eyes to the floor.
He lifted his eyes back to the screen when he heard Laurinaitis' voice. The man was shadow boxing in what appeared to be either a bathrobe or a choir robe. It immediately lifted his spirits. Otunga handed Laurinaitis a fax and the look on his face revealed that Laurinaitis was not pleased with its contents. Punk made his way to the ring entrance, the contents of the fax were on his mind, but foremost it was the chance to beat Laurinaitis into the ground. Punk entered the ring but they kept announcing Laurinaitis who wasn't appearing in the arena.
He finally showed up, sans choir robe, with Otunga who was carrying the mysterious fax. Laurinaitis grabbed a mic and gave it to Otunga to read the fax from the WWE Board of Directors to the fans. The Board was questioning Laurinaitis' judgment, mainly due to his assertion that he was going to screw Punk at the Rumble. He was going to receive a performance evaluation at the post-Rumble Raw by none other than Triple H. He was well aware of Hunter's feelings on Laurinaitis and knew that the Interim GM wouldn't hold that position for much longer. He stood there seething as Laurinaitis weaseled his way out of the match and then had the temerity to try to apologize to him. Punk couldn't take one more minute of this and that was when Laurinaitis sicced Otunga on him, who shortly was uselessly tapping out to the Anaconda Vise. Punk glared up venomously at Laurinaitis. He was truly at the end of his rope, and then Laurinaitis did the unthinkable, he held out his hand to Punk. Punk grabbed him by the hand and then hoisted Laurinaitis up and hit him with a particularly vicious GTS. Maybe he had just screwed himself out of his title, maybe his life had shot right to hell, but damn did that feel good. He never saw Ziggler coming as he was laid out by the Zig Zag.
Punk made his way to the hotel, the adrenaline and anger still running through his veins. Punk paced his room furiously. Looking back on Raw it had been dreadful. John's cruelness, Ryder's smugness and Ziggler's continued attentions had made it unbearable. What he was really appalled at was his actions at the end of the show. As awesome as GTS-ing Laurinaitis had felt, his rash actions had no doubt sealed his fate at the Royal Rumble. He had already lost John and on top of that he would be losing his title as well. Whatever interference Laurinaitis would perpetrate at least he would see Laurinaitis fired a scant 24 hours later. There was a knock on his door and Punk dreaded who he would find on the other side.
He opened the door only to be met with a pair of lips pressing against his. Punk pushed Ziggler away roughly.
"What the hell is wrong with you! You cheat, yet again, to get another win in your column and then you attack me from behind. What makes you think I would even consider being in the same room with you until the Royal Rumble much less let you kiss me!"
"I did humiliate John in the ring, I deserve a little something for that, and I was defending your honor after all. Your past liaison suggests you like a bit of chivalrous heroics. Why don't you let me in and we can see what else you like."
"Ziggler, you have gone round the bend."
"Can't you call me Dolph? I would much rather you call out that when I've got you under me. God would also be acceptable. Give into me. Cena has no idea what he's lost but I'm not ignorant in the slightest of what I have to gain."
Punk's resolve was crumbling. It had been so long since someone honestly wanted him and wasn't just feeding him scraps of affection. He took one step back into his room and that small movement was enough to encourage Ziggler, who stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with his foot. Punk watched as Ziggler quickly sunk to his knees. He felt Ziggler grab the waistband of his shorts and then all movement stopped. Punk looked down to find Ziggler staring at him in shock.
"What the hell is this!"
"What are you talking about?"
Ziggler squeezed Punk's hip roughly. "You've been walking around with Cena's name tattooed on your body. You know you would have tired of him eventually, why would you do such a thing!"
"I never thought I would…"
"Don't even finish that sentence. I respect you enough to not think that you're that gullible."
Ziggler stood up and rushed out the door. Punk sank to his knees and bent his head to rest on them. What was wrong with him? What had he almost allowed?
AN: I want to thank you all for your encouraging reviews, especially since we are going through a rather rough patch. By the by, have any of you seen Punk's media clips from this weekend? The man has gone and shaved all his facial hair off. Color me shocked.