Chapter 12: This is Mine!
Friday Night SmackDown (February 1, 2008 Tapings): Reading, Pennsylvania - Sovereign Center, January 29, 2008
Teddy Long was shown standing in the general managers office, texting on his phone, garnering a small reception from the WWE fans at his appearance.
Vickie Guerrero had gotten hurt during Edge's World Heavyweight Championship defence against Rey Mysterio at the Royal Rumble, so Teddy was filling in for her until she recovered.
"Ah... there's the man I wanted to see."
Teddy looked up, only to find himself face to face with the Women's Champion Melina, getting a round of boos from the fans in attendance.
"Melina... what can I..." Teddy trailed off as Melina practically threw herself onto him with a flirtatious smile on her face, receiving a few cat whistles from the men in the audience.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it, Teddy~" Melina drawled, the flirtatious smile on her face widening as she placed the Women's Championship on the table behind Teddy.
"Err..." Teddy's face flushed as a creepy smile appeared on his face. It's been awhile since one of the Divas had come onto him like this. It didn't help that she was wearing very short jean shorts, and a small v-neck crop top that gave him a pretty good view. Not that he was complaining.
"Now the reason why I'm here..." Melina started whilst running her finger across Teddy's chest in slow movements, making him gulp. "Is because I've been hit with a dilemma and I was wondering if you could... help me out~"
"Wha- What sort of dilemma?" Teddy asked, eyes widening slightly when he felt Melina push herself further against him.
"Well I've been put in an unfair match against Tara at No Way Out, and I'm just not ready for something like that! I mean... can you really see someone as beautiful and as sexy as me in a No Disqualification Match?!" Melina asked with an innocent look on her face, making Teddy frown, easily catching on to what Melina was up to.
The Latin American gently grabbed Teddy's chin, forcing him to look into her eyes.
"I was wondering if you could... tell Tara that this match is not happening, cuz I'm just not prepared for a match like that," Melina drawled with faux innocence, a flirtatious smirk stretching across her face.
Teddy cleared his throat, before gently grabbing Melina by the shoulders and pushing her away at an arm's length.
"Umm... I'm sorry Melina but... I can't do that," he answered, causing the Women's Champion to frown, before a small smirk appeared on her face.
"Are you sure?" she asked with an innocent pout, pressing her arms against her chest, somehow managing to make her chest bigger, causing Teddy to gulp nervously, cat whistles being heard throughout the audience.
"Are you really, really sure that you won't be able to help me?"
"R-Really sure!" Teddy stuttered before clearing his throat and giving Melina a serious look.
"Look... Melina, the match has already been made official," he announced, making the Latina frown.
"By who?" the woman asked in a calm tone, though Teddy could tell that she was starting to get annoyed.
"By Mr. McMahon. And I don't think he would appreciate it if I told him to cancel the match just because you were scared of Tara," he said firmly, making Melina's eyes light up in anger as the crowd released a small 'Ohh!' at that comment.
"I am not scared of Tara!" the Latin-American growled out through her teeth in barely restrained anger.
"Oh no? Then why are you here, trying to seduce me into cancelling your Women's Championship Match at No Way Out?" Theodore Long questioned, a stern, almost annoyed look on his face as Melina glared at him in response.
"You're the Women's Champion Melina. It's about time you set an example for all the women back here and show them what it means to be champion."
"Have you not been watching these last couple of months?! I beat Tara twice! Why should I have to beat her a third time?!" Melina snapped.
"Because you took the easy way out. Now that Tara has taken those advantages away, you don't wanna do the match anymore?" Teddy retorted, before smirking at the woman.
"... Oh I get it. You don't wanna break a nail. That's understandable," he drawled mockingly, making Melina's jaw drop, some of the fans letting loose an 'Oooh!' and laughing at the look on Melina's face at the small jab.
Melina scowled at Teddy, before grabbing her title, annoyed and extremely unamused by the old man's attitude.
Melina looked like she was about to blow a fuse, but suddenly thought better of it, instead giving the man an irritated and highly annoyed glare.
"I am not scared of Tara. I'll show you exactly what kind of champion I am," the black-haired Latina growled, before turning on her heel and leaving the office without another word.
Teddy sighed, welcoming the peace and quiet.
"Women... they're so sensitive," he grumbled with a shake of his head. The audience couldn't help but laugh at that.
. . . .
Later...
Melina, Lisa, Jessica and Roxanna were all in the cafeteria, with Roxanna and Lisa in their ring attires, ready for their match that was coming up after Dave Batista and Jay's in-ring interview, which had just started.
"I'm liking this new development of your character Melina," Jessica, who was wearing a Rey Mysterio themed T-shirt, ripped skinny jeans and a pair of converse sneakers, commented.
"What do you mean?" Melina asked.
"Well... you're still bitchy... and flirty... but your mean streak has been stepped up a level," Jessica explained with a smile.
"Not to mention, you've become obsessed with telling everyone how DOMINANT you are and how you're the GREATEST Women's Champion ever," Lisa added in a playful dramatic tone, a smirk on her face.
"Aww, thanks for the compliments Lisa. You're so nice," Melina replied with grin, making the woman roll her eyes with a smile.
Melina then turned to Jessica, her grin widening. "As for that mean streak, it's gonna be brought up a notch."
"Oh yeah? You two got something big planned?" Jessica asked Melina and Roxanna, who chuckled.
"Don't know yet," the veteran replied with a smirk.
Jessica pouted. "Don't do that! Now you've got me curious!"
At that moment, Dave Batista and Jay walked through the double doors of the cafeteria, having just come back from their in ring interview along with 2007 Divas Search winner Eve Torres, who just had her official on-screen debut.
"Has anyone ever told you that you look good in leather?" Dave commented suddenly, eyeing the black leather jacket and leather pants Jay had on, with the black leather pants being tucked into black knee-high boots. The red-haired woman was also wearing a black V-neck top underneath her jacket.
Jay looked at Dave with a look of disgust. "Are you flirting with me?"
"No, I'm just giving you a compliment."
"Well stop it. It's creepy," Jay retorted, before turning to Eve and shaking her head with a smile at Dave's antics.
"Anyway, you did a great job out there Eve. Nice work!" Jay complimented the woman.
"Thanks. I didn't know why I was so nervous. I guess I should be more confident in myself," the brunette woman muttered, just a tiny bit bashful.
"Don't worry about it. Everyone gets nervous on their first day," Jay said, making Dave snort.
"You should've seen this one on her first day here. She was shaking like a leaf!" he laughed, until Jay stamped on his foot.
"Ow! That hurt Jay!"
The two women ignored him as they walked up to the rest of the Divas.
"Hey Jay. How did it go?" Roxanna asked.
"It was great. We had a fun time, right Eve?" Jay asked the woman with a grin.
"You bet!" the brunette haired woman answered with a laugh.
"Speaking of a fun time..." Dave said with a smirk, before handing Eve a small piece of paper.
"We could have some fun tonight if you know what I mean?" He winked at the young woman, while the rest of the women groaned in annoyance.
"Smooth dude!" Jessica laughed.
"Oh brother..." Roxanna sighed whilst shaking her head.
"Uh..." was Eve's only response, her cheeks turning red.
Jay scowled and punched Dave in the arm. "Seriously?! It's her first day!"
