My time.

[Cory]

Heavy breathing. Clutching her shoulder. Natalya had a displeased scowl on her face as she watched Sasha Banks and Summer Rae celebrate in the ring from her lower vantage point at the ringside area. She felt the sharp sting in her back, no doubt leftover from Sasha Banks' Banks Statement submission hold, a move she noted that Sasha cinched in a little more tightly than usual. Nattie angrily barked orders at the referee to fetch her title belt, so she could retreat up the ramp as Sasha's music played loudly in the background. Nattie's hair was a mess from her match, a product of selling Sasha's offense. All in all it was a successful match that achieved its purpose. It was all a nice way for their go-home segment to end, allowing Sasha Banks to stand tall, and appear as a credible threat to her championship title. The lights went out as a video package began playing in the arena, coinciding with the network commercial break. Nattie used the darkness to head back up the ramp a little more rapidly. She headed through the curtain , clutching her Women's Championship to her chest. There was some sporadic clapping from some of the staff and other women's wrestlers after the completion of the match. One notable participant was Paul Heyman, who had removed his headset to applaud her. Nattie rolled her eyes as she removed the ties in her hair to let it all fall down and allow her to tie it back up in a simple pony tail, balancing her title belt over her shoulder.

Natalie Neidhart: Don't make such a big deal about it, Paulie.

Paul Heyman: You made two women look strong out there, and did it exactly within the amount of time we needed. Nowadays, that deserves applause.

Natalie Neidhart: Tell me about it.

Paul Heyman: Actually, mind if I borrow you for a moment before you hit the showers? I wanted to chat with you a little bit during the break so I can be out here for the main event.

Natalie Neidhart: Sure.

Nattie finished tying up her hair and followed Paul a little deeper into the backstage area set up for EBWF at the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas. WIth nowhere to put her title belt, Nattie wrapped it around her waist backwards so she could snap it on, then turned it around to face the correct way, freeing her hands. Paul casually leaned against the wall in an area where few people were walking around.

Paul Heyman: So, you've had quite the run so far with that gold. Quite the little Christmas miracle.

Having won the title at Christmas Eve of Destruction, Natalya and Paul has joked that her run was a Christmas miracle since very few people expected her to win it, much less carry it through the majority of the year. The storyline that had her defend it against the likes of Velvet Sky and two matches against the hot up and comer in Liv Morgan had been a happy accident that just seemed to click.

Natalie Neidhart: I agree, best run of my career.

Paul Heyman: 240 days. 246 if you retain against Sasha. You know what that means, don't you?

She nodded knowingly.

Natalie Neidhart: Means I'm about due for my own custom belt.

Paul shook his head with a faint smirk.

Paul Heyman: Come on.

Natalie sighed.

Natalie Neidhart: Means I'll defend at Destiny. I'll tie Trish's record, and if I win there I break it.

Paul nodded.

Paul Heyman: You ready for that?

Natalie Neidhart: If it happens. I've got Sasha next week first. It's a great story, you know. She comes back after a hiatus, reclaims the belt I beat her for. Right up your alley, Paulie.

Paul Heyman: That's true. But if you do make it past Banks on Sunday, the die is cast. We'll need to have a conversation about--

Natalie Neidhart: Ah ah ah. No, Paul. That's not my job.

Paul Heyman: You don't even know what I'm about to say.

Natalie Neidhart: I know exactly what you're about to say. You want me to talk to Trish about it. If I get past Sasha on Sunday, you want me to set the table for you.

Paul Heyman: Now that's not fair.

Natalie Neidhart: Am I wrong?

Paul opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.

Natalie Neidhart: I knew it.

Paul Heyman: Look. You know Trish. If that's the direction we decide to go, I think it would be easier coming from you.

Natalie Neidhart: First off, Trish will always protect her stuff when it makes sense. That's never going to change. Not for me, not for you, not for anyone. Second, it's not my job. I'm not going to politic my best friend to make your job easier. If you are thinking about breaking Trish's record, you are going to have to talk to her about it.

Paul Heyman: OK, OK.

Heyman put his hands up in surrender.

Paul Heyman: You know, you don't play that card very often.

Natalie Neidhart: Because I know this is you asking, and not Wes asking through you. Wes wouldn't have a problem telling Trish or anyone else the finish.

