Backstage prior to Backlash, Sonya, Lucy, Valentina and Ember Moon had been summoned to Hunter Helmsley's office. They had gone into the meeting expecting to learn the outcome of that night's fatal four way match for the Smackdown Women's Championship, but after greeting them all, Hunter began with a different subject.
"Val, Lucy, Vince and I have seen some footage from the live events you've been working the past couple of weeks, particularly those in England. We like the dynamic between you a lot, and we're going to make you a team. We want you to go on a serious run together, and it could tie in with plans we have for further down the road."
"Are you talking about Women's Tag Team Championships?" Lucy asked in her usual abrupt-sounding manner.
"Nothing is definite at this point, but it is something we're looking at as we continue to expand our women's rosters."
Valentina looked downcast about what she was hearing. "This is going to mean I'm dropping the title, isn't it?"
"I'm afraid so," Hunter said. "If it's any consolation, that was the plan anyway before we decided to make you and Lucy a team."
"I figured I was only going to be a transitional champion," Val said, disheartened by the news.
Sonya put a reassuring arm around the smaller woman. "Don't feel down, Val. You did a great job, and that moment you beat me will be a memorable one for years to come."
"Exactly," Hunter said. "And I have no doubt it's not going to be your only title reign."
"Plus you get to team with me," Lucy offered, looking awkward as she attempted to comfort her friend.
"At least there's that," Val said, doing her best to brighten up. She moved closer to Lucy and put an arm around her waist, giving her a hug. In return, Lucy put a comforting arm around Val's shoulders.
"You do look good together," Ember said with a smile. "I can definitely see a future for you guys as a team. Plus, people love that spot you do where Val gets thrown over the ropes like a bowling ball."
"You don't throw bowling balls," Sonya pointed out with a grin.
"No, but you know what I mean. The way Val hits people and knocks them down is like a bowling ball hitting pins."
"True," Val said. "We could get Renee to call a strike when I take people out."
Everyone smiled at that idea and Hunter said, "Yes, I like that. Speak to Renee about it before your next match together, will you?"
Valentina nodded.
"Okay then, onto the fatal four way," Hunter said.
"Who's getting the title?" Sonya asked. Since she already knew Val was going to drop it, she had to hope the recipient was going to be her.
There was a second of silence before Hunter gave his answer.
WWE Backlash – May 19th 2019
Right before her music hit, Sonya said a short prayer for her own safety and the safety of her opponents. It had been a routine for her ever since the night she had stood on the ring apron and watched Paige's career end with a neck injury. It had been a harrowing experience that she never wanted to go through again.
Ember had been the first to enter the arena. When her music faded out, it was replaced by Sonya's. As usual, boos greeted her.
"Sonya Deville, the woman who in my opinion should still be the Smackdown Women's Champion," Corey Graves said on commentary as Sonya entered the arena with a face like thunder.
"Are you still hung up on that?" Renee Young asked, sounding like she was shaking her head.
"Hung up on it?" Graves exclaimed. "Sonya was robbed out of her title by a combination of Lucy Thorne, Ember Moon and Valentina Ferreira, and she never even got a one on one rematch, thanks to Lita. The way Deville had been treated on this whole thing is an absolute disgrace, and it was no surprise to me when she lost it last week and put Naomi in hospital."
"It was certainly a new level of intensity and anger we saw from Deville this past week on Smackdown," Renee said. "Naomi was left beaten, bloody, and possibly with a broken arm thanks to Sonya's Kimura, and judging by the mood she was in when I saw her backstage earlier tonight, someone else could be heading the same way before too long."
Sonya finished her entrance routine with some shadow punches and an animalistic roar of aggression. She sent a few threatening words to the referee and the ring announcer before retreating to a corner of the ring to wait for her opponents.
Lucy's music was next to play. She received a warm ovation, lacking the extra edge of those she had recently gotten from the crowds in her own country.
"Lucy Thorne has been red hot since hitting the main roster running the night after Wrestlemania," Renee said as Lucy started making her way down the ramp, walking at her usual deliberate pace. "The alliance that recently seems to have been developing between Lucy and Valentina Ferreira means nothing tonight. In a fatal four way match, it's every woman for herself."
"That's right, and even I have to admit Lucy Thorne is going to take some stopping," Graves said. "There's no one else quite like her in WWE. She's powerful, resilient, and if she hits the Thorne in the Side, we could well be looking at a new Smackdown Women's Champion."
Lucy entered the ring in her usual unceremonial but imposing manner. She walked over and stood right in the middle of the ring, conveying that she didn't care in the least that Ember and Sonya were there.
As the champion, Valentina had the honour of entering last. Her music hit and she received a similar ovation to Lucy. Their budding relationship as a team had helped them both in terms of popularity.
"And here comes the champion, yet by most people's reckoning, also the underdog," Graves said.
