Author's Notes: Damn, this is the longest chapter I've ever done. I must of gotten into this one too much (LOL!). Well, as you may have noticed as you read, Chapter 3 was fun to make and I'm sure you'll like it too. I drew inspiration from some of CM Punk's best promos, including the ones with Triple H (SO good!). Also, I sometimes watch Becky's impassioned promos from Smackdown Live and wanted to flesh out her character a bit into this story and put her in a what-if scenario where she starts cussing and makes a hard-hitting promo. You'll see for yourself. Enjoy reading!
CH 3: Conference
6:20pm. Convention Centre Dublin.
Becky sat on an equipment box backstage of The Auditorium, listening to Led Zeppelin music on her IPhone. Her orange hair finely worn in a Dutch mohawk braid and dressed in a black tank top, black pants, black ankle boots, and a jade green leather jacket, she arrived earlier at 5:58pm and just in time for small interviews with the press -who patiently waited on the 3rd floor- and meeting with the other competitors.
She went off the box, leaned back with her arms crossed, and closed her eyes. Immersed in Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song", her mind suddenly flashes to a strange vision of sorts: Queen Medb, sitting on her royal throne, overlooking the land of Connacht when a dark cloud glided across the green pastures. She stood up, realizing what this disturbance is. With her spear in hand, Medb watches as the cloud separates and reveals a gray bald monster with huge teeth, battle armor, Celtic markings on its skin, and one eye.
Balor….
A tap on her shoulder startled Becky and she quickly, but unintentionally, dropped her phone. She turns around and sees Finn, finely dressed in a black short-sleeve polo shirt. She breathes a sigh of relief.
"Jesus Christ, Fergal, you startled me", Becky said and starts picking up her IPhone. "At least, take out one of my headphones while you're at it."
"I have to tap you on the shoulder", Finn replied. "What else do you think I was doing? And don't say Jesus's name in vain."
"I don't know, stalking behind me without saying a word?! I thought you were one of the sound technicians trying to issue me where I'm sitting!", Becky exclaimed.
Finn sighed. "Well, I'm sorry I startled you. I didn't mean to do so." The two Superstars paused for a short while. Becky decides to sit back on the box and Finn follows, sitting beside her. As Becky looks down at her IPhone (looking for any cracks that seem to dent its glass cover), Finn's eyes slowly glance up and down her black clothes. He may be sitting face forward and inches near Becky, but it seems his gray-blue eyes couldn't seem to handle itself staring at her well-toned body. And those "boulder shoulders", though….
"You look nice….", he whispered out of the blue. Only to realize at this moment he knew…..he fucked up.
Finn quickly shook himself out of his trance and blushed pink. The fuck, Fergal?! Snap out of it now!, he said to himself in his thoughts. You're her mentor, not her….something something! Also, you're six years older than she is!
"Hm? You say something?", Becky interrupted Finn's state of mind. Finn adjusts himself on the box and said, "No, no, nothing. I'm just thinking to myself."
Becky raised an eyebrow. "Huh….", she said and goes back to her IPhone. Unbeknownst to her, a drip of sweat was trickling down Finn's face as if he got embarrassed by the whole situation of awkwardness that's happening between him. In terms of comparing the Superstars, Finn is bit of the shy guy alongside Becky's sense of confidence and humorous wit. Her excellent use of puns is what derives her from her former mentor. As for Finn, well...let's say he has a hobby of building Legos that Becky couldn't do.
The silence between them finally gets interrupted by a familiar voice's call to someone over the microphone. Dave "Fit" Finlay Jr., a childhood idol of Finn and Becky and one of WWE's producers, is head host of the BPWO and one of the main coordinators for the conference.
"Mr. Satterley, please make sure you come backstage before 6:30 rolls in. Thank you", Finlay reported.
