Disclaimer: You've heard it before.
... Hey yo, I'm no Scott Hall but welcome back once again, we're at the final stop before Against All Odds and it's all kicking off in TNA, Jason and AJ have a defense against Team Canada's Bobby Roode and Eric Young who isn't performing as well as coach Scott D'Amore would have hoped, Chris is snapping under the pressure of defending his belt against his friends and Mara has to defend her belt against a TBD opponent, will things breakdown? Let us wait and see!
Merci bucket to the faithfull reviewers Zakok and Aaron, once again I promise you free tapwater should I meet you in a bar.
Here We Go!
Rebirth-Chapter Fifty One-The Gauntlet
"Thanks buddy" said Jason to the security guard as he and Mara entered the Impact Zone, he couldn't help but feel the tension in the air, like something was coming, he shrugged it off and turned to Mara.
"As I was saying, you don't mind me and the guys going out and partying after Against All Odds do you?"
"So long as you don't wake me up coming in and you don't puke all over the TV again."
"It was just one time!"
"One time when I had to clean it up because you too hungover to get up!"
"When you say it like that it makes it sound bad, look on the bright side."
"What bright side?"
"I didn't hurl on you."
"That is gross, and sadly true."
"I only speak the truth" shrugged Jason.
"Yeah, right."
"Hey kids."
"Hey Jim" Jason greeted his boss.
"Hey, just coming by to fill you in on the card for tonight, Jason, you and AJ have a non-title tune up match against Williams and A1."
"The Team Canada B-Team" smirked Mara.
"Yeah, and Roode and Young are gonna be facing your buddies Dutt and Lethal, should be interesting to see what they come up with."
"Jay and Sonjay'll give 'em a match, no doubts there, maybe even beat them."
"I'd like to see that" conceded Cornette. "If only to see the look on D'Amore's face" he turned to Mara. "Looking forward to the gauntlet match?"
"Yup, who's in it?"
"We got all the girls on the roster, Brooks, Kim, Hemme, Val, Sirelda..." Jason winced. "Roxxi Leveaux..."
"Who in the hell..."
"Our new manager" came a voice, Jason turned.
"Welcome back boys" he smirked as VKM joined the group. "How was your vacation?"
"Very good, you got us" replied BG. "Seriously, I just wanted to say thanks for bailing us out when we were getting beat down..."
"But that doesn't mean we ain't still coming after those!" Said Kip pointing at Jason's belt. "It's just a matter of time."
"Sure it is Kip" smirked Jason. "So, you guys have a new manager?"
"Uh huh, the Voodoo Queen from New Orleans, Roxxi, come introduce yourself to the girl you're taking the belt from."
Out of the shadows stepped a pale woman, she slowly walked towards Mara and stared into her eyes, she twitched then stepped right up into her face before Kip pulled her back.
"Whoa, Roxxi wait until Sunday, you can do your Voodoo thing then."
VKM escorted Roxxi away leaving Jason, Mara and Cornette weirded out in their wake.
"You guys as freaked as I am?" Asked Jason.
"Uh huh."
"Glad I don't have to wrestle that."
"Hey guys!"
"Kid."
"Feeling better this week Chris?" Asked Jason sitting down next to him, Chris glanced up at him and shrugged.
"Been better."
"I take it you haven't cleared things up with Jerry?"
"Nope."
Jason sighed. "I'm getting a real feeling of deja-vu."
"How come?"
"Well, remember the crap we went through before Bound for Glory?"
"Good point, but the thing is me and you can talk things over because, Jerry seems to think that because he's a veteren he can call the shots and I have to stand in line behind him."
"That's one way of looking at it, Jay, Sonjay, you guys up for Team Canada?"
"They're not facing them" interrupted Jerry walking into the room. "I just got Jim to change the match."
"Why?"
"Me and Chris need to sort things out, best way to do that is team together, so I thought..."
