The Elimination Chamber was the last big pay per view before Wrestlemania. The RAW event had John Cena versus John Morrison versus Sheamus versus The Miz versus Randy Orton versus R Truth. It was one of the most dangerous matches in the WWE and Memphis Kramer wanted to officiate it so bad that she could taste it. She had lobbied early for it, asking as soon as the card of participants had been announced. She had been told her request would be "considered" and Memphis knew what that meant. Though the general outline of events was choreographed and the endings pre-determined, it was still a volatile situation to be in the middle of. Anything could happen. Her biggest opponent had been Vice President of Talent Relations, John Laurinaitis. He had been adamant that a female not be involved in the matchup. It was too much of a liability. But Vince McMahon had other ideas. The sexy young referee had set the WWE on fire. She was good at what she did and the fans loved her. The element of danger made it that much more exciting. Two days before the show, Memphis had been informed that she had gotten the gig.

She stood in the Gorilla position, heart pounding. When it was time for the Main Event, she walked down the ramp to the usual thunderous applause. Several of her male counter parts were on hand outside the Chamber. They were none too thrilled with taking a back seat to her but what else was new? Memphis had long accepted that she would never fully gain their approval so she had given up trying and worrying about it long ago. Tonight, this was a milestone in her career and she was going to take the opportunity and run with it. It had been said many times over but nights, moments like that, made her realize she was rewriting history for women in the sports entertainment industry.

The large chain length circle of steel enclosed the ring. The Chamber's floor was platformed over the ringside area which elevated it to ring level. Four chambers had been placed in each corner. The bout would begin with two men facing off in the ring, with the other four opponents being held back in the pods. Each would be released in increments of five minutes. The object was to eliminate each participant via pin fall or submission. The referee had a key role in a match like this. Timing was of the essence and with so much simultaneous activity, it was important to stay on top of things and maintain control.

She stood in the center of the ring as one by one, each wrestler came down. When she heard the theme Voices, chills ran down her spine. Randy Orton slithered down to the ring as the fans again went wild. He was focused, in full Viper mode. It was just something about the way he looked at her, almost as if he were looking through her. But the minute the bell rang, it was time to concentrate on the match. Randy was fired up, wasting little time going after any man in his path. He had been engaged in a feud with The Miz and the two men went at it like two raging bulls. It came down to them being the last men standing. They went back and forth putting on a show for five minutes of old school hand to hand combat. Memphis received the cue from Production via her earpiece and gave the subtle hand sign to let them know that it was time. Three and a half minutes later, Randy polished off his formidable adversary with a devastating RKO heard and felt all around the building. After the pin, his music began again and the feeling inside the ring, inside that Chamber with him was absolutely electrifying. Clearly he was the top guy in the company and his roadway to Wrestlemania in Atlanta was being paved in gold.

After exchanging a sly smile and a wink, Memphis exited the ring first. She made it to the spacious female locker room that was abuzz with most of the Divas. They were showering, chatting, and congregating. Memphis removed her fitted striped ref's shirt and placed it in the bag reserved for her dirty clothes. Kicking off her shoes, she took a seat on the bench to just relax and come down from the adrenaline high she had just received. A few minutes later, the door opened and Melina walked in. Immediately she ran over to her friend and gave her a sweaty hug.

"Somebody wants to see you outside," she mentioned.

Memphis frowned. It was probably Randy. Holding up a towel in front of her black bra, she peeked outside the main door. It wasn't her boyfriend. Instead she found herself face to face with four of her peers, fellow officials, Justin King, Rod Zapata, Chad Patton and Mike Chioda.

"Can I help you?" she visibly tensed.

Justin cleared his throat and spoke first.

"Hey Memphis. We're sorry to bother you but we just wanted to come say, good job."

"Excuse me," she made a face, taken aback.

"I know this is a long time coming but we were jerks…all of us. Some more than others but it doesn't matter anymore. Wrong is wrong. You really proved yourself out there tonight like you have so many other nights. You deserve your spot here and on behalf of everyone who ever gave your grief, I apologize.'

