Berwyn, IL - just outside of Chicago
3 months ago
Incognito. Or at least, the most incognito a woman like her could be. No makeup. An unremarkable outfit consisting of a pink t-shirt over a white longsleeve thermal and jeans. White baseball hat with her long, brown hair tied back in a ponytail and threaded through her cap. Front row ticket for the action, and so far she hadn't been noticed. A robust crowd of roughly 500 people were in attendance for this AAW Wrestling Event. Like many of the events before it, it took place in the back room of a small, local concert venue or watering hole. In this case, it was the Berwyn Eagles Club, a fairly popular venue for independent wrestling organizations to hold their events. It was a typical low-budget affair, the fans sat in steel folding chairs, separated by small metal barricades that formed a makeshift wall around the ring. The woman quietly weaved through all the cheering fans, taking her seat in one of the front row chairs, a perfect view of the ring. The event had already been going on for 45 minutes, but she wasn't here to see the entire show. Inside the ring, a woman's match was taking place between MsChif and Angelus Layne, a relatively obscure name even by independent wrestling standards. The woman watched on as the match progressed.
Ding Ding Ding!
After seven and a half minutes of fighting inside and outside of the ring in a match that included top turnbuckle suicide dives to the outside, vertical suplexes on the floor, and several creative uses of the steel barricades, MsChif managed to get Layne back into the ring. She hit the Desecrator and pinned her opponent clean in the center of the squared circle. The death metal music that made up her entrance theme started playing as the referee raised her hand in the air. She let out her signature banshee-like scream. The crowd in attendance was cheering in support of her, a veteran of the independent scene and a fan favorite as a result. She limped out of the ring, wincing as she knelt down to roll out underneath the bottom rope. High fiving several fans along the way towards the exit ramp, her eyes fell onto the woman in the white baseball cap and her perfect posture, legs crossed and arms folded, seemingly uncomfortable in her surroundings. For some reason, MsChif wasn't able to shake the notion that she looked familiar. She kept moving and went through the curtain to the backstage area. She limped over to a chair and tenderly sat down, gritting her teeth as she did so. The AAW trainer kneeled down next to her, ice pack in hand. He helped her unsnap her right ligament knee brace, then tied the ice pack against her knee. She ran her fingers through her long, black and green hair, getting it out of her way as she forced a smile in the direction of the trainer.
MsChif: Landed a little weird on the top rope spot.
Trainer: Why you still continue to pull that kind of nonsense when you know what condition your knees are in is beyond me.
MsChif: It's not that bad, Terry.
Terry looked up at MsChif with a glare.
Terry: Rachel. Seriously. You think I was born yesterday? I...
Terry was interrupted as Angelus Layne walked up to MsChif and extended her hand.
Angelus Layne: Thanks for the match, MsChif. It was great.
MsChif reached out and shook her hand with a smile.
MsChif: Anytime.
Angelus smiled and walked away, responding as she departed.
Angelus Layne: Gonna hold you to that.
MsChif watched Angelus leave, nodding to herself. The girl really had a great match with her. The fans were into it, they were both having fun, it was just all around a good showing.
MsChif: She's gonna do well here.
Terry: She'll be the only one doing well if you don't start dialing back your stunts, you hear?
MsChif: Come on, Terry. I'm not MsChif if I'm not jumping off the turnbuckle, doing suicide dives, or contorting myself into weird submission holds. That's my thing.
Terry: You've got post-traumatic arthritis in both of your knees. The cartilage in the joint of your left knee is in fairly bad shape, and the cartilage in your right knee is almost non-existant. You've already been recommended surgery on both of them, and soon it's going be required if you're ever going to walk again, much less jump off the turnbuckle, do suicide dives, or contort yourself into weird submission holds. You don't think I keep a record of all your visits to the orthopedic doctor? You realize if you don't have surgery soon, you might get another year out of those knees before you won't ever be cleared to wrestle again.