"Valentina is the smallest woman in the match, and the least experienced," Renee said. "But don't count her out. Val has been written off her whole life, yet here she is as the Smackdown Women's Champion."
"Thanks to Lucy Thorne," Graves added, still insisting on labouring the point.
As Val neared the end of the aisle, Sonya came out of the ring under the bottom rope and went for her. They started frantically exchanging right hands.
Lucy had started walking towards the ropes to go and join in the fight, but Ember came up behind her and slammed a forearm into the back of her head.
With the battle underway, the referee decided to ring the bell and start the match officially.
Twenty minutes in the match, Sonya found a second wind. Catching Lucy climbing up onto the apron to get back in the ring, Sonya jumped into the air and brutally kicked her in the side of the head, knocking her back down to the floor.
Next came Ember, who came rushing at Sonya and hit her with a dropkick.
Sonya staggered into the corner of the ring, standing against the turnbuckles.
Ember acrobatically came across the ring, going for a handspring elbow, but Sonya dodged out of the way, leaving Ember to crash into the turnbuckles instead.
Dragging Ember out of the corner, Sonya set her up in a vertical suplex position and delivered The Deville's Lair. It might have been enough for a three count, but Sonya had noticed Valentina getting to her feet.
Grabbing hold of Val's arm, Sonya dropped to the mat, locking in the Kimura. She roared loudly, sensing that she was about to regain her championship.
Lucy had other ideas. Reaching under the bottom rope, she took hold of Sonya by both shoulders and dragged her out of the ring before ragdolling her into the ringside barricade with an impact that brought a shocked reaction from the fans.
Not finished yet, Lucy picked Sonya back up and whipped her into the ring steps with a thunderous crash. The top half of the steps went flying.
"Deville is in big trouble!" Graves cried. "She was about to break Valentina's arm, and I think that pissed Lucy off!"
Picking Sonya up once more, Lucy hurled her into the barricade again.
"This is a new level of viciousness from Lucy Thorne," Renee said as the fans started booing. The reason for their reaction soon became apparent when Charlotte was showing running down the aisle.
"Wait, Charlotte Flair is out here now!" Renee cried.
"The Women's European Champion, who tapped out Bayley earlier tonight with the Figure Eight," Graves said.
Charlotte rushed Lucy from behind, pushing her forward and into the barricade. Lucy spun around, and the fight was on.
"Flair and Thorne now, hammering away at each other!" Graves yelled.
Lucy connected with a bone-jarring right hand, sending Charlotte staggering backwards. Lucy went after her, continuing to land punches as Charlotte went back up the aisle.
Recovering from the assault she had suffered, Sonya got up and went after Lucy. Charlotte had come out to save her, now she was the one who needed to save Charlotte.
Between them, Flairville managed to start wearing down Lucy, who retreated towards the stage as she tried to fend off the kicks and punches that came at her thick and fast.
"There's still a match going on out here," Renee said when Lucy went through the curtain to the back, with Sonya and Charlotte close behind.
"Yes, and Ember Moon is climbing to the top rope!" Graves called.
The noise in the arena rose again, with the fans now looking back towards the action in the ring. Ember was poised on the top rope, while Valentina groggily got to her feet, holding the arm that had been injured by Sonya.
Ember leapt into the air, twirling as she flew, to deliver a picture perfect Eclipse. Valentina flew up into the air with the impact and came to rest flat on her back in the middle of the ring, out cold.
"The Eclipse! Moon into the cover!" Renee cried.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three!"
"Ember Moon is the champion!" Graves yelled as the fans cheered enthusiastically. Many of them had held the belief that a championship victory for Ember was long overdue. Now she had her golden moment.
Greg Hamilton completed the formalities. "Here is your winner, and the new Smackdown Women's Champion, Ember Moon!"
"Valentina Ferreira never recovered from the Kimura, and Ember Moon got the Eclipse to capture her first Smackdown Women's Championship," Renee said as the finish was replayed for the viewers.
The shot returned to the ring, where Ember was clutching her title belt like the prized possession it was. The fans cheered and applauded as the referee raised her hand in victory.
Defeated, saddened, Valentina got to her feet, looking at the woman who had just taken her championship from her. Ember turned to face her and gave her the kind of smile that said, 'Sorry, but I had to do what I had to do.'
Taking the loss with good grace, Val raised Ember's hand respectfully before the two women shared a brief hug.
"A show of class from Valentina Ferreira," Renee said in admiration.
Graves said, "Tonight wasn't Valentina's night, but she's not had her last dance with the Smackdown Women's Championship, I'm sure of that."
"I totally agree," Renee said. "Tonight, though, the spotlight is on Ember Moon, our new Smackdown Women's Champion."
A/N: Thank you to everyone who left a review on the previous chapter.
No one predicted Ember to win, so unfortunately I have no shout outs to give this time.
In the next chapter, Sonya and Charlotte will be coming out to Valentina. How do you think that will go?