A/N :Hey, guys! Sorry it took me so long to update, but work has been a real Bee-yotch! Hope this will make the wait worth while.
BTW, has anyone read Lita's book yet? I hear it's pretty cool! I'm going to get myself a copy tomorow and check it out!
More on the way, sooner than you think!
Till then, enjoy...
Chapter 4 - Counterholds
Eric Bischoff sat there in his office, rewinding the tape opf last night's Unforgiven PPV, watching the women's tag team match with keen interest.
Suddenly, the front door swung open and Molly Holly and Gail Kim walked through the door, their game faces on .
"You wanted to see us?", Molly said, curtly.
Bischoff swivelled around in his black leather chair, his palms pressed against each other, making him look even more smug than normal.
"Yes, actually, I did", he said. "I just wanted to congradulate you on such a hard-fought win last night at Unforgiven...I mean, the way you beat Trish and Lita that night, that was the stuff of legends, you know..." He pretended to pause. "Oh, wait a minute...oh, that's right. You two ended up getting your ASSES kicked, didn't you?"
"Hey! It's not like we didn't try!", Gail said defensively.
" 'Try' is for losers, Gail! 'Do' is for winners! And right now, I'm staring at a pair of losers! Losers who couldn't get the job done and take out Lita in one shot!", Bischoff fumed.
"We didn't have enough time to prepare for Lita, Eric!", Molly huffed. "If you had just given us a heads-up, maybe a little more time to-"
"First of all, it's 'Mr. Bischoff' to you, Molly!", Bischoff snapped. "Second of all, it wasn't my idea to get Lita back on RAW in the first place! You can thank Steve Austin for that!"
"Well, why can't you just fire her or something?", Gail suggested.
"Because, Gail, darling, the contract Lita signed is iron-clad", Bischoff said, wincing at the thought of that legal document. "I can't fire Lita, I can't suspend her, I practically can't do anything to her under that document, she's untouchable!"
"Well...break the contract, Bischoff! Fire her ass already!", Molly snapped.
Bischoff looked at the Women's champion like she just grew two heads. "Do you have ANY idea how much money I'm liable to be sued for if I do that? Who's going to pay the bill for that, YOU?"
After a beat, Molly sighed, "No."
"Then shut the hell up and listen to what I have to say!", Bischoff snarled, making Molly and Gail take a step back. The snarmy GM could be intimidating, at least to women. But Molly knew where to respect her limits. In her experience in WCW and WWE, she had come to know Bischoff as a man who would sooner hesitate to look at someone than he would firing them if he didn't like them. "Look at the two of you! You're the perfect match! The reigning WWE Women's champion combined with one of the most talented young Divas in the company today. You two should have dissected Lita and Trish last night, and instead, what do I see on the T.V? This!" He showed then the clip of the fierce Litabomb on Gail, Trish's Stratus-Fear hurricanrana on Molly, followed by a Twist of Fate from Lita and a Lita-sault to seal the win for Trish and Lita.
Molly's eyes lit up with anger, clenching her knuckles until they were almost a stony-white.
Lita. The name ran spikes of hot rage through every arterial wall in her small, but powerful body. Molly had always hated her, envied her. Even when she was the shining little babyfaced girl teaming with Crash and Hardcore Holly or donning that idiotic cape alongside the Hurricane, bending over backwards to please the fans, she had never heard them cheer for her. Certainly not like they had for Lita. Molly could perform flawlessly in the ring, wrestle technical masterpieces, even throw in a little flair with the Molly-Go-Round...and nothing, not even polite applause.
Yet, all Lita had to do was walk out there with her little Ozzy Osbourne hand symbol, dance around, flash her thong and the arenas would explode. Copies of the Xtreme Diva gracing the covers of WWE Magazine - and even one Rolling Stones layout with the Hardy Boyz - flew off the newstands as if they had wings. DVDs of the redhead's early exploits sold out quickly. And, now - the ultimate insult - she even had her own autobiography out, which was rapidly climbing the world-famous New York Times Bestseller List. That stung for the small Minneapolis, Minn., native even worse than her longtime rival Trish Stratus's newly released DVD - and that one hurt.
Molly was haunted by that repetitive occurance for years. Why, even with the Women's Championship, with all the victories and all her in-ring accomplishments, couldn't she get that kind of adulation, that kind of respect? Because she wasn't a beautiful, blonde, buxom tease like that slutty Trish Stratus? Because she wasn't a sexy, daredevil redhead, or preferred to keep her underwear tucked in her pants, unlike that hussy Lita? It infuriated her.
"However, in spite of your pitiful performance", Bischoff continued. "I am willing to grant you both a second chance. Right here, tonight on RAW, it'll be Molly Holly and Gail Kim vs. Lita and Trish Stratus Part II! And for your sakes, I hope you'll be able to put on a better showing than last night."
"But how're we supposed to beat them?", Molly asked. "They're -"
"Tut-tut, my dear", Bischoff quieted her with a finger. "You don't think I haven't thought of that? Observe the monitor, if you please."
The pair watched the rewind of the match, cutting to a clip where Lita gave Gail Kim a thunderous Litabomb. They watched until Molly came from the end of the screen, nailing Lita with a hard shot to the neck. They saw Lita go down, wincing painfully, while clutching the neck.
"I don't get it", Molly shrugged.
"Look again", Bischoff said, rewinding the tape back to that clip. They watched Lita go down as soon as Molly nailed her with a hard shot from behind. Bischoff rewound the clip two more times over.
