Huge thank yous to Yankees01 for the review and to NinjaxGirlX1989 & viridianaln9 for adding this to your favs list, I really appreciate it.
If I don't add before Merry Christmas x
Disclaimer: I only own Emma, Vince owns anything WWE related and the Superstars own themselves….
Chapter 8: Surprise Return
The holidays once again came and gone and the New Year arrived also.
Back in December I was finally cleared to get back in the ring so that's exactly what I did, I began training again for my return, first getting rid of the ring rust.
Before my return I met with creative and Vince so they can tell me about not just my return but what they have in store for me the next few months and a possible chance for me to turn heel. You see Vince has been trying to get me turn heel since Steve did back in 2001 but I always felt more comfortable as a baby face plus the storylines and scenario that he offered for me to turn had never been attractive enough for me, the one he told me about at this meeting was very attractive and I was all for it but I'll explain about that later on as Vince changes his mind on the whole idea.
My surprise return was due for January 26th 2004, the night after the Royal Rumble.
On January 19th edition of Raw, a week before the Royal Rumble, Trish and Lita had been having trouble with Molly Holly (who was Women's Champion at the time) and Gail Kim the past few weeks. After a tag match between the four ladies, Trish and Lita were attacked by both Molly and Gail and with the addition of Victoria, so it was a 3 on 2 attack.
In Bischoff's office, him and Stone Cold were arguing over something when two very pissed off ladies in the form of Lita and Trish storm in and demand a rematch against Molly and Gail while also baying for Victoria. Bischoff obliged and told them that if they found a partner he would make it 6 diva tag team match for the next week on Raw, he then excused himself before leaving Stone Cold and the two Divas behind.
Stone Cold the proceeds to tell them that he has the perfect partner in mind for the ladies and that all he had to do was make a phone call. He told them not to worry, he'll take of it and she will be here next week. Of course, if you're keeping score, that partner it me. They nod, smile and thank him before leaving and Stone Cold immediately makes that phone call.
The next week arrived and after a great Royal Rumble in which both John and Randy competed in with the eventual winner being Chris Benoit while Dave and Ric defended their tag team tiles against the Dudley Boyz successfully.
I don't know why but I was incredibly nervous, when you are away for so long you wonder if the fans still remember you and will accept you back like before, the WWE fans are awesome but a lot goes on and lots of things change while you're away and they can soon forget about 1 wrestler especially a Diva, very easily.
The time had come, the 3 heels were making their way down to the ring as I stood behind the curtain with Trish and Amy waiting for our turn, they both headed out separately and waited at the bottom of the ramp for their partner with anticipation, they were supposed to pretend like they didn't know who they were teaming with, the suspense built before the familiar sound of glass shattering rung throughout the arena as the fans cheered loudly. I took a deep breathe before walking through the curtain and standing on top the ramp with my hands on my hips for a few seconds just soaking up the atmosphere and the feeling of finally coming back.
I headed down the ramp to the delight of Trish and Lita, they were happy yet shocked not expecting to see me, we headed in the ring, me and Trish taking the stairs while Lita slide under the ropes and got down to business. We successfully won, the ref raising our hands in the air and I just took every second in remembering why I loved my job and this business so much, it felt fucking fantastic to be back doing what I do best.
The next week I cut a promo with both Steve and Eric in the GM's office, Steve and Eric are once again arguing over my return, Eric arguing over the fact he fired me back in November and Steve simply saying well I brought her back, when speak of the devil, I walk into Bischoff's office all happy and stand next to my brother proudly.
Not being able to deal with us both at the same time, Eric huffs before storming out of his office to mine and Steve's delight, I ask what's up with him with the reply of he's a jackass. I then look at my brother and thank him for getting my job back, in a rare emotion from Stone Cold he tells me that's what brothers are for.
Later in the night I head to the ring to cut a promo regarding my return to the WWE telling fans how hard it's been but I'm glad to be back and that my quest to regain the women's title will begin immediately and I put out a warning to Molly Holly that I'm coming for her and the title. Just as I begin to continue I hear guitar rifts of music blaring through the speakers' and the voice of Motörhead begin to sing.
Standing right in the middle of the ring, playing my part, I turn around slowly with burrowed eyebrows as I stared at Triple H, Ric Flair, Batista and Randy Orton also known as Evolution heading down the ramp all dressed up in their designer suites when I was quite casually just going for some blue jeans, black dress boots and a white fitted ladies t-shirt with navy blue sleeves, my hair tied up in a ponytail.
