After a few months of silence following her crushing defeat in the final round of the 2019 Last Woman Standing tournament, Cecilia had all but disappeared from the public eye. But then, she had erupted back onto the scene in the middle of the match between Maria Castillo and Tara Jaeger, emerging from the crowd and assaulting both wrestlers in an unexpected turn of events. Just as quickly and unexpectedly as Cecilia's interference had begun, it had ended with her putting Maria through a table, leaving Tara trapped in a Paradise Lock, and clearing the scene. Many decried her for such an unprovoked attack on two seemingly unrelated wrestlers, denying both a recently returned veteran and an up-and-coming rookie of their big nights. But just as many were confused as to why she was there, and what her motives were.
Tonight, those questions would be answered.
Cecilia Lombard
"Ms. Lombard," the interviewer began, "people all around the wrestling world have been asking what reasons you had for intervening in the match last week. Care to give a few words to explain your actions?"
Before Cecilia had even been offered the microphone, she had already grabbed it from the reporter. "Yeah. I have plenty to say," Cecilia said. "Plenty I want everyone to know - everyone in the stands right now, everyone watching this at home, and everyone who's going to read about this later. There's a reason I asked to do this interview out here, because I want it to reach as many ears as I can." As she spoke, Cecilia slipped under the ropes, going to the center of the ring to speak out toward the crowd. Though the cameras and the press tried to follow her, gathering just outside the ring, Cecilia didn't give them any heed. If there was anyone she wanted to hear what she had to say, it was the audience.
"Let me get this out of the way first, because I know you're all wondering it. Yeah, I got tipped off to go after Maria. You can thank one Raven Queen for that. If you think I have anything against La Parca...then I'm sorry to disappoint all of you who have such sorry lives the best thing you can think of to pass the time is theorize about wrestling, because I couldn't care less about that washed-up, past-her-prime fool." A few boos came at that, but Cecilia kept going. "The truth is, she was just the first offer I got. What I wanted...was to be remembered. I wanted to send a message, and I wanted to make sure I had an audience. I wanted to get it through to all of you, and I wanted to make sure you wouldn't forget it any time soon. From what I've seen...I succeeded at that part." The corners of her lips turned up in a small smile.
"The reason I did what I did, is so that I could be right here, right now, in this ring. I wanted to have to explain myself, so I could tell you what I'm telling you now - and that's that I. Am. Back." She punctuated each word, letting it sink in. "I know what you're thinking. I know I went on a losing streak before the tournament. I know that I looked like I was going to win it all...and then that Williams bitch took that away from me. I was ready to emerge from that tournament a winner, as someone people would be afraid of. As someone no one would question. And instead? I was that girl who was planted under a fat ass in the final round."
"If you think I'm here to complain about that, or that I'm going to make excuses...then I'm sorry to say, I'm not. Because, you know, none of that shit matters. I'm through playing games. I'm through playing around. I might have underestimated the competition, sure. But you know what? That ends now. I'm not letting anything keep me down. I've trained. I've readied myself. I'm coming back to LAW, and I'm not here to chase after people who beat me before. I don't care about that. So, Ducky, if you think this is personal...then it's not. I'm not here for you...I'm here for me." She pointed her thumb at her chest. "Because I'm making my way to the top. What you saw last week is only a teaser for what I have in store for anyone who gets in my way. Anyone who wants to challenge me...you'd better be ready for what you've seen. Or, if you're too scared? That's fine too. You can lie down all you want for me to walk over you on my way to the championship. I don't care who I have to beat, I don't care what I need to do...but I will win. And none of you are going to doubt me. Not after last week."
With that, Cecilia turned and dropped the microphone on the mat, unceremoniously stepping out of the ring. She had said her part, and she had made her message clear - the past was behind her. She had only up to go from here, and she had her sights set high.