A True Fighter

[Ben M]

OOC: First of all, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Kamden for writing the opening scene with me... I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it! Permission was given for the other characters that appear in this RP. Good luck Cory, it's been a pleasure :)

It was strange how a tongue in cheek tweet had led to Wade Barrett getting an invite to Dinner with the Divas, but here he was. Sasha Banks had asked him to go as her date, and Barrett was all too happy to accept. Although Barrett was single, he had little romantic interest in Sasha - he’d barely spoken to her since she’d joined the EBWF, so in truth Barrett didn’t really know what Sasha was like. All he knew was that there seemed to be a running joke in the EBWF locker room that Sasha was the dumbest person on the Roster... but Barrett was approaching their “date” with an open mind, and he was looking forward to socialising with his fellow EBWF superstars at this important charity event. Barrett knew that being a part of these fundraisers was a good way to impress the higher ups of EBWF, and get yourself noticed as a company player. As Barrett entered the Vango Skybar, the first thing he noticed was the impressive chandelier in the center of the room.

Wade Barrett: Nice place.

Sasha Banks: Yeah, it’s so dreamy. I never thought I’d get to be in a place like this. It’s so... bougie!

Sasha Banks had only signed with the company a few months ago, and was excited to be a part of such prestigious events like Dinner with the Divas. She was also very flattered to have someone like Wade Barrett to escort her. It was a dream come true. She turned and looked up at him; their difference in height was immense, but she didn’t mind.

Sasha Banks: You know, that suit looks good on you. So phat.

Barrett looked at her, puzzled.

Wade Barrett: Are you saying I look fat?

He looked down at himself, suddenly feeling a tad self-conscious.

Sasha Banks: Um, no silly. It’s p-h-a-t. Phat. Like, it looks really nice. Trust me, you’re nowhere near fat.

Wade Barrett: That’s good to know.

He smiled warmly and looked down at Sasha, who was wearing a black and gold cocktail dress.

Wade Barrett: You look lovely in that dress.

Sasha smiled too; she’d never known someone with fashion sense as great as hers.

Sasha Banks: Thank you, it’s Calvin Climb.

Barrett wasn’t sure if he’d misheard Sasha, or if she’d just made one of her infamous Freudian slips. Either way, he decided not to question it. Sasha linked arms with him, and the two of them headed to the bar.

Wade Barrett: Would you like something to drink?

Sasha Banks: Oh, thanks, but no thanks. I’m trying to watch my figure.

Her statement was a little ironic, considering how tiny she already was, especially next to a 6 foot 7, former bare knuckle fighter. Barrett nodded, and ordered himself a beer.

Sasha Banks: You have a nice accent. Where are you from again?

Wade Barrett: Preston, it’s in the north-west of England. I’m hoping to visit there for Christmas, but I haven’t decided yet.

Sasha squealed excitedly, much to the surprise of Barrett.

Sasha Banks: Oh. My. G. I’m from England too! Boston, actually. I don’t think that’s anywhere near Preston, though. I’ve never even heard of it.

Barrett couldn’t stop himself from cringing, but he tried to remain polite. He was likely to be at the Dinner with Sasha for at least a couple of hours... insulting or offending her would make for an uncomfortable evening.

Wade Barrett: I’m sorry, I meant England... not New England. The United Kingdom.

Sasha Banks: Oh. well, they’re basically the same. United States, United Kingdom. Tomato, potato...

She shrugged and smiled at him innocently. She had no idea what she was talking about, and had no idea she’d already embarrassed herself for a lifetime in just a few short minutes. Though exasperated, Barrett was able to hold his tongue by taking a sip of his beer. As the two of them walked away from the bar, one of the EBWF photographers stopped them.

Photographer: Can I get a picture of the two of you?

Wade Barrett: Of course.

Barrett placed his drink on a nearby table, then put his arm around Sasha and smiled for the camera. As the photographer thanked him, and moved on, he picked up his drink and took another sip, contemplating what to say to Sasha. He was worried about how frustrated he would get if she continued to make dumb comments.

