>>18488312[A few minutes later, at a backstage press conference]
An exhausted Maria sits with the belt, looking at the flash of the cameras as a microphone is put into her hands.
The now Intercontinental Champion reluctantly takes it as she tries to find the words and gather her breath.
>That was...a hell of a battleMaria starts, laying her hand on the title.
>After months of fighting, I finally have my hands on what I wanted for so long. And throughout my carreer here in the WWA, I have come to realize one thing.She hoists the title over her shoulder, leaning further into the mic.
>That this is going to be my last title. After this one. I think it's time to call it quits. My knees feel like dust, my back is shot and I feel pain in places I haven't felt in years. Now I'm not saying I'm vacating this belt. I'm going to fight with every inch of my being until I lose it. But when I do, that's when it's enough. I've proven it to myself that I can still be a champion, but the future belongs to the young talent, wrestlers like Holly Hope-Again, Nikki Kade, Sola Fire, Nico Katz. Those are the people should have their eyes on. Not me, a woman close to the end of her carreer.>But about Nikki Kade...Maria looks around for the hardcam for a second before looking into it.
>Don't let the loss of this title get you down dear. I'm not going to repeat what I said to you during our dinner, but I meant every word of it. Sooner rather then later you're going to have championship gold around your waist again. You have what it takes. I'll gladly take you on again for this title. Just... not today, I'm going to have a long soak in a bath and put ice on my lower back. No more questions.Not even waiting for the journalists to ask their questions, Maria struggles to get up on her feet, taking the IC belt around her shoulders before limping her way further backstage. Gods she was hurting.