Chris stood up. "OK, let me get this straight, you know I'm pissed at you, you know I don't have anything to say to you and you still book us in a tag match?"
"What's the problem? You did the same thing to Jason."
Chris squared up to Jerry. "Y'know the difference between you and Alex Shelley? Shelley was a guy who when he screwed around with people who were supposed to be his friends he did it to their faces!"
"What are you saying?"
"Think about it Jerry, you're old enough to figure it out" replied Chris picking up his belt. "You coming... partner?"
With that he turned his back on Jerry and stormed out of the room, Jerry sighed and followed him, Jason looked over at Jay and Sonjay, they stared back at him and shrugged.
"Well, it was fun while it lasted."
Meanwhile...
"Where the hell were you?" Screamed D'Amore as Eric finally turned up.
"Sorry, I... I got held up."
"Held up? Doing what? Selling us out?"
"Selling you out? What..."
"Eric, have you forgotten what you pulled last week? You had Jason Cena helpless, you had a chair and you let him walk away! What were you thinking?"
"I'm sorry, it's just... I didn't want to hit him, I don't have a problem with him."
"What? Do you even want the tag titles?"
"Of course I do, but I didn't want to hit him with the chair."
D'Amore put his head in his hands. "Eric... you and Bobby have those guys in three days and if you screw this up for us I swear to God I will make you regret it for as long as you dare to wear wrestling boots! Hell..."
"Scott!" Williams had seen enough. "You're going about this all wrong" he put his arm around Eric. "Eric, we're buddies right?"
"Yeah Petey, you're one of my best friends but..."
"I know, I didn't want to tell you this but... there's a rumour going around that management wants to let you go..."
"What? They're firing me? But I didn't do..."
"I know Eric, they're just using you to send a message to the roster, but I know how you can save your job."
"How?"
"See Eric, they can't fire you if you're a champion, so if you and Bobby win those belts then they can't touch you, know what I'm saying?"
"Yeah, win titles, don't get fired."
"Good, think you can do that?"
"Yeah, yeah I can do that."
Williams smiled. "Good, now you and Bobby are up, so get going."
"Right, thanks Petey!"
"No problem Eric" Williams turned to D'Amore and A1, both were staring at him. "Ta-da, taken care of."
D'Amore shook his head. "Petey, that was the most devious thing I've ever seen you pull... I'm proud of you."
"Thanks coach."
Despite William's motivation Eric and Roode were dominated by Chris and Jerry, the Against All Odds opponents had seemingly made an unspoken agreement to take their anger at each other out on the Canadians and were doing a very good job at it, for his part Eric was looking sharper than ever and it was Roode taking most of the beating during the match. The only problem Jerry and Chris seemed to be having was the dirty looks Chris was giving his partner every time Jerry told him to do something, which was often, Chris eventually had enough and just took it to Eric hitting a top-rope legdrop, he covered but Roode broke it up and got some boots in causing Jerry to jump in a kick off a brawl, Chris grabbed Eric and went for the cradle shock but Roode shoved Jerry into him, he dropped Eric and spun round just as Jerry went for his cradle pildriver on Roode, he pulled the pioneer off and the two began arguing then Eric nailed Chris with a dropkick causing the two to clash heads, Jerry went down and Roode nailed Chris with the Northern Lariat! He held Jerry back as Eric made the pin and got the three-count.
Jason groaned and put his head in his hands as Jerry immediately went over to Chris and yanked him up to his feet, Chris responded by shoving him and the two began screaming at each other in the ring, Chris held up three fingers to say how many times they'd had this problem, he then turned to leave but Jerry pulled him back, they argued some more then Jerry slapped Chris across the face! Chris looked at the ground holding the spot he'd been hit then laid Jerry out with an enziguri!
Jason was out of the locker room before Jerry had even hit the ground, he made it out into the arena just as Chris lifted Jerry up for the cradle shock! He jumped up on the apron.
