My Sacrifice
A/N..with the exception of Jeff on ECW, all rosters will be as of the, ahem, "trades" made by Donald Trump.
Tom walked into the arena where he was greeted by his booker, Paul Heyman.
"I got your message." He barely had time to take off his jacket before Paul started screaming at him. "How bad is it?"
"We lost Swagger, Finlay, Henry, and the Hart Dynasty." Paul hyperventilated.
"What the hell!" Tom yelled back
"Don't yell at me! I had nothing to do with it." Heyman and Tom started shouting at each other.
"Did we get anything useful for them?"
"Goldust, William Regal, Shelton Benjamin, the Bella Twins." Paul answered
"Basically, no." Tom plopped down in his chair.
"Vince said he'd bring in some new talent." Paul replied, the believability factor, if you went by his tone, was zero.
"Just what I needed today. I got people breathing down my neck, at least two people out to get me, and now no talent on my fuckin' roster." Tom said
"I dunno what to tell ya." Heyman answered
"You're my booker. Put together a card."
"We can do Dreamer and Christian again." Paul suggested
"Just set it up." Tom waved him from his office.
"That's why you hired me." Heyman left and Tom covered his face with his hands.
"Fuck!" Tom swore again. Reaching for his phone, he called the office and had them put in a call to Theodore Long. With Vince taking over Raw again, the last person Tom wanted to confront was Mr. McMahon.
"Yo, playa, what's up?" Teddy returned the call promptly.
"Hey, Theodore, just curious. Did you know about these trades when we dealt for Jeff?" Tom asked
"Shocked the hell outta me too." Long answered
"Yeah. It looks like you got a better deal than I did." Tom rubbed his forehead.
"Ya know somethin' playa, I didn't even get to use Evan before he got sent to RAW."
"Yeah, along with half of my roster." Tom lamented
"Didn't say it was gonna be easy. You know what Vince thinks of ECW."
"It's cool, I was just wondering." Tom answered "Any chance of working a talent exchange until whoever this 'new talent' is shows up?"
"Hook me up at the Superstar taping." Long answered "We'll talk again then."
"Thanks, Teddy, if this works, you'll be a lifesaver."
"No problem, playa." Long replied "You know I got Matt Hardy now?"
"No, I didn't." Tom answered "That'll make one thing easier."
"Whassat?"
"Have you heard what's been goin' down?" Tom asked
"Those attacks?"
"Uh-hmm. Lita was hurt a couple days ago, and I haven't heard anything on Shannon or Adam." Tom said
"I heard that Adam's not expected to recover for at least three months." Teddy stated "Apparently, his skull was fractured and he suffered a severe-grade concussion."
"Sorta like what I heard about the Hurricane." Tom replied "Could you do me and Jeff a favor and keep an eye on Matt?"
"You think someone's gonna do him next?"
"I gotta feeling that it'll either be him or Jay next. Whoever's doin' this is gonna make me and Jeff sweat this out. Of course, that's assuming the police don't catch him, her, or them first." Tom said "Anyhow, I'll catch you at Superstars and we can figure something out."
"Alright playa. Hollah, hollah!"
"And people wonder why I have grey hair!" Tom rubbed his face briskly. He reached into the side drawer of his desk and pulled out a bottle of white pills. He dry swallowed three of them, grimacing at the chalky flavor.
"Mr. Hardy?" One of his producers opened the door a few inches and stuck his head inside the door. "Do you have a minute?"
"I got all the time in the world right now." Tom answered "What do you want?"
"It's not me, sir. One of your superstars wants a word."
"Send him or her on in." Tom answered, praying that this was not a request to be traded, released, or an explanation for why he or she might fail a wellness test.
"He'll see you now."
"Jeffers!" Tom bounded out from behind the desk.
"Hiya, Tommy." Jeff danced into the office.
"First official day here, bro. How'd you make out?"
Jeff giggled at the words 'make out'. "Fine. You left so early this morning I didn't have time to say goodbye, so I figured I'd stop in on my way to lunch."
"I wish I could join you, but I got a mess. Half my roster got traded away." Tom flicked a sheet of paper over to his brother, who quickly scanned it.
"Wow! This is everybody?" Jeff whistled "Not much competition is there?"
"Don't let the locker room hear you say that. I'm already worried that some of them think I'm playing favorites by bringing you in." Tom replied "As for lunch, I wish I had time. This job isn't all fun and games, y'know."
"I thought you'd say that, so I brought stuff." Jeff set a large paper bag on his desk and started pulling trays out of it. "I hope you don't mind Chinese."
