Disclaimer: You've heard it before.
Hey yo, how is everyone? Team Canada are knocking at the door with Bobby Roode and Eric Young both holding victories over Jason, we're two weeks away from Against All Odds and the tag team champions may not even make it as they have to defend the straps against Jason's buddies Jay and Sonjay. What's gonna happen? Let's find out!
Here We Go!
Rebirth-Chapter Fifty-Friendly Rivalry
"So, how much are we getting paid for this?" Asked Jason as the photographers went to clear some space on their cameras, AJ put his belt down and flopped down in the nearest chair.
"Beats me, I think TNA's getting the money for letting us do this, you haven't done a lot of magazine shoots have you?"
"Not one, I do the odd picture for fans or event programmes but nothing like this hell between us me and Mara have done two photoshoots, one with both of us and one with her on her own for up North."
"And that was only because it was in my contract" threw in Mara.
"You really should let TNA do a shoot with you" said Jason. "You got knockout of the year just for your wrestling! Just think about it."
"Why? So you can drool over the pictures?" Asked Mara, AJ laughed.
"No, actually it's so I can brag to Chris about how hot my girlfriend is, besides why drool over the pictures when I can drool over the real thing?" There was a pause. "That came out wrong didn't it?"
"Uh huh" laughed AJ, before Mara could kill Jason the photographers came back to continue the shoot, some wrestling magazine had asked TNA to provide one of their champions for an article and photoshoot and Cornette had decided to send along the tag champs, Mara had brought her belt along as well and the trio were getting some good shots in.
Finally one of the photographers asked for one last picture, AJ smirked at the two teens.
"Party piece?"
Jason nodded and struck Shawn's trademark pose while AJ did his usual one behind him, Mara posed next to Jason and all three held up their belts.
"Here's a nice cover shot for ya" smirked Jason as the crew finished. "When's this coming out anyway?"
"Next month, so try and hold onto the belts this time AJ" snapped on of the crew.
"What's that all about?" Asked Mara.
"Well, last time I did a shoot for these guys was when I was the NWA champ, I ended up losing the belt to Raven about a week later, they weren't happy."
"I always forget that Raven was champ once" muttered Jason.
"Don't let Raven hear you say that" replied AJ as they approached his car.
"You're giving us a ride to the arena right?"
"Well, Mara's my best friends sister so I guess I can let her but you? Nuh uh."
"But I'm your partner!"
"And a pain in the ass!"
"A pain in the ass who's your partner!"
"Fine, get in."
"Can I ask you something?" Said Jason as they got near the Impact Zone.
"As long as it ain't about me losing to David Young."
"When the hell did we become friends?" AJ actually looked away from the road.
"That's a good question, must've been when we won the belts, why?"
"Just wondering" replied Jason. "I just wanted to know how I managed to end up friends with a guy who tried to take me out of TNA at one point."
"Who knows? Weird things happen, you should know that, you are the world's biggest weirdo."
"True" laughed Jason. "But this doesn't mean that I like you."
"Fair enough kid, fair enough."
"Is that who I think it is?"
"Hmmn?" Jason glanced up. "Eric?" Sure enough Eric Young was standing alone in the parking lot looking around nervously.
"Think he's waiting for us?"
"I dunno, might be a setup, got anything I can use to hit someone if I get jumped?"
"I got the car" smirked AJ. "Go see what's up, anyone jumps ya I'll run 'em down!"
Jason laughed. "And they call me a psycho..." he got out of the car and began walking towards Eric, the Canadian saw him coming and started backing away.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry it was an accident! Don't..."
"I'm not gonna beat you up Eric" replied Jason looking around for the rest of Team Canada. "What're you so sorry about?"
"Last week, I didn't know Mara was there! I didn't know Bobby would do that!"
"Wait, you're apologising for beating me?"
"I'm apologising for cheating to beat you."
"Don't worry about that, your buddies are the one's who cheated, not you, and the thing with Mara was an accident, besides it hurt me a lot more than her, she's got a very hard head."
Eric allowed himself a small smile.
"So it's cool?"
"Yup, no harm no foul, business is business and all that, but you are getting a tag title shot at me and AJ, so when it comes down to it, you're gonna end up in the ring with me again."
Eric nodded. "That's fine, just wanted to clear that up, now I gotta figure out how to get out of being fired."
"Eric..." Jason groaned but Eric was already walking away, AJ got out of the car.
"What was that all about?"
"I'll tell you later" replied Jason. "But I'll say this, he's a nice guy."
"Well if it isn't the soon to be former tag team champion" smirked Sonjay as Jason entered the locker room, the teen laughed and sat down.