"So?!"
"Can't you go one day without getting in some poor soul's pants!"
"I'm just havin' a lil fun Jay!" Dave responded with a grin.
"Get outta here!" Jay growled, shoving the big man, making him laugh.
Dave made call me gestures to Eve, before noticing Melina and smirking.
"Sup Melina," he drawled cheekily, laughing when she glared at him, before walking off, his laughter echoing throughout the canteen. The Latin-American mumbled obscenities in Spanish, making Jessica laugh at the look on her face.
"Ass..." Melina growled to herself.
Eve looked at the others whilst dropping the piece of paper - that clearly had Dave's phone number written on it - on the floor, looking at the women with a shocked wide-eyed expression on her face.
"... Is he always like that?!" she asked, stunned.
"Always," was the dry, simultaneous answer.
"Alright," Roxanna chimed in calmly, both her and Lisa rising to their feet. "It's about time for us to head out."
Lisa stretched her limbs out, smirking in excitement. "Yep!"
"Don't kill each other out there," Jay commented with a smirk.
"No promises!" Lisa chirped with a chuckle, before walking off. Roxanna shook her head with a chuckle.
"We'll try not to," she replied, putting on her open crown hat, before turning towards Melina, who had also stood up.
The two women shared a silent smirk that sent chills down Jay and Jessica's spines, before Roxanna grabbed her trench coat, walking away as she put the iconic piece of clothing on.
"What was that about?" Jay asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing," Melina quipped with a grin, before grabbing the Women's Championship and walking out of the cafeteria, leaving Jay, Jessica and Eve confused and curious.
. . . .
"I ain't the lady to mess with!"
"Don't Mess With" by Hood$tars played throughout the arena to a fairly negative reception, as Victoria walked out onto the stage with an irritated scowl on her face. The woman glared at the fans before walking down the ramp, the jeers and boos from the Reading crowd causing her scowl to deepen.
"The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from Los Angeles, California, Victoria!" Justin Roberts announced.
"It is so great to see Victoria back on SmackDown!" Jonathan Coachman said happily.
"Yeah, but she appears to be in a bad mood," Cole noted.
"That's Sheree's fault! Honestly I have no idea what that woman's problem is! She thinks that just because she beat Beth Phoenix at the Royal Rumble and gets a guaranteed Women's Championship Match anytime she wants, she can bully and push people around! I hope Victoria teaches her a lesson!" Coachman snapped.
"... I don't know what show you were watching but Victoria was the one bullying and pushing people around. Not Sheree. Victoria was the one that started this whole thing!" Cole argued as Victoria entered the ringside area, climbing onto the ring apron and entering the ring.
"Whatever. I'm telling you now. There is something not right about Sheree," Coachman retorted as Victoria stepped onto the bottom ropes, leaning forward and glaring into the hard camera, the fans continuing to boo and jeer at her.
"What are you talking about?! Sheree is more sane than Victoria!" Cole exclaimed incredulously.
"It's just a hunch I've got, alright!" Coachman replied grouchily as Victoria stepped off the ropes, glaring up at the stage. The Sovereign Center was suddenly covered in pitch black darkness, garnering a loud pop from the screaming fans.
Bong...
Bursts of flames erupted from the stage as a ghoulish lighting covered the Sovereign Center.
Bong...
Thick smoke covered the stage, the ramp and the ringside area as the Reading fans waited eagerly for the arrival of Tara Stone.
Bong...
"Rest in Peace" played throughout the arena, the fans screaming and cheering as Tara Stone slowly walked out onto the stage, an emotionless expression on her face as she stared down Victoria, who glared harshly back at her whilst pacing the ring like an irritated tigress wanting to get at its prey.
"And her opponent, from Death Valley, Tara Stone!" Justin Roberts announced as Tara slowly advanced down the ramp.
"Earlier, Women's Champion Melina tried to persuade Teddy to convince Tara to call off their No Disqualification Match at No Way Out. It didn't work out the way she wanted it to," Cole explained.
"And to make matters worse, he went and insulted her! I can't help but feel like that's gonna come back to bite him in the behind. And judging by the look on Melina's face when she left Teddy's office, Tara better have eyes in the back of her head!" Coachman said.
Tara came to a stop at ringside, watching as Victoria paced the ring, before making her way towards the steel steps, pausing for a moment before walking up them.
As soon as she stood on top the steel steps, Tara slowly raised her arms up at her side, rolling her eyes back as the lighting changed from ghoulish purple to a misty white, before stepping into the ring.
"Well, Tara will have to forget about Melina for now, because she has to deal with a ticked off Victoria," Cole commented, as Tara stared down the angry veteran that stood across the ring from her with an indifferent expression on her face.
"And when Victoria is ticked off, People normally get sent to the hospital! You remember her checklist don't cha?" Coachman asked.
"Vividly," Cole replied dryly as Tara slowly pulled off her hat and rolled her eyes back, getting a positive reaction from the fans as the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder boomed throughout the arena.
Victoria continued to pace the ring with an angry glare directed at Tara, watching as the tall gold-eyed woman handed her leather trench coat and open-crown hat to one of the WWE ringside crew members, her dark orchestral theme faded into the background.
After checking if they were ready, the official signalled for the bell to ring.
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
As soon as the bell rang, Victoria wasted no time in going after Tara, rushing the woman and blitzing her with vicious angry fists to the face, forcing the Princess of Death Valley on the defensive, her arms up as Victoria's wild aggression pushed her back against the ropes, the Reading crowd booing immediately. "WHOA!"
"Look at Victoria go!" Coachman cried out as Victoria continued to viciously assault Tara. "She caught Tara off guard! Not many women can do that!"
"Victoria is in a rotten mood! And she's looking to take that out on Tara tonight!" Cole said.
Tara snarled thickly, enraged, before connecting with a stiff right to Victoria's gut, winding the woman, before sending her stumbling back with a shot to the jaw, making the fans wince. "But Tara will not go down quietly!"
"What is going on right now?!" Coachman exclaimed as both ladies began to trade massive fists at a breakneck pace, not letting up for a moment as the fans cheered.
"Tara and Victoria, trading bombs in the middle of the ring!" Cole yelled out. "Neither woman are willing to back down!"
"Fists are flying everywhere!" Coachman added, as the two women began to slow, but refused to let up. "What a wild start!"
"These two know each other so well. Their rivalry dates all the way back to Tara's American Badass days, and when Victoria was a little insane!" Cole said as the two women continued to trade angry heavy bombs in the middle of the ring, the fans cheering for Tara, whilst booing Victoria.
"A little?! That's the understatement of the year! I'm glad she's more sane than she used to be! Crazy Victoria was scary!" Coachman replied.
Being the taller one out of the two, Tara eventually gained the advantage, stunning Victoria with a dynamite fist to the face, causing the woman to almost stumble off her feet, dazed. "Uh-oh!"
"That one rocked Victoria!" Cole cried out. Tara backed up into the ropes opposite the SmackDown stage, rebounding off them, only for Victoria to blast her with a huge clothesline that knocked Tara clean off her feet. The fans released a loud 'Ohhh!' as Tara hit the mat back-first. "And a huge clothesline from Victoria stops Tara in her tracks!"
