The match lasted less than ten minutes, and about three-quarters of it went by before a complete and utter clusterfuck broke out that extended to at least three minutes after the bell was rung.
Batista versus Orton, with Stacy Keibler at ringside. It had been a shock to everyone when Stacy turned heel to go with her boyfriend just weeks before WrestleMania. Apparently, most had forgotten that there was a devilish side to the seemingly fragile woman and it had taken the Legend Killer to bring it back out. Since the emergence of her dark side, she and Randy had been tearing a streak through the Intercontinental division, boring a hole to the competition until Randy was the number one contender.
Facing off that night against Batista had nothing to do with his contendership and everything to do with some McMahon manuevering. Shane and Stephanie couldn't be directly connected to the injury that sidelined the reigning champion until the Royal Rumble, but if someone were to trace back the line that followed the payoff money, somewhere it could possibly be found that the money in Christian's bank account had passed through Stephanie's hands.
Tonight, they wanted to put their plan into action. They had about three months to turn Batista and convince Orton and Stacy that they were better off with them. The two thought they could do it alone, but they wouldn't be able to do anything until they got rid of Eric Bischoff. Shane and Stephanie were still unsure of just who they would put into the spot of General Manager, but that could come later. First and foremost, they had to gain control, and to do that, they needed belts. They needed Batista to win the Rumble. They needed Randy to get the IC belt off of Shelton Benjamin.
Tonight, they needed the clash of what was going to be pro-wrestling titans.
Stacy Keibler running to the side of the ring was the first sign that the match was almost over. Randy was moments away from getting pinned, and while a disqualification would lose them the match, both would rather that be the case than for Randy to actually get pinned. He had spit in Harley Race's face. He'd beaten Mick Foley and Ric Flair. He had retired the Undertaker at WrestleMania XXI. There was no way he was about to get pinned by Dave Batista.
Stacy ran to the side and shoved the timekeeper out of his chair. She snapped the chair shut and ran to the ring. Randy's head was between Dave's legs and it was only moments until the Batista Bomb ended this match. Stacy slid into the ring and slammed the chair into Batista's back. He hunched forward and Stacy hit him in the back again. Randy hit the mat and rolled out of the way just moments before the Animal fell to his knees.
The chair rose again, but this time, it didn't fall. Stacy's hair slapped against her face as she was speared to the side. She fell with Trish Stratus on top of her. Trish jumped up and snatched the chair from her. She waited for Stacy to get to her feet, ready to shove the edge into the woman's stomach. She reared back, and the chair was snatched away from the side. She turned and was able to move to the side just in time to keep from getting hit by Stephanie's swing.
Randy and Shane were putting the boots to Batista as Trish turned to find him, and there was nothing she could do to help him. She was occupied with the blonde and brunette coming her way. In a four-on-two mess, there wasn't much the two could do besides try not to get seriously injured.
Batista fought his way to his feet, swinging wildly. He got lucky and caught Orton in the chest with a hard clothesline. He fell and Batista turned on Shane. The McMahon heir was bouncing side to side, his arms swinging as he ducked Batista's lunges. He stopped too soon and Batista grabbed him. He picked him up to slam him but lurched forward and dropped him as Orton struck from behind. He went down to one knee and they were on him again.
On the other side of the ring, Trish was on the mat. Stacy stepped on her hair as she pulled her up by the arms. She screamed and kicked her feet. Stephanie was standing too close and got a boot to the legs that sent her falling to the mat. Trish threw her body over enough to kick Stacy away from her. She rolled to the side and climbed to her feet.
And then, referees crowded the ring, pulling everyone apart. They separated the women on one side, the men on the other. Trish kicked Earl Hebner in the crotch and as he bent down, jumped over him and ran forward. She climbed over the other refs and started to swinging her arms. She didn't care which one she hit as long as she hit one of the women. They crowded onto Dave and he burst forward like the Hulk. He ran across the ring and started hitting anyone in front of him.
The referees separated them again and once more people surged forward. This time, Shane and Stephanie, Randy and Stacy… They barrelled through the opposition to get to the other side of the ring. They crashed through referees until they made it to Trish and Dave. The entire group fell through the ropes and fell into a fighting mass on the floor. Again they were separated, this time farther apart, with Dave and Trish being definitely pushed towards the ramp.
"You're through, Stratus!" Stephanie pushed against the people holding her, screaming. "We made you, and we can break you!"
"Who needs you!" Shane shouted. "We made one champion, we can make another!"
"At least this one's actually won the top gold!"
Dave surged past referees and they had to grab him quickly before he could get to the other side. "He's never beaten Triple H and he never will!"
"You haven't either!" Randy yelled out.
Stacy struck out at the people in front of her. "You'll go down under the boot heels of the Legend Killer and I'll laugh my ass off!"
"Right after I rip every hair from your head!" Trish called out after her.
The group screamed threats and taunts of violence until Trish and Dave were shoved behind the curtain. The other four were led out on the side of the ramp. The referees wondered how in the hell they were going to keep these people apart for the rest of the night. Eric Bischoff ran out screaming that the McMahons had to leave because they were destroying his show.
Shane, Stephanie and Trish just wondered how they were going to get together again to plan their next step without causing too many questions.
