Chapter 21
AJ was heading down the halls of Monday Night Raw. It was the last Raw before the pay-per view Sunday. She headed into the women's locker room to meet with Kaitlyn.
"Hey crazy" Kaitlyn smiled at her friend "You ready for Sunday"
"Yes I've been training everyday this week. I worked with Amy a few days and Phil" AJ told her with a smile "It's now or never"
"Good for you" Kaitlyn smiled "If you want I'll go out to the ring with you on Sunday? In case you need back up"
"Thanks but I want to do this on my own" AJ told her "It's going to be me and Beth"
"And Amy" Kaitlyn chimed in "The three women of Punk's life" she teased
"Oh you didn't hear? Maria is going to be on commentary" AJ told Kaitlyn whose eyes widened "I'm kidding" she added quickly
"So what's going on? You seem a little off" Kaitlyn noted as she watched AJ take a seat
"I told Phil about Scott" AJ admitted. For a long time Kaitlyn was the only one who truly knew about her relationship with Scott
"I'm sure that was difficult" Kaitlyn sympathized taking a seat next to her friend
"Well I was having a nightmare about one of our more violent confrontations and I woke Phil so I really didn't have a choice" AJ shrugged
"How'd he take it?" Kaitlyn asked nervously. She knew Punk had a short temper escpically when it came to people like Scott. Say what you want about CM Punk but he was old school, you never lay a hand on a woman. And since they had started working together she saw the protective nature Punk had on AJ long before dating.
"Really well" AJ said causing Kaitlyn's eyes to widen "He didn't yell or anything he just held me"
"He's a good man" Kaitlyn smiled unsurely
"What?" AJ questioned
"Are you kidding me AJ?" Kaitlyn questioned "The man flies off the handle if you take too rough of a bump in the ring"
"He's grown as a person" AJ shrugged not giving it much thought
"Or he's going to destroy him on Sunday" Kaitlyn smirked "I can't wait to see that"
"Phil is a professional" AJ argued
"Phil is also your overprotective husband who just heard you confess to the fact that your crazy ex-boyfriend used to hit you. Keep in mind he also attacked you in the locker room and kissed you in the middle of the ring" Kaitlyn rattled off the last few weeks of Scott's violent behavior "Who also beat Punk up a few times on national TV"
"Well if that's the case then good" AJ said to her "I want Phil to win"
"It's not a matter of him winning it's a matter of how far he's going to go" Kaitlyn told her
"He's a good man" AJ told her friend "I'm not worried"
"Then neither am I" Kaitlyn smiled "So what's on the agenda tonight?"
"Well Vince is going to cut a promo about the match tonight so I'm sure Scott will be there" AJ told her "He wouldn't tell Phil what he was going to say though"
"What about you?" Kaitlyn questioned
"Phil has a match tonight I'm going to be on commentary" AJ told her friend as Kaitlyn raised an eyebrow
"I didn't see that on the schedule" Kaitlyn noted "Who is he fighting?"
"Oh I don't want to ruin the surprise" AJ said giving her devilish smile
"Oh boy" Kaitlyn smirked "This won't be good"
"Oh but it will be, oh so good" AJ smiled standing up
"I'll be watching" Kaitlyn promised that's when AJ headed to the door but Beth Phoenix walked in
"April" Beth smiled "I'm glad I bumped into you"
"I bet" AJ muttered folding her arms
"I just wanted to wish you luck on Sunday" Beth told her "I'm looking forward to it"
"So am I" AJ noted then brushed past her and headed to her shared locker room with Punk
Vince McMahon opened the show as promised and was met with cheers from the crowd.
"Hello everyone and welcome to Monday Night Raw" Vince McMahon smiled at the crowd "I'm here to address the match between Scott Page and CM Punk Sunday night at Elimination Chamber. In good conscience I can't sanction the match" the crowd started to boo him "Now that doesn't mean the match won't happen. CM Punk and Scott Page have both expressed interest in continuing with the fight and they shall. But this match won't go down in the record books, it won't be counted towards anything and there will no bells rung, no reefers, there will be no winner announced at the end of the fight. This is a straight up brawl and the last man standing I suppose will be the honoree winner"
Punk was watching the segment from his locker room with AJ and noticed she had a stale look on her face
"AJ" Punk said pulling her from her thoughts "It'll be fine"
"This is starting to sound a little crazy" AJ noted "I didn't realize there wouldn't be any reefers or anything. What if things get out of hand out there?"
