Steph awoke around noon, really late in the day for her, especially with her being a McMahon.
Throughout her entire life, Vince had always stressed the importance of being ahead of time as opposed to being on time, which is why he always left for a show several days in advance, and was always at the first to be at the arenas.
Going downstairs, Gracie greeted Stephanie warmly, as she was preparing Vince and Shane's special lunch they were to eat for the day.
But something was odd to Stephanie this afternoon. She didn't smell the lingering fragrance of her mother's perfume wafting through the house. Every Sunday afternoon, Linda, in conjunction with her bookclub ladies, hosted a brunch to go over the latest developments of whatever novel they happened to be reading, but today, the outside was barren of ladies, there were no teacakes and mimosas, in fact, Stephanie didn't hear Linda's voice at all.
Looking around the kitchen curiously, Stephanie asked, "Gracie, where's my mom? Isn't she supposed to be holding her book club brunch here today?
Looking over to Stephanie while still preparing Vince and Shane's lunch, Gracie said calmly, "I thought you knew …"
Smiling to mask her confusion, Stephanie asked back curiously, "Knew what? She hasn't told me anything."
"Well, tonight is, you know, the special pay-per-view from Manchester, the one your daddy's comp … the one the company holds in England every year. She left last night around eight. She's going to be the special guest referee for the big match involving Austin, Shamrock, and you know … I thought you knew."
Sighing, placing her hands in her head, Stephanie had completely forgotten how Shawn Michaels had announced that Linda would be to be the special guest referee for the Triple Threat Match tonight at No Mercy UK.
"That's why she wanted me to go to bed so early," Steph thought to herself worriedly.
Now that Linda was gone, Stephanie's already plagued mind went into overdrive.
She and Mark were now separated. He had no allegiance to her again, which meant that he could do whatever the hell it was that he wanted to do, Stephanie rationalized.
After intentionally dismantling both Shane and Vince, and after Mark showed her that horrible video of him systematically brainwashing Ryan, there was literally no telling what he could do to Linda now that that their marriage was ending.
Biting her fingernails in angst, Stephanie barreled out of the kitchen, making a beeline for the stairs, running straight into her bedroom, grabbing the cordless phone, attempting to call Mark, hoping desperately that maybe she could talk some sense into him before he did something crazy again.
Looking at her clock on the wall, Stephanie saw that it was 12:15 p.m., and doing some calculations, deduced that it was about 5:15 p.m. there in the UK.
Dialing in his number frantically, Stephanie called over and over again, never receiving an answer, however.
Trying his beeper now, Stephanie grabbed her pager from her nightstand, powered it on, and paged Mark to get back with her ASAP.
"Oh, who am I kidding?" Steph thought agonizingly aloud. "He's probably preparing for the show by now!"
Realizing there was nothing she could do about the situation, Stephanie, worried sick once again, grabbed her remote control, powered on her television, turned to the nearest PPV channel that was offering the show, purchased it, and tuned in to the countdown, impatiently waiting for the start of No Mercy UK.
The Ministry's locker room was unusually festive, albeit each member of the Brood didn't look quite so happy as everyone else did.
Earlier in the night, Mideon surprisingly defeated Edge to advance to the Finals of the European Championship Tournament, while Billy Gunn defeated Goldust to advance to the Finals, as well. The winner between both Mideon and Billy to be crowned the new European Champion at Over the Edge in Kansas City next Sunday.
As far as the Acolytes were concerned, both men were swigging and wasting beer all over themselves, after they managed to defeat Kane and X-Pac for the tag team titles, after, once again, Billy Gunn interfered in the match, distracting X-Pac, who walked right into Bradshaw's Clothesline from Hell, making he and Farooq the new tag team champions!
On top of that, the Ministry had the pleasure of watching former Corporation members, Triple H and Big Bossman, tear each other from limb to limb in a No Disqualification match, after the Acolytes match was over, as well. After one too many interferences from Chyna, the Rock, who had a huge score to settle with Triple H, ran down to the ring and delivered thunderous right hands to the blonde superstar, before finally dropping him with Rock Bottom!
