Triggered

[Cory]

The EBWF logo flashed across the screen, followed by a video package showing a brief preview of the matches for Death Before Dishonor. The camera then opened up on a panel of three EBWF talents in round table format.

Renee Young: Hey there, EBWF fans! Welcome to the EBWF Death Before Dishonor kick-off show! I'm Renee Young and with me are two passionate EBWF fans, and we will be here to help preview the matches coming up tonight. A lot of exciting things going on tonight and my colleagues here will help break them down. First, to my left is the always dapper Corey Graves!

Corey Graves: Renee, I couldn't be more excited about Death Before Dishonor tonight. We've got the start of the King of the Ring tonight! As we move on into the summer months, EBWF will just get hotter and hotter as we move towards crowning the 2017 King and Queen of the Ring!

Renee Young: And to my right is the EBWF's wrestling historian, Matt Striker!

Matt Striker: Thanks, Renee! It truly is a pleasure to be here tonight as we talk about the start of our road to crowning new royalty! We've already had a few first round matches already, and tonight we continue on that path which leads us to June, where a new King of the Ring and a new Queen of the Ring will take their thrones. But that's not all we've got going on today. All of EBWF's singles championships are on the line as well! And some of the contenders are also participants in the tournaments! So it just goes to show that anything can happen.

Renee Young: Indeed, that is true! Tonight, all of EBWF's singles championships are on the line. Seth Rollins takes on Enzo Amore for the Breakout Championship. Samoa Joe and Jimmy Havoc will have a bout for the new Gateway Championship. Natalya rekindles her heated feud with Liv Morgan for the Women's Championship. Finally, Alex Reilly will challenge PJ Black for the World Championship! A lot of exciting matches tonight to talk about, and we have so much to get in to.

Corey Graves: Absolutely, Renee. I think we should start with the women. We've got a few first-round Queen of the Ring matches at Death Before Dishonor, but the match everyone is talking about is the rematch between Number One Contender Liv Morgan, and the Queen of EBWF, Natalya!

Renee Young: Well, it sounds like we know where you stand on the match, Corey.

Corey Graves: Are you kidding me?! Natalya has shown the EBWF Championship a measure of class and civility that it hasn't seen in years. While I must admit I was heartbroken that Eva Marie was unsuccessful in her attempt to win the championship last month, I am still thrilled that Natalya is representing the Women's Division of this company.

Matt Striker: Sure, if you ignore the fact that she insults the fans, takes shortcuts, looks down on everyone, and disowned her own family.

Corey Graves: What does that have to do with anything? She insults the fans because, let's face it - most of them are bottom feeders. It isn't a shortcut if you don't get caught, it's only natural to look down on people when you're at the top of the mountain, and what were the Harts doing for her, anyway? Natalya is truly the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. I think someone said that at some point, but I can't remember who they were so now it's Nattie's.

Renee Young: Well, there's no doubt that these two women have a heated rivalry dating back to the Royal Rumble back in January.

The cut to a video package highlighting the back and forth feud between Liv Morgan and Natalya leading up to their match at Wrestlemania. Liv's Royal Rumble victory, Morgan vandalizing Natalya's car, and the kidnapping of 2Pawz. They cut back to the trio of Striker, Young, and Graves.

Renee Young: Matt Striker and Corey Graves - What are your opinions on this match? Who's got the upper hand? We'll start with you, Matt.

Matt Striker: I've been following Liv Morgan's career for some time, Renee. She's young, hungry, and has limitless talent. She won a star studded Royal Rumble and co-main evented Wrestlemania in only her second Mania appearance with the company. This young woman is on the rise. She wasn't successful in her first bid against Natalya, but if we know anything about Liv Morgan it's that she learns every time she's in the ring. I think tonight is her night. I think Liv Morgan has the advantage here.

Renee Young: Corey?

Corey Graves: You must be utterly delusional, Matt. Natalya is a finely honed weapon. She's the only female to ever graduate from the Hart dungeon.

Renee Young: I thought you said the Harts weren't doing anything for her.

Corey Graves: Try and keep up, Renee. They aren't doing anything for her now. Back then, the Hart Dungeon was the premier wrestling training facility. They ensured that they created the perfect female wrestling machine, and that is the reigning, defending QUEEN of the EBWF, Natalya. It's not hard math, Renee. Natalya and Liv Morgan had a match at Wrestlemania. A street fight. Liv Morgan's specialty. Remind me what happened in that match, dear.

Renee Young: Natalya defeated Liv Morgan and retained her championship.