Both Finn and Becky's eyes widen. They quickly walk out on stage and were stunned to see a man sitting in one of the seats up front, looking at his smartphone. He looked elvish with his long black hair tied in a ponytail and goatee beard, but his glasses is what makes him distinctive. Wearing a gray vest and black-and-white striped tie that compliments his Newcastle heritage, the elvish man presents an mysterious aura about him. But to Finn and Becky, he's no stranger.
That mysterious was none other than Benjamin "Ben" Satterley, known to indy fans as Pac and known to WWE fans as Adrian Neville or Neville.
"Ben!", Becky called out. Neville looked up from his phone and saw Becky waving at him and Finn smiling, happy to see him.
"Oh, it's you", he replied.
Oh, it's you. His tone of voice sounded like he wasn't excited to meet them, just spoke to them as if he barely knew them. He wasn't even referring to Becky and Finn by their real names, but as "you". In general. Without the slightest mention of joy or sympathy behind it. It's not like Neville is being selfish, but it seems he tends to greet Finn and Becky in a calm fashion.
Becky walked down from the stage and sat beside Neville. "I didn't know you were coming here", she said. "I almost thought you've disappeared. Didn't returned to WWE last year and this year. Aren't you coming back?"
Neville sighed. It's true that multiple reports from numerous pro wrestling blogs cite that Neville "walked out" of WWE in October of last year, wondering if he'll ever come back to the company's squared circle. Some proclaimed that he quit the promotion due to conflicts with the creative writing and booking staff, but everything remains unclear. Despite his strange walk out, he's still considers himself as "King of the Cruiserweights".
"I'm keeping that question confidential for now", Neville said. "But I'm fine, thanks to my wife's support. I just need to get away from the promotion a bit longer. Last year, I was having a rough time with myself so I just had to step away from my Twitter page and the WWE Universe for a while."
"I'm hopeful you'll come back", Becky assures him. Then she tells him this: "So Ben, why have you come here to the conference?"
Neville closes his smartphone and puts it in his pant's pocket. He straightens up from his seat and looks at Becky. "I've been challenged by Will Ospreay to a cruiserweight match for one night only at the BPWO."
"Really?", Becky said. "Was that his idea?"
"Yes….and no", Neville answered. "Yes, meaning that was his dream request to fight me one-on-one and no, the idea started with fan demand for the dream match, leading up to Ospreay demanding me."
Becky nodded her head. "Awesome. As you've already know, I'm facing against a special someone."
"You mean him?", Neville pointed to Finn. Finn, on stage, noticed him and decides to walk backstage.
"Yup. Him.", Becky said.
Neville smirked. That's probably the first time in a while Becky has seen him smile. "Interesting. I'll be cheering for you at the main event."
"I appreciate it, Ben", Becky thanks her fellow friend.
Their conversation grew to sudden disturbance when Finlay spoke on the microphone, "Ms. Quin and Mr. Satterley, please report to backstage right now. The doors are almost open and a number of people are outside."
Becky and Finn did as they were told and rushed backstage to meet Finlay and the other wrestlers competing for the BPWO.
7:05pm. Conference time.
"Now WWE and indy fans from around the world, this is the moment you guys been waiting for. Please give a huge round of applause for the Irish Lass Kicker, Becky Lynch!"
Becky walks out from the curtain to a standing ovation of people. Some of them were holding their smartphones recording the whole thing and some were wearing her "Inspire the Fire" t-shirts. At the conference table, the competitors set to participate at the BPWO are assigned to their seat via name tag: Tyler Bate, Toni Storm, Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, Doug Williams, and Neville on the left and Marty Scurll, Primate, Will Ospreay, Rampage Brown, Kay Lee Ray, and Phil Powers on the right (if facing the stage as a spectator). Finlay was in the middle, standing on a podium.
Before she sat down between Neville and Finlay on her right side, Becky did her signature rock-on hand sign and a number of fans did the same in return.
"And last but not least, also give a huge round of applause for one of Ireland's greatest wrestlers to date. He was one of New Japan's fan favorites and the original leader of the famed Bullet Club. Now he's in WWE as one of their top Superstars. He is the Demon King, Finn Bálor!"
