Chapter 52

Everyone soon found out about Mercedes stepping away from the ring. Everyone did understand why and they respected her decision.

Paul and Stephanie planned it where Mercedes could explain to the WWE Universe about stepping away from the ring that very night on Raw. It was reported on WWE's website that Sasha Banks had something very important to say that night. Plus, WWE sent a tweet through their Twitter page. Mercedes also sent out a tweet.

SashaBanksWWE: I have something very important to say tonight on Raw WWE Universe. Some of you are not going to like it either.

"I'm sorry I didn't realize you were serious about last night, Mer," Pam said as the ladies were in the women's locker room.

"Its fine," Mercedes replied. "Nobody else realized it."

"Mercedes," Ashley said. Mercedes looked at her. "Everyone's priorities change every so often. Yours have. And if no one can respect that then fuck them."

Mercedes nodded her head. "Fuck it!" She said. "I'm just going to go out there tonight and say what I have to say. I won't be bad mouthing anybody. This has nothing to do with anyone else."

"Exactly," Becky commented. "It is all about Mercedes Lopez. Sasha Banks is just a ring name and a character. You have prided yourself in everything that has been your wrestling career. And you have done a hell of a lot! Think of the Divas' Revolution: you, me, and Ashley. We helped revolutionize the "Divas" division to the Women's division!"

Mercedes nodded her head again.

Mercedes got all dressed up for when she spoke to the WWE Universe. She wore a blue spaghetti strap dress with black high heels. The hairstylist straightened her hair and the makeup artist gave her a great makeup job as she had for the last few years Mercedes had been on the main roster.

"You look great, baby," Colby said seeing his wife after she was ready.

"Thank you," Mercedes replied.

"It'll be fine, baby. I know you'll be emotional about it, but just say what you need to say. Just do it as you had when you were talking about your assault. If you can talk about that then you can talk about stepping away from the ring. It'll be just as emotional as you talking about your assault."

Mercedes nodded her head. "My God," She said. "I can't handle this."

"Think about this," Colby said. "Think about this! We'll start trying for a baby soon."

Mercedes smiled. "Later tonight or tomorrow is good!"

"Definitely then," Colby replied with a smirk.

Mercedes grinned. She wrapped her arms around her husband's neck, hugging him. Colby wrapped his own arms around her, holding her tight.

Mercedes was talking at the beginning of Raw and she was happy for that.

You can do this, Mercedes! It'll be fine!

RAW

It started off with Michael Cole in the ring.

"Ladies and gentlemen, earlier today, Sasha Banks sent out a tweet saying she had something important to say tonight to the WWE Universe. She also said some of you were not going to like. So right now, please welcome Sasha Banks."

Mercedes took a breath as her music began to play. She did have her Legit Boss necklace around her neck and her rings on her hands. She walked out behind the curtain. She smiled as she looked to the fans. She smiled, listening to all of them cheering for her. She nodded her head. She made her walk down to the ring.

Backstage everyone was watching. Colby was with Ashley, Rami, Becky, Fergal, Pam, Leah, Lexi, everyone…

Mercedes smiled as she was in the ring now. Michael Cole handed her a microphone. She thanked him.

"Sasha, I know you have something very important to say," Michael said. "I have known all day what it is. But it's your turn to tell the WWE Universe."

"Thank you, Michael," Sasha said. She looked around at the fans.

"A lot has happened over the last two years," She began. "Two years ago, I was dealing with my rape and finding out I was pregnant. I could face both of those things. I had been so scared with both of those, but my life changed for the better. I became the mother to a beautiful baby girl. I got engaged to the most wonderful man who has treated me better than other one I dated. And just a month ago I married that man.

"Then a year ago, I came back to this ring. I had a great year. I won the first ever Women's Royal Rumble. I won the Raw Women's Championship again. Then I was the champion until SummerSlam. I had everything I wanted when I came back next year. But now that I have had it all once more, I'm ready to step away from the ring."

The fans made noise.

"Like I said, some of you are not going to be happy about what I had to say tonight," Sasha said. "My priorities have changed.

"I am telling you this! I am stepping away from wrestling. I am calling it retirement!

"This is what I want! I have been thinking about it for a few weeks. I made a decision last night. I told Stephanie and Triple H earlier today. They understood and here I am telling you all now.

"Last night, I was representing the Raw roster for the Five-On-Five Elimination match versus SmackDown Live. Carmella and I were the ones who remained. I picked up the win for us. I was so happy to be in my hometown last night. I was so happy to have my mom and my three best friends there. I also had four special guests in the crowd. They live in Boston themselves. But last night, my head wasn't all the way in it. I could hear a child screaming. That child was mine. That was my daughter!"

The crowd reacted.

