I wanted to make sure Chris was ok before going to sleep myself. I waited for him to fall asleep before I did. I laid there in the next bed as Chris doze off. When he did, I rolled over and started to think, about Jeff. I couldn't believe that he had mentioned me. It is something pretty big considering what we went through, what I put him through.
I did finally fall asleep, and, what seemed like shortly after, there was banging at my door, and Matt's voice, yelling, "Des!! Des, ya gotta wake up!!" He kept yelling and banging on the door, I had to get up.
"What the fuck do you want?" I asked angrily. I was tired.
"Great news!" He answered excitedly.
"Better be great, I still have two, three more hours of sleep left."
"The band of all bands is touring. And, on an off day, they hit home." He told me.
"What?" I asked.
"Pearl Jam!" He yelled.
"Shut up, you're gonna wake Chris-what?"
"Yes, Pearl Jam. The band of all bands."
"Serious?"
"Swear. Just found out today, I made my calls and we're going." He smiled.
I screamed. "Oh my God! Matt!"
"I know, me, you, and Jeff are going to see the band!"
"Jeff?"
"Duh, of course. He loves them too. Des, it's going to be ok. You'll be too busy watching Eddie and them to even notice." He told me. "I'll let ya know when everything's final." He kissed my cheek and ran off.
I closed the door, both extremely happy and upset and the same time. I couldn't go back to bed, so I took my shower and got ready, and woke Chris up. His back was very sore, and let me, and maybe everyone in the hotel know it by screaming, "fuck!".
"Why not stay here?" I asked.
"I can't, I'd be bored out of my mind." He said. "I'll come along, join ya at ringside. Who are you facing tonight?"
"Umm, some up and comer, it's only a house show. I'm on the road until Sunday, my one day off, and then hit RAW on Monday."
"Ouch." He said. "I was supposed to do that, but I bet I'm going to be sent home. I'm going to RAW."
"You're insane."
"I know." He flashed a smile. "Winning tonight?"
"You know it." I answered. I sat down on my bed and waited for Chris. When he was ready, we were ready to leave. The trip to the airport was full of traffic. When we got there, many superstars were leaving to go home, and the rest of us unfortunate ones were going to the house shows.
"Chris, good to see you alive." Paul said walking over with Stephanie.
"Yeah, I'm hurting." He replied. "But I'll live."
"Do you know if Matt is hanging around?" I asked.
"Umm, not as long as the rest of us. He's got a show tonight, with Jeff, and he goes home, Jeff stays to Sunday." Paul answered.
"I gotta talk to Matt about something." I said. "I'll catch you guys later."
I left them and went searching for Matt. I found him, sitting down with Matthew on his lap. I walked over and sat beside him. He looked up and smiled at me.
"Better mood now?" He asked.
"Yes. So, explain to me about Pearl Jam." I answered.
"April 26th, they hit home. We have off. I called some people I know and all, and they're going to get us in." He smiled. "Last time, we got backstage and met the band."
"So you've been through this before?"
"Yup, few times." He flashed a smile again. "You'll love it."
We were talking when Jeff came back from where ever he was. He sat down next to me without a word. I didn't really notice, I was talking to Matt. But, when I sat back and saw him there, I nearly freaked. I played it cool, smiling at him, sort of. He smiled back at me. Matt put Matthew down, and the baby walked over to Jeff. Jeff, without hesitation, picked him up.
Our flight was called and we walked on. I sat with Paul and Stephanie on the flight. The plane was mostly full of wrestlers going to the show. Which, made it more interesting. When able, everyone got up and hung out, chatting, and bullshitting about past shows. It was, generally, a great atmosphere where everyone joked and had a great time. I hate flying, but being around these guys made it less stressful, and I normally don't realize much.
I sat in the aisle seat, Paul next to me and Stephanie on the window side. Stephanie quietly hummed to herself, and Paul was reading through a magazine. I was listening to my CD player, Pearl Jam, or course, I had Disturbed with me along with Tool and a bunch of other great bands. Paul tapped me on the shoulder.
"Anything good?" He asked.
"Pearl Jam." I answered. "Going to see them."
"With Matt and Jeff?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Matt can't shut up about it." He laughed. "Have fun."
