CHAPTER FIFTEEN: STAY OR GO?
As Survivor Series 2001 approached, Eve and Jeff grew even closer but she still didn't tell him that she loved him. Jeff
didn't mention it to her again, not wanting to cause her any undue stress.
Eve managed to hold onto the Hardcore title - much to Jeff's dismay - and was likely to be slated for a Hardcore match
then, which meant she wouldn't be a part of the six pack challenge for the Women's Championship title - Trish had been
right about it coming available at Survivor Series 2001. Six women - three from the WWF and three from the WCW/ECW
Alliance - would battle it out for the belt. Vince's three had already been chosen, Trish among them. Eve was happy for her.
Another big match - perhaps the biggest in the history of the WWF - was the main event match. Five of the best men from
each side would compete in an elimination match. The outcome would decide which federation would stay open. Wrestlers
would lose their jobs, but which ones? Some from the losing side were sure to be hired to the other side, those thought to
be "pick of the litter." In other words, the best money makers.
In this time of uncertainty, many considered which side was more likely to win, considering the talents involved. Those
wrestlers that thought the other side might win seriously thought about switching their allegiance before Survivor arrived.
Eve, Jeff, Matt, and Lita were among them.
The four sat in the men's hotel suite eating Chinese take-out, discussing the possibility of switching sides.
"If we stay where we are and our side loses, we'll have to go crawling to the other side for jobs later," Lita stated. The
others nodded in agreement.
"Especially me," Eve said. "I've been approached a few times by Heyman about changing sides and turned him down flat.
He'll use it against me."
"You didn't tell me that," Jeff said, turning to look at Eve."
"Didn't think it was necessary. I just laughed in the man's face and told him I was happy where I was, thank you very
much. Last time he asked, I told him where he could stick his contract - and it wasn't his ass I'm talking about."
Jeff caught her meaning and crossed his legs.
"That doesn't matter now," Matt spoke up. "It's in the past. They'll probably still want you, Eve, but they might make you
pay for the insult. The three of us haven't been approached, though."
Jeff frowned for a moment, thinking, then said, "They'll have to keep on anyone with belts."
"Which could be none of us after Survivor," Eve was quick to point out. "Even so, that leaves Lita out. You guys have the
tag team match against the Dudleys and you'll have the belts again if you win. I might win the Hardcore match if I get one
then. But Lita's not in the six pack and all the other titles are tied up in Survivor matches."
"Well, its a thought, anyway," Lita said. "If Matt and Jeff get the tag team belts, I might be able to get in with them 'cause
we're a team."
"Why are we assuming that the Alliance is going to win this thing?" Matt asked suddenly. "Our side has an equal if not
better chance of winning this thing. Look who we've got in the ring - Big Show, Kane, Undertaker, Rock and Jericho. We
have the three biggest guys in the business. Sure, size doesn't always mean much, but it definitely gives our side an edge
over the competition."
"But anything can happen when stakes are this high. Who's got the pork?" Jeff asked.
The others looked in the various open cartons around them. Eve found what Jeff wanted and passed it to him. "Chicken
fried rice?" Jeff passed her one by his knee.
Lita traded her spare ribs for Matt's moo goo gai pan. She took a mouthful, chewed, and swallowed it before speaking. "If
we go to the alliance now and they lose, it'll be twice as hard for us to get back into the WWF than waiting, having our
side lose, then going to the Alliance to beg for jobs."
"So we're staying, then?" Jeff bit into a juicy piece of pork.
They all thought about it for a moment. It was an important decision. In the end they all said yes.
"Let's just hope we don't have to go back to wrestling indies."