NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Okay, this chapter follows most of what happened on 4/12/99, with a few tweaks. Ryan didn't get abducted the second time (girl needs a break), and Ken was a bit more vocal towards Shane. We're getting closer to the wedding, and I want to express my thanks to all of you who have critiqued, favorite, and followed this story. I never anticipated it getting this big, but I'm proud of it, and I'm glad that so many of you like it so much!:)
We're splitting up 4/12 into a couple of sections. So much action, so little space to put it…
Chapter Twenty-nine
Hartford, CT
4/26/99
Anna knocked on the door before she swung it open. "We're back!" she announced before stepping into the room, with Nicole right on her heels. She clutched a large black hat box in her arms. "Let's see that dress on you!"
"We're just about done, girls." Ryan knocked gently on the bathroom door. "Steph, you ready?"
"About as ready as I'll be" Stephanie's voice was muffled slightly behind the bathroom door. "Okay, here it is..."
Slowly, the bathroom door swung open and Stephanie drifted out. The black chiffon skirt floated down to her ankles, and the satin overskirt draped elegantly over it. Her sleeves flowed gracefully down her arms, and opened up at the lace and rickrack trimmed edges. The neckline dipped low enough to reveal just a classy hint of cleavage, and it made Stephanie's neck look longer and more swanlike. The girls smiled and nodded their approval as Stephanie turned this way and that to allow the girls to admire her from every angle.
"Wow! You look fantastic!" Nicole marveled.
"If I look as half as good as you on my wedding day," Anna chimed in, setting the box down on one of the beds. "I'd be a very lucky girl. And you're wearing my collar. It's the perfect finishing touch."
"We were going for the sweet-and-innocent look," Ryan pointed out. "I was going to put her hair up, but I decided not to at the last minute."
"She didn't wanna make me up too much," Stephanie added. "So what's in that box?"
"It's a surprise," Anna explained, her eyes growing starry and a little grin appearing on her lips. "Ran into Bradshaw while I was waiting for Nicole to finish up. He handed it to me and said I can't let you see what's in it."
"I think you look perfect, Steph!" Nicole beamed, as Anna nodded in approval. "Can you walk in those boots?"
Stephanie took a few easy steps around the room. "They're actually very comfortable. And they're practically brand new. How could someone take these to a secondhand store?"
"Well, they were old to someone, I guess," Ryan shrugged, just as the phone in the room rang. "This is weird. Hold on, guys." She picked it up and answered. "Hello? Uh, yeah. She's here, who is this? Okay. Hold on a second." She glanced up with an odd expression on her face. "It's for you, Stephanie. It's the desk clerk."
Warily, Stephanie picked up the phone. "Hi, this is Stephanie. Oh. Oh, okay. I guess I'll be right down. Thanks." She hung up the phone. "There's a limo downstairs waiting to take me to the arena. Guess it's Showtime."
"I guess so." Ryan motioned for Nicole and Anna to draw in close. "Okay, group hug guys, and then we're heading downstairs…"
~~~MOD~~~
"I want your slide trombone in my brass section?" laughed Ryan, as she and Nicole brought up the rear on the way outside. Nicole had been at the arena earlier to continue the storyline that had started the night before on Sunday Night Heat. "Where the hell did you come up with that?"
Nicole shook her head. "I don't know! I was trying to be suggestive, and I came off as sounding ridiculous! At least Val's getting some exposure."
"Better be careful, though. You might break Hunter's heart," Ryan smirked, as the two of them laughed.
Part of Nicole's push was a storyline between her and Val Venis. On the Heat taping before Backlash, Val was involved in a handicap match between himself, D-Lo Brown, and Ivory. Nicole headed down to ringside to dispatch of Ivory, and she and Val won the match. Afterwards, she announced that Val owed her, leading to the "Brass Section" line that the girls were now razzing her about. A "terrified" Val bailed, and Nicole wound up trying to hunt him down in the arena.
Of course, that was on camera. Nicole and Val were just buddies, and they both shared a big laugh once they headed back to the dressing room and the cameras were off.
Later, on the RAW taping (the one Anna took Nicole to) Val Venis took on D-Lo Brown, who was accompanied by Ivory. Nicole interrupted the match when she came out and told Val, "You owe me, and you know what I want." The distraction gave D-Lo the opportunity to nail Val with the Sky High for the win. After the match, Bass went into the ring, and Ivory jumped on her back and tried to get revenge for the chokeslam Bass gave her on Sunday Night Heat. Bass tossed Ivory down to the canvas and then turned her attention to Val. Val recovered quickly and fled backstage
~~~MOD~~~
"I may have to go into seclusion for a few days," Stephanie explained to Anna, as she climbed into the limo. "I'll try to keep in touch with you guys."