Suddenly, a light dawned in Molly's eyes. "The neck! Of course!"
Bischoff smiled evilly. "Bingo."
"The surgically repaired joints," Gail mused quietly as she scanned the footage. "They must've been aggravated during the match."
"And with a little extra help to further along the...aggravation...", Bischoff mused.
"Then we can take out that red-headed bitch once and for all!", Molly laughed, a dark glimmer appearing in her eyes. "Mr. Bischoff, you're a genius!"
"Yeah, I know", Bischoff yawned. "Now, get out there tonight, you know what to do. And don't even THINK about showing your faces back here without making Lita's homecoming...a farewell party as well."
Molly chuckled giddily to herself as she and Gail left in a hurry.
Bischoff laughed arrogantly, turning back to the monitor to watch a clip of Lita and Trish celebrating their win.
"I hope you've enjoyed your little comeback stint, Lita", he chuckled maliciously. "Because after tonight, the only rampway you'll be going down is the handicap ramp."
Little did he know, that overhearing this conversation in the hallway, luring in the shadows...was none other than Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Lita and Trish were giggling to themselves as they strolled down the hallway of the hotel they were staying at. In the last week, they had become inseperable. Trish always knew she and Lita had a strong connection, but given everything that had happened since Lita shocked the world the past Monday with her unexpected return, the two friends had become even closer than ever.
It was as if nothing had changed in Lita since that amateur idiot stuntwoman broke her neck at that Dark Angel taping last year. The redhead was acting as if she hadn't missed a beat - still kicking ass in the ring, yet still as laid-back and carefree as the blonde Canadian bombshell remembered.
"Can you believe all the free stuff we snagged off the table?", Lita asked, incredulously.
"I know!", Trish exclaimed, laughing.
The two women broke off their conversation when they were crossing paths with the three Armani suit-clad members of Evolution. Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and of course, Triple H, the now-EX World Heavyweight Champion.
"Uh oh", Trish whispered to Lita. "Here comes trouble."
Lita sighed in annoyance. Oh, she was quite familiar with these men - pitiful excuses that they were - and what they had done to RAW in the last few months. In retrospect, it didn't really surprise Lita. She always knew that Hunter had a penchant for gang warfare and strength in numbers - he was a coward, after all - the prime examples with The Game's hand in D-Generation X, The Corporation (or was it Corporate Ministry?) the McMahon-Helmsley regime (Yeah, that was fun, she wryly mused) and the Two-Man Power Trip (to this day, Steve still never spoke about that time in his life, as he helped that piece of garbage Vince McMahon and that scumbag Hunter do heinous things - including to Lita herself- that she knew the proud Texas Rattlesnake still regretted - almost as much as he did joining that ridiculous WCW-ECW Alliance soon after that.)
So, it was no surprise to her that Hunter's newest ass-kissers - er, faction - consisted of people he could easily manipulate with the promise of glory and fame, a representation of the Past, Present and Future of the WWE. Flair, an aging, yet wily legend desperate for one last shot at glory, and two upstart, yet fame-hungry rookies in the animalistic Batista - still on the injured list, as far as she knew - and this cocky punk Orton. While Lita admitted to herself that he was easy on the eyes, his vainglorious attitude and that infuriating smirk wore thin on the redhead (third generation Superstar...whatever.) But it was his callousness, the flashes of complete disregard for the safety of others that flashed in his clear blue, yet Viper-like eyes - the sickening sight of the merciless Orton head-punting her dear friend Mick Foley down the unforgiving concrete stairs of Madison Square Garden flashed unbidden before her own eyes - that was most chilling. It was him that worried Lita the most. She knew that while the 6'6", 300-pound Batista was the intimidator, Evolution's Animal... in Randy Orton...Hunter was breeding a monster.
A monster, she had a sickening feeling, that would one day grow up and be ready to bring unthinkable suffering down on them all...
"Well, well, well, isn't THIS a sight for my very sore eyes", Triple H smiled cockily as Evolution suddenly came to a halt directly in front of both Divas. "Both the sultry Trish Stratus AND the ever-lovely Lita, back and badder than ever."
"Hunter", Lita replied cooly. "Long time, no see."
Trish rolled her eyes as she caught sight of Triple H's appreciative stare down Lita's athletically slender body, and Randy's lascivious gaze roaming down her own perfectly toned form. Ric stood to the side, flashing a million-dollar smile. Yet inside, the blonde Canadian was feeling the butterflies of fear fluttering around in her well-sculpted stomach. She had made it a point to avoid Hunter - who, frankly, had always creeped her out - since he and his cohorts had begun running roughshod over RAW in February. They had placed an inpenetrable stranglehold over the World Heavyweight Championship for nearly nine months - until the Mack Truck-tough Goldberg struck gold last night - leaving nothing but carnage and blood-soaked Superstars in their wake. Hunter had been unstoppable ever since. And she knew from experience that Hunter wouldn't think twice to Pedigree her or Lita all over the floor just because it would give him some kind of sick sexual charge. That's why Steve had warned both of them to keep their distance from RAW's newest supergroup. Evolution was a pack of rabid dogs that wouldn't hesitate to tear apart anyone who crossed them, even if they were Divas.
"What? Is that the nicest greeting you can give?", Hunter asked, almost expectantly, smirking. "Geez, I thought you'd be a little more receptive after sitting at home and being out of the game for so long."