"Tara maybe taller, but Victoria is no pushover when it comes to power," Coachman commented, the Reading crowd jeering at Victoria, making her scowl viciously at them in return. "Not a lot of woman on this roster who can blast Tara off her feet like that."
"That scowl has not left Victoria's face since the bell rang," Cole said as Victoria slowly turned her attention back onto Tara, her lip curling up into an angry snarl as she watched the tall woman roll onto her hands and knees, attempting to stand.
"Victoria is in a terrible, terrible mood!" The two-tone haired woman rushed Tara and grabbed her by her long locks, ignoring the referee's warning and forced the Princess of Death Valley to stand, before dragging her over to the corner opposite the timekeeper's area, bashing the tall woman's head off the turnbuckle. "And she's not done with Tara!"
The Reading crowd chanted 'Tara! Tara! Tara!' as Victoria viciously stamped away at the gold-eyed woman in the corner, growling in rage. "Victoria is just teeing off on Tara like no tomorrow!"
"I think this thing with Sheree is starting to get to Victoria," Coachman commented worriedly as Victoria continued to stomp away at Tara, each stamp getting more and more vicious and brutal as her rage grew.
"I agree! Look at the look on Victoria's face! She's absolutely seething!" Cole added.
"Come on Victoria! Get her out of the corner!" the referee demanded, but Victoria ignored him, continuing to stamp away at Tara, who was somehow managing to stay on her feet.
"Victoria better be careful here or she's gonna get disqualified!" Cole said.
"I don't think she cares Cole!" Coachman replied, a touch frightened of the woman. "I knew something like this would happen! All Victoria sees is Sheree right now!"
"That's enough Victoria! 1! 2! 3! 4!"
Victoria eventually backed off, stopping the referee's five count at four, leaving Tara slumped against the corner, ignoring the stern warning the official gave her. The woman glared darkly at the fans, who booed heavily in response, making her scowl, her temper boiling.
"But that's not Sheree in the ring with her right now," Cole said as Victoria went to unleash her pent up anger on Tara some more, only for her eyes to widen, gasping in shock as a pair of hands reached out and grabbed her by the neck, staring into enraged gold eyes, the fans crying out at the sight. "And she's about to find that out the hard way!"
"Oh no!" Coachman cried out as Tara scowled at the woman in front of her, before lifting Victoria off the mat, making her eyes widen as her legs dangled off the ground. "W-what the- Oh god!"
"O-Oh my gosh!" Cole exclaimed, the fans gasping at the sight.
"Look out!" Coachman cried out, as Tara threw the woman clean over the ropes and out of the ring, making Victoria crash land onto the ring apron, before plummeting to the floor in a heap, lying face first in front of the commentary table, the fans verbally wincing at the impact. "Whoa! Oh my god!"
"Tara just threw Victoria out of the ring! Victoria hit the hard part of the ring apron with a sickening thud!" Cole exclaimed. "Good grief!"
A replay was shown of the harsh spill to the outside as Tara calmly exited the ring, standing over a fallen Victoria. "Tara with absolutely no remorse!"
"I hope Victoria's okay. That was a nasty landing," Coachman noted as Tara grabbed a firm hold of Victoria's hair, ignoring the official's reprehension as she pulled the woman back up onto her feet.
"And just like that, Tara is in control," Cole commented, as Tara quickly connected with a huge upward jab underneath the jaw that sent Victoria stumbling into the announce table.
"Uh-oh, they're coming our way," Coachman added.
Tara grabbed Victoria's head, ignoring the referee as he tried to get them back in the ring, and slammed the woman head-first into the announce table.
"Tara, bouncing Victoria's head off the announce table!" Cole called out as the two-tone haired woman leaned against the announce table with a dazed expression on her face.
"I don't like this. They're a little too close for my liking," Coachman commented nervously as Tara bounced Victoria's head off the announce table for a second time, the fans at ringside verbally wincing as Victoria leaned against the table, looking up at the ceiling in a daze.
Tara rained down vicious strikes to Victoria's face, rocking Victoria with each one, forcing the Black Widow of WWE to cover up as the gold-eyed woman unloaded fist after fist on her with no remorse.
"This match is slowly turning into a brawl!" Cole noted as the fans cheered Tara on.
"It's also getting very violent," Coachman added as Tara attempted to choke Victoria out against the table. "Look at Tara! She's choking her out against our announce table! That's not legal! My god!"
"I would expect nothing less from these two!" Cole commented as Victoria attacked Tara with desperate fists to the face, causing her to loosen the tight hold she had on her neck, before shoving the tall woman away with her feet. The two-tone haired veteran sat up on the announce table, coughing violently as she tried to get her breath back.
"Victoria trying desperately to keep Tara away from her!" Victoria quickly got off the table, ducking as Tara went to lob her head off with a vicious clothesline, the fans releasing a loud 'OHHH!' as the Lioness turned right into a superkick that dazed her and sent her sprawling onto the announce table. "OH! My word what a superkick!"
"Victoria caught her right in the mouth!" Coachman exclaimed as Tara attempted to sit up, her gold eyes wide.
"Tara is dazed!" Cole cried out.
With a snarl, Victoria dragged Tara off the announce table and went to launch her into the barricade near the timekeeper's area. "Uh-oh, look out here!"
But Tara reversed this and sent Victoria crashing back first into the barricade instead.
"Oh!" Coachman exclaimed, wincing along with the WWE fans at the impact.
"And Victoria, being sent crashing into the barricade!" Cole called out as Tara rolled back into the ring and then quickly rolled back out, stopping the referee's count at seven, ignoring his demand to get back in the ring.
Tara grabbed Victoria and pulled her to her feet, dragging the fellow veteran back towards the ring and rolling Victoria back into the squared circle, making sure that the woman's head was suspended on the ring apron. "Uh-Oh, Tara's looking for that vintage leg drop!"
"Victoria's in trouble!" Coachman exclaimed as Tara climbed onto the ring apron.
"Look out! Look out!" Tara leaped into the air, looking for that big leg drop, but Victoria managed to move out of the way, making Tara cry out in pain, the fans letting loose a loud 'Ohhh!' as the back of the Lioness's leg dropped down hard onto the hardest part of the ring apron. "Oh no!"
"Tara misses! Victoria rolled out of the way at the last moment!" Cole exclaimed.
"Jeez... the back of Tara's leg landed right on the hard part of that ring apron. That must have hurt," Coachman added with a wince.
Tara slid off the ring apron, landing on her feet, clutching at her right leg with a pained grimace, before looking to go back into the ring, only for Victoria to connect with a basement dropkick that sent Tara flying off her feet, the large crowd releasing another loud 'OHHH!' as the back of Tara's head collided with the barricade. "Oh my god!"
"Victoria with a low dropkick, sending Tara flying into the barricade!" Cole cried out.
"The back of Tara's head hit that barricade wall hard!" Coachman exclaimed with a wince.
Victoria took a moment to recover from Tara's onslaught, while Tara sat against the barricade with a dazed look on her face, the fans at ringside encouraging her to get up as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When Smackdown came back from the break, Victoria had Tara in a painful single-leg Boston crab in the middle of the ring, bending Tara's right leg way back as she sat on her back, making the tall woman hiss in pain.
"Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown. As you can see, Victoria has been in firm control of this match," Cole commented as the Reading crowd chanted 'Lets go Tara! Lets go Tara! Lets go Tara!' enthusiastically.
"Yeah. Ever since the break, Victoria has had a bullseye on Tara's right leg," Coachman added.
"Which is a great strategy. If you take out one of Tara's legs you take away most of her power and strength," Cole said.
"Yeah, she can't do the Last Ride or the Chokeslam with a bum leg," Coachman replied.
"Ask her!" Victoria snapped at the referee, adding more pressure to Tara's leg, making the Princess of Death Valley's face scrunch up in pain.
"You wanna give up Tara?" the official asked, getting a defiant shake of the head from the woman.
"Shut up!" Victoria snapped at the chanting fans in the Sovereign Center, shaking her head defiantly as they tried to encourage the black-haired woman beneath her back into the match. Tara growled and pushed through the pain, slowly crawling towards the ropes.
"Tara, pushing through the pain! Trying to scratch and claw her way to the ropes!" Cole exclaimed.
"She's almost there!" Coachman cried out as Tara crawled closer and closer to the bottom ropes, the fans cheering loudly with encouragement.
Tara was fingertips away from grabbing the ropes, when Victoria suddenly released the hold and dropped an elbow into the back of Tara with an emphatic "NO!" the fans watching with worry as Tara released a rare cry of pain.
"And an elbow drop to the spine of Tara Stone, stops her in her tracks!" Cole cried out. "You can hear Tara cry out in pain!"
"A rare sight," Coachman added.
Victoria scowled down at Tara, before beginning to pummel away at the woman, the Reading fans booing in response.
"And now Victoria is pummelling away at Tara!" Cole exclaimed.
"That's smart! Keep on her Victoria!" Coachman called out as Victoria finally relented on her assault. Victoria then pulled Tara to her feet, before throwing the taller woman through the ropes and out of the ring, causing Tara to hit the floor with a thud. "And now just tossing Tara out of the ring. Tara hit the floor hard there."
Victoria went to follow after the Death Valley Princess, but was held back by the official, much to her annoyance. The referee looked over the ropes, checking to see if Tara was alright, not seeing Victoria slide out of the ring on the other side, taking off in a running sprint around ringside and towards Tara, who was starting to stand.
"Look at Victoria! Look at Victoria!" Cole cried out, watching as the woman sprinted around ringside with a dark scowl on her face, the fans crying out at Tara to watch out.
"What's she up to?!" Coachman exclaimed as Victoria picked up the pace as she got closer and closer to Tara.
Tara was starting to recover, rising to a knee, when Victoria came from out of nowhere and caught her right in the side of her face with a running knee, sending Tara crumbling to the floor, the Reading fans wincing and letting loose a loud 'Ohhh!' as the impact vibrated throughout the arena. "Oh god!"
"Oh my goodness what a knee!" Cole exclaimed.
The referee demanded Victoria to get the action back in the ring, but she ignored him in favour of staring at the fans at ringside with an emotionless look on her face, not caring one bit as they jeered angrily in her face. "Look at the look on Victoria's face. No remorse whatsoever."
"That knee is giving me a horrible sense of déjà vu," Coachman added with a gulp.
"We've gotta see that again! Watch this impact!" Cole said as replays were shown of Victoria sprinting around the ringside area, before driving her knee into the side of Tara's face.
"Oh man! She caught Tara right in the side of her face! Tara's jaw is probably shattered!" Coachman exclaimed in horror at the impact of Victoria's knee colliding with Tara's face.
"And Tara has not moved since. I think that knee may have knocked her unconscious!" Cole cried out.
Victoria turned away from the fans, before looking down at Tara, who was lying face first on the ground with her long black locks sprawled out all over, hiding her face from view. Victoria scowled and grabbed the motionless body of Tara before throwing her back into the ring, immediately going in after her. "Victoria throwing Tara back into the ring now."
Tara tried to stand, only to stumble and fall back down onto her hands and knees with a dazed, glazed over look on her face, getting looks of concern and worry from the fans. "Tara is out of it..."
"Yeah, that knee really messed her up," Coachman added in worry.
Victoria's scowl deepened as she glowered at Tara, who was using the ropes to try and get back on her feet.
"Come on! Get up!" Victoria growled, goading Tara to stand as the fans chanted 'Tara! Tara! Tara!' loudly, trying to get her back into the match.
"Victoria is just stalking Tara now," Cole said as Victoria eyed Tara with an intense, almost crazed look on her face, watching as her fellow veteran struggled to her feet.
"She's looking to finish this match once and for all!" Coachman added.
Tara eventually made it to her feet and turned around right into a teeth shattering superkick, the fans letting loose another loud 'OHHH!' at the sight of Victoria's boot connecting with Tara's face. "GOOD GOD!"
"Oh a superkick!" Cole cried out as Tara fell back onto the mat, dazed and motionless.
"That's it! It's over! If that knee didn't shatter Tara's jaw, that superkick definitely did!" Coachman exclaimed as Victoria took full advantage, pulling Tara away from the ropes before going for the cover.
"Victoria going for the cover!" Cole cried out.
1...
2...
Tara managed to kick out just before the count of three, making Victoria's eyes light up in rage as she glared at the referee, the fans cheering in relief. "No! Tara kicks out!"
"I don't think Victoria's happy about that," Coachman added, noticing the look of rage on her face.
"Are you kidding me?!" Victoria growled, while glaring at the referee.
"Sorry Victoria. That was two," the official told her. Victoria glared up at him, before poking the side of her cheek with her tongue in annoyance and focusing her attention on Tara, who was now lying on her stomach.
Victoria stood, grabbing Tara by her hair and lifting her up so that she was on her knees, staring up at her. "Tara is at the complete mercy of Victoria."
A vicious evil grin made its way to Victoria's face, enjoying the sight of a dazed and helpless Tara Stone at her mercy.
"What's wrong Tara? Where did all that confidence go huh!" Victoria asked mockingly, before slamming Tara face-first into the mat.
"Victoria slamming Tara violently into the canvas! Victoria is absolutely dominating Tara!" Cole called out.
"This is surprising! Victoria has had Tara's number throughout this whole match up!" Coachman added as Victoria grabbed another fist full of Tara's hair and lifted her head up again with a laugh, this time staring down at her with a wide cruel smirk.
"Have you seen the look on Victoria's face!" Cole exclaimed as he eyed the woman with a slight look of fear.
"I haven't seen her smirk like that in a long time!" Coachman cried out.
"Aw come on! Where's that badass attitude I hate so much huh?!" Victoria growled out with a laugh, earning a loud chorus of boos from the fans in attendance.
"Victoria is loving every minute of this!" Cole exclaimed.
"And I don't blame her! Not many women in the WWE can make Tara struggle like this," Coachman replied.
Victoria's eyes widened when Tara's hand suddenly snapped up and grabbed her by the neck, getting a roaring cheer from the Reading fans in response. "Oh no!"
"Tara's got a hold of her! Victoria wasted too much time trash talking, and is about to pay the price!" Cole cried out as Victoria stared at Tara with wide fearful eyes, her hands grabbing at Tara's wrist, trying to pry her hands from her neck, but Tara had too much of a tight grip.