I continue to stare in wonder with burrowed eyebrows as to what the hell these four men want, are they gonna chase me out the ring so they can have their air time or do they actually want something to with me?
They all climb in the ring, championships resting on each one of their shoulders showing their dominance, Triple H already with a mic in hand, stands in front of me while the others spread themselves out around the ring. I continue to stand in the same spot with hands on my hips with the mic I had been talking with in my right hand resting against my hip, not intimidated by them at all and look up slightly at Hunter who is smiling back at me before lifting the mic to his lips to begin to speak.
"Well, well look who's back guys, it's the baby rattlesnake. Last time I saw you, you were fired after Bischoff's team beat Austin's team at Survivor Series thanks to Orton and Batista of course" Triple H said pointing over to the 2 men at the last part of his comment.
"Funny because last time I saw you, you were getting your ass handed to you by Bill Goldberg" I replied cockily as the fans cheered. Oh yeah baby I was back!
"What do you want Hunter?" I then asked him a little more serious looking him straight the eye.
"Oh come on now Emma, don't be like that, we came out here to say welcome back to Raw" he said almost sincerely but I wasn't buying it.
"Thanks I guess" I replied sarcastically leaving my left hand on my hip as I spoke.
"A lot has changed since you've been away as you can see from all the gold we're carrying. This, Emma, is Evolution, the best there is today in this business." he then said introducing them to me.
"Oh really" I replied rolling my eyes.
"Ric you already know Emma and Randy you of course have had the pleasure of meeting her at Survivor Series before you took her job but Batista you have never had the honour of meeting Stone Cold Steve Austin's sister have you?" he continued looking at each of them as he mentioned them, I looked over to Batista as he stared me down with a cold stare.
"That's supposed to what Hunter: impress me? You flash and your little bodyguards all your gold at me at me and I'm supposed to care? I thought you knew me better than that" I said turning my attention back to the Game. "And you forget Hunter, I signed Orton and Batista from Smackdown when I was GM of Raw so technically if it wasn't for me you wouldn't have your little group" I continued watching him
"Very true Emma, I'll give you that one and it wasn't supposed to impress you , it was supposed to intimidate you but being an Austin of course you're not at all intimidated, you see guys Emma and I have a little history together long before you guys debuted." he told them adjusting the title on his shoulder.
"It's true we have history, now did you so rudely interrupt me just to tell me that or did you actually want something or if it's ok with you can I continue with my comeback speech" I replied beginning to become annoyed.
"Actually we're out here because I… I mean we have a proposition for you Emma" he told me smiling looking at his acquaintances one by one.
"Say what?" I asked surprised they want something to do with me.
"You see after much consideration I have realised that even though Evolution has all the gold, all the power and we pretty much dominates Monday Night Raw, there is one area in the WWE that neither one of us can conquer even if we wanted to for biological purposes: the women's division" he tells me and I burrow my eyebrows once again in confusion
"Together we've looked at all the current Divas and basically Emma you came back at the right time as even though you and I have not always seem eye to eye, you're the only one I would want in this group, the only Diva worthy enough" he continued
"What are you trying to say?"
"What I'm saying is that I am asking you if you would do the us all the honour in joining Evolution" he finished, my mouth dropped open and my eyes widened in shock and surprise. The fans are now just as shocked as I am some cheering some booing at this unlikely offer.
"What?" I mouthed shocked before returning the mic back to my lips
"This is a joke right? You have got to be kidding me" I asked shocked still as he shook his head to say no "But you hate me and I hate you even more so give one good reason why I would join you?"
"No joke and before you answer here me and the rest of Evolution out" he pleaded and I looked once again to the other members of the stable.
"I'm listening" I stated simply intrigued now.
"We can help you Emma, we can help you regain what was stolen from you 8 months ago by Eric Bischoff, we can help you regain the women's championship and together we would not only hold every male title on Raw but we'd have the women's title also therefore we would be unstoppable, indestructible and the most powerful force to ever step foot in a WWE ring, hell we'd be the most powerful force there was, has been and is in the WWE" he told me and I looked back at him unsure of what to think.