"Do you really think Vince doesn't have something up his sleeve?" He asked his wife with half a smile then they looked back on the screen
"Now don't think there won't be any order though" Vince started "I will personally be at ringside during the match along with other 'special enforcers'. These special enforcers are volunteering their time to the match Sunday night just to make sure things to get too out of hand" he informed the crowd before he could finish Paul Heyman stepped out on stage and headed towards the ring "Can I help you?" Vince asked Paul who took a microphone of his own
"I just came to volunteer my services" Paul told Vince who just smiled at the man "I would love to be a special enforcer for this epic match Sunday night"
"Thanks for the offer Paul but the quota is already filled" Vince smirked at Paul "The Shield will count as three special enforcers, the COO himself Triple H will also be taking on the grueling task of being a special enforcer. And those four men will be joined by WWE hall of famer Edge"
"Did you know that Adam was doing that?" AJ asked Punk who just shook his head
"He didn't mention it to me when I saw him last week" Punk told her but it defiantly eased AJ's fears seeing that he had many people in his corner during this fight and he knew Vince wouldn't have it any other way.
"That hardly seems fair" Paul noted "All of CM Punk's friends are going to be around ring side"
"It's not my fault Scott Page doesn't have any friends here" Vince shot back "And I'd like to think each man will be biased. I don't think CM Punk and the men of the shield trade text messages or anything"
"This is-" Paul started
"Are you feeling left out Paul?" Vince asked him and Paul knew where this was going
"Not really" Paul shrugged nervously
"Well I don't want you to feel left out because technically you are a WWE superstar" Vince started "And you are going to have a match tonight"
"What?!" Paul shouted
"Yes you are going to have a match tonight, main event actually" Vince smiled "You'd like that right? Being in the spotlight, main eventing Monday Night Raw!"
"Not so much" Paul shook his head
"Well you're going to be" Vince smiled then turned to the crowd "Tonight's main event on Raw Paul Heyman will be going one on one with…." He started and the chants for CM Punk began "former WWE Champion CM Punk!"
"No!" Paul shouted dropping his microphone "You can't do this to me!"
"I can and I did" Vince replied smugly then left Paul alone in the ring
"He doesn't seem to pleased" AJ smirked at Punk who was also sporting a huge grin
"Yea that's too bad" Punk snickered
"You don't have to do this you know" AJ told him "You and Paul used to be friends no one will judge you if you change your mind"
"Are you kidding me?" Punk questioned his wife "I have been waiting for this moment for months now. Whatever Paul was to me is gone and forgotten"
"I don't think I'm going to be as good on commentary as you are" AJ noted
"You'll do fine" Punk assured her "If Scott comes out-"
"-I know run for the hills" AJ sighed "Believe me the last place I want to be is cornered by him again"
"Maybe your new friends will come down and help you" Punk told her causally causing her to grin
"Are you jealous?" AJ asked him and he gave her an 'are you crazy look?'
"Jealous of what?" Punk questioned
"Dean, Seth and Roman?" she questioned still grinning
"No, no I'm actually very happy they came out to the ring and helped you last week" Punk told her but his tone of voice was off
"They helped you too" AJ noted
"No they helped you" Punk corrected "But that's ok I'm glad they had the good sense to do that. You know you never explained to me how you got them to help out"
"I told you I heard Paul talking to them about jumping you and when he walked away I spoke to them" AJ shrugged innocently as Punk raised an eyebrow
"What did you say?" Punk questioned
"Let it go" AJ laughed
"No I can't because those three have made it a habit of going after anyone and everyone for no reason and after one conversation with you they decided to be heroes? There's got to be more to it then that" Punk said as AJ smiled. He was actually jealous of course he'd never admit it and AJ was thrilled.