MsChif rolled her eyes as she unsnapped her left knee brace and put it down next to the right one.
MsChif: You gonna pay for it? Because you can be fairly sure that Ring of Honor won't. And AAW certainly won't either.
Terry: What about your job in the science lab? Don't they have good benefits?
MsChif: It'll cover most of the surgery itself, but I'll need physical therapy and some outpatient care that's not covered. I just can't afford it right now.
Terry shook his head, giving an exasperated sigh.
Terry: Let me know if it starts to swell, I can give you another cortisone shot.
MsChif: Thanks, sweetie.
MsChif slowly stood up out of her chair, grabbing a towel off the top of a neatly folded stack nearby. She headed down to the showers to get changed. About a half hour elapsed, and the AAW event was over. Her knee was feeling a little better, and the limp wasn't nearly as pronounce as it was when she had just finished her match. Once she got cleaned up and changed into a fresh wrestling outfit, she headed back out towards the ring for the meet and greet with the fans. Sharpie in hand, she went down the line, shaking hands and signing pictures, t-shirts, DVD's, hats, and a litany of other miscellaneous items. She took pictures with anyone who requested one. When she got to the end of the line, a familiar face was looking back at her. The woman quietly motioned in a direction away from the crowd. MsChif followed her as the crowd dispersed, heading home for the night. The cleaning crew was just starting to pick up chairs and clean up garbage. The woman sat down and turned to face MsChif, and it at once became apparent why she was wearing such nondescript clothing.
MsChif: You're...
Stephanie McMahon: Hi, Rachael. Please, sit.
MsChif quirked an eyebrow, but she sat down facing the one of the Vice Presidents of the most popular wrestling organizations in the world.
Stephanie McMahon: That was a nice match. I enjoyed it.
MsChif's expression remained incredulous.
MsChif: There were plenty of great matches tonight.
Stephanie McMahon: I only showed up in time to see yours and the main event. How's the knee? It looked like you were favoring it leaving the stage.
MsChif: It's great. Never better.
Stephanie McMahon: Now, come on. You should know better than to think I came all the way to Illinois to court you without doing my homework.
MsChif flinched slightly. That was something she had not expected her to say.
MsChif: I, um... you're here for me? Okay. I'll bite. Why?
Stephanie McMahon: I'll be frank. I don't like coming to the back rooms of bars and clubs to find wrestlers. But the truth is, with everything that has happened in the last month, we've had to get back to focusing on the business, and we're just short on Divas. We lost several ladies in 2012, and still more on the shelf. We need some experienced talent to help fill out and lead the ladies locker room. Plus, with the Royal Rumble coming up in January, we need ladies to participate in it. So, here I am.
MsChif: Ms. McMahon...
Stephanie McMahon: Call me Stephanie.
MsChif: Okay. Stephanie, first off... it was really awful the things that happened in October. So let me just say that I'm so sorry that you all had to go through that tragedy.
Stephanie McMahon: Thank you, Rachael.
MsChif: Second... it seems odd to me that they would send you out here to meet me in person.
Stephanie put her hand up.
Stephanie McMahon: That's because Chris likes the face to face touch. It's also a little harder to say no in person than by e-mail.
MsChif: Finally, I've said this before and I'll say it again. I love wrestling. I really do. It's the perfect escape after sitting in a lab all day testing antibacterial agents. I don't ever want to give it up. But at the end of the day, my main job is being a scientist. Wrestling is an incredibly fun hobby. But working with the EBWF means constant touring, and I'm just not sure that I can give up everything else to do it.
Stephanie McMahon: Here's the way I see it. You're one of the most decorated women on the independent wrestling circuit. But all that was prior to 2010. Since then, you've been going organization to organization, putting over new talent and remaining relevant by wrestling men twice your size.
MsChif bit her bottom lip, continuing to listen to Stephanie's assessment.
