Azaria's Calling |UNFINISHED WIP|

Greensboro Coliseum    Greensboro, North Carolina

For the woman known off screen as Joanne Alise Xavier, Survivor Series was a night to remember. Not even the thousands inside the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis thought that she would come out as the new Intercontinental Champion. Of course some may find it lucky that her knee connected with the face of Kofi Kingston at the right moment.... it was a slightly botched Asai Moonsault inside the ring anyway. Despite this, at the end of the night... the new Intercontinental Champion was JoNessa.

With that being said, a lot has been said about who should challenge JoNessa for the Intercontinental Championship at WWE TLC in Brooklyn, New York, which is not too far from JoNessa’s hometown, Newark. There is the former Intercontinental Champion, Kofi Kingston, who is entitled to a return match in his contract. Then there is Wade Barrett, a person who is on a roll as of late, not to mention his performance in the Survivor Series Elimination match. Had Kofi won, he would have been right on his heels, gunning for a title shot. Then there is Angelo Azaria, another participant in the Survivor Series match who had a stellar performance, eliminating another Former Intercontinental Champion, The Miz, as well as being one of the final two on his team along with Dolph Ziggler, who would become the sole survivor in the match. All three men have legitimate claims to why they should be next in line to challenge for the Intercontinental Championship come TLC.

The previous week on Smackdown, assistant General Manager Jocelyn Ross called for a triple threat match to name the #1 Contender for JoNessa’s title at TLC. With the match approved, it will take place on Monday Night RAW during the second hour. One can only expect that the winner would have to be the most strategic and outsmart all opponents in order to get that coveted title shot.

Right before the commercial break, Matt Striker interviewed the man that once tried to capture the United States Championship in the early Summer months. Angelo slowly licked his lips while he stared down into the eyes of the backstage correspondent. A slightly disturbed Matt Striker took a step back, and turned to face the camera in front of him.

“In a matter of moments here on Monday Night RAW, 3 men will fight for the right to challenge JoNessa for her Intercontinental Championship come TLC when they face off in a Triple Threat match. Currently standing right beside me is one of the participants in tonight’s Triple Threat match-up... so please welcome at this time.... “

Matt slightly looked at Angelo Azaria with his head still facing the camera in front of him. His expression could tell that he was slightly uncomfortable being so close to the man... the man who eliminated The Miz in the 5 on 5 match.

“Angelo... Azaria.”

The camera zoomed out to show the first year competitor as well as Matt Striker himself. A semi-loud booing sound is heard from the live Greensboro audience as Angelo slightly giggled inside himself.

“Coming off a stellar Survivor Series performance , how do you fit yourself in this Intercontinental Championship picture, not to mention how will you take on the high-flying, fleet footed superstar Kofi Kingston, and the bare knuckle fighting powerhouse Wade Barrett?”

Angelo slowly cracked his neck before grabbing the microphone from the New York native, almost intensively staring into the man’s eyes. The bleach blonde then said, “Thank you for your kind comment, and your interest on ym impressive Survivor Series performance....and please remove that atrocious construction from your face... it makes me want to puke in front of this set thank you....”. Angelo was clearly referring to Matt Striker’s mustache, which he had been growing over the past month or so. Matt’s eyes rolled down until his facial hair was visible in his line of sight, and then he looked back at Angelo. “It’s true though... but enough talk about that and more about how I’m coming out as Intercontinental Champion come WWE TLC... and I know what you’re gonna say.... you haven’t beaten Kofi and Wade yet... hell, why should I worry about such a thing when I’m Angelo Azaria... as far as you should know, I’m Judas baby. And as for JoNessa... we all know what’s gonna happen, honey don’t take this seriously, but the fans wouldn’t even give a shred about you after I take you on the ride of a lifetime... and you, and all of these people... will LOVE it.... whatever yall like it or not”.  Angelo lends the mic back to a slightly confused Matt Striker, who had also been verbally insulted on live television... well at least his stash.

