Before the Bell: New Year, New Queens (Ep. 04)

Kelsey Ollander: Good morning, and thank you for joining us for the special edition of Before the Bell: New Year, New Queens, New Events. This morning we have special guest Natalie Dormer from the League of Mighty Women who will be sitting with us to show support for the Queens and discuss with us recent events. We also have recent addition, co-managed fighter Katherine McNamara with us, and we have the rest of the queens. We have a Elyse Levesque, Krysten Ritter, Halston Sage, Madelaine Petsch, Saraya, Janet Montgomery, Kelli Berglund, Natasha Calis, Tiera Skovbye. We're also joined by general manager and CEO, Amy Acker, COO Zooey Deschanel as well as Director of Press Relations Jennifer Morrison.

Group: Thanks for having us!

Kelsey Ollander: Natalie, let's start this roundtable off with you. What made you decide to support the Queens in this manner? It is something that from my understanding; took a lot of background work between the League of Mighty Women and Queens of Absolution to arrange but now that you're here it is something we do appreciate, and your perspective will be one that we take into great consideration.

Natalie Dormer: The Queens are rising star in the FCBA and I felt like they could use another English perspective. Don't get me wrong. Saraya is amazing but sometimes you need a level head and sometimes you need Saraya.

Saraya: Well, this is our house weather Lookout Boxing! wants to admit it or not.

Natalie Dormer: You know Lookout Boxing! is gunning for you right? They want to prove that it's not your house. In fact, the entire stable is gunning for you, and might be gunning for the entire Queens but at the same time you knock them out they're going to learn the lesson.

Jennifer Morrison: A single spark can ignite a war.

Zooey Deschanel: Do you know how many questions I have been fielding about how Tiera so badly beat Victoria and humiliated her. I think the CWF should have realized that if they were going to enter a David versus Goliath storyline that Goliath might win.

Amy Acker: Frankly, I was surprised they accepted the match. They had a lot of faith in Victoria.

Tiera Skovbye: So much for that faith, I beat her down and made sure her fans knew who the queen was.

Natasha Calis: Speaking of which we have the February pay-per-view “From the Queens with Love 2023” airing on February 14. I offered to take her place to make it more of a fair match, but Victoria wanted to face Tiera again to redeem herself. We will see what happens; anything is possible, But do I think Victoria stands a chance? Not really, I think this is the story where Goliath wins.

Madelaine Petsch: I feel like hosting “From the Queens with Love” is actually going to be pretty fun, especially with the match lineup we have with the CWF; it is actually going to be great arrangement. I am not sure who's going to win. Obviously, I am biased and going to say we are and it's in our second home of Canada so there's gonna be a lot of fans for the Queens but we'll see how many fans show up to support the CWF; I’m sure there will be a lot of CWF fans.

Natalie Dormer: I didn’t know you were hosting.

Jennifer Morrison: We hadn’t announced it yet. Madelaine wanted to do it since it’s our Valentines Day special.

Natalie Dormer: I see.

Kelsey Ollander: Let’s move on from the CWF. Tell us, what are the plans for the next coming months for the Queens?

Katherine McNamara: I plan on bolstering the flyweight division. It's an honor to be a co-managed member inducted into the Queens; to be a queen. And Victoria if you're listening right now, if you're watching, I'll take you on.

Amy Acker: Kat’s eager, and I like it! But as to what the Queens are going to be doing; well I think in January we might start doing something with Lookout because tensions are sort of rising between Saraya and Lookout. I think we just need to blow off some steam and figure out who's house it actually is but honestly, I hope it becomes a bigger event that’s just something that is as big as the CWF event that we're hosting.

Jennifer Morrison: (laughing) Could you imagine Jenna Coleman versus Tiera. That’s like asking to be defeated. Fortunately, they have a lot of fighters to choose from that we can take the wind from their sails out of.

Zooey Deschanel: But if Jenna won, that would be one heck of a David versus Goliath story.

Natasha Calis: And I’d be next in line to beat her down.

Katherine McNamara: Can I join you?

Natasha Calis: Sure!