Corey Graves: Exactly. The rematch? It's a straight up wrestling match! The very stipulation that gave Liv an advantage is gone now! What chances does Liv Morgan have? My pick is Natalya, Renee.

Matt Striker: That may be true, Corey. But there's a variable that you're not taking into account. The x-factor is Liv Morgan. She's been working hard and winning matches ever since Natalya defeated her at Wrestlemania. This is a woman who is just reaching her prime and is ready to step out in front of the women's division. My money is on Liv Morgan tonight.

Renee Young: It's going to be an incredible match, regardless of the winner. I think both women are ready to tear the house down tonight. Liv Morgan has had a lot to say about the reigning Women's Champion, and I caught up with Natalya in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on Friday as EBWF stopped in for a house show. I was interested in seeing if she had a response to Liv Morgan, and the interview, well... went a little awry. Let's check it out.

~~~~~

The camera flashed to an EBWF.net Exclusive graphic in the bottom right corner, then faded into the backstage area of MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Filmed by what appears to be a high-res smartphone camera with a flash, Renee stood alongside the EBWF Women's Champion. Natalya was wearing a dark grey skirtsuit with black leather gloves. In her hands was the Women's Championship belt. Her hair was tied back neatly as she gave a disinterested look at the camera.

Renee Young: Natalya, thanks for meeting me here at the MTS Centre. Tonight you aren't scheduled for a match, however you've stated that you're here to offer your support to the Women's Division, is that correct?

Natalya: That's right, Renee. Being the role model champion I am, I'm here to ensure that the women are properly represented here. There are several fine athletes getting their first shot in EBWF tonight, and I'm going to offer them feedback and advice after their match.

Renee Young: That... actually sounds like a pretty noble goal, Nattie.

Nattie cocked an eyebrow.

Natalya: As if there was any other way to describe me? My goal hasn't ever changed, shortie.

Renee looked at her quizzically, as Nattie was a full one-inch taller than her.

Natalya: My vision for this division is pretty simple. I want the women in EBWF to learn respect for the wrestling industry first, and then enjoy their success second. Unfortunately, too many women were handed the success before learning any respect at all. The perfect example of that is the fact that I had to defend MY Women's Championship against Eva Marie. A girl who was irrelevant until, apparently, a hair color change was enough for EBWF administration to strap a rocket pack to her back and make her number one contender. THAT, RENEE, IS THE BAR WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.

Her face was contorted with anger as she shouted Renee down. Realizing her lack of composure, Nattie cleared her throat and smoothed her hair. She put a hand on Renee's shoulder.

Natalya: This division is in trouble, my girl. These women are in desperate need of a figure to look up to, and that's why I'm here in a terrible city in an equally terrible province. I'm here to ensure that the next batch of women don't turn into Eva Maries. I want them to grow up into Natalyas.

She casually smirked as she pushed her ponytail aside.

Natalya: Obviously, they can't be Natalyas, but they can come close.

Renee Young: Nattie, on Sunday night you face Liv Morgan for a second time. Last time you faced her in a street fight at Wrestlemania, and you were victorious. What's your strategy going into the rematch?

Natalya: What strategy does a lioness have in hunting a gazelle, or a boot have in crushing an ant? It's simply the natural order of things. Liv Morgan had her shot, Renee. She had one bullet left in the chamber and she missed. A street fight? The one match to take me out of my comfort zone? She had it and she let it go. Now it's my turn. No more fighting up the ramp. No more use of weapons. No more stupid gimmicks. It's going to be me, her, and the four corners of the ring. She now walks into MY sanctum, my church. Now I get to educate her on what the Iron Maiden REALLY is all about.

Renee Young: With your victory at Aftermath against Eva Marie, your current reign as Women's Champion has now surpassed your first reign, which was 122 days. Which reign do you feel is more significant to your legacy.

Nattie arched an eyebrow.

Natalya: Hmmm, an actual question from the aspiring journalist. Not bad, Renee.

Renee Young: Thank you.

Natalya: To answer your question, I would have to say that my current reign is the most significant. Not because it's longer, but simply for the fact that when I first won the EBWF Women's Championship, I was an up and comer to this company. I was hungry, I was eager to make a difference. Do you know how important it was to my career that I was able to face Lita at Wrestlemania and defeat her to defend my championship? It was a glorious moment for me. That moment will last forever in the EBWF Archives. However, what I do now with this championship...

She lifted the title up to shoulder height and pushed it towards the camera lens.

