Raw: September 9, 2013
I sat in my office, as I always did these days, going through my paperwork while waiting for someone to inevitably come by my office with a concern. Things had been tense in my household since last week, so work almost felt like a break for me. Things were tense at home due to what happened last week when I told Randy that I might file for divorce. I think Randy thought I said it just to get him upset, but the truth was that I was upset to the point that I was legitimately considering it. On top of that, I still felt like Randy didn't do anything to help me out at home after I told him last week that he hadn't been doing anything to help. I was supposed to be a bridesmaid at Eve and Cody's wedding in three days, but right now, I was just a stressed out mess.
Part of me felt weird as well because I didn't have Junior with me. I left him back in Saint Louis with Randy's parents since I was going straight from Raw in Toronto to Las Vegas for the wedding. Plus, since Night of Champions was only three days after the wedding, I was not coming back home just to turn around and go back to work. This was the first time I was away from my son for this long, so it felt weird.
However, Randy's parents, unlike their son, were being very kind. Randy's parents were watching the kids today through Wednesday afternoon and then Sunday through Tuesday next week. Randy was going to have them the rest of the week. I was honestly surprised that he agreed to taking care of them by himself most of the week, but I was glad that he didn't want the kids in the middle of our issues either. Since I had been doing everything around the house and for the kids for the past three weeks, I was curious how well Randy could handle things on his own. Of course, if there was an emergency, I'd come home, but I didn't think there would be. I just hoped that this time with the kids would knock at least a little sense back into Randy.
Goldust slowly walked into my office. "Sorry to bother you, Marissa, but I just figured I'd let you know that Triple H agreed to let me wrestle Randy tonight to get Cody's job back if I win."
I nod. "Thanks for letting me know. Good luck tonight."
"Thanks."
I watched from a monitor in a hallway as a beaten Christian was brought out since Edge, who'd come back tonight to do an episode of the Cutting Edge, didn't do what Triple H wanted him to do. I watch as Edge runs up to check up on Christian. I swore that every week, Stephanie and Triple H were getting more and more tyrannical. This needed to end soon.
I walk away from the monitor and down the hall, trying to think of a way to try to halt this reign of terror from continuing. I hear something nearby and turn the corner to see it's the Shield throwing Edge out of the building.
"Who ordered that one?" I ask after they leave Edge outside. "Triple H or Stephanie?"
"Triple H thought Edge's behavior was disrespectful." Roman answers.
I shake my head before looking at Colby. "I am so disappointed in you."
Colby shrugs. "I'm just doing my job."
The Shield walks away.
I open the door that the Shield escorted Edge out of. "Adam Copeland, get back in here."
Adam smiles at me. "So you don't think Edge was being disrespectful?"
"I heard what you called Triple H. You're right. He's just mad that it's true."
Adam laughed as he walked back in. "Thanks, Rissa. So what now?"
"Jay is your best friend. Go check on him. That beating shouldn't have happened."
"You're right about that. What in the hell has happened to Randy?"
"He's been a total jackass since that screwjob happened, even at home. He hasn't even helped me out with anything when I've been home ever since he's joined up with Triple H and Stephanie."
"That's just not right. Have they tried to have you join up with them?"
"Paul came by my office last week and tried to intimidate and threaten me into it. I'm not intimated. I'm not backing down from this fight."
"Good for you. It sucks that this is putting a strain on your relationship with Randy."
"Putting a strain on it is putting things lightly. Between you and me, I told Randy last week that if he didn't get his act together soon, I might file for divorce. I think that he thinks I said that to upset him, but the truth is that I'm honestly starting to think about it. Randy isn't acting like the man I married anymore."
"You shouldn't stay in a situation that makes you unhappy. I'm sad that things are this way between you two because I thought neither of you loved anything more than each other, but if Randy is behaving towards you like this, then you need to do what makes you happy."
"I'm upset about it too. I thought I was married to the man who I was going to spend the rest of my life with, but now, I'm doubting that's the truth."
Adam nods. "Do what you need to do to be happy, Marissa. I'm going to go check on Jay. Thanks, and I'll see you later."
"See you later, Adam."
Adam walks down the hall. I stand in the corner, thinking to myself. With the way things were going around here, I needed to better establish myself as an authority figure. I knew that most of the roster respected my authority, but I still hadn't really established my presence as an authority figure, especially with the way that Triple H and Stephanie were running around. Hell, I had barely been on TV, and I'd get paid extra to be on TV. I needed to start showing my face more and establishing that Monday Night Raw was my show to run.
Paul Heyman was on his way to the ring in crutches along Curtis Axel and Heyman's personal doctor. He seemed to be claiming that he had gotten injured and had to back out of the Handicap match this Sunday at Night of Champions. I noticed that Dr. Sampson, one of the trainers, was nearby and gestured for him to walk over.