The Princess of Death Valley stood up, rising to her full height and scowling at Victoria in anger.
"Oh my gosh!" Coachman exclaimed, the fans screaming as Tara lifted the woman into the air in an attempt to chokeslam her, but Victoria somehow managed to escape.
"Victoria escapes!" Cole cried out.
"How she managed that I don't know!" Coachman added.
Before Tara could retaliate with any sort of offense, Victoria took her down with a chop block to the back of Tara's right leg, making the tough Texas-born woman release another rare cry of pain, the fans' cheers halting.
"And Victoria going right back to that right leg of Tara!" Cole exclaimed.
"Smart," Coachman praised as Victoria got to her feet, clutching at her neck while eyeing Tara with a murderous scowl. She knew how close Tara was to turning the tables. And that alone was enough to make her lose her temper.
Tara was hunched over on her left hand and knees, clutching at her right leg in pain when Victoria pounced on her, stamping away at Tara to the point that she collapsed to the mat on her side. Victoria attacked her with fast and furious strikes to the face, forcing Tara to desperately cover herself up.
"Victoria's going on a rampage!" Cole exclaimed as Victoria continued to pummel away at Tara with snarls of rage escaping past her lips.
"She's absolutely tearing into Tara, look at this!" Coachman added, the fans booing with fury.
Victoria eventually backed off, standing and glaring at the fans with a murderous look on her face as they booed harshly in response to her actions.
"There was some malice behind those shots. I bet Victoria was thinking of Sheree with each one of those punches," Coachman commented.
"Yeah and Tara is feeling the brunt of it," Cole added as Victoria turned and glared at Tara, who had crawled towards the corner opposite the timekeepers area, using the ropes to stand, leaning against the corner.
Victoria ran at the gold-eyed veteran and connected with a vicious knee to the stomach, the Reading crowd wincing as the wind was knocked out of Tara, making her hunch over in pain. "Oh, what a knee!"
"That had to knock the wind out of her!" Coachman commented as Tara coughed violently.
Victoria glared down at Tara, knowing that wouldn't be enough to finish the Princess of Death Valley. Victoria ran at the opposite corner, rebounding off it and sprinting back towards Tara.
"Uh-Oh! Victoria looking for another- OH!" Cole cried out as Tara caught Victoria in the face with a superkick, causing the fans to let loose a loud 'Ohhh!' at the impact.
"Whoa!" Coachman exclaimed.
"Tara caught Victoria right in the face with a superkick!" Cole cried out.
"That knocked the crazy out of Victoria!" Coachman added as Victoria staggered back in a daze from the surprise superkick.
"Victoria is still on her feet!" Cole cried out in slight surprise.
"How the heck did she managed to stay on her feet after a kick like that?!" Coachman cried out.
"The toughness of these two women holds no bounds!" Cole added.
Before Victoria could gain her bearings, Tara grabbed her around the throat before connecting with a powerful chokeslam, slamming Victoria's back into the canvas with tremendous force, the fans roaring out at the sight. "Chokeslam!"
"That's gotta be it!" Coachman exclaimed as Tara collapsed into the cover out of exhaustion.
1...
2...
Victoria raised her shoulders up whilst shoving Tara off her, just as the referee was about to reach the three count. "What?!"
"No! Victoria stays in it!" Cole exclaimed as the Reading crowd cried out at how close Tara was to winning the match.
"I thought for sure that was it!" Coachman added as Victoria rolled away from Tara until she was out of the ring, lying prone on the ring apron, while Tara laid on her stomach, taking a small breather. "Jeez... these two are beating the absolute hell out of each other! This is Backlash 2003 all over again!"
"It's pride Coach! Their pride won't let them give up so easily!" Cole said.
"Which is probably why Victoria hates Sheree. Her pride just won't accept the fact that Sheree is a contender for the Women's Championship and she isn't!" Coachman added as both women made it to their feet, with Victoria using the ropes to help her up, both tired and exhausted, but not ready to give in yet.
Tara advanced toward Victoria and grabbed a fist full of her hair, only for Victoria to elbow her in the stomach twice, before catching Tara right in the face with a right hook.
"Oh man!" Cole exclaimed as Tara's head whipped to the side, slightly dazed from the punch, the fans wincing.
"Wow! There was a lot of weight behind that fist!" Coachman commented.
Victoria grabbed a fist full of Tara's hair, before full on kneeing Tara in the face, getting a collective 'OHHH!' from the fans in attendance at the destructive force and impact of Victoria's knee connecting with Tara's face, causing Tara to fall back, spread eagled in the ring, completely still. "Oh my god! Oh my god!"
"That's... that's the same knee that shattered Candice Michelle's face 2 years ago!" Cole exclaimed.
"That's it! It's over! Tara is done!" Coachman cried out as Victoria gave the fans a great big evil grin, waving her hand across her throat in a 'She's finished' motion as they booed in anger.
Victoria stepped back into the ring and pulled Tara to her feet, openly cackling at the sight of Tara's arms hanging limp as she held the woman in a front headlock.
"Tara is out folks!" Cole exclaimed.
"Yep. And Victoria knows it!" Coachman added as Victoria grinned darkly at the fans, before lifting Tara onto her right shoulder and hitting the Widow's Peak with extreme force, causing Tara to fall onto her stomach, unmoving.
"Widow's Peak with authority!" Cole exclaimed, as the Reading fans released a loud 'Ohhh!' at the sight.
"It's over now! Victoria's won this!" Coachman said as Victoria turned Tara over onto her back and went for the pin with a dastardly smug grin on her face.
1...
"No one kicks out of the Widow's Peak!"
2...
Victoria's mouth flew open in shock when Tara reached up and grabbed the bottom ropes a second before the three count, causing the fans to cry out in shock and relief. "WHAT?!"
"Tara grabbed the ropes!" Cole exclaimed in shock.
"What?!" Coachman cried out again in equal shock.
"Tara grabbed the ropes at the last second!" Cole yelled out.
"That's absolute bullcrap!" Coachman snapped. "That was it!"
"Nope, Tara definitely grabbed the ropes before the three count!" Cole replied as Victoria sat on her knees, scowling in anger as she gripped her hair.
"NO!" Victoria yelled out in outrage, slamming her hands down on the mat in frustration and anger, before standing up and grabbing the referee by his shirt.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU PLAYING AT!" she roared in his face.
"Hey! Get your hands off me! I'm the referee! Get your hands off me!" the referee snapped back.
"I DON'T CARE! THAT WAS THREE!"
"She grabbed the ropes Victoria!" he replied, making her growl in anger.
"Victoria is livid! Absolutely livid!" Cole exclaimed.
"You can't really blame her! Everyone in this arena thought that was it!" Coachman replied.
Victoria pushed the referee roughly away.
"Count faster this time!" she snapped, before turning back to the still body of Tara.
Victoria grabbed Tara by the legs, pulling her away from the ropes.
"Victoria has gotta be looking to finish this-" Michael Cole was abruptly cut off as Tara's hand suddenly snapped up and grabbed Victoria by her left wrist, pulling the woman into a modified version of the Gogoplata, the fans rising to their feet and crying out as Victoria screamed in pain. "WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!"
"Oh no!" Coachman cried out.