"Naturally."
"Ready for your first marathon weekend here in the WWE?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." I answered. "Just gotta do it."
"Exactly." He told me.
Paul started to talk to me about getting back into the grove and everything. I started to look around the plane, and what he said started to get drowned out. I looked at Jeff with my son. Well, Matthew was crawling across his father and Jeff. I smiled and then Paul tuned back in.
"...You have all the talent, the fans and everyone know it." He looked at me and smiled. "You're the type of talent that knows they have it, whatever that it is, you know you have it. But, you're also that special type of talent that knows and doesn't let it get to their heads. That's an asset hard to find in fame."
"I don't let it get to my head because I know how quickly it can get taken away." I replied.
"Scary truth." He replied. "It can be taken away quicker than it came. You ask any one of these guys and they will tell you their biggest fear is having all of this taken away before they're ready, and it's so easy for that to happen."
"Don't I know. Injury, baby, suspension. I don't know why people still come to see me."
"Because they can see that you are grateful for what you have here and that you don't take it for granted, and you're a Goddamn gem around here."
I started to believe that when Paul told me. I never did, and never thought I would, but when he said that, something clicked. Everything he said, that I had paid attention to, clicked, and I had that feeling that I was something around here and that I meant something to the company. Sure, I knew that I was an important asset around the WWE, a lot of wrestlers feel that, because, for the most part, it's true. But, I started to feel that I had a slightly more value than some of my colleagues. That my contributions to the WWE were slightly more important and valuable than some others. And, that what I did in the ring was looked at more and was made more of a big deal than some of the other wrestlers. It didn't make me cocky, it didn't go to my head, just made me feel good.
"But, anyway, this is a walk in the park for you. Because, like you said, you've been through a lot." Paul said.
We finally arrived at the house show, and had little time to ourselves. I planned on taking the three hours and using them the best I could. Three hours may seem like a lot, but we usually get at least five. Anyway, I got off the plan and stayed with Paul. We went to baggage claim to get our things.
"What are your plans now?" He asked. "Don't think you're hanging around me. I have plans." He looked at Stephanie.
"Thanks for the info because that's exactly what I wanted to picture in my mind." I laughed. "Seriously, I don't know what I'll do. I've got three hours, I'll use them best I can."
"Maybe you should talk to a certain wrestler." He hinted. "Ya know...wink, wink"
I smacked his arm. "Shut up." I shifted my bag on my shoulder. "I see a lost man with my baby in the distance. I'll catch you later."
I left Paul and headed to Matt. He was standing there, holding Matthew, looking lost. I walked up behind him and bumped into him. He turned, saw me, and laughed. He put Matthew down and held his hand.
"What are you looking for?" I asked.
"My moronic brother." He answered.
"Why?"
"Because I have no idea how he's getting to the show." He answered. "I don't know if he's coming with us." He saw my face. "Oh shut up, you know you want him."
"Matt!" I yelled. People turned and looked at me. "You are so evil."
"I know." He replied with a vindictive smile.
We waited for Jeff, and once he was found, we rented a car. Jeff and I didn't say a word, I wanted to, but couldn't find the right ones. And in situations like these, you need the right ones. He sat in the front while I sat back with Matthew.
"Chris all right?" Matt asked. "I didn't get to talk to him much."
"Yeah, just a strain." I answered. "He's going home."
"Looked painful." Jeff said, though I doubted it was to me. "I got to talk to him about it. He said he's got his meds, and he's fine."
"God bless meds." Matt said.
"Amen." Jeff replied.
There was no use in getting a hotel. Matt drove around for a good half hour, just driving around, passing the arena. None of us had an idea on where to go, so he just drove. He then saw something that made him get off the parkway and drive, pretty fast, down a small road.
"The king will once again show why he is the king." Matt said as he pulled into a mini-golf parking lot.
"Should have known." I replied. I took Matthew out of his car seat and walked in. Matt, Jeff, and myself put money in for a game, I had Matthew's stroller, and pushed him along.
"This time, I'm kicking your ass." Jeff said.
"Do you want to put money on it?" Matt asked.
"A brotherly wager is it?" Jeff replied. "I don't know how fair it'd be to you. I mean, when I blow you out of the water and everything."