"Whatever you have to do, Steph. It's cool," Anna reassured her. "Call me tomorrow if you can."
"I'll try. But don't be surprised if I can't. Bye, and thanks for everything!" Stephanie waved to her friends as the limo pulled away from the curb and glided easily out of the parking lot and into traffic. The girls waved until the limo disappeared from view.
Anna sighed and turned to the girls. "Let's hurry inside. We've got some decorating to do."
"But don't you wanna see what's in the hat box first?" Ryan wondered as she and Nicole followed the tiny blonde back into the building.
"That's gonna be part of the décor. Let's just say that Stephanie's gonna be a very happy newlywed when she sees what we do to her and Mark's honeymoon suite…"
~~~MOD~~~
Stephanie sighed and leaned back in her seat as the limo rolled leisurely towards the arena. A little smile perked up her face as she realized just how close the finish line was. Just another hour, maybe less, and Mark and I will be the ones in charge. I'll probably keep Dad on, just as a figurehead. Those two kids on Heat, they have so much potential—hell, they started out as jobbers!—but I know a couple of guys who can really develop them. Ken Shamrock needs anger management therapy before he puts the talent in danger. And Sable needs an attitude adjustment. If she thinks she can get away with letting someone else fight her battles—I know Nicole's my friend, but she should actually be competing, not doing someone's dirty work—she's sadly mistaken.
She closed her eyes and thought back to the night Shane "stole" the Corporation from Vince. It had been a pivotal and influential night, with plenty of fallout from the week before...
In spite of the turmoil swirling around his family (Vince and Stephanie had left the arena under armed guard), Shane McMahon seemed unfazed as he brought out the Corporation for the last match of the night.
Triple H and The Rock teamed up for the Handicap Match against Paul Wight. The match ended when Chyna slipped into the ring and deliver a low blow to The Big Show just before Wight could slam Triple H with a chokeslam. Earl Hebner called for the bell, and Wight won the match by disqualification. The Rock, Triple H, Chyna and Shane quadruple teamed The Big Show, finally getting him off his feet. But Steve Austin came out, and he and Wight fought off the Corporation. An embarrassed Shane tried once again to piss off Austin by putting his custom-made title on the Titantron. Austin had told JR earlier that if Shane put that title on the Titantron again, he would make the McMahon family pay. And Austin did exactly that. He and Wight walked toward the Titantron and The Big Show single handedly pulled the giant down to the ground! The Rattlesnake grabbed a couple cutting utensils and as he and Wight shared a couple beers, Austin cut down the Titantron!
Neither Shane nor Vince really cared about the destroyed Titantron. The ends justified the means; they would gladly destroy a thousand Titantrons if it meant destroying the Rattlesnake in the end.
~~~MOD~~~
Detroit Michigan
4/12/99
"I think everything's gonna be fine," Vince reassured his daughter in their private suite. They were watching the festivities on TV, and four policemen were standing behind them. "We've got Detroit's finest, so just settle down and enjoy the show. The audience is gonna be wild, it's gonna be a hoot, and the broadcast should be fantastic. So just settle down, you'll be fine."
"As long as I'm with you, Dad," Stephanie nodded, the plastic smile on her face concealing her disgust. She turned her attention towards the closed-circuit TV and watched the opening fireworks.
~~~MOD~~~
"The Joe is sold out here in Detroit!" exclaimed a triumphant Jim Ross, back in the broadcast booth with his colleague. "And you gotta wonder what Shane McMahon's major announcement will be here tonight."
"Ladies and Gentlemen," said the ring announcer, as "No Chance in Hell" began playing. "One of the owners of the WWF—Shane McMahon!"
Strutting like a peacock, Shane led the Corporation (along with Rodney and Pete Gas, the Greenwich Posse) to the ring, underneath a newly refurbished Titantron.
"What an assembly of humanity, the Corporation is," marveled JR. "And I was about to say, King, that we may not have to wait much longer to find out what Shane McMahon has on his mind tonight."
"I can tell you this, it's gonna be big!" Lawler nodded in agreement. "Let's face it, this kid Shane, I like it when he's in charge. The kid is a mover and a shaker."