And even after Chyna got in the ring, turning the Rock around forcefully, demanding to know why Rocky interfered in the match, the Rock, just for good measure, gave her a Rock Bottom, as well! Even though Chyna was a woman, the people in the UK apparently loved seeing her get hers!
With Rocky's interference successfully allowing Bossman to cover Triple H for the win, the UK crowd, loving the appearance of the Great One, almost blew the roof off the Manchester Evening News Arena.
Things really heated up for the crowd after the Rock, stalking Bossman after the referee was holding up his hand in victory, who obviously hadn't forgotten about Bossman's transgressions against him as a member of the Corporation, turned the Bossman around, and dropped him to the mat with a Rock Bottom, too!
Going over to the top ring rope, the Rock raised his hand in glory, with his very expensive unbuttoned silk Versace shirt fluttering behind him, the people in Manchester pumped at seeing Rocky stand tall over his victims.
Back in the locker room, with the Ministry coming off their climatic highs, a camera in the far of the room, caught Taker, with water dripping off his long hair, sweat coming off his body, and his head buried against the locker stall, mentally preparing himself for the most important match of his entire career.
Paul Bearer, acting as Taker's inspirational leader, quietly reminded him of all the reasons why Taker was now the new majority owner of the WWF, why he was married Stephanie McMahon now, and why he would conquer Shamrock, Austin, and Linda McMahon all here tonight in Manchester, as he rubbed his fat hands together evilly, smiling incredibly. Paul Bearer knew in hid heart of hearts, however black it may be, that Taker would be crowned the new World Wrestling Federation Champion tonight.
Just then, in another locker room, another cameraman caught Shamrock, all by himself, sweat dripping off his body, as well, mentally preparing himself to become a first time WWF Champion.
Beating his fists together, jumping up and down in place, making jabbing motions, a final camera showed Austin in his locker room, the crowd chanting wildly back in the arena. The Rattlesnake, obviously in deep thought, paced silently back and forth, jacking himself up for the Triple Threat Match, too.
Each man, Taker, Shamrock, and Austin, knew that they had one hell of a mountain to climb tonight, but only one man could make it to the very top, and each one of them had plans to make themselves that man.
Back in the arena, ring announcer, Tony Chimel, inside the ring, said loudly with the microphone up to his lips, "The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and is for the World Wrestling Federation Championship!"
As the demure Linda McMahon walked down to the ring wearing a black and white striped referee shirt, Tony announced, "Making her way down aisle, she is the special guest referee, Linda McMahon!"
Stepping under the bottom rope as Tony held the rope up for Linda, the elder McMahon looked around the booming crowd, who all, in anticipation of seeing a slobber knocker.
Focusing their attention to the Titantron, the crowd watched as Austin, Shamrock, and Taker, who was followed alongside by Paul Bearer, all exit their respective locker rooms, each man showing no fear or intimidation on their faces.
As the camera panned over the live crowd, Ken Shamrock's music was queued throughout the arena.
Wearing his signature blue trunks and blue shin guarded boots, "The World's Most Dangerous Man", was the first competitor to make his way down to the ring, thinking deeply before he entered the ring.
Despite all of his personal setbacks in recent weeks, from coming up short at Backlash, to most importantly, losing Ryan, Kenny had a real opportunity to right those setbacks by becoming the next World Wrestling Federation Champion.
Yelling out and taking his place inside, Kenny bounced back and forth on his feet, while anxiously waiting on the next competitor.
Anticipation was certainly high, but once the bell tolled, and the lights dimmed, everyone, Shamrock, Linda, the announcers, the people in the UK, and every at home knew that the Phenom, along with Paul Bearer, were making their way down to the ring.
Looking as satanic as possible, Taker stalked his way down to the aisle, about to meet one of two of his adversaries for the second time in two months. Raising the lights, Taker stared evilly over at Shamrock before he walked around the ring apron, lowered his head, and entered the ring.