"At least let me get ready before you start running your mouth Dutt."
Sonjay smirked and patted his tag partner on the shoulder, Jay was already in his 'Macho Man' gear and was psyching himself up. "We got this man, you ready to hold some gold?"
Jay nodded, Jason sighed and turned to Chris.
"So how's your life going?"
"I.."
"He just got dumped by his girl."
"SONJAY!"
"What happened? She find out about your secret boyfriend?"
Chris glared at him. "Actually I forgot about the one day a guy in a relationship should always have down."
"You forgot Valentine's day?" Laughed Jason. "Man, you deserved to get dumped!"
"Thanks for your support, what about you?"
"Me and Mara just had our third Valentine's day."
"Your third?"
"Yup, almost didn't have a first though, I made the same mistake you did."
"How'd you talk your way out of it?"
"I didn't really talk out of it, we were talking, she brought it up, I said I didn't really celebrate it because I'd never had a girlfriend on that day, realised the situation I was in and then I just came out with 'Oh my God, I have a girlfriend on Valentine's day!' She was laughing too hard to get mad."
"Lucky bastard."
"Anyway, you guys feel like some heavy duty partying after Against All Odds?"
"What's the occason?"
"Well I'll be celebrating keeping my belt... again, but actually it's my birthday."
Chris smirked. "I think we can pull something off for you kid, if Jerry approves that is" he added glaring over his shoulder at the pioneer.
"Why should I care about you guys celebrating the kid's birthday?"
Chris shrugged. "Well, I better get going."
"You're competing too?"
"You're not the only guy on this roster who compete's kid, I know that might come as a shock to you."
Jason laughed. "Who you got?"
"Alex, if there was ever someone I wanted to beat" Jerry stood up. "And what are you doing?"
"Scouting, gotta keep tabs on my opponent, and don't forget that Devine and Nash are probably gonna be out there."
"Fine, do what you want."
"Am I the only one who felt the tension there?" Asked Jason, Jay and Sonjay shrugged.
"Who knows?"
"Who cares?"
Jason shook his head and sat down to watch the match, Chris and Shelley went back-and-forth but Chris finally took control and hit the hesitation dropkick, he called for the cradle shock as Devine grabbed the X-Division title off the announce table and started heading for the ring, Jerry ran round the ring, snatched the belt out of his hands and decked him with it! He stood over him as Chris set Shelley up for the cradle shock, he went to hit it but turned and saw Jerry holding his belt, he dropped Shelley and began arguing with Jerry, the pioneer tried to explain what happened but Chris wasn't having any of it, Shelley took advantage and quickly rolled Chris up from behind for the win!
"Hooo-boy" muttered Jason when he saw the look on Chris's face, Jerry came in with the belt and tried to explain but Chris grabbed it and shoved him away before storming out of the ring leaving Jerry behind.
Jason was walking towards AJ's locker room to get ready for the match when he saw Chris coming the other way.
"Hey..."
"NOT NOW KID!"
Jason watched as Chris slammed their locker room door behind him then heard him screaming at Jay and Sonjay for something, seconds later he came back out with his bag.
"See ya later."
"You're going?"
"Yup."
"What about Jay and Sonjay's match?"
"I'll watch it at the hotel."
"Whoa, hold up a second" Jason grabbed Chris to stop him. "C'mon Chris, I know you're upset but Jay and Sonjay... and me, are you buddies, at least stay for our match, you don't have to talk to Jerry."
Chris sighed. "Fine, I'll stay."
"Good, cause this whole peacemaker voice of reason schtick drives me nuts."
Chris laughed. "OK, good luck out there."
Jason nodded and walked off. "Jeez, this is getting to be like the Bound for Glory shit."
"Ready guys?" Asked Mara.
"You know it" replied AJ lacing up his boots. "Your buddies have no chance."
"I wouldn't say no chance, Jay's been amazing since the 'Black Machismo' thing started and Sonjay's on a hot streak right now."
"And you're on a little bit of a losing streak as well."
Jason bit his lip and didn't reply, there was a knock on the door and Jim Cornette came in.
"Boss."
"Gentlemen I just wanted to wish you luck for tonight but Mara, I need to talk to ya."
"What's up?"
"I've been on the phone with the guys in England, I've worked out a little deal with them."
"About the belt."
"Yup, provided a let some of our guys work for them..."
"Meaning us" smirked Jason.
"Bingo, provided I let you guys work a show for them then they're gonna let you make a special, one-time defense of that belt at Against All Odds."
"So I get to defend this belt on Pay Per View?" Asked Mara. "Great, who am I facing?"
"TBD, we're going to have a gauntlet next week, every girl in TNA plus a couple of special appearences from SHIMMER and the indies, winner faces you at Against All Odds."
