Thursday: September 12, 2013 11:13 A.M.

Eve gives me a serious look. "I'm not blaming you at all for anything that happened to Cody or Goldust. You had nothing to do with it. Hell, you are trying to fix things and are honestly being a much more fair authority figure than I was. I have no reason to be upset with you. I'm upset with Stephanie, Triple H, and Randy, but not you."

I smile. "Thanks. Believe me, I am too."

"Honestly, it'd be hard to be mad at you anyway. You were my mentor and have done so much for me. I appreciate all that. I think that's why Cody is having such a hard time understanding and dealing with Randy's new behavior. Randy is to Cody what you are to me. Cody still trusted Randy. It's hard on him."

"I get that. It's been hard on me too. I threatened divorce."

"You did?"

"Yeah, he disrespected me as an authority figure and as a wife. With the exception of making sure the kids are taken care of right now, while I'm here, he hasn't helped out with anything at home since this started. I'm not set in stone on if I'll file yet, but I'm highly considering the idea. I'm not going to keep tolerating this."

"You'd think the divorce threat would set Randy straight at least towards you."

"Well, we haven't had a conversation about our relationship since. All of our conversations are about the kids, and even those are short. Hell, I don't think I was in the same room as him once during Raw. I'm just waiting for him to give me shit because I went off on Triple H and Stephanie on Monday."

"You did?"

"Yeah, after they fired Goldust. I've had it with all of this. I'm going to find a way to do something about them."

Eve smiles. "I know that if it's possible at all, you'll find a way to do it, Rissa."

"I'm curious. Did you feel uncomfortable when you started being an authority figure at first?"

Eve laughs. "So I'm the one giving advice now? Honestly, I did. You just have to find your comfort zone. It could be anything from finding how you want things to be run to wearing different clothes than what you think suits the role that ends up being the key to finding your comfort as general manager."

"Well, I feel like I've known the entire time how I want to run Raw."

"Have you tried wearing different clothes? When I've seen you on TV since you've been Raw general manager, all you've worn are these professional looking dresses. Maybe you need to be back in pants."

I laugh. "Maybe I do."

"Oh, I have an idea. I need you to hear me out."

"I'm all ears, Eve. Let me know what you think."

"I think you might need to bring out your leather jacket. You throw that on, put on a t-shirt, boots, and maybe some jeans, and run Raw in the same kind of comfort you found while leading the Divas of Domination."

"You think that might be what I'm missing?"

"I do. I think you started being more confident with being a champion when you started wearing a leather jacket. I'm willing to bet it'll bring you comfort. Just try it."

"I have a leather jacket in my bag. I'll try on Monday."

"Good. You better let me know how it goes."

"I will. I really feel like I need to let the roster know what my intentions are too. I haven't addressed the roster as a whole one time. I need to let them know that I'm not planning on being like Triple H and Stephanie. Brie Bella went around trying to tell people that I was involved in the screwjob at SummerSlam. I need to make it clear that I wasn't."

"John Laurinaitis used to do these big meetings backstage occasionally to address the roster, and most people would show up. I don't think you ever did, but you were probably his sworn enemy almost as much as Punk. You could try that though. I'd just suggest not letting anyone aligned with Triple H and Stephanie know, so there's a good chance it goes smoothly."

"That's actually not a bad idea. Laurinaitis might've actually done one thing right. I could throw the leather jacket back on and address the roster a couple hours before Raw on Monday. This might be exactly what I need."

"It could be. Plus, if you're wanting to go to war with Triple H and Stephanie, which I assume that you do, it would be good to gain some support from people on the roster."

"That's true. You're giving me some great advice, Eve." I look at the time. "We need to get going. You can't be late to get ready for your own wedding."


"We are gathered here today, on this happy and joyous occasion, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony." The officiant, who is actually Ted DiBiase Senior, says. "Marriage is a solemn institution to be held in honor by all, it is the cornerstone of the family and of the community. It requires of those who undertake it a complete and unreserved giving of one's self. It is not to be entered into lightly, as marriage is a sincere and mutual commitment to love one another. This commitment symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives and still enhances the individuality of each of you. Cody Garrett Runnels, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." Cody says as he looks at Eve.

"Eve Marie Torres, do you take this man to be your wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." Eve says as she looks at Cody.

"Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Cody and Eve kiss. We all cheer. They walk out of the chapel together to head to the wedding reception.

Chelle turns to look at me as the people attending the wedding start to file out. "I know you're happy for Eve and Cody, but are you doing okay? You seem off."

I shake my head. "We'll either talk about it in the car or after the reception. I'm not going to go on about it during any of this wedding stuff. Eve and I discussed things before getting ready for the wedding, but I'm not talking about it during the time it's supposed to be about her and Cody."

"If it's after the reception, I'll join you in that conversation." Ryse comments from Chelle's other side. "I also felt like you were off and would like to know about what's going on."