And just as Shamrock was about to pounce all over Taker, Paul, never one to fight fair, grabbed Shamrock around the ankle from under the bottom ring rope, while Taker took the early advantage, stomping the "World's Most Dangerous Man" into the bottom right turnbuckle!
The match had yet to even officially begin, and already Linda was attempting to regain order!
Linda, attempting to grab Taker about the arm, warned him over and over again to back off of Shamrock, but all she got in return was Taker snapping his head back at her viciously, warning her to stay away from him!
Going back to Shamrock, cutting off his oxygen supply with his boot, with Paul Bearer encouraging him to continue doing so from the outside, the fans in the arena, who were chanting wildly for Austin, all jumped to their feet in unison, as the "Texas Rattlesnake", Smoking Skull belt in hand, stalked down to the ring, as well, ready for a fight!
Taker, attempting to cut Austin off at the pass, who was taking off his vest in the middle of the aisle, threw down the Smoking Skull belt, and ran straight into Taker, hitting him across the face with piston like rights hands. Taker, attempting to battle back from the physical onslaught of the brawler, had his shot blocked from Austin, who also attempted to throw Taker into the steel ring steps, but Taker blocked that shot, and instead threw Austin face first into the ring steps!
Picking Austin up from the ground, Taker, rolling Austin inside the ring, with his head sticking out underneath the bottom rope, gave the Rattlesnake another clean shot to the head, sliding into the ring himself, as Linda signaled for the bed, the match officially under way now!
Shamrock, who had recovered from Taker's early on assault, began bringing the fight to the Phenom, as well, and just like he had done last month at Backlash, attacked the vertical base of the Phenom.
But it wasn't long afterwards, after Shamrock had knocked Taker down down to the mat with his educated fists, that Austin was all over Shamrock himself, whipping Kenny into the ropes, about to perform a Lou Thesz Press, but Shamrock held onto the ropes, and after Austin fell face first to the canvas, Kenny immediately went to the leg of the Rattlesnake, attempting to make him submit with the Ankle Lock, but Taker, back up, broke up the submission.
During the match, Shamrock once again impressed all with how well he was able to not only manipulate the body of the Undertaker, but Austin's, as well, catching Austin in a DDT, a Sleeper, and even a Fisherman Hook Suplex.
With Austin almost incapacitated in the middle of the ring, Shamrock grabbed a tired and fatigued Undertaker around the waist, flipping him over his head in a belly to belly suplex, bringing both of his opponents to the mat with what looked to be ease.
Feeling he had Taker just about beaten, Shamrock, once again went for his patented Ankle Lock finisher, locking it on the Deadman, who was screaming out in pain just as he had done the month prior, with Linda in perfect position to count the submission, but Paul Bearer, sensing Taker was in trouble, reached under the bottom ring rope again and grabbed Shamrock's ankle, distracting him!
Shamrock, looking down at Paul incredulously, knowing he once again had Taker beat in the middle of ring, while Paul damned him to hell from the outside, suddenly jumped out of the ring, chasing the plump inspirational leader.
Paul didn't get very far, however, as Shamrock quickly caught Paul by his suit jacket in the front of the aisle way. About to pummel Paul once and for all, Linda, attempting to do her job as officiator, stopped Kenny just in the knick of time, but ordered Paul back into the locker room area, banning him from ringside!
Realizing he was between both a rock and a hard place, being barred from ring side, and having Shamrock holding on to him, Paul attempted to beg off, but instead, he got a forearm to the mouth anyway, which dropped the him instantly!
That's when Farooq and Bradshaw, the new tag team champions, ran down to ringside, looking to attack "The World's Most Dangerous Man", but Linda ordered them both to the back, as well!
Infuriated, both Farooq and Bradshaw helped Paul back into the locker room area, but while Shamrock was distracted, Austin ran right up behind him, knocking him down on the outside with a mean clothesline from the back.