The fans erupted into cheers and a standing ovation as Finn walked out on stage. The pop was deafening across the walls, with the crowd chanting in unison: "Too Sweet! (clap clap) Too Sweet! (clap clap) Too Sweet (clap clap!) Too Sweet! (clap clap) Too Sweet!"
Finn smiled and made a Too Sweet sign in the air. He sits down between Finlay and Marty on his left side.
Finlay adjusts his mic a bit on the podium. "Okay fans, if you want to ask some questions to your fellow wrestlers here at the conference table, do so if you like. Don't be shy until the last minute. Jordan Devlin will be passing the mic to one person at a time, so be patient. You'll get your chance to speak."
Jordan starts walking across the lower floor of the auditorium to see who will talk first, mic in hand. He spots a young man in a Bullet Club t-shirt and gives the mic to to him. The Bullet Club fanboy said the first question:
"Hello, hi. Um, this question is for Marty. As 'The Villain' of the Bullet Club, you have become one of the stable's treasured members and is rumored to be a perfect fit for leadership since Kenny Omega left the Club to reunite with best friend and Golden Lovers teammate, Kota Ibushi. With no BC members at your side to help you at the Belfast Pro Wrestling Open due to restrictions, how will you manage to defeat Tyler Bate in anticipation that Pete Dunne and Trent Seven will cause a diversion?"
"Well, um….", Marty struggled to find an answer but before he could say anything, Tyler throws shade at him by mocking his villainous accent: "Where's your umbrella now?"
Some people in the crowd laughed, including those at the conference table. Marty tries his best to not crack a smile, but Becky almost did by roasting him this statement: "Well, if Jack Gallagher and Marty slept in the same room, Marty will wonder when's the last time he's ever held one."
The fans reacted to Becky's in-joke in hilarious fashion. As the crowd laughed on, Marty sat quietly in his chair, biting one side of his lip and what looked like a smirk on his face. His iconic Ray-Ban round metal sunglasses tries to hide his inner frustrations.
"Shut up, people! Shut it!", Marty finally shouted on his mic. "Let me finish this boy's damn bloody question!" The entire auditorium died down a bit.
He then returned to normal and directly answered the young man: "You're correct on one thing about the Bullet Club not to interfere with my match against Tyler Bate, but also British Strong Style will not interfere as well. If they did, not only would it be unfair to me, it would be unfair to absolutely everyone at the BPWO and everyone watching this on pay-per-view. It would be a disaster if such circumstances were to happen because our one-on-one match is supposed to be authentic. And with no authenticity, there's no great match. I promise you that this 'little schoolboy' at the far left side of this table will get the corporal punishment he needed from me."
On the left side, it's apparent to see Tyler at least glare at Marty for a couple of seconds.
"Thank you", the young man in the Bullet Club t-shirt said. Jordan again walks around to find another person and spots a brunette woman in one of the middle row of seats in the middle area. He gives the mic to her and the woman addresses the second question:
"I know this sounds like a large pill to swallow, but since the announcement of the Headmaster came out, what were your own thoughts of what this person's identity is?"
There was a small pause at the conference table, but Finn knew he had a chunk of the answer. But inside of himself, he didn't want to say much of what happened between him and Regal. So he only gave the woman a reasonable statement:
"Sadly, we don't know for sure. It's still a huge mystery up in the air. Um….hopefully, after the main event, he/she might come out and show themselves to the world that they're no threat. That's just my interpretation of it."
The brunette woman nodded. "Thank you so much", she said. "You're very welcome", Finn replied.
As the woman went back to her seat, Doug added a funny theory to Finn's Headmaster question. "Might be Hornswoggle trolling about", he said. The fans laughed in the auditorium and clapped to Doug's ridiculous answer.
Jordan spots another male fan in the next row of seats, wearing glasses and a Bálor Club t-shirt. He gives the mic to him and the guy says the third question:
"Hello, Finn. I'm a big fan of you since your days at New Japan. Um, I want to tell you an important question of sorts: do you feel underestimated about Becky's ability to kick your ass at the main event?"
