Chapter Text
Drake Maverick hums cheerfully as he walks around backstage. It's the last episode of Team Work before Wrestlemania and he's been given the honor of managing the show tonight. Vince has left notes for him, his brows furrowing as he scans them, but for the most part the night is his to do with as he wishes as he scans over the list of names available to him. "Perfect," he mumbles, rubbing his hands together before getting to work.
The first match of the night causes people to buzz and whisper almost immediately as Lucha House Party finds itself on opposite sides of the ring, Kalisto and Lince squaring off in the first Beat the Clock challenge of the night. The action is fast, highflying, and all over the place, impossible to keep a close eye on at times, the crowd gasping and oohing at risky attempts off of the top rope. Lince ruins it for himself, however, when he overshoots a splash off of the top and Kalisto takes advantage, bridging him down and pinning him at 2:36. Lince looks disgusted but shakes Kalisto's hand afterwards, accepting his hug afterwards.
Tag competition with Jordynne Grace partnering with Scarlett Bordeaux is against Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair is next and, as much as Jordynne has no use for Scarlett, Ronda and Charlotte are eager for an opportunity to let loose some of their aggravation against each other, leading them both to a pretty decisive loss, Jordynne pinning Charlotte to her shock and disgust. It takes another group of referees and random people in the back to hold them back from one another once more, the only thing keeping them from devolving into another brawling being that Wrestlemania is so close, their best chances at getting proper retribution against the other just around the corner.
In the second Beat the Clock challenge, Xavier Woods finds himself facing off with Killer Kross and he swallows hard, looking up at the emotionless monster of a man. No matter how hard Xavier fights, or what he attempts to put together against Killer Kross, it's not enough to give him the win but he never gives up, keeps trying, crawling painfully across the apron to get back to his feet when the bell rings sharply. Time's up and he collapses back against the ropes, whimpering faintly under his breath. Everything hurts but he'd drawn from Kofi's motivation and strength and saw it through, lasting for as long as he possibly could against everything Kross could possibly throw at him. Kross sneers at him but leaves, something close to respect in his eyes as he goes.
Kurt Angle defeats Matt Riddle after a quick sprint between the two, Riddle giving as good as he gets for a few minutes, but eventually getting snagged from behind and Angle Slammed, before giving no choice but to tap to the Angle Lock. Despite the loss, it's clear this has been one of the best experiences of his career as he grips Angle's hand and grins, being drawn into a hug. "Thank you, bro," he says, and Angle shakes his head, pulling back.
"No, I should be saying thank you. Thank you for indulging an old man in having this match," Angle says with a small grin, watching as Riddle takes his leave to give Kurt one last bit of time with the crowd.
There's a tag gauntlet held next, starting with Baron Corbin teaming with Zack Sabre Jr. They defeat the team of Ariya Daivari and PCO, but Drew McIntyre and Marty Scurll make quick work of them, also defeating the team of Tanahashi and Big E. The final team is Brody King and Gran Metalik and somehow, they work together very well, counteracting Drew's strength and Scurll's well-rounded offense, eventually Brody catching Scurll and slamming him down with a split legged Samoa driver, pinning him to the surprise of the crowd, the defeat even more of a surprise when Metalik moves quickly and scrambles in, dropkicking Drew low and keeping him from breaking up the pin.
The last Beat the Clock match finds another team pitted against each other as Ricochet comes to the ring, Aleister Black quirking an eyebrow at him as he enters the ring. They chuckle incredulously, quickly shaking hands as a show that this would have no affect to their partnership. It's a hardhitting, brutal, sprint of a match, Ricochet's speed serving him well against Aleister's ridiculous kicks, but all it takes is one and Aleister lands a Black Mass right under Ricochet's ear, downing him immediately before he can pick up enough speed to take Aleister down and move for the 630. "Forgive me," Aleister mumbles to him as he pins him, gingerly getting to his feet once the three is counted and helping Ricochet up once he's sure he's aware enough to hold his own balance. Ricochet chuckles, incredulous, and shakes his head, pulling Aleister in and hugging him tightly before lifting his arm in support, some tension leaving Aleister's face as he takes in the crowd with a pleased look in his eye. He'd won the whole thing at 1:49.
The main event announcement brings a suspicious hush to the crowd, Vince's influence all over it due to his pure dislike of Becky Lynch after the last few months. She, however, seems unruffled as she makes her way to the ring, posing up on the ropes to look out over the crowd before hopping back into the ring and waiting for her opponents. Shrugs, looking unbothered as first Rush's music plays, and then Finn Balor's. The two friends stare at each other as Finn stands atop the turnbuckle and shrugs down at her, Wrestlemania looming before both of them- Intercontinental and Womens championship opportunities so close that they can taste them. Neither can exactly let this go, Becky not expecting him to either, especially with the boss watching.
Still, she's not surprised when Rush starts. They go at each other, Rush too feeling the pressure of the weekend before them, his match against Dalton Castle fresh on his mind as he tries to take her down, Becky constantly working her way out of pin attempt after pin attempt. She finally gets her feet between them and kicks him off of her, gripping him and armdragging him down, before kneeing him solidly in the back. As he writhes away from her boots, she dropkicks him and then hits the ropes for momentum, just to get clotheslined down. She gasps for air and rolls to the ropes, pulling herself up with them as the crowd boos him. He approaches her but she meets him with a boot to the face, again with a knee when he comes after her again. The third time grants him a solid punch to the face and as he staggers, she enters and spikes him down with a DDT, scrambling for a cover. Just shy past a two count, but it's a start. She feels things starting to click and apparently Rush does too because he rolls away and tags in Finn, Becky's lips twitching as he smirks over at her.
They know each other well, have trained together many times in the past, each a fundamental part of the others' career, so what starts as a feeling out process quickly moves into a hardhitting brawl that the crowd gapes at, unexpected and impressed as neither quite manages to get the upperhand on the other.. until Finn goes to the top, Becky sprawled below him after a brutal exchange of strikes that she'd eventually dropped from. She waits until he jumps, then rolls out of the way, listening to his impact behind her. Laughs into the mat before getting to her feet, unsurprised to find Rush in the ring with her once more. He's learned a bit, adjusting to her fighting style, but she's had many more years of practice at this than him, and he has no real chance in the end, Becky knowing she has it as soon as she has ahold of his arm, wrenching back on the disarmer and gritting her teeth, digging her heels in until he yells out in pain and frustration and taps, the crowd going wild as she lets him go and laughs, lifting her arms up in acceptance of the crowd's love. All of this, for them. Her fight, her struggle, her determination, because of them. Her having a legit chance on Sunday now, because of them. "Thank you!" she calls out. "Thank you so much!"
She leaves slowly up the ramp, taking in the crowd's pure love and support, something to brace her through those long, uncertain hours leading up to Wrestlemania and the biggest opportunity of her career.