Chapter 3: Tarnished Gold

Vince McMahon had seen everything and saw that it was good. He later explained to Triple H, that in due time, he would be the WWF champion once again. How would he do it? By screwing The Rock of course! One good screw deserves another. It was beautifully ugly, Vince thought of the Stony Rocky feud that had just begun. They both had fell unsuspecting into the trap. Caught in a tangle of sticky webs. Now Vince had an ally, who could help him take down his most hated nemesis, Stone Cold Steve Austin. In the end, The Rock would be tossed away. He wouldn't be the first, or the last, as so many other wrestlers had been used and discarded once the vengeful McMahon had got what he wanted from them. When one crossed Vince McMahon, it was very hard to cross him over.

A friendship had been tarnished. And all for the gold that was temporary. It was true. All that glitters isn't gold. Sad, how friends stab each other in the back on short notice and over trivial things.

It reminded Vince McMahon of a song sung by Kelly Price called "Friend of Mine." The dreary and desolate lyrics of the song painted a sad and depressing picture of a woman, who had been betrayed by her "best friend." The so-called best friend had slept with her man behind her back. It wasn't a far stretch from what The Rock had done to Stone Cold. Only it involved a distinguished title and a reputation, and not another person. He hummed the song as he got into his limo and toasted himself to a beer (ironically) on a job very well done. McMahon changed the words to fit ol' Stone Cold's situation.

"He was a friend of mine. He left with my belt. He lied. Cheated. Took what was mine. Bastard was a friend of mine. He used what he knew. He lied. Cheated. And left me pissed off."

The chauffeur started up the limousine.

Vince McMahon chortled. Who else could he screw next? What other alliances needed to be torn beyond repair?

There were the New Age Outlaws. Road Dogg and Billy Gunn were impossible to separate. The Acolytes? Nah, Bradshaw and Faarooq were practically Siamese twins. Mark Henry and D-Lo Brown had been having problems lately. Extra bonus to Jeff Jarrett on that one. Droz and Prince Albert? Yuck. The Undertaker and Paul Bearer. Leave that to the Dead Man. Too Cool was too pathetic. Big Bossman, Test, and Ken Shamrock were loners. So was Big Show. Hardcore and Crash Holly always fought each other. Curtis Huge and Chris Jericho were on the verge of breaking up. Mankind and Al Snow were both deranged. Val Venis and the Godfather were getting kinda close.

That couldn't happen. Vince wouldn't allow it to happen.

Let the Headbangers bang their own heads together. Ah, X-Pac and Kane. Now there was a strong possibility. A fight waiting to happen. PMS? Who cares? Let Terri Runnels and Jacqueline have a little catfight. Perhaps an evening gown match could tear them asunder. Definitely Edge and Christian had potential. Someone had to drive a wedge between those two acrobats. The Hardy Boyz? See last remark, concerning the twin circus performers. Let Triple H and Chyna have their own domestic relationship problems. Viscera and Mideon, Kaientai and Funaki, and his two personal stooges: Pat Patterson and Gerry Brisco would be the victims of McMahon's monstrosity.

Who knows?

Even Shane and Stephanie might fall prey to their father's crazy rampage. Petty sibling rivalry would be the cause.

He would get down to it. He would split them all up. Every last one of them would be killing each other by the time Vince had crossed their paths. Vince McMahon cackled at the possibilities that lay ahead.

Right now, he had to go celebrate.

"Turn right here!" He shouted at the chauffeur.

Come to think of it, there were lots of special events to celebrate.

The demise of Stone Cold's and The Rock's friendship was one.

Stone Cold Steve Austin having just got successfully screwed out of the championship. That was definitely the highlight of the evening. How could he forget that?

There was one more important event lurking in Vince McMahon's devious mind.

What was it?

Ah, yes.

The induction of the Corporation's newest member.

The Rock.

The End