Disclaimer: You've heard it before.
Heya, well here we are again, the question that needs answered, who is going to earn the shot at Jason and AJ at Final Resolution? LAX? Or the ever so popular VKM? And what challenge will Jason and AJ face? Let's find out.
Here We Go!
Rebirth-Chapter Forty Four-The Next Challengers
"I'm coming, I'm coming" sighed Jason as the guy continued to knock on the door. "Jeez, if I wanted a wake up call I'd ask for one" he opened the door and did a double-take when he saw who was standing there.
"Hey kid."
Jason blinked then laughed. "Excuse me one second" he said closing the door on the guy and grabbing the phone.
"Hello?" Came Mara's voice.
"Hey, it's me."
"You're up pretty early, missing me again?" She laughed.
"Always, tell me something Mara, why is AJ Styles standing outside our front door?"
"Oh yeah, I kinda, sorta gave him our address and told him to keep an eye on you."
"And I wasn't told because..."
"I wanted to surprise you" she offered lamely.
"Right, well I better let him in then, so how's England?"
"Pretty good, the food's good, hotel's really nice, lot of kids in hoodies though."
"Remind me again, five hours ahead or five hours behind?"
"Behind" she replied. "So by the time you get to the arena I'll be the new RQW women's champion."
"At least you're confident" smirked Jason. "Well, I better go, can't leave AJ outside forever, much as I'd like to, good luck."
"Thanks, bye-bye."
"Bye, say hi to Chris for me."
"Chris, Jason says hi" Jason laughed as he heard someone swearing on the other end of the line then hung up and opened the door, AJ walked in.
"Y'know, it's pretty rude to close doors in people's faces."
Jason shrugged. "I'm a rude person AJ, make yourself at home."
"Nice place you got here" said AJ looking into the lounge. "You get paid enough to cover it?"
"Just about, the Indies let me get all the little bonuses like the PS2 or the DVD player."
"We all love our DVD players" smirked AJ. "So where exactly is Mara?"
"England, Jim got her that title shot, her brother's over there as well, so me and you are flying solo tonight."
"Cool" muttered AJ. "So, how was your Christmas?"
"What's with all the questions?"
"I'm making conversation kid, a good tag team's got to communicate with each other, so how was it?"
"It was alright I guess, little lonely though."
"How come?"
"Mara went back home with Chris to be with the family, I didn't go cause I don't get on with Chris that well."
"Yeah, he does use some pretty colorfull language whenever someone brings you up, I do it sometimes just to piss him off."
Jason laughed. "Yeah, bringing me up is the quickest way to make him mad."
"So, where'd you go if ya weren't with Mara?"
"I went to Texas, Shawn invited me over so I spent Christmas with his family."
"Sounds pretty cool."
"Yeah, but half the time I was chasing his kid round trying to get my belt back, never knew kids coud run so long."
AJ laughed. "Get anything nice?"
"Couple of things, book, game for the PS2, Cornette even sent me one" he gestured to a file on the table. "Flight details to every city ROH is gonna be in this year" he shrugged. "And Shawn gave me these" he pulled a pair of shorts out of a bag. "He got the guy who makes his gear to do 'em up like his tights."
AJ laughed. "You've got to wear those out there tonight, the crowd'll love it."
"I dunno, I like my old gear, the hearts are cool and all but why fix it when it ain't broken?"
"C'mon kid, I'll lend you one of my hoods, it'll look awesome!"
"First Nash now you, why does everyone suddenly think they're a fashion guru?"
"Because it's a very well paying job when ya pull it off" replied AJ. "C'mon kid, just try it once, if the fans laugh at you then ya can change back, besides, Shawn'll feel bad if you don't."
Jason sighed. "Fine, I'll try it once" he went out to the kitchen. "Want a drink?"
"What you got?"
"Orange, milk or soda."
"What? No beer? When Mara asked me to keep an eye on you I thought I'd find ya passed out in the bathroom."
"I'm not a drunk Styles."
"There's been stories kid, like you and Sabin dancing on tables and throwing up in trashcans."
Jason sighed. "I'm gonna kill Sonjay" he muttered. "Soda then?"
"Please."
