Tonight was the go-home show for Royal Rumble. AJ's part in the show was about the same as it had been since her return. News broke about Dean's possible departure from WWE a few weeks prior. Though AJ wasn't directly linked to Ambrose, aside from a few rumors, she still received questions and theories from WWE fans and fellow Superstars.
Paige was one of the people constantly on AJ's case about what Dean was up to. AJ refused to let the pasty-skinned burden bother her too much and gave her the generic excuse she told everyone else: "I don't know. It's none of my business."
Truth was, AJ hadn't spent a lot of time with Dean since her visit to his Las Vegas home. Even if she wanted to know the whole story, her crusade to wrestle full time again brought her further and further from her love interest. Dean didn't come into work as often as he used to. But AJ knew that was because upper management was furious with him for refusing to re-sign with them. AJ didn't blame Dean for wanting out and trying his hand at other promotions. She genuinely encouraged him over the phone several times since she witnessed the argument between him and Triple H.
As far as AJ knew, her relationship with Dean put her job in zero jeopardies. Stephanie and Hunter were thrilled with the positive reception she was still getting from the audience each and every week. In the weeks leading up to her big return at the Royal Rumble, AJ made several appearances at live events and house shows. AJ's new re-found fame brought more attention from mainstream media. Which meant more interviews and media days. Which in turn meant less time for sleep, relaxation, and time with Dean.
Despite the stress, AJ was never happier to have everything she had in 2014 back in her pocket.
Currently, AJ stood in front of Triple H's desk. The COO had called her in to show her the new t-shirt designs they had made up and planned to sell during Royal Rumble to bring in some extra revenue and hype for her part in the match.
AJ was a little more than terrified to see what godawful ideas the creative team had for her. The quality of creativity had drastically decreased in recent years. AJ heard murmurs about a shirt design for her, which prompted her to try and pitch her own ideas, but creative brushed her off with the insurance that they had everything under control. All that anticipation led to the mini anxiety attack AJ was about to fall into while she stared wide-eyed at the cardboard box resting on her boss' desk.
"Ready?" Triple H asked with a grin.
AJ hadn't uttered a peep before Hunter popped open the box and revealed a black tee. AJ braced herself for the clipart nonsense she'd be forced to promote, but the shirt actually seemed pretty good. The black tee had her heart spider on the front with the words "Crazy is Back" written in a wild font over the chest. Triple H let AJ study the image for a moment, then turned it around to show the back simply read "AJ Lee" on the upper part of the shoulders.
"What do you think?" Triple H asked.
"That actually doesn't suck," AJ stated matter of fact. "It's... freaking awesome."
"Good, I'm glad you enjoy it," Hunter tossed AJ one of the shirts. "I want you to wear one during your promo tonight. Cut the sleeves off or have the girls fashion it however you want. I expect to sell out of these at the show on Sunday."
"Wow," AJ said with a grin. "This feels like getting my shirt all over again. It's so great, Hunter. Really."
"Good. Then we'll go ahead with it." Triple H took a seat, prompting AJ to do the same. "As for tonight, all you have to do is confront Nikki in the ring. Cut a promo, but I don't want any physical altercation with you two until this Sunday. I want to really build-up to the eventual blowoff."
"Will it lead to anything?" AJ asked. Having a feud in WWE was great, but there was really no point if it just kept going on and on and had no climatic ending.
"That's what else I needed to discuss with you," Triple H explained. "Elimination Chamber is the event after Royal Rumble. Roman is defending the Universal Championship in one of the chamber matches, while Charlotte is defending the SmackDown Women's title for the women's chamber. AJ Styles has a one-on-one match with Luke Harper. The plan, if things play out right, is for Nikki to defend against you since she's going to cost you the Royal Rumble."
Even though AJ was sitting still in her chair, she felt she had just skyrocketed through the roof. Finally, fucking finally, she was getting that big return match she'd been dreaming about since her return. It was a shame it had to be against Nikki, which meant she was somehow going to retain against Bayley, Sasha, and Ronda this Sunday. Nevertheless, with a proud smile on her face despite wanting to throw the desk out the window from sheer joy alone, AJ couldn't believe she was back at this point in her career. And so soon, to add to the elation.
"That's freaking awesome," AJ said as calmly as she could. "I'm guessing Nikki will retain by Twin Magic or something like that? Have that big match against Io at Mania?"
Triple H raised his hand. "Don't move so fast. We actually haven't worked out every last piece for the match. Nikki had been politicking like hell to get you pulled from the Rumble. You don't even want to know about the earful I got when I told her about the Elimination Chamber match."
"Well, she's a stupid bitch," AJ thought to herself with a professional smile.
Triple H continued. "But what I say evidently is more final than what she does. The fans are clamoring at the idea of you in a regular match again. So, after the Rumble, we will start having you wrestle a few live event tag matches with Sasha just to get a feel for it again."
"Holy fuck," AJ meant to muse but accidentally blurted out loud. "Oh, uh, I mean, sorry..."
"No, it's great to see you excited for this," Hunter assured. "It shows that this won't be a waste of time. This is all still speculation for now. We will have our final decision on Sunday. But, the way things are now, you'll get the title match and a few live events before then."
AJ shook hands with her boss. "Thank you so much, sir. I won't make you regret giving me another chance."