Throughout the entire match, going into the middle and end of it, the momentum changed constantly between Austin, Shamrock, and Taker, with neither man wanting to give up, each one of them wanting to be the WWF Champion.
During his momentum run, grabbing Shamrock around the neck with his paw-like hand, Taker thrust the lighter superstar into the air, bringing his body crashing down to the mat with a thunderous Chokeslam!
About to motion for the Tombstone, out the corner of his eye, Taker saw Austin, who had been outside of the ring laid out, attempting to crawl back on the inside. The title could change hands whether or not the champion was pinned or not, and with guts and determination, Austin somehow made his way back into the ring, not about to allow the title to change hands so quickly.
Taker, wanting to win the match once and for all, hit Austin with a huge right hand to the side of head, before he grabbed him again, throwing Austin head first into the steel ring steps, despite the fact that suffered a mild-concussion from him only weeks before! Rolling back into the ring now, standing over the fallen Shamrock, Taker finally motioned for the Tombstone!
Picking Kenny up by the hair, Shamrock, very ring conscious, tripped Taker by kicking his legs out from underneath him with a Drop Toe Hold.
Quicker than a hiccup seemingly, Shamrock, with Taker belly first on the mat, grabbed his ankle, and with nowhere for Taker to go, applied the Ankle Lock submission, as Shamrock received a mixture of cheers and jeers from the crowd, applying as much pressure to Taker's ankle as he possibly could.
The Undertaker, who had never submitted in his WWF career, grabbed his hair in agonizing pain, but there wasn't anywhere for him to go! It was either tap or have his ankle broken, and with such excruciating pain flowing through his leg, tapping suddenly seemed very plausible to him.
Just as Taker was about to bang his hand against the mat in submission, the fans to the arena began to rise to their feet, and with the camera panning down to the aisle to get a glimpse of just who was making their way down the aisle again, Jim Ross on commentary, clearly appalled stated, "Well, look who's back! It's that damn Ryan Shamrock! What the hell does that jezebel want now?"
Ryan, who was wearing an all black ensemble of a black leather jacket, black tank top underneath, black leather jeans, and black leather platform boots, with her hair flying everywhere, stood alongside the outside of the ring, while Linda attempted to order her in the back like she had done with Paul Bearer and the Acolytes before her.
Saphirra, however, paid Linda no attention whatsoever, instead, she focused all of her attention on her brother back inside the ring.
Kenny, once again breaking the hold, surprised to even see Saphirra at ringside there, asked wildly why his sister was attempting to interfere in one of his matches yet again, but Saphirra, with her hands clasped firmly on her hips, merely stared back up at her brother with an ice cold glare, as Saphirra's jet black hair floated all around her.
Distracted still, while Linda also had her attention focused on Saphirra, Taker, on his knees, low blowed Kenny in the genitals with a big forearm, grabbing his around the waistband of his trunks, rolling him up, about to get the win, but a rejuvenated Austin broke up the count just in the knick of time!
Battling Taker outside the ring, giving him a taste of his own medicine, slamming his head into the steel ring steps, Austin, once he stomped a mud hole in Taker and walked it dry on the outside, returned his attention back to the inside of the ring, battling Shamrock again.
Attempting to give Austin a spinning heel kick, Austin caught Kenny's foot in midair. Kenny then attempted to give Austin an Enzuigiri, but the Rattlesnake ducked that, as well, and once Kenny turned back around from the mat, Austin kicked Kenny squarely in the gut with the toe of his boot, delivering a vicious Stone Cold Stunner to the grappler, causing the crowd in Manchester to go absolutely berserk!
Austin then pinned Shamrock for the win, but Saphirra jumped up on the apron, distracting Linda! As Linda argued with Saphirra to exit the apron, Saphirra held Linda by her referee shirt, not allowing Linda to count the pin!
As Austin got up from the mat, furious that Saphirra was insinuating herself into yet another one of his matches, Linda, before Austin could do bodily harm to the demented woman, slapped Saphirra so hard she instantly fell from the ring rope, falling to the mat outside, the crowd cheering with happiness, as Saphirra continued to hold her throbbing face down to the mat below.
