Night of Champions: September 15, 2013

I looked at Brad as he walked into my office. "Great. You're finally here. We need to talk. Close and lock the door behind you."

Brad closes and locks the door. "What's going on?"

"Do you remember when we talked about you being my assistant when we were at SummerSlam? When I said that you might kinda be on the bad side of Stephanie and Triple H while helping me?"

"Yes, I do. Why?"

"It's going to be a bit more than kinda on their bad side."

"Do you want to fill me in on what's going on?"

"Did you watch Raw last week? You weren't at work."

"I did. You put on a great show. The matches were great. Personally, I loved how you were with Paul Heyman."

"Thanks, but that's not what I need to discuss. Do you remember what happened with Edge and then what happened with Goldust?"

"Edge was thrown out because he disagreed with Triple H, and Stephanie fired Goldust after he lost his chance to get Cody's job back in a match against Randy."

"Okay, you're aware. Well, after all that bullshit, I confronted them in their office. I told them that if they didn't change how they handled things, then I would be opposing them. As far as I'm concerned, I'm at war with them now. I have already gone to my dad and ensured that Triple H and Stephanie cannot fire you, but I'm giving you the opportunity to back out if you don't want to be caught up in this."

"Well, Vickie certainly wasn't kidding when she said that you'd be assertive. Anyway, you've treated me better than any other McMahon has and ensured that Stephanie and Triple H cannot fire me. I couldn't ask for more. I'll remain as your assistant. I hope you can make this work out."

"Glad to know that we're on the same page, Brad. I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"I want to address the roster a couple hours before Raw goes on air tomorrow, so I need you to let the roster know that I'll be addressing them in the ring a couple hours before Raw tomorrow night. I also want you there when I address the roster."

"Okay, if you don't mind me asking, what is it that you plan on addressing?"

"The current state of things in WWE right now, my intentions as Raw general manager, stuff like that. Also I don't want you going and telling people who are around Stephanie and Triple H. So don't be telling the Shield, Big Show, or Randy. I want this address to go as smoothly as possible tomorrow. Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'll go inform the roster." Brad exits the locker-room.

I knew that I would start changing things from how they've been going in WWE lately to how they should be going starting tomorrow.

I honestly thought the girls had a great chance about being right about Stephanie being jealous of me and likely feeling threatened by me. I might as well give her a reason to feel threatened.


I meet up with Layla in an empty hallway. "So how did the roster take to the news of my address tomorrow?"

Layla smiled at me. "Pretty well. I still stand by my statement that seventy-five to eighty percent of the roster will show up for it. I think you've got a great chance of getting the support that you need from the roster."

"That's good. I'm starting to get a bit anxious about this."

"I think you'll do well. Most of the people you'll be addressing tomorrow you know personally. Like we all discussed, you just need to bring back that confidence you had as a leader back in 2009."

"I'm confident in myself. I'm anxious because I don't know how everyone else will respond."

"Have faith in this. It'll work, Rissa. Okay?"

I nod. "Okay. I have a feeling things are going to be getting much more tense around here soon."

"Things are already tense."

"I know, but they'll be getting more tense. I'm not backing down, and I highly doubt that Triple H and Stephanie will either."

"I think you've got this though. I've known you for seven years, Marissa. You're as stubborn as they get. I don't think Triple H and Stephanie know what they've started. You're a difficult opponent to wrestle. I can only imagine how difficult it'll be to oppose you in strategic warfare over running the company, especially when I know that you're highly intelligent."

I smile. "Thanks, Layla."

"So did you talk to Brad about going to war with Triple H and Stephanie and giving him the chance to step down as your assistant if he didn't want to get caught up in it?"

"I did, and Brad has agreed to remain my assistant. I ensured they can't fire him, and according to him, out of all the McMahons, I've been the nicest to him."

"I doubt he's the only one who would say that. You've probably been nicer to most of the roster than the rest of the McMahons."

"Well, I wasn't brought up in this company the way the rest were. For my first five years here, I didn't know that Vince was my dad. I was just like the rest of the Divas, struggling to get TV time and fighting to get a chance to be Women's Champion. Stephanie was brought in and got opportunities because of Vince. Vince always liked Triple H, and Triple H never really struggled to get championship opportunities. Once he married Stephanie, he was handed everything. Neither of them know the struggles that I've gone through. I get the concerns from everyone on the roster. I've been there. Even when it comes to the concerns about tyrannical authority figures, I had my fair share of issues with John Laurinaitis a couple years ago."

Layla smiled at me. "Maybe it's time that you reminded people who exactly you are and what you've been through."


"Overall, I would say that the response to the news of your address tomorrow was positive." Brad explains to me as we watch the main event, Randy vs. Daniel for the WWE Championship, on the TV in my office. "I think most of the roster will show up to listen."

"That's what I'm banking on." I tell Brad as my eyes focus on the match.

"I wouldn't be betting on Daniel showing up though."

"I'm not surprised that Daniel, and probably Brie as well, is being petty towards me. Though I would've figured he'd be at least a little appreciative that I gave him the chance to win the WWE Championship back."

"It seems he isn't."

"There's a good amount of bad blood between us still. I'm not going to make an issue of him not showing up. I don't need him to be around for me to do what I need to do."

"Do you have a plan for what you're going to say tomorrow?"

"I know what I need to say. I didn't write down what I plan on saying verbatim or anything, and I don't intend on doing that. I'm not going to write a speech and read it off a piece of paper. I know the points that I need to make, and I'll go out there and make them."

"And what if Triple H, Stephanie, or someone aligned with them tries to get in the way of your address?"

"Well, Triple H and Stephanie have been informed of the same thing that I have. We're not supposed to get in each other's way and interfere in any plans the other has. I know inevitably it won't last, but those two will want to try to screw something up that's on TV. Plus, if things go correctly, they won't even hear about my address until it's over."

Brad laughs. "Fair point. What if it's the Shield or something though?"

"Theoretically, if the Shield tries to interrupt, I will handle it. They'll likely be put in matches that would suck for them."

Daniel hit Randy with a Running Knee and pinned him.

1…2…3!

"The winner of this match and NEW WWE Champion, Daniel Bryan!" Justin Roberts announced.

"Well, would you look at that?" Brad comments. "Daniel won after all. Triple H and Stephanie won't be happy."

"It was a fast count." I tell Brad.

"A fast count?"

"Yes, referee Scott Armstrong made a fast count for that pin. I'm certain of it. I'm not just saying it because Randy's my husband. I'm certain of this."

"Well, what do you want to do?"

"Fill out some paperwork. We might as well just make a rematch between them for the WWE Championship at Battleground next month."

"Are you sure?"

"I don't see a better way to solve this after a screwjob at SummerSlam and a fast count now. Let's just make the match before something stupid happens."