The following weeks that lead to the rumble were filled with title defenses and interviews. It would be a waist of time to explain them all. The easiest way for me to sum them up is by saying Dave and I are still tag team champs.
The day of the rumble in Nashville Johnny had picked me up from the hotel and was taking me out for breakfast. Danny, Nunzio, Arianna, Rene, and Kenzo were going to be there. There was also a surprise that Dave set up for me.
We arrived at a rather large restaurant. Johnny waved me in before I got a good look at whose cars were here. I normally can tell who is working at the arena by the cars in the parking lot.
Just as we walked into the door a teenager who was leaving noticed who we were. He stopped us and pulled out a sharpie marker and took off his hat.
"Mr. Bordonaro, Mr. Stamboli can I have your autograph?" he asked.
"Sure kid." I said laughing "What's your name?"
"Danny Jones" the boy said. "I am probably the biggest F.B.I. fan there is."
"Wait" I said. "Not the Danny Jones who is president of my online fan club".
"Yes that's me," the kid said laughing. "One day I want to be a wrestler. Just like you Mr. Bordonaro"
"Please call me Ben," I said. "I hope to see you competing agents me someday." I handed the hat and marker to Johnny. He sighed the hat and handed them to the kid. He shook our hands then left. I looked at Johnny's face he had a grin that went from ear to ear.
"It's good to know we have fans at the rumble tonight." Johnny laughed. "Oh yeah Nunzio and I have a big match tonight. We are facing Cena and Eddie Gurrero. If they win they are the number one contenders for your title." He looked at his watch. "Oh man we're late."
We walked up to a room that was labeled "Reserved". We walked in and there everyone was there. Dave walked over to us and smiled.
"Are you ready today Dude?" he asked. I nodded. "Ok after breakfast we have to get to the arena so you can pick your number for the rumble."
We ate and joked. I noticed Dave do a text message. I didn't see what he had typed but it had something about the surprise Dave had planed.
As we finished breakfast there was a knock on the door. Dave stepped out. When he came back in he waved me over.
"Hey man. I guess Johnny told you about the surprise I had for you right?" I nodded. "Did he tell you what it was." I shook my head. "Well than step out here."
We stepped out into the hallway. There was a small three layered cake sitting on a table. The cake said, "Good luck Ben".
"Ok. Ready?" he asked. "Come on out".
Out from underneath the table Torrie Wilson stepped out. My jaw dropped. I gave Dave a look that needed no words. It was a "thank you man but I will get you for this" look.
Torrie looked at me. She motioned for Dave to leave. He walked back into the room and closed the door.
"Well your in the rumble tonight, huh?" she inquired. "Dave told me that you liked me. You know what? I like you too."
Those words lifted about one million tons of my shoulders. My mind was relieved from months of wondering if she liked me. I decided to do what I could not do before.
"So would you like to go out sometime? I know a great Italian restaurant in Buffalo." I said. "Since we have to be in Rochester later on that week and it is near Buffalo...."
"I love to" She interrupted. "So I will talk to you after the show.'
"Yeah" I said and then had a brainstorm. "Hey do you want to join us for lunch later. It will be a blast. I know a Country music restaurant near the arena. Country music is my kind of a hobby of mine."
"Ok" she pulled out a card and handed it to me. "It's my cell phone number and the address of my hotel. Call me when you go."
She walked out the door and into her car. I stepped back into the room and slapped Dave on the back oh his head. He looked at me smiled and went back to eating. He knew I would get him for what he did. And he also knew that I never leave scores unsettled.
After everyone was finished we all started talking about what we were doing today. There were ideas of going early to the arena, going to the country music hall of fame, and going back to the hotel to sleep.
"Well" I said. "I have a lunch date. So what ever you do I might be out of. So I don't care."
After breakfast Johnny drove me to the hotel. He went up to his room while I got into my car. I checked my cell phone to see if it had power. Then I drove to the arena. There were already fans standing in line to get in. I decided to dive them a little treat for coming so early. There was a stage and a microphone set up for interviews as the wrestlers and there were a few autograph booths set up. I walked over to the stage and tapped on the microphone. The crowd silenced.
"Welcome all to the WWE Royal Rumble" I said. I thought of what I knew of the rumble. "Are you ready to see thirty of the best WWE superstars duke it out for a chance to face the heavyweight champ? Well that later but for the next..." I looked at my watch. I had about three hours until I was thinking about calling Torrie. "Two and a half hours I will be sighing autographs at the booth over there, near the door."