Natalya: Is more significant than that ever could have been. What I do now is not for me, it is not for my personal legacy. No, it's for the legacy of this great company. Being the representative of the women's division means more to me than a legendary match ever could. I am teaching women all around the world that they can be brave, and strong, and chase their dreams. Take Liv Morgan for example. That girl couldn't get a camera to focus on her if she was holding it herself. That is of course, until I came into the picture. Once the headlines had the name NATALYA next to Liv Morgan, her stock shot up like a thermometer in Texas.

Renee Young: Surely you must give her some credit for taking the ball and running with it. She's managed to keep the momentum of Wrestlemania and turn it into another title opportunity.

Natalya scoffed, putting her hand up in Renee's face.

Natalya: Blondie, please. Liv deserves no credit for that. Everything that makes her relevant to the business was created by me. Everything that makes her an EBWF SUPERSTAR, all me. That's my commitment to these women. That ungrateful little street urchin should be on her hands and knees, wearing her JORDAAAAAAAAIIIINNZZZZ or however she pronounces it, and she should be thanking me profusely for sharing a little ray of my spotlight with her. In due time, Renee, all of the women will be thankful for my guidance. Unfortunately, Liv Morgan hasn't quite received that memo yet. I'll make sure she gets the message Sunday night, when she'll no longer be able to escape outside the ring.

Renee Young: Well Natalya, Liv has a slightly different opinion on your title reign. When talking about her match last week, she referred to your title reign as, and I'm quoting here, "pointless".

The silence hung in the air like falling glass. Renee swallowed hard as Nattie stared at her blankly.

Natalya: I'm sorry, what?

Renee Young: She called your title reign -

Natalya: I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID.

Renee flinched. Natalya's eye twitched as she stared Renee down.

Natalya: My title reign. This run that's at 154 days and counting. The second title reign of mine compared to her ZERO... is pointless?! Who in the hell does that worthless, low-budget, twerpy, ratchet, pie-faced little cretin thinks she is?

Nattie's fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles were turning white.

Renee Young: Don't kill the messenger. I'm just reporting here.

Nattie roughly snatched the mic from Renee's hand. She stared daggers at the interviewer.

Natalya: Get. Out. This interview is over.

Renee put her hands up in a surrendering gesture and backed away from the camera. The camera then centered in on Natalya who looked straight into the screen.

Natalya: You want to see pointless, Liv? I'll show you pointless. I'll make your entire career pointless when I make sure that all you can do is remain tightly pressed up against the glass ceiling under my feet. As a matter of fact...

Nattie dropped the mic. She walked away from the camera, which followed her from behind as she stormed towards the curtain. Keeping the Women's Championship belt draped over her shoulder, she walked past the production table. In passing, she barked orders at the technicians.

Natalya: Hit my music!

Technician: There's a match going on out--

Natalya: I SAID HIT IT!

The audio technician did as he was told. "Missile" by Dorothy blasted out of the speakers and the Women's Champion punched through the black curtain with an 'X' on it. The camera followed Natalya as she stormed down to the ring in a pair of black pumps. She snarled, ignoring the crowd's jeers as she headed towards the squared circle. Inside the ring, Dori Prange and Jenny Rose were having a tryout match. Dori had Jenny up against the corner in a collar and elbow tie up. They both turned and stared at Natalya as the champ ascended the stairs and stepped into the ring, mic in hand. Nattie took one dismissive look at both potential recruits and brought the mic to her lips.

Natalya: Hello ladies.

She had already slipped out of her pumps and kicked them out of the ring by the time she had finished talking. She dropped her title belt and levelled Jenny Rose with a discus clothesline, causing the fans to react loudly with a mix of cheers and boos. Jenna's neck bounced off the mat and she rolled away clutching the back of her head. Dori Prange charged at Natalya and Nattie side-stepped her, grabbing her by the back of the neck and throwing her over the top rope. Nattie snarled as she looked over the ropes at her handiwork. The crowd was reigning down noise on the Women's Champion, having effectively ended the match they were having. With a look of disdain, Nattie bent down and picked up the microphone and her championship title. She allowed the crowd to drown her out with boos for a full minute as she regained her composure.

Natalya: Let's face it, none of you came to see those two junior idiots scramble around in the ring, looking to score a contract. You came here to see a star, and here I am.

The crowd rained jeers down on the Iron Maiden. Jenny Rose was stumbling up the ramp in retreat.