"I'm receptive towards people I like", the gorgeous redhead shrugged, smirking back. It amazed Trish how her friend was so confident, almost daring in front of a man known for his hair-trigger temper and his fondness of sledgehammer attacks. But she would sooner be done with this conversation and get out of here. Despite the 'warm' greeting, she knew Hunter didn't like Lita - except some obvious parts of her - and the feeling was more than mutual for the redhead. But out of fear for Lita's safety- as well as her own - she wanted to get as far away from Evolution as possible.
"Why's that, Lita? What's wrong with me?", Hunter innocently asked, as his pals smirked alongside him.
"Well, considering you're the cold-hearted, vindictive asshole who Pedigreed me twice and attacked almost all of my friends at some point with either a chair, a car or that damn sledgehammer of yours, I hope you'll understand if I seem like I'd rather tie a steak necklace around my neck and dive into a lake full of Piranhas than look at your ugly face and that 6-foot long beak you call a nose for a single second longer," Lita said evenly as she arched an eyebrow.
If Li is afraid, she's sure doing a hell of a job hiding it, Trish thought as she eyed the Xtreme Diva cautiously, noting how Hunter's smirk had slowly melted into a displeased scowl.
"Pretty balsy of you to say that to the champ, Lita", Ric said warningly as he stepped forward, patting Hunter's shoulder.
She didn't know if it was Lita's courage or perhaps momentary stupidity, but Trish - weary of this overbearing trio - felt obliged to jump in.
"Champ? Didn't he lose the World Heavyweight Championship to Goldberg last night after Bill Jackhammered his ass in front of 16,000 people?", Trish asked Lita, in mock interest.
"Why yes, Trish, I think that's what happened, but I sort of knew the outcome after that CRUSHING spear, ouch!", Lita responded, feigning a mock wince after saying 'spear' before smirking at the former champion. "Yeah, way to impress the ladies, champ. I can see how getting your ass handed to you makes a girl all hot and bothered."
Trish nudged Lita. "Actually, Leets...not that sexy."
Lita pretended to think about it. "Yeah. Not really...kinda sad, actually."
"Hey, I'll get my belt back, you wait and see", Hunter said, his face suddenly turning red. "And just for the record, normally my friends and I would have to reintroduce you to the comfort of a hospital bed for your rude and nasty remarks, but seeing as how your return is only a week old, I think I'll let it slide for now."
"Gosh, will you really?", Lita said in a falsely hopeful tone. "Well, gee- willickers, isn't that swell? The great Triple H and his buddies aren't gonna pick afight with two help-wess wittle Divas! I'm so blessed!" Lita sobered up, her tone serious. "Why don't you go and finish off that whole 'evolution' thing you've been working on, the other kind where you actually become men? I know, I know, it's still a work in progress for you boys, but if you push yourselves REALLY hard, you might get the hang of it."
Trish chuckled, truly admiring Lita's hudszpa. She probably wouldn't have had the nerve to say that to guys with the sort of dangerous reputation that Evolution carried knowadays, but Lita wasn't only saying it, she was really enjoying it, too.
"Too bad, Lita", Randy flashed that cocky smirk of his. "You don't know what you're missing out on. Oh well", he trailed off as he inched near Trish, who raised an eyebrow in surprise as the young upstart coolly placed a hand on her arm, his touch lingering on the Canadian beauty while tracing his fingers up slowly. "How 'bout you, Trish? Care to give a little tender, lovin' 'Stratus-faction' to a bona-fide Legend Killer?"
Trish scoffed, brushing his hand dismissively off her shoulder. "Save it, Randy. You couldn't handle the ride. Besides, hanging around guys like Hunter? God knows what I'd catch by going around with YOU."
Randy's eyes narrowed dangerously as he took a step back. "Fine, your loss, baby. Figured it'd be easy getting some from a tramp like you, though."
Lita scowled at the self-proclaimed Legend Killer, her hand itching with the urge to slap that smug smirk right off his face for that insult. But Trish - knowing that action would only end badly, as in with an RKO - stayed the furious redhead with a subtle shake of her head, before offering the third generation Superstar a falsely sweet smile.
"Sorry, little boy, but this..." Trish let a hand trail down her side, slowly tracing the scintillating curves of her bodacious body, "..is a restricted access spot. And your lame ass...is restricted."
Lita laughed out loud as Randy's face flushed with embarrassment, Flair's jaw dropped with perverted amazement and Hunter shut his eyes, trying to block out all the naughty thoughts coming to his head.
When the Cerebral Assassin opened them again, he leveled an eerie, death-promising glare at the Divas, and for a moment, Trish had to fight the urge to gulp as she realized she might have pressed her luck a little too far. But the racy redhead glared right back, her steely stare almost daring The Game to take a shot. For a few uncomfortable moments, their staring contest held, as if Hunter was expecting Lita to crack at any second. But, to his surprise, she didn't back down, continuing to glare down the former seven-time World Champion. It was a classic case of the irresistable force( Hunter) meeting the immovable object (Lita)...and the immovable object was winning.
Finally, the leader of Evolution growled as he relented, grudgingly yielding this mini-contest to the former Women's Champion.
"Let's go, guys", Hunter ground out as he turned to the exit. "And Lita, word of advice: Watch your back."
"Temper, temper, Hunter", the redhead scolded as she tauntingly wagged her finger at him. "You wouldn't want to blow a quad or something."
Hunter scowled as he stormed off in a huff, Flair and Randy in tow.