"Chris! Don't do it!" Chris turned to face him. "Don't do it! Don't Chris!"
Chris stared him down thinking about it then just let Jerry drop, he rolled out of the ring and Jason led him away while Jerry stared the two of them down.
Jason left Chris to cool off with Jay and Sonjay before going in search of his tag partner, in all the chaos he'd forgotten that he had a tag match that night, as he walked through the hall he bumped into Jerry.
"You OK?"
"What do you think?" Hissed Jerry before barging past him, Jason shook his head.
"It's just as much your fault as his" he called, Jerry ignored him. "Man, I hate being the middle-man" he turned to keep going and bumped into Eric Young, they stared at each other for a second then Eric smiled.
"Good luck for later" he said offering his hand, Jason looked surprised but shook it.
"Thanks, good match by the way."
Eric nodded then went on his way, Jason shrugged then continued on his way to AJ's locker room, his partner was getting ready for the match.
"AJ."
"Hey kid" greeted his partner. "How's it going?"
"Apart from having to keep two of my buddies from killing each other? Not bad."
AJ laughed. "Where's Mara?"
"Gauntlet's up next, she's joining Tenay and West."
"Who's your pick?"
"Whoever come out last" smirked Jason.
"Cheat" muttered AJ. "I suppose you'll want me to turn on the monitor so you can watch it?"
Jason sat down and put his feet up. "That'd be great, and could you get me a soda while you're at it?"
AJ grinned and slapped Jason round the back of the head before turning the monitor on, he sat down and got settled.
"This is gonna be fun."
Mara's music hit in the arena and she walked out in front of the TNA crowd, she held her belt up and walked down the ramp to the announce table, she shook hands with Tenay and West before sitting down as Tenay spoke to the home audiance.
"Up next is a women's gauntlet match to brought about by TNA's latest working relationship, the Real Quality Wrestling promotion from England, we will determine a challenger to the RQW women's championship and at Against All Odds we'll give you the title match itself, joining us right now the reigning champion Mara Daniels."
"Hey, Mike, Don."
"Nice to have you out here Mara."
"Thanks, I'm out here to get a close look at my challengers and prove I'm a better announcer than my boyfriend as well as a better wrestler."
Tenay and West laughed. "Anyway, since the call went out last week the response has been amazing, the match will feature eighteen of the finest women's wrestlers in the world, that's six TNA knockouts and twelve unknown factors."
"All the more reason TNA should have a women's division" said Mara. "If we get that for an Independants championship imagine what a TNA title would get."
"True, now let's get things started!"
The rules were explained to the crowd, the match would be competed under battle-royal rules with a new entrant every minute until the final two, then it would become a straight up one-fall match, the announcer fell silent as everyone waited to see who would be the first competitor. Gail Kim's music hit and she came out accompanied by AMW, she didn't look happy at her number and glared at Mara as she got in the ring.
"Gail Kim not too pleased about her number" commented West as VKM's music hit and they accompanied their manager out to the ring.
"That is one weird woman" said West as she got in the ring and stared down Gail.
"Being weird can help" replied Mara. "It can psyche out all her opponents in this match and help her win."
"Really?"
"Why do you think Jason's won so many matches?"
The bell rangto begin the match and Levaeux immediately threw Gail down, she jumped up but got thrown down again and Levaeux dropped down in front of her and stared at her, Gail jumped up and threw a punch but it was blocked and she was thrown down again, Levaeux hit the ropes but AMW tripped her, VKM round round the ring and the two team brawled to the pack as Gail finally got control and hit Levaeux with a DDT, the ten second countdown began for the number three entrant.
"The next competitor... ODB!"
"The first of our independant entrants the ODB" said Tenay. "Ever had any dealings with her?"
"Not personally but she is someone who I'd like to face" answered Mara as ODB hit the ring and began beating on Gail, she knocked Levaeux down and hit some stomps then pulled Gail up by the hair, she climbed up to the top-rope and bounced Gail's head off the turnbuckle she was sitting on.
