The Not-So Dream Team

"I love your new job," Samoa Joe said as AJ stormed past him.

AJ slammed the door as he walked into dressing room and flopped onto the couch.

"Who the hell do you think you are walking around here like you're the boss?" Larry asked following him in.

"I refuse to do it," AJ said adamantly.

"You can stop by my office tomorrow then," Larry said.

"And if I don't show up?" AJ asked.

"You're fired either way," Larry said. "Pack your things up and go make that call."

"You're firing me because I don't want to work with a woman that you found on the corner of the street?" AJ asked.

"She's a very highly trained professional," Larry replied. "Are you even listening?"

"Nope, I quit listening when you said 'she'," he answered.

"How about if I put it this way," Larry started. "If you win the tournament you'll be the first ever person in TNA to be a quadruple crown winner."

"Personally, I think Triple Crown winner sounds better," AJ said. "I mean how would you feel if during the peak of your career you're told that you have to team with a woman and completely forget about your goals?"

"That's the thing that you're not getting," Larry said. "After this whole competition you'll still have your partners and every once and while you'll compete in the intergender division but you're also free to go after the NWA Tag Team Championship, X-Division Championship or the NWA World Heavyweight Championship."

"So all I have to do is win this and I'm free?"

"Well everyone's free to do what they want to after it's done but I thought that an athlete like you would prefer to win," Larry said. "I guess you just don't feel the way about the business that you used to."

"Why do you think that?" AJ asked.

"Because the AJ Styles that I knew would want to win at all cost. He wouldn't let a tiny little obstacle stand in his way," Larry said standing up. "But hey, if you want to go and sign with the WWE you're free to now."

Then Larry walked out of the room.

AJ sat staring at the door for a few minutes before he jumped up and ran after Larry.

"Fine, I'll do it," AJ said behind him.

"On my terms?" Larry asked.

"Whatever it takes," AJ said.

"You start working with her tomorrow at three p.m," Larry said. "If you're late you lose 20 of your pay check."

"I'll be there," AJ said shaking Larry's hand.

§§§§§§§§§§§

AJ rolled over in bed and picked up the ringing phone.

"What?" He asked groggily.

"I didn't hear from you tonight," she said. "I got lonely, thought you might've just fallen asleep."

"You're a genius," he said rubbing his eyes. "What do you want?"

"I'm cold in this big bed with no one to hold me," she replied.

"I don't hold you Samantha," he said.

"No but you do other things that I'm missing right now," she said. "You mind if I come over?"

"Yes I mind," he said and hung up.

§§§§§§§§§§§

"Wow, you actually came," Dallas said from her sitting position on the top rope.

"No, I'm a figment of you imagination," he said jumping into the ring.

"Ya know it's not every day that you meet a person who lives up to all the nasty things said about him."

"I'm insulted," he said rolling his eyes. "Let's just get this over with."

"Fine by me," she said hopping down. "May I start?"

"No you may not," he answered. "How many moves did they teach you?"

"Who's they? I taught myself," Dallas said.

"Great," AJ said sarcastically.

"I'm probably in better physical condition than you are," Dallas spat. "You seem to be slacking off as of late."

"Is this how this is gonna go every time?" AJ asked. "Because I have better things to do."

"And you think I don't?" Dallas asked.

"Okay let's get started," AJ said quickly throwing his shirt off.

§§§§§§§§§§§

"Okay time's up," AJ said leaning against the top rope.

"Can I tell you now what I was going to tell you in the beginning?" Dallas asked.

"Sure," AJ said just wanting to get out of there. "What were you going to say?"

"I was going to say that you're spinning kick is terrible," Dallas said and walked into the women's changing room.

§§§§§§§§§§§

"I don't know how I'm gonna do this," AJ said to Ron.

"What's so hard about it?" Ron asked. "You teach them a little bit and you go on your way."

"I don't get along with her at all," AJ said.

"So shock everyone, including yourself," Ron replied. "What's so hard about putting your career on hold for a few weeks to get another person started. And think about it, you'll be credited with all of her success."

"It's a lot harder than that. She's stubborn, she's only been trained by herself and she's-"

"Extremely good-looking."

"That's not what I was going for," AJ said.

"You were thinking it," Ron said laughing. "That's why you don't like working with her."

"Nice try, but no."

"I'm serious," Ron said. "You're used to being the one that everyone's looking at but now that you're with a chick that could beat you you don't like it."

"Have you been watching Oprah lately?" AJ asked. "What is that shit?"

"Common knowledge," Ron answered.

"You can go try to impress someone else with that bullshit, I'm gonna go drink with the men," AJ said standing up.

"Have fun with your boyfriends," Ronnie said laughing.

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