Everything seemed to slow down. The hard hit from the bicycle kick did its number, and in that moment, things were calm. Calm in the midst of all this energy. It was out of place. When the crowd erupted once more with satisfaction, she found herself sitting upright, watching what she worked so hard for just walk away. Velvet Sky and Angelina Love were happily celebrating the victory, while just a few feet away Michelle sat, still shocked at what had just happened. When they left, she was still sitting in the ring, obviously disappointed. She rolled out of the ring and began the walk of shame, and when a fan held a hand out for her to high five she ignored it. Simply a part of staying in character, or was it?
When she reached backstage, she found a small TV playing back the final moments of her match. It stung. Or maybe that was the lingering feel of the women’s champion’s boot meeting her jaw. Either way, it hurt. All this time, she’d been the one preaching about putting in hard work and throwing down where it mattered, but even she couldn’t live up to her own expectations.
While all of these thoughts were manifesting, she was brought out of them when a voice called out to her.
Little Miss ‘Chelle still knows how to kick some ass!
It was her older brother Jeff. After everything that’d happened, she’d forgot her parents and her brother made it to the event. Michelle met him with a hug.
Michelle: Did you expect any less from your little sis?
Jeff: Course not. McCool’s know how to play the game.
Michelle shrugged and that seemed to be a hint that something was bothering her. Her sibling picked up on it immediately.
Jeff: Michelle, don’t be bummed out about your match. That was one of your best. Besides if you start crying mom and dad are gonna think I beat you up or something.
He gave her a playful shove which forced her to smile.
Michelle: You’re probably right-- About mom and dad.
She laughed and the two started walking together back to the arena, but despite what was said she still found herself lingering in her prior thoughts.
====================~*~====================
Fast Forward to the following Monday. The EBWF was in Atlanta, Georgia, for the next edition of Warfare. The scene began to roll, with the company logo in the bottom right, showing Michelle McCool sitting at a table outside of a café, looking at a laptop screen intensely. She picked up her drink and took a sip through her straw, before placing the glass back on the table and sitting back in her seat. Shaking her head, she clicked a key again. This time an eyebrow was raised, and again she clicked a key. Something was playing on the screen, but the camera was off to the side and couldn’t get it in the shot, and the diva had the audio muted. She sat forward and squinted at the screen, before once again clicking a key. She finally seemed satisfied, because she sat up straight and took another quick sip of her iced tea before speaking.
Michelle: That’s definitely Bigfoot.
The ice in the glass made a clinking noise as she finished it off, and she waved for a waitress. The camera was still at an angle where Michelle was clearly seen, but only the top of her laptop was in view. When the waitress walked up, Michelle handed her the glass, then looked up at the waitress.
Michelle: Did you know they found another Bigfoot? In plain sight too, would you like to see? I’ve been watching this video over and over, and the more I watch it the more amusing it becomes.
The waitress seemed pretty interested. She leaned over Michelle’s shoulder as the diva once again pressed a key, starting the video. Within seconds the other woman seemed offended, before looking to Michelle and shaking her head, and huffing in a silent upset, then walking away. Michelle held a hand up to her mouth, covering a smirk. At this point the camera came up behind her, and she replayed the footage, this time with audio.
Jim Ross: Botox injection out of nowhere!
There was a loud pop of sound from the speakers of the laptop as the Wrestlemania audience in the video cheered wildly for the finisher. The video was now on a constant loop, showing the women’s champion Angelina Love hitting Michelle with her bicycle kick finisher. From her current seat, Michelle was sitting back, lounging comfortably as she watched the footage play over and over. She reached out and muted the laptop.
Michelle: Did you see it? A rare moment in history: Bigfoot spotted in New Orleans. That’s not very shocking though, the hideous thing probably felt right at home with all the swamp people and bayou breath inbreds that filled up the arena. Needless to say, it was brave enough to walk right into the Mercedes Benz Superdome, into the crusty depths of civilization, and had all eyes on it at Wrestlemania…
In case you dimwits haven’t figured it out, I’m referring to Angelina Love. Talk about that Botox Injection coming out of nowhere. JR was spot on in describing that truly gruesome moment. She pulled her foot out of her mouth and she kicked me in the face. Really, really hard… That foot is so big it’s hard to miss, so not like she really did anything special, you know.. Kicking me… In the face. A three legged horse could kick me in the face, and look prettier than Angelina while doing it.
She forcefully shut the laptop closed, before scooting her chair closer to the table and resting her arms on the platform. The cameraman took the seat across from the blonde. The sun was already shining brightly despite being in the early hours of the day, and it was rather warm. Michelle was twiddling her thumbs, staring at them through her sunglasses before continuing.
Michelle: Tonight, on Warfare, there is a Diva’s Gauntlet Invitational. The reward for the winner? Becoming number one contender for the EBWF Women’s title…
She found herself sitting completely still now, still staring at her hands, which were now clasped together politely. With a quaint clearing of her throat, the next words that came out of her mouth were a stark contrast to her body language.
Michelle: What the hell is this? This is senseless. And STUPID! I set the standard for the rest of the diva’s locker room, go on with this huge build-up into Wrestlemania, and the follow up is letting every other wanna-be-me in the back have an opportunity to get a shot at the women’s title. Let me just go down the list of trash piling up backstage, to really show just how sorry this is. Summer Rae. The Beautiful People’s new lackey. At least she’s moving on up. Newsflash Cabbage Patch, that’s probably the best you’ll get in the EBWF. The day you even get a shot at the women’s title is the day the fish can climb trees. But Summer Rae doesn’t even come close to the worst of it. You have girls like Eva Marie, who could fall on the ground and miss. Or Torrie Wilson. If you stand next to her I swear you can hear the ocean. There’s Natalya and Trish Stratus, but… They’ve been out of the picture too long, so it’s not happening. The Bella Twins, MsChif… I’m not going to even bother continuing, because it’d be a waste of time. There’s no reason making someone seem like a loser when they already prove that themselves.
Michelle was sitting back in her seat again, this time with her arms folded.
Michelle: There is one more person though… You all saw her celebrating with the champion at Wrestlemania. I bet she’s so excited, her fame by association gets to live on just a little longer. Good for you Velvet! Too bad that’s as close to that title you’re ever going to get without it being around your waist. I may have lost at Wrestlemania, but I was much, much closer to getting my hands on that belt than I was far. Angelina, you got lucky. I know that somewhere in that empty, nitwit head of yours, you realize I was damn close. Tonight, I’m going to handle things the way I have been previous to Wrestlemania, and I’ll win another chance to come after you again.
After settling down substantially, Michelle calmly opened her laptop, the screen flashing and bringing back the image of her and Angelina Love. She pressed play and the playback began silently. Even through her sunglasses it was easy to tell she was watching intently. Without breaking her gaze from the screen she spoke.
Michelle: I know exactly what some of you are thinking. “Michelle had her chance, she doesn’t deserve another.” Let’s be real here, has anybody else earned their shot? Did anyone else win the 2014 Women’s Rumble? Have some of these girls on the roster even won a match? Questions to ponder, people. Think about it, but don’t rack your brains too hard. It’s not that serious an issue. All you have to do is sit back and watch me take care of business once more. Only this time, when I do get another chance at the Women’s title, things will be different. A little loss is not going to stop me from continuing my climb to the summit. There won’t be some freak accident like a Botox Injection to put me down. And the same goes for Warfare; things will happen as they’re supposed to. I’ll win, as always, and things will go back to normal. Shame is for the weak. Me? I’m simply... Flawless.
The camera changed angles to catch the area surrounding the cafe, before the scene faded to black with the EBWF logo in the center, marking the end of the segment.
