ATM: The Bonehead and the Brain – The Black and the Brave
As the search for Sasha Banks begins, Stephanie McMahon continues her plans to take over the wrestling business with Bayley and Charlotte. Bianca struggles to keep tabs on Montez and Becky figures out what's going on with Finn Balor.
Chapter Ten – All Struck Out
Santa Monica beach, Los Angeles, CA
Bianca and Becky flew down to the weightlifting enclosure where the NXT roster was working out with Seth Rollins. While Becky headed straight towards Seth who was doing bicep curls, Bianca stayed frozen on the sand.
"Bianca why aren't you moving?" Becky Lynch asked her.
"I try not to approach Seth when he's working out. My life is complicated enough as it is," Bianca said and Becky tried not to laugh at her embarrassment.
"Fine, I'll give you a 5-minute courtesy break, you're so adorable," Becky said and she headed towards Seth while Bianca tried to cool down.
The NXT women noticed Bianca standing by herself and called over to her, "Hey Bianca, come over here and work out with us!" Rhea Ripley called to her and she came over enthusiastically while Becky talked to Seth.
"Nice curls," Becky said to Seth who had his hair tied in a bun and he was in full workout mode.
"Tell me about your meeting with Ronda Rousey," Seth asked her.
"Sure, do you mind if I join you?" Becky Lynch said reaching for a heavy dumbbell, "It is so cool being able to lift weights again now that I have my arm back. I couldn't build muscle for a whole year,"
"The only muscle I'm interested in right now Becky is your tongue. Tell me about your meeting with Rousey," Seth said and Becky giggled, "What are you laughing at?"
"You just said you were interested in my tongue," Becky said and Seth tried not to roll his eyes at her immaturity.
"Becky," he admonished her.
"Okay I'll be serious. The meeting wasn't really with Ronda, it was with Paul Heyman. He made a deal with Dana White to secure my first fight back in UFC against Ronda Rousey," Becky explained while doing some curls of her own.
Seth watched her work out and raised his eyebrow impressed, "Nice form Bex, you've gotten really strong," he said.
"Prison has that effect on a bad* like me," she replied keeping up with Seth, "plus I've been working out with Bianca,"
Seth nodded, "Now that's impressive; she's not a woman that everyone can keep up with. Where is she?" Seth said looking around for the E S T.
"She's hiding from your sweaty abs," Becky said and Seth saw Bianca working out with the women of NXT.
"So did Dana White make you an offer to go back to UFC to fight Ronda?" Seth asked Becky.
"He had the offer ready for me but I didn't take it. I didn't want to leave NXT. Paul Heyman tried to sweeten the deal by getting Brock Lesnar and Steve Austin involved. He suggested we all participate in a match; me against Ronda with Brock Lesnar in her corner and Steve Austin in mine," Becky explained.
"That's one Hell of a main event," Seth said. "So, what did you say to Heyman? Did you guys come to terms?"
"No, I was pissed that Austin went behind my back and made a deal with Heyman and Dana. I left Broken Skull Ranch and I haven't spoken to Austin since," Becky said.
"So, what was Ronda talking about in Orlando? She made it sound like talks were still going on between you," Seth asked.
"I have no idea, I haven't been talking to anyone," Becky said and she saw the look of concern in Seth's eyes, "Look, if you're worried about me leaving again you don't have to. I'm not going anywhere Seth, I'm staying put. I want to be NXT World Heavyweight Champion and all I have to do is kick Johnny Gargano's tiny little butt. It'll be the easiest history I ever made!"
Seth didn't share her enthusiasm, "I wrestled Gargano at PWG, he's no slouch and you're acting like the match is going to be a cake walk for you. I hate what an egomaniac you've become but I love the fact that you're sticking around. I need you to help me get DX back in control of NXT," Seth said.
"I'd be happy to help in any way that I can," Becky said swallowing her pride. Seth's words really touched a nerve and his attitude towards her successful career had changed since she left to fight in UFC last year. Clearly, she had to work extra hard to get back into his good books. It was obvious that he still didn't trust her, if he did, he would be ecstatic over her being the first woman to hold the NXT World Heavyweight Championship.
"Good. Hunter and Shawn are nuts about you, I need you to find out if they'd be interested in re-branding NXT and running shows out here in California," Seth said and Becky furrowed her brow.
"You want DX to move to Hollywood?" she asked him.
"Yeah, since they can't operate out of Orlando, they can rebuild and re-open here instead. I talked to some of the NXT vets and they love the idea. It'll be like coming full circle for a lot of them," Seth said. "I also talked to Rocky and he said he'd be willing to turn his mansion into a performance center after Sasha and I move to Saudi Arabia, so the roster can train and work out there,"
"That sounds really awesome," Becky said putting the dumbbell down and wiping the sweat off of her brow. She fell silent with her head down.
"Good, I'm glad you like my idea. Could you run it passed DX for me?" Seth said still working out.
"Yeah, sure," Becky said with her head still down.
"Good. And can you take Bianca with you please?" Seth said and Becky squeezed her fists trying not to lose her temper.