Jason came back to find AJ in the spare room checking out his DVD collection. "Y'know, it's rude to touch people's stuff without asking."
"I'm a rude person" smirked AJ. "Man, and I thought Shelley was bad, how many wrestling DVD's you got?"
"Lost count, most of them are just shows I was on, some are shows I went to and some are shows people told me to watch, like you losing the NWA Wildside title to David Young for example."
AJ laughed. "Thought I'd managed to destroy all the copies of that, oh well" he pulled another DVD out. "I heard about this" he said holding it up, Jason groaned.
"You had to choose that one didn't you Styles?" AJ shrugged.
"The 'Five Minute Massacre', Joe must've been pissed that night" he looked at another one. "Cena versus Sabin part five, I saw that one, good match."
"Thanks" muttered Jason as he looked at a more recent DVD.
"No Surrender, remember that kid?"
"When you got lucky? Yeah I remember."
AJ laughed. "What's this? SHIMMER? Thought you were taken?"
"I only got them cause Mara's matches where on them!"
"And so you could check out the girls" smirked AJ. "Never knew you liked the Amazing Kong."
"WHAT? OK AJ, that was below the belt!"
"Alright, I'm sorry, never knew you liked Lacey then."
"I'll have you know I'm in a very happy relationship AJ" said Jason.
"Really? So why does this DVD here have a picture of you with a lip-lock on Alexis Laree?"
"That was before we got together, and please, never ever bring that up around Mara."
"Thought it was before you hooked up?"
"It was, but that doesn't mean she likes it."
AJ shrugged. "OK" he looked at one last DVD. "Aries and Strong against Cena and Pearce, didn't win did ya?"
"Nope, if we did I'd have an ROH tag title to go with the NWA."
"True, one more thing, is it true that at the last ROH show you laid out Brian Danielson?"
Jason grinned and nodded, AJ laughed. "Let me shake your hand kid, I've wanted to do that for years, so when do you get a title shot?"
"Ain't getting one, not yet anyway."
"Right, so how about some video games?Jerry told me you were pretty good."
"What? Think you can beat me Styles?"
"Think? I know kid, what ya got?"
"A PS2, some good games on that, but I got an old Genesis or an N64 if you wanna try them."
AJ smirked. "You set 'em up kid, then stand back and watch as I teach you a little thing or two."
"I don't care how many times you beat me!" Yelled Jason as they walked into the arena. "I am not saying you're better!"
"Kid, I played you at every game you had and the only one you beat me on was Sonic, and that was with a cheat code! Face it, I'm better."
"No you're not!"
"Kid, yes I am."
"Fine" shrugged Jason. "I'm the better wrestler."
"What?" Laughed AJ. "You're getting more delusional by the minute!"
"How?"
"Well..." AJ trailed off as they walked into Jim Cornette. "Hey boss."
"Enjoy the holidays guys?"
"Of course" smirked Jason. "Nothing like fighting with a little kid over a championship belt."
"What? Nevermind, nice to see the two of you are getting along for once."
"We're trying" said AJ.
"Even had a team bonding session" smirked Jason.
"Well I hope you keep trying, now I've got some good news and bad news, the good is that you don't have to defend those belts tonight, the bad is that you're still wrestling."
"I don't mind" said Jason. "Do you?"
"Nope" replied AJ.
"OK, now I'm not gonna tell you who you're facing, but I think you'll have fun with 'em, more fun than you will with LAX or VKM anyway."
"Which match is up first?" Asked AJ.
"Yours."
"Good, get ours out of the way and then we'll do some scouting, c'mon kid."
Jason followed AJ to the locker room area where Jay, Sonjay, Jerry and Chris were sitting in a corner going over strategy.
"And who does Team Ego have tonight?" Smirked AJ.
"You tell us" replied Jerry. "You're the only one's with ego's around here."
"Jerry, you're sitting with Sonjay Dutt and Chris Sabin and you think we've got an ego problem?" Laughed Jason.
"What about Jay?"
"He doesn't have an ego, he's just an idiot."
"An idiot who's a former ROH pure champion!" Snapped Jay.
"Seriously guys, who do you have?"
"Team Canada" said Chris. "And what about you, Team Lame-Duck got anyone tonight?"
"We got a match but we don't know who."
