The atmosphere surrounding the second biggest pay-per-view in WWE's calendar year was as it always had been for every WWE Superstar since 1988: a "big fight" feel that could easily match the night of WrestleMania.
As fans clamored in the halls of Chase Field, humming within their separate groups about their favorites to win, the men and women that made up WWE's massive roster prepared for the event in their own ways.
AJ Lee sat atop a production crate, her back straight with her head of midnight hair resting against the wall behind her. Tonight was her official in-ring re-debut and nothing could possibly make it any less nerve-racking than it already was. Returning to be the new commissioner of Monday Night RAW wasn't a big deal because AJ had been in that role before and absolutely hated every single solitary second of it. However, this would be the evening in which she did the thing she swore God created her to do: wrestle in a WWE ring.
AJ's dark eyes remained concealed by her mocha-colored eyelids. Her black headphones sat snuggly around her head and played some of her favorite rock singles of the last thirty years. Music always helped balance the unpredictable nature her brain often resorted to in anxiety spiking situations. She was entering number four in the Women's Royal Rumble and going a very long way into the match; It had been finalized with Triple H just a few short moments prior.
AJ's part in the show was to make it into the final four and really get the fans behind her. Then, in an act that would surely get the champion nuclear levels of heat, Nikki Bella was to rush the ring and throw AJ out. The fans would rage, AJ would be the hero the city needed, and everyone would love the title match now set in stone for Elimination Chamber.
But thinking about the brunette with the twin sister and twin pairs of fake breasts made AJ seeth, even with her favorite songs trying to keep her level headed. Nikki tried to shoot on AJ once just a few days ago. Luckily AJ overheard her plan and was able to put a stop to it or she would've been embarrassed in front of the entire wrestling world. Though she thwarted Nikki's previous attempt at cheap humiliation, that didn't mean the nasty plastic didn't have a possible "plan B" up her sleeve. What would happen if Nikki tried to hurt AJ in the ring tonight? Could AJ fight back without getting in trouble with the suits? Would Triple H stick to his word and scrap Nikki for acting unprofessionally? AJ couldn't be sure until things played out, but the thought of Nikki trying to act like a dumb bitch stuck in the back of AJ's mind.
The worried frown glued to AJ's face melted away into a goofy grin when her music of choice was replaced by Buck Cherry's "Crazy Bitch:" her chosen ringtone for Dean.
"Hey, dude," AJ spoke into her phone's speaker; the audio from Dean's end played in her headphones while she talked to him.
"You excited?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, but I'm pretty fuckin' nervous," AJ admitted with a sigh. "They didn't have this shit the last time I was here. Where are you anyway? You're in the Rumble."
"That's for me and for you to never find out," Dean teased. As he said that, AJ caught him peaking around the corner leading to catering. Dean pretended AJ hadn't seen him. "Um, that's not me. That's my evil twin!"
AJ rolled her eyes over Dean's childish nonsense. The petite woman hopped from her perch and skipped to her boyfriend, who was no longer hiding but instead leaning against the cement wall. AJ copied his stance with a smirk and a look of admiration overtaking her dark brown eyes.
"You look great, babe," Dean told the smaller woman; AJ was, for the first time in forever, wearing her ring gear that consisted of jean shorts, a cutoff t-shirt and of course her lucky Chucks. Dean flashed a small smile. The kind of smile that didn't say "I want to jump your bones" but more so said "I love you so much it hurts" without actually saying anything.
AJ traced her finger up the length of Dean's arm to his shoulder. She matched his smile with her own, only instead of an alluring gaze she booped his nose and giggled at his shocked reaction.
"You're just the cutest little thing waiting to get her butt kicked," Dean joked.
AJ shrugged. "It's kinda my thing. What do they have you doing tonight?"
Dean chuckled dryly. "Number twelve. Get beaten up a little. Throw out a nobody then get kicked in the head by Aleister Black."
"That doesn't seem so bad," AJ figured with a single shoulder shrug. "What about tomorrow for RAW."
Dean shook his head. "Sittin' me out 'til my contract is up. They're going to say Aleister's kick killed me or some shit and I won't have to come in anymore."
AJ tilted her head to the side. "So I'm all alone after tonight?" She said it as a playful joke originally, but as the words rolled off her tongue AJ felt a little uneasy. Sure she was traveling without Dean now. But with her almost returning to a full schedule, and Dean going to a new company, would there really be time for the two of them?
"I'll still call you," Dean assured, picking up on AJ's switch in attitude towards the situation. "I'll text you shitty pickup lines," that made AJ chuckle and roll her eyes. Dean went on. "I'll tell you goodnight each night. I'll only whack off to your Insta posts," AJ's sassy expression morphed to faux annoyance and she gestures with her hand who she thought "number one" was in her book. Dean grinned. "Text you stupid 'I love you' texts in the middle of the day. Skype you from home. Cuddle with the dogs twice as much for both of us."
AJ managed a small smile in spite of her bitter attitude. "Thank you. Phil would just bail out or tell me to fuck off if something like this was going on. I really should've married you and not that pencil dick geek."