"My daughter was not feeling well last night. I knew she was getting sick over the last few days. And my mom knew it too. My mom actually had her during my match. But I wanted to cry as I listened to my own daughter screaming," She said with tears. "But I couldn't go to her, because I was in the middle of the match. I was working. But no. I need to be with my daughter.

"I am stepping away from the ring to be with my daughter. I want to spend as much time with her as I can. I give mothers all over the world all props for having great jobs and being moms as well. But I want to be with my daughter. I just want to be a mom. You know so many women who have come before me have step away from the ring to be moms.

"There was Rosa Mendes. But she didn't step away to go have a baby. She got pregnant unexpectedly and was away from the ring. That was the same for me. But she had a beautiful baby girl herself. And she was happy. She is happy.

"There was also Brie Bella. She stepped away from the ring because she wanted to have her own kids. It took her and Daniel a few months to conceive their first child, but it happened. And she had a baby girl as well.

"And now there's me, Sasha Banks. I got pregnant unexpectedly myself. And it was not how I wanted to. But I accepted a long time ago that it doesn't matter how my daughter was conceived. She is part of me. She is my daughter. And she has a loving father. A real man who would not hurt a woman the way I had been hurt.

"But I am stepping away WWE Universe. I'm going to do me outside of the ring and outside of WWE. I won't be too far. No, you will still see me around. I might not be really doing anything in-ring wise with WWE, but I will still be around. I will continue to travel around. I am going to be with my husband. My husband, Seth Rollins!"

Some major cheers came there.

"I can bet you one thing; my husband fully supports me. He has supported me on everything in the last two years. He took care of me when I needed someone most. He said he had wanted to take care of me and he did. He still does. And I'm also going to tell you this, Seth and I are going to try for another baby too!

"Yes, I want another child. I love being a mom and I want to expand that love onto another child. I want Evelyn to be a big sister. If it takes a while that is fine. I am just going to be happy away from the ring. And I want to thank all of you, the WWE Universe. I will always love every one of you. And like I said I won't be too far away. I will be around with my husband. I will be backstage like many other wives, girlfriends, and fiancées of WWE Superstars.

"I will be cheering and supporting not only my husband, but also all my ladies in this company. All those in the back on Raw and on SmackDown. And all those ladies down in NXT and all the ones that will follow those women currently in NXT. And you know what, I'm going to be at Black and Brave Wrestling Academy, helping my husband and the other trainers there train those wanting to be wrestlers.

"Of course, not when I'm pregnant. Because that is something I want right away. But thank you, WWE Universe. I love every one of you."

Sasha gave a signal to the back telling them to play her music. And they did. Fans were on their feet cheering.

Sasha smiled. She turned to Michael Cole who was still in the ring. She went over to him and hugged him.

"Proud of you, Mercedes," He said.

"Thank you," Mercedes replied, hugging him again.

Mercedes waved to all the fans.

"Thank you, Sasha! Thank you, Sasha!"

She grinned.

Becky Lynch's music hit. She looked up at the ramp. Becky came walking out. She clapped her hands. Charlotte's music hit and she walked out, clapping her hands. Next was Bayley's. She came out. All three women went down the ramp together.

Once all of them were in the ring, Mercedes embraced each one of them. The four all then group hugged.

Seth Rollins's music hit. Mercedes smiled. Colby came out. He made his way all the way to the ring. Once he was in the ring, Mercedes was quickly hugging and kissing him.

"Great job, baby," He said.

"Thank you," She replied.

Mercedes stood in the ring with four of some of the most important people in her life, especially her wrestling life. Three of the women who had made so much to her when they were coming up together in NXT. And then there was her husband. A man she had met through wrestling. He was her soulmate!

Mercedes looked at Pam, Ashley, and Becky. She held her hand up, showing the four horsewomen hand gesture. The three all smiled. They all turned to the crowd and held up their hands for the four horsewomen.

The fans cheered.

It was what Mercedes had wanted. Telling the fans had been easy and they were supportive.

When Mercedes came backstage with Colby, Becky, Ashley, and Pam, everyone was there clapping for her. Mercedes smiled. Everyone she wanted there to hug was. And Julie was there with Evelyn. Evelyn had gone back to Julie to sleep some more a few hours ago. But now she was wide awake and happy.

Mercedes smiled. She walked over to Julie.

"Mama!" Evelyn said, reaching for her.

"Hi," Mercedes said. She took Evelyn from Julie. "Oh, my sweet angel," She said, hugging her tightly. "It's going to be you and me together all the time backstage. Yes."

Colby smiled watching them.

Mercedes looked over at him. She smiled and walked toward him. Colby smiled. Mercedes kissed him.

"Thank you," She said.

"You're welcome, baby. Now go enjoy that time with Evie."

Mercedes smiled. She gave him one more kiss.

"Let's go to the Women's locker room to see all your aunties!"

Colby smiled as Mercedes walked away with Evelyn.