Chapter 44:
Haley entered the ring to a raucous pop, climbing the far right turnbuckle to play to the fans. Paul and Katie Lea Burchill watched from the oppositie corner, being warned to stay there by referee Marty Elias.
She descended the turnbuckle to an agile leap and turned to wait on her tag team partner, while the sounds of Gavin DeGraw faded into silence, leaving the only noise of the sold out arena. She swung her arms in front of her, hopping lightly from one foot to the other, as the stage lit up in various shades of green and exotic music began to play through the sound system.
SOS
I hear them shouting
I hear them crying
You woke up in a badman place
You no safe you could run for days
You can't get away
I bring relief for sorrow and pain
You never should have tried to get in my face
"And introducing her tag team partner, from Jamaica, he is the Intercontinental Champion, Kofi Kingston!" Lililan announced the mocha-skinned man's arrival over the exploding pyros that went along with his thunderclap.
And it's a shame (what a shame)
You lose your life
You have no (no) more time (time)
Your destiny (nee) is mine
Hear then calling
Kofi slid into the ring, shedding his track jacket and pants, tossing them to the crowd before climbing the turnbuckle Haley previously stood upon. He proceeded to do his thunderclap for a second time, which the crowd imitated along with him.
SOS (I hear them calling)
SOS (I hear them shouting)
SOS (I hear them crying)
SOS (I hear them calling)
Kofi handed off his belt to Elias before turning to Haley with a bright smile. "Hello." He nodded to her.
"Hi." She returned his smile. "Ready for this?"
"But of course!" He exclaimed enthusiastically, as they took a couple steps closer to their corner of the ring. "So, would you like to start off, or shall I?"
Haley glanced over her shoulder see Paul take the apron, while Katie attempted to glare menacingly at the former Women's Champion. "Looks like the British Bitch is starting for the opposition so I will."
Kofi gave her another encouraging smile and knocked fists with her. "Ladies first." He said, before slipping through the ropes and onto the apron.
That left Haley to turn and face one of the women responsible for her title loss. Katie wasted no time in getting right into her face, intent of beginning with some trash talk.
"You look almost naked out here without your belt, Haley." The Chelsea native sneered. "Fortunately for the rest of us its around the waist of a more deserving Champion."
Haley merely smirked. "You talk big for someone who's never ever beaten me in a one on one match before."
Katie's eyes narrowed, before she shoved Haley roughly away from her. Haley's response was to bounce off the ropes and come back with a thundering spear. She landed in a mounted position over Katie's torso and immediately began throwing left hands to the skull of the British Diva. The two women scrambled up awkwardly to their feet, Haley keeping a hold on Katie by the hair, driving harsh knees into the sternum of her opponent.
Out of desperation, Katie shoved Haley back into the ropes a second time. On this round, Haley came back with a head scissors that sent the younger Burchill flying into the far left corner of the ring. Marty Elias restrained Haley from following her into the corner, forcing the former Women's Champion to back up and give Katie some room. Once Haley had backed up close enough, Paul reached over the ropes and shoved Haley right in the back.
Enraged from everything the man had done to her previously, she whirled around and sent a vicious slap across the face of Paul. The crack her palm made across his cheek echoed throughout the arena, causing the crowd to "oh" in response to Haley's assault. She stood her ground when his head came back around, his eyes lit with anger.
She kept her eyes locked on his when he entered the ring, slowly backing away from the larger man. She would show caution, but not fear. Besides, she knew Dave was watching the monitors very closely backstage and if Paul tried anything thing, the Animal would have his hide.
Suddenly the crowd grew deafening and a flash of green flew right over Haley's head. She watching in astonishment as Kofi took Burchill down in a springboard crossbody. The Intercontinental Champion rained fists of fury down onto the head and shoulders of Paul Burchill. He was furious about the attacks Paul had made on him in the past.
Marty Elias managed to separate both men long enough to get back into their respective corners for Haley and Katie to tag them in. After that display, both women knew it was the guys time to have a go at each other.
Haley leant across the top rope and watched Kofi in awe. The Intercontinental Champion flew around the ring with astonishing agility. She only wished her dropkicks could be as beautifully executed, but hers were modeled after Randy Orton's, powerful and effective.
"Come on Kofi!" She cheered, when Paul Burchill got the upperhand at one point. The man from Chelsea attempted to use the ropes for momentum, only to have Kofi soar over his head in some impressive vertical leaps.
After another Grade A dropkick, Kofi made the cover, only to have Burchill power out at two. "You can do it, Kofi! Keep on him!"
"Come on Paul, you can do this!" Katie sent a spiteful glare in the direction of Haley. "Squash him like the insignificant bug he is!"
"Just remember who the Intercontinental Champion is!" Haley squealed and whooped when Kofi reversed Paul's brief offense with a monkey flip. "That's the way!"
Katie had had enough with the way the match was going. Ignoring the warning of Marty Elias, she entered the ring with the intent on kicking Kofi right off her brother. But, the young Jamaican caught her foot before it could make contact. Completely stuck, it was the perfect opportunity for Haley to execute a chop block right at the British Diva's knee.
Haley once again took the mounted position over the other woman, throwing forearm shots to Katie's head and neck area. Meanwhile, Kofi and Paul continued to brawl not too far away from the two women currently catfighting.
"Hey!" Marty reprimanded in an infuriated voice. "What are you doing down here? This isn't your match! Get back to the stage!"
Haley caught a flash of pink out of the corner of her eye and knew Mickie had come down to extract pain on her rival. Katie was incapacitated for the moment and would be no threat to her for a couple more minutes at least. Haley made a split second decision, she had thrown the move out of her arsenal because of the man she had learned it from, but this opportunity called for it.
By the way Marty was standing, Haley knew Mickie was on the apron arguing with the referee. She leapt to her feet and ran to the ropes on the left side of the ring. She leapt upwards so that her feet hit the middle rope, springing her backwards. She twisted in mid-air and thrust her legs outward and right into the chest of the Women's Champion, springboard dropkicking her right to the floor below.
Grinning at Mickie's outraged and pained shrieked, Haley glanced over her shoulder just in time for Kofi to nail Trouble in Paradise and get the three count.
SOS (I hear them calling)
SOS (I hear them shouting)
SOS (I hear them crying)
SOS (I hear then calling)
"Here are your winners, Haley Mariano and Kofi Kingston!" While Paul and Katie slid out of the ring to stand with Mickie on the ramp in defeat, the victors exchanged a congratulatory hug.
"Nice job, Kofi!" Haley pulled back and grabbed his hand so that they raised them together in triumph.
"Thank you, Haley. You did not do so bad, yourself. I definitely would not mind teaming with you again!" He beamed at her. "Thunderclap with me!"
Unable to resist, she nodded and stepped away from him. Simultaneously, both superstars raised their right hand up into the air, before joining the left with it in a clapping motion known as Kofi's thunderclap.
A/N: I absolutely adore Kofi Kingston! He is so cute! And talented.
Coming up next, Haley and Dave react to Adamle appointment as General Manager.
Adamle gives Haley a match for Summerslam, and creating a dilemma for a tag team partner.
We finally get to see Dwayne's decision.