January 2006, ten days before the Royal Rumble…
One thing that could always be counted on… the good guy always came to the aid of a damsel in distress. The Rock had done it for Trish in 2001 after her biggest mistake with the McMahon family. Randy Orton had done it in early 2005 for Stacy Keibler. And here Trish was again, cowering before a male McMahon, backed into a corner, with someone coming to her aid.
It was a scary place to be in. Despite the fact that this was all a plan, she had been dreading the situation since agreeing to it. Despite the fact that after each time, Shane came to her and told her that she had done a good job, told her that she was doing great and it would all be over in a few months, standing there with Shane's face contorted in mock anger just made her remember the humiliation she had to go through with his father. At least this time around, there would be no humiliation. This time, someone would cometo her rescue before it got that far.
Of course, Shane had come to her rescue the last time. Yes, she had still suffered the humiliation, but that, just like this, had been all part of the plan. Before, they were letting Vince think he had the upper hand. This time, they were luring the unsuspecting into their web of deceit and trickery. This time, he would be there before it had to go too far. It all hinged on whether or not Dave Batista took the bait. It depended on whether or not he had really been watching the past few weeks while Shane tormented her, while Stephanie laughed, while both of them berated the champion for messing up.
Trish didn't know anything about Batista other than the fact that he was huge and he was slated to be the next Rock. He was slated to be the next big thing in professional wrestling, and when it was all over, he was going to be a major player. He was going to be part of something so devastating that it put the mess that the Corporation had become to shame. He was going to hold gold. They were all going to hold gold. He was going to be her saving grace… if he ever ran through that curtain.
He wondered just what was going on, and whether or not he wanted to get involved with the McMahon family. The last time any of that bloodline had crossed his path, it hadn't had much to do with him directly. That was Hunter's fight with Vince, and only by association, by Evolution, did it become his. This time… Well, this time it had nothing to do with him, either, but he couldn't just stand by and watch it happen.
He remembered the last time he saw anything even remotely close to it that made him act. Were he not in the middle of his own drama with Evolution, he probably would have gone out to the ring to stop Kane from chokeslamming Trish Stratus. She was a bitch, to be sure, but that didn't mean that she deserved to be ground into the mat. She didn't deserve to be manhandled by a man that hovered over her like a damned giant.
Then there was Stacy Keibler. He was pretty sure that the only reason Randy Orton had gotten his hands on her was because he'd actually been watching when Hunter tried to Pedigree her. Even before he thought to completely leave Evolution, he wouldn't have let that happen. He remembered the grin on Hunter's face when he told the story of what he had done. He had wanted to hit him right then. It was one thing to be an asshole. It was another to be an abusive son of a bitch.
Dave Batista stared into the monitor, watching closely as Shane McMahon backed the Women's Champion into the corner. He watched the fear on Trish's face, the way her body turned in on itself. It was as though she forgot that she had a weapon in her hands. She wasn't going to fight, she was going to stand there and let them destroy her. Why? Because they had made her and they could take it all away. Was it better to be a berated champion than a loser who stood tall? Dave wasn't sure he could answer that question for himself, but by the look on Trish's face, she was going to choose the former.
Without music or unnecessary introduction, Dave Batista broke through the curtain and came sailing towards the ring. The silver hardware of his black leather Gucci moccasins reflected the lights above and the soles slid enough to make his arms wave out to the side to catch his balance. He slid into the ring as Stephanie quickly rolled out. Shane was still berating Trish, too into his torment to realize that someone was behind him. By the time he turned around, Dave's Armani jacket was on the floor, his cuffs were open, the sleeves were rolled up to just below his elbows and his shirt was ripped open, either side flapping around him.
Simba, the Giant Slayer came out in Shane. He took a step backward, then rushed forward. He collided with a solid wall and fell to the mat. He crabwalked around, then got back to his feet. Shane started to bounce around, his arms moving as though he were getting ready for a fight. Dave just looked at him like he was getting ready to destroy someone.
Shane ran forward. Stephanie screamed. Trish winced. Dave stepped to the side.
One minute Shane was running, the next, he was being lifted into the air by the back of his shirt. Batista brought the other arm around to grab the front of Shane's shirt. He flattened his hand on Shane's back, then slammed him down hard with a spinebuster. Stephanie started to climb in the ring, but one angry growl from Batista and she slid back out. He picked up Shane, shoved his head between his legs and lifted him. He held him up for a few seconds, then brought him down hard. Batista rolled and jumped to his feet. He watched as Stephanie scurried into the ring and pulled her brother out, then turned to Trish.
She wasn't cowering anymore, but she didn't look as strong and defiant as in the past, either. Dave took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He let the lines of his face fall to reveal a smoother mask, one that wasn't angry at her in particular. He extended his hand towards her and waited. For what, he didn't know, but he knew that instantly grabbing her wasn't going to do much of anything.
Trish looked at the offered appendage, then looked past him to the ramp. Shane and Stephanie were both there, both glaring at her, both screaming at Dave. Vengenace is mine, sayeth the McMahons, she thought. She shook her head and looked back to Dave. His hand was still out. He was still waiting. He was still there.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the corner. She swallowed hard and took his hand.
