The day of the biggest event in sports entertainment had finally arrived. This spectacle, aptly named, WrestleMania was dubbed the Superbowl of wrestling. It was the grandest show of them all. Everyone wanted to be on the card and if you were you knew your career was likely headed in the right direction.
The time was approximately ten in the morning. Hall and Nash were visiting Hogan in his hotel room. Not one of them could believe in mere hours they would be walking through the curtain at gorilla position onto a WrestleMania stage. It had been eight years since either Hall or Nash had made a Mania appearance. Over a decade for Hulk.
The nWo was in a good position. They had taken out the likes of Steve Austin and The Rock in the past few weeks since their debut at No Way Out. Vince was working them like fucking mules, but no surprise there. nWo was over in WWE. From one end it was a bit shocking. On the other, it wasn't in the slightest. There was a reason WCW had beaten WWE in the ratings for so long and (despite what the smarks wanted to say) they were it. The nWo tee shirt was currently the hottest selling shirt both online and at events. If that didn't say something, the men didn't know what would.
Scott was set to go over on Austin that night, with Big Kev in his corner. The years event would culminate in a dream match of Icon vs. Icon, with the Immortal Hulk Hogan squaring off against The Great One, The Rock. Rock was going to get over in the match, but nWo was going to get their retribution when Hall and Nash would make their way to the ring and beat everyone's beloved Rocky to a bloody pulp, before the cameras cut off, solidifying their mark on WWE.
As the three men discussed possible directions and scenarios to take place after WrestleMania, Terry's phone began to ring. "Hello?" he answered. "Oh hey, Vince. What's up?" Hall and Nash were struggling to make out what it was Vince was saying to Terry. He shot a look at Hall and Nash, who returned curious expressions. His ever-sure façade had become clouded with bewilderment. "Ok. Gotcha, Vince. We'll be there man," He said getting off the phone.
"What the fuck was that about?" Scott asked.
"Vince wants us to meet him in his suite at eleven o'clock," Hulk told them.
"Did he say why?" Kevin questioned.
Terry shook his head. "I don't know what's up, but it can't be good brothers."
The other two men nodded in agreement. Vince wasn't one to hold your hand. When the finish was laid out, that was it and you had better fucking deliver. That is why something had to be up. It was no surprise that things could be changed last minute.
At a quarter to eleven, the three icons piled into the rental car and head down the road to meet Vince in Mariotte hotel suite. Being the billionaire, he was and mere hours away from celebrating year another addition of his crowning achievement, Vince spared not expense on his home was from home.
Upon hearing a knock at the door Vince McMahon opened it to greet his employees. "Hello, there men. Come in, won't you?" he said in his gruff, booming boss voice as he shook each of their hands. "Take a seat gentlemen." He gestured to the plush couches in the sitting room.
Hall and Nash sat on either end of a long couch. While Hogan was seated in a contemporary style armchair, Vince made himself comfortable on a love seat across from the three men.
"Anything to drink? Coffee? Water?"
His inquiry was met with responses of "No, thank you," and "I'm good." The men weren't here for refreshments. They wanted to know what the hell this was all about.
"So, here's the deal fellas," Vince cleared his throat. "We think it's best to change the finishes of Mania," He paused for the men's reactions, not that it mattered to him. He was the boss after all and her had final say over every aspect of the product. He could see confusion and curiosity painted on their faces, along with a glint of anger. Just the sort of reaction he was expecting, though he dismissed the glares they were trying to mask.
"What kind of changes are we talkin' about?" Hogan asked.
"Well, a lot of the boys, including Mark, have come to me and they just don't think it's right to have a foreign entity like nWo go over at our flagship Paper Per View."
Hogan narrowed his eyes at Vince. Nash let out and angry sigh and Hall just shook his head. The men were pissed and disappointed. They thought they were really building something that had a myriad of potential, but like anything else, just as swiftly as Vince could build something or someone up, he would tear it down.
"So, what's the new finish?" Nash had struggled to speak slow and even, a feat for a man whose temper could be as gigantic as he was.
"Right. It was decided that Austin should go over his match with Hall. People are behind him. He's built a lot of momentum getting revenge on the nWo. Then, instead of you and Hall coming down to assist Hogan in annihilating Rock, Hogan is going to offer Rock his hand following Rock's victory and he will accept." He directed the last part towards Terry, "Then, you will raise his hand in victory. Hall and Nash, you'll come down." Vince paused as if for drama effect.
The men were silent, but they knew all too well what was coming for them. More importantly, for their faction and the angle they had been working since they came back to this company.
"After bitching at Hulk for the hand shake, you two are going to attack him. Rock jumps back in to help and once you are heading up the ramp after being chased off, the show will close."