Stephanie McMahon: Meanwhile, the arthritis in your knees is getting worse little by little. You just turned 33 a few months ago, so you're not exactly a spring chicken. And at the rate you're going you probably have six months to a year of wrestling before you have to hang it up permanently, and even then you'll be in pain for the rest of your life. How's that sound? Am I close?
MsChif ran her fingers through her hair, looking rather agitated.
MsChif: It was nice to meet you, Ms. McMahon.
She stood up and turned to walk away.
Stephanie McMahon: Wait... please.
MsChif stopped and turned to look back at her.
Stephanie McMahon: Just hear me out.
Begrudgingly, MsChif obliged and sat back down. She looked at Stephanie crossly.
MsChif: Okay.
Stephanie McMahon: Here's my offer. If you're willing to enter a verbal agreement to negotiate the terms of a contract with the EBWF, I've been authorized to offer you the full sum of money necessary to cover 100% of the cost of knee joint replacement surgery, and all the physical therapy you need to get back into the ring as fast as possible.
MsChif: Woah, woah.
She put her hands up.
MsChif: Woah. You mean to tell me that just by agreeing to talk about the possible terms of a contract, you'll pay for me to get my knees repaired?
Stephanie McMahon: Yes. You're not even required to sign. If after reasonable discussion we can't come to mutually satisfying terms, you won't be required to recompense EBWF. And believe me, Rachael. You might be surprised at what we'd be willing to negotiate on when drafting a contract, especially where it concerns a possible part-time schedule.
MsChif mulled this over for a little while. Stephanie read her and knew she was seriously considering the offer, so she pressed a little harder.
Stephanie McMahon: Think about it. The EBWF has a working relationship with the best orthopaedic surgeons in the world. We also have an incredibly gifted set of trainers. The average person takes about 8-10 weeks to fully recover from the procedure you'd need to go through. With our team, you'd be ready to wrestle in 6. Pain free. And, you've just added years to your wrestling career, all because you agreed to just come to St. Louis and hear us out.
MsChif: What about my ring name? My persona? I don't want to give that all up. It's part of me.
Stephanie McMahon: All of that is part of the negotiation process, so I can't speak to that right now. But, we're not in the habit of seeking out wrestlers just for half of what they bring to the table. We look for the total package. So. What do you say? Just say the word and you'll be contacted tomorrow morning to arrange an appointment for your surgery.
There was a long pause. Finally, Stephanie heard her exhale.
MsChif: Okay. Let's do it. I'll come to St. Louis to negotiate the terms of a contract with the EBWF.
Stephanie smiled and extended her hand.
Stephanie McMahon: Excellent. It was a pleasure meeting you, MsChif.
MsChif: Thank you, Stephanie.
Stephanie McMahon: Talk to you soon.
Stephanie turned and headed towards the door. Even in the scrubby clothing Stephanie was wearing, she was betrayed by her perfect posture and poise. MsChif watched her leave, wondering just what the hell she had gotten herself into.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Present Day
Philips Arena
Atlanta, Georgia
The camera faded in on Matt Stryker, who was smiling into the camera with his all too Cheshire Cat-like grin.
Matt Stryker: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the pre-show for the 11th annual EBWF Royal Rumble! The fans are starting to arrive here in Atlanta, Georgia and we are counting down the time until the lights go down and the event begins. We are, of course, excited for the main event Royal Rumble of the evening, but another hotly contested match is the Women's Royal Rumble event, which guarantees one talented Diva a shot at the EBWF Women's Championship at Wrestlemania! With me right now, is one of the entrants in the Women's Rumble, and one of EBWF's newest acquisitions. Her arrival has been teased since Christmas Eve of Destruction, and now she is here. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you MsChif.
The camera panned back and away to reveal MsChif as she walked into camera view. She had her full entrance attire on, including leather straps and chains hanging from her belt and the choker on her neck. Her makeup was done in signature fashion, the green lines extending outward from her eyes.
