Chapter 22:
The following Monday Night, Haley entered the backstage area of Raw side by side with Hunter. She had met him in Gorilla position after his opening segment with John Cena and Jeff Hardy, who were due to go one on one tonight to determine who would face Triple H at Night of Champions for the WWE title.
"So what's going through that head of yours, Haley?" Hunter asked, once they were away from the curious ears of the production crew.
"Hunter, how do you get through a tag team match with someone who's supposed to be your enemy or at least once was your enemy?" She frowned thoughtfully. "I mean, there can't be any real chemistry or teamwork there."
"It all depends on how badly you want to win. It's how Cena and I get through the numerous tag team matches we've had over the past couple months." Hunter looked down at her in confusion.
"I've only had tag team matches with Divas I'm friends with. Tonight I'm teaming up with Melina to take on Beth Phoenix and Katie Lea. I mean, I guess it makes sense, I'm feuding with Katie lately and the Glamazon and I had an epic rivalry. Now Melina's feuding with Beth, so it adds up, but Melina and I hate each other." Haley shrugged. "How do I approach that?"
"Like you always do." Hunter squeezed her shoulders. "Go out there and win!"
Beth Phoenix and Katie Lea stood in the ring, smirked as Melina limped down the ramp to the ring, her techno titantron blasting behind her. Last night she had competed in a vicious I Quit Match at One Night Stand against Beth Phoenix and she had been forced to submit to one of the Glamazon's lethal holds.
Melina's only comfort tonight, was that her partner had beaten the Glamazon several times before, including a match at Wrestlemania for the Women's Championship. She was one of three women in the WWE who had, the other two being Candice Michelle and Mickie James. While the other two Divas had pinned Beth with cradles and roll ups, Haley Mariano had made Beth tap out and pinned her after her finishing maneuvers. It was the reason why Haley was Champion.
Gavin DeGraw replaced Melina's techno and the crowd roared to a feverish pitch, as Haley came around the corner into view of the stage. She was dressed in Triple H's gray King of Kings t-shirt that been altered to bare her midriff and be sleeveless. She wore her standard black Lyrca tights and boots to go with it and her dark hair was pinned up off her face. For the first time in Melina's life, she was glad to see her.
"And her tag team partner, making her way to the ring from Boston, Massachusetts, she is the WWE Women's Champion, Haley Mariano!" Lilian stepped out of the ring, while Haley came to a stop beside her former rival and now partner for the night.
"You ready for this?" Haley asked politely, trying to keep on Melina's good side for this. She's need the Scream Queen's help for this one.
Melina nodded and the two women entered the ring at the same time. Beth Phoenix was smirking in pride as Melina held her sore back, while Haley climbed the front right turnbuckle to salute the fans and pose with her belt.
Referee Mike Chioda called for the bell and without a word to Haley, Melina went to the apron, as did Beth Phoenix, leaving Haley and Katie Lea to start the match.
"How's your friend Kennedy feeling?" Katie smirked as they locked up.
Haley used an arm drag takeover to slam the British woman in the canvas. "He'll be feeling a hell of a lot better after I'm through kicking your ass, Bitch!" Haley ran to the ropes and came back at Katie with a low dropkick.
Haley twisted Katie's arm and dragged her over towards Melina. "You want a shot?" Haley held her palm out for a tag. But to her surprise, Melina didn't even look at her; she was still staring at Beth in a rather catatonic state. "Melina!"
Katie played of the distraction by kicking Haley sharply in the midsection and then dropping the Women's Champion in a neck breaker. Katie hastily made a cover, but Haley was able to kick out before he reached two.
This time is was Katie who made an arm wringer and dragged Haley over to Beth. Katie's partner was more cooperative and made the tag. The Glamazon punched Haley viciously in the gut, before lifting the Women's Champion up for a sidewalk slam.
Haley was quicker and flipped herself all the way over the Glamazon's shoulder to land on her feet behind Beth. Beth spun around to meet one of Haley's textbook standing dropkicks that brought her down to one knee. Haley used Beth's propped knee as a stand for running enziguri kick.
"GIVE ME THE TAG!" Melina suddenly screeched her eyes wild and desperate as they zeroed in on Haley.
"Now you want the tag?" Haley asked incredulously, as Beth began to recover from where she lay motionless on the mat.
"Haley, give me the tag!" The Latina was practically bouncing on the ropes to get into the ring.
With a shrug and a sigh, Haley granted her request and tagged in Melina. Melina charged into the ring as though she were on fire, jumping onto the back of the Glamazon, scratching and clawing at any available flesh she could reach. The crowd went wild as the two women rolled around the canvas, Beth trying to dislodge Melina while Melina was clinging like a bur.
As they rolled outside the ring, Katie made the decision to get involved. With a heavy eye roll, Haley dropped off the apron and ran around the ring to aid her partner from a double team. It took the combined efforts of Katie and Haley to pry their respective partners from each other.
Melina rose up, shoved Haley off of her and charged Beth again, only to run into one of Beth's impacting clotheslines.
Annoyed, Haley flung her hands up in exasperation and went back to her side of the apron. If that's how Melina wanted to be, she could get her ass kicked for all Haley cared, as long as they didn't lose the match.
Beth threw Melina back into the ring and continued to prove her dominance over the other Diva, before tagging in Katie Lea to finish her off. Katie attacked Melina with a couple of stomps to the sternum and a rather impressive powerslam, Haley would grudgingly admit.
Katie took a moment to taunt Haley before going for an elbow drop, but the hesitation was all Melina needed. Melina rolled out of the way and into her corner to tag Haley back into the match.
Haley exploded into the ring with a series of Thez presses and a running dropkick to the Glamazon, knocking her former adversary right off the apron. Katie was back on her feet and charged herself right into a grade A spinebuster from the Women's Champion. The crowd was roaring as Haley lit the place up.
"Yeah!" Haley went for another running enziguri and missed. Katie dragged herself into the corner and slapped Melina across the face. When the Latina tried to retaliate, the referee was distracted trying to hold her off, which gave Beth Phoenix the opportunity to sneak up on Haley from behind.
It took only a minute for the Glamazon to elevate Haley into the Flight of the Phoenix, before dropping her face first into the canvas. Katie Lea made the cover just as the referee turned around.
Katie Lea's music blasted as Lilian announced her and Beth the victors of this bout. Haley slammed her palm into the mat while the two Divas celebrated above her. Next time, she was doing this with Mickie James as her partner. This match was ridiculous.
Paul Burchill made his way down the ramp, clapping proudly for his sister. It was her first victory ever on RAW and over the woman she had wanted to beat the most. But the booing didn't last long, the crowd cheered again as Kennedy burst onto the scene, attacking him from behind and dragging him into the ring.
Burchill desperately tried to break free of Kennedy who was on him like a rabid dog who had tasted blood. He finally managed to get away, but not without taking several licks from the resident loudmouthed troublemaker.
Kennedy's music played in the background and the bleached blonde man helped Haley back to her feet. Keeping one arm around her, he pointed at Paul Burchill and told him it was far from over. They had only just begun.