On the far east side of the arena, where mainly interviews and tapings were going on, you found just that. There was a section marked off by velvet ropes like you’d find on the typical Hollywood Red Carpet, in concurrence with the one of the company’s Top-Rated Pay Per Views. Security personnel were placed efficiently along the hallway to make sure the fans pouring in were contained as a scene was being shot. Down the hallway, the rolling cameras were focused on EBWF diva Michelle McCool, who was busy carrying on an exchange with a woman at least half a foot shorter than her.
Woman: It’s compliments of the chef, and the US Cellular Arena. A birthday gift, specially made for you Mrs. McCool!
The lady speaking was wearing the uniform of a pastry chef, minus the tall white hat. The buttoned get up on top was the traditional white, and the slacks were black. Her hair was up in a neat bun, and the apron she wore on top of everything was smattered with all kinds of icing, and powdered sugar and flour.
Michelle’s outfit was a stark contrast to the colorless chef’s. She wore a bright red cocktail dress that stopped a few inches above her knees, with long, laced sleeves. Her blonde hair was down in flowing waves, and her nude Louboutin pumps completed the outfit. It was a special occasion. She going to be entering last in her first Women’s Rumble in EBWF the next evening, and today was her birthday. Needless to say, it appeared she was still in her usual snarky mood.
Michelle: I can’t eat cake. I don’t need the unnecessary carbs, especially before a big match. Does it look like I stuff my face with that garbage, anyway? No thanks.
Chef: Please, just try a slice Mrs. McCool. It’s red velvet, all made from scratch. From the cream cheese icing to the chocolate chips to the message written on it! It will be wonderful, just try it.
All the special “message” had said was a simple Happy Birthday. Michelle was purposefully lagging behind not in much of a hurry, making it look like the chef was leading her somewhere when in reality she was over her head with enthusiasm and traveled at a faster pace. The blonde had stopped in her tracks, and the chef hadn’t noticed and had absent-mindedly continued walking a few more paces.
Michelle: Going somewhere?
Chef: Oh, I let my mind slip for a moment!
She backtracked with the cake held expertly on its silver platter in one hand to Michelle.
Michelle: How about this. I’m going to have an interview. You and that… Wonderful… Cake-thing can come with me and I’ll give it a taste on camera. That’ll be something, right?
The chef was ecstatic, grinning ear to ear. She was pretty young from what it seemed, at least in her 20s. The amount of energy she radiated proved it.
Chef: Are you serious? I get to be on camera with Michelle McCool? AMAZING!
Michelle forced a smile and looked to the camera that was following the two with a completely different, more irritable expression, and started her catwalk again. The smile had slipped away, and in a few moments the pair reached a lighted set where interviewer Renee Young was waiting patiently with a warm smile. The camera angle switched from Michelle and the pastry chef to Renee Young as she began speaking.
Renee Young: Welcome EBWF Universe to the Royal Rumble’s Backstage Access! I’m here with Michelle McCool, and it looks like she’s brought a guest! Would you like to introduce your friend, Michelle?
The camera swept to bring the diva and her “friend” into the view. The young chef was still smiling gleefully, holding the cake platter with both hands now as she stood next to Michelle, who seemed indifferent. She held in a sigh as she allowed herself to gesture to the young lady and then hesitantly pat her on the shoulder as if she didn’t want to touch her.
Michelle: Right, my little “friend.” What’s your name?
She looked over to the chef who still had a smile plastered to her face.
Chef: My name’s Hannah!
Michelle: There you go! This is Anna. Anna very graciously took the time to bake me a birthday cake, courtesy of the US Cellular Arena. I’m absolutely overjoyed. Thrilled. Surprised. You name it…
Her tone was very sarcastic after introducing the chef, which only added more insult since she called her by a completely different name.
Renee Young: Well Happy Birthday to you Michelle! Some could say winning your latest match on Warfare to earn the final entering spot in the Women’s Rumble was a true “birthday gift”. Tomorrow night, you’ll have an opportunity to compete against 13 other diva’s to get a shot at the Women’s Title at Wrestlemania. Any comments on your position in the Rumble, and any plans going into the match?
Michelle: Yeah, Happy Birthday to me. I’ll admit… I’m pretty happy with my current standing. I’m not the least bit surprised, though. I’ve got a very strong chance of winning this thing tomorrow night. And THAT, Renee, will be a real birthday present. First of all, just look at my record so far here in the EBWF. I’m 4 for 4. I ended last year by winning a pay per view match, and I’ll start off the new year by winning a pay per view match. I’m entering last in the Women’s rumble at number 14. That means I’ll be coming fresh out of that locker room after all the other divas will have been prancing around the ring for however long. It’s common sense. They’ll all be tired, the match will be drawing to an end, and I’ll be the one to walk right in and shut everything down without even breaking a sweat.
Renee Young: What about the divas you’ll be competing against? Some are saying that because of their entrance number in the match, you’ll have the chance to square up with Natalya or Trish Stratus, both former women’s champions.
Michelle McCool: And they’re just that Renee… “Former” champions. Look, Natalya hasn’t held the women’s title for years, and Trish? Same thing. If anyone thinks I’m intimidated, they’re wrong. I’m not worried. At least I’ll have SOME form of competition with them being in the match. Judging by the way the division is being represented now by people like Summer Rae and Maria, I doubt things will be much of a challenge anyway.