I set my watch's alarm and walked over to the booth. The entire crowd seemed to line up. After about ten or twelve people a familiar voice reached my ears.
"So we meet again." It said. "Can I just get a picture?"
I looked up. It was Danny. I smiled and nodded. He stepped over to me. Then an older guy, I think his dad stood on the other side. I flexed my muscles as the flash went off.
"Thanks again Ben." He said and walked away. After about 80 to 90 more autographs my watch went off. I stood up and walked to the stage and started to talk again.
"Well ladies and gentlemen, I have to get going." I said. "I'll see you at the rumble".
I walked into the arena and headed towards the locker rooms. As I got to the hallway I stopped one of stagehands were the numbers were being drawn. He told me and started going back to what he was doing. I walked down until I reached a room that was labeled "Special Event".
I walked into the room there was a man standing near an old lottery wheel. He asked me my name and started spinning the wheel. I stopped it and polled out a ball. Inside the ball was a little piece of paper. I opened the ball and showed the paper to the man.
"Number fifteen" the man, said. "That's half way. Good luck."
I walked out of the room and headed towards the locker room. I dropped off my bag then headed back to my car. I dialed Torrie's number. She picked up and I asked her if she was ready to go to lunch.
"Sure" she said. "I'll be in the lobby of my hotel. Come on in I'll meet you there."
I drove to her hotel. The street was packed with cars luckily there was one extra space in front of the hotel. I got out of my car and walked into the hotel.
The hotel was packed with people. I saw her standing near the desk. Walking over to her I tripped over my own feet. She walked over to me and helped me up.
"Thanks" I said. "I never trip in the ring. I wonder what happened."
"Hmmm. I wonder," she said with a smile.
We left the hotel and headed for the car. The whole time we talked. We talked about my old federation, and if Dave was as annoying then as he is now. Dave I almost forgot about him. I still need to get my revenge on him.
We reached the car after what seemed like years had gone by. I looked at the clock on my car stereo only ten minutes went buy. We rode around until we reached the restaurant. It was set up to be just like an old saloon. We walked in.
The interior matched the outside perfectly. It was as if we had gone back in time to the old west. We sat down at a table and ordered a couple of colas. As the drinks arrived we started talking about the rumble.
"So, What number did you draw?" she asked. "The rumble is half skill and half luck. The luck is in the draw. So, what number did you draw?"
"I drew a good number." I said. "Number fifteen. Halfway through the match. So let's see if the match is half skill and half luck and I drew the number that is half way threw... That means that I'm already a forth of the way there. I think."
She laughed. I always had a way of making people laugh. Maybe it's a gift. Or maybe it was just something I picked up watching sitcoms for 27 years.
We ordered an appetizer of fried pickles. I liked them and I thought Torrie would too. She was a little skeptical at first but she tried them and loved them. Who knew something so simple could be such a hit?
After we ate half the pickles the lights dimmed and a man stepped out. He was dressed in a cowboy outfit.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" he said. "It is time for our daily line dancing lessons. If anyone wants a lesson then step on out to the floor."
"Do you want to give it a try?" I asked Torrie.
"Ok" she said standing up. "On one condition" she grabbed me by the shirt. "You are going up too."
We walked on to the dance floor. It was only us and the instructor. He walked over to us with a look of confusion on his face.
"Aren't you Ben Bordonaro and Torrie Wilson from the WWE?" he asked. I nodded. "Woah! Ladies and Gentlemen we have some celebrities in the house. From the WWE we have one half of the Smackdown tag camps Ben Bordonaro. And we also have one of the WWE's hottest divas Torrie Wilson. If you're a wrestling fan come on up."
As soon as he said it seemed like everyone that was in the building was on the dance floor. We danced for about two maybe three hours. Believe me that had to be the best couple of hours I have ever spent.
After lunch we walked down the street when we came across a store that sold cowboy hats. Torrie and I walked in and started looking around. There were more than just hats there. The store also had duster coats and boots.
"Maybe I should tell Taker about this place" I told Torrie.
"Yeah I think you should." She replied. "He's doing a radio show tomorrow morning so he is not leaving until late. Maybe you can persuade him to stop by after the radio thing."