"Oh wow...", Finn said, surprised by what the Bálor Club-wearing fan has said. He could just hear Becky crack up behind Finlay. The crowd did laugh a bit as well. Finlay looked like he's enjoying the questions.
"You guys are such savages", Finlay smiled and the fans burst into laughter. Some of the wrestlers followed suit.
Finn nervously chuckled as Marty leaned over and massaged his shoulders. After the helpful gesture, Marty pats him on the back.
"S'okay, man. No hard feelings", Finn heard Marty's encouragement. In response to the guy's question, a smiling Finn typically shrugged.
"I mean...she does want to kick my ass from time to time", Finn honestly replied and the fans continued to laugh.
8:00pm…..
It's been a hour into the conference and many fans have managed a chance to address their questions to their favorite pro wrestlers. Some were brilliant, some were honest, some were peculiar, and some were just downright funny. But one last question will ultimately change the landscape of this conference in a single hour, in a single breath, in a single moment that no one would forget….
"We need one final question from our fans before we close this conference for special photos of who's versing who at the BPWO on this stage, so any lucky fan who wants to say any last remarks, do so now."
As Jordan walks across the first floor (he's utterly tired after standing up and sitting down from the stage steps; why can't they just put tall microphones between the auditorium walkways?), he sees a hand raised up. Now this fan has every Bullet Club merchandise imaginable: a black-and-white BC hooded jacket, a BC beanie, a BC bandana, BC socks, and even customized BC shoes. Everything about this fan was all Bullet Club for life. Maybe too much (don't be like this fan).
Jordan gave the mic to the Bullet Club enthusiast and he brings in the final question:
"This question's for Finn. So I know that you and Becky have some history together, being that you're her former mentor and she's your former student. With this in mind, there have been talks that you're going to use your Demon King persona for the main event. It's perfectly clear that this is Becky's first time facing the Demon King in an absolutely anticipated no DQ intergender match, never been done in both of your careers. Do you think Becky is ready to face against the Demon King?"
Finn, with his arms folded on the table, leans slightly over on his mic and said these immortal words: "First off, I refuse to fight Becky not because she's a woman, but because the whole announcement thing might be just there to scare people. And second, in my honorable opinion, Becky doesn't seem ready to fight the Demon King yet. So respectfully, I'm just acting reasonable here…"
Unaware to Finn, Becky's ears were loudly ringing and Finn's voice seemed distant to her. Everything around her grew silent, but the sudden ringing in her ears sounded more like a prolonged bell. It was if her entire mind blanked out, but one phrase disturbed her beyond any capabilities. She doesn't seem ready. Then, the hearing of that phrase set her mind into motion and gave her numerous flashbacks of her time with Finn. The photos of them training. Them together at a bar with their other wrestling friends. Them together at Becky's first match. Them together at NXT. Them together at WWE….
Was everything all up to this? To be dismissed by your former mentor in front of hundreds of people? And through all you've done for him, you're deemed "unworthy" of a great match? To not be given the respect that your mentor once had?
Becky's ringing slowly disappears and can barely hear the last lines of Finn's words:
"...so for the time being, it's better that she isn't ready for the Demon King as much as she is ready to face me in general."
Oh, how she hated this change of pace.
"Finn?", Becky heard herself say on the mic without second thoughts. Something in her was about to boil over.
"Yes?", Finn replied back.
"I have something to say to you in regards to your comments…."
Becky gripped on her mic, her right hand shaking slightly. Her bowed head but frownish face took the press and some fans at notice. As the other wrestlers stared at her and waited for her response, Becky slowly turned her head to her left and saw a clear glimpse of Finn sitting beside Finlay. Looking at her former mentor straight in the eyes, she said in a deep scathing tone:
"Fuck you."