"Well the rumors have it that whatever Shane has to say could shake the foundation of this very company."
"Really, JR?"
"Again, King, it's only a rumor."
"Where'd you hear that?"
"I've been hanging around the locker room area."
"Whatever you've heard about me, it's not true!"
"The fans with a familiar chant," JR observed as the arena was filled with the shouts of A-hole! A-hole!
Shane was unfazed as he grabbed a microphone. "What's up, Detroit?" He paused, soaking up the antagonism "You guys are privileged, each and every one of you here in the audience, and everyone in television land! I mean, check this out. Check out the greatest assembly of athletic talent ever created here in the WWF, all under the Corporate umbrella! And two more individuals I need to announce. Though they haven't had the privileged lives as most of you have ever had. What I'd like to do is introduce you to two members, from the mean streets of Greenwich, Connecticut…"
Shane gestured towards his two Greenwich buddies. "Give it up one time for Rodney and Pete Gas, the Mean Street Posse!"
Ken looked on, seething. The self-congratulatory little prick was getting on his nerves. He grabbed the microphone from Shane, completely irate and disgusted. Shane took a step back, actually recoiling at the fire he saw in Shamrock's eyes.
"You know," Ken started. "When your dad put the Corporation together, he told me it was gonna be like a family - where we looked after each other." He narrowed his eyes at the Boy Wonder. "Well I want an explanation, Shane - where were you and the Corporation when my sister was abducted, and I was put in the back of a trunk?" he bellowed as the fans erupted into cheers.
"Oh, good question!" JR nodded. "Where are the answers?"
"Shamrock's a troublemaker, JR!" Lawler added.
Shane put a hand up to try to pacify the World's Most Dangerous Man. "Ken…Ken, calm down. It's okay. Kenny, I promise you, you'll get your explanation tonight. But you have to understand something—I empathize with what you're going through…Ken, it's me. We're in the same boat. Your sister, Ryan. My sister, Stephanie. It all revolves around one man—and that's the Undertaker—"
"Undertaker had nothing to do with what you guys were doing! You told these guys…" Ken gestured towards the rest of the Corporation. "…That it may be some kind of trap! The only trap those guys sprung was for ME! NOT YOU!" The audience roared. "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU ALL THINKING?"
"You know what, King? Shamrock might have a valid point!" JR continued, nodding.
"I don't know, JR. Shamrock is the kind of guy who likes to be an agitator. He'd be right at home on a hockey rink picking fights."
Was it his imagination, or did Ken actually see fear in Shane's eyes? The Boy Wonder continued. "Don't freak out on me, Ken. I feel your pain." A tense moment passed as Ken glared at him. Shane wasn't expecting this, but he managed to pull himself together.
"Look…ummm…speaking of sisters…I have to take this opportunity to talk to my sister. Stephanie—I know you're back there, and I know you're safe with Dad. But I'm asking you. Please…come down here. Stephanie, please come down here. I need you."
~~~MOD~~~
Stephanie was all smiles as she rose out of her chair. Vince grabs her gently by the arm, but Stephanie kept walking and forced her dad to climb to his feet."
"He doesn't need you," Vince snapped. "Sit down!"
"Well he seems to need me—" Stephanie reasoned before her father cut her off.
"Shane doesn't need you!" Vince spat.
Stephanie winced. Vince had never used that sharp a tone with her before. She knew it was an act, but it was a convincing enough tone to actually make her give pause. "Come on, Dad!" she soldiered on. To the cops, she said, "You guys are with me, right?" She turned back to her dad, a smile on her face. "I'm safe. Shane wouldn't put me in jeopardy. Come on!"
Vince sighed and appeared to relent. "I don't think this is a good idea, but let's go all together. All of us together, alright? I don't know what he's up to. Stephanie, stay with me. Guys, get in a little closer if you will, I don't know what this is about…"
JR didn't know what to think as Vince, Stephanie and Detroit's finest headed out. "Well apparently…this is a little strange here, King."
"Well, they need to watch Mr. McMahon's back, JR," reasoned Lawler. "The Undertaker could be anywhere, with the Ministry."
"Well, Shane has summoned out his little sister and his father."
"Well I don't know if it's a good idea. They were safe back there in Mr. McMahon's dressing room. They had all the security, the police…"
"Does this have something to do with the major announcement that Shane is going to make tonight," JR wondered out loud, as Stephanie practically dragged her father by the arm.
