WrestleMania X7

Kurt Angle was introduced to stir up a bit of mischief between The Rock and Austin, keeping both competitors on edge and adding depth to their dynamic. Fans enjoyed the tension Angle created, though Steve could sense that the crowd wasn't taking the match as seriously as the business had hoped.

Babyface matches often struggled to generate intense fan reactions since the audience was already cheering for both stars, unlike the Triple H vs. Undertaker feud, where the fan reactions were clear-cut, with a clear favorite and a clear villain. The hero-villain dynamic in wrestling created a strong, emotional storyline where fans could fully invest in the battle between good and evil. The Rock and Austin, however, didn't have that simple "good vs. evil" framework, which made it harder to generate that same level of passion and unified crowd reaction.

Watching The Rock deliver his fiery promos with the crowd chanting "Rocky!" echoing throughout the arena, Steve began to consider a new direction. He knew The Rock's popularity was explosive and unwavering, and the fans' enthusiasm made it clear who they saw as the main hero. Steve thought it might be the perfect time to fully embrace a heel turn after WrestleMania.

Vince shook his head—not because he was against the idea, but because he was already thinking through the challenges of making it happen. Austin's idea had potential, and Vince could see the possibilities. But he also knew the risk of alienating fans was high. Austin would be a hundred percent willing to take on the role of a ruthless, unapologetic villain, and fuel the kind of rivalry that would keep the fans hooked—even if it meant losing the Stone Cold they thought they knew.

Thus, The Power Trip.

The idea of Austin shaking hands with Mr. McMahon was already a shock to the system, but pairing him with another despised enemy of the fans, Triple H, only magnified the chaos. Together, they'd embark on a rampage, leaving destruction both inside and outside the ring. Their alliance, fueled by power and animosity, was already a force to be reckoned with.

But in-ring Mr. McMahon, never satisfied with just chaos, knew there had to be more—something that would tip the balance even further. He needed an addition, a wildcard, something that would elevate their dominance to new heights.

A gentle reminder that Mr. McMahon owned the business but owned just about everyone.

Everyone.

Watching the current match on TV, the idea hit him.

"Hey, it's Vince." He said through the phone. "Could you send Chyna and Lou Smith to my office after their tag match? Thanks."

…

Lou sat alone in the nearly empty locker room, absentmindedly tracing the word 'heel' on the paper in front of her. It was an early draft of a new storyline, scratched in pen and marker, still missing finalized names, as the writing team weighed their options. Lou Smith's was among them.

In the weeks following the biggest WrestleMania of her career, the entire world seemed to await her next move—a heel turn that everyone believed would push her character to a new level. It felt like the right time. In the Women's Division, there wasn't a standout heel currently making waves, and with the Power Trip storyline constructed, the writers had turned their attention to the reigning Women's Champ.

Lou understood the business along with the entertainment twist within. But still the idea was confusing as it was daunting. She'd built her reputation as the plucky, determined underdog and maintained it for many years—since her first debut as a mystery masked figure named Mystique and then later on unmasking herself as Lou Smith; to suddenly become the villain? She wasn't even sure she knew how.

"Fourteen months in Indy, three years in the company, and not one minute on how to actually be the 'bad guy'." She muttered to herself.

As she glanced up, she caught her own reflection in the mirror, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. That's when Joan slipped into the room and settled beside her with a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Having a meltdown over the heel turn?" Joan asked, her tone light but knowing.

Lou managed a strained smile. Joan was one of the few who understood both the thrill and the struggle of reinvention. Lou sighed, and slipped the papers back into the envelope. "Why did you turn it down, Joan? I mean, you're the Chyna, the Ninth Wonder of the World. You'd nail it in your sleep."

Joan shrugged, crossing her arms. "Because I've been a heel for most of my career. And honestly? If I come back, I want it to mean something different. I've had my time as the villain."