"That's an interesting visual" smirked West.
"I think we've found Jason's pick" laughed Mara as ODB hit some chops to both Gail and Levaeux, she threw Gail over but she landed on the apron and came back in as the next wrestler arrived.
"The next competitor... Cheerleader Melissa!"
Melissa wasted little time in getting down to the ring, she breezed past ODB and nailed Gail with a lariat, ODB turned but got a kick to the stomach followed by a swinging neckbreaker, Levaeux beat her to the punch and set her up for a powerbomb but she escaped and hit a samoan drop, ODB got up and she set her up for a air raid crash but ODB escaped and hit a fall away slam! She stood over Melissa and posed only for Gail to come up behind her and hit a neckbreaker leaving herself the only woman standing.
"The next competitor... Jazz!"
"Jazz?" Yelled West.
"The former WWE women's champion making her first TNA appearence tonight."
Jazz hit the ring and went right after Gail, she hit several right hands then dropped her with a DDT, she hit the ropes to go for a splash but Levaeux was up, she ducked a clothesline then put the voodoo queen in the bitch clamp! She held her up for a few seconds then dropped her on her face, ODB tried to get up but got put in the clamp and dropped as well, Melissa hit some right hands but missed one and got the clamp and Gail got it before she even got up! Jazz walked around the ring enjoying the moment then turned to Mara and made belt motions, she turned and glanced at the two ramps as the clock ran out.
"The next competitor... Sirelda!"
"This is gonna be good" smirked Mara as Sirelda marched towards the ring and Jazz, she broke the stare only once to glare at Mara as she walked past before getting in the ring and squaring up to Jazz.
"My God, she's actually bigger than Jazz!" Exclaimed Tenay as the crowd cheered for them to fight, Sirelda smirked at Jazz then spun round a chokeslammed Levaeux! Jazz took advantage of the distraction and got some shots in before Sirelda responded with some of her own, she took control and grabbed Jazz by the throat but got kicked in the stomach and set up for a fisherman's buster but escaped and began exchanging punches with Jazz again, Gail and Melissa were trying to toss ODB and Levaeux was still out as the countdown ended.
"The next competitor... Lacey!"
Mara groaned. "Why? Why bring her in?"
Lacey walked down to ring and stomped Levaeux a few times before turning to Sirelda and slapping her! She then spun round and did the same to Jazz! She laughed and posed while Sirelda and Jazz exchanged a furious look.
"Big mistake Lacey!" Laughed Mara as Jazz and Sirelda jumped her and began putting the boots to her, Jazz picked her up and tossed her to Sirelda who grabbed her by the throat and chokeslammed her! She went to toss her out but Jazz stopped her, pulled Lacey up and hit the fisherman's buster! They both pulled Lacey up and tossed her over as the clock ran out once again.
"Lacey has been eliminated! The next competitor... Rain!"
Rain ran out and checked on her SHIMMER tag partner before jumping in the ring and going after Sirelda and Jazz, she kicked Jazz down but Sirelda grabbed her by the throat, she slipped out then hit the Amazon with the Rain drop! Levaeux was staggering to her feet and Rain threw her over but she landed on the apron, Rain went after ODB and brawled with her while Gail and Melissa fought in another corner, Levauex came back in and attacked Jazz then hit the voodoo slam! The countdown ended once again for the next entrant.
"The next competitor... Christy Hemme!"
Christy took her time getting down to the ring as Leavauex waited for her, she got up on the apron and Levaeux stepped forward only to be jumped by Rain and Melissa, she got in the ring and took some shots at Jazz and Sirelda then turned into a big knockdown by ODB as the countdown ended.
"The next competitor... MisChif!"
Unlike Christy, MisChif sprinted down to the ring, Melissa went to meet her but Mischif spat the green mist into her face! Melissa staggered around blinded then MisChif tossed her out!
