"Enlighten me, Lesnar, just what the hell were you trying to prove back there?" CJ asked, keeping pace with the Beast as they headed back towards the locker room. The people they passed by looked shocked at the tone the Canadian had used, since was was speaking to Brock Lesnar, and nobody spoke to Brock like that. Not even Paul. Dean knew that his girlfriend could be quite fearless at times, but he also knew that Brock would never go off on her so he wasn't concerned for her well-being in dealing with the beast. He was just going to keep quiet to avoid getting CJ even angrier and to help keep his temper down because he was still seething over what Roman had the audacity to say about CJ.
"They're going to pay for what they did. You don't cross us and get away with it." The Minnesota native stated, as if it were simple, shrugging before looking back at Dean and Seth as the two champions trailed behind. "Besides, Ambrose isn't going to want to fight his brother, so I might as well get in a few punches on his behalf for that shit Reigns said about you."
"This is completely out of your way, which is totally out of character for you so I'm going to have to request that you go see the trainers and make sure that you don't have a fever." Her comment had the Beast chuckling as he opened the door to the locker room, allowing CJ to go through first before following her in. "Paul is going to annihilate me over the phone for letting this happen, I feel it."
"Only you aren't responsible for Brock's decision making." Dean stated, locking the door behind him and taking Olivia from Natalya. "Paul knows that and it was painfully obvious that Brock acted on the spot and it's not your issue to deal with. Everything is going to be fine."
"If Paul decides to lecture you on it, just hand me the phone." Brock spoke, his tone giving the sense of finality to their conversation, and CJ sighed as she dropped onto the couch beside Natalya. "How's your shoulder?"
"Better, but I still have to be careful with it. Reinjuring it is not on my agenda."
"We'll be fine." The Beast assured, patting the top of CJ's head before exiting the locker room. She assumed that he was going to get his gear from the car he had arrived in so she didn't bother with wondering where he was going. She just sat there, looking straight ahead while figuring out what their game plan would be for the night. She had to be out there with Dean and Seth during their matches, even if it was putting herself in danger. She couldn't act like she was afraid of anything happening to her, because that just made her a target for the mind games. They were supposed to be the ones playing the mind games, not be on the receiving end of them.
"Dean, can you say what's on your mind please?" She finally spoke after five minutes of silence hanging over the room Natalya had left during that time to get fruits and other foods at Seth's request, which left the trio and their baby alone in the small space.
"I'm pissed, you probably already know that." He started, kissing the top of Olivia's had as the infant slept in his arms. "I don't know what's going on in Roman's head and that worries me. I hope to god that he isn't willing to throw our friendship away over some titles, but what if? And why attack Paul? What is there to gain from taking Heyman out? We still have him to coordinate over the phone, so we're not discombobulated in any way, but still... Too many things are going on right now."
CJ could only nod, not knowing what to say because she was still trying to figure it all out herself. So she looked to Seth, waiting for him to share his feelings on the matter with hope that his thoughts and Dean's would help her figure out her own.
"Oh, is it my turn?" The Iowan asked, not at all surprised by the look on CJ's face when she nodded. "I dunno, CJ. Like Dean said, there's a lot going on right now. The Authority gunning after us, more specifically you, and now the Samoan Dynamo-"
"Dynasty." CJ and Dean corrected in unison, pointing at each other in acknowledgement as Seth rolled his eyes.
"I know that, I was trying to make fun of them." He defended, grinning when CJ rolled her eyes at him. "Anyways, they're gunning after us - more specifically you and me. I just don't get the timing. Why now? Why would they pick a time when they'd have to fight for their right to even have a shot? Stephanie has made it clear that she wants you in top shape to destroy you and take the title, she made that clear when she said you weren't competing in a title match until her match with you. Roman knows that I have to have my rematch with Brock - well, had now that Brock put his number one contendership on the line. Actually, I probably will still have to face Lesnar because this is Brock Lesnar. Roman's good, but-"
"Can you get back on track, Sethie?" She interrupted, smiling slightly when Seth's eyes widened.
"In short, I'm confused. If they were such good strategists, why not wait until after SummerSlam when we're all beat to hell?"
"Who says we'd be beat to hell?" Dean asked, laying the sleeping Olivia down on the couch next to CJ.
"I was going to be fighting Brock - just because we're on the same team doesn't mean he'd go easy on me. CJ's fucking rad in that ring, but Stephanie is a few steps above CJ's typical competition. I don't think she'd lose, but I know she's not walking out of that match in one piece. And we don't even know what The Authority is going to have lined up for you to keep you busy that night." Seth reasoned, smirking when neither blonde made any indication of arguing.