"Actually Seth, Bianca really needs to talk to you about something, I think she should stay here with you," Becky said.
"She can't talk to me when I'm working out, we've tried it, it just doesn't work," Seth said. "I'll be done by the time you guys get back,"
Becky held in her derision and gave Seth a nod, "No problem. We'll be back in a little while," she said and she left to get Bianca and fly away to the Sandbox to see DX.
Beth Hardy stood in front of Seth with her mouth open and Seth quickly called out to Becky who had left her behind, "Becky, you forgot someone!" he called out and Becky kept walking. "Becky wait, you forgot Beth Hardy!"
Seth sighed, "I guess I'm staying here," Beth Hardy said and she picked up a dumb bell before putting it down as quickly as she picked it up. "It's so heavy!"
"It'll get easier the more you do it," Seth said to her sweetly, "Why don't you work out with Becky while you guys are hanging out?"
"I'm not sure the Man wants me as a workout partner right now. I'm not exactly her favourite person," Beth Hardy said.
"Well, you're one of mine. Go with Becky before she leaves you behind again," Seth said and Beth Hardy looked at him sadly.
"You're one of my favourite people too Seth Rollins and I really hate what my Mom is doing to you and Sasha," she said sincerely.
"Love is stronger than you think Beth and it always wins out in the end. By the time this is all over you'll realise that," Seth assured her and Beth's heart swelled to the size of a thousand balloons filled with Seth's self-esteem.
"Thanks Seth, you're the best," Beth Hardy said. "I hope one day, a guy as hot and nice as you falls in love with me,"
Beth skipped away on cloud nine and Seth smiled to himself, "I miss self-esteem class," he said before resuming his workout.
Over by where the girls were working out, Becky Lynch interrupted the workout session to get Bianca's attention.
"Becky pick up a weight," Io Shirai said but Becky didn't feel like working out anymore.
"Maybe later, we have to go run an errand," she said derisively to Bianca Belair who was already in her 500th rep. "Seth wants us to go see DX at the Sandbox in Connecticut,"
"Did you tell him I need to talk to him?" Bianca asked her.
"Yes, but he said you're in no condition to talk to him when he's working out," Becky said and Bianca blushed. "He said you could talk when we get back,"
Bianca put down the dumbbell and the NXT women applauded her achievement as she wiped off her face.
"Okay, let's go shower first. I don't want to go to see DX in a sweat, let's go to Rocky's house," Bianca said and she noticed the severe pout on Becky's face, "Becky, what's wrong?"
Becky shook her head, "Nothing, let's go," she said.
"That's not True, tell me what's wrong," Bianca said gently touching Becky's arm.
"I just wish I could feel as good about Seth Rollins as all of you do," she said and Bianca looked at Beth Hardy who was still floating after her conversation with Seth, whereas Becky was self- destructing.
"Did you and Seth have an argument?" Bianca asked her.
"No, can we go?" Becky said and the NXT roster noticed Becky Lynch was upset too.
"It's because of the NXT World Championship isn't it?" Rhea Ripley said. "Seth doesn't want you in that match, does he?"
"That's crazy of course he does," Bianca Belair said. "Do you know how many women would be lining up to kick Johnny Gargano's tiny little butt and win the NXT World Championship?"
"Seth and Johnny go way back Bianca," Dakota Kai explained and she turned to Becky, "don't let your chance to make history slip away because of some veteran bull-s*. Seth's just pissed because you're a better wrestler than he is, that's why DX are giving you all these opportunities and he's out the door,"
"Yeah, you're the Man!" Io Shirai said.
"And the Man is going to beat Johnny Gargano and become the first ever female NXT World Champion," Rhea Ripley said.
"You're not doing anything wrong; you're just being the bad-a* Irish Lass Kicker. You shouldn't feel guilty about beating a dude instead of a chick," Dakota Kai said.
Bianca Belair didn't think that was what was bothering Becky, "I know Seth supports you, that's not what this is about. You think he doesn't trust you," Bianca said and Becky inhaled refusing to let the tears welling up behind her eyes fall.
"I know he doesn't trust me but I'm going to prove to him that I am trustworthy, just like you," Becky said and she powered up her arm and Bianca took her arm with Beth Hardy on her back and they headed to the Rock's mansion to shower before seeing DX.
"We trust you Becky!" Raquel Gonzalez called out and the NXT roster started a huge Becky Lynch chant as they resumed their workout inspired by the Man and her ability to re-write history again and again.
"I sure hope Seth supports Becky. I don't want him getting control of NXT if he's going to stand in the way of our opportunities," Dakota Kai said.
"That's if there's even an NXT for us to work for. We need Seth, don't hate on him. He's on our side, whatever's going on between him and Becky goes beyond wrestling. Calm down Dakota, don't write Seth Rollins off. He might be the only chance we have," Rhea Ripley said. "We could all be unemployed in a few months so let's not shoot the good guys that are trying to help us,"
"You're right, Seth's a good guy," Dakota Kai relented.
"Unlike your ex-boyfriend," Raquel Gonzalez said and Dakota nodded with contempt.
Finn Balor was definitely a bad guy.