The Main Event
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 10:56 pm
Trish Stratus: You cannot be serious!
Wes Ikeda: You’re lucky you’re even talking to me right now. This is a conversation you should be having with Jim Ross.
Trish was livid, standing inside of Wes Ikeda’s office on the 30th floor of the EBWF building just three days before the Destiny pay-per-view in Toronto. There were no cameras, as this was far from entertainment. No, this was personal.
Wes Ikeda: You just show up here? Trish, you and Natalie are close, I get that. You and I have known each other for years, but you cannot be this comfortable to just show up to my office, and demand an audience with…
Trish Stratus: Are you kidding me? You’re such a joke.
Wes Ikeda: …and now you’re interrupting me.
Trish Stratus: I am main eventing the premiere wrestling program, in an unheard of match for women to wrestle in, head to head with Monday Night fucking Football! That should be news! That should be the headline. But all anyone is talking about is the return of AJ Styles. How dare you!
Wes Ikeda: How… how…dare I?
Trish Stratus: Natalie and I deserve this, and you’re just going spit in our face like that? I know you have a problem with women’s wrestling…
Wes Ikeda: No, no. You’re not playing that card. That’s bullshit. I have a problem with women who can’t wrestle, wrestling, and that does not include you or Natalie.
Trish Stratus: You’re going to make this right! I don’t want him on Warfare.
Wes Ikeda: You won’t run into him at…
Trish Stratus: No. I’m not saying I don’t want to see him. I’m saying I do not want him on the show. It’s MY show. In MY hometown, and I don’t want MY ratings attributed to him.
Wes Ikeda: You are really bitter about a relationship that has been over longer than it lasted. You need to get a grip.
She glared at him.
Trish Stratus: You don’t get to talk about my relationships.
Wes Ikeda: Isn’t that what this is about though? Trish, the ratings are broken up by half hour, this can’t be about ratings. You’re a strong, talented, confident woman. What is this really about?
Trish Stratus: Just forget it.
She turned to go.
Wes Ikeda: Trish, I want to try to help here. I want to listen. I just think that…
Trish Stratus: I said forget it.
Her words were wasted on him. She walked out of his office, and went for the elevator, leaving him exasperated.
As Trish left the EBWF building she decided to drive straight to the airport. She didn’t care how long she’d have to wait for a flight to Toronto, it certainly beat sticking around here and being continually disrespected. She was glad she had Natalie in her life, but sometimes she wondered if their friendship was a hinderance. Wes was overly cautious about showing favoritism and she thought maybe he worried that other people thought she was getting preferential treatment because she was in with his wife. Anyone who was anyone knew that she was Trish Stratus, and that she deserved every opportunity that she got. Anyone who said otherwise had their own hangups, and she couldn’t help that. She was able to get a standby seat to Toronto, and flew straight there. She needed a night to get herself together, and she knew just where to go. She rented a car and drove straight to her mother’s house. It would be fun to be home, and to have little responsibilities, at least for a couple of days.
————
The 8am hour was a prime time for any morning radio program, and Trish knew that this invitation had been extended to her because she was a hometown girl, taking on a rival Canadian. The people of Toronto would be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic and a captive audience as the Quintessential Diva promoted the final Warfare before Destiny.
Roz: Welcome back to your home for all the hits, Kiss 92.5.
Mocha: And a happy Friday to you! You’re listening to Mornings with Roz and Mocha! I’m Mocha.
Roz: I’m Roz, and we’re here with the six time EBWF Women’s Champion, Toronto’s own, Trish Stratus. How the hell are ya’ this morning, Trish.
Trish Stratus: I’m doing well, fellas, thank you, good morning.
Mocha: Tomorrow night, you go for number seven as try to become the EBWF Women’s Champion once again. That match is emanating from the Air Canada Centre and your facing that dastardly diva from Calgary, Natalya.
Trish Stratus: In a steel cage match, no less!
Roz: You don’t do that kind of match very often…
Trish Stratus: I may have only had one in my whole career, so it’s pretty exciting.
Mocha: You won your first EBWF women’s championship almost 15 years ago, and you’re just as relevant now as you were then. How do you keep things fresh?