"There was not one part of that conversation that wasn't fun", Lita chuckled, her eyes dancing with glee.
"I can't believe we actually said that to them", Trish laughed, although relief flooded her now that Evolution had finally left them alone.
"Who, those guys? Pfft, trust me, I've gotten to know guys like Hunter. All you have to do is stand your ground and they'll back off", Lita shrugged.
"God", Trish sighed as she glanced at her friend. "It's really great having you back. I haven't had this much fun in a long time."
"That's what it's all about, QueenBee," Lita patted her friend on the shoulder. "Well, that and some of that Women's title would be nice."
"Speaking of which", Trish pointed out. "How're we going to prepare for the rematch with Gail and Molly? Knowing those two, they definitely have it in for us tonight, especially considering the way we beat them last night."
"Same way we prepared last night, QueenBee", Lita said simply. "You just keep Gail off my back...I'll handle Molly."
"Got an itching to hurt her, too, huh?", Trish noted.
"Considering that she's tried to end your career, tried to break my neck again, and coupled with the fact that I just don't like her...yeah, I got a yen to kick her fat ass", Lita said as her eyes narrowed. She had been itching to get ahold of Molly for the last year and a half. That whole "pure and wholesome" act she had going last year was infuriating enough, but this new cutthroat bitch persona that had emerged from the miniscule Minnesota native had Lita wanting to tear out Molly's heart from her chest.
Trish chuckled, recalling exactly who it was that had coined that unflattering phrase for the current Women's Champion. "Stealing my insults, now, are we?"
"I guess you could call it that", Lita smiled.
"LADIES!", a familiar Texan voice called out to them. The divas turned around to find Stone Cold walking their way.
"Hey, Steve! What's up?", Lita smiled.
"A lot of trouble that's what", Austin replied gravely. "Courtesy of one Eric Bischoff."
"Oh, no", Trish groaned. "What did El Loser Grande do this time?"
"I overheard an interesting little conversation between him, Gail Kim and Molly Holly earlier today" Austin said, as he caught Lita's gaze. "Seems that my 'esteemed' co-GM wants to see you back out of wrestling again, but REAL bad."
"So", Lita shrugged. "What's that got to do with Molly and Gail?"
"Bischoff's given them a few pointers on how to take you both out tonight", Austin said. "In particular, Lita, it looks like they'll be targeting your neck. Tryin' to place ya back in traction again."
Lita felt a chill up her spine at the thought. She couldn't believe that Bischoff would be so classless, so cold to order an attack on her like that. Or then again, it WAS Eric Bischoff they were talking about.
"Those bitches won't get anywhere NEAR Li's neck", Trish said, a look of anger on her face. She had become very protective of Lita, just as Lita was of her.
"While that's nice to say, Trish, odds are in a match, Lita's bound to get involved at some point", Austin pointed out. "And it's inevitable that she'll be targeted."
"No problem", Lita said, determination in her voice. "Molly and Gail want a piece of me? Cool, I'll just beat their asses like I did last night."
"This ain't a joke, Lita", Austin warned. "Molly can be downright vicious. And she's been pretty hellbent on takin' the two of you out, ESPECIALLY you for screwin' up her little plan to cripple Trish here. If there's anyone that can end a career, it's THAT nutjob."
"Don't worry about it, Steve", Lita said, wrapping an arm around Trish. "Besides, I got my girl here. I'll be fine."
"You'd better", Austin grinned. "With your new book coming out and all, it'd be a shame if the story ends with you going back on the DL. Just thought I'd give you a heads-up."
"Thanks", Trish smiled. "You're a good friend, Steve."
"I second that", Lita also smiled.
Austin shrugged. "Just go out there and give 'em hell."
"Don't we always?", Lita winked.
"Cool", Austin said as he turned to leave.
Suddenly, an idea lit up in Lita's eyes. "Hey, Steve!"
Austin turned around. "Yeah, what?"
Lita looked at him curiously. "Do you still have that new Metallica CD?"
Austin shrugged. "Yeah, haven't trashed it yet. There's only one song worth hearin' on it, anyways."
Lita smiled. "Mind if I borrow it?"
RAW - Ft. Lauderdale - 15 minutes before showtime
Molly Holly slapped on her kneebrace and tucked it under her pants. Gail simply sat in the corner, calmly detting dressed for ring action, but watching Molly with a wary glance. She was getting more and more erratic by the day, and this whole Trish-Lita thing had her acting like a madwoman.
"StupidTrish and StupidLita", she muttered furiously under her breath, forcefully yanking on her right boots, lace-by-lace. "Think they're *so* special because they release a stupid book and a stupid DVD? I could write a book if I want to. And I could sell more DVD's than Trish Stratus EVER could...Little prissy princesses...what do they know about training, anyway?"
She slapped her black leather biker boots, first the right, then the left.
The opening chords to Metallica's "St. Anger" started blaring furiously in the redhead's ears. Lita stared hard in the mirror, forcefully yanking on her leather wrist bands, first the right, then the left, a ritual she had practiced all these years.
Trish slowly pulled on a black, orange-lined top with her "Stratusfaction Guaranteed" logo on both the front and back which matched her form-fitting tights, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. Her game-face was on, intense and focused, the smashing drum beats from the music on her MP3 Player synchronized perfectly with Lita's.
Lita gave her tiny khaki shorts a tug before she adjusted her tight black top, emblazoned with her new logo on it, on the back of it, written in Fiery Old English font, her new catchphrase, a phrase that fit this occasion perfectly:
This Time It Counts.