Renee only nodded.
Renee Young: If you win the Women’s Rumble tomorrow night, you get an opportunity to fight the Women’s champion at EBWF's largest show. Is there any message you have for the current champion, and do you have anything to say about the potential for your first match at Wrestlemania?
Michelle was nodding her head at Renee’s question, hardly noticing the still very excited chef Hannah standing next to her.
Michelle: WHEN, not if, I win the Women’s Royal Rumble, I’ll be on a path that leads straight to the gold at Wrestlemania. Right now, your beloved Angelina Love is Women’s Champion. I hope she hangs on to that title until then. I really do. I’d like the opportunity to go up against her. I feel like that would make for a great match.
Think about it Renee, the Ikedas announcing the card for Wrestlemania, and that match being on it. “Angelina Love vs. Michelle McCool for the EBWF Women’s Title.”
She made a dramatic pause as she motioned with her hands at the sound of her “grand idea”, then allowed her hands to fall back into place, clasped formally in front of her as she looked back to Renee with a smile.
Michelle: Now THAT sounds entertaining. Compare that to a Bella Twin vs. Angelina Love, or Summer Rae, or god forbid Eva Marie. Yeah, in your dreams, ladies. Not gonna happen. Even on paper those matches sound boring. But Angelina and myself? That’ll be a match to remember. But that’s if she can hold on to that belt. Lately she’s been getting a little full of herself sitting on her high horse backstage, not even defending her title. It’s about time someone knocks her down a peg, and it looks like that someone is going to be me.
Michelle shook her head and turned to look at Hannah. She smiled at her before pointing at the cake she held in her hands. Renee simply looked on, still holding the mic in Michelle’s direction.
Michelle: Do you mind if I take that off your hands, Anna?
Hannah nodded vigorously in agreement with the same childish grin and handed it over to McCool, who held it up with both hands for the camera to see. The young lady had not really taken offense to the fact Michelle was clueless as to what her name was, but boldly tried to correct her.
Hannah: Actually, it's--
Once again she was easily pushed over, Michelle interrupting.
Michelle: It’s Red Velvet, has chocolate chips, cream cheese icing. A really nice cake, you know. Flawless!
Then before anything else could be said, in one swift movement Michelle brought the platter with the cake up with one hand and smashed it into Chef Hannah’s face. The crowd surrounding the area reacted noisily and Renee let out a gasp as Hannah stood there frozen, most of the pastry still pasted to her face, the platter crashing to the ground. The cake slowly started falling off in large red clumps until you could see the poor girl blinking the icing away. She wiped some of the remaining dessert off of her face with her bare hands, then let them fall to her sides in a failed attempt as she started crying. Michelle looked at her own hands which had some icing on her fingers, and she reached out to the chef’s apron, wiping them clean on the black fabric before turning back to Renee.
Michelle: Did you see what happened there, Renee? I hope everyone got a little taste of that.
Despite what the diva had just done, she found herself snickering at her own comment, but quickly got back on track.
Michelle: You got a front row seat to this little sideshow! You and Angelina will get a front row seat to the Rumble, too. And I hope she’ll enjoy watching. Your Women’s Champ will be on her ass as usual, on the sidelines drooling instead of getting in on the action… But that’s no matter, she should get rest while she can because she’ll need it. Michelle McCool winning the Women’s rumble will be a metaphorical pie in the face to Angelina Love.. Sadly from here until Wrestlemania, the cookie will start to crumble for her, and I may as well go ahead and say the Beautiful People, because we all know Angelina is carrying Ms. Piggy Sky on her coat tails. Such a shame.
Renee looked uncomfortable, and from time to time had glanced over at the sobbing chef who hadn’t found the nerve to leave the scene. She still stood there miserably, covered in the very cake she had made with her own hands. Many fans were booing loudly as Renee managed to retain a professional demeanor, and tried to continue her interview.
Renee Young: These are some very strong messages Michelle. What will happen if—
Michelle put a hand up to cut off the other blonde.
Michelle: Stop right there Renee, I know exactly where you’re going and I’m not gonna waste your time or my own. You were doing so well with your interview, until you got to the big “What If.” There are no doubts when it comes to my capabilities, Renee. I’m certain I’ll be walking out of this arena with my ticket to Wrestlemania, and I’d like to see who will try and stop me.
It seemed like Michelle was done with the interview. She smiled and patted Renee on the shoulder before turning and looking at the cake-faced arena staff member with a smirk. Before she spoke she belittled her even more by giving scruffing her hair, messing up the only thing that was still neat and in order.
Michelle: Thanks for the cake, girly.
Then the diva left the scene, the younger mess of a woman following in her footsteps with a sniffle and sob, and Renee Young left standing a little shocked. When the camera panned back to her she looked into it, her tone breaking the sorrowful mood that now lingered behind.
Renee Young: ...There you have it ladies and gentlemen, Michelle McCool. Be sure to tune in tomorrow night to watch the EBWF Royal Rumble Pay Per View Live from Milwaukee Wisconsin, and watch as your superstars and divas battle for a chance at championship gold at Wrestlemania!
The scene faded into black as the segment ended.