"Cheerleader Melissa has been eliminated!"
MisChif smirked down at Melissa as she was helped to her feet, Rain tried to creep up behind her but MisChif spun round and screeched in her face causing Rain to drop to the ground and scurry away, Sirelda and Jazz were back up and exchanging blows while Levauex, Gail and Christy all tried to toss ODB, the countdown began and ended signalling another woman.
"The next competitor... Sara Del Ray!"
"This has to be one of the favourites" commented Tenay. "Sara Del Ray is already the champion of the all-women promotion SHIMMER."
"Champ versus champ" smirked Mara. "Sounds good doesn't it?"
Del Ray quickly went after Rain and beat her down, Levaeux charged her but ate a big boot before being tossed over and out!
"Roxxi Levaeux has been eliminated!"
Del Ray quickly followed the elimination up be knocking down ODB then flooring Gail with a huge German suplex! MisChif ran over but got knocked down then Del Ray clotheslined Rain out!
"Rain has been eliminated!"
Sirelda and Jazz noticed Del Ray for the first time and and three-way staredown ensued before all three women began brawling! Christy was the only other woman standing and began taking shots at each downed wrestler as the next entrant arrived.
"The next competitor... So Cal Val!"
Val ran out to the ring and immediately speared Christy down to the mat and began throwing right hands, before Jazz pulled her off and took her down with a DDT, Del Ray threw Sirelda over but the Amazon held on and came back in, she grabbed Del Ray by the throat and dropped her with the chokeslam! Jazz turned to meet her and the two brawled it out yet again, the other women all began staggering to their feet as the clock counted down.
"The next competitor... Awesome Kong!"
"Oh my God!" Exclaimed West and Tenay at the same time, all the women in the ring froze and they, along with Mara, stared in shock as the huge woman casually walked down to the ring, as she stepped in Sirelda and Jazz charged but got nailed with a double clothesline, Kong then proceded to knock all the girls down with chops bar Christy who recieved a spinning backfist to the side of the head, she slumped to the mat but Kong pulled her up and tossed her out.
"Christy Hemme has been eliminated!"
Kong looked at all the fallen women then chose Val to be her next victim, she lifted her up and put her in a backbreaker hold over her shoulders almost bending Val in two! After letting her suffer for a while she walked over to the ropes and dumped Val out.
"So Cal Val has been eliminated!"
Kong again looked at the devastation around her as the clock counted down for the next girl.
"The next competitor... 'The Jezebel' Eden Black!"
"Eden Black here representing the RQW promotion, she is in fact the former champion so it only makes sense that she would be in this match" Tenay told the fans as Black hit the ring and Kong immediately knocked her down, Kong then grabbed both Jazz and Sirelda and tossed them both out!
"Jazz and Sirelda have been eliminated!"
Kong went to turn her attention to MisChif but she fought back with punches to the ribs, she went for some shots to the face but Kong nailed her with the spinning backfist then pulled her up and hit a sitout powerbomb! MisChif was out cold and Kong pulled her up with one hand and threw her out!
"MisChif has been eliminated!"
All the women left jumped Kong and tried to lift her out but she threw them all down and stood tall again as the clock ran down.
"The next competitor... Amy Dumas!"
The fans went nuts as Dumas sprinted out to the ring while Tenay and West tried to find the right words.
"The woman formerly known as Lita making a special one-night appearance in TNA! What a story it would be if she were to win tonight!"
Dumas immediately went to the top-rope and waited for someone to get up, ODB was the unfortunate one and she came off the top-rope and hit a hurricanranna! Kong charged her but she sidestepped and Kong hit the corner hard, Gail tried to jump her old rival but Dumas avoided her charge and hit a DDT! Eden Black stepped forward but received a kick to the stomach and got the twist of fate! ODB was getting up but Dumas ran forward and clotheslined her out!
"ODB has been eliminated!"