"That's it, Steph. It's okay," wheedled Shane, as Vince's entourage climbed into the ring. "Come on down. It's safe. You're safe."
"King, I hope she's safe, with the Corporation in the ring, and Detroit's finest accompanying them—" JR continued.
"Don't worry about them, JR. As long as she's by Mr. McMahon's side, she's safe. With her father. It's the only place she's safe."
Vince took the microphone from his son as Stephanie looked on. "I don't know what this is about, but it better be damn good. What is this, some sort of publicity stunt - you put your sister in harm's way by asking her to come out here? This better be damn good, what are you up to, Shane?"
Shane grabbed another microphone and snorted. "What am I up to? Maybe you're asking me what my priorities are. Dad, priorities? Let's talk about priorities for a second, 'cause yours are out of whack. Where are your priorities? The only priority you've had was that you've focused your whole world around Stephanie - Daddy's little girl."
Stephanie looked confused, until it dawned on her. She'd heard this before, during the "argument" Shane and her father had after her "abduction". Was that all practice? she wondered, feeling an odd sense of déjà vu.
"That's all you continue to focus on. Daddy's Little Girl," Shane continued. "That's all you care about. You said you don't give a damn about the Corporation anymore—NO! Let's talk about priorities - yet again - let's check this out - look at Jim Ross down here, returns to RAW, Jim Ross, the guy can barely speak and you're puttin' him out here, you know what, Jim? I'd fire you right here on the spot but I got another problem because your cohort Michael Cole sucks just as bad!"
JR shook his head at Shane in disgust.
"Aren't you - ah, aren't you getting just a little bit out of line?" ventured Vince, cautiously.
Shane shook his head. "I don't think I'm getting out of line at all – You know what? Talking about ... someone's getting fired here tonight, matter of fact, and it's about thirty years in the making. I have no room in the new Corporation—check out the youth—check out the exuberance!" He cast a sweeping glance at the assembly of yes men in the ring. "Check that out one time! There's no room for the geriatric. There's no room in the Corporation for the old. The only room in the Corporation…"
The crowd broke into a chant of Austin! Austin! Shane ignored it and pressed on. "I'll tell you one thing. You can take loyalty as you call it, and flush it down the toilet...because there is no room in my Corporation for either of you two…"
The Boy Wonder turned to Patterson and Briscoe, a cold smirk on his face. "Pat and Gerry, read my lips, you are both FIRED!" Vince's right hand men gasped in shock and turned to the older McMahon, unable to say anything.
"What part of that do you not understand?" Shane snarled. "You are both FIRED! Now take it to the back, or I'll have some of the Corporation members bring it down there for you. Let's go! To the back! Your services are no longer needed. Goodbye!"
The two men looked to Vince, and then walked out of the ring in shock.
How could the two of you do that to them? Stephanie thought in shocked silence. Why would you let go of two guys who've given their lives to this business? She made a mental note to reinstate them both once she gained control of the company.
The commentary continued. "What are they doing, JR."
"Like it or not King, that's not right!
"How humiliating!"
Vince glared at his son. "So let me get this straight now - I've got it - you're on some sort of power trip - is that it, Shane?"
Shane looked like he was going to bust up laughing. "I'm on a power trip? That brings me to a great point, matter of fact, the whole point. Where is YOUR power, Dad? Where is YOUR power trip? Where is the Vince McMahon that we all know? Where is the most ruthless human being to ever walk the planet? You always taught me, hey, climb over everybody – it doesn't matter - because you're climbing that ladder and you're never coming down - do anything at all costs to get ahead in this world. Dad, where are the balls the size of grapefruits? That's what I want to know."
I did hear that before! Stephanie realized.
"Oh, I'm still the same man - and then some," Vince fired back. "It's just that I do have my priorities straight - and right now, my priority is simply your sister - my daughter's - welfare. I'm gonna take Stephanie and go home."
Stephanie's jaw dropped as Vince ushered her gently back. We're going home now? I wanted to watch the Brood rebel against the Ministry! Dammit, Dad! No fair!
Shane stalked towards them both. "Hey hey! I'm not done talking to you, Dad!" he shouted, grabbing Vince by the shoulder and spinning him around. The crowd gasped in surprise. "Who do you think you are?"
Vince narrowed his eyes. "Let me tell you something – this power trip you're on - if you want true power, you have to earn it. And you have to EARN it with RESPECT!"