***Saint Anger 'round my neck***
***Saint Anger 'round my neck***
***He never gets respect***
***Saint Anger 'round my neck***
"Bet they never even warm up before a match", Molly continued whispering to herself, still furiously tying her laces. "Little stuck up prisses are probably making *Girlie* talk, looking at themselves in the *mirror*, telling each other how *PRETTY* they look..."
Lita's fist connected hard with the punching bag, envisioning Molly's face on the other end. Her black-taped hands felt the gentle burn from the contact with each blow. The redhead had a look in her eyes that could kill three times over, if need be. After each hard shot, each explosion of breath from her lungs, every second that ticked away, she was craving Molly's blood.
***(It's rushin' out, It's rushin' out)***
***Saint Anger 'round my neck***
***(It's rushin' out, It's rushin' out)***
***He never gets respect***
Trish let out a high grunt after each high-extension kick she shot out, conncecting with a tackling dummy set up in her dressing room. She kept up a fast-paced, furious combo speed: one-two punch, right high kick, one-two punch, left high kick, and repeat. She kept thinking back to last week, when Molly and Gail had tried to take away her career, her face, her sense of well-being. The audacity of those women, the callousness, the lack of regard for another human being...especially that of her best friend, when Molly was intent on breaking Lita's neck...again. She let out a hard high kick, crashing mercilessly with a *WHAM!* into the dummy, wishing to God it was Gail or Molly's face on the other side of it.
***It's rushin' out, It's rushin' out)***
***Saint Anger 'round my neck***
***(It's rushin' out, It's rushin' out)***
***He never gets respect***
"It was always 'Trish, Trish, Trish' or 'Lita, Lita, Lita'...when the hell is it gonna be MY turn?", Molly was bordering on hysterical ranting now. "I'm the goddamn WWE women's CHAMPION, for cryin' out loud! I DESERVE respect!"
Gail was becoming more frightened by the second as her partner raged on. "I train, I work hard, I'm dedicated...Lita and Trish wouldn't know hard work if it bit them on their Thighmaster-toned little asses!"
"Focus, deep breaths", Lita instructed, as she sat opposite Trish, Indian- style.
F*ck it all and no regrets
I hit the lights on these dark sets
I need a voice to let myself
To let myself go free.
Both ladies had their eyes closed, their hands interlinked with each other in intense meditation. This time the rage inside both of them had come on even stronger than before, with no intention of stopping. With every rising wave of anger ,of fury, of pain, rage, hurt, and suffering, both had to work harder to focus those black energies, channel them, mold them...
F*ck it all and f*ckin' no regrets
I hit the lights on these dark sets
Medallion noose, I hang myself
Saint Anger 'round my neck
Trish felt the heat from inside her radiate outwards, every inch, every molecule in her being feeling as though on fire. Controlling these whirlwind emotions within her was like trying to lasso an F-5 tornado. She was definitely feeling the pain...but somehow, she knew she would be able to take it. And then some.
I feel my world shake
Like an earthquake
Hard to see clear
Is it me? Is it fear?
Lita squeezed Trish's hand hard as she strained to focus. There was just so much rage, so much pent up aggression after so long, that it was nearly impossible t get a grip on. Bischoff's little decree on her career, Molly's sick eargerness to carry it out...and that unforgettable look of pure dementia in Victoria's eyes, taunting her, calling for her, screaming for her soul...
'FOCUS, DAMN IT!', she screamed at herself as she gritted her teeth and willed her way forward.
"I'll show them, I'll show Bischoff, I'll show Lita, I'll show Trish, I'll show EVERYONE!", Molly snapped as she slammed her foot down on the floor, her face beet red.
She whirled on Gail, who was staring at her, gap-jawed. "What the hell are YOU Staring at, Gail? Get your ass up, we're getting ready!"
Gail jumped to her feet immediately, fearing for her life as Molly grabbed her roughly by the arm and jerked her to the door.
"I'll show them all", Molly hissed. "There isn't ANY Diva in this company more driven, more focused, more intense than ME!"
The fire raged within them both, hotter and hotter still. But now, it was different. Now, the raging inferno had molded, pressed into a pillar, a funnel of intense energy and force.
I'm madly in anger with you
I'm madly in anger with you
I'm madly in anger with you
I'm madly in anger with you
Lita gasped and Trish panted hard as they focused their respective strengths. Perspiration dripped from their foreheads, their fingertips, as they neared their own internal fires, self-created from within.
...and I want my anger to be healthy
...and I want my anger just for me
...and I need my anger not to control
...yeah, and I want my anger to be me
Lita uttered three simple words, but with stern force.
"Grab it...NOW."
...and I need to set my anger free
Their hands seared with unreal as they felt the power, the anger, the sting of their own emotions course through and pass through them, infusing within them, bonding with them, encompassing every fiber, molecule, every hair and nerve ending in their bodies...
...and I need to set my anger free
"That's it", Lita gritted her teeth, wincing as she did. "Come on, Trish, push it through!"
Trish let out a gutteral sound from within her, cringing as she squeezed for dear life as the raging power finally started to yield...
...SET IT FREE!
It was done.
Silence.
Neither one of them spoke a word for several moments, panting and regaining their composure. Their eyes opened and met one another's stare at the exact same time.