That's when Taker, who was suddenly back up from the outside, limped back inside the ring, grabbed Austin around the throat by surprise, delivering to him a vivacious Chokeslam! Linda, counting the fall, jerked up from the mat, signaling only a 2-count, as Austin was able to raise his right shoulder from the mat just in knick of time!
Taker, beside himself that he didn't get the victory over Austin, actually began stalking Linda around the ring, focusing all of his attention once again on his mother in law, who was backing up, cowering away from him in total fear. Backing Linda up into the far left turnbuckle, nearing the woman who he felt may have slow counted him, Linda looked up into Taker's eyes, knowing what kind of damage this man could do when he really wanted to do it, and she was petrified!
While JR screamed on announcements that even Taker couldn't put his hands on the lovely Linda McMahon, Taker, thinking better of it, realizing he had made a promise to Stephanie not to lay a finger on her mother, suddenly began backing away from her, however, never taking his eyes off of her.
Unclenching up from the ominous presence of the Phenom, Linda, who was nearly frozen solid with fear, didn't even realize that below her was Saphirra, who grabbed both legs of the elder woman, tripping her, causing Linda to land face first into the mat!
Holding her face still, Saphirra walked around the ring, while JR shouted, "What in the hell!? Ryan Shamrock, she just assaulted Linda McMahon! Linda McMahon is down. Now we've got no referee!"
Snapping his head around, Taker walked over to Kenny, who was attempting to regain his footing after being a recipient of a Stunner.
Wanting to pin Austin for the belt and not Shamrock, Taker grabbed Shamrock by the head again, attempting to throw him over the top rope, but instead, Kenny, with his own cat-like reflexes, held on to the top rope. On the other side of the rope, Kenny reached out and turned Taker around as he attempted to walk off and pick the bones from Austin, bringing his head down to the top rope in a guillotine, quickly knocking the big man off his feet.
Jumping from the ring apron, Kenny attempted to pull Taker back outside of the ring, but Taker, using his leg strength, holding on to the bottom ring rope, kicked him back first all the way back to the announcers booth.
Walking outside the ring, while Shamrock attempted to shake off the cobwebs, Taker grabbed Kenny by the head again, trying to bounce his head off the announcers booth, wanting to concuss Kenny just like he had done Austin, but Kenny blocked it, elbowing Taker in the gut, introducing him to the pine instead!
While Austin was getting back up inside the ring, falling down in the bottom ring rope, attempting to regain his breath, outside, Shamrock, having flashbacks of all the misdeeds Taker had carried out against him and his family over the past several weeks, suddenly began going off into that zone again!
Throwing Taker on top of the announce table, while JR and King scrambled to get away, Shamrock, screaming out, grabbed Taker by the hair, and began wailing away on him with lefts and rights to the skull, while Taker, knowing how skilled Shamrock could be with his fists, attempted to cover up from the continuous shots to the cranium!
That's when Saphirra, needing to desperately do something in order to help her master, forced Tony Chimel out of his chair. Snapping it together, Saphirra ran full force and rammed the chair right into the back of her own brother!
While the crowd "oohed" from the sound of the shot cracking over Kenny's spine, the shot from his baby sister absolutely had no affect on Kenny whatsoever!
In fact, seeing his Ryan, after all what he had sacrificed for her, using a chair against her own flesh and blood, only infuriated the "World's Most Dangerous Man" even more!
Unmounting Taker, Kenny began walking slowly to his sister, who was backing up herself now, a fire dancing in his eyes like never before! Saphirra, not knowing what do, scared that she might even become the victim of an Ankle Lock now, attempted to ram the chair right into Kenny's skull, but Kenny blocked it, snatched the chair away from her, and threw it onto the ground.
As Saphirra attempted to run away in fear, her older brother grabbed her about the hair, and as the crowd sensed he was about to administer a little tough love to his little sister, Taker, who had managed to grab the chair from the floor, picked it up and rammed it straight into Kenny's back, the shot heard all throughout the arena!
