Standing in my Way
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 6:39 pm
The scene opened backstage at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. Charlotte was making her way through the arena when she was stopped by Matt Striker and a cameraman.
Matt Striker: Excuse me, Charlotte? Can I ask you a few questions about your match tonight?
Charlotte smiled and nodded.
Charlotte: Sure, Matt. Ask away.
Matt Striker: Well Charlotte, later on tonight you'll be going one on one against EBWF's first ever Portuguese superstar, Shanna. What are your thoughts on your opponent?
Charlotte: I don't think much of her, Matt. Not in a disrespectful way – I don't mean I don't like her. I mean I barely know her. I don't know anything about her. I know she's from Portugal, that apparently she speaks more languages than Cesaro, and I know she beat Eva Marie on her debut... that's about all I know. Well, then and I know she's going to get beaten tonight. By me.
Charlotte smirked. Striker continued with his questions.
Matt Striker: Is it more of a challenge going up against someone you don't know, not knowing what to expect?
Charlotte: That's one of those questions that gets asked a lot, and with all due respect Matt, I don't feel like it's relevant. I hear people like Chris Jericho talking about scouting their opponents, but honestly, I never have. I prepare for every match in the same way – I focus on me. I train, I work out, and when I step in that ring, I fight to the best of my ability and I fight to win. As long as I'm focused, it doesn't matter how experienced or well-known my opponent is. What matters is whether or not they can outwrestle me.
Matt Striker: So you haven't researched your opponent, at all?
Charlotte: I'm not Matt Sydal, I can't recite Shanna's Wikipedia page. Although according to a few fans who have tweeted me this week, she doesn't have one. I'm not trying to get a degree in sociology, Matt; I don't need to do "research". What I want is to be the Women's Champion. And do to that, I need to get winning. I need to show Stone Cold Steve Austin and the powers that be that I should get a shot at the Women's Title... the only way to do that is to stand out from the crowd. If I lose, I fade into the distance. If Shanna beats me, she'll stand out as the girl who beat a second generation superstar. I can't let that happen. Once Alexa Bliss has had her rematch, win or lose, I should be next in line.
Matt Striker: That's a bold claim, Charlotte, saying that you should be next in line for a Women's Title match. Aren't you concerned you might upset some of your fellow women's superstars with claims like that?
Charlotte smirked again.
Charlotte: I'm not here to make friends, Matt. I'm here to win championships. It really doesn't matter to me whether my fellow superstars like me or not; I'm far more concerned by whether or not they respect me. Which they do. How could they not? And tonight, when I step into that ring, I'll make sure Shanna respects me too. I will be the EBWF Women's Champion... Shanna is just standing in my way. But she won't be standing tonight, Matt. She'll be laying on the mat in pain, crying out as I lock in the Figure Eight.
Matt Striker: Charlotte, thank you for your time and good luck in your match tonight.
Charlotte: I don't need luck, Matt. All I need is an opportunity to show the world what I can do.
Charlotte walked past Striker, heading to her locker room as the scene faded.
Matt Striker: Excuse me, Charlotte? Can I ask you a few questions about your match tonight?
Charlotte smiled and nodded.
Charlotte: Sure, Matt. Ask away.
Matt Striker: Well Charlotte, later on tonight you'll be going one on one against EBWF's first ever Portuguese superstar, Shanna. What are your thoughts on your opponent?
Charlotte: I don't think much of her, Matt. Not in a disrespectful way – I don't mean I don't like her. I mean I barely know her. I don't know anything about her. I know she's from Portugal, that apparently she speaks more languages than Cesaro, and I know she beat Eva Marie on her debut... that's about all I know. Well, then and I know she's going to get beaten tonight. By me.
Charlotte smirked. Striker continued with his questions.
Matt Striker: Is it more of a challenge going up against someone you don't know, not knowing what to expect?
Charlotte: That's one of those questions that gets asked a lot, and with all due respect Matt, I don't feel like it's relevant. I hear people like Chris Jericho talking about scouting their opponents, but honestly, I never have. I prepare for every match in the same way – I focus on me. I train, I work out, and when I step in that ring, I fight to the best of my ability and I fight to win. As long as I'm focused, it doesn't matter how experienced or well-known my opponent is. What matters is whether or not they can outwrestle me.
Matt Striker: So you haven't researched your opponent, at all?
Charlotte: I'm not Matt Sydal, I can't recite Shanna's Wikipedia page. Although according to a few fans who have tweeted me this week, she doesn't have one. I'm not trying to get a degree in sociology, Matt; I don't need to do "research". What I want is to be the Women's Champion. And do to that, I need to get winning. I need to show Stone Cold Steve Austin and the powers that be that I should get a shot at the Women's Title... the only way to do that is to stand out from the crowd. If I lose, I fade into the distance. If Shanna beats me, she'll stand out as the girl who beat a second generation superstar. I can't let that happen. Once Alexa Bliss has had her rematch, win or lose, I should be next in line.
Matt Striker: That's a bold claim, Charlotte, saying that you should be next in line for a Women's Title match. Aren't you concerned you might upset some of your fellow women's superstars with claims like that?
Charlotte smirked again.
Charlotte: I'm not here to make friends, Matt. I'm here to win championships. It really doesn't matter to me whether my fellow superstars like me or not; I'm far more concerned by whether or not they respect me. Which they do. How could they not? And tonight, when I step into that ring, I'll make sure Shanna respects me too. I will be the EBWF Women's Champion... Shanna is just standing in my way. But she won't be standing tonight, Matt. She'll be laying on the mat in pain, crying out as I lock in the Figure Eight.
Matt Striker: Charlotte, thank you for your time and good luck in your match tonight.
Charlotte: I don't need luck, Matt. All I need is an opportunity to show the world what I can do.
Charlotte walked past Striker, heading to her locker room as the scene faded.