Trish was amazed as she stared into Lita's eyes. She saw the stare of a true warrior, a fighter, the gaze of a woman who had truly been tested by life, and had clawed her way to where she was today...on top of her game.
Lita smiled inwardly as she saw Trish's eyes glow with that spark, that deadly glare that revealed the gladiator that, deep down, Lita always knew she could be...that deep down, Trish herself knew she could be.
"You ready?", Lita asked her friend.
Trish grinned dangerously. "Ryde or Die."
Lita smirked as their fists connected in their handsymbol. "BadGirls 4 Life."
The matchup was fast-paced and intense. Gail and Molly tried the isolation tactic, as predicted by this time, the brunt of the attack was focused on Lita. Just as Austin had warned, Molly and Gail repeatedly tried to work over the surgically repaired neck, but the wily veteran Lita was one step ahead of them as she used her speed and power advantage to overturn their attacks.
Trish was targeted on the outside, the strategy being to take Trish out early so as to leave Lita partner-less. But Molly and Gail underestimated the tenacity of the Canadian Diva, as Molly found herself the victim of a hard Chick Kick and Lita worked over on Gail Kim.
However, later in the match, Trish was attacked on the outside, leaving Lita to take on both Molly and Gail in a 2-on-1 situation.
However, Lita was more than ready for them. Lita nailed both canniving Divas with a double clothesline, hopping quickly to her feet. She nailed Gail with a dropkick before the upstart Diva even knew what hit her, and turning her attention to Molly Holly, nailing her with a suplex, before agily springing to her feet, wowing the crowd.
Gail recovered and attempted to charge Lita, but the redhead countered with a Tilt-A-Whirl Slam that left Gail nearly senseless. The referee tried to count to three, but Molly broke up the pin with a hard shot to Lita's neck.
Lita rolled off Gail immediately, clutching her neck painfully. As she sat up, wincing as the pain throbbed in her throat, Molly grabbed hold of Lita's head and began to twist hard. The redhead cried out in pain, feeling the strain against her neck, muscle and bone becoming rapidly unbearable. Molly sadistically smiled as she continued her assault.
"Oh, my God! This is just cruel! Molly Holly purposely trying to re-injure Lita's neck!", JR shook his head.
"I've been saying it all along! Molly Holly's just a bitter, bitter little lady!", King said.
"That's right, Lita", she screeched, holding Lita's head tightly. "You never should've come back...I'm gonna end your miserable career right now- OOMPH!"
"CHICK KICK! CHICK KICK! Trish made the save on Lita, and probably saved Lita's career there!", JR called it.
Molly was cut off as Trish ran in from behind and delivered a Chick Kick right to the head of the paranoid women's champion. Dazed, Molly rolled out to the outside of the ring, but a furious Trish, angered by what she had seen her try to do to Lita, followed her out, leaping from the ring apron and tackling Molly to the ground, pounding on her with furious right hands.
"Look at Trish go! What a woman, JR!", King exclaimed giddily.
Slightly groggy, Lita gingerly got to her feet, and noticed that a still-disoriented Gail Kim was only beginning to get up. Seizing her chance, the skilled veteran Lita struck quickly, nailing Gail with a hard Twist of Fate and covering the Asian Canadian rookie to seal the victory.
"Lita does it again! What a hard-fought victory!", JR yelled.
Lita cringed as she got up slowly, her theme music blasting all over the arena. Trish hopped back into the ring, quick to check on her best friend.
"Li, are you okay?", she said, her eyes wide and concerned.
"Mmngh...yeah, I'm fine", Lita said as she rubbed the back of her neck.
The blonde was still uncertain, her brown eyes clouded in worry as she watched her best friend closely. "She didn't strain anything, did she?"
"Relax, QueenBee", Lita chuckled, playing the pain down as she forced a smile. "I'm good. Nothing a little ice won't cure." She paused a beat. "Thanks for the help back there, by the way."
"Hey, you cover me, I cover you", Trish smiled as she hugged Lita tightly in celebration. The two were joyously basking in their victory until Trish noticed a figure emerging from the shadows of the entrance rampway.
Sure enough, Victoria came forth slowly from the shadows. Her wild eyes glittered with malice, and she smiled chillingly at the pair of Divas standing in the ring. In her hands, a steel chair was gripped tightly.
"Uh-oh! This looks bad, JR!", King groaned.
"What the hell is this? That damned psycho Victoria is just standing there with a steel chair in hand! What is this all about?", JR asked.
"How should I know? She's an idiot!", King said.
Trish and Lita turned to each other, concerned.
"NOW what does that psycho bitch want?", Trish groaned.
"No clue", Lita said as she stared a hole back at Victoria, her face stony. "But we better be on guard, it looks like she might want to come on down and play."
Victoria stood there for a few more moments before she let out a chuckle, left eye twitching, ran a free hand shakily through her long black hair and slowly disappeared back into the shadows.
"Now what the hell is Victoria all about? Why was she standing there with a steel chair?", JR asked, confused.
"You're trying to figure out how Victoria's MIND works, JR? Hah! Good luck finding the needle in THAT haystack!", King snorted.
Trish looked at Lita, her beautiful face scrunched in confusion. "What the fuck was that all about?"
"Hell if I knew, QueenBee", Lita shook her head. "Hell if I knew."
"HEY!"
A loud, booming female voice got the two women's attention. Both whirled around to find Molly Holly, clutching her head as she backed up the ramp, women's title in hand and a furious look on her face. Gail Kim was along side her, wincing as she clutched her neck and back.
