Not much happened the rest of that month I was sick so I missed one week. And the week after I didn't have a match. So there's no point in me telling you what happened those weeks.
It was the first week in January when I had something big happened to me. I was heading to the dressing room when Dave caught up to me. He looked excited.
"Hey Ben." He said "Guess what. We have a chance to be tag team champions. Just like the old days."
"Cool" I said. "When?"
"Tonight" he was saying as his eyes bugged out in excitement. I told him to calm down. He took a deep breath and told me we were in the main event. He also said that Arianna was going to be at ringside.
"Oh yeah." Dave said. "Theodore Long was looking for you too. He is in his office now."
I walked down the hallway to Teddy's office. The door was slightly opened so I walked in. Teddy was on the phone with somebody saying something about a great idea. He hung up the phone and turned to me.
"Hello there player." Teddy said. "I take it Dave gave you the good news. Well I have some more good news for you. How would you like to be part of the Royal Rumble?"
"Are you asking me to be in the rumble? I would love to." I said sounding like Dave did earlier.
"Good then I'll put your name in" he said writing my name on a sheet. "I like you kid. You're a good man. Good luck with those tag team titles tonight."
I walked out of his office and towards my locker room. As I walked to the door the area seemed too quiet. I thought that Johnny was up to one of his tricks again. I walked in to the room. It was pitch black. I turned on the lights and a banner was hanging on the wall and every one walked out from the other room.
"Congratulations Ben" Dave said as he walked out with a cupcake with a sparkler on it.
"What?" I asked as Dave handed the cupcake to me.
"Teddy told us all about your possible entry into the rumble two weeks ago." Nunzio said. "We knew you would enter so we set up this little party."
"Nun of us were given entry but you were." Johnny said. "Your one lucky dude."
"I know you'll win man." Dave said then started to whisper in to my ear. "Who knows maybe the victory will give you enough courage to ask Torrie out."
I turned beet red. Dave knew I liked Torrie Wilson. And I kind of think she liked me a little too. We would chat a little in the parking lot after the shows. Every time I went to ask her out I would get tong tied and just tell a joke or something.
"Ok, ok" I said laughing. "I do have something to say. If I win and become Champion at Wrestle Mania, I will buy each of you something special as a thank you. Because I don't think I would have had the confidence to agree to compete in the rumble if it wasn't for a team, no friends like you."
I don't do mushy stuff often but what could I say. I knew that my words were true. I would have never even been this far in the WWE if it wasn't for Johnny, Nunzio, Dave, and Arianna.
The night went on until it was time for my match. Dave was already near the stage because he couldn't just sit and wait. I wet him just behind the curtain. Arianna arrived just after I did and we decided we were ready to go to the ring. Our music played and we walked out.
We had green, white, and red fireworks go off just as we were half way down the ramp. The fans loved it. We climbed up into the ring and Dave grabbed a microphone. While he was checking it I was looking out at the crowd. There had to be at least ten to fifteen signs for me, and another ten F.B.I. signs.
"Is every body here ready for some action?" Dave yelled. "Well before we get started I have something to say. With the Royal Rumble coming up in a few weeks superstars are doing every thing they can to get in. Ben here is one superstar who will be in the rumble. And mock my words he will win."
Dave tossed me the microphone and got the crowd chanting "Ben, Ben"
"Well fans I will win." I said with a smile on my face. "But as Dave said, that's a couple of weeks away. Tonight there are only three things on my mind. They are Kenzo Suzuki, Rene Dupree, and the tag team championships. So come on out and face your day of judgment!"
The music hit and Kenzo and Rene stepped out. There was something different though. There was no Hiroko or Fife. They must have known they were in for a fight. They ran down to the ring and slid under the ropes. Kenzo stepped to the out side and was ready for the match. I also stepped to the out side leaving Rene and Dave in the ring. Rene was not happy about this he wanted me because he was in the rumble also.
I called Dave over and reached out my hand. The crowd cheered as Dave tagged me in. Rene tried to get the first shot in as I stepped through the ropes, but Dave made sure that he didn't. With one powerful punch Rene was down.
I picked him up and slapped a DDT on him then went for a cover. I got a two then he kicked out. He had gotten back up and was punching and kicking me. Nothing he did could knock me down. Even though he tried.
He tagged Kenzo in. I guess that he figured if he couldn't knock me down then maybe Kenzo could. Kenzo ran in and immediately hit me with a super kick. It dazed me a little and I fell into the ropes. Luckily for me I landed near my corner. Dave had reached his hand out just as I fell to be tagged in.
He hopped over the ropes and started pounding Kenzo in to oblivion. Rene stepped in and Dave drop kicked him. Rene fell over the top rope and landed on his head. Rene was out cold leaving Kenzo versus Dave and me. Dave tagged me in and picked Kenzo up in a fireman's carry. I ran and hit a version of a diamond cutter as Dave landed a reverse Samoan drop. Then I pinned Kenzo for the One..Two..Three.
The match was over. We were handed the title belts. Then I told Dave help get Kenzo up while I picked up Rene. Then I motioned for the Dave and Kenzo to head to the back. I lifted Rene over my shoulder and walked to the back.
As we reached the hallway Rene woke up. His first reaction was to hit me, but Kenzo stopped him. He shook his head and told Rene to calm down.
"Why you help us?" Kenzo asked. "You won the match."
I looked at Kenzo. He looked confused. I patted him on the back and smiled.
"Because these belts would mean nothing without honor". I said and Dave nodded. "You guys put up a great fight. We are equals. We will settle our disputes like men in the ring, not out here."
Rene looked like he didn't believe me. He tried to hit me again. This time I hit back.
"Are you so blind as not to see we want to be friends with you?" I yelled at him "do you like having the crowd boo you out of the arena? I my self could not handle the crowd hating me. Why do you do it."
"Why do I do it? Why do I do it?" Rene yelled back then his voice quieted down "You know what.... I don't know. Ok Mr. Bordonaro I'll give this being good a try. If it doesn't work I am going to come after you." He smiled and walked down the hall. He turned around and yelled at me. "just remember we're both in the rumble." He walked away.
That night back in the hotel room I watched the tape of tonight's show. I listened to what Cole and Tazz had to say about me in the rumble.
"This kid has a great chance to win Tazz." Cole remarked.
"Chance nothing my man Joey Numbers says he will win hands down." Taz replied.
I was walking on air the whole rest of the week.