They knew this news should not have come to them as shockingly as it felt. They already knew this was Vince and WWE. One wrong step and your push evaporated onto thin air. But what had they done? They had followed all the "rules". They work twice as many days as they where originally signed for. They whole point of this was clear: this wasn't Vince's creation. Therefore, he was not going to give them a real push or let them get over in any real way.
So much for being Vince's boys. Kevin though back to what Mark had said on the day of their return.
"Is everyone in agreement? Anything you want to add or change?" Vince asked half-heartedly.
Truth was, there wasn't much - if anything – that was going to change and the men knew that. He couldn't put them over his loyal homemade stars like Rock and Austin. Even Mark, who had no disparagement against the men on a personal level, didn't want to see them conquering the locker room.
Vince trusted Mark's opinion. He was objective and he had stayed loyal to him for over ten years. While many other's left Vince for big money contracts, Mark stay and cemented his place in WWE history.
"Sounds good, Vince," Terry said begrudgingly.
"Fuck. Whatever," Kevin muttered in a bitter tone. He sighed, thinking better. "Whatever it takes, Vince," he grumbled, fighting to keep his attitude in check.
Scott could not even look at Vince. He wasn't one to ever get too emotional over things, especially work. He knew that's how it was. This business was a shark tank. It was a dog eat dog world - even for the best of friends. That's why he didn't blame Mark for giving his honest opinion. He knew Kev and Hulk felt the same. What pissed him off was how Vince had baited them with promises of "how it was going to be." He was even more pissed that he fell for it. Like falling into the same fucking manhole every time you walked down the street. Despite the fact that you know it's there, yet you fall into it every time. He had cleaned up his act. He was sober and doing great, but did it even make a damn difference?
Instead of responding to Vince's inquiry - because he knew he didn't really give two fucks – Scott stood and headed towards the door.
"Dude, Scott where are you going?" Kevin asked as his friend was reaching for the handle.
Looking back over his shoulder, Scott replied, "You know here to find me," before he opened the door and exited the room.
"Scotty, no. Don't fucking do this, man," Kevin called after him, jumping up.
Terry placed a hand on Kevin's arm. "Let him go, brother. He just needs some space. That's all."
Fuck that shit, Kevin thought. He considered Hulk a very close friend, but he didn't understand the bond of brotherhood he shared with his fellow Kliq members, especially Scott.
By the time Kevin had gotten to the door, (without uttering another word to either Hogan or Vince) Scott was nowhere in sight. Nash cursed to the little prick silently for being lightyears quicker than himself. Anyone who was even half aware of the pair knew Kev meant nothing by such a derogatory reference. He just wanted to catch his friend before he did something that may be considered stupid.
Upon making it out of the hotel itself, Kevin spotted him walking across the parking lot, nearing the sidewalk. Knowing he wouldn't reach him from here, Kev jumped in the rental without hesitation.
He slowly rolled up on Scott with the window down. "Come on, brother. Yes, we got fuck. Royally. But don't go down that path."
Scott stopped and looked at his best friend. "You think there are any bars open at this time?" he asked with a blend of sarcasm and pain in his voice.
"Well, there's always the liquor store," Kevin jested half heartedly.
Scott shook his head, staring down at the black asphalt. It glistened a little in the late morning sun. A chill ran through his body. March in Toronto was still balls cold. There were still various snow piles scattered about and gray slush on the road's shoulders. "I just need to take a walk. Clear my head of all this shit," He glance up at Kev.
Kevin wanted to object. Leaving Scott alone with his thoughts was not always the best plan, but his best buddy was a grown ass man. What was he going to do, pick him up and throw his ass in the car? He readily admitted he wasn't above that, but he could feel his friend needed his space.
Kevin let out a despairing sigh. "Alright brother. Don't forget to make it to the area before one o'clock of I don't see you before then," he told Scott before circling back around to pick up Terry who was looking pissed and annoyed right outside the hotel doors.
"Told ya, brother," Terry said as he got into the car that was missing Scott.
Kevin's hands gripped the steering wheel. He wanted to shove his foot up Hogan's ass, but they were already being split apart later tonight, so he swallowed his rage and put the car in gear.
Scott walked aimlessly for thirty or forty minutes. He wasn't truly journeying anywhere. Really, he was making circles around the same couple of blocks. After he had passed a convenience store three or four times, he went inside.
He stood in front of the beverage cooler. He could see his depressing reflection in the glass. No, he was just fine. He just needed to take the edge off. Contrary to what people thought, he could still enjoy a drink once in a while and be just fine. He grabbed a twelve pack and took it to the register.
After he paid, he carried the beer down the block towards the venue. Vince always had his hotel as close as possible to the arena so he could rush there in the blind of and eye of need be.
He knew Kev would bring his ring gear when he finally came along. He knew he shouldn't dump that responsibility on Kev, but he had to admit he had become too accustomed to his "big" brother looking after him over the years. At least he would be safe at the arena, not passing out in the gutter somewhere.
Pretty boring. Sorry.