"We better go get ready" said AJ. "Let's leave these guys to talk strategy."
"OK, and Sonjay? Beating Senshi doesn't mean you're better than me."
"Yeah? Well when I beat Chris it will!" Sonjay yelled after him, he turned to find Chris glaring at him. "What?"
"So, any idea who it could be?" Said AJ as they were getting ready.
"Could be anyone, Paparazzi again, Matt and Kazarian" he laughed. "Maybe even Jerrelle and Chasyn."
"No-one big?"
"Nah, if it was it wouldn't be non-title."
"True" conceded AJ, he reached into his bag and threw something at Jason. "Here."
"What's this?"
"Told ya I was lending you a hood tonight, that's it."
Jason unfolded it. "Red, I like it."
"Goes with the shorts" said AJ, he went back to getting ready, Jason's phone went off. "Kid, you got a text."
Jason went to answer it, as he picked it up he gave himself a once over in the mirror, AJ's red jacket matched up pretty well with the red shorts with white hearts Shawn had gave him. "Nice, but I look a little like Sora from Kingdom Hearts."
AJ laughed. "Yeah you do, you could pull off a young HBK though."
"Yeah, I kinda like it."
"That's the only hood you're getting off me though, and you better take care of it."
"I will, I will" muttered Jason reading the text out loud. "Calling it a night, pretty good show but I'm coming back about ten pounds heavier, miss you, see ya soon Mara."
AJ went to say something but Jason didn't seem to have registered what Mara had said, he stared at the teen for almost a minute before the realisation hit him. "Wait... what?"
"Suppose we'll have to change our name to Team Gold now huh?"
"Change? We never had a name in the first place, it's always been Styles and Cena."
"Yeah, why do you get to be first?"
"I'm the better wrestler" replied AJ.
"No, I am!"
"Let's not get into that again Sora" smirked the 'Phenomenal One'.
"Don't call me that!"
"OK, kid."
"Kid, I like kid, kid is good" before AJ could reply JB stepped out with a mic, Jason jumped. "Jeez JB, when'd you become a ninja?"
"What? Nevermind, Jason, AJ, later on tonight there will be a match between the Latin American X-Change and the Voodoo Kin Mafia to decide who the next challengers to your NWA tag team championships, and I was wondering, does either of you have a preference to who you face?"
AJ went first. "JB, it doesn't matter which team gets the shot as long as someone does, if it's LAX good for them, likewise if it's VKM, me and the kid will do what we do best, wrestle, fight and keep these titles."
"Jason?"
"Well, to be honest I'd like VKM, I wouldn't mind LAX we've beaten them before and we can do it again, but VKM would be something different, plus I'd like to smash Kip James' face in, and... well I kinda like VKM better cause they used to be one of my favourite tag teams growing up."
AJ laughed. "What?"
"It was back when they were the Outlaws, c'mon Styles they were pretty cool in DX."
"Just because they were cool in DX doesn't make them cool now" laughed AJ. "Damn, VKM? And I was starting to like you kid, VKM your favourite tag team? That's disgusting."
"They weren't my favourite, they were one of my favourites."
"OK, so who was your favourite?" Jason mumbled something. "What?" Jason mumbled again. "Too Cool? Did he say Too Cool JB?"
"Yes" AJ burst out laughing.
"Too Cool? Oh I get it, you were one of those kids who tried to do the worm weren't ya?" He laughed again and shook his head. "Too Cool."
"Well seeing as you've just humiliated me on live TV, who was your favourite tag team?" Asked Jason.
"The Bulldogs and the Midnight Express."
"So that's why Cornette likes you so much."
AJ shrugged. "C'mon we better get going."
"Good luck guys" said JB, he looked at Jason. "Nice look by the way."
"THAT'S IT! I'm gonna go change!"
"No time" said AJ grabbing the teen. "We'll go kick ass, find out who's facing us and then you can go change."
"I hate you" muttered Jason as he was led away.
AJ's music hit and the 'Phenomenal One' led Jason out into the arena they held up their titles while AJ's pyro went off then walked down to ringside, Jason was slowly starting to get more comfortable with his new look and even struck a Shawn pose as they got in the ring, AJ laughed and posed himself before they both handed their belts to the referee and waited, after a moment Shark Boy's music hit and he came out with Norman Smiley.