Zooey Deschanel: Then there’s PLP.

Kelsey Ollander: What about PLP?

Halston Sage: I owe Ashley Benson a rematch. In more ways than one.

Kelli Berglund: I don’t even know what stable Olivia Holt is a part of at this point and I don’t really care. Livvy, if you’re watching: I’m back and here to teach you a few lessons. Are you woman enough to take me on this January or did I scare you enough when we were a bit younger?

Elyse Levesque: As for Krysten and I; are there any welterweights willing to take us on? I feel like we might have scared them off after they’ve seen what happens to our opponents in the ring.

Krysten Ritter: (laughing) Well, at least we keep the medics employed.

Janet Montgomery: I really think we’re just about willing to take on anyone in January. New Year after all.

Natalie Dormer: Don’t get too overconfident Krysten, remember that Alexis Ren did beat you.

Krysten Ritter: We don’t talk about that.

Jennifer Morrison: You know you just gave the press free ammo, right?

Krysten Ritter: F*ck.

Janet Montgomery: Especially Tractorpull.

Zooey Deschanel: How are they even a real magazine that people actually get predictions from?

Amy Acker: Well, you can tell their bias; apparently the rumor mill is churning with the fact that they picked Jenny McCarthy to win over Krysten is because McCarthy complained too much.

Krysten Ritter: (sarcastically) I bet they love that choice now.

(Collective Laugh)

Janet Montgomery: I would have loved to see the look on Tess’ face seeing all the bruises Jenny had. You really did a number on her.

Krysten Ritter: What can I say? She’s a has been and quite frankly, rather annoying. The only thing I regret is not punching her more.

Elyse Levesque: You would have broken her if you did that. Not that I would complain.

Natalie Dormer: And the CWF General Manager says Canadians are supposed to be nice. Obviously, she’s never met a Canadian.

Elyse Levesque: We’re just friendly to a point. That point doesn’t include a boxing ring.

Krysten Ritter: There’s a reason she and I support each other.

Kelli Berglund: Well, that’s true of all of us. Unity is probably our strongest suit. Admittedly, Lookout has that too.

Kelsey Ollander: So, would you all say that it’s an even match between the two stables?

Zooey Deschanel: I wouldn’t go that far.

Natalie Dormer: Watching you all fight I’ve noticed the technical defense and the brutal offense. If I were to put it into words, I’d say you all are glass cannons. That can be very dangerous but it can also be your greatest weakness.

Amy Acker: Kat, of course, you have access to two training centers. The Fates gym and our training facility.

Katherine McNamara: Double the benefit. I already train with Fates but now I learn how the Queens fight. To me, that’s a win-win as I would have both styles to combine. Although ‘training facility’ might be an understatement.

Zooey Deschanel: That’s what millions of dollars can buy you.

Natalie Dormer: That’s the one thing about the Queens. You all didn’t have to work from the bottom to establish yourselves before going into the FCBA. One day you just appeared on the scene. I think that has pros and cons.

Amy Acker: As much as I have to agree with you Natalie, it still is what it is.

Saraya: It affords us opportunities early on. Watch out Lookout!

Jennifer Morrison: Well, I guess they’re gunning for us - we might as well gun for them.

Kelsey Ollander: Do you have any idea what your next event is going to be?

Amy Acker: Not yet. With the heightened tension between two stables I’m sure something will naturally happen.

Halston Sage: Did anyone notice the time; we’re going to be late for the meet and greet with fans.

Elyse Levesque: You’re right.

Krysten Ritter: You know I have to say this but some of my male fans ask me to arm wrestle them or punch them in the face.

Elyse Levesque: Wait, what?

Krysten Ritter: (laughing) I don’t mind doing it either; it keeps them happy. Not that I’d really punch someone hard enough to knock them out or anything.

Saraya: That reminds me of the people that want to experience the PTO.

Elyse Levesque: We are so having a talk after this.

Kelsey Ollander: Well, with that, we’re going to wrap things up here so that the girls can go meet their fans. Kat, the next time you’re on - please tell us about the reception you receive. For now, I’m Kelsey Ollander; have a great day.