By: Elektra
SUNDAY NIGHT – PAY PER VIEW
Jericho glared at his opponent across the ring. He was now more determined then ever to make an example out of the Alliance's great leader and prove once and for all that the WWF would prevail. He just hoped Stephanie stayed outside the ring and didn't try to interfere.
Before Jericho could ready himself, Austin came at him. He knocked Jericho to the mat and proceeded to put the boots to him. Jericho then got to his feet, and Austin attacked the WWFer with knife edge chops, but Jericho's quickness prevented him from falling victim to an attempted chop block.
Chris then grabbed Austin and got on the offensive. He rammed the Alliance leader's shoulder into the post, feeling a bit triumphant as he heard the painful thunk. As Austin writhed on the mat, Jericho attempted a roll-up, but was only able to get a 2 count.
Jericho went after Austin with a cross-body, and attempted another pin. Another two count followed.
Austin jumped to his feet and caught Jericho with a drop toe hold. Jericho regained the lead, though, and continued to work on the rattlesnake's shoulder.
The Alliance leader quickly took a cheap shot, and grabbed Jericho's hair, throwing the WWFer over the ropes. Kanyon, Palumbo, and O'Haire appeared at ringside, attacking Jericho as he lay on the concrete.
Having seen this on the monitors backstage, the APA and Big Show came running out, pulling the Alliance members off Jericho and beating them to the back.
Jericho tried to get to his feet, but Debra snuck up behind him and introduced his ribs to her 3-inch stilletos.
Stephanie quickly jumped into action, grabbing Debra by the hair and tossing Mrs. Rattlesnake away from Jericho.
"Are you ok?" Stephanie asked. Jericho didn't answer as he got to his feet and clutched at his ribs. This didn't go unnoticed by Stephanie, "That's it! The match is over. You can't continue like this!"
Stephanie tried to get the referee's attention, but Jericho grabbed her arm, "The match is NOT over! I will NOT give up! I can WIN this match! As long as no one else runs in, I should be able to--"
Suddenly, a familiar tune blared through the arena.
It's all about the game
and how you play it
Stephanie's eyes lit up, "HUNTER!"
Triple H walked down to ringside, sledgehammer in hand. He looked at Stephanie, then turned his attention to Austin, who was whining about his shoulder, distracting the referee from the action outside.
Before Stephanie realized what was going on, Triple H shoved her away from Jericho and swung his sledgehammer into Jericho's midsection.
Chris collapsed in a heap.
"HUNTER?" Stephanie gasped, "What are you DOING?"
Triple H ignored his wife's screams as he repeatedly introduced Jericho's ribs to the sledgehammer. Finally, he grabbed a handful of Jericho's hair and tossed the WWFer back into the ring.
Austin turned away from the referee, claiming his shoulder was suddenly better. With a cold smile, Austin pinned Jericho for the 1-2-3.
Stephanie's eyes went wide. What had just happened? What had Triple H just DONE?
Triple H got into the ring to celebrate with Austin.
"HUNTER!" Stephanie shouted as she climbed onto the apron, "What are you DOING? Why did you HELP him?!"
"Come in here and I'll explain," Triple H said as he held the ropes open for his wife.
Stephanie eyed her husband warily, and hesitantly stepped through the ropes.
Before she could ask him once again for the promised explanation, Hunter grabbed her wrist with his free hand, preventing her from escaping.
Tazz and RVD rushed down the ramp to help their boss, but a quick glare from Triple H stopped them in their tracks. The meaning was clear - Triple H would use the sledgehammer on Stephanie if they dared step foot in the ring.
Hunter smiled a cold smile as he looked at his wife, and tightened his grip on her tiny wrist.
"Hunter?" Stephanie asked quietly, "Please let go. You're hurting me,"
"I suppose you want an explanation, huh, Steph?" Triple H started, "THIS has always meant the most to me!" he indicated the title Austin held, "It means POWER, Steph. As long as I ally myself with the champion, I HAVE that power!"
Jericho gingerly forced himself to his feet, his eyes never leaving Triple H. The pain in Chris's midsection was burning through him like fire. His ribs were at least cracked, if not broken.
"You see, I came here tonight to take back the power that is rightfully mine!" Triple H continued, ignoring Jericho's glare, "Now true, I may not be 100%, but when I have THIS," he held up the sledgehammer, "And HIM," he nodded towards Austin, "I don't really need to be, do I?" he glared at Stephanie, the look in his eyes making her shrink back, "YOU turned on ECW. OUR investment! You put all your money into them, and then TURNED on them!"
"I didn't!" Stephanie gasped, "I meant to take them with me! I didn't realize they would—"
"They would WHAT?" Triple H asked. "Refuse?" he smiled again, "Do you know why they refused, Stephie?" Stephanie shook her head, "Because, I TOLD them to! Who do you think has been running the show for the last few months?" he hissed, "YOU lost control when Austin joined! Wanna know why? Because Austin does what I tell him to do."
"You just let him come in and take over like that, Steve?" Stephanie asked.
Austin brought the microphone back to his mouth, "Let me tell you something! What? I said let me tell you something! I HATE your father. I HATE your whole stinkin' family! Hell, I even hate Triple H! But despite that, I recognize that Hunter is one blood-thirsty son of a bitch. What? I said Hunter is one blood-thirsty son of a bitch! The man didn't even hesitate in manipulating Rikishi to run Stone Cold Steve Austin's ass down! That's the side I want to be on! What? I said that's the side I want to be on! Money and power makes the world go 'round, Steph. And right now, Triple H has the money AND the power!"
Stephanie's eyes widened, "Our SAVINGS!" she gasped as she looked at Triple H, "You took our savings and used it to buy ECW out from under me!"
"Well, what can I say?" Triple H shrugged non-chalantly, "I figured if I couldn't have the WWF, then I'd damn sure put it out of business! There was a time when you wanted to do that too…"
"I did! But--"
"But WHAT?" Triple H asked, "Poor spoiled rich girl lost control. It wasn't so fun anymore then, was it Steph?"
"All this time," Stephanie gasped, "YOU were telling Austin what to do! YOU were telling him to brainwash my guys into being loyal to him! Loyal to YOU!"
"And…" Triple H smirked, remembering one of his favourite catchphrases, "You NEVER saw it coming!"
Triple H shoved Stephanie to the mat as his music blared through the arena. He climbed out of the ring and headed backstage, followed by Austin and Debra.
RVD and Tazz quickly jumped into the ring once Triple H was gone, "You ok, Steph?" Tazz asked as he helped Stephanie to her feet.
"Yes, I'm fine… but…" she looked at Jericho.
"I'll help him," RVD said, and quickly went over to a stumbling Jericho, assisting the Canadian out of the ring.
"I'm sorry…" Stephanie said as she fell in step beside Jericho and RVD, "I didn't know! I had NO idea he was so…"
"Devious?" Jericho asked, then winced. The unhealed bruises from previous attacks still stung, but now there was no question it was more then that, "You SHOULD have known! YOU married him!"
"We won't be married for much longer!" Stephanie sneered, "I'm getting a divorce from that double-crossing bastard,"
Jericho laughed, then almost buckled over in pain. RVD quickly propped Jericho back up, giving Chris his shoulder for support.
"Double-crossing bastard?" Jericho repeated, his voice strained, "You two really ARE perfect for each other, aren't you!"
Stephanie ignored him, "NO ONE plays a McMahon for
a fool without payment!" she replied with quiet determination, "NO ONE!"
