Chapter 23
"The following contest is set for one fall introducing first from Pittsburg PA he is wrestling only Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle!" Kurt made his way to the ring. Kurt had a smile on his face as he grabbed a microphone. "Tonight you are going to witness history. Tonight you are going to watch the last match of Jake Reed's life. So Jake get on out here," Kurt commands. Jake makes his way out pissed off as hell.
"Come on Jake smile you are about to have a real honor. You are getting to wrestle a legend," Kurt says. Jake looks like he wants to tear Kurt apart. "Once again Mike I feel like something strange is going on here," Don says. "Don we've seen that look on Jake's face before and is always one someone he cares about get hurt," Mike says.
"You are pathetic," Jake says. "Now Jake be nice or you know what happens," Kurt says. Jake takes off his jacket and keeps starring daggers at Kurt. The ref calls for the bell. Kurt quickly takes Jake down. Kurt ties up the leg. Its clear Jake isn't putting any effort to get out. Finally out of what seems to be boredom Kurt breaks the hold. "Get down in the referee's position," Kurt says. Jake rolls his eyes, but he does it. Kurt quickly takes Jake over and drives his face the mat. "Why isn't Jake fighting back?" Mike asks.
At that moment Jake elbow Kurt in the head. Kurt gets pissed and both men are face to face this time Jake arm drags him over and gets him in an arm bar. Kurt gets out of the hold and rolls to the outside. "That does it! You know the deal Reed. Either play along or they get hurt," Kurt yells. Suddenly Nash drags a beaten up AJ onto the ramp while a video of 3D restraining Traci backstage is shown.
Jake knows he can't do anything. Kurt punches him right in the face. Jake is stunned before Kurt does it again and falls over. "Jake you got to fight back," Traci yells. Jake starts to get up but Kurt hits him a German Suplex.
Samoa Joe and Jeff Jarrett are power walking backstage. Joe bust through a door and takes out Ray while Jarrett hits Devon with a guitar. "You ok?" Joe asks Traci. "Yeah now free AJ," Traci says. "With pleasure," Joe says since he has been after Nash for a while.
Back in the ring Jake is taking a beating. "This is sick. Jake can't fight back because Traci or AJ will get hurt," Mike says. Kurt is just paint brushing Jake in the head. Jake finally snaps and hits a clothesline on Kurt. Nash picks AJ up for a power bomb. AJ gets out and hits a face buster on Nash. Kurt sees this and figures his goose is cooked. Kurt starts to run out of the ring but Rhino brings him back to it. Kurt panics and throws into the ref into Jake before bailing out and escaping through the fans.
"Are you ok?" Jake asks Traci once he gets back stage. "Yeah I'm fine," Traci says. "Good I was so worried about you," Jake says. "I'm fine to by the way," AJ says. "How did they get to you?" Jake asks. "Karen," AJ says. "Jeff give me your cell phone," Jake says. "Why?" "I need your speed dial."
Far away from the Impact Zone a phone starts to ring. A man sitting in his study working on something answers the phone. "Hello." "Hey it's Jake Reed," Jake says back in Orlando. "You know I had a feeling someone might call me. And I will need time to think I will let you know when I decide," The person says before he hangs up.
Back in Orlando Jake kicks the wall in frustration. "That could have gone better," Jake thinks. "Who did you call?" Jeff asks as he takes the phone back. Jeff takes a look the dialed number list and his eyes go wide. "I could have told you that wouldn't work," Jeff says. "Well at least I'm trying," Jake says. "Well let's think this out. We need to win titles because this isn't enough," Joe says.
"Look like you going back to the X-Division AJ," Jake says. "Guess that means you and Jeff are after the tag belts," Joe says. Jake and Jeff start to laugh. "That's a good one Joe," Jake says. "Yeah me and Reed could never team together," Jeff says. "Ah did you guys forget the fact you already worked together when this all started," Traci says.
"That was different we didn't actually have to team," Jake says. "Jake we need to be able to trust everyone. We can trust you and Jeff," AJ says. "This won't work," Jeff says. "Besides we can't drag this out. We have to make a direct strike. It's time for a bet match," Jake says.
"Are you nuts?" Jim Cornett yells at Jake after Jake explains what he wants to do. "Jim I've always been nuts one way or another. But you know in this sport better than anyone sometimes you have to take a risk," Jake says. "Fine I know I can get approval from management they want this war over," Jim says.