... IN HIS OWN YARD ...

-[[ Quiet. ]]-

-[[ No one in the backstage area dares to say a word as Roman Reigns appears through the curtain, the screams of the fans still audible from all the way in the back, after Commissioner Stone Cold Steve Austin just dropped a bomb on the fans in Rhode Island.. announcing a match at Wrestlemania between the new Intercontinental Champion and the man who attacked him in the middle of the ring just moments ago... Nobody in the backstage area dares to speak... But they do stare.. And they don't even try to hide it... ]]-

-[[ Reigns looks from side to side, eyeballing each and every single person that lays their eyes on him... The WME Intercontinental Championship belt dangles from one hand... but the damage from The Undertaker's chokeslam is visible, with one arm pressed against his ribs.. The silence is uncomfortable, unforgiving.... until a voice bellows out against the concrete walls, clearly disturbed and angered after seeing the.. ]]-

[ Dean Ambrose ] ...MOST COWARDLY DAMN ACT I HAVE EVER WITNESSED!!

-[[ Dean Ambrose's voice echoes through the backstage area, jolting everyone that had previously been totally silent... Roman Reigns turns his head and sees his partner, fifty percent of The Shield, charging at him.. flailing his arms around like a maniac... His voice greeting his ears like fingernails on a chalk board... Ambrose looks pissed enough that he could lay out the dozen or so backstage officials that surround the two standing members of The Shield with one punch and not think twice about it... Ambrose gets right in Roman's face, jamming his index finger mere inches away from his chest as he yells.. ]]-

[ Dean Ambrose ] We need to find Taker!!... Right here tonight... right NOW! That's BULLSHIT!! ..The Dead Man, HUH?! ...That's EXACTLY what he'll be when we've finished with him!!!

-[[ Dean Ambrose looks around, shaking his head that no one else is sharing his anger.. Everyone else is remaining silent.. They're not wrestlers.. They're production assistants.. Tech crew.. Expendable assets of the WME.. And standing up for the illusion of morals in wrestling... Well, it doesn't fit their job description... Ambrose grits his teeth and removes his leather jacket, throwing it to the floor.. He is absolutely furious.. ]]-

[ Dean Ambrose ] Are we supposed to be afraid??! ..He thinks he can just do whatever the fuck he wants to do?! ...Nah, BULLSHIT! ...If Taker wants a fight.. HE'S GOT IT!!

-[[ Sweats drips down Ambrose's face.. his wet hair flying all over his face.. ]]-

[ Dean Ambrose ] We need to even the score.. TONIGHT!!

-[[ Roman Reigns stares Dean Ambrose dead in the face.. All business... He looks down momentarily at his newly won Intercontinental Championship belt, then back up at his partner, flicking his hair back out of his face.. Reigns is suspiciously calm, considering he was blind-sided and assaulted in the middle of the ring just minutes ago.. ruining what was supposed to be a celebratory night, after pinning The Big Show and winning his first championship... ]]-

[ Roman Reigns ] Forget about The Undertaker.... for now.

-[[ Dean Ambrose shakes his head, he can't believe it.. ]]-

[ Dean Ambrose ] Roman, that's bullshit! We can't just let him loose like that... Nobody does that to The Shield... we need to send out a message!!

-[[ Roman Reigns stares back down at the championship belt dangling from his hand... he hoists it up and throws it proudly over his shoulder.. staring silently back at Ambrose. Don't mistake Reigns for a fool.. he knows exactly what The Undertaker has done tonight, and he knows exactly what he intends to do about it.... he stifles the impulsive anger that's pouring out of Dean Ambrose, the other fifty percent of The Shield... you can visibly see Ambrose slowly begin to gather himself as he stares back at the calm and collected figure of the champion standing in front of him.. ]]-

[ Roman Reigns ] I will deal with The Undertaker.... tonight? ..Nah... that's too easy.... I'll hit The Dead Man where it'll hurt most... in his own yard.....

-[[ Reigns takes a moment, shifting the belt higher up onto his shoulder before continuing.... and when he does, it's almost a whisper.. ]]-

[ Roman Reigns ] Wrestlemania.

-[[ You can make out the frustration plastered all over Dean Ambrose's face at the thought of The Sheild leaving the Dunkin Donuts Center without confronting The Undertaker. He wanted a fight, and he wanted it tonight. But he knows his partner, his brother.. is right. Roman Reigns takes the Intercontinental Championship belt off of his shoulder and holds it in front of Ambrose by the strap.. the big gold plate glistening in the light.. he uses his other hand to tap on the middle of the plate.. ]]-

[ Roman Reigns ] As for tonight... our business here is done.

-[[ Dean Ambrose places his hands on his hips and tilts his head back.. lifting his chin now with a slight smile pulling at one side of his mouth... he nods. ]]-

[ Dean Ambrose ] Alright, brother... I hear ya.

-[[ With Ambrose seemingly settled, at least temporarily.. Reigns lowers the belt back down. ]]-

[ Roman Reigns ] What I will say... is there's still one more SLAM before Wrestlemania.... that means one more guy standing in the way... before I get my hands on The Dead Man... and whoever that is... is in the WRONG place.. at the WRONG time.

-[[ The screams of the fans can be heard from all the way out by the ring.. ]]-

[ Roman Reigns ] And when I'm done with him... and you and me, brother, we take over New York City.. The Shield takes over the biggest stage of 'em all... I will BURY The Dead Man... and the WORLD will see, that there's a NEW big dog in town... and Wrestlemania Entertainment will be FORCED to concede... that this is MY yard now...

-[[ Roman pounds the big plate of his title belt that hangs over his shoulder... ]]-

[ Roman Reigns ] ...And you can believe... THAT.

-[[ The screams of the fans are audible again.. as the camera fades out to black. ]]-