Trish Stratus: Oh, thank you, Mocha. What a nice thing to say! You know, I think being the best women’s wrestler in the history of the sport certainly helps. Being willing to put myself out there, not being afraid to take risks. I think even now I’m willing to do the unexpected, and that keeps me in the hearts and minds of the EBWF Universe.
Roz: There’s a lot on the line in this one. Can you give us the rundown?
Trish Stratus: Well, I have to beat Natalya to stop her from becoming the longest reigning EBWF Women’s Champion of all time, a record I’ve held for over six years. So it’s actually my legacy that is kind of on the line here. Torrie Wilson is a ten time EBWF Women’s Champion, that’s not a record I’m likely to beat, so the longevity of my title reigns are what’s going to keep fans talking about me for decades to come. It’s a big deal that two women are main eventing Warfare. I’m proud that we’re both from Canada, and I’m excited that I get this opportunity to have a great match with another premiere athlete.
Mocha: I’m sure that’s the nicest thing you’ll have to say about Natalya this weekend.
Trish laughed.
Trish Stratus: You know it.
Roz: What do you have to say about the rumors that you and Nattie were actually supposed to main event Destiny, but that got scraped when Edge came into the main event picture.
Trish Stratus: Read that on the dirt sheets?
Mocha: Oh, she got you there Roz!
Trish Stratus: It’s pretty unlikely that the decision had anything to do with Edge. EBWF isn’t like these so-called sports entertainment brands. EBWF is about the wrestling, and it’s pretty traditional for the World Championship match to main event the pay-per-view. 11 out of 12 pay-per-views a year are going to have that match go on last, so I don’t give much credence to that rumor. People are always trying to make an Edge and Trish story where there is none. We’re both from Toronto, both in this business, and obviously known each other for years. So that’s that.
Roz: Can fans still get tickets to see you and Nattie tear the Air Canada Centre down Monday night?
Trish Stratus: I’m hearing there’s still a few tickets available, and of course if you can’t come down to the arena to watch us, you can check us out live on Sportsnet 360 or if you’re hearing this state side, we’re on A&E.
Mocha: Thanks for coming by Trish, and good luck Monday!
Trish Stratus: Oh, boys, I don’t believe in luck, but thank you for having me!
Roz: That’s our hometown girl, Trish Stratus, here to hype Warfare, happening at the Air Canada Centre on Monday. Stay tuned for the latest from Maroon 5, and Taylor Swift, right after the break.
————
The scene opened outside of the Air Canada Centre in the dead of night. The arena was lit up and the logo shone red against the darkened sky. There was no noise except for the slight sounds of far off traffic. Trish Stratus was shown standing in the light of a street lamp, the Searchlight, Starlight, Spotlight sculpture in full view behind her.
Trish Stratus: There’s no place like home.
She smiled.
Trish Stratus: I can’t tell you how many matches I’ve wrestled in the Air Canada Centre. I can’t tell you how much time I spent in the old Sky Dome, watching wrestling shows, watching the Maple Leafs skate to victory, and knowing that what I wanted the most was to be a world class athlete. I wanted to make Toronto proud, make Canada proud. Here I am again, in my favorite arena, on my favorite show, ready to beat a woman who continually brings shame on the Hart family name and Calgary, Alberta!
She smirked.
Trish Stratus: I can see you now, Nattie, with your mouth hanging open, asking if I just went there. I did. I went there. You are an ungrateful, disrespectful overgrown child. The stunts you’ve pulled? Did you actually go to your husband to try to get our match changed? Did you actually think that I was just going to let you walk to Destiny without defending my record? You pretend to be so smart, Natalya. You act like you know me so well, and for whatever reason, you didn’t see that coming? How arrogant do you have to be? I know I haven’t been the best about endearing myself to the EBWF fans. I know that I can come off a little full of myself, and downright bitchy, but I think any member of the EBWF Universe who was asked would admit that I’ve earned the right to be a little testy sometimes. Nattie, you and I both know that you’re not the confident woman you portray yourself to be on TV.
She tilted her head to the side.