Nattie glared at him for a minute.

Paul Heyman: Alright, fair enough. Listen, I'm going to book you some time on the kick-off show to get your last words in before your title match against Sasha, okay? Give us something... unexpected.

Natalie rubbed her chin in thought. A smile came across her face.

Natalie Neidhart: I have just the idea. Got a phone call to make. Go get back to your show.

Paul nodded. Nattie patted him on the shoulder and walked off towards the locker rooms. Paul looked on after her, deep in thought.

Sunday, August 27th, 2017
Moda Center - Portland, OR

The kick off show was in full swing. The Summerslam crowd was already mostly filled in after a dark match had taken place. The sold out stadium could fit over 19,000 people, and they were all anxious to see a great show. Between matches, Renee Young stood up from her position at the analyst booth and walked down the ramp, picking up a mic on her way. She stepped into the ring and walked to the dead center. As her mic went live and her picture popped up on the jumbotron, she smiled big as the crowd cheered.

Renee Young: Hey, Portland! Who's ready for Summerslam?!

The crowd that had taken their seats cheered enthusiastically.

Renee Young: Tonight is going to be an incredible night, for sure. I am so excited to see PJ Black defend his EBWF World Championship against Jimmy Havoc! Or how about the Miz taking on Samoa Joe for the Gateway Championship! And Natalya defends her Women's title against the woman she defeated to earn that championship, Sasha Banks!

The crowd cheered at the mention of "The Boss".

Renee Young: I hope you guys are as jazzed about this show as I am. Summerslam is absolutely jam packed with excitement. I am also excited to be in the ring right now, as we're going to hear from someone who's defending their Championship tonight! Joining me in the ring is a celebrated wrestling technician, a 2-time Women's Champion, and she will take on Sasha Banks tonight, ladies and gentlemen please welcome NATALYA!

The crowd in attendance booed as "Missile" by Dorothy blasted out of the speakers. Natalya appeared from behind the curtain, in her fully black wrestling gear. Her hair was pulled back, and the Women's Championship was clasped around her waist. She raised her arms in celebration to the crowd that was mostly unwelcoming to her presence. Completely ignoring that, she headed down the ramp, waving at the booing fans as if they were adulating subjects of hers. She got into the ring and mounted the turnbuckle, once again taunting the fans and letting the jeers wash over her before dismounting and walking up to Renee Young.

Renee Young: Natalya, you have--

Renee paused and looked around as the crowds boos got louder and louder. Natalya seemed completely indifferent to the reaction she was getting.

Renee Young: Natalya, tonight you have a match in which you defend your Women's Championship against the woman who you took it from back at Christmas Eve of Destruction last year. Are you prepared for this match?

Natalya leaned in as Renee moved the mic towards her.

Natalya: Let me just say that I am so glad I'm in Portland, Oregon! Whenever I'm not able to be in literally any other city in the world, this is where I am.

Unsurprisingly, the crowd did not take well to that remark.

Natalya: But to answer your question Renee, I have never been more prepared in my life. When you're the most dominant Women's Champion that this company has seen in over seven years, basically since the last time I held this title, your entire life is devoted to being prepared for your next match. You see, the thing a lot of people like to gloss over about me is that I have always been, and always will be, the hardest working woman in the EBWF. People like to think that because I'm arrogant, or full of myself, that it's because I'm blustering to hide the fact that I'm not as good as I think I am. Well, I hate to give you a reality check, but I'm every bit the dominant female athlete that I say I am. It's not bluster if you back it up every time you're in the ring, and I back it up. Even with all of the important work I do for this company; press conferences, charity events, and hobnobbing with elites, I still find time to think about the fact that Sasha Banks has the unmitigated gall to just stroll into the Queen of the Ring tournament and think that she can take me on. Ha! And people call me arrogant.

Renee Young: You do have to admit Natalya that any time a Woman is victorious in the Queen of the Ring tournament to earn herself a shot at the championship at Summerslam, they clearly must have worked hard to earn it.

Nattie's head snapped in the direction of Renee Young. An indignant smirk curled up on her lips.

Natalya: Earned it? Sasha Banks earned her match? To borrow a non-existant word from my opponent, "Tuh."

