A/N: OK! TLC done! Anyone else pissed that AJ was not anywhere in the Diva's Battle Royal? At least Naomi and Cameron were. It is good for them to start wrestling and break out of just dancing with Brodus. Also I had been hoping for Zack Ryder rather the Brooklyn Brawler, but I'm OK with it. So glad the Shield won their PPV match. And AJ's screwing John was kinda expected, but it did happen really weirdly. Cause I thought she was helping him till the end. I don't think Ziggler even realized what happened...I wanna think AJ has a connection with Shield and Punk. Shield works to right in-justices and lots of people thought Dolph having his MITB contract was a in-justice[they even called it that on commentary]. And Shield has a very good chance of being connected to Punk...Wishful thinking, but it's all I got.
AJ nervously twisted her fingers together. Pacing back and forth in a short distance, sharp turning with each switch of direction. She was breathing heavily, yet not from being exhausted. Brad Maddox would be showing up today at Raw to give his side. He had already meet with the Board of Directors. Her mind filled with paranoia of what he had said and what he was going to say.
"AJ!" A hand touched her shoulder.
The small woman made a hard flinch. Whipping her hair around she probably was close to smack the person in the face. "What!" She snapped. She made a hard glare at his handsome features. Brad Maddox had that play boy look, he had good looks and he would use them to get whatever he wanted. 'Too bad that even some of most disgusting people are better wrestlers than him.' She mentally insulted.
"Just thought I'd tell you that I am going to be getting a chance at a contract in WWE." He displayed proudly. Pulling at the fake leather coat.
AJ's face twitched with irritation. She looked over to a man wearing an altered Ryback shirt, the name of the behemoth covered with scotch tape written with Maddox's name. Her eyes find the camera in the man's hand more interesting than his presence. "Why should I care?" AJ questioned glaring back at Maddox.
"AJ-" Brad almost looked hurt at her question. He must have seriously misinterpreted her intention when she convinced him to get involved in the match.
"No. Getting a shot at a contract doesn't mean you're going to get it. I don't care either way. Now don't talk to me..." AJ made one more glance at the camera, her eyes drawn to the light. "Ever."
AJ stomped off not wanting to deal with the man. She could not be involved in his mess. Not unless she wanted to labelled in a bigger scandal and have more risk to her job. She stomped down the hall and put Brad as far as possible from her mind.
Turning into the corner she stopped. Her eyes widened. Standing over her, breaths taken in with a menacing scowl and twitch, his shoulders rising and falling; there was Ryback. She took a step back. She was sure that Ryback would not attack her physically, but there were other options. Now Ryback backstage was far more literate than what he portrayed. Which AJ could not determine if that was good or bad option.
"You told Maddox to attack me." Ryback said the words as a plain fact.
"Why don't you prove it?" AJ did not know where her confidence was coming from. Maybe the fact that she had been General Manager made her slightly less intimidated by men larger and strong than her. Or maybe it was Punk's attitude feeding her need to stand up for herself.
Ryback only made a menacing growl of frustration before walking away.
AJ let go of the breath she had remembrance of holding. She made a gulp, swallowing the salvia in her mouth. She turned on her converse clad heels and went straight for Punk's dressing room. Wandering around right now was not the best of options.
"I was not working for anyone. Not CM Punk, not ex-GM AJ Lee, not Paul Heyman, nobody. I was acting on my own. See I was sick and tired of being over looked. I worked years to finally get a developmental contract. I worked in every area commentator, camera, referee. But what I always wanted was to be a WWE Superstar." Maddox announced. "Now I want a WWE contract and I'm not leaving this ring until I get one!"
Those words sparked a familiar music that send chills through the spine of the ex-referee. He backed away to be on the further part of the ring from the ramp watching for the man that people were already screaming with cheers for. Their cheers turning to a collective gasp and awe when Paul Heyman stepped out.
"What is Paul Heyman doing here?!" Jerry Lawler questioned.
"He was fired by CM Punk before the Hell in a Cell Pay-per-view, but has he been hired by Ryback?" Micheal Cole commented.