I walked around until I found a very ordinal hat. It was green, white, and red, just like the Italian flag. It was too small for my head but I thought that maybe Nunzio would like it. I also found two nice white hats. I picked them up. I thought I could buy the smaller one for Torrie and the bigger one for me.
"Hey" Torrie whispered. "Doesn't this look like Trish Stratus' hat? Maybe she shops here. What do you got there?"
"Oh!" I said. "I was thinking about getting this for you." I put the large hat on her head and the small one on mine. "And this one for me".
She laughed then switched them around. "That's much better." She said. "And what about that one?"
"I thought Nunzio would like it." I said. "He was the one that got me into the rumble. He gave up his slot to give me a chance. I thought this would be a nice thank you."
"Yeah it would be." She said looking at her watch. "We have to get to the arena soon"
"Yeah I'm ready" I said semi disappointingly. Then I saw Torrie had something in her hand. "What is that?"
"Oh, it's something for you." She said "But you can't open it until you get to the arena. Promise me."
"OK I promise", I said. "Just give me the hat so I can check out" she handed me the hat and I walked over to the counter and checked out. Then I gave Torrie back her hat and walked towards the door. "Come on" I said. We walked back to the car.
While in the car we decided that I would give Torrie a ride to the arena and back from the arena after the show. And since my stuff was already at the arena I didn't have to stop to get it from my hotel.
We stopped back at Torrie's hotel. We got her stuff and drove to the arena. The crowd that was there when I stopped to get my number had at least doubled in size. Luckily the back parking lot was open. We were able to drive in without being noticed. We walked into the arena when Teddy Long stopped us.
"How you doing player?" he asked. "Hey seeing you two together stirs up one question. Are you two going out or something?"
"Well uh." I said. "Umm..."
"Yes we are." Torrie said
"Ok. Cool." Teddy said. "That gives me an idea. Torrie you are in a match against Trish Stratus in that inter-promotional match right? Well doesn't that Tyson Tomko guy accompany her to ringside? I also think re is in the rumble. Well why don't you, Ben accompany Torrie to ringside? It could be the start of another great story line for the F.B.I."
"Aren't you pushing us a little hard on the crowd?" I asked. "Won't the crowd start to reject us?"
"Let me ask you ask you something player." Teddy said. "I know you used to watch wrestling. Do you remember the N.w.O.?"
"Oh I see were you are going with this". I decided to crack a joke. "You're comparing me to Hulk Hogan."
Teddy laughed and reached out his hand. I shook his hand and laughed myself. Torrie joined in with a small giggle. Teddy looked at me still with a smile on his face.
"NO... ha ha ha... player." He was laughing. "I was thinking more on how they were a large group that started as the outsiders and grew into the revolutionary force in wrestling today. I guess I can compare you to Hogan or even The Rock."
"Ok so I would be the Hogan of this new N.w.O. huh?" Teddy nodded. "Ok I'm in I just have to ask everyone else."
"Well." Torrie said. "If nobody else agrees I'm in. well I got to get ready for the match." She walked into her locker room.
"Well Teddy there is one question left." I said. "When is Torrie's match?"
"It's third." He said. "Oh and the resin I stopped you was to wish you luck during the rumble. Number fifteen is half way, but looking at the list of names after you it will be an uphill battle. Oh and there are going to be two legends in the rumble. I can't tell you who the are though."
"Thanks I'll be careful." I said walking toward the locker room. I stopped in front of the special event room to see the listing of who had what number. This is what the list said:
BOOKER T
CHRIS JERICHO
GARRISON CADE
FUNAKI
HARDCORE HOLLY
LUTHER REIGNS
ORLANDO JORDAN
RODNEY MACK
THE HURRICANE
WILLIAM REGAL
TEST
TAJIRI
STEVEN RICHARDS
TYSON TOMKO
BENJAMIN BORDONARO
CHUCK PALUMBO
HEIDENREICH
RENE DUPREE
CHRIS BENOIT
BATISTA
SHANNON MOORE
UNDERTAKER
KANE
MICK FOLEY
RANDY ORTON
ROB VAN DAM
ROSEY
RIC FLAIR
It was going to be a long night for me. I walked in to the looker room. There was no one there yet. They must be talking to someone in the hallway or something I thought. That's when I remembered that Dave was in a dark match. He and Arianna must be out there right now. I got changed and headed to Torrie's locker room. On the way I ran into Johnny and Nunzio.