Trish Stratus: You forget I know you too. If you were who you say you are? You wouldn’t try to get your matches postponed. If you were who you say you are, it wouldn’t take some bratty little girl threatening your ugly-ass cat to get you to come out of hiding. You wouldn’t feel the need to show your dominance but putting member’s of our announce team in the Sharpshooter. I’m going to take the high road here. I’m not going to say what all your other opponents say. Yes, you were born into wrestling royalty, and yes, you doubled down and married into it too, but I’ll give you the credit where it’s due, you worked your ass off to get here. You’re just not better than me. You’re one hell of a wrestler. The difference between you and me? You don’t believe it.
She began walking down the sidewalk, the camera following her.
Trish Stratus: I know I’m the best women’s wrestler in the world. You just say it. Deep down you’ve spent every day of your championship reign fearing who was coming after your title, and praying it wouldn’t be me. You and I both know that you just barely beat Sasha Banks at Summerslam. You almost embarrassed yourself. And yeah, she beat me to become Queen of the Ring, and when I beat you that might mean she’s the first in line for a shot at my new title, but I’ll worry about that when the time comes. This match is a long time in the making, and I was your teammate long enough to know that the match had be inside a steel cage.
Trish stopped in front of the arena, the windows lit up behind her and casting a glow around her.
Trish Stratus: Left to a standard match, I knew I could count on you to do what the Harts have always done. Cheat. I knew you’d probably do something dumb, like get yourself disqualified, so you could hold on to the championship. Don’t act like that’s beneath you, Nat. You’re not interested in the win, you’re interested in keeping the hardware. You said it yourself, you want to erase my name from the history books. We were friends once, and even though we’re not anymore, I never in a million years thought that you wanted to end my legacy and tarnish my name. I thought history meant something to you. That must have just been another one of your fronts. Once piggybacking off of your family name as the Anvilette wasn’t getting you anywhere anymore, you decided you needed a friend in high places. That’s where I came in, right? Attach yourself to the best, and people will think you’re the best. A brush with greatness makes you just as great, is that it? I mean, you were fine being my sidekick when you were simply dating the boss, but once you became Mrs. Ikeda, I had served my purpose and you put me out to pasture.
She took a menacing step toward the camera.
Trish Stratus: I don’t like being used, Natalie. That’s why I wasn’t sad when I rid myself of you, and I give it until the end of the year before Wes decides he doesn’t like being used either, and he kicks your hanger on ass to the curb.
She laughed, and began walking again.
Trish Stratus: Nattie, close your mouth honey, because I went there too. And I meant it. Don’t be mad. If you get mad you’re only playing into my hand. You’re pretty easy to rattle. It’s one of your greatest weaknesses. Between that and your lack of self confidence, I’d say I have this one in the bag. You’ve tried to hard to cultivate this perfect little world for yourself. Marry rich, nice family life, women’s champion. Tomorrow night at Warfare, I chip away at the unstable foundation you’ve laid for yourself, and then when your name is stumbled upon in the history books it will say that September 18, 2017 was the beginning of the end for Natalya. That was the night her whole life started to unravel. The night she lost the Women’s Championship. The night her family saw her destroy her legacy. The night she showed her children that she’s a liar, and doing your best, isn’t actually good enough. The night her husband realized that she wasn’t the strong, confident woman she’d tricked him into believing she was.
Trish began passing bronze statues of some of the greatest Toronto Maple Leafs in franchise history.
Trish Stratus: You’ve always had to work just a little harder. You’ve always had to make yourself stand out. A great technical wrestler, but needing to set yourself apart from your family. Too thick, too short and not classically pretty, so you have to have a big mouth. I’m not saying I could understand because…
She batted her long eyelashes.
Trish Stratus: …how could I? You are terrified of being irrelevant. Who could blame you? If you beat me, you become the longest reigning women’s champion in EBWF history, but tonight, Nattie, you’re not going to take your place in the record books. You’re an unfortunate soul who has had the privilege of living at the same point in time as Trish Stratus. The real story tonight will be me, becoming the 7-time women’s champ, protecting my legacy…
Having passed 10 bronze statues, Trish stopped underneath an archway, the big, bright sign behind her explaining the relevance of the sidewalk she’d just strolled. It read “Legend’s Row”.
Trish Stratus: …and proving that I’ve earned my place among all of the greats.
Then, without any tag lines or catchphrases, Trish flashed that megawatt smile and the scene faded to black.