"Scared are you?" Matt asked. "I can understand why."
"Lets make it fifty." Jeff said. "You in?"
"Of course." Matt answered.
Jeff glanced at me. "Uh, sure."
"Ladies first." Matt said.
I put my red ball down on the first hole of the "expert" course. The first hole was a twisting one, and I had no idea how to play it. I closed my eyes and swung I was able to get the ball right near the hole. I'm not a very good mini-golf player. Ask any of the guys, I'm the one who losses the ball, the one that hits it out of the park. The one person who, about half way through the course, needs to get a new ball.
"Baby, brother, it's your turn." Matt said. Jeff didn't say anything. He put his green ball down and hit it, hitting mine and putting it in the hole. "What a team you two are. You know you work so well together." Matt smiled. Jeff and I both glared at him with burning eyes. "Time for the king to go."
The entire game, Matt was making sly comments about Jeff and me, and at the time, I wanted to kill him; but thinking about it now, what he did helped some, and did even lighten the tense mood Jeff and I had. Though we didn't talk, I did feel more comfortable around him. The out come, however, was the most interesting. The self-proclaimed King of Mini-Golf was so sure he'd win the bet, he didn't, I did.
"That's not fair, Jeff, you knocked her ball in the hole about five times!" Matt cried. "That doesn't count!"
"It's not his fault." I replied.
"Yes it is! That just doesn't happen out of no where!"
"Calm down." Jeff told him. "It's just a game. Be thankful I didn't win."
"That is true. If it was you, I'd kill myself."
"Doesn't surprise me." Jeff said.
We got in the car and Matt and Jeff went at it for a little. I found it funny, but tried not to show how funny. We finally arrived at the arena and everyone there asked the same question, "Matt lost mini-golf?", and all I could do was nod and laugh and go, "I won". With that response came dropped jaws.
"What, you have that little faith in me?" I asked. "Damn, what friends you are."
"It's not that, Des." Adam said running over. "It's just, you suck."
I laughed. "I know."
I suited myself up for the ass kicking I was going to give the person I'd be facing. It was, I'll say, a wild ride. But RAW turned out to be even more wilder. With a match between Amy and me scheduled for two weeks at No Mercy. RAW had a lot of things to hold.
I did finally fall asleep, and, what seemed like shortly after, there was banging at my door, and Matt's voice, yelling, "Des!! Des, ya gotta wake up!!" He kept yelling and banging on the door, I had to get up.
"What the fuck do you want?" I asked angrily. I was tired.
"Great news!" He answered excitedly.
"Better be great, I still have two, three more hours of sleep left."
"The band of all bands is touring. And, on an off day, they hit home." He told me.
"What?" I asked.
"Pearl Jam!" He yelled.
"Shut up, you're gonna wake Chris-what?"
"Yes, Pearl Jam. The band of all bands."
"Serious?"
"Swear. Just found out today, I made my calls and we're going." He smiled.
I screamed. "Oh my God! Matt!"
"I know, me, you, and Jeff are going to see the band!"
"Jeff?"
"Duh, of course. He loves them too. Des, it's going to be ok. You'll be too busy watching Eddie and them to even notice." He told me. "I'll let ya know when everything's final." He kissed my cheek and ran off.
I closed the door, both extremely happy and upset and the same time. I couldn't go back to bed, so I took my shower and got ready, and woke Chris up. His back was very sore, and let me, and maybe everyone in the hotel know it by screaming, "fuck!".
"Why not stay here?" I asked.
"I can't, I'd be bored out of my mind." He said. "I'll come along, join ya at ringside. Who are you facing tonight?"
"Umm, some up and comer, it's only a house show. I'm on the road until Sunday, my one day off, and then hit RAW on Monday."
"Ouch." He said. "I was supposed to do that, but I bet I'm going to be sent home. I'm going to RAW."
"You're insane."
"I know." He flashed a smile. "Winning tonight?"
"You know it." I answered. I sat down on my bed and waited for Chris. When he was ready, we were ready to leave. The trip to the airport was full of traffic. When we got there, many superstars were leaving to go home, and the rest of us unfortunate ones were going to the house shows.
"Chris, good to see you alive." Paul said walking over with Stephanie.