"Hey Ben." Johnny said. "I saw the list, your number fifteen. Very cool".
"Thanks." I said. "Oh Nunzio I have a gift for you. A thank you for giving up your spot in the rumble for me. I'll give it to you when I get back to the Locker room."
"You didn't have to" he said. I didn't hear him. I was already around the corner.
I was right in front of Torrie's locker room when Trish and Tyson stopped me. Tyson pushed me out of the way as Trish entered the room. This made me angry. I clocked him right on the side of the head. It knocked him down and the heard a loud thud from inside.
I ran inside to see Trish and Torrie fighting. I did the one thing any red blooded, American, man would do. I got into the middle of them and split them up. Trish slapped me and tried to hit Torrie. Tyson stepped in and held me back luckily for me Dave was passing by and heard the struggle. He runs in and tosses Tyson clear out of the room.
"You're not so brave when that idiot isn't around, huh?" I said. "You better watch your back out there tonight. Torrie will have some company out there."
Trish left and Dave walked towards the door. He looked out to see if Tyson was still out there. He was gone. Dave walked back in and looked around.
"So this is Torrie's locker room" Dave said. "Very nice. Teddy stopped me after my match. Told me Ben had some news for me."
"I'll meet you in the locker room." I said and Dave left. I turned to Torrie. "Come with me. I'll introduce you to the rest of the team." We walked to the locker room and stopped in front of the door. Wait here until I call you. Ok." She nodded and I walked into the door.
Everyone was either stretching or watching the TV to see the signs. I walked over to my stuff and grabbed the shopping bag. Then I cleared my throat. This gained everyone's attention.
"Ok everyone I have two things to say. First I got Nunzio a little thank you gift for giving up his spot in the rumble." I said giving him the bag. He pulled out the hat and thanked me. "Next I talked to Teddy Long and he wants us to start a new form of the old N.w.O." the room was filled with yes's and some cheering. "I'm giving Kenzo and Rene an invite to join us, but I have found one member and they're right outside the door. Come on in!"
Torrie stepped in. Dave's jaw dropped. He knew that we had gone out for lunch. He knew that something had to have happened. So he just smiled and welcomed her. As a matter of fact everyone did.
"Well I have to go out there to stand in Torrie's corner during her match. And that match is next. Followed by an interview then the rumble. See you when I win." I said walking out the door with Torrie. We walked down to the curtain where Trish and Tyson were waiting for us. I had my hands clenched into fists to clobber Tyson.
"Easy man save the hitting for the rumble." He said. "A wimp like you should save your energy".
"That's it," I said as I hit Tyson. The shot sent him staggering through the curtain. I followed him out swinging wildly. Then Trish jumped on my back to try to stop me. Torrie grabbed Trish and rolled her into the ring. The match was on. I was too busy attacking Tyson to see what was going on. The next thing I knew the bell had rung and Torrie's music had started to play.
I slid into the ring and raised Torrie's hand in victory. She gave me a small kiss on the cheek and exited the ring. I just stood there in shock. My mind was blank. I looked over at the ref.
"Did she just kiss me or was I dreaming?" I asked. The ref just nodded. I left the ring and caught up with Torrie. "Why did you kiss me?" I asked
"Well" she replied. "I thought it was perfect. After that date we had earlier and the way you made sure Tyson didn't interfere in my match, you deserved it"
I walked to the back and remembered the gift Torrie had given me. I had never opened it. I ran back to the locker room to pick it up. I opened the gift it. It was a red leather jacket with green F.B.I. letters.
I left the locker room and ran into Torrie. She must have been looking for me. She looked at the jacket in my hand. She smiled and started talking.
"So do you like my gift?" she asked. "Listen Teddy asked if I would accompany you out to the ring during the rumble. What do you think?"
"I like the idea. In fact I was going to ask you the same thing." I said. "Well I got an interview now so let's go."
We walked down to the interview area. Josh Mathews was waiting for me. He walked over and sowed me where to stand. Then the camera started rolling.
"Well fans the rumble is almost started and I can't wait to see the results" he said. "Right now I have one of the top choices to win the match right here. Mr. Ben Bordonaro. Well Ben it looks like you have had a big day already. But before I get to that I would like to get your feelings on the rumble tonight?"
