Chapter 9:
Tribal drums, green lights and a foreboding entrance that only meant the arrival of one man, or rather, one monster; Umaga. A chill raced down Haley spine as the three hundred and fifty pound Samoan Bulldozer appeared on stage. He screamed savagely before he stalked down the ring.
She knew he wouldn't show any mercy in response to her gender. He had proven that years ago when Maria had been forced face him and he nearly killed her. Just last year he would have run Candice down if he had the chance. She didn't think for a second that Umaga would hesitate to subject her to his viciousness. He would have once before if it hadn't been for Triple H.
Hunter, she thought frantically. Surely the Game was watching backstage and would come out and put a stop to this. If not him, then Chris. Chris wouldn't stand idly by backstage and leave her at the hands of the beast.
Haley back away as he entered the ring. "Remember who my boyfriend is, Umaga." She tried to reason with him. "He kicked your ass at Wrestlemania and if you hurt me, he'll kill you."
"Wah Samoa!" He screamed, thumping his chest, while referee Chad Patton got into position.
"Maybe this will teach you a lesson in respect, Haley." Regal practically snarled into his microphone, leaving Haley to face Umaga.
"Don't do this Umaga." Haley warned. "It's not just Batista who will come after you for this, remember Triple H, yeah? He'll bury you."
"Blah!" He outstretched his arms and stuck his tongue in a carnal fashion as Patton called for the bell.
"Oh my God, I would actually kill you hear Cena's music right now." She muttered tersely to herself, looking for a way out of the ring and away from the Samoan monster.
"It's more than just Triple H and Batista," She added desperately. "Chris Jericho is my best friend and my partner, he'll go ballistic. And Randy, he'll punt you in the head for this. Think very carefully about your next move."
"Wah Samoa!" Umaga repeated, before slapping his palms against his shoulders and chest in a way of pumping himself up.
Just as Umaga took a menacing step forward, a different drumming rhythm hit the airwaves. The crowd roared to a feverish pitch in response. It had been a little over two months since they'd heard that particular opening. The stage lit up in various hues of neon purple and blue which only cemented the fact that he was coming.
Umaga looked over his shoulder in confusion, while Haley eyed the stage with hope. The man always did have brilliant timing.
Don't you see the writing on the wall
(Don't you see the writing on the wall)
You're in way over your head
You're gonna drown in the things that you said
He practically danced into view, a vision in purple and black. His hair was a multitude of reds, blacks and oranges, as he rocked out at the top of the ramp. Not even his pyro effect could drown out the welcoming cheers of the crowd which were now at a deafening degree.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome back, Jeff Hardy!"
The time has come and gone for words
A thousand threats I've heard before
But words are cheap
And your lies are big to take
Jeff slid into the ring placed himself in between Haley and Umaga. He shot her a brief smile over his shoulder before glaring at Umaga in a menacing fashion. "You want her; you're going to have to go through me first."
"Hardy" chants echoed throughout the arena.
Umaga just huffed in annoyance, before he charged the rainbow haired warrior. Haley ducked and rolled out the ring, looking up in time to see Umaga Irish whip Jeff into the corner turnbuckle with thundering force.
"Come on, Jeff!" Haley began to pound the matt in an attempt to motivate her friend.
"LET'S GO HARDY!" The fans in attendance shouted in encouragement and clapped five times after it.
Umaga continued to beat on the newly returned Jeff Hardy and things were not looking good for the high flying enigma. Especially, once Umaga began to climb up a turnbuckle in preparation for his flying head butt.
"Jeff move!" Haley began to pound on the canvas harder in frustration as the move connected and Jeff clutched his shoulder in pain.
Umaga proceeded to drag Jeff into a corner, before backing up to the opposite one. He howled viciously, as he got ready to run the younger Hardy brother down like a train.
"Jeff please, get up!" Haley urged him frantically.
He finally seemed to heed her words and pulled himself out of the way at the very last second, so Umaga met an empty turnbuckle. The three hundred and fifty pounder stumbled forward, clutching his back in pain. Meanwhile, Jeff didn't hesitate to run ahead of him and nail a whisper in the wind.
"Pin him!" Jeff pointed at Umaga while speaking to Haley.
She scrambled into the ring, remembering this was technically her match, not Jeff's. With Jeff's help, she kept Umaga's shoulders down while the referee counted to the three.
Umaga shoved them both off just as they hit three and the two smaller superstars immediately bolted from the ring to safety outside it. Haley flung herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"Here is your winner, Haley Mariano!" Lilian informed the crowd.
"You're back!" She laughed out loud. "Have I mentioned you have fantastic timing? I've never been happier to see you than I am right now."
Jeff chuckled and pulled her with him up the ramp, trying to put as much distance between them and Umaga as possible. "If you thought I could sit backstage and watch you face off with that freak, you're sorely mistaken."
"No, gladly mistaken!" She giggled as the two posed at the top of the stage. "Welcome back, Jeff. I missed you."
"Thanks Haley." He flashed a heartwarming grin. "I missed you too."
The time has come and gone for words
A thousand threats I've heard before
But words are cheap
And your lies are big to take