Wade Barrett: So are you excited for Fanniversary tomorrow night?

Sasha Banks: I’m sooo excited! Even though I don’t have a match. But you do! Bad News Barrel going up against Brock Lesnar. That seems kind of scary. I don’t think I’d be able to go through with it.

Wade Barrett: Well, thankfully I don’t think they’ll be putting you in a match with Brock Lesnar any time soon.

Barrett smiled, trying to make sure Sasha knew he was joking - the last few minutes had taught him to make no assumptions with this girl.

Wade Barrett: To be honest, I know Brock is a tough opponent, but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve heard that he works quite stiff, which makes sense given his MMA background, but I’m sure I can give as good as I get.

Sasha nodded, agreeing with Barrett.

Sasha Banks: He does seem stiff. He’s like a boulder. I don’t even know how he walks around honestly. It looks like his shoulder muscles are trying to suffocate him. I know you can beat him!

Wade Barrett: Well, let’s hope so. Either way, I’m happy to be on the card, especially against a big opponent.

There was a bit of an awkward silence as both diva and superstar couldn’t seem to find any words. Barrett took another sip of his beer and Sasha started looking around the area, and her eye caught someone else's.

Sasha Banks: Summer! You look so good boo!

Summer Rae made her way to the polar duo of Sasha and Wade Barrett. She too was dressed exceptionally, and seemed to feel right at home.

Summer Rae: Aw thanks, you look amazing too. As always! And look at you, moving on up. You’ve got some nice arm candy too.

Summer waved at Barrett, and laughed slightly with Sasha. Summer Rae was another EBWF diva that Barrett hadn’t ever really interacted with, so he felt a little awkward making small talk with her.

Wade Barrett: Are you having a good evening, Summer?

Summer Rae: I am actually, thanks for asking. My date is just over at the bar right now. I'm not sure if either of you have met him.

She stood next to Sasha and pointed out in front of them. Both Sasha and Barrett squinted, trying to identify the man Summer was talking about.

Sasha Banks: Um, Summer... That guy is basically the same height as you...

Summer nodded and smiled dreamily.

Summer Rae: Yes, I know. And he's perfect. Even his name is romantic. "Enzo Amore." It's Italian. I can bring him over here if you two want.

Sasha started shaking her head before looking up to Barrett for a little help.

Wade Barrett: To be honest, we should probably get a table and decide what we’re having for dinner. I’m sure we’ll have time to meet Enzo later...

It seemed for the first time that evening Wade Barrett and Sasha Banks landed on the same page. Sasha made sure to say goodbye to Summer, and waved at her as she walked off to meet her date. Barrett pulled out Sasha’s chair for her, allowing her to sit down, before taking his seat. He then began to look at the menu. Sasha looked over hers as well. It was quiet for a few moments until Sasha looked a little shocked.

Sasha Banks: Um… What’s chocolate mouse?

Barrett couldn’t suppress a grin.

Wade Barrett: I think it’s pronounced “mousse”, and it’s basically a chocolate yoghurt. No mice involved, I promise.

Sasha Banks: “Mousse?” Why would people name food after animals when they aren’t even in the recipe. Tuh.

She shook her head, seriously offended.

Sasha Banks: You know a lot about this fancy stuff.

Wade Barrett: What can I say, I eat out a lot. It’s hard not to when you’re constantly on the road. I must admit though, it’s rare that I eat somewhere as fancy as this...

Sasha Banks: So you know a lot about fancy stuff, and I know a lot about fashion, we’d be like the baddest critics ever... But like, good at what we do!

Wade Barrett: Indeed. Although I’d imagine my reviews could be “Bad News” for some of the restaurants I visited...

Sasha laughed at Barrett’s joke, and Barrett laughed along with her. Maybe it was because she wasn’t talking as much during dinner, or maybe she’d just found her groove, but as the evening went on, Barrett forgot all about Sasha’s slip ups earlier in the night, and found himself enjoying her company. They had also been able to avoid meeting the “romantic” Enzo Amore, although Barrett was still intrigued as to why Sasha had been so reluctant to meet him. After dinner, Barrett and Sasha mingled with their fellow superstars, and the charity representatives in attendance. Barrett spotted Joanne Micklewright, the Head of Wishgranting for Make A Wish UK, and went over to talk to her. He had met her earlier in the year, when granting a wish. As she spotted him, Joanne smiled and waved at him.

