Your eyes are not deceiving you, I am back again with another chapter. This has got to be a new record for me lol Part of this chapter has been written for months and i've just been feeling really creative again the past week. Which is such a good feeling when you've had writers block on and off for months.
So, who watched Survivor Series last night? Poor Roman, I felt so bad for him at the end when he was just sitting in the ring all emotional :(
So last chapter was a really happy one, this one is a lot sadder. I apologise for this. But what this chapter centres on couldn't be left out of this particular story, you'll understand why.
Peyton clutched the phone tightly in her hand, like it was a lifeline. Which, in a way it was, she needed the person on the other end so much. Tears rolled down her cheeks, as she waited for Joe to pick up. She needed him so much right now; to hear his voice, for him to tell her everything would be okay. Right now it didn't feel that way, she wasn't sure it ever would be; she didn't know how to deal with what was happening.
"Hey baby girl, I was just thinking about you and Malaki. I can't wait to-" Joe answered brightly, having just got inside the arena with Jon, Colby already at the arena. If there was one thing the three friends missed, it was being able to travel together. With Colby's character, Seth, having turned on his Shield team mates the year before, their travel arrangements had changed and it was harder for the three of them to hang out.
"Joe," Peyton said tearfully, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Joe-" she said again, her voice cracking.
Joe could tell the minute Peyton said his name something was wrong. He stopped walking, Jon also stopping and giving him a funny look. "What is it Peyton? Talk to me baby." Now Jon looked at his friend with a concerned look on his face.
"I need you, Joe. I d-don't know what to do….It's Roddy. He's…. he's dead," she barely managed to get out. Fresh tears rolling down Peyton's cheeks. "He's gone and I don't know what to do."
Joe wasn't expecting that. Never in a million years was he expecting to hear that when he answered the phone. He, Peyton and Malaki had only seen him the week before, having lunch with him, Michelle, Kira, Scott and Chase. Peyton and Malaki were staying with Michelle this weekend. His heart broke at the pain in Peyton's voice, knowing how devastated she was. He needed to be with her, to comfort her. "Oh baby girl, I'm so sorry. I'm getting the next flight to you, Peyton, okay?"
"He was all alone, Joe. He shouldn't have been alone," Peyton wept."
"Listen to me, baby. You can't think like that. Roddy knew how much everyone loved him."
"He can't be gone."
"I know it hurts, baby. Hold on and I'll be there soon. I love you, Peyton."
"I love you too, Joe. So much."
Finishing his phone call with Peyton, Joe slumped down on a nearby chair just as Colby rounded the corner, a concerned look on his face at the sight of Joe.
"Bro, what was that about? What's happened?" Jon asked, as Colby walked over to them.
"Roddy…he died," Joe stuttered. "I've got to go, I need to be with Peyton."
Jon and Colby stood there shocked.
"I'm sorry, man." Jon was first to speak, his voice quiet. "Poor Peyton. I mean poor you too, obviously, but he was practically a dad to her."
"She's devastated. She sounded so broken on the phone. I need to find Steph, I can't do this show tonight. I need to go to my family."
The living room that was usually full of life and laughter was now a quiet, sombre one. After putting Malaki down for his nap in one of the spare rooms in Roddy and Michelle's house, Peyton returned to the living room where a still in shock Michelle was sitting in Roddy's favourite armchair. Colton was sat on the couch, looking at a framed picture he'd taken off the mantle piece of him with his father. Ava in the kitchen making everyone more coffee, though no one was really drinking it. But it was her own way of dealing with her father's death, trying to keep busy. Peyton had arrived the day before, after Joe had gone back on the road, she and Malaki visiting Michelle for the weekend while Roddy was in LA doing a couple of radio shows and guest appearances. Colton, living closest to his parents, had been the first to arrive after being informed by Michelle, followed by Ava, while the others were on their way.