"He's got a point." CJ mumbled, smiling when Dean sat down on the floor in front of her feet. Her hands took to petting his head, trying to provide some comfort to her troubled boyfriend. She knew this was going to be a rough period of time for her boyfriend, their faction being at war with Roman's on top of his regular paranoia surrounding her health and wellbeing at work. His mind was going to be going a mile a minute until at least one of these issues was resolved, so she was going to have to work overtime in keeping him calm and well rested. It would be hard work, but it would be worth it.
"I want you to jump on the apron with me." Brock stated, catching the Canadian off guard as she did squats in gorilla.
"Isn't that a bit cutesy for you?"
"You look good when you do it, and it's something Naomi can't do so you're proving that you're more athletic than she is." The Beast reasoned, getting a shrug out of CJ as she continued her squats. "Tonight is all about establishing dominance and revenge for Paul."
"I spoke to The New Day. They're ready to take out the Usos if they get out of hand tonight." CJ informed, noticing the way Brock was watching the Uso twins on the monitor.
"How much did that cost?"
"Not a damn thing. They're all about establishing their own dominance in their own highly entertaining way so they were happy to help should we need it." She explained, smirking when she saw the trio nearby. "But I'll probably send a gift basket their way regardless of what they do tonight."
"Keep in their good graces. Makes sense." Brock stated, rolling his neck as his music started and he watched CJ go through the curtain first.
"They're goofy as hell, but they get the job done." She stated, finishing their conversation before they made their way down the ramp. She loved the look on both Roman and Naomi's faces as she jumped up onto the apron in perfect unison with Brock, removing her belt from around her waist and setting it down in their corner.
Naomi looked eager to start and CJ was going to let her start. Brock just moved onto the apron and CJ pointed at the other woman with a smirk, quickly moving to lock up with her once the bell rang. She was playing dirty early, getting a fistful of Naomi's hair and pulling her head back for a full 5 count before shoving Naomi away from her. She looked up at Roman, smirking at her daughter's godfather before locking up with Naomi once again.
"I'm gonna take that belt from you."
"You're gonna have to beat me first." CJ responded, intentionally falling onto her back and bringing Naomi with her in an attempt to lock in the Kimura. Unfortunately, the former Funkadactyl caught on to what she was trying to do and quickly detached herself from the Canadian before scrambling into her corner and tagging in Roman. But the big Samoan didn't scare her, CJ only stood and stared at him as he entered the ring.
"I'm not fighting you, CJ."
"Then tag your worthless cousin's even more worthless wife in so that I can fight her." CJ instructed, trying to rile Roman up so he'd either tag in Naomi or come at her himself. "I didn't come here to play games, Roman Reigns. I came here because you wanted a fight. So either you're going to grow a pair or she is, because I'm not ready to tag out just yet."
"Be careful how you talk about my family, CJ."
"You weren't careful in talking about me and mine. I'd say we're even." She quipped, taking a couple steps closer to Roman. The Samoan backed up a step, and CJ rolled her eyes. "I hold my own against Dean, you should be a cakewalk in comparison."
Her words seemed to spark something in the Samoan, and he moved so that he was standing toe-to-toe with her. She couldn't help but smirk up at him, knowing that she just found some crucial information in terms of pushing the Samoan's buttons. He didn't look too pleased with her, but she could care less and made that point very well known when she jumped up into the Code Breaker. Instead of even trying to go for a pin, she simply stood and tagged in Brock. The Beast had some steam to blow and CJ wasn't going to keep him from that any longer.
Once Brock was in there it wasn't pretty. Roman was officially in Suplex City and CJ didn't feel sorry for him in the slightest. That was made obvious by the look of pure joy on her face as she watched Brock pull Roman apart piece-by-piece.
"Is it just me or does she look way too happy to see Roman getting beat up like this?" Seth asked, looking away from the monitor to see Dean changing Olivia's diaper.
"Roman called her out on live, international television." Dean reasoned, not looking from from his daughter as she spoke. "She's fucking pissed, so of course she'd enjoy watching Brock murder Roman."
"That doesn't concern you?"
"I'm fucking pissed too." The blonde stated, fixing Olivia's pants before sitting the infant up on the couch. "Can you get her little bag of cheerios from the table for me?"
"And Lesnar tagging in Jericho with Reigns on his shoulders." Cole commented, and Dean looked up to see his girlfriend up on the top rope.
"What is your mommy doing?" Dean asked, taking the bag from Seth and setting it down beside Olivia. "Tell me she's not thinking about a Blockbuster."