Rod stepped up next.

"Justin is right. You work your ass off every single night just like the rest of us and we were wrong not to give you respect. Tonight was great and we just wanted to let you know that. Hopefully we can all call a truce."

Chad sighed heavily.

"What can I say? We were all asses. It's not right. I hope you can forgive us."

Mike hung his head.

"We're sorry."

Memphis couldn't believe it. They had put her through hell. They had made her feel unwelcome and inferior since she had arrived. Their opinions weren't supposed to matter but deep down inside it did, to her. She'd had to work extra hard to prove herself, to prove that she belonged inside that ring just like they did. All she had ever really wanted was their respect and acceptance. Now, out of the blue, she was getting it.

"Wow," she swallowed hard. "I, I don't know what to say…"

"It's been a long time coming but better late than never," Justin extended his hand.

They didn't deserve her forgiveness but Memphis knew she had to be the better person, the bigger person. They might never be friends but they were professionals and they had to co-exist.

"Thank you," she said quietly as she shook his hand and the hands of the three that followed.

With solemn but respectful nods, they walked away. Memphis turned around to where all the girls had gathered behind her. With grins on their faces and tears in their eyes, they all applauded in unison. Grinning, Memphis joined Melina on the private bench in the corner of the locker room.

"Wow," Melina mouthed.

"Wow is right. That was…random."

"Unexpected, huh?"

"Hell yes but um…it was nice. I've gone through a lot and I'm tired, Mel. I don't want tension or arguments or drama anymore."

"I'm happy for you. You deserved that. Nobody believed in you when you first got here and you showed them all."

Memphis looked away sadly.

"One person did…" her voice trailed off.

It was one of those moments that she normally would have grabbed her phone and called Phil to tell him what happened. She couldn't do that anymore.

"It's okay, sweetie," she rubbed her shoulder. "I know it's rough."

"Thanks."

"But that match was epic tonight. I'm serious. It was the best Elimination Chamber yet! And you totally owned it. I mean that, chica, you just rocked it!"

"I don't know about all that but thank you. How is John, by the way? Have you seen him?" Memphis asked.

Melina nodded.

"He's fine. A little beat up but all the guys are. But he's gonna be okay. He's getting iced down now and then we're gonna take off for the hotel. Hopefully a hot shower before bed will help but no matter what he does, I'm sure he's gonna feel it later."

"Ran probably will too but he's flying so high from tonight he probably won't even notice."

Melina began packing up.

"Hey Memphis, do you happen to have your laptop back here?"

"Yeah, um, I think I brought it in. Check my backpack over there by my purse."

"Found it," Melina said after a few seconds of looking. "You mind if I log on to the Internet? My phone is dead."

"I don't care. Let me guess, a must send tweet you forgot to send to all your followers?" Memphis teased.

"No, Miss Smarty Pants. Actually…"

"What?"

Melina sighed as she clicked away.

"Never mind. You'll just think it's dumb."

"Girl, I'm just messing with you. Come on. Lay it on me. Even if it's weird porn, no judgment here," she grinned.

Melina looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to them.

"I was online earlier and saw my Twitter name kept coming up in some of my follower's timelines. So I checked it out and how about Superstar Scoop is trying to start drama again."

"What now?" Memphis rolled her eyes.

"They said some ring rat blogged that she slept with JoMo."

"Are you for real?"

"Yeah. It really pissed me off. I mean, people post lies all the time. Most of the time it sounds like that bad fan fiction crap but this really bothered me because they're feeding into it. When it stays on blogs and Tumblr and stuff like that, whatever, but Superstar Scoop has a lot of mainstream connections and stuff."

"Do you believe it?"

"No," she said reluctantly. "Look, John and I have been together a very long time and we've had our problems. Unfortunately with both of us being in the public eye, all our mistakes and dirty laundry gets aired out on the dirt sheets for the world to see. It sucks and it pisses me off but I get it. He's cheated on me before and I've been unfaithful to him but that's the past and we've both tried to put that behind us. I love my man and I trust him so no, I don't believe it."