"Respect THIS!" and with that, Shane hauled off and smacked Vince across the face. The older McMahon blinked in surprise and locked eyes with his son. The confrontation was so convincing, that Stephanie could actually feel the tension in the ring; it was so thick, you could put your fist through it.
Stephanie got into her dad's face. "Come on," she said gently. "Let's get out of here." The tension, though fabricated, was making her feel uncomfortable. Vince nodded at her, and he, Stephanie, and the policemen walked off silently.
Shane put on the bad mouth as Vince walked away. "You're not my father anymore!" he snarled. "That's right - Dad! You're not my father - you're not my dad anymore! Matter of fact, you're not even Mr. McMahon to me anymore! You have - lost my respect! You are simply known from now on as Vince!"
Ken watched the older McMahon as he walked away, and he made his decision. "I'm outta here, Shane."
Shane shook his head. "You're gonna pin all this on me, Ken?"
"Yeah!" Ken answered simply as he climbed out of the ring.
"Where are you going, Ken?" Shane taunted. "Kenny! Kenny! Is this the way you want it? You wanna walk out on me and the Corporation? If that's the case, then get your ass out of here!"
Ken flipped off Shane and stalked off to a chorus of cheers.
~~~MOD~~~
Backstage, Vince caught up to Ken and shook his hand. "Thank you for your loyalty. I appreciate that, and I respect it. You're all set now. You're okay. We're cool."
The escort continued on to a waiting limousine, and Vince, his daughter, and his right-hand men were off for the night.
Ken nodded and waved as the limo pulled away. Christian's words, You shouldn't blame the Ministry for what happened to you and Ryan. Maybe you should blame Vince McMahon, rang in his ears, but he didn't want to believe them. The idea of Vince McMahon being that cold blooded was unfathomable to the World's Most Dangerous Man, so he decided to give his boss the benefit of a doubt.
It was the wrong thing to do.
~~~MOD~~~
The Ministry continued to wreak their havoc, in spite of the change of power.
Sable, accompanied by Nicole Bass took on Tori, Ivory, and Jacqueline for the Women's World Championship Jackie had a few choice words for Sable before the bell – but Nicole Bass dispatched of her easily. Tori went down just as quickly, as did Ivory. It wasn't even a match—it was just another opportunity for the Femme Fatale to grind for the males in the audience as the blonde Amazon did all the grunt work.
Nicole shouted at the retreating ladies. "Come on! Come on back! You got a problem?"
Suddenly, the lights went out, and the familiar music started up. Sable gasped and hid behind Nicole as Taker's face appeared on the new Titantron. "McMahon, you can run and you can hide, but you know it's only a matter of time that your precious daughter Stephanie – she will be mine. It is her destiny."
Sable whimpered and Nicole elbowed her in the ribs.
"But tonight, McMahon," Taker continued. "In Stephanie's absence, another innocent victim will be sacrificed before the Lord of Darkness. And you know McMahon, there's only one person to blame. Only one person to be held responsible. And that is you."
"What are you blubbering about?" Nicole asked Sable under her breath as they made their way backstage. "He's not interested in you. You should actually be glad that he doesn't want you."
~~~MOD~~~
Later on, Paul Wight entered the ring to take on the Brood in a handicap match
As Gangrel, Edge and Christian stepped into the ring, Taker's voice magically came across the PA. "Edge, Gangrel, leave. And leave now. Tonight, Christian must prove his worth to the Ministry, but more importantly, he must prove his worth to me."
Christian shook his head in disbelief. "This wasn't in the script!" he gasped, as his companions tried to console him.
"Edge, Gangrel, there's nothing to think about. You leave - or tonight, you will be the ones having to pay penance."
There were furrowed brows all around, but they nodded and complied (they didn't want to lose their push). Christian ducked and slid through in a valiant effort, but it was like a Jack Russell Terrier taking on a Rottweiler—a hard fight that would not end well. The behemoth took the wiry young man into the corner.
"Sorry, just doing a job," Wight offered in apology, before picking up Christian to set up for a chokeslam.
Christian just glared at him. The things I do for a—ooof! Big Show grabbed him by the throat and slammed him to the canvas. It was a squash match all the way, but Christian tried to console himself by thinking, It's almost over. Just a few more segments and I'll be free at last…
~~~MOD~~~
The havoc continued.
Mankind headed to the boiler room, where he planned to stay for two weeks preparing for his match at Backlash with Big Show. In an interview with Michael Cole, Mankind explains that while Big Show was everyone's big buddy-everyone's big buddy but his, and he still had a problem with the big guy.