"Why me?" I asked still confused
"You're Emma Austin, Sister of Stone Cold Steve Austin, the baby Texas Rattlesnake, the toughest female in the WWE, former Intercontinental Champion: only the 2nd female in the history of the WWE to win it, a 5 time WWE Women's Champion, a former General Manager of Raw. There has never been or never will be a Diva like you, who better to have on our side than a slithering, venomous, Texas Rattlesnake." he rattled off my accomplishments.
"Don't try and flatter me Hunter it ain't gonna work, I know who and what I am and I don't need you to remind me and I don't need you to try and convince me by bringing up my accomplishments although is does sound rather tempting" I smiled and winked over at Orton, silently flirting, emphasizing as I said the last word, hopefully him realising I was talking about him.
"Come to think of it, history states that in Evolution men weren't the only ones created, they need women to survive and there's only space for one in this Evolution, I'm offering you a chance to do what every other Diva would give everything to do: be the First Lady of Evolution" he told me as if he was offering me a career on a plate, a career that I had already had, that I had already made with help from my brother. I wasn't some rookie just starting out and looking for a push to get me noticed, I was already a established Diva.
"So let me get this straight, you want me to join you guys, so you can assist me in getting my title back so we can rule Raw and the entire company, we'll have every division covered, be so dominate, so intimidating that no one will dare even look at us wrong without getting the holy living crap kicked out of them and you'd have my back and I'd have yours in return" I rattled on making sure we were on the same page.
"Absolutely, you're a smart chick, we'd have your back through every step of the way in fact I think Orton wouldn't mind having you in more ways than one" he said pointing over to the young champion, my gaze hesitantly wondered over to him also and I saw he had a smug smile plastered on his face before rubbing his chin and looking me up and down, slowly nodding his head.
"I bet he would and as tempting as that sounds I think I'll pass." I replied completely ignoring the fact I had teased him with my earlier comment about being tempted. His face dropped thinking I was gonna give in to him like every other women has. He took a deep breathe before he took a step forward now standing beside Hunter and in front of me and taking the mic from him and bringing it up to his lips.
"Well that's shame because what I saw at Survivor Series in Bischoff's office, I liked, I saw the fire in your eyes that night and I could tell you wanted me like I wanted you. You're just denying it in front of all these people and like Hunter said you're not like the other Divas hell you're not like other women period, you're a extremely beautiful women and you see Emma I enjoy a challenge" Orton so smugly told me, IC belt shining on his shoulder, he looked me square in my eyes with his blue ones and a cocky smile spreading across his face
"Don't flatter yourself and honey you couldn't handle me if you wanted to and if I let you." I told him honestly smiling smugly myself watching as his smile disappear, looking defeated at the fact I was probably the first woman to turn him down. He gave the mic back to Hunter returning to the spot he was in before.
"Now can we please get back to the business in hand?" I asked Hunter impatiently getting annoyed at these interruptions, I was still getting my head round what he had offered me earlier.
"Sure" he replied simply
"So you want me to turn my back on my brother, the legacy we have, everything Austin 3:16 stands for, everything I stand for: all for you, Evolution and the Women's Championship?" I asked making sure we were on the same page once again.
"I wouldn't quite put it that way but in a nut shell, yes, so what do you say?" he replied what did mean by that, not putting it that way, that was basically what he was asking me to do, right?
I took a breathe before my gaze went to the canvas then at the fans who were yelling to either say Yes or No at me, I then looked at Flair who was nodding at me, then Batista who staring straight at me again then at Orton who was also staring at me this time not so smugly, no expression on his face. My eyes travelled to the canvas again as I looked at my feet, I brought the mic back up to my lips before uttering the words…..
"Not if hell froze over" I replied angrily slowly raising my head up to look at The Game square in the eyes. The crowd cheered the fact I turned down his offer. His sile faded processing the words I just said, he must of thought I was gonna cave.
"What?" he asked shocked, he actually thought I was gonna join them.
"Oh come on Hunter you really think I would join you when everyone that knows you or teams with you, you pretty much screw over, look at Shawn Michaels, your best friend and you turn your back on him. What is it with you and cliques anyway first DX then you need Stephanie now Evolution, you always need someone to hold you hand for you" I tell him annoyed knowing what he's like.