She had to say it. She said it. She finally said it. Those two shocking words had the entire auditorium on their feet and a pop ensued. The crowd, for some reason, was on Becky's side at that moment because they couldn't believe what Finn was saying about her. It felt like the ultimate disgrace to a student from a mentor and Becky felt tired of being treated as an underdog or an unnecessary afterthought. No WWE officials around to tell her what she needs to say as a babyface. She now has the freedom to speak with natural conviction and pure hard-hitting honesty.
Finn, Finlay, and the other wrestlers lay stunned in their place. They've never heard Becky like this before. It was a totally different atmosphere than what she's capable of in WWE. But this isn't the WWE, where rules and restrictions are applied. This is a conference for the Belfast Pro Wrestling Open and anything is possible.
"Excuse me?", Finn said to Becky. Finlay sort of slightly backed up to let him talk face to face.
Becky continued on in frustration. "Yes….fuck you. Fuck you and your comments. As a matter of fact, I'm fucking disgusted by what you said about me today. About how I'm not 'ready' for the Demon King."
"Becky, I-"
"Do my abilities as a female wrestler offend you? Do my accomplishments or being in the same company together bother you? Did my expectations of one day defeating you troubled you?"
"Look Becky, hear me out. I'm not lowering your self-worth-"
"Self-worth?! See Finn, this is the problem with you. You want to prove you're the most humbling and most compassionate wrestler in the world, yet you couldn't add a simple recognition of respect for me. Like it was all for nothing."
"Why would I dump you like that? I do respect you and what you've done for pro wrestling."
"AFTER what I have been through in my 7-year hiatus from pro wrestling, I have suffered and I've suffered greatly. Back in the early 2000s, while I was taking odd jobs and still recovering from a head injury that certainly caused me headaches, you were in New Japan partying with your boys and doing fucking 5-star matches in the making!"
Finn was getting more upset. "Now that's enough-"
"Don't tell me like it's enough! You were already a step ahead of me since I've gone from the ring. But it sickens me how you've betrayed the people that once took you in!"
"Don't you DARE bring about that-"
"Oh, I'm going to talk about. Let me tell you this: since you have considerable respect for the Japanese wrestlers in New Japan, then explain to these people the true reason WHY you formed the Bullet Club?"
Finn paused for a moment to think. Then he said: "...Because I've felt like the black sheep and I wanted to do things my own way. It's better to do business with the devil."
Becky adjusts herself on her seat to completely face Finn. Her sarcasm starts to get into Finn's skin.
"You see? You made this awesome stable because you couldn't fit in with others. You couldn't live the same level as those Japanese wrestlers do. You said in one of your Bullet Club promos that they're going to stab you in the back. They never stabbed you in the back because those past diary videos of you online don't lie.
You care about New Japan and its people. They gave you a promising contract. They gave you a place to eat and sleep. They create ideas for your incredible matches. They taught you the best puroresu training. They taught you to respect the fans and their culture. Even they taught you how to speak their language. And what did you do in return? You shove all those expectations up their asses…
You became the 'great pretender' in a foreign promotion that gave you opportunity to succeed in their light and you've failed. What did New Japan ever do to you?! When you formed the Bullet Club, I knew something wasn't right. You were consumed by the darkness and it has made you arrogant, unapologetic, rebellious, and lack of empathy for others. Your 'demonic phase' took over - both physically and mentally - as an instrument of fear. I saw how it changed you and how it made you do unspeakable things. I couldn't tolerate that. I just can't…."
Becky bit the side of her lip to keep herself from tearing up. In stunned silence, Finn saw her cheeks turned pink from the pain, frustration, anger, and raw emotion she was delivering in her speech. Becky tries to maintain her composure as she continued to speak.
"...I just couldn't trust you no more. You've betrayed me just like you've betrayed New Japan. And this isn't Becky Lynch talking to Finn Bálor or Rebecca Knox talking to Prince Devitt. This is fucking Rebecca Quin talking to fucking Fergal Devitt."
