Team Work chapter 241
July 10th, 2020
Stephanie likes summer. The warmth, the sometimes volatile storms, like what's rumbling outside of the arena currently. What she doesn't like is malfunctions, or anything beyond her control really. So she's clearly not pleased as she stands over some stumbling backstage techs, watching them try to fix the broken cord to a pivotal camera for the hardside shots. "Will it be fixed in time?" she asks, voice clipped.
Both men jump and look up at her. "Yes, ma'am! We promise," they ramble over and around each other, trying to placate her.
She sighs and shakes her head. "It'd better be," she mumbles, turning to grab her papers from her office and bring them back here to oversee everything while she works to figure out the night's show.
They hold true to their word and so it's with a relieved breath that Stephanie settles in to watch and tally scores from the relative peace of her office. The first match of the night pits Bayley against Mercedes Martinez, with Bayley defeating her decisively. Fenix teams reluctantly with Andrade to defeat Colt Cabana and The Butcher. Santos Escobar comes out victorious over Lashley, and the team of Susie and Billie Kay are successful over Kylie Rae and Jordynne Grace.
Asuka defeats Sasha with the Asuka Lock after a lengthy match spent slowly wearing down her limbs. MVP sets asides his long term feelings and works with Jeff Hardy to claim a win over Angel Garza and The Blade. In six man action, the team of Mansoor, Drew McIntyre and Cody Deaner walk out winners over Pentagon Jr., Cousin Jake and Brodie Lee.
Kevin Owens wins against Johnny Gargano, Raul Mendoza defeats Adam Page, and Bronson Reed, Keith Lee and Stu Greyson square off against Lance Archer and Rey Mysterio in 2 on 3 handicap action, and after a lengthy match just trying to overcome both men long enough to get the pin, find themselves successful as Reed gets Rey down long enough for the three count. Chris Jericho wins against Sami Callihan.
In the main event, it's Joaquin Wilde and Willie Mack against Kenny Omega and Randy Orton. Orton can't keep the sneer off of his face whenever he looks at Omega, but the match goes as well as can be expected. Neither man seem impressed whenever they tag out, but still they gel well enough, keeping things professional as they try to keep Joaquin from flying all over the ring, also eager to keep Willie out entirely. It works for awhile, until Joaquin surprises Orton with a desperate dropkick, giving himself just enough space and time to get to their corner.
Willie tags in and immediately rushes in, reminding Orton why keeping him out had been their strategy. He's fast and strong, and it's hard to keep a handle on him, to keep him from overwhelming them, and Orton finds himself down on the mat, blinking up dazedly, when the light is suddenly blocked, and instinctively he knows. I GOTTA MOVE. And move he does, somehow finding the strength to roll away, press his face into the mat and breathe deeply before kicking out and catching Willie right in the knee, sending him down immediately.
Orton smirks, scopes out Willie, kicks at him every few seconds, until finally Willie's up, turning around, and- getting RKO'd right into the mat. Joaquin moves to break up the pin that follows, but Omega's been waiting for just that, sneaking around the ring in time to grab Wilde's boot and send him off of the apron entirely. He hits hard, dazed and blinking in confusion as Orton's music hits, the match officially in their favor. "Wha-..."
Omega has no interest in trying to explain what just happened, brushing past Joaquiin and sliding in to have his hand raised, his and Orton's smirks almost painful to look at in their intensity.