Dropping to one knee, holding his back in pain, Kenny turned around unknowingly to receive another chairshot, this time straight to the head, knocking him out instantly!
As Saphirra scooted away, looking back at her fallen brother, Referee Tim White ran inside of the ring to check on the fallen Linda, who still hadn't gotten up from falling face first to the hard canvas.
Taker, sensing his moment of be coming champion was near, rolled back inside of the ring, chair still in hand, about to deck Austin with it, but the Rattlesnake, having already been concussed twice by Taker before, ducked the big chair shot, hauling off big shots to the face to Taker, as the chair slipped from Taker's weakened grip.
Whipping Taker into the ropes, Austin jumped up in midair, dropping Taker with a Lou Thesz Press, mounting and punching him across the face with more rights to the head!
As Taker stumbled back to his feet, while the camera showed the still lifeless Shamrock lying motionless on the outside of the ring, Austin was stomping another mud hole in Taker and was walking it dry ten times over! Pulling Taker up and whipping him into the rope, Austin ducked down below, but only received a big boot to the chest in return.
Holding his pec, Taker swung his right arm at Austin wildly, attempting to Clothesline him, but instead, Austin ducked underneath, and came back up with another Stunner, dropping Taker instantly!
As the crowd all jumped to their feet again, Austin called over to Tim White to count the fall, and with his hand about to come down for the three, once again, for the third time, Saphirra insinuated herself into the match, by pulling Referee Tim White out of the ring, while JR screamed, "Damn her! Damn her! Austin had the match won!" through his headset.
Arguing with the girl once he successfully made it back to her feet, trying to order the obviously craze woman backstage, Saphirra, wanting desperately for Taker to win the title, stepped back and kicked Tim right in his groin with her foot, causing the older man to drop instantly, as he held his crouch in severe agony!
Austin, seeing all of this play out before him, while Saphirra stood over Tim pointing and laughing maniacally, jumped through the ring ropes like a rabid dog, chasing Saphirra all around the ring, then into it!
Catching her by the hair, about to teach her a lesson once an for all, just like before, Austin kicked Saphirra in the gut with his boot, about to execute the Stone Cold Stunner onto the girl for the second time in mere weeks, but Taker caught Austin from behind, flipped him upside down, walked in the middle of the ring with him, and dropped Austin right onto his concussed head with the Tombstone Piledriver!
Folding Austin's arms over his chest, pinning him, Linda, who was slow to make the crawl back into position, brought her hand down, 1,2,3, and just like that, the World Wrestling Federation had a new WWF Champion, and his name was the Undertaker!
As Taker's music played out through the Manchester Evening News Arena, Saphirra, holding her stomach, stepping over her fallen brother even, walked over to the timekeeper's table, snatched the Smoking Skull belt away from him, and semi-sprinted back to her master, who had also rolled out the ring, handing the belt to him, who raised the belt high into the air in victory.
JR beyond sick about the outcome of the match, cursed both Saphirra and Taker over his headset, while Saphirra, smiling heavily, despite the pain in her stomach, walked with Taker back up the aisle way, with her arms clasped firmly around Taker's waist, knowing her part in this match contributed heavily to her master being crowned the new World Wrestling Federation Champion.
As King sounded quite delighted about Taker being the new WWF Champion, JR, beside himself, announced, "Shamrock is down, Linda McMahon is down, Austin is down, and the Undertaker is up! The damned evil majority shareholder of the WWF is new World Wrestling Federation Champion, and there's not a damned thing that anybody can do about it!"
"Face it, Ross!" King countered loudly. "The Undertaker did exactly what he said he was going to do, and he's walking out the new World Wrestling Federation Champion!"
"And it took a helluva lot of help, too, don't forget not to leave that out! All I want to know is what's next? Who's next? Is this the beginning of the Undertaker Era? Monday Night Raw is live tomorrow night from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For the World Wrestling Federation, I'm Jim Ross, goodnight from Manchester!"