"F-5 from Lesnar followed by a Shooting Star Press from Jericho!"
"When the hell did she learn that?"
"She might've picked it up in developmental and just never used it until now."
"Why didn't she tell me that she could do that?" Dean asked, looking back to Olivia as the infant started digging through her cheerios. "You better not start flipping off of shit, Olivia Addison."
How Roman kicked out of that, CJ would never know. But she didn't fret, she knew that she had to keep a cool head if they were going to win this. She had to keep her temper in check, regardless of how badly she wanted to rearrange Roman's face for saying what he had said to her. She could go off after she beat Roman.
"C'mon, Reigns. Get up." She called from where she sat atop the top turnbuckle. She hadn't really planned on doing much from the top rope, not wanting to give Stephane too much to research and plan for, but she was going to do what she had to do to establish dominance in this company. You did not fuck with the Heyman family and get away with it.
"Might as well start counting him out, ref!" She suggested, smirking at Naomi from across the ring. What made that smirk fade was the Uso's getting onto the apron and staying there despite the ref telling them repeatedly to get down. But as soon as they were up there they were gone, The New Day making good on their deal with CJ to handle the Usos if they were to get out of hand. "They've earned their gift basket."
Now that the Usos were handled and Roman was starting to crawl back to his corner, CJ hopped off of the turnbuckle and landed ever so gracefully with one foot hitting the canvas and the other landing right on Roman's kidney. She was greatly enjoying herself, possibly a bit too much but she'd discuss that with Dean later.
"You made us your enemies, Roman Reigns. Believe that." She taunted, stomping on his back once more before going to crouch beside his limp form. He had an arm extended towards his corner, and she took his wrist and started flailing it around. "Tag in, Naomi, tag in! Help me out, Naomi! You're pathetic, Roman Reigns. You picked a fight that you have no hope to win!"
"A very vocal CJ Jericho tonight." Cole commented, and Dean shrugged as he watched Olivia bounce on her feet with the bag of cheerios in her hand.
"What to you expect, Michael? Roman Reigns was very vocal about her, I'm surprised she hasn't pulled out the kendo sticks yet." JBL responded, getting a chuckle out of Dean.
"I bet she wishes that she had a kendo stick in her hands right now." The blonde spoke, giving Olivia his hand when she started to reach for it. "Lets hope that she hangs onto this brutality when she faces off with Stephanie next month."
"And it looks like Naomi has had enough of CJ running her mouth."
"That won't last long." Seth muttered, watching as Naomi crossed the ring to stand in front of CJ. The blonde was still crouched down beside Roman, but stood so that she could be face-to-face with the diva. It was quiet between the two, Roman slowly making his way to his corner while CJ was distracted. CJ said something to Naomi. pointing to the corner, and Naomi surprised Seth by actually going back to her corner - dragging Roman along with her- before officially tagging herself into the match. "CJ wants to finish this."
"CJ wants to hurt somebody in general. But she'd rather not get disqualified." Dean reasoned, pulling Olivia back onto the couch with him. "Disqualification means that Naomi technically defeated her, which gives Naomi reason to request a title match."
"She may be pissed, but you can tell that she's thinking everything through." Seth reasoned, watching the women lock up once again. "She's probably about five steps ahead of Naomi and Roman at this point."
CJ was trying desperately to keep her temper in check. There was nothing really stopping her from grabbing a chair and beating the hell out of both Naomi and Roman. Actually, Brock would probably stop her and make her wait until they won to go that far.
"You make me so very angry, Naomi." The Canadian muttered, throwing the woman to the mat before running to the ropes to do a Lionsault. Unfortunately for CJ, Naomi rolled out of the way and the hard landing on the canvas had the Women's Champion slightly disoriented as she heard a thud by the side of the ring. She couldn't worry about that now, slowly making her way to her feet while buying herself some time to analyze Naomi's position for some hope of a finish. One shot, Copeland. Don't fuck this up.
She had barely taken two steps back before Naomi started to charge but the Canadian charged forward, tackling Naomi in a spur-of-the-moment spear . The crowd's cheers were so loud, she almost couldn't hear the ref counting to three as she covered Naomi in the center of the ring. When the ref raised her arm with Brock's she noticed Roman laying unconscious at ringside, probably because of Brock, and that made her strangely happy.
"What did you do?" She asked as she grabbed her belt on their way out of the ring and the Beast shrugged, gently patting her back as they made their way up the ramp.
"Took his ass to Suplex City. Nice spear, by the way."
"Thanks." She breathed, moving her shoulder to make sure that she hadn't messed it up again. "Think they'll get the message not to fuck with us again?"
"Doubt it."