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Cole: “Welcome Back to Monday Night RAW, live tonight in Greensboro, North Carolina, and we are soon to be underway with a #1 Contender’s match to determine the opponent of this woman currently joined with us at commentary....The Intercontinental Champion, JoNessa”

“Close Your Eyes (‘Til It’s Over)” continued to play through the arena as JoNessa looked over at Michael Cole, who sat across the table from her right next to Jerry “The King” Lawler, who was sandwiched between the two. The Intercontinental Champ always gracing the cameras with her definitive style, showcased this time by the gold blazer and white mesh top thrown in with a black pencil skirt and gold heeled sandals, complete with the hardware sitting on the table, the Intercontinental Championship belt.

“That’s me... and despite you actually playing nice this time, I still think you suck Cole”, The champ said over to the RAW mainstay of 4 years. Apparently there is no love lost between the two, as she even disliked Cole dating back to 2010, the time when she was reigning as Divas Champion. Cole slightly eyeballed the hazel-eyed diva only to let the comment slip. “All joking aside, what brings you here to watch this match with us tonight”. JoNessa slightly adjusted her microphone before answering, “You know, If I am to be a great champion, I must observe what I could possibly face for TLC, cause that’s what a great champion will do, instead of waking up one morning, getting the short notice that I’d have to face Wade Barrett for the Pay-Per-View event... of course there is Kofi and Angelo, I was just using Wade as an example a moment ago”.

“SOS” by Collie Buddz started to blast through the arena’s PA systems as the spring loaded superstar from Ghana made his way onto the stage, receiving the usual energetic cheering response from the WWE Universe. Kofi goes to do his usual “Boom” Hand Claps, along with the roundhouse in correspondence to the pyro that sets off.

“The Following... is a Triple Threat match to determine... the #1 Contender... for the Intercontinental CHAMPIONSHIP!!!, Making his way to the ring to the ring first... from Ghana, West Africa... weighing in at 212 Pounds.... Kofi KINGSTON!!!!”

Cole: “A question I’d like to ask you before we get underway with this matchup.... how was it like to face Kofi Kingston at Survivor Series, and to win the Intercontinental Championship?”

JoNessa: “I’ll say this once. My guess is that I’ll never face such a evenly matched opponent ever again in my career. If one can see, our styles are almost identical. At Survivor Series, everyone saw how we flew in the air, how technical we were.... It was just poetry in motion. I just came at Kofi with some of my maneuvers, and so on... it was back and forth with only flashes of momentum here and there. As for me winning the title... the tape tells all. Anything in the past I’ve achieved... that was thrown out the window once I got my hands on this piece of hardware sitting in front of me. Such an accomplishing moment”.

Kofi Kingston, the West African sensation, slaps the hands of some of the front row audience members, obviously in the optimistic state of mind that he brings to the ring with him.

Jerry: “So are you implying that Kofi was one of the hardest opponents you’ve faced so far?”

JoNessa: “Definitely”

Kofi hops the turnbuckle with relative ease , proceeding to do his “Boom” motion, while the fans mimic his motions. The music fades out into the crowd noise, only to follow ‘Just Don’t Care Anymore’ by American Fangs.

Cole: “Well... Kofi does has his hands full tonight when he takes on Angelo Azaria, and this guy making his way to the ring now... the former Bare Knuckle champion, Wade Barrett.”

“Currently Making his way to the ring from Manchester, England, weighing in at 252 pounds... Wade BARRETT!!!!”

The winner of the first season of NXT continued to wear a smug look on his face, while also carrying a serious demeanor, and a slight amount of confidence as well.

Cole: “Now here comes a man who had an impressive run in the Traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series match, eliminating the likes of Team Hell No from the matchup. Now JoNessa, imagine if you had to go up against Wade Barrett at TLC, how would think you’d fare against him?”

JoNessa: “Quite a big guy there....  but didn’t you say he was a bare knuckle champion? Fact is that bare knuckle fighters can’t fight, despite them being the best in their profession, but Wade is an exception to that. I’ve seen him develop all the way from his NXT days, and I have to say... he’s nothing short of impressive. As with this new... attitude of his, it may be problematic for me.”