"That'll be Joe," Peyton said quietly when she heard the door go, getting up to let him in. He'd texted her when he landed, so she knew it was most likely him and not someone else at the door.
Peyton didn't pretend to be okay, to be strong and to hide her feelings like she would have in the past. The moment she opened the door to Joe, she fell into his embrace, burying her face in his chest, crying. She needed Joe, needed him to hold her, to feel his arms around her.
"Sssh, I'm here baby," he soothed, holding her tighter to him.
"Have you thought anymore about our discussion last night? Have you spoken to Joe about it?"
"Not yet, I will though. Are you honestly sure about this though?" Peyton asked Michelle once again.
The older lady nodded. "If you're happy with my decision, seeing as it involves you, then yes I am. I know Joe and Roddy became close after the two of you got together and he gave Joe a lot of advice and guidance when it came to wrestling. Joe, as well as Jon and Colby, knew Roddy on a much more personal level than others. I know you've always kept quiet about who your uncle is, was, and so that's why you have to be okay with this too. So many people, people Roddy worked with in some capacity and all the fans, they've all taken to social media talking about how great it was to know him or work with him, how much he'll be missed. Knowing he had such an impact on all these people, it means a lot. So many people loved and cared about Roddy, but I also know that he had a far bigger impact, meant a lot more to Joe than most people know and maybe the world should know that. So many people have shared stories about Roddy, why shouldn't Joe share his?"
"I'll talk to Joe about it," Peyton replied, wiping tears away as she hugged her aunt before leaving the kitchen.
Peyton found Joe in the spare room, changing out of the suit he had worn to the funeral and into something more comfortable.
"Hey, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."
Sitting down on the bed, Joe patted the spot next to him. "What is it, babygirl?"
Peyton sat down on the bed, facing Joe, taking one of his large hands in her smaller hands. "Before I say anything else, I want you to know how much I appreciate all your support the last few days. I couldn't have got through it without you, especially today."
"I'm always going to be here to support you."
"I know, as much of a rock as you've been for everyone else, that you've also been grieving yourself. Roddy had a big impact in your life, more than most know. But maybe people should know. Michelle told me what a comfort it's been, all the stories, the condolences, the support there has been on social media; from people who worked with him to all the fans. We've always kept quiet who I am, but if you want to share your stories of Roddy with everyone, you have Michelle and mine's blessing."
"Are you sure?"
"I know you'll say good things about Roddy and I think it will be good for you."
For many wrestlers today, Rowdy Roddy Piper had a big influence on their career. For so many wrestlers and fans, he was the reason they fell in love with wrestling, he was the ultimate heel and the most mesmerizing, talented talker in wrestling history. Many were fortunate enough to go against him in the ring or on the mic, and many now will tell you stories of the guidance and knowledge he gave many backstage.
Many of you will remember the segment he did with the Shield last year; one of the greatest nights of the Shield's life. I'll always remember the advice he gave me before the show, as I'm sure Seth and Dean will. It wouldn't be long after this that I would get to know Roddy on a more personal level and where many of the stories I'm about to share with you stem from.
As you all know, a lot has changed in my life in the last year. In September I became a father and in April I became a husband; the two best days of my life. So many of you have wondered who the amazing woman I married, the mother of my son is; something I've always kept very private. Until now. My wife's name is Peyton and she's a creative writer for WWE, currently on maternity leave. When she returns it will be down in NXT. When we first properly met it was when she took over writing Shield storylines for a while and our professional relationship was a very bumpy one.
Let me tell you all a story from the day before the 2014 Elimination Chamber ppv, when Roddy was backstage.
It's the last house show before the PPV and Jon, Colby and I are walking down a corridor when we see Peyton-at this point I hadn't long known she was carrying my baby and we weren't actually a couple, in fact we had been arguing a lot at this point-anyway we see Peyton with Roddy who was arguing with an ex wwe writer. This particular writer had an issue with my wife and made the mistake of making some comments towards her in front of Roddy. Well in that moment we all found out what happened when you harassed Rowdy Roddy Piper's niece. Yes, that was the day I found out the mother of my child was related to Roddy Piper and now he wanted to talk to me. Oh shit indeed.