Matt Stryker: MsChif, how does it feel to be a part of the EBWF?
MsChif turned and looked at Matt Stryker with a vicious glare. She ran her fingers through her feathery black and green hair. All at once, she let out a piercing scream in the direction of Stryker, who stumbled back and fell on his rear, a terrified look on his face. He quickly scrambled away as fast as he could, and MsChif slowly knelt down to pick up the microphone. The camera zoomed in on her. The mic picked up her heavy breathing. She spoke in an intense, gravelly voice.
MsChif: Fans of the EBWF Divas, the Women's Division as you know it, is now over. My name is MsChif, and I have been all over this planet, fighting the best wrestlers this world has to offer. I've been in Japan, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the United States searching for souls to torment. But there is one place, and one place only, that has eluded me... until now.
MsChif looked around the room, then back at the camera.
MsChif: That's why I've come here. I've come to the EBWF to chase down the ultimate prize. The EBWF Women's Championship. I've to prove without a shadow of a doubt that I am the most dominant woman in wrestling today. I've gone from promotion to promotion, beating every woman they put in my way. Some of them are never heard from again, some of them retreat to another company. Some of them...
MsChif grinned devilishly.
MsChif: Some of them escaped and wound up here. Yes, many of the Divas that have come here to seek glory and fame in the spotlight were once my opponents as well. You can be sure that they all remember me quite well. And that's why I am an entrant in the Women's Royal Rumble. It is the best way for me to show right out of the gate that there is not a woman alive that can defeat me. I have arrived in the EBWF and in my first match ever in this company, I will become the number one contender for the Women's Championship. But that's only the beginning. You see, it's not enough that I become Women's Champion. I want a real challenge. And as I see it, the challenge has not yet arrived.
She wagged her finger.
MsChif: Oh, but I want them to. I want better opponents than ones like Kelly Kelly and Aksana. Girls with dreams of becoming athletes when they are nothing better than fodder for the rest of us. Where is the the wrestling there? Where is the talent? They have NOTHING to show me, other than being the first to be thrown out of the Rumble. This isn't a photo shoot, ladies. You're stepping into the ring with the Tormentor of Souls. I do not wait for the camera to finish snapping photos of me. I'd rather the cameras take pictures of you after I make you cough up your own blood. Same goes for Eve and Maryse. I'm not sure what they thought they were getting themselves into when they signed a deal with the EBWF, but all of that has changed now. All of that has been laid to waste because I am the Omega of the Women's Division as you know it. I've gone toe to toe with a woman like Amazing Kong and you think Eve and Maryse threaten me? I will destroy them without blinking.
MsChif: It's an exciting time for the EBWF. The status quo is going away. You see, the term Diva is one that I spit on with contempt. It's a disgusting word that brings to mind girls like Kelly Kelly, Brooke Tessmacher, and Eve. They... are Divas in every sense of the word. Then... there are wrestlers. You have girls like Paige, Kaitlyn, and Portia Perez. They have seen what the ugly side of this business looks like, the side of the business that I thrived in. And now, we have a new type of Woman. A woman like me, who will desecrate and lay waste to anything in her path in her goal to be the most dominant woman in the world.
MsChif pointed at her own chest.
MsChif: A monster. I am a monster, and I do not care how tall you are, how much you weigh, or how pretty you are. You bleed the same as anyone else. You cry in agony the same as anyone else. You beg for mercy the SAME AS ANYONE ELSE.
The look in her eyes intensified as the gravel in her voice got deeper and deeper.
MsChif: Because now, you are looking into the eyes of the one, the original Scream Queen. The Banshee of the EBWF. I will tear apart anyone who gets in my way, and the violence starts tonight... At the Royal. Rumble.
She dropped the mic, pinning her hair back with her hand and letting out a piercing, gutteral shriek which caused the camera to shake violently as it faded to black.
