Flames

Summerslam 2018, part 1

Some wrestlers didn't like having the first match on the card. The audience was still straggling in. People didn't always tune in to the pay-per-view right away. It was basically one step above being in the bittersweet kick-off show match. Seth didn't mind so much. He took it as a challenge to set the bar for the night to come, and while his match against Dolph hadn't been one of his top five, he still thought it got the night off to a good start. He had won the intercontinental title for the second time and Dean's appearance in his corner brought a big pop, so he was happy with the outcome.

He was also still backstage when he didn't have to be. One of the perks to an early match was being able leave early, or at least being able to settle in and enjoy everyone else's matches. His post-bout interview was already done and he had cut a few promos before getting changed, and he could have been long gone. But he was still there in the back, feet propped up on his bag as he watched one of the monitors.

He knew without looking that it was Dean who had flopped down beside him, legs sprawled out. "What's up? Why are you still here?"

Seth wasn't quite sure himself. It wasn't like he didn't know what was supposed to happen. He could have easily watched it in his hotel room. But he wanted to be there. There was a certain energy to all pay-per-views, but the big four were special, and depending on how things went down in the upcoming women's match, the women's evolution was going to take a monumental turn. "I thought I'd stick around for the women's triple threat," he said easily, leaning back in his chair.

Dean nodded, settling in as well. "Becky's turning heel tonight, yeah?"

Seth didn't reply right away. Years had passed since he had betrayed the Shield and it was still one of his most iconic moments, one that was replayed over and over. If Becky played it right, turning on Charlotte could catapult her career. "Yeah. I'm just wondering how it'll go over." The audience's expectations of the women's behaviour could be difficult to predict. There had been a lot of support for Becky in the past few months, but breaking up a friendship could put her in 'petty bitch' territory for some fans.

Dean didn't reply, and Seth refocused on the monitor. He hadn't really been looking for company, but Dean was good at being present without being distracting, and maybe having a friend on hand would make his lingering presence less obvious.