The Great American Bash: July 22, 2007
"Are you excited for tonight?" Chelle asks me.
"Yeah." I say. "It's the first pay-per-view since I've been back."
"Good." She hugs me. "I wish we'd be in matches."
"Same."
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Accompanying Candice."
"Cool…I'm doing nothing."
I laugh. "You can watch Dusty kick Randy's ass."
"You really don't like Randy anymore. Do you?"
I sigh. "Chelle, I don't think I have it in me to forgive him just like that. He never even apologized for it. Plus, I'm sure he's heard about me and Chris by now. Randy's not gonna wanna speak to me after knowing that."
"I know. Did he ever come visit you in the hospital?"
"No…I need to go. I'll see you later."
I sat down in a hallway by myself. I just needed to clear my mind. I just lean against the wall as I sit and close my eyes. Some footsteps and chatter snap me out of my calmness. It's Batista and Ric Flair.
I smile. "Hey, guys."
Batista picks me up off of the ground and hugs me. "Hey, kid."
Ric hugs me as well. "How are ya?"
I frown. "Stressed."
"Why?"
"Being back. With all of the drama. Fellow Divas. New Divas. Everything."
"Does that include Randy?"
"Ric!" Batista looks at him sternly.
"Dave," I say. "It's okay. You do not have to avoid saying Randy around me."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. It's fine."
Dave smiles. "Okay…then does it include Randy?"
"Yeah…"
"Well…do you wanna talk about it?"
I nod. "Yeah. Um…I haven't been getting along with Randy. Hell, I didn't talk to him last week. But I don't know how I'm going to face Randy anymore. Last time we did talk, we had a pretty bad argument. Plus, he didn't know about Chris and I back then."
"Well…we didn't know about your relationship with Chris either until the rumors spread." Ric says.
"Yeah…sorry. I know Randy doesn't like Chris. He's never liked Chris. Chris is my boyfriend, but a part of me still wants to have Randy in my life in a good way. However, I can't bring myself to forgive him for the RKO Incident. He never apologized. He never visited me in the hospital. I was there for almost a month. He did call and text me. I read his texts. I listened to his voicemails. He didn't say a word about being sorry. I can't do it." I let a tear roll down my cheek.
Dave pulls me into his arms again. "I might be friends with Randy too, but I don't agree with what he did to you or his lack of effort in trying to communicate."
"I yelled at him." Ric says.
I laugh. "Thanks, Ric."
"The following match is a Singapore Cane on a Pole match scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from the Caribbean, Carlito!" We hear Lilian Garcia announce.
"Shit." I say. "I need to go. Candice's match is next. I gotta go with her. See you guys later."
"Bye!" Ric and Dave say.
("Paparazzi" plays)
"The following Divas match is scheduled for one fall and is for the WWE Women's Championship! Introducing first, the Challenger, from Los Angeles, California, Melina!"
Let me show you what love is.
Let me show you how to move your body.
Let me show you how to make me crazy.
Too much loving never hurt nobody…
"And her opponent, being accompanied to the ring by Marissa, the WWE Women's Champion, Candice Michelle!"
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Candice and Melina lock up in the center of the ring. I look on. Melina gains the advantage and locks Candice in a Headlock. Candice escapes and kicks Melina in the gut. She puts Melina in a Side Headlock and pins her.
1…2…kickout!
Melina wraps her legs around Candice's neck. Candice uses her leg power to pin Melina again.
1…2…kickout!
"Come on, Candice!" I shout.
Their arms are locked together. Melina gets Candice into a Backslide.
1…2…kickout!
Candice kicks Melina in the gut. She then hits Melina with a Running Blockbuster. Candice uses a Fireman's Carry Takeover into a Bridge to pin Melina.
1…kickout!
Melina gets Candice into the corner and hits a double knee to Candice's abdomen. Melina attacks Candice in the ropes.
1!
2!
3!
Melina releases Candice.
"You can do it, Candice!" I pound on the mat.