Now before all the 'she only got a job working there because she's piper's niece' comments, she was head hunted and no one knew who she was, she used her mom's maiden name. The McMahon's didn't find out until months after she had started and apart from one other person, no one would find out for years, until this particular incident, who she was related to. As you can imagine, after we became a couple and our relationship became public knowledge, we still decided to keep who she was and how we met private.
But as I was saying, Piper wanted to speak to me. While Peyton didn't have a good relationship with her dad, she had the best relationship with her uncle. Roddy had always been more of a father to her than her own father, and now she was pregnant he was very protective. Roddy and I spoke that night and while I never admitted it at the time, I was certain he was going to kick my ass. Another thing I was certain of that night was that my wife got her stubborn, badass personality from her uncle. Lucky for me, Roddy didn't kick my ass. At the end of our tense conversation, he turned to me and said "You passed the test."
This wouldn't be the last time Roddy gave me a speech like the one that night. A few months later and Peyton and I actually got together, thus came the second speech from Roddy warning what would happen if I hurt his niece. Now, while it might seem like the only time I spoke to Roddy was when he was giving me 'friendly warnings', I assure you it wasn't. Before Peyton and I got together and after, I spoke with Roddy regularly, and he always had so much knowledge and so many stories to share with me. Knowledge and stories about live inside and outside the ring, stuff I'll always remember.
To many Roddy was one of the toughest son of a bitches to step foot in the squared circle. He wasn't called Rowdy Roddy Piper for nothing. But outside the ring, around his family, he was a very different person. He had tears in his eyes the first time he held his great nephew and tears in his eyes when I married his niece. At Peyton and I's wedding, I'll always remember the speech he gave welcoming me into the family and how honoured I felt. There was so many family moments I spent with Roddy that I'll always remember and be grateful to have been a part of. And while it was only for a short time, Peyton and I will always be grateful for the time our son spent with Roddy. Sadly I'll never forget my wife's heartbroken voice when she told me Roddy had died. Or my own heartbreak as I helped carry his coffin into the church today.
Many of you have taken to social media wondering why I wasn't at the live shows at the weekend or on Raw on Monday and this is why. A very special man to me in and out of the ring; my wife's hero; my son's grandad died and I am grieving this loss. His wife, Michelle, an exceptional woman told my wife this morning that she thought I should share my relationship with Roddy with the fans. After Peyton and I discussed it, we realised Michelle was right. The only way the wrestling world would truly know how much Roddy Piper inspired, guided and truly impacted my life; how much his death has affected me and how much I will miss him was by sharing this story with you.
Rowdy Roddy Piper was a legend in the ring and a hero outside the ring and he will be missed by so many. RIP Hot Rod.
"I love it." Peyton wiped a tear away as she finished reading what Joe had written. "Clever daddy," Peyton picked up Malaki who had been crawling around the space in between she and Joe on the bed.
"Dada."
"Yeah, daddy. We love daddy, don't we? Blow daddy a kiss." Smiling Peyton motioned blowing a kiss Joe's way, Malaki copying; the latest thing, along with waving, he had started doing. "Good boy, my clever boy."
Picking his son up, Joe reigned a load of kisses over his face.
Joe watched quietly for a few minutes from the doorway as Peyton sat in the rocking chair in Malaki's nursery, their 11 month old son asleep in her arms. With another couple of teeth coming through, Joe and Peyton were, though particularly Peyton with Joe being on the road five days a week, were back to Malaki waking up more often in the night again. While these teeth were coming through much easier than Malaki's first tooth, the parents still hated seeing their son in pain. They both knew how painful toothache could be and both definitely remembered when their wisdom teeth came through.