"Yeah, I'm hurting." He replied. "But I'll live."
"Do you know if Matt is hanging around?" I asked.
"Umm, not as long as the rest of us. He's got a show tonight, with Jeff, and he goes home, Jeff stays to Sunday." Paul answered.
"I gotta talk to Matt about something." I said. "I'll catch you guys later."
I left them and went searching for Matt. I found him, sitting down with Matthew on his lap. I walked over and sat beside him. He looked up and smiled at me.
"Better mood now?" He asked.
"Yes. So, explain to me about Pearl Jam." I answered.
"April 26th, they hit home. We have off. I called some people I know and all, and they're going to get us in." He smiled. "Last time, we got backstage and met the band."
"So you've been through this before?"
"Yup, few times." He flashed a smile again. "You'll love it."
We were talking when Jeff came back from where ever he was. He sat down next to me without a word. I didn't really notice, I was talking to Matt. But, when I sat back and saw him there, I nearly freaked. I played it cool, smiling at him, sort of. He smiled back at me. Matt put Matthew down, and the baby walked over to Jeff. Jeff, without hesitation, picked him up.
Our flight was called and we walked on. I sat with Paul and Stephanie on the flight. The plane was mostly full of wrestlers going to the show. Which, made it more interesting. When able, everyone got up and hung out, chatting, and bullshitting about past shows. It was, generally, a great atmosphere where everyone joked and had a great time. I hate flying, but being around these guys made it less stressful, and I normally don't realize much.
I sat in the aisle seat, Paul next to me and Stephanie on the window side. Stephanie quietly hummed to herself, and Paul was reading through a magazine. I was listening to my CD player, Pearl Jam, or course, I had Disturbed with me along with Tool and a bunch of other great bands. Paul tapped me on the shoulder.
"Anything good?" He asked.
"Pearl Jam." I answered. "Going to see them."
"With Matt and Jeff?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Matt can't shut up about it." He laughed. "Have fun."
"Naturally."
"Ready for your first marathon weekend here in the WWE?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." I answered. "Just gotta do it."
"Exactly." He told me.
Paul started to talk to me about getting back into the grove and everything. I started to look around the plane, and what he said started to get drowned out. I looked at Jeff with my son. Well, Matthew was crawling across his father and Jeff. I smiled and then Paul tuned back in.
"...You have all the talent, the fans and everyone know it." He looked at me and smiled. "You're the type of talent that knows they have it, whatever that it is, you know you have it. But, you're also that special type of talent that knows and doesn't let it get to their heads. That's an asset hard to find in fame."
"I don't let it get to my head because I know how quickly it can get taken away." I replied.
"Scary truth." He replied. "It can be taken away quicker than it came. You ask any one of these guys and they will tell you their biggest fear is having all of this taken away before they're ready, and it's so easy for that to happen."
"Don't I know. Injury, baby, suspension. I don't know why people still come to see me."
"Because they can see that you are grateful for what you have here and that you don't take it for granted, and you're a Goddamn gem around here."
I started to believe that when Paul told me. I never did, and never thought I would, but when he said that, something clicked. Everything he said, that I had paid attention to, clicked, and I had that feeling that I was something around here and that I meant something to the company. Sure, I knew that I was an important asset around the WWE, a lot of wrestlers feel that, because, for the most part, it's true. But, I started to feel that I had a slightly more value than some of my colleagues. That my contributions to the WWE were slightly more important and valuable than some others. And, that what I did in the ring was looked at more and was made more of a big deal than some of the other wrestlers. It didn't make me cocky, it didn't go to my head, just made me feel good.
"But, anyway, this is a walk in the park for you. Because, like you said, you've been through a lot." Paul said.
We finally arrived at the house show, and had little time to ourselves. I planned on taking the three hours and using them the best I could. Three hours may seem like a lot, but we usually get at least five. Anyway, I got off the plan and stayed with Paul. We went to baggage claim to get our things.
"What are your plans now?" He asked. "Don't think you're hanging around me. I have plans." He looked at Stephanie.
"Thanks for the info because that's exactly what I wanted to picture in my mind." I laughed. "Seriously, I don't know what I'll do. I've got three hours, I'll use them best I can."