Natalya: I was going to let them finish their match. I was going to allow those ladies to show their stuff and possibly impress some higher ups. But you know what? I'm done with it. I'm done with ALL of it. I am sick and tired of not being shown the respect I deserve. Do you know what Liv Morgan called my title reign? Do you fools even know?!

Crowd: What?!

Natalya: She called my title reign POINTLESS!

The crowd cheered in response, some pockets of fans attempting to get a "You are Pointless!" chant going. Nattie heard it and fumed.

Natalya: Do you know where I was just a moment ago? I was backstage, being interviewed by Renee Young. I told her that it is my great responsibility to bring up the women of this division and make sure they're the best that they can be. After all, I am the QUEEN of the EBWF! I am wrestling royalty! Who better mentor and guide the women of this company to greatness than me? But guess what, I'm--

Natalya hadn't noticed that Dori Prange had rolled into the ring and charged after her. She leapt up and connected with a missile dropkick to Nattie's back. Nattie lurched forward and hit the turnbuckle chest first. She stumbled backward into an inverted neckbreaker by Prange. The crowd erupted into cheers as Dori raised her arms to the crowd. The cameras rolled on as Dori turned to face Nattie. She measured the Women's Champ as she slowly stumbled up to a standing position. With an athletic leap, Dori leapt up and locked her legs around Natalya's neck. She went for a huracanrana, however Nattie grabbed her waist and planted her with a powerbomb into the turnbuckle, causing a gasp from the crowd. Nattie snarled and lifted Dori's legs, stepping in and twisting her into a Sharpshooter. Immediately Dori began screaming and tapping out frantically. Nattie yelled a few inaudible things at Dori, keeping the hold locked on tight. Finally as the boos from the audience reached their zenith, Nattie released the hold and kicked Dori out of the ring. She grabbed the hair tie out of her ponytail and threw it into the crowd angrily. Picking up the mic, she looked out at the crowd as medical teams ran out to tend to Prange.

Natalya: I'm DONE with it. I'm done with YOU. You lousy ingrates here in Canada should be chanting my name NON-STOP. The fact that you're not shows me that you're a bunch of trashy inbred idiots with no class whatsoever. If Liv Morgan thinks my title reign is pointless, then I am done trying to hold up this failing Women's Division. It's a sad state of affairs when Liv Morgan is the absolute best that this company can offer me as a contender. I tried so hard to be a good person. I tried to bear the responsibility of this championship with dignity, class and respect. But let's be honest, when I'm forced to be in the ring with a hood rodent like Liv Morgan, it's almost impossible not to sink to her level. On Sunday night, I'm going to show Liv Morgan and the rest of those maggots in Calgary that the only thing that's pointless is getting into the ring with the Iron Maiden, the EBWF Women's Champion, NATALYA.

The crowd booed at Nattie's hubris, but she payed it no mind.

Natalya: Boo me all you like, Winnipeg. You may hate me but every single one of you would rather pay to see me than those two rookies that were stinking it up in here. I am the ultimate Women's wrestler. Every move I learned at the dungeon. Every weapon I've incorporated into my arsenal, every painful maneuver that I've ever used in my life, I will bring it to bear on that trash heap from the 201. I... am going to END Liv Morgan, and she will never want to step into the ring again. I will FINISH this pathetic feud. When I'm done with Liv Morgan, I will make sure that her entire tenure in the EBWF will be tidily summed up in one word.

Nattie narrowed her eyes and leaned over the ropes towards the crowd as she brought the mic to her lips.

Natalya: Pointless.

She angrily flung the microphone away as it made a thud on the ringside floor area. "Missile" by Dorothy played in the ring again and Nattie mounted the turnbuckle and raised the EBWF Women's Championship title in the air. She grabbed her pumps and flung them over her shoulder. Ignoring the hostile crowd, she exited up the ramp as the camera faded back to the kick-off show.

~~~~~~

Renee Young: Well, as you can see she had a lot to say about Liv Morgan.

Corey Graves: Natalya is fired up Renee, and I can't wait to watch her twist Liv Morgan up into a pretzel and see her tap out, then go back to New Jersey where she belongs.

Matt Striker: All of that ego that Natalya has evolved over her time as EBWF Women's Champion is going to catch up to her Sunday night, mark my words.

Renee Young: Either way, we're in for a great match at Death Before Dishonor. Natalya and Liv Morgan are sure to bring the house down, both are incredibly talented and ready to fight. Up next, we'll break down all the things that led to PJ Black defending his World Championship against Alex Reilly. Stick around!

The camera faded to black as they transitioned to a quick advertisement for the EBWF.net website.

[Kamden]

I absolutely loved reading this. This character of Natalya's is class and you've written it so well. I think this is my favorite I have read so far.