She almost spat the word out in disgust.

Natalya: Who did Sasha Banks beat? Velvet Sky? Zahra Schreiber? Carmella? Trish Stratus?! Are you kidding me? Has beens and never-will-bes, the entire lot of them. Sasha could have been brain-dead, and sometimes I wonder if she actually is, and she still would have coasted through that pile of trash like it was nothing at all. So, don't come to me with this idea that she's earned anything. She hasn't. I've earned this.

Natalya unclasped her championship belt and raised it in the air.

Natalya: I've earned this championship. I beat Sasha Banks, fair and square, in the middle of the ring. Tapped her out in front of the entire world to see. That's what I earned. And then what did I do? I went on to defend this title every single month for 8 months. I have had this championship for 246 days, and I've cut a swath of destruction through the Women's division, just like I promised I would. If anyone has earned anything, it's me. Sasha Banks is probably back there, thinking that this is some nice, poetic little return to glory for her. Losing the title, and then getting another shot at redemption. A tournament win to be granted a match against the very same woman that beat her. It's a cute story. Maybe one day, someone will make a movie out of it, and they'll cast Zooey Deschanel as "The Boss". And just like Sasha Banks' career, it will be box office poison. Here's the real story, Renee. The real scoop. I'm going to come out here tonight and once again prove why I am the best female athlete in wrestling today.

Renee Young: Natalya, if you defeat Sasha Banks tonight, it is very likely that you will go to Destiny as champion, and you will tie Trish Stratus' record for the longest Women's Championship reign in EBWF history. What are your thoughts on that accomplishment?

Natalya: The title reign is a number, Renee. Held by a woman who has no legacy left to protect. She is not my primary focus tonight. My focus is on one thing. Robbing Sasha Banks of her charming cinderella comeback story. There will be plenty of time to gloat about my title reign later. As any respectable champion would, I am going to take the high ground. I could sit here and talk about how Sasha Banks is a trashy, ratchet little beanpole who should be on her knees THANKING me for paving the way for women like her to even earn a paycheck. I could be saying those things, but I won't.

Renee Young: You... kind of just did.

Natalya: I am a world class champion, Renee. Sasha is not. A Sasha Banks title reign would bring embarrassment and disgrace to a championship that has enjoyed a resurgence of prominence in the last 7 months. Sasha Banks may believe that trotting out an aging rapper every week to make her look important is what EBWF fans are looking for, but she is sadly and hilariously mistaken. What brings prominence to this championship is the actions you perform inside these ropes. And when it comes to the actions in the ring, I am the beginning and the end of that conversation. The Alpha and the Omega.

Renee Young: Have you considered the fact that Sasha Banks may want this title win as much, if not more than you do? I mean, what happens if you... lose?

Natalya's eyes narrowed into slits as she stepped towards Renee with a look of utter disbelief.

Natalya: Excuse me?

Renee Young: I said...

She didn't even get a chance to finish her sentence. Natalya pushed Renee hard in the chest, which caused the diminutive interviewer onto the mat. She has a look of shock, but didn't have much time as Nattie quicky leaned down and picked up her ankles. Before anyone could react she had stepped in and turned Renee over into the Sharpshooter. The defenseless EBWF correspondant shrieked in agony, trying as hard as she could to get herself out of this predicament, but it was no use. Natalya had the hold locked on tight. Natalya was yelling towards the cameraman, words that were picked up by mics in close vicinity.

Natalya: I'm the CHAMPION! You ready for this Sasha?! You don't stand a chance against me!

The crowd rained boos down on the Champion as referees stormed out from behind the curtain and bolted down to the ring. They slid in and all grabbed Natalya's arms, barking at her to release the hold and attempting to pry her from her grip on the hapless woman. Natalya's muscles bulged slightly as she put every ounce of her power into the hold.

Natalya: Scream for me!

Natalya leaned back further until the referee staff finally managed to snake their arms around Natalya and loosened her grip on Renee Young's legs. Renee's legs dropped to the mat and she curled up in a ball, gripping her back as referees violently dragged Natalya out of the ring. Nattie struggled wildly as they continued to drag her towards the backstage exit. The scene faded on Natalya screaming for her belt as they forced her back through the curtain.