Melina attacks Candice's left arm. She then wraps both of Candice's arms around Candice and pulls Candice to the ground. She pins Candice.
1…kickout!
Melina puts a submission on Candice's left arm. Candice escapes and pulls Melina over her head. She then hits Melina with Forearms and Clotheslines. She grounds Melina with a Dropkick. Melina gets up, and Candice hits a big Clothesline and pins her.
1…2…kickout!
Candice goes to the top rope and hits Melina with a Crossbody. Candice pins Melina.
1…2…kickout!
Melina elbows Candice in the face and hits a Neckbreaker on Candice. Melina pins Candice.
1…2…kickout!
Melina Irish Whips Candice into the ropes, but Candice comes back with a Clothesline. Candice goes for a Heel Kick, but Melina dodges. Melina locks in a Headlock, but Candice escapes and hits a Standing Bulldog. She pins Melina.
1…2…3!
"Here is your winner and STILL the WWE Women's Champion, Candice Michelle!"
I run in the ring to celebrate with Candice. She grabs her title and hugs me. I raise Candice's arm in the air. We roll out of the ring and head up the ramp. Candice poses with the championship at the top of the ramp before we head backstage.
Candice and I are now heading to Mr. McMahon's office. He apparently wanted us in there.
"Do you think we did something wrong?" Candice asks.
"No." I say. "At least I highly doubt it."
"You didn't." Melina says. "He wants to see me too."
"Do you know why?"
"No."
We head to Mr. McMahon's office. I open the door. Along with Mr. McMahon, Teddy Long, William Regal, and the entire WWE Divas locker-room was in there. Melina, Candice, and I sit down.
"Now that everyone is here." Mr. McMahon says. "We have brought you all on here to discuss the Divas match at SummerSlam."
Brooke raises her hand. "Mr. McMahon?"
"Yes, Brooke?"
"What is the Divas match at SummerSlam?"
"We'll get to that in a moment. You see for SummerSlam's twentieth anniversary we want to do something big. So the Divas match at SummerSlam will involve Raw, SmackDown, and ECW."
"It's a huge Tag Team match." Michelle says.
"Actually, Michelle," Teddy Long says. "It's not."
"It's a Battle Royal." I say casually. "We almost never do huge Tag Team matches on pay-per-view. Let alone SummerSlam."
"Way to ruin the surprise, Marissa." William says.
"So it is a Battle Royal?" Melina asks.
"Yes." Mr. McMahon says. "It is."
"But we do tons Battle Royals." Victoria says. "This is going to be boring."
"Yeah." Mickie says. "It will."
"What's the point?" Layla asks.
"Victoria didn't let me finish." Mr. McMahon says. "The winner of this match will be rewarded."
"With what?" Torrie asks.
Mr. McMahon looks at Candice. "A future opportunity at the WWE Women's Championship."
"So I'm not in Battle Royal." Candice says.
"No."
"Damn."
"Everyone else is though." Beth says. "Right?"
"Yes."
"So…" Kelly says. "Theoretically, the WWE Women's Championship could go to any brand."
"Yes."
"Well it sure as hell won't be ECW." Jillian says.
"The only way to confirm that is to make sure they don't win the Battle Royal."
"Okay."
"Anyway…" William says. "There has to be some storyline changes due to this Battle Royal."
"Yes." Mr. McMahon says as he looks at me and Candice. "Mainly you two. You see. Marissa doesn't have any real motivation to be in and win the Battle Royal if she's best friends with the champion."
"What about self-redemption?" I say. "I never lost my championship. I was injured because of a RKO gone wrong."
"You can include that in there. But I'm sure that the fans would enjoy seeing you and Candice fight. We can use your idea more if you end up in storyline with Randy again."
"I'd rather not be in another storyline with him."
"Understandable. So it's official. There will be a Divas Battle Royal at SummerSlam. And the winner will receive a future opportunity at the WWE Women's Championship."