The Next Round (Tiffany)

[Marisol Cardinale]

There was a business-like tone in Marisol's walk to the ring as her theme music played. The fans of course were excited to see the Latin lovely, but she had other things on her mind after OTS. There was a competitive fire in her belly that burned almost as hot as that Latin temper of hers, and both were about to flair up tonight as result of her being caught in an Exploder Suplex for a 1-2-3 win against her aristocratic adversary of several months now.

She stepped in the ring to address the situation.

Tiffany Masterson. What more is there for me to say? You won in Athens at Only The Strong. You did what you said you were going to do, and I would have expected nothing less from a competitor of your caliber.

There's something to be said about just how good you are it would seem. Some might play that off because you're a snob...but I know better than most. The truth is, I've faced you more times this season than anyone else, so I know what it is that you're capable moreso than anyone else who is going into The Diamond's Confilct at XGAMES2.

Or do I?

As she asked the question, the fans were left briefly to ponder it.

Independence Day, inside of Madison Square Garden, you and went to war in an Ironwoman match. I came out on top in that match, but I knew from that moment that you were on a different level from the rest of the pack. You showed that once again by winning the Solstice gauntlet and joining me in the XGAMES main event, and again last week at OTS.

There's one more important thing that you showed me on that night though. You showed me that I have to step into the ring with you again!

And that notion brought out a huge pop from the San Antonio crowd.

Alexis now finds herself in the Devil's Playground match. That leaves just you and me yet again. I only got a little taste of how you've become better the last few months at OTS. Tonight, I want the full meal! ANother round, you versus me, in this ring tonight!

*another pop*

Now, I know you're back there, and I know even more that if theres one thing you wont resist, it's competition and the chance to show your "superiority". Here's another chance for you Tiffany, right here and now!

And so she lowers her mic and stands in waiting for Ms. Masterson's arrival.

[Tiffany Masterson]

"Make Me Bad" played, and sure as the skies were blue on a summer day Tiffany emerged from backstage with a mic in her hand. No entourage accompanied her this night, only her looking just as focused as Marisol standing in the ring. However, as her music slowly faded out, a feint grin came to the young woman's lips before she raised her mic to speak.

"At last. At last at least one of you Diamonds have begun to understand. There were no far-fetched claims on my part when I came here to the XWA." she said, slowly pacing about the stage. "I said that I would show that I am more than just a 'wrestler' and that I am capable of more than the average Diamond can do.

Last week in Athens felt like Deja Vu. I can think back to a similar situation in a similar match against similar opposition. That time it was my friend Alexis and another decorated competitor in Hayley Jonas, and the result...was very similar."

Most of the fans saw that match. They booed her from bringing back the memory.

"It only takes one move to change the course of a match, and for me I have several, but the Exploder suplex-some of you may call it a T-Bone suplex-has become one of my favorites, and why? Because it's as quick as it is effective. Hayley couldn't break up the pin to save Alexis the first time and Alexis couldn't do the same to save you the second. The more I think about it, come XGAMES...who will be fast enough to break up that move then if...no...when...I use it?"

She giggled from that idea. It was a notion that unlike conceptions of her backstage was not far-fetched. It was a dose of reality to everyone that if she did use that move in The Diamond's Conflict there was a strong chance she'd finish 2008 as the Diamond Champion.

"Hmm Hmm, I'm beginning to like my chances at XGAMES...but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Marisol, retribution still isn't yet mine," did she say now, shaking her index finger in the air. "OTS brought me a certain level of satisfaction, but not as much as I could gain defeating you one-on-one. You said that you wished to see what about me has changed, and I just as eagerly wish to show you. That is why I accept your challenge for tonight."

That was about the only thing she said that garnered a cheer from this Texas-sized crowd.

"However, let's do this in a more unique setting. A more strategic encounter. Pure Rules. I wish to make the entire ring into my battleground tonight. What say you to that?"

[Marisol Cardinale]

Pure Rules? Is that how you want it?

Marisol paused for a moment and looked out to the fans.

Is that how San Antonio wants it?

They answer with a collective roar of anticipation.

Well if it's good enough for Texas, then it's good enough for me. You've got your match Tiffany, and you've once again gotten my undivided attention. But the one thing that you will not be getting tonight is retribution. Not tonight, not at XGAMES, not in your life!

You might have caught me with that suplex in Athens, but rest assured that you wont get the chance to do it again tonight! As far as I'm concerned, this is the beginning of Round 2 vetween you and I. Nothing of the past matters from this point on, all that does now is tonight, and the long road to XGAMES.

A road that I intend on reaching the end of before you!

[Tiffany Masterson]

"That road that you speak of to XGAMES Marisol, is going to be a long and winding one indeed, with you and I jockeying for position in collision after collision", Tiffany replied with a stern face, "But you're going to need to understand that this is a marathon and not a sprint."

She grinned. She was seeing now that Marisol as good as she was still was very passionate. Sometimes that can be a bad thing, especially in her mind against someone who is as calculating as Tiffany was.

"Slow and steady will win this race," she continued. "I will remain as I have been all along, confident and competent...and that will be enough to win me the Diamond Title just as it will win me a match tonight against you."

[Marisol Cardinale]

And what you will need to understand is that all of the confidence in the world doesn't serve you any purpose in this ring when you're faced against someone who has that much more desire than you to be victorious. Tonight and every night I step into the ring it's more than just a match for me. It's more than just a chance you show off my skills in the ring, and certainly more than just a hobby. That's something you'll never truly understand Tiffany Masterson, and that's the reason you and I are on different levels with me one level ahead of you!

The fans are 100% behind Marisol. You could feel that passion behind every word she spoke.

All of that probably falls to deaf ears with you though. It's all about being the best for you is it not? Well, every step of the way I'll be in your path to that goal, and tonight is no exception. Tonight, you'll learn another lesson. Yo le enseñará una lección de humildad de esta noche. ¡Prepárate! (I will teach you another lesson in humility tonight. Get ready!)

Most knew what her final words of that moment were, we are in Texas after all. Her theme song plays once again as the two women stare each other down.

Rose: Well fans, it looks like they're gonna do it again! Tiffany vs. Mari-Pure Rules. If it's anything like the matches they've had in the past, this one will be a rocketbuster!