Lou rolled her eyes, letting a hint of frustration seep into her tone. "So they just hand the job to me instead. Fantastic. My reward for all this hard work is a boo to the face."

Joan chuckled, nudging her. "You'd be surprised. There's a thrill to being the heel, a freedom. You get to play in ways you can't as the babyface."

"But what if it all backfires?" Lou looked down at her hands, twisting her fingers in her lap. "I'm not like you. I don't think I know how to pull it off." Her voice was barely a whisper now. "And what if it just doesn't feel right? And then the fans might not like it."

"But that's the point, isn't it? To have the fans hate you—hey now." Joan said, her voice softening. "This isn't some solo work. You're going to have a stable backing you up. Really good pros, I might add. Hunter is already an all-time heel and Austin is just Austin. And then you have Stephanie; she could definitely teach you how to become a world class bitch." She added with a laugh. "Remember, you're not alone on this one."

"I know, but still…I've never been a heel before." Lou's brow furrowed, and after a beat, she looked over at Joan. "Was that it? Turning down the Power Trip because you have to work with Paul and Stephanie?"

Joan's smile faded, and for the first time, Lou saw a flicker of discomfort cross her face. "No." She said quickly, her cheeks reddening. The pause that followed was loaded, and Lou smirked a little. She knew the history between Joan and Paul backstage, and while things were professional now, there were layers Lou didn't need to dig into.

Lou stared at her own reflection in the mirror, her thoughts swirling. "Do you want to go to the cafeteria with me?" Lou said after a while.

"Didn't you just eat after the match?"

"I did but all this stuff makes me hungry." Lou shrugged and grabbed her bag.

Joan shook her head. "Yeah, okay. Lemme grab my stuff too."

When Lou received the finalized script for her post-Mania promo, her stomach knotted in what appeared to be an awkward relief.

The first part detailed Austin's sudden heel turn, set to explode during his WrestleMania match, with him and Mr. McMahon teaming up to beat Rocky down in front of the crowd. Lou was glad enough that her own turn wouldn't be so violent nor immediate. Instead, her revelation would unfold more gradually. She'd find herself in a few key segments where Stephanie and Vince McMahon would be watching her matches, signaling an interest in her as a future investment. With Austin as WWF Champion and Triple H lined up for the Intercontinental title, it made sense for the McMahons to want another champion under their influence.

Even though her heel turn would be more of a slow burn than Austin's, the idea of switching sides still unsettled her. Becoming the 'bad guy' wasn't something she'd ever imagined for herself, and the prospect of embracing that role in the near future made her uneasy.

But for now, she had more immediate concern. For this storyline to work, she first had to retain her title in just a few hours. WrestleMania was calling, and her focus had to be on the show ahead.

The fifth card of the WrestleMania X7; April 1st 2001.

The Contenders:

Ivory, renowned for her technical prowess, was a seasoned veteran who could seamlessly match the intensity and flair of the younger competitors. Her ability to execute precise and methodical moves, blending with experience, made her a formidable presence in the ring.

Chyna, on the other hand, stood out with her sheer physicality. Her muscular build and unmatched strength gave her a distinct advantage over most opponents. No woman could ever really perform a bodyweight military press that effortlessly. That was already a league of its own.

The Champion:

Lou Smith, though the smallest of the three, made up for her size with remarkable agility, reflexes, and flexibility. Her real advantage, however, was her unpredictability—her quick thinking and ability to adapt to any situation made her a dangerous wild card, always keeping her opponents off balance.

And then, The Match:

The energy in the arena was electric as the Women's Championship was on the line. Ivory, the savvy veteran, entered first, her every step radiating focus and determination. Next came Chyna, The Ninth Wonder of the World, her commanding presence igniting thunderous cheers from the crowd eager to see her back in action. Finally, the reigning champion, Lou Smith, made her entrance, her title gleaming over her shoulder and a sly, confident grin spread across her face. She moved with an air of swagger, fully aware she was stepping into the ring with two of the most formidable women in the business—and ready to prove why she was the one holding the gold.