"I'll eat anything right now." In addition to skipping goodbyes, Tom had also skipped breakfast that morning.
While they ate, they chatted about their recent problems.
"Poor Addy, huh?" Jeff said through a mouthful of noodles. "Three months gone. He just won the tag titles and now Jericho might have to give them up."
"Yeah. How'd you hear?" Tom asked
"Matty told me. He's on Smackdown now." Jeff responded
"Right. Teddy told me. Have you talked to Heyman yet?" Tom asked
"Not yet. He said something about a staff meeting later today." Jeff speared a chicken ball covered in hot sauce and slowly licked the tangy coating from it.
Tom laughed. Leave it to Jeff to make eating lunch sexy.
"At the risk of screwing myself out of this job as well, it looks like we may have to push you right away." Tom skewered a piece of deep-fried calamari and waved it in Jeff's general direction before depositing it into his mouth.
"Fine with me." Jeff replied
"Good. That's the first good news I've heard since I arrived." Tom answered "I didn't think Vince was gonna set me up to fail this early. I have a good mind to call him and complain."
"Not smart, bro." Jeff warned, dabbing plum sauce on a phallic-looking egg roll. "You know how Vince can get when he feels that he's being questioned by his employees."
"I guess I'm gonna hafta call somebody out tonight..." Tom said, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "You think you could find a tag-team partner before tonight?"
"Sure, why?"
Tom ran to the door. He flung it open and shouted "Heyman!" at the top of his lungs.
"What?" From his appearance, Paul was as concerned about the talent drain as Tom was.
"Call Teddy Long. Tell him we have a team that wants to challenge for the Unified Tag titles tonight." Tom ordered
"We do?" Not surprisingly, this was news to Paul. Heck, it was news to Tom until thirty seconds ago.
"We do." Tom answered "And save me five minutes at the top of the show to vent."
"Your wish is my command." Paul stepped out. He could hear his booker yelling halfway down the hall for someone to get him Teddy Long on the phone.
Jeff was still staring at his lunch when Tom finished his impromptu meeting with Heyman.
"Everything cool?" Tom asked
"Just wond'rin' who I should pick as a partner." Jeff replied
"If I can make a suggestion..." Tom whispered a name into Jeff's ear.
His eyes bulged. "You're kiddin', right?"
"Nah, bro, it'd be a good team." Tom answered "Trust me."
"On the heels of a surprise move by former Raw owner Donald Trump, I welcome you to another episode of ECW!" Joey Styles shouted
The crowd seemed to be much more amped up. If last week's show was any indication, the installation of Tom Hardy was going to make thing a lot more interesting.
"And it looks like we're gonna be graced by our General Manager right away!"
Tom entered. The crowd buzzed, wondering what he'd have in store for them tonight.
"As you know, my predecessor Tiffany was probably not the sharpest tool on the shelf. In fact, she ranks up there somewhere between Dan Quayle and that stuff you find between your toes. As indicated by the idiot trade she agreed to. I am out here to apologize to you for what she did. Until I can get some stability in my roster, things may be a little light in the big name department. Bear with me... things will get better." Tom said, mentally wishing he had Khali and Tiffany in the same ring right now so he could make a match.
"However, I do have one trump card I can play. Earlier today, I informed Theodore Long, the GM of Smackdown, that I had a team prepared to challenge Edge and Y2J for the unified tag titles..."
Jericho's theme interrupted him. Chris walked out, not at all happy to be there.
"Did I hear you correctly, Junior?" he yelled
"Yes, you heard me correctly, Jericho." Tom retorted
"How the hell am I supposed to defend the tag team titles when my partner is out of commission for three months?" Chris demanded
"That is not my problem." Tom answered "While I'm sorry that Edge got hurt, it doesn't change anything. Those titles can be challenged for with twenty-four hours notice or at the discretion of the GM who holds their contracts."
"Exactly, assclown. That's why I brought my GM with me to explain to you why I won't be defending the titles tonight..."
Theodore Long came out. Jericho looked real pleased with himself.
"Listen up, playa. You know that Edge isn't available..."
"So I don't have to defend the titles tonight." Jericho interrupted, triumphantly.
"Did I say that?" Teddy turned to look at Chris, you lost his cockiness rather quickly. "Jericho, you know the rules. It was a bit of a blindside, Hardy, but I never said you were stupid. I have a proposition for ya, playa. Tonight, it will be Chris Jericho and a partner of his choosing against whomever it is you got."