"OK, why not?" Laughed AJ.
"Shark bite or the big wiggle, which would you rather take?" Asked Jason.
"Neither."
"Good answer, I wish Mara was here, I loved pissing her off after what Sharky did last time."
AJ smirked as Shark Boy and Smiley got in the ring, they stared each other down then shook hands, AJ and Smiley left leaving Jason and Sharky to kick off the match, they circled each other but Jason stopped suddenly and looked to the Spanish announce table where LAX were now sitting staring him and AJ down, he climbed the ropes and taunted them before turning back to Shark Boy, they locked up and Jason quickly put on a headlock, Sharky used the ropes to escape but Jason hit a shoulderblock, he hit the ropes again and Sharky went under then over, he spun round but Jason hit a snap powerslam for a two-count, they bounced up and Jason hit a neckbreaker for another near fall followed by a reverse DDT for another. Sharky retreated to a corner and Jason hit some chops before whipping him and hitting a backdrop followed by a dropkick, Sharky retreated to his corner and tagged Smiley while Jason tagged AJ in.
AJ and Smiley locked up and AJ got a quick roll-up for a two-count, Smiley jumped up but AJ hit a couple of armdrags and a back-suplex for a two-count, he whipped Smiley and tried an elbow, Smiley ducked it but AJ hit a big dropkick for another two-count. Smiley got up by the ropes and AJ charged, Smiley backdropped him over but the 'Phenomenal One' landed on the apron, he punched Smiley away and hit a springboard forearm for a two-count, he whipped Smiley into a corner and charged but ate a boot to the face, Smiley went to the top-rope but AJ cut him off, he went for a superplex but Smiley shoved him down then followed with a cross-body! He covered but AJ kicked out, Smiley went for a back-suplex but AJ flipped out of it, Smiley elbowed him away and tried a clothesline but AJ ducked and hit the Pele! He brought Smiley back to his corner and tagged Jason in.
The two whipped Smiley and went for a double hiptoss, Smiley flipped through but they clotheslined him back across their knees then threw him down on his face, Sharky came in and charged but AJ caught him with a shot to the gut and Jason hit the shining wizard! Smiley was getting up but they quickly took him down with a high-low combo, they threw Sharky out while Smiley got up in a corner and Jason hit the stinger splash then they hit him with a double brainbuster! Jason covered but Sharky broke it up. Jason pulled Smiley back up and whipped him into a corner, he charged but Smiley sidestepped and he hit the corner hard, Smiley then grabbed the teen and hit a belly-to-belly suplex! He began crawling to the corner as Jason rolled to his and tagged AJ, he came in but Smiley managed to get Shark Boy in!
Sharky was on the top-rope before AJ could blink then came down on him with a missile dropkick! He knocked Jason off the apron then covered but AJ kicked out, he quickly pulled the 'Phenomenal One' up and hit a facebuster for another near fall, AJ got up but Sharky beat him to the punch then hit a hangman's neckbreaker! He covered but AJ kicked out again, Jason came in and charged but Sharky sidestepped and hit a dropkick, this allowed AJ to get up and grab him but he hit a jawbreaker that sent the 'Phenomenal One' staggering back into a corner, Sharky climbed the ropes and hit nine punches to AJ's face but instead of a tenth he got the shark bite! AJ pushed him away and bailed to the outside while Jason got up, instead of attacking Shark Boy he leaned through the ropes and laughed at AJ, Sharky took point behind him and looked like he was going for another shark bite but Smiley stopped him, he then snuck up behind Jason and hit the big wiggle! Jason dived out of the ring next to AJ who took his turn to laugh at his partner, as he was doing so Sharky charged forward and dived over the ropes! Jason sidestepped and Sharky landed on AJ, the teen went to attack but Smiley came through with a baseball slide to knock him down.
