SmackDown Filming: September 20, 2011

I sit in my locker-room with Randy. After some events on last night's Raw, things were tense backstage tonight. Miz and R-Truth were fired, and some members of the WWE locker-room thought Triple H had lost control.

I look at Randy as he puts on his ring gear for tonight. "Did you hear what Punk said last night?"

"That John Laurinaitis is trying to be the COO? I may have heard something. Why?" Randy replies as he starts lacing up his boots.

"I think he might be onto something. I think he's right."

"Is this about Laurinaitis coming after your job?"

"It's about that and more. He would have some authority over me if he actually would become COO. I'd be screwed. It'd be horrible for the business if he became COO. John Laurinaitis has Triple H so blinded right now too. I can't sit by and let him do this."

Randy shakes his head. "What else?"

"We made up with Jay last week. You haven't had problems with Punk for months. I understand that you may not want to, but I want to go talk to Punk. I'm saying something this time, so please, don't be pissed at me."

Randy nods. "Do it. I know you two used to be pretty tight. He doesn't have New Nexus anymore. Just be careful. If he's being nice to you, I may consider making amends with him."

I smile. "Thanks, baby. He's backstage tonight."

"Okay. Talk to him."

"I will."

Someone knocks on our door. Randy and I exchange a look. Randy gets up and opens the door. Teddy Long is on the other side of the door.

Teddy sighs. "John Laurinaitis is to open up the show, and he wants the SmackDown roster at ringside for that and Mark Henry's speech. That is all. Just passing the message along."

Randy nods. "Thanks, Teddy."

Teddy waves and leaves. Randy closes our door.

"We're not going to that." I say.

Randy looks at me. "We're not?"

"Nope. I'm not going to stand around to listen to John's diatribe, probably about CM Punk. You couldn't possibly want to listen to Mark Henry's speech."

Randy nods. "Fair enough."

I smile as I find Punk's locker-room door and knock on the door.

Punk opens the door. "Uh…what's up?"

I give Punk a serious look. "Could you spare me five minutes of your time?"

"Does Randy know that you're coming to see me?"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, Randy knows."

"And he's cool with it?"

I shrug. "Yeah. I think we needed to talk anyway."

Punk nods. "Okay. Come in."

I follow Punk into his locker-room. "Do you have a match tonight?"

Punk sits on his couch. "Nope. Not all. You?"

"No. I don't either."

"Okay. Enough small talk, Marissa. What's this all about?"

"One, I'd like to be friends again. Two, I think you're right about John Laurinaitis."

Punk laughs. "You believe me? Color me surprised."

"Why are you surprised?"

"Because you're a part of the authority figures now."

I roll my eyes. "Barely. I'm still way more of a wrestler than an authority figure."

Punk nods. "What's your problem with him? He's a sniveling piece of garbage, but what's your problem?"

"He's been badmouthing me to people that include higher ups. He's making claims that I'm too immature to hold any position of power. He wants me out of that job."

"He wants to hold power over you."

"Oh probably."

"I'm just glad someone believes me."

"Keep pursuing this thing with Laurinaitis. Someone has to expose him."

Punk nods. "I will do that. Good luck."

I go to leave. "Thanks."

"Just so you know, my door is open whenever you need to talk."

"Okay. Thank you."

Randy and I decided to watch what was going down on a monitor near guerilla, directly disobeying John's orders.

"Why are we even watching this?" Randy asks.

"Because John Laurinaitis is full of shit, but I want to see how well he is going to try to keep up this facade." I reply.

"I understand. He clearly likes Mark Henry, so that makes me dislike him even more."

"I know what you mean."

"Are you going to fight Beth again?"

"Yes, but only this last time. If I beat her again, I'll be sure that she's done as long as I'm still champion."

"Good."

We watch in silence as Mark starts to make his speech just to get interrupted by Triple H. John Laurinaitis exits guerilla and sees me and Randy.

John approaches us. "You two were supposed to be out there."

I look at John as I sense Randy tensing up. "Were we?"

"The entire SmackDown roster was supposed to be out there."

"I thought the roster wasn't brand divided anymore."

"Even though both rosters can appear on both shows, they're still brand divided."

"Oh well."

"You disobeyed my orders."

"Did I?"

"You did."

"Last I checked, you didn't have authority over me anymore."

"I do have authority over Randy though."

I roll my eyes. "Well, he is with me at my request. I am higher up than you, so I would trump you in this situation."

John gives me a dirty look. "You need to start showing me some respect."

"I will when you start showing me some."

John harshly walks away.

Randy watches John before pulling me close to him. "Are we sure I can't kick his ass?"

"If he keeps this up, I might consider it." I reply.

"Oh okay. Let me know when if that's the case."

"I will. Good luck against Cody tonight."

"Thanks, babe."

I sat in John's locker-room with him, Chelle, and Eve to watch Randy and Cody's match.

I watch as Randy hits Cody with his facemask and got disqualified. "What the hell is he doing?"

Randy continues to attack Cody.

"Oh no." John mutters.

"This is not okay." Chelle says.

"Not okay at all."

"He's bleeding so much."

Eve silently walks out of the room.

"You think he's going to be fighting with Cody too?" I ask.

John sighs. "Who knows?"

I bite my lip. "Remember that favor you owe Randy?"

"Yeah…why? Oh no, please don't make me get involved."

"You don't have to get involved with Randy and Cody's problems, but Randy wanted me to ask you to have Ted and Cody sit down so you could talk to them about their fighting."

"I don't know about that…"

"Please, John. Those two are still staying at mine and Randy's place. Don't make me have to deal with this at home."

"Is this a good idea?"

"Babe, you are the best mediator in our group." Chelle says. "It'd be worth a shot."

John sighs. "Fine. I'll do it. Let me go track down Ted, and I'll grab Cody once he leaves the trainer's room. You might want to talk to Randy about the number he did on Cody."

"I will." I say. "Thanks, John."

"No problem." John exits the locker-room.

"Ya know if they continue to fight, you could use it to kick them out." Chelle says.

I nod. "You have a point."