Wes Ikeda: You’re lucky you’re even talking to me right now. This is a conversation you should be having with Jim Ross.
Trish was livid, standing inside of Wes Ikeda’s office on the 30th floor of the EBWF building just three days before the Destiny pay-per-view in Toronto. There were no cameras, as this was far from entertainment. No, this was personal.
Wes Ikeda: You just show up here? Trish, you and Natalie are close, I get that. You and I have known each other for years, but you cannot be this comfortable to just show up to my office, and demand an audience with…
Trish Stratus: Are you kidding me? You’re such a joke.
Wes Ikeda: …and now you’re interrupting me.
Trish Stratus: I am main eventing the premiere wrestling program, in an unheard of match for women to wrestle in, head to head with Monday Night fucking Football! That should be news! That should be the headline. But all anyone is talking about is the return of AJ Styles. How dare you!
Wes Ikeda: How… how…dare I?
Trish Stratus: Natalie and I deserve this, and you’re just going spit in our face like that? I know you have a problem with women’s wrestling…
Wes Ikeda: No, no. You’re not playing that card. That’s bullshit. I have a problem with women who can’t wrestle, wrestling, and that does not include you or Natalie.
Trish Stratus: You’re going to make this right! I don’t want him on Warfare.
Wes Ikeda: You won’t run into him at…
Trish Stratus: No. I’m not saying I don’t want to see him. I’m saying I do not want him on the show. It’s MY show. In MY hometown, and I don’t want MY ratings attributed to him.
Wes Ikeda: You are really bitter about a relationship that has been over longer than it lasted. You need to get a grip.
She glared at him.
Trish Stratus: You don’t get to talk about my relationships.
Wes Ikeda: Isn’t that what this is about though? Trish, the ratings are broken up by half hour, this can’t be about ratings. You’re a strong, talented, confident woman. What is this really about?
Trish Stratus: Just forget it.
She turned to go.
Wes Ikeda: Trish, I want to try to help here. I want to listen. I just think that…
Trish Stratus: I said forget it.
Her words were wasted on him. She walked out of his office, and went for the elevator, leaving him exasperated.
As Trish left the EBWF building she decided to drive straight to the airport. She didn’t care how long she’d have to wait for a flight to Toronto, it certainly beat sticking around here and being continually disrespected. She was glad she had Natalie in her life, but sometimes she wondered if their friendship was a hinderance. Wes was overly cautious about showing favoritism and she thought maybe he worried that other people thought she was getting preferential treatment because she was in with his wife. Anyone who was anyone knew that she was Trish Stratus, and that she deserved every opportunity that she got. Anyone who said otherwise had their own hangups, and she couldn’t help that. She was able to get a standby seat to Toronto, and flew straight there. She needed a night to get herself together, and she knew just where to go. She rented a car and drove straight to her mother’s house. It would be fun to be home, and to have little responsibilities, at least for a couple of days.
The 8am hour was a prime time for any morning radio program, and Trish knew that this invitation had been extended to her because she was a hometown girl, taking on a rival Canadian. The people of Toronto would be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic and a captive audience as the Quintessential Diva promoted the final Warfare before Destiny.
Roz: Welcome back to your home for all the hits, Kiss 92.5.
Mocha: And a happy Friday to you! You’re listening to Mornings with Roz and Mocha! I’m Mocha.
Roz: I’m Roz, and we’re here with the six time EBWF Women’s Champion, Toronto’s own, Trish Stratus. How the hell are ya’ this morning, Trish.
Trish Stratus: I’m doing well, fellas, thank you, good morning.
Mocha: Tomorrow night, you go for number seven as try to become the EBWF Women’s Champion once again. That match is emanating from the Air Canada Centre and your facing that dastardly diva from Calgary, Natalya.
Trish Stratus: In a steel cage match, no less!
Roz: You don’t do that kind of match very often…
Trish Stratus: I may have only had one in my whole career, so it’s pretty exciting.
Mocha: You won your first EBWF women’s championship almost 15 years ago, and you’re just as relevant now as you were then. How do you keep things fresh?