"That's the same move The Undertaker used to choke out Big Daddy V last week!" Cole exclaimed as Victoria's cries of pain could be heard throughout the arena. Tara pressed the Vicious Vixen's throat against her leg with all the strength she could muster, her gold eyes glowing with intensity, growling through her teeth as she applied the pressure, making Victoria flail her free arm around, trying to work out how to get out of this new and terrifying situation. "Tara's got a vice grip on that submission!"
"For God's sake Victoria! Just tap!" Coachman pleaded, not wanting to see Victoria bleed out.
Eventually Victoria was forced to tap, getting a loud positive response from the fans in attendance.
"Victoria taps out! Tara wins!" Cole exclaimed as the black haired woman released Victoria.
"Here's your winner, Tara Stone!" Justin Roberts announced to the Reading audience as "Rest In Peace" played throughout the arena, causing the fans to cheer in approval.
Victoria rolled out of the ring as Tara gingerly and slowly stood up, placing her hands on her hips as she looked around the Sovereign Center with her usual stoic expression on her face.
"Victoria had this match in the bag, until Tara caught her in that mysterious submission that her mentor The Undertaker has been using lately!" Cole cried out as the referee raised Tara's hand in victory, getting a loud positive response from the fans.
"Man... that hold is scary! I hope Victoria's okay!" Coachman added.
The referee was seen tending to Victoria, who was having a coughing fit while clutching at her throat. Thankfully she wasn't coughing up blood like Big Daddy V was last week.
Tara surveyed the crowd a little more, before dropping to a knee, sticking her tongue out and rolling her eyes back whilst slowly lifting her arm up into the air, gaining a loud and ruckus reaction from the Reading fans as a ghoulish dark purple lighting painted the arena.
"If I was Melina I'd be very worried," Cole said.
"Yeah, especially if- hey wait a minute!" Coachman suddenly yelled out.
The back of Tara's head suddenly exploded with pain, making her fall face first into the mat.
The lighting turned back to normal to reveal Melina standing over Tara with an uncharacteristic stoic expression on her face, the Women's Championship held securely in her hands as she stared down at Tara, the fans booing harshly in response to her sudden appearance.
"It's Melina!" Cole exclaimed.
"Have you seen the look on Melina's face! I've never seen her with a look like that before!" Coachman added in slight surprise.
Melina crouched down, balancing on the balls of her feet whilst tilting her head to the side, staring down at Tara with angry silted eyes, watching as she struggled to push herself off the mat.
"Tara is hurt Coach. Very badly hurt," Cole said as he watched on in worry.
"Yeah... she just went through a ticked off and very game Victoria, and then Melina comes out of nowhere and clubs her in the back of the head with the Women's Championship!" Coachman replied.
Melina watched Tara a little more, before placing the Women's title between herself and her fallen No Way Out opponent.
"Is this what you want, huh? Is this what you want?!" Melina growled, her eyes darkening in anger, before standing up.
Melina rolled out of the ring and began pacing a part of the ringside area, watching as Tara struggled to get back on her feet, her lips curling up into an angry snarl as she started cursing out obscenities in Spanish.
"The champion is on the prowl!" Cole cried out.
"Tara better watch out. Melina looks more ticked off than Victoria did!" Coachman added as the Women's Champion continued to pace the ring, eyeing Tara in anger.
The crowd released a huge pop when Melina suddenly pulled the apron up and began searching under the ring!
"W-What is she doing?!" Cole stuttered in shock.
"Keep up Michael! It's pretty obvious what's she's doing!" Coachman replied.
Melina pulled out a steel chair and glared at Tara in unadulterated hatred, watching as Tara managed to lift herself off the mat and onto her hands and knees.
"Oh no! Melina's going too far! She's going way too far!" Cole exclaimed as he stared at her in horror.
"This is about to get really personal!" Coachman said. Melina slid into the ring as Tara stood to her full height, stumbling around heavily, with the fans screaming and calling out to the stunned Lioness, trying to warn her of the impending danger, while the official tried to plead with Melina not to use the chair. "Tara has no idea what's about to happen!"
As soon as Tara turned around, Melina connected with a chair shot to the gut, making Tara hunch over in pain.
"Oh!" Coachman exclaimed.
"Shot to the gut!" Cole cried out.
Melina glared murderously at Tara, before raising the steel chair over her head and bringing it back down into the back of Tara as hard as she could with extreme force, sending Tara crashing to the mat with a loud cry of pain, the Reading fans letting loose a resounding 'Ohhh!' at the impact of flesh meeting steel.
"Oh god!" Coachman exclaimed, wincing at the impact.
"And a vicious shot to the back, flooring Tara!" Cole cried out.
Melina stared down at Tara with her face scrunching up in rage as she watched Tara writhe in agony, her mouth open in a silent scream of pain, struggling to even move, while the referee tried to get Melina to calm down. The Latin American scowled and shook her head, before raising the chair over her head again.
"Oh no! Not again!" Cole cried out.
"Melina's not done!" Coachman added.
The fans let loose another resounding 'Ohhh!' wincing as Melina cracked Tara again with another brutal chair shot to the back. "Oh!"
Melina refused to let up on the assault, hitting Tara over and over again with repeated vicious chair shots to the woman's back, starting off slow before increasing the tempo and impact, with each strike fuelling her anger, releasing rage filled screams while the one lone referee was trying to maintain at least a little bit of order, but Melina was having none of it, the chair starting to bend the more she used it.
"Melina has snapped! She's absolutely lost it!" Cole exclaimed.
"We need to get some more help out here! One referee isn't gonna be enough to control this mad woman!" Coachman cried out.
The crowd erupted into a sea of angry boos as Melina got more violent, now brutalising the back of Tara with the edge of the steel chair.
"Come on now! Enough is enough!" Cole snapped in anger.
"I don't think Melina cares! She just wants to destroy Tara!" Coachman exclaimed.
"MELINA!"
The fans cheered in relief when Theodore Long walked out onto the stage, mic in hand and an unimpressed expression on his face.
"Here comes Teddy!" Coachman cried out.
"Hopefully he'll be able to calm Melina down," Cole said.
"That's enough Melina! Stop it!" Teddy demanded as Melina finally relented, glaring up at the man through cold slitted eyes.
"Please... just calm down okay," Teddy pleaded as Melina slowly backed up until she was leaning against the corner turnbuckle opposite the timekeeper's area, chair still in hand, staring up at where Teddy stood on the stage with another uncharacteristic stoic frown on her face, fully aware of Tara squirming and moving little by little, attempting to try and get back up.
"Melina has... Tara is in a very bad way. Melina has completely annihilated her," Cole said, staring at Tara in worry as she writhed in pain and agony.
"Yeah... I can't believe Melina went this far!" Coachman exclaimed.
Tara tried to at least lift her body off the mat, but ended up collapsing in pain.
"Tara can't even lift her body off the mat Coach..." Cole muttered sombrely.
"At least she's moving! I'm surprised she's even still breathing after that onslaught!" Coachman commented.
"Look... put the chair down and come backstage... please," Teddy pleaded as Melina continued to stare up at him with that emotionless expression on her face.
"If this is about what I said earlier... then I'm sorry okay. I'm sorry for offending you. But please... just put the chair down and we can talk about this like adults," Teddy said.