"So what does it matter? People are gonna talk and sometimes, for whatever reason, they lie. Don't waste your time feeding into that nonsense and worrying about it. You can't stop them, you can't control them so just let it go."

"I am."

"Babe, no you're not. You're borrowing my computer to see what they're saying about you. Obviously you're letting it get to you. Don't. It's not worth it, I'm telling you."

"I know, I know. You're right. But I just want to see this one thing…"

Memphis shook her head. She felt bad for her friend and she wondered why people got a kick out of printing things that intentionally hurt other people.

"They still talking shit?"

Melina's face grew pale.

"No," she closed the laptop immediately.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You look like you just saw a ghost. Is everything alright, Melina?"

"I…"

"Mel, talk to me."

Melina exhaled.

"Come here. Sit down."

Memphis did as she was told, prepared to offer some moral support because her friend look like she really needed it.

"It's going to be alright. You are a good person and so is John. Nobody knows your relationship but you and it's no one else's business anyway. Keep your head up and know you're better than some bunch of nosy ass gossiping idiots."

"You mean that?" Melina looked right at her.

"Of course."

Without another word, Melina turned the screen so that Memphis could see it.

CM Punk Gets Punk'd

Though just a couple weeks ago she was spotted outside an arena all smiles signing autographs for fans while smooching boyfriend CM Punk (real name Phillip Brooks), this morning en route to the Elimination Chamber pay per view, pro wrestling's sexiest referee, Memphis Kramer, was spotted closerthanthis with champ, Randy Orton. According to our secret sources, Kramer has been traveling to and from shows with Orton on his private tour bus for the last two weeks. Punk has been off the active roster rehabbing a hip injury. We all know the Viper gets more ass than a toilet seat and many a Diva (and ring rat) has fallen victim to his good looks, fat wallet and the fact that he is the resident locker room leader. Did Kramer upgrade from the WWE's own version of a Waffle House short order cook look alike? If so, she better be careful. Don't get too comfortable, sweetheart. The Apex Predator has that love 'em and leave 'em reputation. You might end up leaving your heart (and your panties) in San Francisco and end up with Memphis Blues (pun totally intended) or at the very least, crabs. Don't worry, if that happens, there's always John Cena.

Memphis read the editorial in disbelief and horror. Next to it were several photos of she and Randy taken in various locations over the previous week. Though there was no money shot of them kissing, as they had been careful in public, the photos did show he and Memphis leaving his bus, standing close together looking lovingly at each other, Randy helping her with her bags, his tenderly leaning down and whispering in her ear. They looked like lovers and it was no denying their chemistry.

"You okay, Mija?"

"Oh. My. God…"

"Sweetie, I am so sorry…"

"I can't believe this," she whispered. "How dare they?"

"They're vultures, idiots."

Memphis ran her fingers through her long hair.

"I, I knew it was gonna get out. I knew I wouldn't be able to protect Phil's feelings but so much but goddammitt, I wanted it to come out on my terms, Mel. This article, these damned pictures make me sound and look like a money grubbing, power hungry, dirty ass slut. It's not like that. I'm not trying to screw my way around the locker room. I don't want Phil to see this and get the wrong idea. I don't want to flaunt this. Randy and I were wrong, dead wrong for the affair…I cop to that. But don't drag my name through the mud and try to make me look the bad guy, like a whore. Nobody can possibly make me feel any guiltier, any worse than I already do. They don't know me. They don't know the whole story," her voice rose with anger.

Melina wrapped her arm around her.

"It's going to be okay. Let's just get our stuff and get out of here, okay?"

Memphis shook her head and refused to let the tears that were staring to threaten, fall down her cheeks.

"This isn't right. It isn't fair. It's bullshit! This is nobody's business but mine, Phil's and Randy's."

"I know."

Memphis rested her weary head on her friend's shoulder. What was left of her secret was now out. It was time to pay the piper. And no amount of anger, explaining or crying was going to justify it or make any of it better.