"Sweet, now all we need is for TNA to make a title for me and I'm set."
Cornette smirked. "Watch this space, good luck again gentlemen."
Cornette left Jason turned to Mara.
"At least I can be there this time."
"Let's hope you don't jinx her" said AJ before ducking as both Jason and Mara threw water bottles at him.
AJ's music hit in the arena signalling the entrance of the tag team champions as Mara led them out of the tunnel.
"Why the hell are we coming out first?" Asked Jason as they held up the belts.
"Beats me, maybe they're trying to keep us on our toes."
They got in the ring and did the 'party piece' for the crowd then waited for the challengers, Jay's music hit and he and Sonjay came out, Jason looked around at the crowd holding their hands up and moving from side to side in time to the music, he laughed and turned to Mara.
"Jay has a pretty big fanbase huh?"
"So do you, when you're facing someone like Roode."
"To be honest I think those cheers are AJ's" Sonjay and Jay got in the ring and squared up to Jason before laughing and high-fiving him, AJ hopped out of the ring leaving Jason to start with Jay, the two shook hands and circled each other when Team Canada's music hit. Jason turned to the ramp as D'Amore led his entire team out onto the stage and just stood there looking on, Jason stared them down then turned back to Jay.
"Shall we?"
The two locked up and Jason quickly put on a headlock, Jay pushed him off and Jason hit a shouldertackle, he hit the ropes and Jay went under then over and hit an armdrag, Jason jumped up but Jay hit a second and a third then hit a dropkick that sent Jason outside, Sonjay laughed it up as Jay played to the fans, Jason rolled back in and locked up with Jay again, this time he took Jay down to the mat with a headlock, Jay fought out of it but Jason hit an armdrag of his own, he rolled to his feet and whipped Jay into a corner then hit a backdrop and a dropkick that sent Jay to his corner to tag in Sonjay.
Sonjay stood on the apron staring Jason down then flipped over the ropes and landed on his feet, he smirked then yelled for Jason to top that, Jason laughed then went out to the apron and flipped back in, he posed in front of Sonjay and the two locked up, Jason back Sonjay into a corner and whipped him across to another, he charged but ran into an elbow, Sonjay then jumped to the top-rope and tried a moonsault, Jason moved but Sonjay landed on his feet and again called for Jason to top that, Jason responded by going to the corner and backflipping off the middle-rope to his feet.
"Good enough?"
Sonjay scowled and they went to lock up again but this time Jason backed off, he dropped down to the mat then nipped up and told Sonjay to top that, Sonjay dropped down and went to nip up but couldn't! Jason laughed as he tried and failed again before rolling to his corner and grabbing Jay's hand and using it to nip up to his feet. He posed with his back to Jason but the teen rolled him up! He kicked out and jumped to his feet but Jason pulled him into another roll-up, they jumped up and Jason got a backslide for another two-count then Sonjay retreated to his corner and tagged Jay, he came in as Jason backed off and tagged AJ.
Jay and AJ locked up and AJ hit a suplex for a two-count, he went for back-suplex but Jay flipped behind him and rolled him up for a near fall, they jumped up and Jay hit a snap suplex then went to the second rope and hit a leg-lariat for another, he stood over AJ for a second only for the 'Phenomenal One' to nip up and hit a hurricanranna! Jay flipped through it but AJ slipped behind him and hit a back-suplex for a two-count then brought him to his corner and tagged Jason, he set the teen up for another back-suplex and Jason added a neckbreaker for a two-count, he pulled Jay up and hit a reverse-DDT for another near fall.
Jason pulled Jay up and whipped him into a corner and charged, Jay got his foot up causing him to reel but when he came out Jason hit a powerslam! He covered but Jay kicked out, Jay got up by the ropes and Jason charged but Jay backdropped him over, Jason landed on the apron and set Jay up for a suplex but Jay countered it and dropped him on the ropes before knocking him down, Jason landed on his feet but Jay ran forward and dived through the ropes onto him! Jay jumped to his feet and posed then turned just as AJ came flying over the top onto him! AJ went to his partner and helped him up as Sonjay came over, jumped to the top-rope and hit a moonsault on both of them!
Sonjay and Jay rolled Jason back in then Jay tagged his partner in, he quickly set Jason up for a suplex but let the teen slip behind him and hit a stunner! Jason staggered and Sonjay hit the ropes and tried a headscissor, Jason held on and tried a slam but Sonjay spun out and hit a DDT! He covered but Jason kicked out at two, Sonjay quickly pulled the teen up and hit a brainbuster before going up top, he posed then went for a moonsault but Jason moved! Sonjay landed on his feet and before Jason could roll again hit a standing moonsault! He covered but got a two-count, he argued with the ref then went for the Sonjay cutter but in mid-move Jason escaped and threw him down, the teen then staggered to his corner and got AJ in.
