Natalie Neidhart: Split a chocolate covered long john with me?
Trish Stratus: That sounds good. Sure.
Natalie came back a few moments later with her own coffee and a delicious looking donut. She used a plastic knife to cut it in half, and put Trish’s half on a napkin. Trish happily accepted, sipping on her iced coffee.
Natalie Neidhart: Thanks for inviting me to coffee.
Trish Stratus: I wanted to catch up. You’ve been so busy, Miss Queen of Harts.
She faked a clearing of her throat.
Natalie Neidhart: Ahem. Just “queen” of you don’t mind.
She flipped her hair dramatically.
Trish Stratus: No, no, honey. That’s still me.
They smirked at one another across their lattes.
Trish Stratus: Your title reign is progressing well.
Natalie Neidhart: It is.
Trish Stratus: But no match at that pay-per-view.
Natalie Neidhart: Nope. I mean really what are they going to do? Have me face Liv? Again?
Trish Stratus: Yeah, the women’s booking is less than inspired here lately. Between you and Carmella, poor Liv. She’s at least good, right?
Natalie Neidhart: Liv Morgan? Oh yeah, she’s good. Better than most of ‘em.
Trish Stratus: What the hell happened to Sasha?
Natalie Neidhart: I don’t even know. Complacency I guess.
Trish Stratus: I might know a thing or two about that.
Natalie Neidhart: Yeah, but it’s not like you’ve got anything left to prove. I don’t know what Sasha thought, but it’s gonna take a bit more consistency, you know?
Trish Stratus: I do.
Natalie Neidhart: So are you going to get to why you really invited me out for coffee?
Trish Stratus: You think I have an agenda?
Natalie Neidhart: I think you wanted to get me out of the arena.
Trish Stratus: Oh, please, you were happy to leave.
Natalie Neidhart: I was, but I think you want me to tell Wes that I want to face you at Summerslam.
Trish was mid-bite, a little chocolate on the corner of her mouth as she narrowed her eyes.
Trish Stratus: Oh, Nattie… of course I don’t want you to tell him that!
She shrugged innocently.
Trish Stratus: I simply want you to want that, so his utmost desire is to make you happy and he books it.
That made Natalie laugh and she almost choked on her coffee.
Trish Stratus: I would very much like to face you at Summerslam, but I am far too proud to ask.
Natalie Neidhart: Well I appreciate you not asking me to ask him to do this thing, that you’d actually like to do.
She gave a coy smile.
Trish Stratus: I don’t know. Carmella and Sasha on the other side? I’m probably not going over either of them anyway. It’s silly. This whole tournament is silly. I hate tournament season.
Natalie Neidhart: You hate losing. That’s what you hate.
Trish nodded.
Trish Stratus: Maybe that’s it. It would be nice to face you soon, Nat, but I’m kidding about you mentioning anything to Wes about. I only want it if they want me. I don’t want anyone to be able to say I only got the opportunity because of who I know and who I’m friends with.
Natalie Neidhart: That’s what it is to be a woman in this business, isn’t it? 17-years later and someone will still say you’re only where you are because of who you know.
Trish Stratus: Or who you’re married to.
Natalie Neidhart: I don’t let that bother me anymore.
Trish Stratus: Liar.
Nattie smiled softly.
Natalie Neidhart: Let’s go back over to the arena. I bet CJ would love to see you.
Trish moved to stand up, grabbing her coffee. She’d love seeing him. Together, the women walked back over to the arena.
The scene opened to Trish Stratus, standing in front of an EBWF logoed backdrop. She was match ready, and there was a fierce determination on her face.
Trish Stratus: Alexa Bliss, former EBWF Women’s Champion and the next obstacle on my path to being Queen of the Ring. You must be so thrilled to get to face me so you can brag about the one damn thing you’ve ever done in this company.
Trish rolled her eyes.
Trish Stratus: Yes, you have a very important victory over me. Pinning my shoulders to the mat made you the EBWF Women’s Champion, and then you went on to suffer the agony of defeat against the winner of last year’s King of the Ring, Sasha Banks. I saw the few minutes of tape you decided to record today, and the little message you sent my way, and I totally agree with you, Alexa. There won’t be a rubber match, there won’t be a round three. I intend to win tonight and remove all doubt. Prove to the world that you don’t even have the talent to stand in the same ring with me. You aren’t fit to lick my boots.
She shook her head, determined.
Trish Stratus: You see, Alexa. I don’t really like this whole coming of age, into your own, narrative that seems to have formed around you. The way I see it, right now, I’m the only thing standing in the way of you becoming the Queen of the Ring for the very first time. Wouldn’t that just be a jewel in your crown? Women’s Rumble Winner, former women’s champion, on your way to a big match at Summerslam? If that sounds like a dream, Alexa, that’s because it is. I won’t let it become reality. There’s only room for one queen of EBWF, and the Scream Queen, the Queen of Mean, The Queen of All Red Everything, The Queen of Extreme… oh, honey, I’ve outlasted them all. And tonight, I step over you, to climb my way to the Queen of Harts - and this entire women’s division will bow to me when she’s forced to abdicate her throne.
Trish’s smile spread. She fully believed her words, and walked out of the frame as the camera faded to black.