The fans were just in awe as they clapped and cheered throughout the auditorium. But to the other competitors at the conference table, they were worried. Including Finlay. He is stuck between two wrestlers seething with anger and the tension keeps growing. It feels like if the two walls of the auditorium were closing in on him, unable to do anything in the process.
Finn tries to reason with Becky. "Look….everything you said is almost the case. But I didn't form the Bullet Club just for selfish purposes. I formed the Club to create a sense of creative freedom, brotherhood, and an opportunity to become the best. We simply want to be the best stable in New Japan, period. We wanted to stand out. We're not bullies or stereotypical villains. We're revolutionaries, rebels, soldiers, and thrill-seekers. I don't know why you're so upset about this 'cause you weren't even a part of the Bullet Club. I didn't make you quit wrestling, you did that to yourself."
"Give me one fucking reason I shouldn't bash you in the face right now", Becky said as she suddenly stood up. Finlay puts his arms out to prevent Finn and Becky from hurting each other as the two wrestlers started cussing out. One painful word led to another and it set Becky to the edge.
She picked up a water bottle that was near her name tag and threw it straight at Finn with astonishing aggression. Finn quickly puts his hands up, but the bottle hit him so hard that the cap flew off and bits of water started flying. Then, Becky viciously pushed Finlay to the ground and out of his way to jump-attack Finn head on.
The impact sent a massive pop that crescendoed across the auditorium, so loud that other people from other floors in the convention center couldn't comprehend what's going on. Even the press couldn't stop flashing pictures per second. Every clicking sound from the cameras - click click click click click click! - was the equivalent of a sub-machine gun.
Becky was on top of Finn, delivering blow after blow with her fists while Finn struggles to protect himself. This continued until both are entangled in a series of blows and strikes. Luckily, other wrestlers from each side of the conference table try to restrain them. Neville tried grabbing Becky around her waist to avoid her from hitting Finn again and Finn was restrained behind the neck by Marty.
Jordan dashes into the fray and tries to calm down the situation, but Becky leapt out of Neville's arms and accidentally pushed Jordan off the stage, sending him backwards and falling onto the carpet floor (poor Jordan). It wasn't her intention to hit Jordan, but still to get back at Finn. She's too angry to think about other things.
Becky dashed across her left side of the stage to strike at Finn, but was quickly restrained by Doug Williams who came to the rescue. Each respective group was far away from each other on stage as possible for Finn and Becky to not touch each other.
Finlay slowly stood up and found that both Finn and Becky are restrained from both opposite sides and the crowd is still cheering loudly. Madness was everything in the auditorium. Upset that no order is being established, he walks off stage and helps Jordan to his feet. He brings Jordan with him to one side of the stage and issued him to stay there. Finlay took one of the mics on the table and shouted:
"THAT'S ENOUGH! OI!"
Surprisingly, it was enough for Finn and Becky to calm down. The crowd stopped cheering.
"BÁLOR! LYNCH! YOU TWO HAD ME UPSET RIGHT NOW!", Finlay greatly shouted on the mic. "Don't you know what you have done?! I was planning to keep the special guest referee secret until the main event, but I guess that's too far away now!"
Finn and Becky maintained their composure and waited for Finlay's revelation to come to fruition.
Finlay took a breath and said: "Finn Bálor and Becky Lynch, your special guest referee for the main event at the Belfast Pro Wrestling Open is none other…..
…...than JORDAN DEVLIN!"
Again, a huge pop from the crowd. Finn couldn't believe it as he kneeled with his hands over his head. Becky couldn't believe it. Jordan couldn't believe it (even though he's slightly recovering from the fall), the fans couldn't believe it, the wrestlers couldn't believe it, and the press couldn't believe it.
"Fuck this conference…", a tired Jordan said to himself.
...So yeah, that happened. Would Finn and Becky reconcile their differences? And would Jordan take a rest from all of this madness? Is Finlay really the Headmaster or not? Chapter 4: Memories has yet to come soon!