4 Road Cross (O2Diamond Cruciblers)

[okami]

Matt Goldman: "What's this? Do we have a ..."

BuZZ BeRmaN: "Is that??"

Matt Goldman: "It is!"

The music hits its unmistakable identity and the crowd is going crazy as it grows in power and sound.

BuZZ BeRmaN: "Is this legal?"

Matt Goldman: "Only in Japan, Buzz and here comes one of her finest representatives now!"

Okami comes through the curtain with the very first lyrics, bringing cheers from the crowd and recognition from the announcers. It was Ring Rage and the title was on line. That deserved special music from one of the four competitors. The crowd smiled, danced and had some fun with it. That was it's intended effect as Okami made her way to the ring. She slapped hands and pressed her hands together in spirit to the people she passed. She was happy they were entertained. She could feel the positive energy around her.

Matt Goldman: "Not her usual music but make no mistake about it, The Pilgrim of the Path has taken her step into Ring Rage and The XWA Diamond Championship Crucible."

BuZZ BeRmaN: "I'm surprised to see her in such good spirits after feeling the full power of Fury's 'Fatal Fury'.

Matt Goldman: "Say that three times fast. Jamie Fury did what she set out to do and that was even the score going in to Ring Rage. It was another close match between those two and their contrasting styles."

BuZZ BeRmaN: "Close is right and that's just what the Champion needed before this huge match tonight. I think Fury needed the slap of defeat to get her back to 100%. But now she has to be on it, because it's not only Okami looking across at her. Now there are two more."

Matt Goldman: "Paige Monroe and Sireena earned the final two spots in The Crucible. They also add two more styles to the mix."

BuZZ BeRmaN: "The chemistry just became a little more volatile as Paige Monroe is no fan of Okami Hawaito and Sireena has taken a vow of violence."

Matt Goldman: "Don't you mean silence?"

BuZZ BeRmaN: "No, I said exactly what I meant."

In the ring the music had faded away and the Toronto crowd cheered one more time for the good time. Okami nodded her head and smiled. Her cape trailing behind her as she brought a microphone to her masked face.

"Thank you Toronto. I am so happy the path has come here to you."

Okami bowed her head in thanks and the crowd cheered some more.

"I know I will learn much tonight with you and the Diamond Championship."

The crowd cheered again, it was a big night for the company and her champions.

"Silver and Gold bring out the best in people. Silver and Gold bring out the worst in people too. Metal is like danger. Danger is like the path. It shows the world who you really are inside. It shows yourself the same thing."

"I have seen Monroe, Paige before."

The crowd boo'd loudly, but Okami just shook her head in a sort of quiet confusion.

"She is eaten by her own darkness. She hates for no reason that I know and that makes her dangerous. She is blind hate with no soul. I thought she was on the path with me. But now I see she is one of its many monsters. It does not grow. It does not live. It only feeds on that hate and then makes more. It never ends. It never makes sense."

Okami felt heavy with the thoughts of of Paige Monroe, so she turned her attention to the next.

"I have seen Sireena."

A mixed response from the crowd. It was hard to tell.

"But I have never seen her eyes. We have never crossed... paths. I look forward to seeing who she is for the first time. I think she has seen many places. Maybe I will finally see them through her."

Okami stopped moving and looked out at the crowd.

"I have seen Fury, Jamie!"

The crowd popped big for the Champion's name. Okami would not argue. Her fights with Jamie Fury had only deepened her respect for the Diamond Champion. That respect had already been very deep before.

"But I have never seen someone like her before. She is original. She is a champion, and that is her true face. That is who she is under the weight of metal. That is who she is on the path. I am honored to meet her again."

Perhaps Okami was going to continue. Or maybe she was finished. But just then more music began to play and faces turned to the entrance.

[Jamie Fury]

The sound Jamie Fury's theme begins to play and the fans get to their feet as the current Diamond Champion steps out to the stage.

Goldman: Speaking of which, here comes the champ herself! Listen to these fans here, Buzz!

Buzz: Yeah, they love the woman! They love both of these women actually. They've gotta be two of the classiest women in the business.

Goldman: I think that goes without saying...forget the incredible talent they both possess in the ring, both Fury and Okami have really risen women's wrestling in the XWA with what they've accomplished. They're past two matches were absolute classics!

