Chapter 2: ROH
(Author's note: This covers Anthony's entire tenure in ROH.)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Anthony was in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was at the armory, and was now walking on a cane. Paul London came up, and shook his hand, "Anthony, good to see you!"
"You too Paul. I want you to know, I tried to keep you in WWE, but Vince wasn't having any of that."
"It's alright. I've got enough money saved up so I can work comfortably here." he said, and they kept talking until Samoa Joe, who was then an almost 3-year ROH World Champion, approached them.
"Paul, my brotha!!" he hugged Paul, then turned to Prodigy, "You must be Anthony, aka Prodigy, right?"
"Yes sir, that's me." Anthony said, and Samoa Joe seized him in a hug too.
"I tried getting into WWE, but¼well, I couldn't." Joe shrugged.
"Why not?"
"Well, they didn't want anybody who could out-wrestle Kurt Angle." Paul said jokingly.
Anthony laughed, "Well, here's the deal. Joe, I'm gonna talk to Vince and Steph about that. We all know Vince has a Big man fetish. I'll get you in WWE."
"Thanks, brotha. Ok, we need to go find Ki and Danielson." They then went off in search of Low Ki and Bryan Danielson, aka American Dragon. They found them lounging around with the Briscoe's. (Not Gerald!)
Anthony sat down in a chair, and they all began talking about the fatal four way Ironman match for the ROH World Title that night. It was Samoa Joe defending against Paul London, Low Ki, and American Dragon. Anthony had gotten all their cell numbers, and was going to try to arrange tryouts for them all, except Low Ki, who was getting ready for a two month tour of Japan. That, and his kicks would make Tajiri's look like love taps.
Soon enough, it was show time. Anthony got into his wrestling gear, and Paul London was in the entrance position.
"You're going from 10,000 fans to about 1,000." Paul said.
"I'm ready for it." Anthony said confidently.
"Well, that may be, but, these fans are as rabid as a Nascar crowd at the Daytona 500." Paul said, and his music hit. He winked, and stepped out. He stopped about halfway to the ring, and turned around. He waved his hand, and out limped Prodigy!! The crowd began eating this up, and Prodigy climbed into the ring.
"¼IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE IN RING OF HONOR, IN ST.PAUL MINNESOTA!!" He said, using a Mick Foley-esque cheap pop routine. He smiled, "Now, I was contacted to be here for a multi-show appearance, and I promise you, I will bring some Honor to add to the already honorable Ring of Honor. Now, with me as¼Paul London's MANAGER, we are going to be the best duo in the history of written history. And, we'll write history! Now, onto some serious business. Tonight, in about 5 minutes, we're having the biggest ROH Title match in¼well...HISTORY! And, I've been given two things to add to this match. Number 1...I will be the special referee. Number 2, is an old ECW heritage. You all might want to stand up for this match, because this is a FANS BRING THE WEAPONS match!" He had to duck to avoid a chair, "Not yet, jackass. Alright, let's get this match on the road!"
American Dragon's music hit, and out he came. He climbed in the ring, and sat in the corner. Low Ki's music then hit, and Low Ki made his entrance. They all waited, and finally, Samoa Joe's music hit. Out came the ROH Champ! All four competitors then shook hands with each other, and Prodigy gave the signal. The bell rang. Fans then began throwing chairs in the ring. Prodigy had trouble keeping this match under control.
Here is a list of all the falls in the match.
1. Samoa Joe pinned American Dragon after Low Ki hit Dragon w/ a Ki Krusher.
2. Low Ki pinned Paul London after a stiff kick to the head.
3. Paul London defeated Samoa Joe with a "London Calling" SSP.
4. American Dragon made Low Ki submit w/ Cattle Mutilation.
5. In a Triple decision, Paul London, American Dragon and Samoa Joe picked up a win after American Dragon made Samoa Joe tap to a chokehold, while Samoa Joe pinned him, and London hit an SSP on Joe, thus giving all of them a pin.
6. Low Ki pinned Samoa Joe with a kick to the temple.
7. Low Ki pinned American Dragon after London hit an SSP. Ki threw London out of the ring.
8. Paul London got a win, rolling up Ki.
9. Right after, Samoa Joe rolled up London.
10. Samoa Joe pinned American Dragon w/ the Chimeraplex.
Time then ran out, and Samoa Joe was the victor, with 4 wins. Prodigy handed Joe the belt, and all men shook hands. Suddenly, Low Ki kicked Paul London in the head, and knocked him out. Ki grabbed a mic, "Paul, next time, New Jersey, you and me! One on one!" Prodigy then grabbed Samoa Joe's title, and blasted Ki across the face with it. The show came to a close with Prodigy and Low Ki face to face.
By the time the next ROH event was ready, Anthony had the neck brace taken off. His neck was officially healed. Two months to go¼
Next event¼
Place: Red Bank, New Jersey.
Venue: Night of Grudges
Headliner: Samoa Joe vs. American Dragon vs. Homicide. (Non Title)
Backstage, Paul London w/ Prodigy was on the mic.
"Last time a ROH event was held, I was blindsided by Low Ki. Tonight, I will be able to see everything Ki is gonna try to do. Hey Ki, here's the deal. It's not gonna work! I will be ready, and I have Prodigy in my corner. Tonight, I will get the win, and I will be in the top 3 for another shot at the ROH World Title."