"You're on." Tom shouted back. "When do I get to find out who Jericho's partner is?"
"Right now, jerky!" Y2J shouted. "Here's my partner... Matt Hardy!"
Tom's jaw dropped. Backstage, Jeff's jaw also hit the floor.
Matt walked out and took the mic.
"We may be blood Tom, but that doesn't change anything that happens here. Tonight, I will take apart whomever it is you got."
"Fine. Then tonight, in the ring, it will be Chris Jericho and Matt Hardy against the team of Christian and my newest acquisition... Jeff Hardy!"
The fans went crazy at the announcement of Tom's team. Jericho still looked smug, but Matt looked a little uneasy at the thought of fighting his brother and his still-secret boyfriend.
"And, in case you didn't know, it will be fought under Extreme rules." Tom added
"No way. We never agreed to that!" Jericho screamed. "Do something, Long!"
"I nevah agreed to no extreme rules, and you know it. Don't try to pull that on me, playa."
"You agreed to put the titles up under the ECW banner. By my mandate last week, which if you had watched ECW you would know, all matches fought under the ECW name are to be contested under ECW rules." Tom answered "Laterz!"
Tom tossed the mic to the timekeeper and strutted from the ring, past a stunned Theodore Long, Chris Jericho, and Matt Hardy. Christian and Jeff were in Tom's office, waiting patiently.
"Problem, you two?" By the way he asked, Tom clearly expected them to say no if they wanted to keep their jobs.
"Not really. Team Charisma is ready and willing to bring the tag titles to ECW." Jay saluted comically.
"Team Charisma, huh?" Tom cocked his eyebrow at Christian.
"Yeah, bro. When we win, we're gonna need a better intro than `the team of Christian and Jeff Hardy'." Jeff answered, smiling.
"I hope you do. I don't have a lot more cards up my sleeve." Tom stated
His desk phone rang suddenly. Not expecting a call, Tom stared nervously.
"If that is someone telling me that someone else got attacked, I am gonna go to Raw and tear Evan apart, literally... Hardy."
Tom'e eyes widened. "Yes, Mr. McMahon, what can I do for you?"
From his office in Stamford, Vince was watching the live feed of the ECW broadcast. He also had a very angry Theodore Long on another line, complaining that Tom was trying in hurt two of his top guys.
"I'll be quick since I know you have a show to run. Theodore Long just called me, complaining that you're trying to hurt his guys by making them fight ECW-style." Vince responded
"Mr. McMahon, you gave me free reign to run ECW how I wanted, correct?"
"Correct, but..."
"Let me finish, sir." Tom waved for Christian and Jeff to sit down while he finished this call. "Apparently, the blond bimbo who had this job before me agreed to some of the worst trades in the history of this business before she was let go. I came in here today to find out that almost my entire A-list had been traded away and I got very little in return for it."
"I wouldn't say that." Vince replied
"I would." Tom stated "With all due respect, both Goldust and Regal are nearing the ends of their respective careers, Shelton is not title material right now and the Bella twins are real useful to me... I don't have a women's division in case you hadn't noticed."
"You wanted a challenge." Vince answered
"A challenge yes, but Vince... if you take away Chimel, Styles, Katie Lea, the Bellas, Tony Atlas, and Ezekiel Jackson who I've seen at exactly one show since I've been here, I have eleven full-time wrestlers on my roster, and that is including the Hurricane who I've been told will not be back minimum six months."
"I didn't realize it was that bad." Vince stated sincerely.
"I do appreciate the new talent you've fed me, but they're not gonna be ready to main event for at least six months." Tom answered "This unified tag thing was the only thing I could use to get something going. Especially since the Colons only defended their belts on RAW."
"I see your point." Vince did not like to admit that he'd misread a situation, but that is precisely what had happened. "I guess ECW is gonna get some new champions tonight. I did not realize how short you were, Hardy. If there is anything else I can do to help out, let me know. In the meantime, if I may make a suggestion, push the new talent. I know that Seamus, Reks, and so forth don't look like much now, but they may surprise you."
"I'll do what I can with them, but they are so green, I'm beginning to wonder if they all came over on the same boat and got seasick." Tom responded "What about Long?"
"He'll tow the line once I set him straight." Vince answered "I'll make it perfectly clear that if he doesn't, Smackdown will be looking for a new General Manager."
"Cool."
"You're doing a good job. Just keep it up. Last week's ECW broadcast was the highest rated since the Heyman-era." Vince answered
"Nice. Later, Mr. McMahon, I got two anxious wrestlers waiting for me." Tom turned to Jay and Jeff who were fidgeting in their chairs.