"Yes, Mrs. Orton?" Dr. Sampson asks me with confusion.
"Dr. Sampson, is it just me, or does Paul Heyman need to be examined by a WWE doctor before he can be disqualified from competing?" I ask with confidence.
"That is the rule, Mrs. Orton. You are not mistaken."
"Well, it seems to me that Mr. Heyman is trying to weasel his way out of that to get out of his match at Night of Champions. Do you mind joining me in the ring so I can get your medical opinion on the condition of Paul Heyman?"
"Not at all, Mrs. Orton."
I walk into guerilla with Dr. Sampson following me. "Play my theme music."
I know I want that girl so bad
I lie awake at night
And think of all the things that I would do
With a girl like that…
"Paul, as the general manager of Monday Night Raw, I'd like to remind you that we have a fully licensed medical staff at your disposal on the WWE payroll, and all of them are more than qualified to provide you with a thorough evaluation of your injury." I say as I enter the ring with Dr. Sampson following me. "Which is why I'm going to have Dr. Sampson medically examine your injury right now."
"Right now?" Paul asks.
"Right now."
Dr. Sampson has Paul sit in a steel chair and roll up his pants leg. Dr. Sampson examines the "injury" that Paul Heyman has sustained.
"Dr. Sampson, what is your medical opinion?" I ask.
"Well, he claims that this injury happened thirty minutes ago, but if this happened thirty minutes ago, there would be physical signs of an injury. In my medical opinion, Paul is fine." Dr. Sampson explains.
"Mrs. Orton, you are making a very big mistake." Paul says as Curtis Axel helps him stand. "I can barely stand, and you're making me compete."
"Paul, Dr. Sampson is a medically licensed professional." I sternly tell Heyman. "If he says that you're fine, you're fine. You will be competing this Sunday at Night of Champions, and that's final."
"You have a lot of nerve, Mrs. Orton. I am…"
Look in my eyes, what do you see?
The cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I've been everything you want to be…
CM Punk runs down to the ring with a kendo stick. Dr. Sampson and I quickly exit the ring and head backstage.
Leave it to Paul Heyman to give me an opportunity to establish my presence as an authority figure.
Randy had beaten Goldust just like he had beaten Cody last week. Things had seemed okay minus the fact that Cody wasn't getting his job back until Stephanie took it upon herself to fire Goldust. I was done with this shit, and I was going to do something about it. I didn't know if it was because I was on TV tonight or something else, but I was feeling confrontational tonight.
I started walking towards Triple H and Stephanie's office. I was a woman on a mission tonight, and I wasn't letting anyone stand in my way.
I see the Shield standing in front of the office, working as bodyguards. "Move or I'm putting you three in matches where you're at a numbers disadvantage."
The three men are hesitant, but they move out of my way.
I immediately walk in the office without knocking. "You two are getting out of control."
Stephanie glares at me. "Haven't you heard of knocking?"
"Who cares about knocking when the two of you are unjustly firing people left and right? And when you can't fire them, you're throwing them out of the arena just because they don't agree with you."
"We own the company." Triple H tells me. "We have a right to do that."
"Well, I own part of this company too, and I'm the Raw general manager too. I'm getting fed up with this. You put Cody in a situation to practically guarantee he'd be fired because he disagreed with you, Paul. The only way he wasn't going to be was if Randy threw the match, which you would've punished him for. Then, Edge comes back tonight to host the Cutting Edge, and it results in Christian being beaten severely and Edge being thrown out just because he didn't agree with you. Then, you almost seem benevolent for just a little bit by giving Goldust an opportunity to wrestle Randy to get Cody's job back." I turn to look at Stephanie. "However, you fire him after he loses the match. Why? Because he wanted to get his brother's job back? And then there's everything with Daniel and Big Show. You two can't go around firing everyone who disagrees with you. You're gonna end up firing most of the roster."
"We are in charge. We can do what we please." Stephanie tells me. "What I don't understand is why you want to be so opposed to everything and create all this division with your own family. It's not even just the two of us. Your husband and your brother are on our side. You can be too."
"You two practically knew Randy would side with you because you gave him an opportunity that he couldn't refuse. I don't know what you did for the Shield, but I assume it was similar or you threatened them. Now, you're trying to make me feel bad because having your husband threaten me last week didn't work. I'm not going to be your lackey, let you walk all over me, and have you running the show when that's my job. When I became Raw general manager, I decided that I was going to be fair and have a backbone. If you two started doing much more of things the right way, I'd be willing to work with you some. If you don't, the two of you will be at odds with me, and I will do something about it to keep the integrity of Monday Night Raw. I'm not past going to the Board of Directors to get you two banned from Raw. I dare you to push me. I'm standing up for what's right. See you at Night of Champions."
I walk out of the office without another word, glaring at the Shield as I pass them.
I was ready for war.