Prodigy nodded, "Paul, you speak the truth. Now, depending on how things go, I might make ROH my permanent home. And if that happens, then Paul and I will reform the New Ministry, and we will take ROH by storm."
Conclusion to Paul London vs. Low Ki¼
Low Ki was bashing London with his devastating kicks. London was barely able to hang on. Suddenly, he grabbed Ki's foot, and spun him around. He rolled him up. 1,2, kickout! Ki went for another kick, Paul grabbed his leg again, and spun him again. Ki did a 360, London kicked him in the gut, and hit his patented Legtrap DDT. He pulled Ki to the center of the ring, and began to climb to the top rope, to the chant of "Please don't die!" from the ROH crowd. Prodigy cheered him on, as London went for the SSP. Low Ki then stuck his knees up! He rolled London up, and while the ref counted, Prodigy pushed the small package, and London made the pin! 1,2,3!! Paul London won! Prodigy got in the ring, and embraced Paul. He raised his hand in the air. Ki got up, and shook London's hand, then made his way to the back. They celebration then continued.
Suddenly, Generation Next (Jack Evans, Roderick Strong, Austin Aries, and Alex Shelley) hit the ring, and began assaulting them! They had them beat down, until¼Colt Cabana and Ace Steel came out for the save!! They chased off Generation Next, and Cabana grabbed a mic.
"Listen up, you preppy snot-nosed BIOTCHES! My boy Prodigy has just been cleared for ONE match, and guess what? We're gonna use that to our advantage! Next event, The new leader of the Second City Saints, Paul London, has chosen for myself, Ace Steel, Paul, and Prodigy, to take on you 4, in an 8 man Elimination tag match!"
Prodigy got up, and limped to the ropes. He pointed at Gen. Next, as if saying that their Day of Reckoning was coming.
Next and final event for Prodigy's run in ROH¼1 month left until he returned to WWE.
Gen. Next came down to the ring, at main event time. This match was going to go for almost an hour. London's music hit, and out he came, followed by his team.
Order of Eliminations..
1. Ace Steel via 630 splash from Jack Evans.
2. Alex Shelley via Colt 45 from Colt Cabana.
3. Jack Evans via Catatonic (Fallaway Slam to Rock Bottom) from Prodigy.
4. Paul London via rollup from Austin Aries.
5. Colt Cabana via pin fall from Roderick Strong.
6. Roderick Strong via Catatonic from Prodigy.
It was down to Prodigy vs. Aries. They both stared each other down. Prodigy extended his hand. Aries shook it¼GOTH REVELATION!! Prodigy made the pin! 1..2..3!! Prodigy got the win!! He posed for the crowd, and grinned. He was close to 100 percent.
Backstage¼
Anthony was on his phone, "Really? Thanks, Vince! You won't regret this!" he hung up, and turned to Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson, "Vince wants to try you out in dark tag matches all next week. On RAW, you'll face Val Venis and Steven Richards. On Smackdown, you'll face Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas."
They both grinned, and shook his hand. He then left, and the next morning, he was home. He went to sleep, and woke up a few hours later.
He woke up, and put on his knee braces, and decided to test his knee. Before that, his phone rang. He picked it up, "Hello?"
"Anthony, I have some good news." It was Vince McMahon, "We want you to pack up. You're going back to work today. Be at the airport in two hours. Adam and Jay will be waiting for you."
"Sweet! Alright, see ya Vinnie-roo!" Anthony hung up, then got his things together. He was soon at the airport, where Adam and Jay were waiting. He walked to them, and grinned.
"E & C!! WAZZUP?!" He laughed, and hugged them both.
"We better get going, we have a hella long flight to Canada." Adam said.
"Lemme guess¼Montreal?" Anthony asked.
"Yep. Vince wants to pull another Screwjob, but this is an angle, of course." Jay said, grinning.
"Is it gonna involve Earl Hebner?"
"Yep, and me." Edge said, "Oh, you'll see what happens." He chuckled, as they boarded the WWE Plane.
They sat in their seats, and Prodigy smiled, as Shane and Steph boarded the plane. They sat next to them, and Anthony grinned, "Hey Shane, hey Steph."
They both smiled, and nodded at him.
The next night¼it was RAW time.
Vince McMahon was in the ring, "Tonight, in this very ring, Brock Lesnar will defend the World Title against Canada's very own, Edge! And, if anyone employed by WWE interferes in this match, they will be fired on the spot!"
Suddenly, the lights went out, and then the arena went blue. Standing behind Vince, was a dark shadowy form. He was holding a mic, "HEY VINCE!"
The lights went back out. "Yeah Vince, it's me! The one you suspended from the WWE, forever! Well Vinnie-roo, you're not the only one who has power to issue contracts. As a matter of fact, it's up to the Board of Directors, and the General Managers of the show I want to be on. That is all it takes to overrule the chairman! So¼as of Noon tomorrow¼guess who's back?! Back again?! I am back! Vince McMahon!" The lights then went back on, and Prodigy was standing right behind Vince. Vince turned around. Prodigy grinned. He picked Vince up, CATATONIC!! He stood over the fallen chairman.
Later that night, Brock had Edge beat. All of a sudden, Prodigy came to ringside, and got on the apron. Brock went to hit him, but Prodigy jumped off the apron, and Brock turned around. Edge-a-cution! Edge made the pin! 1..2..3!! Edge was the World Champion!!