OOC: Sorry this RP isn't my best work, I've not been feeling well :( Best of luck Billy, it's been a pleasure working with you as always!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Backstage at the Wells Fargo Center, Leva Bates was sat in her locker room. She didn't normally have her own locker room – normally, she shared one with the other EBWF women. But tonight was no ordinary night. Tonight was the night that Leva Bates would be in the main event of Warfare, in a match she had helped create. Waiting for the title shot she earned at Wrestlemania, and dealing with Becky Lynch along the way, had certainly been a "Royal Pain"... but as far as Leva was concerned, it was all worth it. As the cameraman filmed her, Leva couldn't stop smiling. She turned to face the camera and began to speak.
Leva Bates: If you look around this room, you'll see a couch, a mini fridge, a TV and some flowers in a vase. It might not seem like much. But to me, it's a sign of how far I've come. I am in my own personal locker room, because tonight on Warfare: Royal Pain, I'm competing for the Women's Championship. In the first ever "Tres Etapas Locas" match. Or as it translates in English, "three crazy stages". My career has been full of crazy stages, and tonight might just be the craziest one yet.
There was a knock on the door, and as Leva opened the door, she was handed a package. Inside the package was a bottle of champagne, and a note saying "good luck". Leva put the champagne in the mini fridge, then turned back to face the camera.
Leva Bates: First things first... I think we need to address the elephant in the room. The elephant in this case being Becky Lynch, who despite every piece of evidence to the contrary continues to maintain that she is the "rightful" Women's Champion. This is a woman who has had two title shots in her time as an EBWF superstar, lost them both, and yet both times, proclaimed to be the champion. The first time she made her own title... this time she took it a step further and stole the EBWF Women's Championship. It was only after Raquel Diaz and I took matters into our own hands that she returned the title, and even then she made unfounded accusations that were so ridiculous they would make Donald Trump blush. Now if you will pardon me for getting political, I have to say that Becky Lynch and Donald Trump actually have more in common than you might realise. They're both orange, and neither of them can admit defeat. Some people might think that sort of defiance is admirable, but I think it's disrespectful. Because after complaining for so long that she had been held back, Becky Lynch tried to hold me back. She tried to stop me from getting my title shot.
Leva shook her head. She looked like she was getting angry.[/color]
Leva Bates: If you look at the list of accomplishments on my Wikipedia page, it pales in comparison to the likes of Becky Lynch and Raquel Diaz. I've been Women's Champion several times, but only in companies that the average wrestling fan hasn't heard of. In the so called "big leagues", I'm just another face. Someone that’s moved around from promotion to promotion, primarily used to make other people look good. Signing for EBWF was supposed to change all that. At the Royal Rumble, I almost got the biggest win of my career... instead, I ended up as the runner up in the women's Royal Rumble match. Raquel eliminated me, and earned her opportunity for a title shot at Wrestlemania. Then at Wrestlemania, I was given another opportunity to earn a title shot. I was booked in a number one contender match, which I won. Unfortunately, that was overshadowed by what happened in the Women's Title match later that night. Now obviously I prefer books – I am the Librarian, after all – but in this case, I think a video would make things clearer for everyone. Gosh, I'm so psyched that I have a TV in my locker room!
Leva instructed the cameraman to turn his camera towards the TV, then played the end of the Women's Title match at Wrestlemania. The footage showed Raquel Diaz and Becky Lynch both trying to pin Tam Nakano simultaneously, the referee counting the three count, then a second referee coming out and showing an instant replay. The replay revealed that Raquel had gone for the pin a split second before Becky had, and therefore Raquel was declared the Women's Champion. Leva turned the TV off, and the cameraman swung back around to face her.
Leva Bates: That moment wasn't actually what overshadowed my win at Wrestlemania... it was what happened right after that. Despite the fact that two EBWF officials had reviewed footage, and come to a conclusion that Raquel Diaz was the winner of the match... Becky Lynch refused to accept that verdict, attacked Raquel and stole the title. So for the last two months, no one has been talking about me and my title opportunity. Instead, everyone has been talking about Becky Lynch and Raquel Diaz. Do you think I wanted to collude with Raquel Diaz to take care of Becky Lynch? Of course I didn't. Nor should I have had to. But I was forced to, in order to remind Becky, Angelina Love and everyone else that I am the number one contender. The footage I've just shown you is clear as day. Raquel went for the pin first. No referees were bribed. There is no conspiracy. Becky Lynch is just a bad loser. Her sense of entitlement is infuriating, and I can assure you that regardless of what happens in my match with Raquel Diaz tonight, I am not finished with Becky Lynch. Not by a long shot.
Leva sighed, and smiled again. She seemed less angry now she had addressed "the elephant in the room".
Leva Bates: You saw earlier that I was given a bottle of champagne. If I win the Women's Championship tonight, there's going to be one heck of a celebration in this locker room later! But even if I don't win, I'll still be celebrating. Because unlike Becky Lynch, I appreciate how special it is just to be given an opportunity at the EBWF Women's Championship. And if I lose, I won't cry foul play. I'll dust myself off, and fight for another shot. Queen of the Ring is just around the corner, and if Raquel beats me tonight, I will put everything into trying to win that crown. Because that's the kind of person I am. I work hard, and I accept the hand I'm dealt. Raquel and I have that in common, at least... even if we react to those hands differently.
Leva laughed to herself, then continued speaking.
Leva Bates: Raquel, I have a lot of respect for you, and I know you're going to do whatever it takes to try and beat me tonight. I know you're tough, and I know you've beaten almost every woman you've faced in EBWF. But you don't just have to beat me once... you have to do it twice. Not only that, because of the stipulations we agreed, one of those wins has to either be a submission, or if we're tied at one win apiece, you'll have to beat be in a last woman standing match. And that's where all my experience in promotions you've never heard of will come in handy. Because while you've been competing in the "big leagues", I've been worked my way up fighting in bingo halls, nightclubs, and all sorts of venues. The sort of place where anything goes. My career has been a crazy ride, and tonight I'm going to show off my loco side. So be ready, Raquel. Because I'm going to give you the fight of your life.