Dumas posed for the TNA crowd but Kong nailed her from behind and knocked her down as the next woman came out.
"The next competitor... Allison Danger!"
This time it was Mara's turn to be shocked.
"What's she doing here? She never told me she was gonna be in this!"
Allison gave her a small smile as she ran past then jumped in the ring, Kong went for her but she ducked a clothesline and knocked down Del Ray before trying an STO, Kong fought out of it and set her up for the sitout powerbomb but Allison countered it into a DDT! She jumped to her feet and Black charged her but she sidetepped and tossed her out!
"Eden Black has been eliminated!"
Allison put some boots to Kong before being jumped by Del Ray, Dumas and Gail were fighting it out and trying to toss each other as the second to last woman entered.
"The next competitor... Jacqueline Moore!"
"Jackie Moore making her first appearance in TNA since Turning Point of 2004" called West as Moore hit the ring and went after Gail and Dumas, Kong was returning to her feet only for Del Ray to jump her, she got some shots in but Kong caught her and pressed her over her head, Allison got up and Kong threw Del Ray onto her! The three former WWE champions all jumped Kong as the clock ran out for the final time.
"Ladies and gentleman the final competitor... Traci Brooks!"
"The luckiest bitch in the building" growled Mara as her old rival walked down to the ring.
"No love lost between you two then?" Asked Tenay.
"Nope, then again so long as Kong's in there there's no hope for anyone."
Traci finally got in the ring and jumped Allison from behind, Kong was punishing Gail with chops in the corner while Moore and Del Ray double-teamed Dumas, they whipped her and Del Ray hotshotted her but she landed on Moore's shoulders and hit a hurricanranna that took them both over the top!
"Jacqueline Moore and Amy Dumas have been eliminated!"
The crowd booed as Dumas's elimintation was announced, she stood up and waved to them before leaving the arena, in the ring Allison, Gail, Traci and Del Ray were all beating on Kong but she once again fought back, Gail, Del Ray and Allison went down but she missed a corner splash on Traci, she quickly went up top and tried the pie in the sky but Kong caught her and hit the sitout powerbomb! She pulled the lifeless Traci up and tossed her out.
"Traci Brooks has been eliminated!"
Kong smirked but then turned round for Del Ray to land a huge big boot! She didn't go down but Gail grabbed her and hit a neckbreaker! They then turned their attention to Allison, Gail told Del Ray to pick her up but when she stepped forward Gail grabbed her and tossed her out!
"Sara Del Ray has been eliminated!"
Gail laughed at Del Ray but Allison took advantage of her distraction and threw her over!
"Gail Kim has been eliminated!"
Gail flipped and tried to get back in the ring but Del Ray grabbed her and beat on her all the way to the back, the final two were Allison and Kong, the referee jumped in the ring just as Kong nailed Allison with the spinning backfist! She placed a foot over Allison but she got a shoulder off the mat.
Kong pulled Allison off the mat and pressed her over her head, she held her up for several seconds then dropped her on her face, she pulled her up and went for the sitout powerbomb one more time but Allison slipped down her back and tried a sunset flip but Kong sat down on her! The referee counted but Allison put her foot on the ropes, Kong pulled her out to the middle of the ring then climbed the ropes! She went for a big splash but Allison moved! Kong hit the mat hard then Allison rolled her up, the referee counted... and Allison got the three!
Mara was in the ring almost as soon as the count had been made, she watched as the referee helped Allison up then stepped up to her mentor, they stared at each other then hugged in the ring before Mara raised her arm, they hugged again then Mara held the ropes open for Allison and they both walked out of the arena.
Well, I'm gonna leave it there, Allison Danger comes out of nowhere to get the title shot at Against All Odds where it'll be teacher vs. student, but first we have one last tune up match in Jason and AJ vs. the Team Canada B-Team Petey Williams and A1, what's gonna happen? And will Williams motivation inspire Eric Young to great things? Find out soon.
I'm out.
James