All That Glitters...Isn't Gold
A WWF Fan-Fiction by Sassy Lil Scorpio
Disclaimer: The author makes no claim of ownership to the characters/wrestlers mentioned in the fan fiction. All names are property of Titan Sports Inc.
Chapter 1: Friends to the End?
There was once an evil man, who existed with the main objective to destroy others, so that he may gain advantages in the world. His name was McMahon.
Vince McMahon.
To some people, he was the proud owner of the World Wrestling Federation. And to others, he was the master manipulator. He used and discarded those he saw fit to achieve the goal of his master plan: the elimination of any alliances among the wrestlers. Alliances were bad. Very bad. If everyone was fighting and spitting at each other, then Vince counted hundred dollar bills. Alliances threatened him and his well-being. He couldn't allow this to happen. Vince McMahon was the emperor, the czar of pro-wrestling. He had to be in charge and dominate everything, and he had been able to do so. Until they came along.
Now there were two wrestlers, two very specific athletes that stood out from the rest. These he targeted.
Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock.
He hated them with a passion. Especially, Stone Cold. Vince knew that no one really had the audacity to take on the rough-and-tough Texan. The Rock? Vince sneered at the eyebrow-arching superstar with his gazillions of catchphrases. They were the most superb performers in the world of sports entertainment. They were also the best of friends. Anytime you saw a glossy bald head, it was accompanied with the infamous long sideburns and vice versa.
Rocky and Stony.
Stony and Rocky.
It made Vince McMahon sick. As a matter of fact, it made everyone in the WWF want to wretch and blush green with envy. The sinister Vince McMahon devised a plan that would divide the two friends. An evil plan, which in its wake would cause the Texas Rattlesnake to strike out venomously at the Brahma Bull. In retaliation, the Brahma Bull would charge relentlessly at the Texas Rattlesnake. Nope, they would be far from best friends when it was over. They wouldn't even be able to stand in the same ring together without trying to tear each other's throats off. Instead, they would be bitter enemies. And Vince knew that he'd roll in the money that he would make off of them killing each other.
Now it's important for you to know that Stone Cold trusted no one. So why did he share a friendship with The Rock? Good question. The Rock was the only wrestler in the company who gave Stone Cold a helluva fight both in and out of the square circle. Somehow, this bonded the two entertainers. They learned a great deal from each other. While The Rock helped Steve Austin hone his mic skills, Stone Cold assisted him in becoming an outstanding wrestler with fantastic skills and a badass attitude to go along with it. They were friends to the end. Or so they thought. Little did they know that an evil force, a "higher power" loomed in the darkness, ready to rip and tear at the ties that bound the two men.
It all began when The Rock had lost a match to Hunter Hearst Helmsley. The match had been for the WWF gold, the championship belt. The Rock was highly upset having prepared for it and then getting screwed out of his chance when Chyna had interfered on behalf of Triple H. He was always getting screwed out of the belt, when it came to Triple H. To The Rock, it seemed this way. Stone Cold was going against the Undertaker and he was in high spirits. He felt bad that his friend had lost, but he still had to gear up for his match.
"Don't sweat it Rocky, Triple H is a dumb son of a bitch," he said, putting on his vest that beheld the famous silver 3:16 insignia on it.
"Yeah." He didn't look up.
"Here, have a beer. It'll do ya some good." Stone Cold tossed a cold Coors to The Rock, who caught it.
"Thanks." He still didn't look up as he snapped the can open.
The sound of broken glass boomed loudly in the locker room.
"Oh damn, gotta go! We'll talk later." Steve Austin raced out of the locker room.
When he left the room, The Rock slammed the door shut and stomped over to the bench he had been sitting on. He watched his friend on a monitor and he crushed the beer can in his hand. The Rock sighed. He had really wanted the championship. It had been forever since he had held the gold. If Austin had it, he supposed he would be happy for his friend. But deep down inside, he'd always covet the gold. Oh well. Triple H had it and that was that. He glanced again at the monitor and saw the Undertaker reeling from Stone Cold's attack. He hardly heard the door close softly. He turned away and ignored the "Austin" chant that blared from the small screen.
"Rocky, why so down?" A sinister voice from behind.
The Rock looked up and arched his eyebrow when he saw whom it was.
Vinny Mac. His employer. His savior?
"Vince, I had that match won today." When The Rock used "I" instead of talking in the third person, one knew to take him seriously. He had stepped out of his wrestling persona.
"I know."
Of course Vince knew. It was all part of the "master plan."
The Rock was shocked. He knew?
"Yeah and now Austin's fighting 'Taker. I don't get it."
"Do you really want the gold?" McMahon played on The Rock's feelings.
"Yeah, I do. Who wouldn't?"
How bad do you want it? The question was on the tip of McMahon's tongue. He didn't say it. He didn't have to; already The Rock had fallen for the trap.
"Well, I can arrange for you to have the title in your possession." Vince grinned devilishly. The Rock was caught in the web and Vince approached him like a huge spider in disguise.
"How? Triple H has it."
"Exactly, but you see, Steve is scheduled to win tonight. Next week, according to the roster, he will take on Hunter for the championship. I can arrange for you to be the guest referee for the main event…" Vince let the possibility hang in the air.
The Rock's eyes widened. He smelled what Vinny Mac was cookin'. The he shook his head.
"Guest referee? But their job is to…."
"To turn their back at the right moment, to allow for illegal moves and tactics to take place…and to tap…or not tap someone out. Of course, it all depends on who the given wrestler is. Especially, the guest referee since he or she calls all the shots. It all depends."
Vince watched The Rock carefully. He began to walk towards the door.
Wheels turned in The Rock's mind. It didn't take long for him to make his decision. Before Vince left the room, he stood up and declared his choice.
"I accept."
Ten minutes later, Austin came into the locker room all hyped up.
"OH HELL YEAH! Helmsley better watch out! A can of whoop-ass with is name on it is gonna t'be opened come next Monday night! Once again, ol' Stone Cold will be the WWF Champion! Rocky, whaddya say?"
"Mmmm hmmm, nice."
The Rock had nothing to say? Steve was shocked. Rocky always had to say what was on his mind. He glanced at his friend; his eyebrows knitted together in confusion. The Rock sat in the corner with his arms folded across his chest.
"Son, what's wrong with ya?"
"Nothing."
"Damn it, don't play that horse crap with me. I'm no mind reader!"
"Three initials that all begin with the letter H."
"Didn't I tell you to forget that stupid crap? You'll have your chance at the gold soon enough. Stop stressin' it."
You have no idea how soonThe Rock thought nastily. He glared at Steve through his sunglasses. Stone Cold missed the hateful murderous stare from his excitement.
"Well, ya can sit in the corner and cry your eyes out, Rock. I guess that means I'll have more beer t'myself. What did I do with that beer? Ah ha!"
Stone Cold took out two cold cans from the fridge and toasted them together. He guzzled on both cans of beer, holding them high in the air. The beer spilled onto his bare chest in a drunken river. The Rock got up and helped himself to one.
"Congrats to the toughest S.O.B." The Rock lifted up a can in false cheer.
"Yep, bad ass Stone Cold Steve Austin!"
"If ya smell what The Rock is cookin'!"
Austin and Rock laughed.
If Stone Cold could really smell what The Rock was cookin', he would smell a nasty stench that bred of hatred, betrayal, jealousy, and insincerity. He was oblivious to it all, as he looked forward to the match that would crown him as the WWF champ once again.
Meanwhile, The Rock thought about how he would celebrate next week, when he and not Stone Cold possessed the belt. What was the friendship anyway? Gold was glittery, far more appealing, and worth more.