"Raw, 15,231, ECW, 14,224, Smackdown, 12,572…shit," Stephanie muttered. Looking through her small stack of papers, she sighed and took off her glasses, picking up her cell phone and dialing a familiar number. "Yeah, hey Teddy, it's Steph. I'm good, thanks. Listen, I have a small favor to ask of you. I was looking over the ratings from last week and…they're not good. No. At all." Stephanie nodded slowly as she listened to him. "Yes. Well…I have something important to tell you, something that I just recently found out and I have an idea on how to fix it…"
"So this ECW thing is for real?" Adam asked.
John nodded. "Yep. Once Heyman's name was mentioned, she took it pretty serious."
"It's probably more than that," Randy replied.
John frowned. "What're you talking about, bro?"
Randy shrugged. "Well, it's personal for her. Heyman has always overshadowed her in everything she's done and Vince just keeps bringing him back again."
"Why?"
"Dunno. All I know is that they had a falling out back in '01. Since then, they've been gunning for the other. Every time they're around each other, Steph is different. It's like feeding into their egos."
"That bad?"
Randy nodded and before he could say anything further, they heard Stephanie calling John from behind them. Stopping, John turned to see her scurrying over to them. "John."
He gave her his charming smile. "What's up, Steph?"
But Stephanie didn't notice. "Listen, you still in touch with Dave?"
"Bautista?" Stephanie nodded. "Uh, yeah…I guess."
Stephanie closed her eyes. "Don't guess, John. I need to know."
"Um, yeah."
"Good, you need to call him tonight and tell him that his ass needs to be here in the next five hours."
"Whoa, what?"
Stephanie glared at him. "Did I stutter?"
"No, but why can't you do it?"
"Because I have something else that I need to take care of," she snapped. Spinning on her heels, Stephanie turned and marched away, with John watching her, still in state of shock.
Adam came up from behind him and placed his hand on John's left shoulder. "Yep…defiantly personal."
"What do you mean Heyman wants to take over?!?" Vince shouted over the phone. "That's impossible! It's unacceptable! It's…"
Stephanie sat at the desk, staring at the speaker phone, while Trish sat on the couch, listening. "I know, Dad!" Stephanie snapped. "He's taking advantage because you're not here."
"Well, what are you doing about it?"
"I'm taking care of it! Why are you turning this on me?"
"I'm not turning anything on you," Vince snapped. "I'm simply asking a question…"
"One that I answered," Stephanie replied, cutting him off, "so move on."
She heard Vince sigh over the phone. "Okay, unfortunately, I cannot get a flight back this short of notice," he told his daughter. "There's a huge storm or something. Fucking mother nature and her timing," he mumbled angrily.
Trish couldn't help but to chuckle, receiving a glare from her best friend. "Look, I just found out that ECW is tying their independent funds to the TNA network and plotting to break away from WWE and take the title." Vince remained silent. "They already have a number of our people on their list." Stephanie sighed. "Dad, if they get them, it could be a huge shift in fans and sponsorship. They've already topped Smackdown and are coming in hard and fast on Raw."
"What about interpromtional?" Vince asked. "All three brands against each other to throw off the fans?"
"It's a good idea, but it gives ECW and Heyman the chance to scope out Raw and take out our wrestlers."
"Do we have nothing we can use against them?" Vince asked, hopeful.
"Well," Stephanie began. "I did call in some pretty desperate back up."
Stephanie could imagine her father frowning deeply. "What kind of back up?" he asked carefully.
The kind of back up that you'll regret further down the line. John couldn't believe it; couldn't believe how far Stephanie wanted to go. But then again, when you want to win, you pick a winning team. And she did a damn good job. John against Paul, aka, Big Show…they've done it before, just as John was making his mark on the map, and the two got along. He was surprised when Stephanie told him that Heyman bought him out. John knew Paul's capabilities in the ring; all this was was a brawl, straight out. Nothing was followed by the script. But then, Stephanie was prepared for that. On some level, she knew. And John owned his life for her because just as Paul raised those huge, forty pounds steps above his head, preparing to bring it down on his skull, a man tackled him to the ground from out of no where. John couldn't move he was so paralyzed. All he heard was a massive roar of cheers and chants. It wasn't directed at him; he wasn't that popular, but he was glad it wasn't directed at Paul either. As John finally found the strength to rise to his feet, though unsteadily, and as his vision cleared, he saw Paul getting knocked down on the mat. Without hesitation, John slid into the ring. Paul turned and that's when John saw it…Steve Austin in the ring…fighting Paul. John's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it. Once Steve gave Paul the stunner, John saw his opening. Bending down as far as possible, he got under Paul and rose up, lifting the five hundred pound-er onto his back, then his shoulders. Grunting from the weight, he held him in the air like that and looked at the crowd and into the cameras. Steve looked at the young kid with admiration. For the second time in either man's career, John nailed the F-U onto the big show. He dropped down and covered him, successfully pinning him. As John's music hit, he rolled off of Paul and fought to catch his breath. As he stood up, Steve offered his hand and helped John up. Signaling, Steve caught the beers that were thrown at him and tossed John two. He stared down at them then back at Steve, who hopped on the rope and hit the two cans together and chugged them. Watching him catch two more, John hopped on the opposite corner of the ring and did the same.
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Paul Heyman watched the closing of Raw and threw his remote control against the wall, breaking it. Taking his baseball cap off and throwing that as well, he paced the room where his office was, his hands on his head. He couldn't believe Stephanie. Though a small part of him knew she'd strike back after hearing of his plans, he never thought that she'd bring back Steve Austin of all people. Even though it was unfortunate that she found out about his plans, he thought it was fun too. Without her parents, Paul would be able to squash Stephanie like nothing. Then the WWE would be in his name, and he'll run ECW how he liked…not what the WWE wanted. One way or the other, the past was about to return, and the war between WWE and ECW would brew once more.
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Stephanie watched Steve and John drinking and shaking hands in the ring and smiled. If Paul Heyman wanted a fight, she'd give him one. She smirked as she shut the television off. It was a reminder of the past. Raw is War…ECW vs. Raw. Since ECW was in her family's name and they owned the brand, they needed to get rid of the pest…Heyman. To do that, they needed to destroy the brand. Just like they had in the past, they'd do it again. Stephanie was bringing the war back.