Change the Narrative

[Ben M]

The scene opened in Leva Bates' library. Leva was looking at an exhibition on the wall titled "The Story So Far". The exhibition consisted of a series of photographs, recapping the key moments of Leva's EBWF career to date. There was a photograph of Leva competing in the 2021 Women's Royal Rumble, a photo of her winning the Women's Title number one contender match at Wrestlemania, a photo of Leva attacking Becky Lynch, a photo of the match graphic for the Tres Etapas Locas match at Warfare: Royal Pain, and three more photographs showing each stage of Leva's Women's Title match on Warfare: Royal Pain. The first photo from Royal Pain showed Leva's delight at winning the first fall; the second photograph showed Leva in pain after Raquel Diaz had made her submit. And the final photo showed Raquel standing tall, with Leva laid out after being put through a table in the center of the ring. As Leva looked at that last photo, she sighed. To the right of this photo was a card with two words written on it: "What Next?" Underneath that was a crown and a question mark. Leva touched the crown, before stroking her chin thoughtfully. She then turned to the camera and began to speak.

Leva Bates: Two weeks ago, Warfare: Royal Pain was one of the best nights of my life. It was also one of the worst. I got to main event a special edition of Warfare, in a Women's Championship match. It was two opportunities I've always dreamed of, rolled into one. But unfortunately, my other dream – the dream of being EBWF Women's Champion – did not become a reality. I said before the match that Raquel Diaz would do whatever it takes to try and beat me, and that's exactly what she did. She didn't just try to beat me...she tried to injure me. Firstly by keeping that painful new submission move of hers, the Lasso from El Paso, locked in even after I tapped out... then, by hitting me with the Gory Bomb through a table.

Leva lifted up her shirt slightly, showing a bandage wrapped around her lower back.

Leva Bates: I'm not 100% right now, but unlike a certain someone who milked a rib injury for the better part of six months, I'm just going to accept that and deal with it. In the same way I have accepted that I lost my Women's Championship match, and that if I want to be the EBWF Women's Champion, I have to earn another shot. It's just a shame that not everyone can accept things as they are and move on...

Leva looked at the picture of her attacking Becky Lynch, and shook her head.

Leva Bates: Becky Lynch, I'm tired of you already. I saw your mouthpiece Winter tweeting this week, continuing to claim that you provided "legitimate evidence" that you pinned Tam Nakano first, and therefore you are the "rightful Women's Champion". It's been over two months since Wrestlemania, have you seriously not watched the match yet? I even showed the footage myself before Royal Pain. There is no legitimate evidence that you pinned Tam Nakano first, because you didn't. Raquel did. By a split second admittedly, but unfortunately for you, that split second made all the difference. Because it meant the referee made the right call. Raquel Diaz got the three count, not you. Which is what makes the claim about Raquel "bribing the referee" all the more laughable. I have so many questions... first and foremost, which referee was Raquel supposed to have bribed? Was it the referee who actually refereed your Wrestlemania match, Mike Chioda, or the referee who consulted with Mike after the match, Jack Doan? If it was Mike that Raquel "bribed", why did he wait until the double pin happened before declaring Raquel the winner? Just a couple of minutes before that, Raquel had you pinned. Would it not have been simpler for Mike to count a fast three there? Or he could have simply refused to count when both you and Becky were pinning Tam Nakano... if Mike was bribed to make sure Raquel won, it seems like a pretty dumb move to allow a double pin. The only thing that would make less sense than Mike Chioda being bribed was if Raquel had bribed the second referee, Jack Doan. After all, it was Jack that showed Mike and everyone watching Wrestlemania the replay which proved Raquel had pinned Tam before you did. Maybe Jack is secretly a video editor in his spare time, and he doctored the replay to make it look like Raquel got the pin first...

Leva laughed at how preposterous that sounded.

Leva Bates: The whole thing just makes no sense, Seriously Becky, if you haven’t met Donald Trump already, get in touch with him. He's the only person I can think of other than Winter that might actually believe your "evidence" that you pinned Tam Nakano before Raquel Diaz did. With his social media bans, I know Donald is hard to get hold of these days, so maybe you should get in touch with the Flat Earth Society instead. They will dismiss any evidence that disproves their belief that the earth is flat, so you'd fit right in.

Leva rolled her eyes.

Leva Bates: The worst thing is, this isn't the first time you've claimed to be the "rightful Women's Champion" after losing a title match. It happened last year too, after Trish Stratus beat you at Summerslam. I've gone back and watched that match, and I'm struggling to figure out what your perceived injustice was on that occasion. Trish beat you with a rollup, and yet afterwards Winter blamed Natalya for your loss. Natalya was banned from ringside for fighting Winter, sure, but she didn't attack you Becky. So how did she cost you the match... was it because you didn't have Winter in your corner at the end? Considering you always make out that you're the toughest woman on the roster, I'm surprised you're so reliant on Winter that you can't win the big one without her in your corner. The way I see it, Becky, you're arrogant. That's why none of the women in EBWF can stand you. You think you're better than everyone else, and let's face it you're pretty good... but every time you get close to that title you crave so badly, you choke. If you want another championship opportunity, you're going to have to win Queen of the Ring, and yet the luck of the draw pits you against me in the first round. Me, the woman who earned the title opportunity you craved, the woman who you royally pissed off by trying to deprive me of that opportunity. You can claim that the Queen of the Ring tournament is pointless, but how are you going to feel when I eliminate you in the first round, go on to claim the crown, then win "your" Women's Championship at Summerslam? It's going to eat away at you, and it's no less than you deserve. I warned you I wasn't finished with you Becky, and tonight I'm going to force you to change the narrative. From now on, you won't be able to claim to be the "rightful Women's Champion" any longer... instead you'll be the woman who got her ass whooped by a librarian.

Leva smirked.

Leva Bates: Of course, I don't just have Becky to contend with tonight. It's a triple threat match, so I also have to deal with Taya Valkyrie. The woman who calls herself "Lucha Royalty". I don't see a crown, Taya, but I do see a familiar face. After all, didn't I beat you at Wrestlemania? For someone who calls herself a queen, your record since signing for EBWF has been distinctly average. You've had a lot of success in Mexico, but you have to prove yourself all over again now you've hit the big time, and so far I haven't seen too much that worries me. Maybe the thought of claiming that crown you desire so desperately will make you up your game... maybe the idea of losing to me again will get you fired up so I see a different side to you tonight. But I will warn you right now Taya, you're going to see a different side of me too. At Wrestlemania, I was excited about our match, and determined to win. I got the win, but all it led me to was frustration and disappointment. So now I'm angry, and more determined than ever to prove that I deserve to be the EBWF Women's Champion. For so long in my career, I've been what you are right now in EBWF – just another face on the roster. At Royal Pain, all eyes were on me, but I came up second best. I won't be second best tonight. I will give you and Becky Lynch everything I have... hell, I'll even throw the book at you if I have to. No longer will I be the "fun blue-haired geek who loves books". I am The Librarian, but I am so much more than that. I am a woman who has given everything to the wrestling business, and now I want something in return... GOLD. First it's that golden crown I've got my eye on, and then it's that beautiful gold belt I got my hands on a couple of weeks ago. The next time I touch that title, I want it to be because the referee is handing it to me and raising my arm in victory, while Christy Hemme tells the world "AND NEW". I know I have to take things one step at a time, but tonight I'm going to take a big step forward. That step will involve my boot going into Taya or Becky's face... or better yet, both of them.

Leva grinned, then feinted a Superhero Kick towards the camera. The camera shook as the cameraman flinched, which seemed to amuse Leva. Leva then walked away, humming to herself as the scene drew to a close.