The competitor who forces her opponent to admit she is a goddess and wins by facesit submission or knockout wins the match.
Ramona Royale could not take any chances with tonight.
Even as the technician appeared in the doorway for the third time, clipboard in hand and impatience written all over his face, Ramona didn't move. She kept her attention locked on Lakelynn and Bambi, who stood in front of her like students waiting for a pop quiz.
"I need a few more seconds!" she said, much like an actress finishing her prep, not even glancing at the tech. He sighed and retreated back into the hallway. Good. He could wait.
She turned her sharp gaze on Lakelynn first. "If anything - and I mean anything - happens on the turnbuckle or the ropes, you're dealing with it. I don't care if it's a distraction, interference, whatever."
"Yeah, yeah," Lakelynn said, nodding rapidly. "Turnbuckle duty. I can do that."
"You better do that," Ramona shot back. Then she shifted her focus to Bambi, who was adjusting the hem of her skirt like this was a casual conversation she could check out on. Ramona bumped her on the chin. "And you. If things start going sideways, you're going to distract, yes? Flaunt your chest, take a picture with the ref, do whatever you need to do to make sure no one's paying attention to Lakelynn. Understood?"
Bambi looked up, unbothered. "Uh, yeah. That's like, so easy.."
"Good," Ramona said, though her jaw stayed tight. "And if Melody makes the mistake of stepping outside the ring with me, you two swarm her. Both of you. I don't care how you do it - just make sure she regrets it and can't focus."
"We've got your back," Lakelynn said, grinning. "Relax, Ramona. We know what we're doing."
Ramona didn't feel reassured. Not even close. But the technician was back in the doorway now, looking ready to drag her to gorilla position himself if she didn't move.
"Okay," she muttered, rolling her shoulders and adjusting her gear one last time. "Let's go."
As they made their way through the backstage corridors, Ramona's mind churned. She was being so insistent because of the nature of this match - a "Who's Your Goddess" match, where the only way to win was to force your opponent to admit you were their goddess, then seal the deal with a facesit submission. And there was no universe in which Ramona was going to be the one calling anyone her goddess. Not Melody Morgan. Not anyone, and certainly not before she got stuck in that positoin.
She wouldn't allow it. It didn't fit. It couldn't fit. She was the leader of the Limelight Darlings, the smartest wrestler in the locker room, the one who made the plans and called the shots. The thought alone made her jaw clench tighter.
Ramona stepped out onto the stage, Lakelynn and Bambi flanking her on either side. The lights shifted, spotlights tracking her movement as she paused at the top of the ramp. She tilted her head slightly, eyes scanning the crowd with cold calculation, then started her descent.
She walked like she owned the place. Slow, deliberate, every step purposeful. The ramp might as well have been a red carpet rolled out just for her. She paused halfway down, turning to the side and striking a pose - one hand on her hip, the other brushing through her purple-to-blue hair as cameras flashed from the audience. Lakelynn bounced beside her, throwing up peace signs and playing to the crowd. Bambi sauntered along on the other side, phone already out, snapping a picture of herself with the ring in the background. Ramona ignored them both. This was her moment.
As she reached the base of the ramp, she stopped again, turning to face the ring fully. She lifted one leg, bending it at the knee and flexing slightly - showing off her thick, powerful thighs. Her legs were her best feature, aside from her face, she knew. And everyone in the building could see them now.
She held the pose for a beat longer, then lowered her leg and climbed the ring steps with measured grace. She stepped through the ropes, her gaze sweeping across the ring before settling on the opposite side where Melody Morgan would soon appear.
Spoiler