"Layla and I were going to go to the hotel bar after the reception. You two should join us. We can talk about everything then." Chelle suggests.

"I haven't drank since before I found out that I was pregnant." I comment. "I'll be there."

Ryse smiles. "Me too. I think this will be a fun girls' night."


I start drinking on my rum and coke. "Layla, how do you think the roster is taking all this tyranny from Triple H and Stephanie?"

Layla looks at me. "Not well."

"That's what I thought. I'm likely going to war with those two over how things are being run. They're both a bit too power hungry. They're also extremely biased. Things need to change."

"Is that what's bothering you?" Chelle asks.

"Randy and I are having a lot of issues. I'm at the point where I'm considering filing for divorce. I even told him that."

"Did he take you seriously?"

"Part of me thinks that he thinks that I only said it to upset him. You'd think Randy of all people would understand when I'm being serious."

"I hate seeing this damage your relationship, but sometimes you've gotta do what's best for everyone's wellbeing."

"You're right, and the whole situation sucks. It's not like I don't love him anymore. I still love him more than anything, but things at work are changing him in a way that I can't put up with anymore. And I don't want to be that married couple that argues literally all the time and makes their kids miserable either. I'm not sure if I'm going to file quite yet, but if things don't change for the better soon or things get worse, I probably will."

"Do you think Stephanie and Triple H are intentionally trying to hurt your marriage to Randy?" Ryse asks.

Layla, Chelle, and I all turn to Ryse with confused looks.

"Is there uh, is there a certain reason that you believe that might be the case?" I ask.

"Well, I know she's your sister, but let's all be honest here, Rissa. It's been well known for years, before any of us even started wrestling, that Stephanie has big jealousy issues. I know you two have gotten along well over the years, especially since it's come out that you're Vince's daughter, but would it be a large exaggeration for Stephanie to be jealous of you?"

"Why would she be jealous?"

"She's neither Vince's youngest or his only daughter anymore." Chelle comments.

"You're younger and prettier than her." Layla adds. "And more popular with the fans."

"You have been much more successful at wrestling, and Vince has always been accepting of your relationship with Randy. It wasn't the same case for Triple H and Stephanie."

"Well, I was thinking more along the lines of Rissa gaining power as the Raw general manager and Randy being a popular Superstar, as well as WWE Champion, made her and Triple H realize that Rissa and Randy are a total threat to their position as the power couple of WWE. Stephanie knows if Rissa decides it's her turn to be the one in the top power couple of WWE, that Rissa will be able to take it with ease since she's not only more popular with the fans but also more popular with the roster." Ryse explains.

"Frenchie, you have put a lot of thought into that." Layla tells Ryse.

"She makes a great point though. One that I hadn't even thought of." I comment.

"And since Randy isn't talking to the guys right now, he's probably venting to them about the issues you guys are having like you are to us." Chelle adds. "They would know things are going how they want them too. They're probably only advising Randy to do things that they know will make things worse for you. With his current attitude change, he may not realize that's what is going on."

"He's still accountable for this though."

"I never said that he wasn't, but Stephanie and Triple H may be the ones pulling the strings. Both you and Randy may be doing exactly what Triple H and Stephanie want you to do."

"I'm not certain if that's what's going on though. It might be though."

"Maybe if you can get Randy to sit down and talk, maybe you can find out."

"I guess I can try that. That'd probably be better to do at home."

"Probably."

"And if I do find out that's true, I'll destroy Triple H and Stephanie. After some advice Eve gave me, I'm putting my leather jacket back on Monday to see if that helps me be more comfortable as Raw general manager. I might just have to dip back into that part of myself I let loose back in 2009, so I can get things done."

"You should do it." Ryse tells me. "You were untouchable back then. You were arrogant and confident and didn't let anything stop you. I loved those days."

"Me too."

"If you're planning to truly go straight into war with Triple H and Stephanie, you might need that. You were a leader back then, at the time for the Divas of Domination. To me, it sounds like you're due to act as a leader again, and it's to go up against Triple H and Stephanie. This might be how you get the roster to back you." Chelle explains.

"That's exactly what I'm hoping for."

"I'm already backing you one hundred percent." Layla adds. "But I do think showing leadership will definitely help things out, especially considering that you're opposing Triple H and Stephanie. They're doing their best job that they can to intimidate everyone to stop them from opposing. You're going to have to try to reverse all the intimidation."

"I know. You're around the roster more than me. If I invited everyone to come stand around the ring a couple hours before Raw starts on Monday so I can address everyone at once and not be on TV for it, do you think the roster would show up and listen?"

"I don't think quite everyone will, but I know most liked the idea of you being Raw general manager. If you decide to do this, I think somewhere between seventy-five to eighty percent of the roster would show up and listen."

"I'll take that. Anyway, enough about all this for now. I'm going to get more drinks. Let's all enjoy our girls' night."