"Maybe you should talk to a certain wrestler." He hinted. "Ya know...wink, wink"
I smacked his arm. "Shut up." I shifted my bag on my shoulder. "I see a lost man with my baby in the distance. I'll catch you later."
I left Paul and headed to Matt. He was standing there, holding Matthew, looking lost. I walked up behind him and bumped into him. He turned, saw me, and laughed. He put Matthew down and held his hand.
"What are you looking for?" I asked.
"My moronic brother." He answered.
"Why?"
"Because I have no idea how he's getting to the show." He answered. "I don't know if he's coming with us." He saw my face. "Oh shut up, you know you want him."
"Matt!" I yelled. People turned and looked at me. "You are so evil."
"I know." He replied with a vindictive smile.
We waited for Jeff, and once he was found, we rented a car. Jeff and I didn't say a word, I wanted to, but couldn't find the right ones. And in situations like these, you need the right ones. He sat in the front while I sat back with Matthew.
"Chris all right?" Matt asked. "I didn't get to talk to him much."
"Yeah, just a strain." I answered. "He's going home."
"Looked painful." Jeff said, though I doubted it was to me. "I got to talk to him about it. He said he's got his meds, and he's fine."
"God bless meds." Matt said.
"Amen." Jeff replied.
There was no use in getting a hotel. Matt drove around for a good half hour, just driving around, passing the arena. None of us had an idea on where to go, so he just drove. He then saw something that made him get off the parkway and drive, pretty fast, down a small road.
"The king will once again show why he is the king." Matt said as he pulled into a mini-golf parking lot.
"Should have known." I replied. I took Matthew out of his car seat and walked in. Matt, Jeff, and myself put money in for a game, I had Matthew's stroller, and pushed him along.
"This time, I'm kicking your ass." Jeff said.
"Do you want to put money on it?" Matt asked.
"A brotherly wager is it?" Jeff replied. "I don't know how fair it'd be to you. I mean, when I blow you out of the water and everything."
"Scared are you?" Matt asked. "I can understand why."
"Lets make it fifty." Jeff said. "You in?"
"Of course." Matt answered.
Jeff glanced at me. "Uh, sure."
"Ladies first." Matt said.
I put my red ball down on the first hole of the "expert" course. The first hole was a twisting one, and I had no idea how to play it. I closed my eyes and swung I was able to get the ball right near the hole. I'm not a very good mini-golf player. Ask any of the guys, I'm the one who losses the ball, the one that hits it out of the park. The one person who, about half way through the course, needs to get a new ball.
"Baby, brother, it's your turn." Matt said. Jeff didn't say anything. He put his green ball down and hit it, hitting mine and putting it in the hole. "What a team you two are. You know you work so well together." Matt smiled. Jeff and I both glared at him with burning eyes. "Time for the king to go."
The entire game, Matt was making sly comments about Jeff and me, and at the time, I wanted to kill him; but thinking about it now, what he did helped some, and did even lighten the tense mood Jeff and I had. Though we didn't talk, I did feel more comfortable around him. The out come, however, was the most interesting. The self-proclaimed King of Mini-Golf was so sure he'd win the bet, he didn't, I did.
"That's not fair, Jeff, you knocked her ball in the hole about five times!" Matt cried. "That doesn't count!"
"It's not his fault." I replied.
"Yes it is! That just doesn't happen out of no where!"
"Calm down." Jeff told him. "It's just a game. Be thankful I didn't win."
"That is true. If it was you, I'd kill myself."
"Doesn't surprise me." Jeff said.
We got in the car and Matt and Jeff went at it for a little. I found it funny, but tried not to show how funny. We finally arrived at the arena and everyone there asked the same question, "Matt lost mini-golf?", and all I could do was nod and laugh and go, "I won". With that response came dropped jaws.
"What, you have that little faith in me?" I asked. "Damn, what friends you are."
"It's not that, Des." Adam said running over. "It's just, you suck."
I laughed. "I know."
I suited myself up for the ass kicking I was going to give the person I'd be facing. It was, I'll say, a wild ride. But RAW turned out to be even more wilder. With a match between Amy and me scheduled for two weeks at No Mercy. RAW had a lot of things to hold.