Trish Stratus: Oh, thank you, Mocha. What a nice thing to say! You know, I think being the best women’s wrestler in the history of the sport certainly helps. Being willing to put myself out there, not being afraid to take risks. I think even now I’m willing to do the unexpected, and that keeps me in the hearts and minds of the EBWF Universe.
Roz: There’s a lot on the line in this one. Can you give us the rundown?
Trish Stratus: Well, I have to beat Natalya to stop her from becoming the longest reigning EBWF Women’s Champion of all time, a record I’ve held for over six years. So it’s actually my legacy that is kind of on the line here. Torrie Wilson is a ten time EBWF Women’s Champion, that’s not a record I’m likely to beat, so the longevity of my title reigns are what’s going to keep fans talking about me for decades to come. It’s a big deal that two women are main eventing Warfare. I’m proud that we’re both from Canada, and I’m excited that I get this opportunity to have a great match with another premiere athlete.
Mocha: I’m sure that’s the nicest thing you’ll have to say about Natalya this weekend.
Trish laughed.
Trish Stratus: You know it.
Roz: What do you have to say about the rumors that you and Nattie were actually supposed to main event Destiny, but that got scraped when Edge came into the main event picture.
Trish Stratus: Read that on the dirt sheets?
Mocha: Oh, she got you there Roz!
Trish Stratus: It’s pretty unlikely that the decision had anything to do with Edge. EBWF isn’t like these so-called sports entertainment brands. EBWF is about the wrestling, and it’s pretty traditional for the World Championship match to main event the pay-per-view. 11 out of 12 pay-per-views a year are going to have that match go on last, so I don’t give much credence to that rumor. People are always trying to make an Edge and Trish story where there is none. We’re both from Toronto, both in this business, and obviously known each other for years. So that’s that.
Roz: Can fans still get tickets to see you and Nattie tear the Air Canada Centre down Monday night?
Trish Stratus: I’m hearing there’s still a few tickets available, and of course if you can’t come down to the arena to watch us, you can check us out live on Sportsnet 360 or if you’re hearing this state side, we’re on A&E.
Mocha: Thanks for coming by Trish, and good luck Monday!
Trish Stratus: Oh, boys, I don’t believe in luck, but thank you for having me!
Roz: That’s our hometown girl, Trish Stratus, here to hype Warfare, happening at the Air Canada Centre on Monday. Stay tuned for the latest from Maroon 5, and Taylor Swift, right after the break.
The scene opened outside of the Air Canada Centre in the dead of night. The arena was lit up and the logo shone red against the darkened sky. There was no noise except for the slight sounds of far off traffic. Trish Stratus was shown standing in the light of a street lamp, the Searchlight, Starlight, Spotlight sculpture in full view behind her.
Trish Stratus: There’s no place like home.
She smiled.
Trish Stratus: I can’t tell you how many matches I’ve wrestled in the Air Canada Centre. I can’t tell you how much time I spent in the old Sky Dome, watching wrestling shows, watching the Maple Leafs skate to victory, and knowing that what I wanted the most was to be a world class athlete. I wanted to make Toronto proud, make Canada proud. Here I am again, in my favorite arena, on my favorite show, ready to beat a woman who continually brings shame on the Hart family name and Calgary, Alberta!
She smirked.
Trish Stratus: I can see you now, Nattie, with your mouth hanging open, asking if I just went there. I did. I went there. You are an ungrateful, disrespectful overgrown child. The stunts you’ve pulled? Did you actually go to your husband to try to get our match changed? Did you actually think that I was just going to let you walk to Destiny without defending my record? You pretend to be so smart, Natalya. You act like you know me so well, and for whatever reason, you didn’t see that coming? How arrogant do you have to be? I know I haven’t been the best about endearing myself to the EBWF fans. I know that I can come off a little full of myself, and downright bitchy, but I think any member of the EBWF Universe who was asked would admit that I’ve earned the right to be a little testy sometimes. Nattie, you and I both know that you’re not the confident woman you portray yourself to be on TV.
She tilted her head to the side.
