Ante up (Invite)

[ashley]

As Overload returns from commercial, the PA announce Liz Perez stands in the ring.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome...ASHLEY DIAMOND!!!

Ashley's theme cues over the PA, and out from backstage she comes.

Tony: Here comes one of the most impressive female athletes in our industry. The one and only Ashley Diamond. Tonight, she finds herself matched up yet again against Cyn Nister, who seems to have made it her mission to beat her.

Travis: She seems to believe the only way for her to truly cross over into the next tier of the division is by beating the best competitor the division has to offer. I can't argue with her logic, actually.

Ashley enters the ring and is handed the mic from Perez. The crowd cheers on as Ashley begins her address.

The biggest mistake you can make in this sport, or any sport for that matter, is overlooking your opponent. In Pro Wrestling, you're only as good as your last win. Doesn't matter how many of them you've racked up. It's your last match that determines how your next one will be. If it's a win, you come in with confidence. If it's a loss, you come in cautiously. Especially when your opponent is someone you've faced before. Even more so when it's someone you've beaten. Like me and Cyn Nister. We've only faced each other once, and we all know what the outcome was. But since that match, Cyn seems to have made it her business...if not her mission, to beat me. Of course, she wasn't the only one. Kim Hunter was in the mix as well. Two women seeking the same thing, a match against me, and a chance to beat me in said match.

A quick camera change highlights a few Cyn Nister and Kim Hunter signs in the crowd.

The two of them went at it in Japan for that chance, and Cyn came out on top. Something she's done a lot of against Kim. Dare I say, Cyn's managed to do something only one other female in the sport has ever done, beat Kim on numerous occasions, and decisively. But like I said, you're only as good as your last win. Cyn's last match was a win, yes. But her last match against me, was a loss. And that leads us to tonight. Cyn, you and I step in the ring to do it all over again. And I hope you've taken your lessons well. Those few weeks ago, I stood in this ring and told you face to face that in order to beat me, you need to be at the top of the top of your game. And nothing's changed since. Tonight Cyn, is the night you either put up, or shut up. You wanna beat the best? Let's see if you're up to the task this time.

As Ashley lowers her mic, the entrance theme of Cyn Nister cues up.

Tony: Looks like we're not gonna have to wait long to hear what Cyn's got to say on the matter.

[cyn]

Out from backstage comes Cyn Nister. Already with mic in hand, she makes the walk down to ringside, joining Ashley within. Her music fades, and she wastes little time in her response.

Once again, another passionate speech by Ms. XWA. A round of applause ladies and gents.

She gives an antagonistic applause.

Everything you just said might sound good for the ratings, and might boost your already overswelled popularity with the fans. But to someone like me, all it is...is hot air. Useless drivel spoken by someone who's clearly a little to high on herself. The problem with being so high up the mountain, is when you fall off of it, it's a long, looooooooooooooooong way down. For the last 4 years, you've been the top draw in XWA's Diamond Division. When you think of XWA in general, you think of Ashley Diamond. No disrespect to some of the males like Scott O'Dell, Kayn or Adam Devlin, but you and you alone are the poster child of XWA. You represent this company in every possible way. For all of it's good as well as it's bad.

You've been touted as the best pure female wrestler in the world by critics, fansites, forums and magazines the world over. Clearly, everyone is as jaded as you are. You're the best compared to whom? The rest of the Diamond Division? HAAA!!! I can count on one hand the number of Diamonds I'd even waste my time getting in the ring with. Ironic part? All of them are on Overload. The grid of competition in this company has been paltry at best for years. When you look at Takedown, how the hell is it that Jamie Fury, a woman who's only been wrestling 3 years now is the most dominant female in their Diamond Division? If that doesn't tell you how weak the grid is, I don't know what does. When I signed to compete here last year, it was under the premise that I'd be competing against the best in the world. I know women still wrestling in the indies who are 100 times better then damn near the whole Diamond roster. Your sister went as far as actually bringing one of them in. And what did she do? Only beat one of the most established females, a former Onyx Champion not once, but twice.

Travis: She of course speaks of the newcomer Megan Gold's consecutive wins over Michelle Marx.

The truth of the matter is, your a very big fish in a very, very small pond. And all that's available for you is guppies and gold fish. When's the last time you can say you got in the ring with a great white, eh Ashley? I'll tell you. The last time we were in the ring. One split second was all it took. I made a simple mistake the 80% of the rest of the Diamonds would've never keyed in on. But you did, took advantage of it, and before I knew it I was in a Sharpshooter faster then I could blink. A true testament to your ability. But tonight? Don't expect to get as lucky the 2nd time around. What's the saying? "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Well, tonight my dear, the shame is going be yours and yours alone to bare.

[ashley]

And so the truth finally reveals itself.

Ashley nods, then continues.

Cyn, I've got nothing but respect for you. But you sound like every other female who's come to XWA from other organizations going on and on about some conspiracy theory to keep the *ahem* "Home Grown" talent ahead of the "outsiders". Which is a complete load of crap. Four years ago, do you know who it was that ended my reign as Diamond Champion? A gal by the name of Angel Storm, who built her career in TNB wrestling. The 1st ever Onyx Champion was my mentor Alundra Jade, who came into XWA and beat my friend Sayuri and Anjelyka to establish the title. And then of course there's Kim Hunter and Heather Fierhart. Two of the most recognizable names in women's wrestling. Both have been champions here, both started their careers in other companies. You can stand there and talk down on the rest of the roster until you're blue in the face. Your words and your actions tell me one thing, and one thing only. For as fearsome and impressive a talent you are, it's plain as day why you're so fixated on beating me.

You're jealous.

Tony: She said it, not me. But I've been leaning that direction since the start of this sordid tale.

Travis: Jealous? What the hell does Cyn Nister have to be jealous about?

In me, you see where you want your career to be. So by beating me, something in that brain of yours thinks it'll skyrocket you into the category of being one of the best, if not THE best. Well I've got news for you, Cyn. Beating me is only the tip of the iceberg. You've already got wins over Kim, but you'd need a hell of a lot more. You'd need to challenge and beat A few more people before you're on top of the mountain you're trying to climb. And since one of them, Alundra Jada...is retiring after this month, I think you might wanna rethink your strategy as far as raising up the ranks. That being said, if I where to lose to you tonight, there'd be no shame in it for me. You're wouldn't be the 1st person to have done it. I've been beat plenty of times. But the women who've beaten me where at there very best on that given night. Just like you'd better be tonight. Otherwise, that lil' speech of yours goes right outta the window.

[cyn]

Cyn leans in close to Ashley as she speaks her final reply.

It's not my best you should be worried about, luv. It's my worst. Because I'm at my best, when I'm at my worst.

Cyn'smusic cues up. She antagonistically blows a kiss in the direction of Ashley before preparing to leave the ring.

Tony: At her best when she's at her worst? Something tells me this is going to go far beyond the realm of a typical wrestling match.

Travis: It's clear to this announcer that Cyn Nister has a point to prove. And she's willing to prove it by any means necessary. We've seen glimpse of how dangerous she is against Kim Hunter. Something tells me we're going to see another level to what she's capable of.