"You know,I am just so damn SICK of hearing everywhere I go, 'Lita's back, Lita's back', 'Check out Lita's new Book', 'Lita's such a great wrestler', 'Lita's sooo beautiful', 'Lita this', 'Lita that', AARGH! I'm SICK OF IT!", Molly screeched.
Lita and Trish smiled at each other and rolled their eyes. Molly could be so petty it was almost comical.
"But you know what, Lita? There is ONE thing I have that you'll never have, and that's the WWE women's title!", Molly hoisted her belt up in the air for all to see, to a chorus of boos as Gail clapped in acknowledgement.
Lita's eyes narrowed as she fixated on Molly. The audacity of that arrogant little bitch! Who in the hell was Molly, anyway, to talk to her like that?
Lita was tossed a microphone. She suddenly had a glint in her eyes as she whispered something in Trish's ear. Trish's eyes lit up and she nodded, to Lita's delight.
"Well, you're wrong about one thing, Molly", she started out. "There IS something of yours that I will never have, but I'm not talking about the women's title. That's coming home with me sooner than you think..."
Molly shook her head wildly, shouting "This is MY belt!", but not into the microphone.
"There is one thing you have that I will never have...", she paused, smiling mischievously before she continued. "And that's...your LARGE..."
"Humongous...", Trish chimed in.
"Enormous...", Lita added.
"Gigantic...", Trish smirked.
"Disgusting..." Lita crinkled her nose.
"Bulging..." Trish threw in.
Both divas smiled at each other before shouting in unison, "BIG...FAT...ASS!"
Molly's jaw dropped in shock, her face reddening with outrage and embarassment as the crowd roared its approval, with a smattering of chants of "YOU'RE-a-FAT-Ass!", "YOU'RE-A-FAT-ass!"
Gail inwardly shrugged. 'Well...guess they got her there.'
"HAhahahaha! This is great, JR!", King cracked up in hysterics.
"Molly not looking too pleased there", JR noted.
"SHUT UP!", Molly shouted to the crowd, which only increased the chants until the whole building started to roar the "YOU'RE-A-FAT-ass!" hockey chant. "I'm the women's champion, damn it! And I deserve respect!...And I do NOT have a FAT ass!" But the chants continued at a frenzied pace, the embarrassment of the moment leaving the reigning WWE Women's Champion almost near tears.
Lita would have felt sorry for her...but considering that the crazy bitch tried to break her neck just moments before and all the hell she put Trish through, she found this very amusing. As did Trish, who giggled at Molly's rage-flushed face.
"Okay, Lita!", Molly shouted, incensed. "You and Trish Stratus think you're so damn special, huh? Well, if you're so special, then how about next Monday Night on RAW, Lita, why don't you face me in the ring one-on- one, so I can send you back on the Disabled List where you belong?"
Lita saw an opportunity, and she smiled. She was planning on waiting for a little while to do this, but now that Molly had pissed her off, the Xtreme Diva could think of no better way to take the mean-spirited, egotistical women's champion down a peg. "You want me one-on-one next week?...Fine, okay, I guess it wasn't enough to get your ass kicked two nights in a row, so why don't we make it a hat trick?"
Molly nodded and smiled maliciously, imagining the terrible things that she was going to do to her redheaded rival next week.
"But you know what?", the redhead grinned dangerously. "If you're as bad as you say you are, Molly, then, uh...why don't you put the women's title on the line? I think that's fair, right?"
The audience roared thunderous cheers in approval.
"That sounds like a GREAT idea!", JR said.
"GREAT? This is FANTASTIC! YEAH!", King whooped.
The color drained from Molly's face at those words. She glanced down at her title belt, suddenly not so sure about the prospect of fighting Lita one on one, anymore. The women's title was all she had going for her. Without it, she would be destroyed. That belt meant almost as much to her as the World Heavyweight Title meant to Triple H: she was practically obsessed with it .
"You-you-you don't deserve a shot at this title, Lita!", she shouted angrily. "Title shots have to be earned, and you just came back, and I'm not giving a title shot to any Johnny-Come-Lately who walks through that door and-"
"Are you chickening out on me, Molly?", Lita asked, a tone of amusement in her voice. " Are you - the two-time and reigning WWE Women's Champion, the so-called symbol of the Women's Division - backing out of a championship challenge in front of thousands of people? In front of a live Monday Night RAW audience of millions around the world? Is that what you're doing? Why? Are you afraid of me?"
Lita shook her head and chuckled. "So, this is what the WWE Women's Championship has come to, huh? When the champion hides behind rankings and rules and certain slimy, greasy-haired General Managers with no testicles..." At that point, she broke off to look to a nearby camera and sweetly wave "HI, BISCHOFF!" before continuing, "... to duck a challenge? When I was Women's Champion, I took on all comers. Same with Trish. And Chyna. When the Fabulous Moolah was around, I bet she never hid behind rules to protect her title like a scared little girl. Because unlike you...we were REAL champions."
From the way Molly gnashed at her teeth, Lita knew that she struck a nerve in the champion.
Trish smirked as she took the mike from Lita. "What, you mean you didn't know, Lita? That yellow streak runs all the way down from her neck to her LARGE..."
"HuMONGOUS...", Lita grinned.
"Gigantic..." Trish continued.
"Disgusting..." Lita added again, smiling.
"SHUT UP!", Molly screeched.
"BIG FAT ASS!", both ladies finished.