Dean leaned in for a quick kiss to AJ's lips. It fully conveyed the amount of admiration the man had for his tiny lover, but he knew he needed to keep it appropriate in the work area.
"You should probably head over to Gorilla for your big hoorah," AJ told her boyfriend.
Dean shrugged. "I suppose I should. I'll see you after, darlin'."
With one more quick kiss to the lips, Dean parted ways with AJ. AJ, having completely forgotten about her concerns when it came to Nikki Bella, shook her head as Dean ventured further away down the hall.
Number one: Lacey Evans.
Number two: Natalya.
In less than two minutes, AJ was going to run out into the arena, fall flat on her face, ugly cry, then sprint back to Las Vegas to snuggle with her puppies... ok, hopefully, THAT didn't happen.
AJ took deep breaths. The crowd started chanting for her the second Mike Rome announced the beginning of the Royal Rumble. The fans knew she'd be here. There was no doubt AJ was going to show up. It was just a matter of when and how.
"Dude, don't trip out there," Dean said literally as the ten-second countdown started.
AJ threw a half-serious dirty look over her shoulder. "Fuck... you..."
It all came down to this. A handful of seconds between destiny and being the bad bitch she was from the moment she was conceived.
"Good luck, babe," Dean told AJ as the timer hit three seconds. "You got this..."
2...
1...
AJ stepped through the curtain.
Royal Rumble January 27, 2019
Let's light it up!
The crowd lost its goddamn mind. They didn't yell this hard when Braun won the Men's Royal Rumble. They weren't this loud when NXT Superstars showed up in the Men's Rumble. AJ freaking Lee made the roof blow up and all she did up to this point was skip onto the stage and smirk at the crowd.
Of course, on the inside AJ was ugly crying and making a scene. But true to her unbreakable professional nature, she kept a cool exterior and made her way to the ring.
AJ slid under the bottom rope and stood toe-to-toe with Nattie. That was the blonde's idea. In pre-match planning, Natalya hoped the crowd would be locked in a chant duel over their favorite. AJ figured it wouldn't work like Natalya wanted, which was furthermore proven by the ear-splitting noise in the arena yelling the unmistakeable name "AJ! AJ! AJ! AJ!"
AJ shot Nattie a glance from the corner of her eye and surprised her with a forearm to the chin. Nattie went down and AJ went after Lacey in the corner. Number four, right behind AJ, was Lana. Lana charged for AJ, but AJ pulled the top rope down and eliminated The Ravishing Russian in record time.
"So far, so good," AJ thought to herself with a grin as the crowd roared all the more in her favor.
Time passed a lot faster than AJ thought possible. This match was going to be close to an hour and a half long and they were now down to the final four. AJ sat in a corner turnbuckle selling a Superkick from Carmella. Becky Lynch and Charlotte shoved each other around to try and make the match down to just three.
Over on commentary was Paige, Cole, Beth Phoenix, and Nikki Bella after Alicia Fox arrived at number twelve. Nikki's crowd igniting spot was coming up soon and AJ was fine it was happening, though part of her wondered what would happen if she tried to "shoot" win this thing.
"AJ Lee putting on a great comeback performance," Cole pointed out as the camera panned over to AJ.
Nikki stood up from her seat. "Not anymore!"
AJ saw Nikki take off her headset. "Great," she thought, rolling her eyes to herself. "The fun is over."
AJ stood up like she was going to re-join the brawl. But, making the crowd cry in shock and anger, Nikki struck AJ from behind with her RAW Women's Title. AJ held her head and rolled around a little to really sell the shot.
Nikki grabbed AJ by the hair. "You think you're better than me?! You think you can just walk in here?!"
AJ glared at the taller woman. Nikki suddenly put AJ in a hammerlock. AJ's face bore confusion, then a shriek of pain escaped her lips and she fell to the mat clutching at her hand. Nikki threw her hands up and back away from the prone woman screaming at the top of her lungs.
AJ held her hand with the non-injured one. AJ's index finger was pointing the wrong way. Nikki not only had the balls to put her in an impromptu hammerlock but the conniving little bitch had actually broken one of AJ's fingers.
AJ showed it to the ringside official, who flinched in horror and threw up the "X" sign with his arms. AJ tried to see if she could snap it back into place, but her finger felt it had burst into flames the minute she tried to move it in any fashion.
"Stay gone next time," AJ heard Nikki bark.
Something in AJ's gut snapped. Years and years of putting up with Nikki's crap had finally built up past the point of no return. Instead of staying down and waiting for help, AJ jumped to her feet and threw her foot up. Nikki turned around at the worst possible time and took the toe of AJ's shoe under the chin. Nikki crumpled to the mat, out like a light even though her eyes were wide open.
Thinking quickly, Charlotte carefully guided AJ up and over the top rope while making it look like a normal surprise elimination. AJ sold the shock for a second, then hurried towards the back to get her finger looked at.
Just before AJ turned the corner to leave ringside, she looked back at the ring. Nikki was sitting up on the apron but it was very clear she had absolutely no idea where she was or what was going on.
"Serves you right, bitch," AJ muttered to herself with a smirk and descended the stairs into Gorilla.