Joanne Micklewright: Stu! How are you?

Wade Barrett: I’m very well thanks, and you? Are you enjoying yourself?

Joanne Micklewright: Yes, it’s been wonderful. I’m so grateful to EBWF for flying me over, I couldn’t believe it when they invited me!

Barrett could tell from Sasha’s body language that she was waiting to be introduced.

Wade Barrett: Joanne, this is Mercedes, better known as Sasha Banks. I’m her date this evening. Sasha, this is Joanne Micklewright, from the Make A Wish Foundation.

Joanne Micklewright: Lovely to meet you!

Sasha Banks: Nice to meet you too! I have to say, I think the Make A Wish Foundation is a wonderful charity. It’s something I’d like to get involved in!

Joanne Micklewright: Oh really?

Sasha Banks: Absolutely! I’m really interested in being a part of it. I’ve always wanted to do a skydive, and I was hoping Make A Wish could make that happen!

Joanne looked at Sasha, confused.

Joanne Micklewright: What do you mean?

Barrett was afraid of what Sasha might say next, and quickly stepped in to save the situation.

Wade Barrett: She means as a fundraising activity. We were talking earlier about ways to raise money for Make A Wish, and Sasha mentioned that she’s always wanted to skydive. I suggested that she could do a sponsored skydive, and donate the money raised to Make A Wish. Right, Sasha?

Barrett gave Sasha a look that made it clear she was to agree with him, and to Barrett’s relief, Sasha understood.

Sasha Banks: Yeah.. Totally. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

Sasha didn’t have as much enthusiasm as before, but still maintained a professional attitude. She had in fact meant that she wanted to go skydiving herself. That’s what Make A Wish did, grant wishes for people. And skydiving was a dream of Sasha’s.

Joanne Micklewright: Oh, wonderful! That’s a great idea! If you’re doing it in America, you’re probably best off talking to Kathy. She does most of the work with EBWF, so she can help you organise and promote it. She’s over there...

Joanne pointed out Kathy, who was talking to John and Danielle Cena at the time. Barrett nodded.

Wade Barrett: Great idea... she looks busy right now, but I’m sure we’ll catch up with her later. Take care, Joanne.

Barrett gave Joanne a friendly but professional embrace, then grabbed Sasha by the hand and walked her away before her mouth got her in any more trouble.

Wade Barrett: You are unbelievable.

It seemed like that had been the last of the mishaps Sasha would get away with.

Sasha Banks: I know. That was just amazing! She seemed so impressed with us!

She was completely oblivious to Barrett’s tone. He didn’t seem to be impressed at all. Barrett shook his head, and took a deep breath to try and calm himself. There was a part of him that wanted to berate Sasha, but he knew that if he did that here, in front of so many important people, the consequences could be catastrophic as far as his career was concerned. He kept his voice low, trying to make sure they weren’t overheard by anyone.

Wade Barrett: You almost embarrassed both of us there. Make A Wish don’t just grant wishes for anyone, you know... they grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. I can’t even imagine how that women would have reacted if she knew what you really meant about going skydiving. Don’t you ever think before talking?

Sasha looked like she was about to cry. Her eyes glazed over a bit, but when she spoke her voice didn’t sound anywhere near as vulnerable as she looked. She kept her voice hushed as well, but judging by the way she looked, it was obvious she was upset.

Sasha Banks: Excuse me? I don’t know who you think you are just talking like that. Why is it even such a big deal anyway? You stole the moment anyway and everything is just peachy. Excuse me for trying to be polite and make conversation. Tuh. I thought you were different than all the other guys. Guess not.