The referee raised the Women's Championship high, igniting a roar from the crowd as the bell rang.

JR: "Here we go! This one's going to be a classic!"

King: "Oh, I love it, JR! Lou Smith's going to need every trick in the book to get past Chyna and Ivory tonight!"

Chyna wasted no time, charging at Lou Smith, who ducked under a vicious clothesline. She rebounded off the ropes but dodged another attack—this time from Ivory. Realizing she was the target, Smith wisely slid out of the ring, smirking at her opponents.

In the ring, Ivory unloaded quick forearms on Chyna, but the Ninth Wonder of the World shrugged them off, slamming Ivory into the corner with a thunderous elbow smash. Smith seized her chance, sneaking back in and delivering a knee buster to Chyna, sending her down, before suplexing Ivory, not once but twice! She attempted a third, but Ivory held fast and reversed into a sit-out neckbreaker, going for a pin. Smith kicked out at two.

Chyna recovered, throwing heavy punches that forced Ivory onto the ropes. With a mighty clothesline, she sent Ivory tumbling to the outside. Before Chyna could focus on Smith, The Champion kipped up, leaping off the ropes to land a high dropkick to Chyna's chest, sending her sprawling outside as well. Spotting both opponents struggling on the floor, Smith bounced off the ropes and soared over the top with a spectacular crossbody dive, crashing into both Chyna and Ivory.

The crowd chanted, "HOLY SMITH! HOLY SMITH!" as The Champion was clearly taking risks, knowing her title hanging in the balance.

(Under the series of chants and cheers, Lou crawled over Joan and whispered, "Are you okay?" - Lou realized she might have landed a bit too high. Although Lisa caught her body to take most of the impact, a good portion of her body fell directly on Joan's head. Joan replied with a squeezing grip on her hand, a sign of all good.)

Lou Smith was the first to get up, and pulled Ivory with her and threw her back into the ring. Smith went for another pinfall, but Chyna stormed back in, grabbing Smith by the hair and launching her across the ring with a brutal military press slam. Chyna tried for another pin on Ivory but the RTc Member reversed with a roll-up for a pin. Stunned, Chyna broke the pinfall with mere milliseconds.

Chyna screamed in frustration and went on a rampage, delivering slams to both opponents before planting Ivory with a spinebuster. The crowd erupted as she signaled for her patented Powerbomb, but Ivory fought back, countering with punches and following up with a sit-out facebuster.

Exhausted, all three women were down, the crowd urging them on. Ivory staggered to her feet and grabbed Smith, setting her up for the Fireman's Carry Driver. Just as she lifted the Champion, Chyna delivered a punishing boot to Ivory's face, knocking her out cold.

Chyna turned to Smith and hoisted her up for the powerbomb, but Smith countered mid-air with a spinning headscissors locked into her signature Octopus Stretch, wrenching Chyna's neck and arm with incredible precision. The crowd was on their feet as Chyna struggled mightily, trying to power out. But Lou tightens the hold, wrenching Chyna's arm and neck with her incredible flexibility.

After what felt like an eternity, Chyna tapped out. And the referee called for the bell.

The crowd exploded as the bell rang, and Lou Smith collapsed in exhaustion but grinned triumphantly. The referee raised her arm and handed back her the championship belt. Smith climbed the ropes, holding the title high, soaking in the admiration of the crowd. Smith's cunning, agility, and determination had secured her reign as champion for another day.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer boomed. "The winner of this match… and still your Women's Champion… LOU SMITH!"

A/N:

Yeah, this one was one random chapter I added on the spot, to twist the knickers. I'm trying out to describe one of Lou Smith's matches just so you have an idea of what Lou's in-ring ability would look like, and what my in-ring narrative would be like.

I dunno… am I doing a good job on this? Or should I just stick it with backstage stuff?