Shane, having just seen the interview, instructed the Mean Street Posse to go to the boiler room and muss up Mankind a little bit. Rodney and Pete practically jogged to the boiler room...where they were both taken out by Mankind...who in turn was taken out by the Ministry and tied up. With Mankind out of the way, Taker and his minions put the next part of their plan in motion...
~~~MOD~~~
Later, Taker came out to create more chaos when The Acolytes took on Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett. It wasn't even a match. It ended in a disqualification when the rest of the Ministry stormed the ring and cornered Hart and Jarrett's manager, Debra McMichael.
"Debra, Debra, Debra - beautiful Debra," Taker purred, once he stepped into the ring. "You have to understand, this is not my fault - you see McMahon has left me no other choice. He left with Stephanie! Tonight, she was to be my prize - my trophy – and now you're gonna have to do. You see, McMahon, how many of the innocent will have to suffer? How many souls will I have to take before she's mine?"
Debra sobbed and looked away as she imagined what the Phenom had in store for her.
Suddenly, Ken Shamrock, who promised himself that he wouldn't let Taker harm anyone else after what had happened to his sister, rushed the ring with a baseball bat. "Not this time!" he snarled, as Debra bailed and Jarrett and Hart whisked her to safety.
Only the Phenom remained in the ring. "Shamrock, if you hit me, you'll never see Ryan again."
Ken almost hit him anyway. "Whoa whoa whoa!" Taker shouted. "Ryan's in the boiler room. And from what Viscera told me, she's enjoyed everything that happened to her."
A furious Christian tried to sneak in from behind to grab the bat from his nemesis, but Shamrock clocked him. The Ministry attacked, like a swarm of ninjas, but Ken managed to fight them all off.
Taker smiled and laughed as the World's Most Dangerous Man rushed backstage. "Be very careful."
~~~MOD~~~
No! How could they take her again! Ken was frantic as he rushed downstairs into the boiler room to rescue his sister.
After the confrontation with Christian the week before, Ken had decided to get back to his hotel. There, he found Ryan in the lobby, shaken and crying, but otherwise unharmed. She and Ken had a good cry and a good talk, and she was okay enough to travel in the morning. He didn't say anything about his own abduction—he didn't want to shake her up any more.
"Ryan! Ryan!" he shouted. Baseball bat in hand, Ken fumbled around in the dark in search of his sister. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness before he ventured further. As he rounded a corner, he saw a glimpse of blonde hair and a white shirt. Someone was lying on the concrete floor, curled up in a ball.
Cautiously, he inched his way towards the prone figure. "Ryan? It's Kenny, you're safe," he said softly, reaching out to touch the blonde. I'm gonna get you out of here—"
A vicious grin glared up at him. "Surprise, Sucker!"
"Son of a—" Before Ken could finish, Gangrel pounced and knocked the World's Most Dangerous Man to the floor. The bat clattered to the floor, out of reach. Stars spattered his vision as the entire Ministry pounded him mercilessly. In the dark, it was difficult, if not impossible to fight back, and what few punches he was able to throw didn't connect with anything.
"Take him out! Take him out! Take him down."
What the— Ken collapsed to the concrete floor, beaten, sore, and dizzy. The Ministry had pounced on him like a pack of wolves pouncing on a wounded deer. Caught completely off guard by the blitz attack, he curled into a ball and tried to cover his head with his hands. On commentary JR exclaimed to the viewing audience about how the Undertaker's television persona had come to life.
"Welcome to the world of the dark, Shamrock! This is what the world of the dark is all about. You will know suffering like never before. Paul! Put him out!"
A damp rag was pressed to Ken's nose and mouth, and a cloying sweet smell filled his nostrils. Ken tried to fight the drowsiness that threatened to take over, but it was too strong, and his body shut down.
"Now, Shamrock, you've become one with the darkness," was the last thing Ken heard before he blacked out.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: If you notice, I didn't add much commentary from JR and Lawler in this chapter. At this point, they were really grasping for straws, and it was almost like, "WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL CHEERING THIS GUY? ARE YOU DAFT? BOO THIS GUY ALREADY! HE'S A BAD GUY NOW! GOD DAMMIT, DO WHAT WE SAY!" That quote was courtesy of CRZ(dot)net, and it kinda fit what I was thinking.
BTW, special thanks to www(dot)pwwew(dot)net and CRZ(dot)net for the match descriptions and dialog.
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