As soon as she finished her part, she stormed off as fast as her stilettos would let her, which unfortunately wasn’t very fast. She managed to keep her composure the entire way out of sight. Barrett sighed to himself. Part of him wanted to go after her, but for the most part he was relieved to be free of her for the evening. Barrett waited around for a few minutes in case anyone had noticed Sasha walking away from him, then headed for the exit.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The morning after Dinner with the Divas, Wade Barrett received a text message from Stephanie McMahon, inviting him to cut a promo in front of the live crowd on the Fanniversary pre-show. The message made the drama of last night seem worthwhile. Barrett had asked Stephanie about getting a spot on the pre-show a few days earlier, and her response had been vague. She had several ready-made excuses, such as being unsure about the time constraints and not knowing what else was planned for the pre-show. Barrett had been almost certain that she was politely telling him no, and in Barrett's mind, the only reason she could have changed her mind now was due to his appearance at Dinner with the Divas. If Stephanie or anyone else on the EBWF management team ever found out that Barrett had stopped Sasha Banks from asking one of the Make A Wish representatives to grant her wish of going skydiving, he was sure they'd be offering him a lot more than five minutes on the pre-show... but Barrett was planning on keeping that faux pas to himself, and for now a spot on the pre-show was gratitude enough. Besides, given that his pay-per-view match with Brock Lesnar had literally come out of nowhere, like an RKO in a Vine post, it made sense to give it some sort of promotion, albeit just before the pay-per-view when anyone who was going to buy the show would likely have already done so. Wanting to keep up the good impression that he believed he had made last night, Barrett arrived at Wells Fargo Center two hours before the talent final call, which meant he had to wait almost six hours before getting his five minutes of pre-show fame... but as soon as his music hit, and Barrett stepped out in front of the live crowd, he knew that every minute of twiddling his thumbs backstage had been worth it. If the crowd were this excited now, how would they react when he took on the Beast Incarnate later in the night? Barrett couldn't wait to find out, and he grinned to himself as he made his way down the ramp. As Barrett entered the ring, he took a microphone from ring announcer Justin Roberts, then as his music was cut, Barrett began to speak.

Wade Barrett: Good evening, Philadelphia. I have some good news for you! Tonight is a very special occasion. Tonight, history will be made. Because tonight, there will be a battle for the ages. The Beast Incarnate versus the Bare Knuckle Brawler. Tonight, for the first time ever the world will see Wade Barrett take on Brock Lesnar!

The smugness in Barrett's voice caused some boos from the crowd, which is what he was hoping for.

Wade Barrett: What an ungrateful reaction, though I guess I should expect no less from a pack of Pennsylvanian ingrates. You people are in the presence of true greatness, and you don't even realize it. But who knows, maybe after tonight, when I've given Brock Lesnar a beating worse than the one he received from Cain Velasquez four years ago, you'll understand that you don't need to be involved in MMA to be a true fighter. Either way, as long as I'm standing here victorious when it's all said and done, I don't really care what you think of me.

Barrett turned to face the camera, addressing Brock Lesnar directly.

Wade Barrett: How long has it been, Brock? When was the last time you stepped into this ring? Was it back in June, when you lost to that weedy loudmouth good-for-nothing, The Miz? Were you too ashamed to face anyone after that? I can't say I blame you, but I thought you might have more pride than to sit at home, cashing your paychecks. When the EBWF doesn't book me on one of their shows, I do anything and everything I can to make sure I'm booked on the next one. What have you been doing since June, Brock? Have you considered trying out for a football career again? Are you still complaining that you want to be a UFC fighter, and that there's no justice in the world because the fact that you had diverticulitis means your MMA days are over? I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you, Brock... you're more ungrateful than the whole of Pennsylvania!

The crowd booed, and Barrett laughed to himself before continuing.