The crowd roared again in approval as the "YOU'RE-A-FAT-ass!" chants started again.
"Alright, alright!", Molly shouted, her face beet red. "You know what, Lita? You want a shot at my title next week, you GOT IT!"
Lita nodded her head in approval as the crowd cheered.
"YEAH, all right! This is huge, JR!", King exclaimed.
"Molly vs. Lita next week for the Women's title! I can't wait!", JR enthusiastically said.
"Nice strategy", Trish whispered to Lita.
"Vanity...every woman's weak spot", Lita winked to her, covering the mike with her hand so that she would be unheard.
"But just so you realize, Lita", Molly said, her voice on edge now, her eyes dangerously glittering. "I will defend this title with everything I've got! And if I have to break your neck AGAIN, I won't think twice about it, and I WILL send you home in a wheelchair, and there you'll stay for the rest of your LIFE!", she hissed.
Lita's eyes suddenly took on a deadly glow, a fire lit underneath those hazel orbs. "I know you're gonna try, Molly...but just remember this...I've beaten you many, many times before...and honey, my bag of tricks only got bigger since then. If I don't crunch you with a Litabomb, I'll knock your ass out with a Twist of Fate, and if that doesn't work, either I'll put you away with a DDT or I'll nail you with a Lita-sault and pin your ass to the mat! I've been sitting at home for the last 17 months listening to you run your mouth, and Monday night on RAW, I'm gonna shut it closed. And there's nothing that's going to be cute about it, there's nothing that's going to be Super about it, and there sure as hell won't be anything pure and wholesome about it, either. Plain and simple...I'm coming to hurt you, Molly."
Trish watched in silent awe as the Queen of Extreme's eyes smoldered with rage. "I'm going to make you feel like my best friend Trish felt when you and your little rookie lapdog Gail jumped her week after week. I'm going to make you the one who's lying on the ground, hurting everywhere, not sure what's going on around you, not sure if you'll even walk away from the beating you're taking. I'm coming to bust up your face, I'm coming to break your bones, I'm coming to leave you on your back in the middle of this ring as a bloodied, broken, twitching heap of the woman you once were. I'm going to give your fat ass a beating you never thought possible, and I WILL walk out of RAW that night as the NEW...WWE...Women's Champion!"
The crowd roared in approval, as Molly looked as if she was ready to burst .
"Remember Molly...time is ticking", Lita said, her glare intense as she gazed at Molly. "Your days as WWE women's champion...your days of being on top...hell, maybe even all your days...are about to come to an end. You and me, Molly...next Monday Night on RAW...and Molly?...This Time It Counts!"
Lita's theme music blasted throughout the arena, getting a roar from the crowd as deafening chants of "LI-TA! LI-TA! LI-TA!" echoed throughout the arena.
Molly's eyes locked with Lita's in a deadly staredown. The champion's hands were trembling as she held her belt, gritting her teeth and shaking her head, cursing Lita and holding up her title. In response, a smirking Lita made a gesture with her hands around her waist, indicating the Women's title about to go on her waist.
"CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? LOOK AT MOLLY HOLLY, she looks like she's about to explode!", King laughed.
"Indeed, ladies and gentlemen, next Monday night on RAW!...Lita!...Molly Holly!...the WWE Women's title is on the line!...and folks, something tells me this one's not going to be for the weak of heart!...it's going to be a slobberknocker, folks!...Next week on RAW!", JR announced with vigor.
Trish's eyes widened and she felt goosebumps at Lita's fiery words. As the blonde bombshell watched the intensity that shone in Lita's eyes, Trish saw that the fiery redhead meant business.
As a former champion herself, Trish knew how much that WWE Women's Championship meant to Lita. And after everything her best friend had gone through just to get back into the ring, Trish knew that the flame-haired femme fatale wouldn't stop at anything to get her hands on the coveted championship once again.
But, after that scare with her neck, the blonde heard Stone Cold's words of warning ringing inside her head, and she couldn't help but wonder if Lita was rushing into this too fast.
"Li...you sure you're up for next Monday night?", Trish asked, eyeing her friend with concern.
Showing no hesitation, Lita nodded. "Queenbee, I've been waiting for this, dreaming about this, for over a year. Next week, even if it kills me, that women's title is coming home with me one more time."
Trish smiled softly. "You know I've got your back...right?"
"Always", Lita winked. "You and me."
"Ryde or Die", Trish smiled as she held out their secret handshake.
"BadGirls 4 Life", Lita smiled back as their fists pounded in solidarity. They exchanged a hug to a wildly cheering audience, before heading to the back, basking in the glow of the fans' adolation.
Up in his dimly lit office, Eric Bischoff threw his glass of champagne against the wall, shattering it in frustration.
"DAMN IT!", Bischoff cursed.
Once again, Lita and Trish had beaten both his girls...and now, Lita was one step closer, maybe a week away, to achieving her dream, and his nightmare: winning her second WWE Women's Championship.
"You can forget about it, Lita", Bischoff swore under his breath, his knuckles clenched so hard they were becoming white. "Because as long as I still have breath in my body, mark my words...you will NEVER see the WWE women's title!"
He chuckled darkly to himself, smiling. "No,no,no...you'll never see it...but you will see, everyone will see...when you fight next Monday on RAW...for the very...LAST...TIME!"
His sinister laughter became louder, as the dim glow of the TV Screen made his pointed features appear as what at heart he really was...Cold. Sadistic.
A monster.
TBC...