THE RETURN
Fri. 12/08/00 – Centralia High School Gym – 7:40 P.M.
I was sitting in the bleachers of watching the Boys basketball team face one of their rivals, Black Hills High School. There were only two things on my mind, my first match, Sunday against Dean Malenko, and two female friends of mine in the crowd, Ashley Agnew and Andrea Dawson.
I immediately dialed Stephanie's number on my new cell phone. She was at home in Greenwich, CT.
"Hello" Steph said.
"Hi, Steph, it's Brandon." I replied
"Hey Brandon, how are ya?" She replied.
"I'm fine, listen, I had an idea about my match with Malenko on Sunday."
"What is it?" Stephanie asked
8:50 P.M.
The game was over, Centralia lost. I approached Ashley and Andrea after the game. "Hey, Ash, Andrea." I said "Hey Brandon" They replied in unison, by this time, everyone in my school knew who I was and what I did.
"I have a proposition for the two of you, how would you both like to make a thousand dollars?" I asked them.
"How" Ashley asked
"Just come with me to Birmingham on Sunday, and I can get the two of you on TV." I answered.
"How are you going to do that?" Andrea asked
"You guys, if you agree, will be my managers for one night, you'll be back here Monday." I said.
"I'll do it." Ashley said. I turned to Andrea. "Ok, I'll go." They both smiled, I re-dialed Stephanie's number, "Hello" She said.
"Steph, they've agreed." I said.
"Cool, see ya Sunday." She said, and then hung up.
Sat. 12/09/00 – SeaTac Airport—Seattle, WA 12:30 P.M.
Andrea drove us up to the airport, I was on the phone most of the time, for some odd reason, Ashley was silent throughout the trip. I finally broke the silence "Flight leaves at 1:00, we should be in Birmingham by 5:00" Ashley looked at me strangely, that look worried me.
"Flight 265 to Birmingham, now boarding" The announcer said.
We all picked up our bags and boarded our plane; we landed in Birmingham at 6:30, where Matt, Jeff and Amy met us there.
"Wassup man?" Jeff asked
"Nuthin' " I replied as I hugged Amy and hi-fived Matt.
"Guys, this is Ashley and Andrea, Ashley, Andrea, this is Matt and Jeff Hardy and Amy Dumas." I said.
"Hi" Andrea said shyly. Ashley just smiled and waved, she was still worrying me.
"We taking two cars or piling into one?" I asked.
"Two cars." Jeff said.
Andrea took charge, ok I'll ride with Jeff, Brandon and Ashley, you can ride with Amy and Matt. Matt got a startled look on his face, but they all agreed. We then piled into the cars and went to the hotel.
Ritz-Carlton Hotel—Room 410 – 8:00 P.M. Birmingham, Alabama
Jeff, Matt, Amy, Andrea and Ashley were all in the room that Jeff and Matt were sharing; Room 412, Andrea and I were in Room 410. I was in my room alone, when there was a knock at my door. I got up and answered it, it was Ashley. "Jeff's been asking about you." She said. I sat down on the bed and said "Sit down Ash, I need to talk to you." Ashley sat down on the other bed and looked at me "You've been acting strangely ever since we left SeaTac, is something wrong?" I asked. "I'm really scared, I don't know if I can do this tomorrow." I got up and sat next to her "Ashley, don't worry, you'll do fine, if it helps, talk to Stephanie." Ashley smiled. "C'mon, let's go see Jeff." I said, Ashley and I left the room.
Sun. 12/10/00 – Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center – Birmingham, AL – 8:14 pm
I'm in my ring gear, a black bodysuit, with white and blue trim on the sleeves of the shirt and down the legs of the pants. Andrea and Ashley are in black clothes with Tiger emblems on the shirts. Steph told them what they have to do; they're ready to go.
Malenko's music hit first and he came out to a course of boos. A familiar song then hit the P.A., and the stage manager told me to go out, I guess it was my entrance music; the song was "Awake" by Godsmack. The three of us enter the arena to a decent pop.
I entered the ring and went straight after Malenko, I used my Judo skills to pound Malenko down, but then I pandered to the crowd, and Malenko hit me from behind, after about five minutes Ashley jumped up on the apron and distracted the ref, Andrea distracted Malenko as I grabbed a steel chair and hit him with it. The girls dropped down and I covered Malenko for the 1-2-3.
"Your winner and new WWF Light Heavyweight Champion, Ice"
I left carrying the title belt, the three of us left through the crowd as Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn ran down to ringside quickly followed by the Hardys and Lita, the six-man tag elimination had begun, the three of us watched from the crowd, the match ended with Malenko getting Lita in the "Texas Cloverleaf". I jumped the rail and took out Malenko, Benoit and Saturn ran back down to ringside and pounded on me, the Hardys ran in and fought them off.
8:30 P.M. – The Hardys Dressing Room
The six of us decided to stay behind and enjoy the rest of the night's events, we were soon joined by Adam Copeland and Jason Reso (Edge and Christian) after they won the WWF Tag team Titles. Jason seemed to like Ashley; she was the only one he paid any attention to. Matt invited the three of us to Cameron, NC for his New Year's Eve party. I accepted, but Ashley and Andrea didn't reply.
Mon. 12/11/00 – Raw Taping – 7:30 P.M.
Andrea and Ashley flew back home to Centralia; I was only managing tonight, the Hardys vs. Malenko and Saturn.
Stephanie approached me and asked me where Ashley and Andrea were.
"They're back home why?" I asked
"I thought they were here all week." Steph replied
"No, it was a one time thing, why?" I replied
"The Internet has been buzzing about them all day, they were a hit last night, and besides Jason has been asking about one of them." Steph replied
"I'll see what I can do, but they have other engagements, basketball and cheerleading.' I said
8:30 P.M.
Malenko and Saturn won over the Hardys by count out. Malenko flung Jeff into the steel steps, knocked out Lita, then kissed her. After he kissed her, I sprung into action, I leapt over the steel steps, but Malenko saw me and clotheslined me, knocking me for a loop, I had to get helped to the back, so did Lita.
Tue. 12/12/00 – Smackdown Taping
Ashley and Andrea were at home at the girls' basketball game, so they wouldn't be here. Our matches for tonight were: Light Heavyweight Title; Ice vs. Taka Michinoku; Women's Title; Lita vs. Ivory; and the Hardys vs. Benoit and Saturn.
I accompanied Lita to the ring with her match with Ivory first. Ivory ran down Lita, about how she is 'not a positive role model'. Malenko ran in on the match, this time we both sprung into action, but somehow he got the better of the both of us, I went headfirst into the steel steps, and by the time I had come to Ivory had won.
I had to face Taka Michinoku next, I was thoroughly dominated, I nailed Taka with a thrust kick out of nowhere and got the 1-2-3. I then got backstage and fainted into Stephanie's arms.