Wade Barrett: At the risk of stating the obvious, you and I are very different people, Brock. Unlike you, I'm able to talk for myself - I don't need a mouthpiece. And while you spent your younger years wrestling for the University of Minnesota, I was a champion bare-knuckle boxer who made a name for myself across Europe. But the biggest difference of all Brock, is that I know what it means to be a professional wrestler. I don't take it for granted in the way that you do. Be honest with me, Brock. In fact, be honest with yourself. If Dana White called you up right now and offered you a spot in UFC, would you take it? You know you would, and that's why it frustrates me to see you rolling in after four months off, being booked against me as one of the star attractions of the EBWF, and probably getting paid a damn-sight more than me too. And you know what? I don't care about the money, because that's not what motivates me. I'm driven by a desire to be the best in this business. What drives you, Brock? Is it the money? Or does professional wrestling fill the void for you now that your MMA days are behind you? I can tell you right now Brock, if I got injured tonight and couldn't be a professional wrestler any more, nothing would ever be able to fill that void. That's what bothers me, Brock - that to you, wrestling is just a job, but to me it's my life.

The crowd had gone very quiet; it was as if they were hanging on Barrett's every word. It wasn't clear whether or not Barrett had noticed, but either way he continued talking.

Wade Barrett: I'll never be a mixed martial artist, Brock... but I am a fighter. I spent a lot of years fighting with nothing more than my fists, and there's a 12 inch scar on back that reminds me of the time that I literally had to fight for my life one night in Budapest. I've earned my spot on the EBWF roster; I haven't coasted here after a failed football career and an underwhelming three years in UFC that made you a household name, and therefore a draw in the wrestling world that you turned your back on ten years ago. I'd like to ask a question to your mouthpiece, Paul Heyman. I know you two have been friends for a long time. Were you there, Paul, the night that Brock signed away his livelihood? Did he talk to you at all about how he was so confident that he would be a star in the NFL, that he was willing to sign a six-year no-compete clause, preventing him not just from wrestling, but from working for any sports entertainment or MMA companies? I know being a good businessman was never your forte, Paul, but even you must have realized what a foolish move that was. It's a good thing you had good lawyers, Brock, otherwise you would have had to come crawling back to a wrestling career a lot sooner. Do you know how many wrestlers would have jumped at the opportunities you've had, Brock? Most wrestlers would have done anything to get just one of the chances you got, but you probably think you're entitled to them. Those are the people I'll be fighting for tonight, Brock... the people you stepped on to get to the top, while you were taking everything for granted and trying to be successful as anything other than a professional wrestler. It's a shame you weren't around when the XFL was, Brock... you would have been perfect for it.

Perhaps Barrett wanted to interact with the crowd more, or maybe he was just tired of staring into the camera. Either way, he looked away from the camera and began pacing around the ring.

Wade Barrett: I still remember when Brock Lesnar signed for the EBWF... no one expected it, and everyone was shocked when he won the World Title just weeks before WrestleMania. It was yet another example of Brock Lesnar being handed an opportunity he hadn't earned... it was probably a clause in his contract, a WrestleMania main event spot if he signed up before the end of February. He was a prominent figure on EBWF television for two short months, then he went back to the luxury of his part-time schedule. And now, at one of the biggest pay per views of the year, Brock Lesnar is back. That's what everyone has been talking about this week. There's been very little mention of me, his opponent. One of the men who's here every week, whether I'm booked to be or not. The closest I've come to the World Title is countless shots at the PTG Title. Even Bray Wyatt has had a World Title shot before me... what is the world coming to? But if you think that Wade Barrett is going to take all this lying down, then I've got some bad news for you, because you're sorely mistaken. Tonight, I'm going to send a message. A message to Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman, John Cena, and everyone else backstage who's working against me. I'm going to introduce Brock to the Bad News Bull Hammer tonight, and after that I'm going after John Cena and the World Title. And if anyone gets in my way, there'll be a Bull Hammer for them too!

"Rebel Son" blasted over the PA system once more, and Barrett exited the ring. As he made his way up the ramp, he could hear half of the crowd chanting his name, while the other half chanted "Barrett Sucks!" The mixed reaction from the crowd reminded Barrett of the old cliché that the only thing worse than being talked about was not being talked about. Barrett hoped that his comments in the ring had got people talking, and he was sure that when he stepped into the ring with Brock later, he could put in the sort of performance that would have people talking a whole lot longer.