Melina regarded Teddy for a moment, before a look of pure fury made its way to the Paparazzi Princess' face and she shook her head, before storming towards Tara and raising the chair over her head as Tara steadily got up to her hands and knees, the fans looking on in shock and horror.
"No Melina! That's enough!" Teddy shouted through the mic, but his plea fell on death ears.
"STOP THIS!" Cole shouted.
"She's gonna destroy her!" Coachman exclaimed.
Tara got to one knee and looked up at Melina with wide, dazed golden eyes. Melina grinned darkly at the woman before letting loose a loud primal scream.
"NO! NO!" Cole pleaded desperately.
"OH MY GOSH!" Coachman exclaimed in horror.
A loud 'OHHH!' resounded throughout the building as Melina swung with all her might, bashing Tara in the skull with the steel chair, the impact of the chair connecting with Tara's skull, vibrating across the Sovereign Center.
"Right to the skull!" Cole cried out.
"Oh my god!" Coachman exclaimed.
Tara collapsed, unmoving, her forehead starting to bleed from the vicious chair shot, much to the shock and worry of the fans.
"Tara has been busted open!" Cole cried out.
"That looks nasty," Coachman muttered.
"Melina has snapped here! She's gone completely insane!" Cole snapped in anger as Melina stared down at the still body of Tara with an intense angry gaze, finally throwing the now useless chair away as the fans voiced their rage and disgust at what they witnessed from Melina.
"I think this whole thing with Tara has gotten into Melina's head. Tara has had her eyes set on Melina for months now! I think this is Melina's way of saying; "I've had enough!" Coachman said.
"But that doesn't make it right! Melina just tried to destroy Tara! Tried to not only take her out of the match! But take her out for good!" Cole snapped. "And she may have just succeeded!"
"I never said she did the right thing Cole! I'm just calling it like I see it!" Coachman replied as the Latin-American grabbed the Women's Championship before dropping to her knees, pushing the title into Tara's bloody face whilst also getting in the woman's face.
"You see this! This is MINE!" she growled, shoving the championship in Tara's unconscious face.
"This is as close as you're ever gonna get! You are never taking this away from me! NEVER!" Melina snapped, letting go of the title, before straddling Tara and attacking her with rapid fire 6 inch fists to the woman's bloody face, causing the Reading fans to increase the intensity of their anger at what they were seeing, the official trying desperately to pull Melina away from Tara.
"Oh come on! You've done enough already!" Cole shouted in anger.
"I don't think Melina gives a damn anymore! She hates Tara!" Coachman said.
More officials ran down the ramp and slid into the ring, finally managing to pry Melina off Tara.
"And finally, we've got some control!" Cole sighed in relief.
"Yeah but the damage has already been done," Coachman replied as Melina pulled herself away from the officials, picking up the Women's Championship. She stood over Tara, whose face was now covered in blood, Melina's legs on either side of the woman as she stared down at her, before raising her arms, Tara's blood covering her left fist, while holding the Women's Title in her right, smirking at the Reading fans that were booing her in anger.
"Well one things for sure. I don't think Melina will be worrying about that No Disqualification Match anymore. Even if Tara makes it to No Way Out, Melina has shown that she can handle a No DQ Match," Coachman said.
"That maybe so, but she didn't need to beat Tara to near death! It was uncalled for!" Cole snapped.
"It's called making a statement Cole! Teddy claimed that Melina is scared of Tara! This is her way of proving that she isn't!" Coachman replied.
Melina eventually stepped away from Tara and left the ring, sauntering up the ramp with a smug smirk, the Women's Championship hanging over her shoulder. "I think we've just witnessed a different more violent side of Melina tonight. And it's all Tara's fault."
"How is any of this Tara's fault?!" Cole exclaimed, glaring at his broadcast partner.
"Tara has been breathing down Melina's neck for months! She was bound to snap at some point!" Coachman replied as Melina walked up the ramp and onto the stage, looking at Teddy who was glaring angrily at her.
"Why did you do this?!" he snapped.
"Do I look scared of her now Teddy?" Melina drawled, before looking down at the ring, where the officials and ringside doctors were tending to Tara, a satisfied grin appearing on her face.
"I think I just proved my point," she said, chuckling at the anger on his face and sauntering off, finally heading backstage.
The doctors managed to clean the blood off Tara's face, and were now helping her to her feet along with the officials.
The woman staggered and fell down to one knee, the officials instantly trying to help her up, but Tara pushed them away with a growl of annoyance, refusing any help and rising to her feet, this time managing to stay standing, receiving a round of applause from the Reading fans, relieved at the sight of seeing the Princess of Death Valley stand up on her own even after that onslaught.
"How is Tara standing right now?" Coachman questioned, staring at Tara in shock.
"That is how tough this woman is. Melina will have to kill her if she wants to walk out of Nevada still champion!" Cole snapped hotly.
"Don't go putting anymore ideas in Melina's head," Coachman retorted, slightly pale. "She may just decide to do just that!"
Tara shook her head to get rid of the dizziness. Everything happened so fast, but she was very much aware of what happened. Tara rested her hands on her knees and panted, not from pain, but from anger. Hot red anger.
Anger at herself for letting Melina get the drop on her like that, and anger at Melina for even thinking it was even remotely wise to attack her like that. If she thinks she was about to get away with that scot free she had another thing coming!
"Tara, are you alright?" one of the officials asked.
Tara snapped her head towards the man, her gold eyes darkening in anger.
Before he even knew what was happening, Tara's arm snapped out and grabbed him by the neck, making his eyes widen in fear at the scowl on her face, the fans exploding as they watched on in excitement. Teddy stood on the stage, watching with wide eyes as Tara glowered at the man in her grasp.
"Oh no!" Coachman cried out in shock.
"Tara! Tara!" Cole exclaimed.
Tara ignored the pleas from the other officials to let the man go and chokeslammed the referee without a second thought, the small man's body bouncing off the canvas with tremendous force. "Chokeslam! Tara just Chokeslammed one of the referees!"
"That poor guy! Wrong place, wrong time!" Coachman said.
The officials tried to calm Tara down, causing her to give them a seething, dark and murderous glare. The officials seemed to get the memo and hightailed it out of the ring before Tara could take her anger out on them too.
"Look at the look on Tara's face!" Cole exclaimed.
"Oh boy... she's ticked off!" Coachman cried out.
"The officials are getting outta here!" Cole said, watching as the large group of officials ran up the aisle and into the backstage area, all wanting to get as far away from Tara's anger as possible.
"I don't blame them! I wouldn't wanna be in that ring! Not when Tara is like that!" Coachman replied.
Tara seethed in anger, breathing heavy ragged breaths, rage clear on her face as she looked around the arena before leaving the ring, a thick angry scowl on her face. "If I was Melina I'd be looking for someplace to hide!"
"Tara is hungry for vengeance! And she just might get it!" Cole said as Tara walked up the ramp, scowl still present on her face. The more she thought about what Melina just did to her, the more angrier she got. Melina was gonna get it. That was for sure.
"Tara I..." Teddy started, but the gold eyed woman just walked straight past him, not even acknowledging his presence. There was only one thing on Tara's mind; revenge.
. . . .
As soon as Roxanna entered the canteen, she was instantly greeted by an extremely worried and freaked out looking Melina.