"You really wanna be called team Charisma?" Tom queried
"Don't you like it?" Jeff asked
"It does have a bit of a ring to it... here are your winners, and new Unified Tag Team Champions... Team Charisma!" Tom said in his best Howard Finkel impression.
"You're kidding!" Jeff exclaimed
"What about Teddy Long?" Jay asked
"Let Vince deal with him." Tom answered.
"Yay!" Jeff bounded out of his chair. "Let's go find Matty and Chrissy!"
Like two kids at an amusement park, they ran from the office excitedly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this contest is scheduled for one fall with television time remaining and it is for the Unified Tag Team Championship!"
"Here we go!" Styles shouted "This place has been buzzing since our General Manager made this match at the start of the show."
"Introducing first, accompanied by Smackdown General Manager Theodore Long, at a combined weight of four hundred seventy-seven pounds, the team of Chris Jericho and Matt Hardy!"
"Okay, guys, spectacular but safe. That's all you gotta worry about." Tom said, an arm around each of his future champions. "I don't need anybody else getting hurt."
The implication was clear. If Shane could be attacked in a jammed arena at a pay-per-view, then it was unreasonable to assume that a smaller venue like this was safe.
"What about you?" Jeff asked, worried. "You'll be here all alone."
"Don't fret your pretty head." Tom replied "I'll be watching from a nice crowded area."
"...and the opponents. At a total combined weight of four hundred forty eight pounds, here are Jeff Hardy and Christian... team Charisma!"
An extremely loud ovation from the crowd nearly drowned out their entrance music.
"Call for you." One of the production crew handed Tom a cell phone.
"Hardy." Tom said, expecting it to be someone from the company.
"Are you enjoying the match?" A deep voice asked.
"Who is this?" Tom demanded
"I am the Spade." He stated
"Who?"
"Don't play me. You know who I am. I've been leaving calling cards with your friends."
Tom's jaw tightened.
"Who is this? What the hell do you want?" Tom shouted
"Are you watching the match?" The unknown man asked
"Yeah." Tom replied
"So am I. Keep an eye on your boys... one of them won't be standing at the end."
CLICK!!! Tom listened to dead air for a split second. Once the Spade's words sunk in, Tom reacted.
"Get me security. He's here!" He barked
"Who is?"
"Just get me security." Tom anxiously stared at the monitor, pacing, watching the match unfold.
"But, Mr. Hardy..."
"No buts! I want every security guy I have surrounding that ring by the time the match is over or you will be looking for a job tomorrow morning!" Tom turned on the hapless producer.
"Yessir."
The longer the match went on, the higher Tom's nervousness level rose.
"Where are those security people?" Tom demanded. It seemed like hours had passed with no signs of assistance. "I'm not waiting any longer."
Tom ran down to the ring. The fans started stamping their feet and yelling, assuming that this was part of the show. At ringside, he paid very little attention to the in-ring fighting, focusing instead on what was happening outside the ring. He scanned everyone within a close proximity to the ring for someone he didn't recognize. Cameramen, grips, for all he knew one of these could be the Spade.
He continued to watch for any signs of interference even as the match neared it's conclusion. Killswitch by Christian to Y2J, following a Swanton and they were poised to win the titles.
Theodore Long jumped on the ring apron, to argue with the referee, then everything went crazy. Matt grabbed one of the Unified title belts and crawled into the ring with it, preparing to nail Christian with it.
"I don't think so." Tom jumped the apron and grabbed the belt from Matt when he held is high prior to having it crash down upon Jay's skull.
"What the hell?" Matt demanded
"He's here someplace." Tom whispered "Keep an eye on Jeffro and Jay... I got you. Now drop me."
Matt kicked Tom in the gut, and he fell off the apron. In the ring, the fight continued, while Jeff and Matt started to feud outside. Eventually, the referee restored order and turned his attention back to the ring in time to count the three and award the match to Jeff and Jay.
"Here are your winners..."
Suddenly, the arena went black. The only illumination was from the emergency lights high up. In the ring, Tom could see the shapes of the wrestlers until suddenly another shape was there. Before Tom could react, this new entity picked up the Title belt Matt had been using earlier and swung it.
"Fuck!" Tom shouted "Get those fuckin' lights on!"
Tom jumped on the apron and had just stepped through the ropes when he heard a scream.
"Matty!!!!"
TBC
It looks like the Spade, whomever he or she is, has struck again!!!