Trish Stratus: You forget I know you too. If you were who you say you are? You wouldn’t try to get your matches postponed. If you were who you say you are, it wouldn’t take some bratty little girl threatening your ugly-ass cat to get you to come out of hiding. You wouldn’t feel the need to show your dominance but putting member’s of our announce team in the Sharpshooter. I’m going to take the high road here. I’m not going to say what all your other opponents say. Yes, you were born into wrestling royalty, and yes, you doubled down and married into it too, but I’ll give you the credit where it’s due, you worked your ass off to get here. You’re just not better than me. You’re one hell of a wrestler. The difference between you and me? You don’t believe it.
She began walking down the sidewalk, the camera following her.
Trish Stratus: I know I’m the best women’s wrestler in the world. You just say it. Deep down you’ve spent every day of your championship reign fearing who was coming after your title, and praying it wouldn’t be me. You and I both know that you just barely beat Sasha Banks at Summerslam. You almost embarrassed yourself. And yeah, she beat me to become Queen of the Ring, and when I beat you that might mean she’s the first in line for a shot at my new title, but I’ll worry about that when the time comes. This match is a long time in the making, and I was your teammate long enough to know that the match had be inside a steel cage.
Trish stopped in front of the arena, the windows lit up behind her and casting a glow around her.
Trish Stratus: Left to a standard match, I knew I could count on you to do what the Harts have always done. Cheat. I knew you’d probably do something dumb, like get yourself disqualified, so you could hold on to the championship. Don’t act like that’s beneath you, Nat. You’re not interested in the win, you’re interested in keeping the hardware. You said it yourself, you want to erase my name from the history books. We were friends once, and even though we’re not anymore, I never in a million years thought that you wanted to end my legacy and tarnish my name. I thought history meant something to you. That must have just been another one of your fronts. Once piggybacking off of your family name as the Anvilette wasn’t getting you anywhere anymore, you decided you needed a friend in high places. That’s where I came in, right? Attach yourself to the best, and people will think you’re the best. A brush with greatness makes you just as great, is that it? I mean, you were fine being my sidekick when you were simply dating the boss, but once you became Mrs. Ikeda, I had served my purpose and you put me out to pasture.
She took a menacing step toward the camera.
Trish Stratus: I don’t like being used, Natalie. That’s why I wasn’t sad when I rid myself of you, and I give it until the end of the year before Wes decides he doesn’t like being used either, and he kicks your hanger on ass to the curb.
She laughed, and began walking again.
Trish Stratus: Nattie, close your mouth honey, because I went there too. And I meant it. Don’t be mad. If you get mad you’re only playing into my hand. You’re pretty easy to rattle. It’s one of your greatest weaknesses. Between that and your lack of self confidence, I’d say I have this one in the bag. You’ve tried to hard to cultivate this perfect little world for yourself. Marry rich, nice family life, women’s champion. Tomorrow night at Warfare, I chip away at the unstable foundation you’ve laid for yourself, and then when your name is stumbled upon in the history books it will say that September 18, 2017 was the beginning of the end for Natalya. That was the night her whole life started to unravel. The night she lost the Women’s Championship. The night her family saw her destroy her legacy. The night she showed her children that she’s a liar, and doing your best, isn’t actually good enough. The night her husband realized that she wasn’t the strong, confident woman she’d tricked him into believing she was.
Trish began passing bronze statues of some of the greatest Toronto Maple Leafs in franchise history.
Trish Stratus: You’ve always had to work just a little harder. You’ve always had to make yourself stand out. A great technical wrestler, but needing to set yourself apart from your family. Too thick, too short and not classically pretty, so you have to have a big mouth. I’m not saying I could understand because…
She batted her long eyelashes.
Trish Stratus: …how could I? You are terrified of being irrelevant. Who could blame you? If you beat me, you become the longest reigning women’s champion in EBWF history, but tonight, Nattie, you’re not going to take your place in the record books. You’re an unfortunate soul who has had the privilege of living at the same point in time as Trish Stratus. The real story tonight will be me, becoming the 7-time women’s champ, protecting my legacy…
Having passed 10 bronze statues, Trish stopped underneath an archway, the big, bright sign behind her explaining the relevance of the sidewalk she’d just strolled. It read “Legend’s Row”.
Trish Stratus: …and proving that I’ve earned my place among all of the greats.
Then, without any tag lines or catchphrases, Trish flashed that megawatt smile and the scene faded to black.