"Don't think for one second you are all any different, he'll do the same to you one day, he's using you guys to get what he wants, I'll give you friendly warning get out while you got chance. Triple H only and has ever only cared about himself and his the precious little championship that he is always so desperate to have, he uses others to watch his back while he takes the glory. If he thinks you might be hogging the spotlight or sees you as a threat to his title or a threat full stop he'll stab you right in the back and not think twice about it " I scowled looking at the other men in the ring one by one then back at Triple H who is know gritting his teeth and breathing heavy staring me straight in the eye, I looked at him right back not backing down.
"What's wrong Hunter, truth hurts doesn't it?" I sid because of his expression, I know I was getting to him as I smiled wickedly at him.
"Don't listen to her, it's about us: Evolution, all of us" he yelled into the mic angrily at the other men who look confused.
"Keep telling them and yourself that Game boy. Why the hell would I join you just to be turned on, I maybe blonde Hunter but I ain't stupid and you seem to forget that I know you better than these guys ever will, I know how your sick mind works and you can think twice if you think I'm about to join your group and be everything an Austin isn't, hey I'm no saint and I'll admit that but you Hunter are in another league, the difference between you and me is at least I admit I ain't no angel. There's no chance in hell I would join you if my career depended on it, I don't need you to win back my title I can do that on my own, I did it the other 5 times without yours or my brother's help" I said all riled up, heart racing so fast, breathing heavy, the crowd were still cheering, I showed I am not afraid of anyone and will stand up to anyone even the Cerebral Assassin.
"Well if you won't join us voluntarily, we'll just have to force you" he scowled moving towards me as I stepped back to create some distance between us, my angry expression now disappears and fear began to creep across my face. I frantically turn my head to see Flair on my right and Orton on my left moving coming closer to me, surrounding me so I'm trapped like a mouse by a cat instead it was 4 huge lions doing the trapping, my breathing became heavier, my eyes wide open in fear. The crowd are booing at their intentions of beating up a women, not agreeing with their actions. I take one step back and stop when I hit something rock hard, I close my eyes, feeling Batista's presence tower over me I take a deep breathe before turning my head up and opening my eyes to see him smirking at me. I turned my head back to look at Hunter who has dropped his title on the floor and has taken his jacket off beginning to roll up his sleeves. He rolls up his left sleeve before beginning to do his right one, I heard the glass shatter and the sound of my brother's music blasting through the speakers, the crowd going nuts, I sigh in relief, my breathing beginning to even out, smirking up at Hunter who is now gritting his teeth that he was interrupted and his plan was going to hell, he takes a step back from and I feel Batista also moving away from me, I look to see Flair and Orton have followed suite looking rather panicked and surprise spreading across their faces.
I looked past Hunter and up the ramp to see Steve barging down the ring, talking to himself, microphone in hand before getting in the ring. Instead of doing his usual routine and poses on the ropes for the fans, he immediately walks over and pushes me back gently before he stands between me and Hunter protecting me and silently telling him to back off, he stares down the other 3 members of Evolution before turning his sole attention to Triple H.
"Triple H, don't you or your little group ever think about laying a finger on Emma, you come out here flapping your gums asking her to join your stupid little troop of jackasses and feel you need to intimidate her after she turned you down well to me that's in violation of the law, Stone Cold's law, you can't go round intimidating women especially when that women happens to be my sister, that's something you just don't do" Stone Cold stated pointing his finger in the Champion's face.
"What are you gonna do about it Austin huh? It's 4 on 2 you got no chance in hell, let us finish our business with Emma" Hunter replied smugly knowing we were out numbered.
"Do you think I'm stupid to leave her with you? We maybe out numbered as you so kindly pointed out however I would appreciate it if you left the ring before I may have to open the biggest can of whoop ass ever known on all your sorry asses" Steve said, Batista didn't like what he heard as he came over and stood toe to toe with Steve staring him down, I gripped onto Steve's arm from behind silently telling him they're not worth it.
"Leave it Dave, fine we'll leave Austin but let me tell you both this, this thing it ain't over between us, not by a long shot" Triple H warned us his attention on me mainly, grabbing Batista's arm and pulling him out the ring with the other 2 following. They headed up the ramp backwards as their music played not taking their eyes off me and Steve as we stood in the same spot, watching them dissent to the stage below the titantron. I could see the anger written all over my brother's face.
They stood at the top of the ramp in a row and held up their respective championships almost a metaphor for them being on top of the world, it was sign to show me what I was missing out on, Steve and I looked at each other and I sighed at him before returning my gaze to the 4 men at the top of the ramp as the show went to commercial.