And 1 to go (Channelle)

[alundra]

The Mandalay Bay Events Center comes to it's feet as Alundra Jade's music begins to play. She steps out into the arena to the cheers of the fans. A smile hits her face from the show of adoration, and she walks down to ringside. Inside of the ring, she's handed a mic. She then turns to her fans and speaks about the events of last week's program.

Well, what can you say about last week, eh folks? I faced Channelle in a Fight To The Finish match, and I lost. And when I say I lost, I mean I lost Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig. Final score...Channelle 5, Alundra 0. Channelle came in with a sound strategy, which was stay on the attack. And it worked for her. And because of it, she won the match. THIS time. Because tonight's a new night. And tonight's going to be another match. This time, a match of my choosing. For those who forgot, we've got a wager going on for the Glitter Main Event at Solstice. If I would have won both matches, I'd get to choose the match. If she wins both, she chooses. And if I win tonight, then there is no choice, and we have a good ol' fashion one on one. So you'd think the pressure is on for me, right?


You couldn't be more wrong if you think that one.

With a confident nod of her head, the fans respond with cheer. Alundra zeros in and continues her speech.

I don't bother myself with those kinds of thoughts. Because when you do, you take yourself out of the fight. When you're back's against the wall, the last thing you do is dwell on that fact. Oh no, that's never been my style. And this damn sure isn't the 1st time I've been between a rock and a hard place as far as a World Title goes. Not the 1st time, certainly not the last. So, I guess everyone's wondering what my choice of match for this week is going to be, eh? Well...before I go ahead and announce it, I'd like for our "coveted" Diamond Champion to come on down to the ring.

Alundra lowers her mic, turning her attention to the set as she and the rest of the arena await the arrival of Channelle.

[Channelle Valencia]

Channelle's theme begins to play right on cue, and right on cue the fans cheers for the challenger change to boos for the champion as she smirks her way down the aisle towards the ring. With a mic in her hand opposite the Diamond Championship belt, she was already ready to get a couple of words in. Stepping inside the ring, she rests the belt on her shoulder, then raises the mic to her lips.

You know something, the whole day while I was out getting treated like the superstar that I am...I was thinking to myself what am I going to say come Glitter? I mean seven days ago, I pretty much showed the world why I'm the Diamond Champion...AGAIN, winning a match in convincing fashion.

Then it dawned on me, what is there left to say? I've been sayin' it ever since I won this belt and long before I won it...the fact that I am the real deal, the real goods and just ooooooh so damn good that I'm too good for my own good! You people just don't seem to fathom my sheer awesomeness though, and you know something...it doesn't even phase me if you simple minded idiots don't know a good thing when you see it, because the fact of the matter is that I'm the champion, and just when you think to yourselves "she doesn't deserve that title", I come out here and I prove you ALL WRONG!!!

Locking eyes with Alundra now, she continues...

Now Al, I'm not going to gloat about winning last week, because like you said, it's last week. The past is in the past, and we're in the present. THAT'S what I'm going to gloat about! I don't see things as me hitting you with five "Bow-Chicka-Waw-Waws" in one sitting, nope! I see it for what it is in the end: Channelle 1-Alundra 0.

Now you can talk all you want about this not being a pressure situation, but c'mon...how serious can you be even coming up with something like that? You know what's the story...you said it yourself. You've got to win to make it a "standard issue" match at Solstice. Tonight, whether you like it or not is a "must win" situation for you, because if I win tonight you don't know what my twisted little blonde mind is going to come up with for Solstice.

Like I said, I'm the champion...and like I said a while back, someone is going to have to take this title away from me, and in your case if you don't beat me tonight in whatever you come up with, you'd better trust and believe that it's gonna be an uphill climb doing that.

So, what's on the menu for the evening then? Huh?

[alundra]

As Alundra brushes away her bangs from her face, she once again brings her mic up to speak.

Well, Channelle. Let me 1st say that the term "Must Win Situation" was created by some sportscaster who wanted to over hype the obvious. Once a person puts themselves in that mindset, that's what it becomes. And winning becomes more important then doing your best. You over compensate because you feel you've got the short end of it, and you make careless mistakes. And I'm not about making mistakes. Last week, like I said...you beat me. And it wasn't because I made mistakes. Oh no. I wrestled to my own gameplan. It's just the fact that your gameplan was better that night. Simple as that. I've never been, and never will be the kind of competitor to come out and say I'm the best in the business. Because there's always the time when the torch is past.

I've been in this business for 8 years. I am the oldest female on roster, and I make no bones about that fact. There was once a time in my career that I was in the same spot as you. An upstart who quickly rose to Championship status in whom everyone thought wasn't worthy. Of course for me, it was over in Japan, a place steeped in tradition. Now I know that you've done some work over in Japan. I know that you did some training over in Japan. So...that pretty much leads me into the match choice of the evening. We all know you can fight. We all know you can brawl. But tonight? We find out how well you can wrestle. Because tonight, my choice of match is quite simple. As traditional a match you can have in XWA, a Pure Rules contest. That's right. You and me, Pure Rules. That's my choice of tonight's match.

The fans in the arena were indeed excited by the selection made by Alundra.

[Channelle Valencia]

Pure Rules?

Her eyebrow raises as she looks around to the crowd's response to Alundra's match choice. They all seemed to like it.

Now isn't that something. I have to say I like the idea, Al...because Pure Rules above all else is a kind of match that leaves no room for mistakes. It's pure wrestling perfection...and let's face it *hmm hmm* if that's not me then I don't know what is!

Like you said, last week you and I came in with gameplans, and mines in the one that worked to perfection. Tonight though, it's going to be a totally different gameplan needed. Like the whole understory of this entire situation between you and me, it's going to come down to who makes the big finish, and that's going to be my gameplan right there-finish the job and go into Solstice right where it is that I rightfully belong-the driver's seat.

You talked about how it was when you started, well the game is a little different now. Nowadays, you have to take the respect that you demand, and if you don't get it...then well, you just take success instead and shove that in everyone's face! You have no idea how much I enjoy being the Diamond Champion. This belt right here is a symbol, THE symbol of the absolute best that women's wrestling today has to offer and it's on MY shoulder. The longer I hold it, the more everyone else-no matter how much they want to deny it-realizes that I am every bit as good as I say that I am. The only thing sweeter than that is the fact that I got it by doing things my way. I do everything my way Alundra, and my mission tonight is to go into Solstice defending this title my way.

[alundra]

Alundra grins as result of Channelle's response. Cocky as she was, and despite the fact that they were clearly from two different worlds, Channelle's words were exactly what Alundra would have said in the same position. A tell tale sign that she certainly had the swagger of a champion.

I'd expect nothing less. And I'll agree with you on the fact that things have changed from when I was you superstar like you. In this day and age of Pro Wrestling, it's all about making your own waves. It's all about standing out from the pack on your own terms. And thus far, you've managed to do just that. But as someone who's held a whooooooooooole bunch of titles in her career, just remember that just as fast as you rise, you can fall just the same. I saw your fortitude at ID08. And I saw your relentlessness last week. Tonight, I see your skill. Tonight, there's no gimmicks. No X-Factors. There's you, me, the ref, and the task at hand. And to the winner goes either a chance to stack the deck in your case, or a chance to make things Eve Steven in my own. I'd say good luck, but you know as well as I do that luck isn't going to have anything to do with who comes out with their hand raised tonight.

Alundra awaits the final reaction of Channelle.