"Ok fine" AJ started
"Are you lost?" Dean asked AJ annoyed as the other two glared at her
"I have a business proposition for you three" AJ smiled at him
"We don't do business" Dean informed AJ who was clearly the voice of the group
"Clearly you do business with Paul Heyman" AJ noted nodding her head towards the direction Paul had just left in "You guys claim you're all about 'justice' so prove it" "What are you talking about?" Dean questioned the small diva
"How about I tell you about the real Paul Heyman and Scott Page" AJ offered with a devilish smile
"Get lost little girl" Seth hissed at AJ but Dean held up his hand to silence Seth
"Hold on a second" Dean said to Seth keeping his eyes on AJ "Let's hear her out"
"Hey I'll go" AJ said to Seth "But I wonder how the WWE universe will feel about the trio that screams for justice is defending the scum of this company" "The floor is yours" Seth mocked "And this better not be a story about a teary breakup between you and your old boyfriend" "I wish" AJ said with a laugh "He was far worse then that. Didn't you hear how he attacked me backstage a few weeks ago?" she asked them
"We don't really hang around backstage and listen to gossip" Dean informed AJ
"Of course you don't. He doesn't want to hurt Punk he wants to hurt me. Physically and he has before and the reason he is going after Punk is so he has a clear path to me. He wants to finish what he started" AJ informed them
"And what did he start?" Seth questioned skeptically folding his arms eyeing the petite Diva
"I don't want to go into all the gory details but you three are smart enough to know Paul bought him here for a reason" AJ told them "But believe me I have stories and if any of you have a sisters or girlfriends you wouldn't be so willing to jump to his rescue"
"Look we're here to do a job little girl and that's all, we're not here for friends. If you don't want your husband getting hurt tonight then I suggest you get him out of the ring quickly after his match" Dean spat at her "Ok but I thought your job was justice?" AJ questioned and the three remained silent "It's fine I'm sure sooner or later it's going to come out that Scott Page used to abuse and bully his barely legal girlfriend and was able to continue doing so long after she moved on because The Shield, the self proclaimed justice of the WWE allowed him to do so" with that said she turned and started to walk away
"Wait" this time it was Seth that spoke up and he had an annoyed look on his face, Roman's face hadn't changed in the slightest and Dean's face remained hard as stone
"If we find out your lying about this there's going to be hell to pay" Dean warned AJ in a hiss
"Why would I lie?" she questioned not backing down
"I don't know? To make sure we don't beat up Punk" Dean spat back
"Believe me this isn't something that women usually make up" AJ told him "Ask Paul Heyman, I mean he'll probably lie but I'm sure you'd be able to see threw him, he's a terrible liar" she smirked at her own comment but it was true "Look I'm not asking you to stop what you're doing I just want to you be aware of who you're working with and why. Paul Heyman is a glorified user and he's going to take and take from you all and have nothing to offer in return" "And do you have something to offer in return?" Seth questioned eying her up and down
"Yea your self-respect and image" AJ told him firmly
"You're a gutsy little thing aren't you?" Dean asked her and she just shrugged "I've been called worse" AJ smirked
"Cute story" Punk remarked coolly
"What? It worked didn't it?" AJ questioned
"Yea I love stories that start with my wife meeting with the three dangerous men in empty hallways of large buildings" Punk mocked taping his elbow
"They wouldn't hurt me, I heard them tell Paul that" AJ assured him "And if I didn't go to them you and I would be a lot worse off physically today"
"Like I said I don't need there help" Punk scoffed "But for them having your back like that I guess I'm grateful"
"See? Was that so hard to admit?" AJ smiled at her husband who gave her a mocking smile
Heading down for the match first Punk & AJ entered the ring together and Punk signaled for a microphone. This was a big moment for him. Tonight he would be fighting one of his best friends, his mentor and his confidant. If he ever had second thoughts about it all he would have to do is glance over at AJ and that was his reminder. He could handle Paul's childish games but he couldn't handle the pain he had inflicted on AJ for months, long before they were married and to this day. This was for her.
"Good evening" Punk said into the microphone as AJ watched her husband with such admiration; no one was as good on the microphone in the company today as he was. "Tonight is a real treat for all of you and most of all treat for myself" he smiled "Tonight Paul Heyman is going to get what he deserves" he told the crowd who cheered "And after tonight I'm walking into Elimination Chamber Sunday night and I am going to give Scott Page exactly what he deserves and then some. And then after that is done I'm going to Wrestlemania and then its Brock Lesnar's turn" he said in a low voice earning the approval of the cheering crowd
"Over the past few months Paul Heyman, Brock Lesnar and Scott Page have done everything in their power to break me" Punk said to the crowd then turned to AJ and gave her a wink "No matter how many times they have knocked me down I have gotten back up and continued to fight and that's exactly what I'm going to continue to do. Apparently they haven't seen or listening to me the last year but I am the best in the world and I have earned that title over and over again. So Paul Heyman come on down and give me the best you got. Throw Scott Page, Brock Lesnar and whoever else you have on your payroll at me" he finished then dropped the microphone out of the ring and waited for Paul to show his face.
