Slaughterhouse

And New

It's Tuesday night and Carmen is sitting in a vanity chair in her dressing room at NXT. It's the first time she's been back since she met Rhea, attacking Lyra Valkyria for her. Since the day that started her journey on the main roster with The Judgment Day.

Now she's back, here to face Lyra for the NXT Women's Championship. Not just face her for it, but win it from her. It'll be the first title of Carmen's career. They're going to use it in her storyline with Raquel and this was all only decided during Raw last night. She's had a 30-minute practice with Lyra on the basic rundown, but the majority of it will be them winging it.

Rhea walks into the dressing room and sees Carmen trembling as she tries to draw on her cheek. She chuckles and takes the eyeliner from her, sitting on the vanity counter and drawing "TJD" on her cheek.

"You know you're going to kill it tonight." Rhea smiles.

"I know but it's my first title run. I don't know how the fans are gonna take it. I'm a heel so I'm expecting to be booed but I'd like to be cheered. But if I'm cheered it means people don't hate me enough which means-"

"Carmen." Rhea laughs a little and holds her face. "Stop. I'm a heel and I'm cheered all the time. Does that mean I'm bad at what I do?"

Carmen shakes her head in Rhea's hands.

"Then stop worrying. Either way you're doing your job well. If the crowd is silent? Then you worry. But they won't be. You're amazing."

With that, Rhea kisses her cheek softly and puts the eyeliner away. Carmen nods and smiles, her trembles going away as she regains her confidence from the pep talk.

There's a knock at the door, signaling that it's time for her to go out. Carmen stands and smiles at Rhea as they make their way to gorilla. Carmen's music plays and she makes her entrance, Rhea going out with her for support.

She slides under the bottom rope into the ring and kicks up in front of Lyra, grinning. The crowd is a mix of cheers and boos, some beginning "Carmen's gonna kill you" chants.

Lyra glares at Carmen as the bell rings, signaling the start of the match.

"You want my title? Huh? Come get it!" Lyra shouts, taunting her.

Carmen shrugs and waves her over, knowing better than to make the first run. Lyra rolls her eyes and runs at her - her first mistake. Carmen sidesteps, shoving on Lyra's back to send her face-first into the turnbuckles.

Lyra's head recoils off them and she groans, rubbing at her nose as she turns. She looks up only to be immediately met with Carmen's boot to her face. She yelps and falls back into the turnbuckles. Carmen hops onto the second ropes around her and grabs her hair, punching at her head.

The crowd counts along while the ref hollers for her to let go. She makes it to ten and jumps down, grabbing a dazed Lyra and pulling her to the center of the ring. She stands her there and runs to bounce off the ropes, setting up for a spear.

Instead of making contact with Lyra's stomach, Lyra takes a play out of her book and sidesteps her. Carmen gasps and can't stop quick enough to avoid bounding straight out of the ring between the middle and top ropes. She nearly crashes to the floor but feels strong arms catch her instead. Setting her right on her feet.

Carmen looks up at Rhea, who is glaring back at her.

"Rookie! Come on go get her! You've got this!" Rhea shouts and tosses Carmen back in the ring.

She grins devilishly at Lyra, a newfound hunger in her core. A look of amusement stains Lyra's eyes as Carmen runs at her screaming. She performs a jump kick, making contact with Carmen's chest and sending her flying backwards onto the floor of the ring.

The ref walks over to a stunned Carmen, asking if she's alright. She slightly signals that she's fine and Lyra pins her. The ref slaps the floor.

1..

"Kick Carmen!"

2..

"Damn it Carmen KICK or I swear to god!" Rhea screams.

Carmen kicks out just before the ref's hand makes contact with the mat. He holds up two fingers and Lyra groans in annoyance. She pulls Carmen up by her hair and begins to throw blows on her head while the ref yells for her to let go of her hair.

Just as she's going to punch for a fifth time, Carmen grabs Lyra's hand and twists her arm hard enough to turn her around and hold it high up her back. Lyra screams in agony and Carmen smirks as she holds her like that.

She doesn't want her to tap, though. She wants to win by pinning her. So just before Lyra taps, Carmen spins her around, still holding her arm, and super kicks her in the face. The impact sends her falling onto her back in the ring. Carmen pumps up the crowd by tapping her elbow and shouting. They start screaming and chanting slaughterhouse.

Carmen jumps into the air and lands with her elbow on Lyra's side, knocking whatever breath she had left in her straight out of her body. She pulls one of her legs up and intertwines them with her own in her signature pin.

She watches Rhea as the ref drops to his knees and counts, licking her lips and smirking. She's teasing her, knowing Rhea hates her pinning people like this. Judging by the look on Rhea's face, she knows she's trying to piss her off and it's working.

1..2..3!

The match is over and Carmen's music plays. She tosses an exhausted, and breaking character by grinning, Lyra Valkyria out of the ring and onto the floor before standing.

Rhea slides under the ropes and does small jumps around Carmen in excitement. She's crying with happiness, both for show and for real, as the ref hands her the NXT Women's Championship title belt.

"Here is your winner! And NEW NXT Women's Champion! Carmen Steele!" The announcer shouts

Carmen grabs the belt and holds it up with one arm as Rhea holds up her other. She looks down at a retreating Lyra and winks.

"Welcome to slaughterhouse territory baby!" She shouts.

"Let's get the boys we're celebrating!" Rhea shouts.

She drops Carmen's arm and covers her mouth as she whispers in her ear. What she says makes Carmen grin and bite her lip. The crowd goes wild at the sight.

"After I punish you, you little fucking brat."