"Are you okay?! I didn't mean to hit you so hard! I am so sorry!" Melina cried out, making Roxanna's eyes widen briefly at the woman's little freak out, before laughing and placing her hands on the champion's shoulders in reassurance.
"It's okay! I've had worse! Bleeding ain't nothin' new to me," Roxanna told the woman.
"But-"
"Don't worry bout it. Stuff like that always happens when weapons are involved," Roxanna reassured the champion.
Melina still looked sceptical about the whole thing but nodded with a small smile on her face.
"Holy crap you two!"
The two turned to find Lisa, Jessica and Jay walking up to them with shocked looks on their faces.
"I know you guys said that you were gonna turn things up a bit, but that was mental!" Jay exclaimed.
"Let me guess. That was all your idea to get the chair in, wasn't it?" Jessica said to Roxanna with a smile.
"Well... we've got three weeks until the Pay-Per-View, so I thought it would be right to get Melina accustomed with using a weapon as soon as possible," Roxanna explained. "It was a bitch to get Vince to let us actually use the chair though."
"I would imagine so," Jessica quipped. "That head shot certainly ain't gonna help."
Roxanna smiled sheepishly at that and shrugged.
"I think I'm doing good so far," Melina said. "I'm dreading getting hit with a chair though."
"Don't worry, you get used to it after taking the fifth shot," Lisa told her.
"If you're trying to reassure me it ain't working," Melina drawled, getting a laugh from the woman.
"Are you gonna be okay? That cut looks nasty," Jay asked the tall veteran, eyeing the cut that Roxanna received from Melina catching her in the face with the chair, just above her left eyebrow, which was made worse when she decided to punch at it.
Roxanna waved off the concerned looks she was receiving.
"I'm fine. I just need to get stitched up and I'll be as good as new. I'm more worried bout this one tryin' to break my nose!" she replied while giving Lisa a look.
"I can't help it! Sometimes I get lost in the moment!" Lisa replied with a chuckle.
Roxanna rolled her eyes with a smile, starting to walk off. "Whatever. I'm off to the trainers room. See you guys later."
Jessica shook her head as she watched Roxanna walk off.
"She's a real trooper. I wouldn't be able to get up after that many chair shots," the Chicagoan commented, before looking at Melina. "How many times did you hit her exactly?"
"I lost count at 25," Melina admitted with a sheepish grin.
"That's Roxy for ya. The woman's a freak. But Mark is her mentor so it's not very surprising," Lisa said.
"Ain't that the truth," Jay added with a chuckle.
. . . .
On the way to the trainers room, Roxanna bumped into Mark and Michelle who looked a little worried.
"Nice job out there," Mark complimented.
"Well I learned from the best," Roxanna said with a grin, making him smirk.
"Are you gonna be okay?" Michelle asked with a worried look on her face.
"I'm fine! I don't get why everyone's so worried!" Roxanna replied with a chuckle.
"Well you did just get hit in the face with a chair," Mark reminded her.
"You can't seriously tell me that didn't hurt?!" Michelle added with a look of bewilderment at how calm Roxy was being.
"Of course it did! But it ain't as bad as what I went through in the past. You've seen my match with Amy at WrestleMania right?" Roxy asked the woman, smirking when the woman shuddered.
"Please don't remind me. That shit was scary! Awesome but scary! How the hell are you two still alive?!" the blonde exclaimed.
"To this day I'm still askin' myself that question!" Roxanna replied with a laugh.
"Anyway... you'd better get that stitched up," Mark told Roxy, who nodded in agreement.
"Wanna come?" she asked Michelle with a grin.
"I don't see why not," the blonde replied.
The two said their goodbyes to Mark, before heading towards the trainers room.
"Are you excited about going back to Texas?" Michelle McCool asked.
"Definitely. I miss Derek and the kids," Roxanna replied, a small frown appearing on her face.
Michelle frowned at the look on her face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothin. I just wish I could spend more time with em, you know..." Roxy replied.
Michelle gave Roxanna a sad smile. The woman loved her kids and Derek dearly. Anyone could see that. But having a family in the business is tough. Especially when you're one of the bigger stars. Working for the WWE was very demanding.
"You could always go for a part-time contract," Michelle suggested.
"I don't know... I don't think I'm at that stage where I could ask for a part-time contract. I mean... Vince doesn't exactly look at us girls in the same light as Paul or Mark," Roxanna replied.
"That maybe true. But I bet Dray and Christy think differently. I'm sure they can think of something. Besides... I think you have definitely reached that stage," Michelle said, getting a slight look of surprise from the tall ebony-haired woman.
"You think so?" Roxanna questioned, getting a firm nod from Michelle.
"Yep. I mean, it may be smaller than Takers, but you're also undefeated at WrestleMania. Vince would be stupid not to see you in the same light he sees Mark. Especially with all the things that you've done here," the blonde woman replied.
Roxanna stared at Michelle in slight surprise before chuckling. "Thanks Michelle."
Michelle just smiled. "No problem."
The two reached the trainers room and opened the door.
As soon as Roxanna walked in, Bob, WWE's go-to doctor, sighed.
"Why do I have a feeling I'm gonna be seeing more of you Roxy?" he asked in what sounded like exasperation.
Roxanna chuckled as she took a seat on the exam table, while Michelle sat on one of the chairs.
"It's good to see you too Bob," the tall woman quipped, making the old man roll his eyes with a shake of his head, before examining the cut.
"Alright... you ready for those stitches?" he asked her.
"Go for it," Roxanna told the man.
Michelle watched as Bob stitched up the wound, with Roxanna remaining calm and collected throughout the whole thing.
"How the hell are you so calm?" Michelle questioned with a slightly shocked look on her face.
Roxy just chuckled. "I've been in here a couple times."
Bob scoffed.
"Five years ago, I was convinced you lived here," he retorted, getting a grin from Roxanna.
"I'm not as bad as Jane and David though," Roxanna said.
Bob scoffed again. "Those two... hooligans. I hate those Huxleys."
Roxanna chuckled. She knew he didn't really hate them. He's just not a fan of their reckless nature.
"You do know that a Huxley is currently on the roster right?" Michelle asked the man with an amused smile.
Bob paused and looked at Roxanna with a look of dread on his face at what Michelle just told him.
"Don't tell me that old goat is crazy enough to sign that psycho?!" he exclaimed.
"Jane is not a psycho and it's her daughter that's signed a contract. Not her," Roxanna answered, chuckling as his face paled dramatically. "How did you not know this?! She's been here for the past two years Bob!"
"That lunatic has kids?!"
Roxanna opened her mouth to answer, but then frowned. "Yer messing with me ain't cha..."
Bob stared at Roxanna in what looked like mock horror, before grinning at the unamused expression on her face. "Sorry Kitty-Kat. Couldn't help it."
He chuckled when Roxanna growled at the nickname.
"I'm very much aware of Sheree and her twin. I just hope she isn't as reckless as her parents... she's not... right?" Bob asked, looking at the two.
Michelle shrugged, but Roxanna smirked at him and refused to answer.
Bob sighed, taking Roxanna's smirk as an affirmative.
"Fuckin' Huxleys..." he grumbled under his breath.
Both Michelle and Roxanna chuckled in amusement.