Feeling the excitement starting to boil over, AJ hurried from the office to search for a more secluded spot of the arena. Quickly pulling out her phone, AJ dialed the first person she absolutely had to tell about the news.
"Lil' Tracy's Crematorium and DJ Service, this is 8-Ball," Dean answered, obviously knowing AJ was trying to get a hold of him.
AJ screamed an excited outburst into the phone. Dean cursed out loud into his end.
"What's up, babe?" Dean asked, sounding a little bit annoyed by AJ's yell.
"I have a fuckload of good news to tell you, Dean!" AJ exclaimed with the biggest smile she could produce.
AJ went into a ten-minute long ramble about her meeting with Hunter. She expressed her joy with her placement in the title scene, but her mild disgust about having to be in the ring with Nikki to build to that point. The imbalance of chemicals in her brain refused to let the cloud hang over her for very long. AJ chirped for a few more minutes about her excitement, but then ended her rant with an excited laugh.
"Holy shit, babe, that's amazing," Dean praised. "I told you your hard work would pay off. You're going to be on top of the freaking world again before you know it."
"I fucking hope so," AJ sighed happily. "I love you so much, Dean. I really wish you were here to see it."
"I'm watching RAW, don't worry," Dean promised. "And I love you too. The dogs are all over me tonight. Something tells me they miss you."
AJ declared her love for Ambrose once more and ended the call. The miniature brunette's mania fueled skip brought her to the makeup and costume area. AJ handed off her new shirt to Mikaze, the costume designer, and requested a few "adjustments" to the top. AJ continued down the corridor until she reached the women's locker room.
AJ pushed the door partially open.
"...AJ Lee tonight..."
AJ let the door close almost all the way. Someone on the inside was talking about her. Normally she'd barge in and start throwing hands, but AJ's gut told her to hang tight and listen to whoever was speaking.
"That bitch thinks she's hot shit just walking back into the WWE and sucking cock to get her way." That voice. The overexaggerated pronunciation of every goddamn word was a dead give away as to who was on the inside of the locker room.
"Right? Like the way she says you do business," said that shrill voice's twin sister.
AJ's eyes locked on a steel folding chair leaning against a crate within arms reach. She could simply show the twins how to properly execute an unprotected chair shot to the face. But that was assault outside of a WWE ring and would lead to both her arrest and termination from WWE.
"You know what? Fuck what Hunter said," the bustier twin spat venomously. "When AJ's running her mouth out there, I'm giving her a hard lesson not to cross me."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm slapping the taste out of her mouth. You read the script. She's going to question my abilities as champion or some lame crap. Then I'm going to smack her in the mouth. She won't see it coming, which will make it all the better."
AJ gently let the door close with the sounds of obnoxious cackling fading from earshot. Her eyes blurry and fists clenched at her side, AJ stormed away from the locker room to hopefully let this rage simmer before facing the twins later on in the ring.
Monday Night RAW January 21, 2019
Nikki and Brie Bella, the older of the two with her red and white women's title, made their entrance amidst a mixed reception from the live audience. Brie fetched her sister a microphone while Nikki posed in the ring.
"Some of you agree with me when I say that my title match this Sunday is complete bull," Nikki said into the mic. "I should not have to defend my title AGAIN in a multi-woman match. I already beat these three women in the past. The fact that AJ Lee is making me do it again shows just how terrible she is at her job. Which brings me to my point for being out here. I strongly believe my sister Brie will be a fantastic manager for this brand. Therefore, I feel AJ should step aside for a little while and let Brie run things for a little while."
"Let's light it up!"
"Ask and you shall receive," Corey said on commentary. "Nikki wants to speak to the commissioner, well, it looks like AJ wants to talk to her too."
"AJ Lee making her way down to the ring," Cole narrated as the shot showed AJ's heated march to the ring. "Is it possible to think that she is going to accept Nikki's recommendation and appoint Brie to the general manager role?"
AJ, clad in a cut-up, sleeveless version of her brand new tee, had not at all calmed down since overhearing Nikki and Brie in the locker room. In fact, AJ's animalistic instinct begged her to jump Nikki and bash her head in with a microphone. But AJ was in full control of her body and decided to spare Nikki for the moment.
"Nikki, Brie," AJ said after the cheers died down. "I am... THRILLED you keep texting and tweeting at me to let Brie run things while I take a break. Really, it's so nice you keep me up with your stupid crap," the sarcasm was heavy in AJ's voice. The way she spoke brought a few small cheers all around her.
"I strongly insist you take my recommendation seriously," Nikki stepped forward in AJ's face and held up her title belt. "I am the RAW Women's Champion and what I have to say goes a long, long way around here."
"Not anymore it doesn't," AJ shot back. "It may have worked in the past, but it won't with me anymore. I fired Corbin so I could oversee this brand on my own and do with it as I see fit. That includes doing everything I can to make sure you aren't champion anymore. Because let's face it, Ellsworth would make a better champion than you any day."
The quick jab popped the crowd. Nikki's right hand twitched. AJ anticipated the unscripted slap and caught Nikki's hand mid-swing. The shocked look of pure fear on the champ's face brought a smile to AJ's face.
"Don't mess with AJ Lee," AJ warned, throwing Nikki's hand away. "I'll see you Sunday... bitch."
With the crowd and her music playing her off, AJ marched proudly up the ramp with a smirk spreading across her lips.