"I'm proud of you" AJ whispered in Punk's ear giving him a kiss on the cheek
"This is for you" Punk told her back as they looked towards the stage and saw Vince McMahon physically pushing Paul Heyman to the ring. The smiles on both Punk's and AJ's faces were priceless. Paul rolled into the ring still dressed in his suite and held his hands up in surrender. Punk glanced at AJ and nodded towards Paul. She walked over to the kneeling Paul and slapped him as hard as she possibly could across his left cheek causing him to loose balance.
"Ring the bell!" Vince yelled and the bell was rung and the match was on.
AJ headed over to the commentary table and chatted with Michael Cole and The King as they watched Punk forcefully pick Paul up and suplexed him. The crowd was loving the one sided fight as was AJ who was cheering on from her seat. But no one was having a better time then Punk. He was tossing and throwing Paul around like a rag doll.
"Don't you find this fight to be unfair?" Michael Cole questioned AJ
"Not at all" AJ brushed off the question "Paul Heyman has been fighting dirty his whole life, this is what he deserves"
"I agree" King nodded at AJ "And might I say how much I am looking forward to seeing your fight against Beth Phoenix this Sunday"
"Not as excited as I am" AJ smiled
"Is it true Lita has been training you?" King questioned
"Absolutely" AJ told him proudly. "I am in the best shape of my life in preparation for this match. This isn't going to be easy or pretty fight"
"No I should think" Michael Cole chimed in "Beth is bigger then you and has more experience then you in the ring"
"And I'm not taking it lightly" AJ shot back him "Punk has also been helping me out in training"
"And look at him go!" King shouted pointing at Punk who was slapping Paul around
"I'm surprised Brock Lesnar hasn't come down here yet" Cole noted
"Maybe he's busy getting-" AJ started but was cut off when she felt a tight strap around her throat.
Beth Phoenix had come out from the crowd and surprise attacked AJ at the announce table. AJ was forced out of her seat as Beth tightened the grip behind AJ with the strap. AJ managed to make it towards the barricade and used it as leverage to flip out of the hold. But as AJ tried to regain her footing but was met with hard slap across the face from a strap causing her to hit the floor again. Punk looked over and saw Beth and AJ brawling outside the ring, he saw as she hit the floor and watched as Beth continued to slap AJ's back hard with the strap. Punk looked over at Paul and saw he was knocked out cold he headed towards the rope to break up AJ and Beth's fight but the familiar blaring of Brock Lesnar's music hit
"You've got to be kidding me" Punk muttered turning to see Brock Lesnar at the center of the stage hoping around and warming up. Punk just waved him down to the ring and Lesnar took the invitation. Brock slid into the ring and easily lifted Punk and rushed him into a corner but Punk was punching his back causing the big man to slow his pace as he continuously rammed him into the corner.
Outside the ring AJ was starting to get her fire back and as Beth was about slap AJ again with the strap she quickly grabbed it and smiled at the larger diva. AJ pulled the strap out of Beth's hand and used it as weapon to clothesline her to the ground and then it was AJ's turn to slap Beth with the strap.
"How does that feel!" AJ screamed as Beth also screamed out in pain, AJ was sporting a now forming bruise on her eye from where Beth had hit her with the strap and the pain was extraordinary but didn't slow her down, just fueled her. Neither Punk nor AJ noticed Scott Page slowly walking down the ramp. Punk was in a battle of control with Brock Lesnar while AJ's attention was focused on the ground where Beth was. She lifted the strap up high but it was snatched from her grasp, she turned abruptly and saw Scott Page now holding it.