"Well Josh I hope that Tyson is still out there when my number comes up. He started this earlier tonight but I will finish it. He will face his day of judgment."
"While we are on the subject of earlier tonight, I was wondering what happened between you and Torrie?" he asked.
"Well why don't you ask her yourself? Come on out Torrie." I said. Torrie walked into the area and stood right in front of me.
"Well Josh, Ben and I have a lot in common." She said. "And I don't know what happened. I just acted on the spur of the moment."
"Ok Josh one more question then I got to go" I said.
"Ok. Everyone in the back and all the fans know you watched wrestling since you were young." He said. "Will you have enough self-drive to force yourself to eliminate the two legends?"
"I'll show you tonight." I said. "I have my autograph book ready for after the match but, that it after the match. I am not going to let two old-timers eliminate me."
"Well there you have it." Josh said. "Ben Bordonaro is ready for the rumble. Let's take it out to Lillian Garcia to start the rumble." I walked out of the interview area as Lillian read the rules. I knew I would have to wait about a half-hour but I knew it would seem like only seconds too me.
By the time my number was close, Torrie and I had a plan. She was going to join me at ringside with a bottle of water. Once I had a chance I would get a drink. It would keep myself ready for the battles.
I heard the crowd count down the ten seconds I had left before it was my turn. Each second seemed like a year. The buzzer went off and I stepped through the curtain with Torrie. The crowd went wild. They loved Torrie and me together. I look down to the ring Tyson was fighting Tajiri. This would be my chance to eliminate both.
I quickly ran down to the ring and slid in. Tyson had Tajiri up in a chokehold. I dropkicked Tyson and he dropped Tajiri over the top rope. Tajiri was so mad he spit the green mist into Tyson's face. I took that chance to pick Tyson up in the Judges Gavel and slammed him down. Then I just picked him up and tossed him over the top rope.
Then the ten-second clock started to count down. It was time for the first legend to make his entrance. The clock hit zero and a bunch of red and yellow lights started to swirl. The song "Real American" started playing. My heart stopped. It was The Hulk Hogan, my favorite Wrestler from the 1980's. Hogan walked down the ramp and stepped through the ropes. He asked for a microphone.
"Man it's good to be back in front of all you Hulkamaniacks." He said. "And You know what, the Hulkster is back to what he loves." The crowd cheered. "Well, Mr. Bordonaro It seams that you have started quite the group of competitors together. Big teams just like I did in my days in the n.W.o. Well brother I want in. What do you say?"
"Well I have one thing to say about that" I said then stuck out my hand. "Welcome to my n.W.o."
We shook hands and the buzzer went off again. Chuck Palumbo walked out. I talked to Nunzio and Johnny about Chuck. He was a former F.B.I. member. He was transferred over to raw just after a Wrestlemania. Hogan and I wad short work of him and started joking around doing the Hogan taunts for jokes.
We took care of numbers eighteen through twenty-two with ease. Next was the other legend. The buzzer went off and the arena went dark. A familiar song started to play. I could not think of who it was but the music seemed recent. I looked at the curtain to figure out who it was. The crowd knew before I did. It was Brock Lesner. He walked down the ramp and jumped onto the apron of the ring. He stepped through the ropes and ran towards Hogan. Hogan and Lesner had a rivalry a few years ago but they never finished it. Brock picked Hogan up for the F-5 and I kicked Brock over the top rope, but Hogan went with him. Hogan slid back into the ring and told me he would meet up with me after the match then walked out. Lesner on the other hand pulled me out under the bottom rope and hit slammed me in an F-5 outside the ring. I was out cold.
The next thing I remember Torrie calling my name. I looked in the ring. Only Flair and Orton were left. They must have forgotten about me because the ref told me I was still in.
Just as I slid into the ring Flair had dumped Orton over the rope. He was celebrating his victory when I dropkicked him over the top. The bell rang and my music was playing. I had won the rumble. Johnny, Dave, and Hogan ran down to the ring and held me up in victory.
Josh Mathews ran down to the ring with a microphone. Smiling and shaking he starts talking into the microphone.
"Ben Bordonaro congratulations on winning the rumble. What are you going to do now?" he asked.
"I'm going to Buffalo." I replied
End of chapter 4
I am going to create a side story based on what has happened. Check "Home Town Hero" when it is finished.