While both Joe and Peyton comforted Malaki as much as they could while he was teething, Joe found Peyton sitting in the chair in his nursery, watching over him more often as he slept since her uncle's death the month before.
Roddy's death had come as a shock to the whole family, as well as the WWE and many wrestling fans. Joe had felt helpless as he'd tried comforting Peyton, hating seeing her in so much pain. While she had tried putting on a brave face when she was with Malaki, there had been several times when she had broken down in Joe's arms.
"You've got to get some sleep yourself, Pey."
"I know, I will. I just want to hold him for a few minutes."
"It still feels like only yesterday that we were bringing him home from the hospital. It's crazy to think he'll be one next month." Walking into the room, Joe crouched down next to the chair, eyes on his sleeping son.
"I don't think you ever realise just how quickly time flies by until you have children. It's like you blink and before you know it they're walking and talking."
"I remember my mom saying something similar to me just after he was born."
"God, I still remember being at your parents' house that morning, after they found out I was having your baby. It's crazy how time flies by."
"I'm swear she still insists that morning, when you started yelling at me before we talked about everything, that's when she knew you were the one for me."
"I remember she made me the most amazing breakfast while you were amused by my cravings."
"I've never known someone eat so many chilli's."
"Clearly the reason you fell in love with me."
"Number one reason." Joe smiled, it was nice to reminisce with Peyton.
Peyton smiled at Joe, standing up from the chair she gently put a sleeping Malaki back in his cot.
Joe couldn't remember the last time he had heard Peyton laughing, so watching her laughing with Jon and Colby in the ring now was a beautiful sight. She had taken her uncle's death the month before hard, but slowly she was more like her old self again. Heading down to where the ring had been set up for Summerslam that night, he slid into the ring next to Peyton.
"…And then Malaki takes Colby down and he goes for the pin." Jon had taken the role of announcer while he had an excited Malaki in one arm, as he mock acted out moves in the ring.
Sitting in the corner of the ring against one of the posts, Peyton couldn't stop laughing at the whole thing. Watching Jon and Colby with her son, having their little 'wrestling match' was too cute for her, especially as Malaki was so excited by the whole thing. It had been a tough month for her but having Joe and Malaki helped. She tried concentrating on the good stuff each day, like Malaki starting to walk in the last couple of weeks and his first birthday only three weeks away. She knew Roddy would want her to be happy and move on with her life, not mourning his death for the rest of her life. Her family reminded everyday how much she had to be grateful for, just seeing her son smile everyday meant the world to her.
With Colby lying on the mat, pretending to be unconscious, Jon laid the little boy over Colby, effectively pinning him.
"1, 2, 3, and your new WWE World heavyweight champion The Mighty Malaki," Jon announced as he raised Malaki's arm.
"Did you just give my son his first in ring name?" Joe asked, amused.
"I guess. The Mighty Malaki sounds good."
"It does," Peyton agreed. "What do you think Mali, shall we start calling you The Mighty Malaki?"
Malaki just laughed as he started to toddle the few feet to where his parents were sitting, Peyton opening her arms out to him but the boy went to his dad.
"The Mighty Malaki, champion. Sounds good," Joe smiled picking his son up. "But tinkle monster sounds better, and we both know mommy's ticklish." Joe grinned as he and Malaki started tickling Peyton, the 11 month old copying his dads actions.
"Nooooo, stop it," Peyton tried protesting, now lying on the mat with Malaki on her stomach. "How about we're nice to mommy and give her cuddles instead?"
"Cuddle time," Joe declared. Lying down next to Peyton, wrapping his arm around her as she moved closer to him, Malaki lying on her chest now, all the excitement of his afternoon hanging out with Jon, Colby and Nick earlier that day catching up with him. "I think someone's tired."
"It's hard work being the champion," Peyton ran her hand through Malaki's hair. The little family continued laying there for a few more minutes.
I hope you liked it and it wasn't too emotional for you. RIP Roddy Piper