"What the hell are you doing here!" AJ screamed. Scott looked at the strap then at AJ but she wasn't running from him not again. AJ decided to do something she knew she would regret later and slapped Scott Page across the face just as hard as she did to Paul Heyman earlier in the night. Scott slowly turned his face back to AJ and his eyes were angry. He lifted the strap and tried to strike her but she ducked out of the way and he his the commentary table instead. At this point The King removed his head set and tried to pull Scott Page away from AJ but Scott just tossed him over the table. Scott went to go after the King behind the table but was stunned when he felt someone jump on his back and it was AJ. There was no way AJ was letting Scott hurt The King who had suffered a massive heart-attack not too long ago. He easily lifted her over her head and dropped her to the floor. His attention went back to the strap and as he lifted it up new music hit
Sierra…Hotel…India…Echo…Lima…Delta…Shield
Scott looked up towards the crowd and saw the three men descending to the ring. He also didn't notice that Punk had gotten the upper hand on Brock Lesnar and instead of staying and fighting Brock pulled Paul headed out of the ring and headed to the backstage area. Scott slid into the ring as the three men circled and backed up as far as he could but hit a hard spot when he turned and saw CM Punk standing behind him. Dean, Seth and Roman stood on the apron and watched as Punk punched Scott over and over, the shots so loud the camera picked up the impact sound. Scott now holding his head tried to crawl out of the ring but was pushed back in by Dean. The three stood and watched as Punk lifted Scott into a spinebuster and continued his assault on the rookie wrestler. Scott was out cold and AJ slid into the ring.
"That's enough" AJ whispered into his ear "You want him on Sunday don't you?" she questioned. He looked up at AJ then down at Scott with a disgusted look then stood up. He glared around the ring at The Shield who were the most unpredictable wrestlers in the business. But they never entered the ring, the dropped down from the apron and left the way they arrived threw the loud and cheering crowd.
Backstage Punk ushered AJ into the trainer's room to check her out after her fall caused by Scott and the hits she took from Beth's strap.
"Let me see" Punk said lightly gabbing her chin and examining her face "That's going to bruise"
"Cool" AJ smiled as Punk's eyes widened. Most women didn't want a blemish on their face but AJ wasn't most women
"That's cool?" Punk questioned his wife
"Yea I'll look tough" AJ told him with her signature crazy grin and in return she received his signature 'are you crazy?' eyebrow raise
"AJ" The trainer said "Lift your shirt up please" he told her and she did as she was told, most of the hits where her back. Punk looked over the trainers shoulders to see her back and it was covered in red marks "How much pain are you in?" he questioned gently touching the wounds
"Not too bad" AJ told him as she held her breath in pain
"I'm going to get some ice and a wrap for your back don't go anywhere" the trainer told her and headed out of the room
"How bad does it look?" AJ asked Punk who cringed at the sight of the marks
"I've seen worse" Punk told her, not wanting her to worry "But we'll keep ice on it ok?"
"Ok" AJ sighed "So go on and say it"
"Say what?" Punk asked finally removing her eyes from her back and then walked over to face her
"Say how I should have run away like I promised and I would have but he was going to hurt Jerry-" AJ started
"I didn't expect anything less from you" Punk told her cutting her off "Not most people would have left Jerry there to defend himself and what you both did was pretty reckless but I can't be mad about it. You did what I would have done"
"Thank you" AJ smiled grabbing his hand
"Are you ok? I didn't see much when Brock came down" AJ asked her husband who gave her smile
"Well you saw the end right? Where Brock snatched Paul and headed for the hills?" Punk let out a laugh "Big body builder running from a small guy like me, that's going to go to my head"
"Everything goes to your head" AJ reminded him with a smirk "Soon you won't fit on the bus. We'll have to find a new one big enough for your head and ego"
"Funny" Punk remarked dryly "It was very nice of your new friends to come down to the ring tonight and help you out….again"
"You're jealous" AJ squealed as Punk folded his arms "Now are you jealous because The Shield has only gone out of their way to help me out? Or are you jealous because they must like me?"
"I'm not jealous" Punk told her "I was just making an observation" he defended "Are you guys like 'friends' or something now?" he asked his petite wife
"No I only spoke to them the one time but I would be their friend, everyone needs friends" AJ told him lightly and he couldn't help but grin at her. Leave it to AJ to want to be friends with the three most feared men in the locker room.
"Well don't get too friendly you can't trust them" Punk warned her and she nodded
"So did you see me slap the taste out of Scott's mouth?" AJ asked Punk who looked surprised
"No actually I didn't" Punk smiled at his brave but foolish wife "Feel better?"
"It was just nice to not be on the receiving end of it" AJ told him honestly. He stepped closer to her and pulled her into a tight embrace
"After Sunday this will be all over with" Punk promised "You're never going to have deal with him again"
"We still have to get through Smackdown tomorrow night" AJ reminded him
"And we will" Punk told her gently stroking her hair