"Working for Punk or Ryback, this is going to be bad for Maddox no matter what." Jerry added.
"Now I know without a doubt that you were not working for me." Heyman declared honestly, but considering his reputation that did not mean much. "See I just was wondering if you expect anyone to believe you with that garbage? You weren't working for AJ Lee? AJ is the entire reason you had a found as a referee to being with!" Heyman declared.
Brad Maddox looked unfazed by Paul's further accusations. "Look Heyman unless you're here to give me a match for a WWE contract then I don't care."
"You're just in luck. See I just got out of a meeting with Mr. McMahon. Now he thought you should be dragged out of the arena with the door locked after you were thrown out on your ass. But I had an idea." Paul explained. "I thought we should give you want what you want. There really isn't much harm to it at all."
Brad was legittamently surprised like some of the other people in the arena. It was supernatural that Paul and would actually agree on anything. Sometimes the other would say the opposite just to cause conflict with other. "Well I guess I should say thank you." Brad passively answered. He turned away ready to head up the ramp when the sound of Paul's voice stopped him.
"Not just yet Mr. Maddox. See , though not the smartest man, knows enough not to invest in a product or superstar unless they can actually preform in this ring. So you will get your WWE contract, a million dollar contract! If you can defeat my new client next week on Raw." Paul explained.
Brad should have look scared, but he didn't. He looked almost excited at the prospect of facing the man he had screwed over. People might have thought he learned his lesson after the beating last Sunday. "Oh I'm more than happy to face Ryback. And I'll win."
"That bastard." Punk muttered beneath his breath. He was not surprised by Paul's action or decision to take Ryback as a client. He knew Paul was going to be out to screw him and he knew Paul was creative in those ways as well. Still he did not know whether to let his jaw drop or just smile. He had not expected less from Paul and that was exactly why he wasn't threatened at all.
"Punk?" AJ gave him a worried look not at all happy with the devious actions of his former friend.
"It's going to be fine. Just because Ryback has a mouth piece it doesn't mean he can beat me. Paul's cunning and dangerous, but so are we." Punk reminded her. He gently touched his lips to her forehead.
AJ smiled brightly with the simple fact that he said 'we'.
"Now Ryback's probably gonna get another title shot cause of Hell in a Cell, but that's not a problem." Punk explained with a roll of his eyes. "Especially with Paul spear heading him."
AJ got a curious thought, "You know this seems weird."
"Weird how?" Punk questioned. It seemed pretty simple. Ryback was his most obvious opponent for the next pay-per-view. A with how his relationship with Paul ended it seemed almost cliche that he'd take on his current rival. Punk also rivaled with John and others, but most of them knew better than to trust Paul Heyman. Or at least had heard enough stories to not trust his methods or his loyalty.
"But why does Ryback need Paul?" AJ questioned. "Yeah, he isn't so much of a talker, but he got by fine with fans without a mouth pieces. Plus Mr. McMahon has been pushing for Ryback since during my time as GM. Why would he take Ryback as a client when clearly already wants him." AJ explained.
"So you think Paul is helping us?" Punk questioned. It seemed farfetched and down right insane, yet it still made sense.
"I think he's helping you. As soon as Heyman puts his stamp on any superstar it is almost guaranteed that will hate them. He fought with Stone Cold, you, and he disrespects Big Show as well." AJ explained. Her mind was reeling.
Paul was far more ingenious than she could imagine. Purposefully using his name to drag Ryback's through the dirt. Paul was out to get Punk back on his side. She moved closer to Punk wrapping her arms around his waist. She refused to lose him. She'd do anything to protect Punk so that they could be together. No matter what.
A/N: Not as long as I cared to write. What do you think? Is AJ right or wrong? [Also I'm going to put Shield in this story, or try to at least]
Check out my other AJ-Punk stories, 'Mind of a Crazy Chick' , 'Talking is OverRated', 'Crash and Burn', 'Not Yet Over', and 'Just Friends' [Wow that's a lot] Also 'Think Twice' collab with UnbelievinglyRandom. And a John-Lita fic, 'Cookie Jar' [with bits of AJ-Punk]