Sharky pulled AJ up and threw him into the ring as Smiley picked up Jason, he whipped the teen towards the crowd barrier but Jason jumped up onto it and came off with a flying clothesline! In the ring Sharky pulled AJ to a corner and set him up for the Dead Sea drop, Jason jumped up to stop him but got knocked down, Sharky went for the DSD but AJ threw him off, he landed on his feet and charged but AJ moved and he collided with the turnbuckle, Jason entered the ring and exchanged a glance with AJ before they nailed Sharky with the superkick and the Pele! AJ quickly pulled Sharky back up and hit the Styles Clash! He covered and Jason kept Smiley back as the referee counted Shark Boy down.
Jason and AJ high-fived over their victory as Smiley came in to check on Sharky, they helped the two up and shook their hands again before letting them leave, LAX were still staring them down from the Spanish announce table so they grabbed their belts and held them up to taunt them, they left the ring and set up a couple of chairs in front of the Tenay and West to scout the match. LAX came to the ring first and didn't take their eyes off the two until VKM's music hit, they walked down the ramp and Kip squared up to Jason again but BG pulled him away.
"C'mon Kip, you can kill him after we get the shot."
LAX meant business and attacked VKM during their intro, they dominated BG from the beggining using Konnan to their advantage and busting the former Road Dogg wide open, he somehow managed to hit a DDT and get Kip in, he took over on Homicide and Hernandez, sending both of them flying around the ring, he clotheslined the big man out then hit Homicide with the one and only! He covered but Hernandez broke it up, BG attacked the big man and they spilled to the outside distracting the referee while Kip set Homicide up for the famasser! He hit the ropes but Konnan took advantage of the ref's distraction and nailed him in the back with the slapjack! He staggered forward and Homicide hit him with da cop killa! BG tried to come in and help but Hernandez pulled him back out and hit the cracker jack on the floor as Homicide covered for the win!
Konnan came in and immediately began taunting AJ and Jason, the two just stood up and walked right up to the ring, the two teams stared each other down until Jason and AJ left, Konnan watched them go then turned to Homicide and Hernandez.
"Send the message."
Homicide nodded then spun round and nailed Kip in the face! He began pounding on him while Hernandez dragged BG back into the ring and held him for Konnan to take some free shots with the slapjack, Homicide then pulled Kip up and hit a second cop killa! Konnan then stood aside while Hernandez drilled BG with a border toss! While BG was down he hit him with the slapjack some more as Homicide hit Kip with a third cop killa! He began to set Kip up for another but Jason and AJ, having seen the beatdown on a monitor, charged the ring! Konnan bailed but his boys stood firm and brawled it out with the two, AJ and Homicide fought in one corner while Jason paired off with Hernandez. The teen went to hit the ropes but Konnan tripped him and pulled him out, Jason grabbed him but Hernandez came out and knocked him down allowing Konnan to put the boots in, Homicide knocked AJ down and joined them in beating the teen down, he and Hernandez pulled the teen up and held him as Konnan got the slapjack out again, he went to hit Jason with it but AJ dived over the ropes and took out everyone!
AJ pulled Jason up to see if he was alright before going after Homicide, they brawled in front of Tenay and West while Jason tackled Hernandez into the crowd barrier and began wailing away on him, TNA security ran out with half going to AJ and Homicide and the others pulling Jason off Hernandez, the teen backed away but suddenly charged and used the steps to launch himself over them and splash Hernandez against the barrier! Security jumped in again and managed to get the teen off the big man and into the ring, he went to vault over the ropes causing security to scatter but Hernandez had already gone into the crowd with Konnan.
AJ joined Jason in the ring while Homicide went to the Spanish announce table with his partners, they stared each other down then Jason and AJ went to check on VKM, BG was lying in a pool of his own blood and Kip hadn't moved an inch since the three cop killa's. They realised how serious itwas and called for EMT's, they stood back while the medics worked then helped load VKM onto stretchers, as they were wheeling them out Konnan grabbed a mic.
"Styles, Cena, take a good long look at VKM, because that's what gonna happen to you at Final Resolution! Except you won't be leaving on stretchers, you'll be leaving in bodybags! Ariba laRaza!"
Jason and AJ stopped at the stage while the EMT's took VKM away, they turned to the announce table and stared LAX down, neither team broke it for a very long time.
So there ya go, LAX get their rematch and use VKM as an example, how will Jason and AJ respond? Will LAX step it up even further? And will Mara be back with her newfound title? Find out next time!
See Ya!
HBKJOH