AJ waited for Sonjay to get up then used the ropes to hit a springboard forearm for a two-count, he quickly pulled Sonjay up and hit a DDT for another two-count then brought him to the corner and tagged Jason, they whipped Sonjay and AJ got a shot to the gut then Jason hit a shining wizard! He covered but Jay broke it up, Jason pulled Sonjay up and hit a neckbreaker then brought him back to the corner and held him upside down and tagged AJ, the 'Phenomenal One' went up top and hit a cross-body while Jason finished the suplex, he covered but Sonjay kicked out.
Sonjay tried to fight his way back up but AJ grabbed him and went for a suplex, Sonjay slipped out but AJ held on and hit a neckbreaker for a two-count, he tagged Jason in and brought his partner in over the ropes onto Sonjay for a two-count, Jason hit a slam then went up top but Team Canada started walking down towards the ring, Jason got distracted allowing Sonjay to jump up and crotch him on the ropes, the Canadians went back to the stage as Sonjay climbed up to the top, he went for a hurricanranna but Jason countered and hit a top-rope powerbomb! He covered but Jay made the save, Jason tagged AJ in and the 'Phenomenal One' quickly went after Sonjay with a pumphandle gutbuster for a two-count, he pulled Sonjay up and whipped him, he went for a whirling backbreaker but Sonjay countered it into a tornado DDT! He began crawling to his corner as AJ rolled to his, he got Jason in and the teen vaulted over the ropes but Sonjay popped a roll and made the tag to Jay!
Jay jumped in and beat Jason to the punch with several left jabs then hit a big right hand to put him down, AJ came in but Jay got a kick to the stomach then grabbed him and Jason and smashed their heads together, Jason went down and Jay hit AJ with an enziguri to send him outside, he quickly went up top then hit Jason with a double axe handle! He covered but Jason kicked out, the teen got up and Jay hit a hiptoss, cartwheeled and dropkicked Jason in the face! he pulled Jason up and grabbed his head then jumped over the ropes and hung his neck on them, he went up top again and hit a missile dropkick for a two-count, Jason got up in a corner and Jay charged but ran into a boot, Jason came out looking for a clothesline but Jay caught him and hit the Lethal combination! He covered but Jason kicked out!
Jay put his hands to his head then quickly got up and went up top, Jason managed to get to his feet and cut him off and set him up for a superplex but Sonjay came in, Jason let go of Jay and jumped off the top but Sonjay caught him with a kick to the stomach and hit the Sonjay cutter! Jay then came off the top with the 'Macho Man' elbow! He covered but AJ broke it up, Sonjay jumped AJ and hit some right hands then they whipped him and tried a double-elbow but AJ ducked and hit the moonsault into a double reverse DDT! Jason got up and they grabbed Sonjay and hit a double brainbuster, Jason then whipped Jay and backdropped him but AJ caught him while he was in the air and Styles Clashed him onto Sonjay! Jason made the cover and three seconds later had made another successful title defense.
AJ helped his partner up and raised his arm then they went to help Jay and Sonjay but the Canadian's came sprinting down to the ring, A1 and Petey Williams hit the ring first with A1 going after Jason and Williams brawling with AJ, Roode hit the ring next and he and A1 double-teamed Jason, they whipped him and tried a double clothesline but Jason ducked then hit them with one instead! Williams had set AJ up for the Canadian Destroyer but Jason spun round and nailed him with a superkick! He rolled out as A1 charged Jason and AJ only for them to sidestep and AJ sent him out with the Pele! They grabbed Roode and tossed him out then AJ hit a springboard shooting star press on all three of them!
Jason watched on as Eric came in the ring behind him with a chair, he went to swing but Jason sensed him and turned round, they stared each other down as D'Amore yelled for Eric to do something, Eric looked torn then suddenly dropped the chair and rolled out of the ring, D'Amore was immediately on him, screaming and berating him as Eric just took it before walking away, D'Amore turned his attention to Jason and the the two stared each other down as Jason held his title up high.
Welp, there it is, the title match is coming up and it's obvious Eric doesn't have his head on straight, will this mean an easy title defense for Jason and AJ? Or is this a plan by Team Canada? And will Mara be able to defend her title against whoever her opponent is?
And on that, I'm gonna be a nice guy and take a couple of suggestions on women wrestlers to be in the gauntlet match, figured I'd just let you guys have some input, and until next time...
I'm out.
James