Her trip to the ring was met with plenty of high fives and hellos to the many adoring fans. The title belt on her shoulder, she steps into the ring where stands Okami, small in size by far to the the champion, but their spirits were equal. So too the admiration of the XWA's fans.

Whoever in the XWA's marketing department that came up with the slogan for tonight should get a big, fat raise, because tonight really is a night than can change everything. It can change lives...it can change careers...it can change the very landscape of the XWA as we know it...and I'm living proof.

At this very event, in this very match is where I became Diamond Champion for the second time in my career, and it was the beginning of six or so months that have defined who I am and what I mean to this business and most importantly this company. Tonight can easily be the beginning of that journey for any one of you who are in this match with me.

Her eyes zero in to Okami's through the mask.

Okami, the path as you've called it that you walk is one of honor. One that very few people can say they walk down, especially in this cut-throat business. If there's anyone who deserves to be a champion, it's you. But we have two others who'll be stepping into this match on two paths of their own. I suppose the question is whether or not they walk the path of a champion.

You and I, we both know where we stand and where we belong. It's the reason why all of the fans stand by us. It's the reason why we're humble in victory and gracious in defeat. Some people squander opportunities like this, or take them for granted, but not us. We know exactly what this match means to not just us, but to all of these fans...

*cheering*

...and to the Diamond Division of TakeDown. This could very well be my last night as Diamond Champion, and I don't know who if that's the case I'll be "passing the torch" to. Someone who will carry this title with pride and honor, or with ego and anger. All I know is that once again I have to step through these ropes and put everything I have into every single moment of this match, and right now...that's all that matters to me.

I know that right now, you've got to feel the exact same way.

[okami]

Matt Goldman: "The Champion has a way with words."

BuZZ BeRmaN: That's because, unlike most, she knows what she is talking about. Ring Rage is the one event where the Champion's advantage is stripped away and they have to claw and fight like they were making a name for themselves all over again."

Matt Goldman: "Well I agree with Jamie, these two women have taken this struggling Takedown division on their backs and have delivered some great matches and promos this season. But just like you said Buzz, none of that matters now. They are going to have to scratch and claw their way through this one, and keep their eyes wide open on Paige and Sireena as well as each other."

Okami looked up at Jamie and she felt the pride of the moment even more after Jamie's speech. She nods in strong agreement.

"The future is never important, Fury-san. The past is only a lesson. You have taught me many things during our time. But the most important thing is to live each breath. That is how I defeated you."

Some of Okami's fans cheered.

"I think that is how you defeated me."

Fury's fans cheered the loudest of course. Okami smiled at the sound of the fans. But did not loose her focus.

"Tonight I respect you too much, Fury-san. Tonight, I respect this business too much. Tonight, I respect these people too much!"

Okami pointed out to them all and they cheered again.

"I respect it all too much to give it anything less. I promise."

Okami pressed her hands together, and bowed her head in thanks to the path and all the places it had taken her and all of its splendid gifts.

[mrfeelnothing]

If almost on cue the arena is filled with the thundering sounds of Hatebreed's "Live for This."

"LET'S GO!"

The crowd begins to boo, an exact opposite of the admiration they were just showing Fury and Okami.

Monroe appears from behind the curtain with a microphone in hand. She stands that the top of the ramp soaking up the boos from the crowd. She looks around and brings the microphone to her lips.

How about that for welcoming ovation, quite a difference isn't it? For the last few minutes all I've heard it how much you two ladies respect each other. I've heard about how much you respect these people. She points to the crowd. But what I haven't heard is about how much you really want to beat each other until the other lady can't get up. You two lack truth there.

You see Okami you can come out here and say that I'm full of hate and darkness. You even went so far to say that I'm blinded by it. When the truth is my eyes have never been more clear. I came into this company looking to prove something to myself and to everyone that followes this great sport.That I deserve to competing against the best women wrestlers in the business. That was a promise I made to myself, NO ONE ELSE! I'll be the first to admit the actions I've taken to fulfill that goal may not have been the most respectable, but look at where they've lead me. Look at where the road as taken me. I'm in a match for the XWA Diamond's championship.


Monroe begins walking down the ramp, stopping in the middle.

Matt Goldman: You know what I hate to admit it Buzz but Monroe has a point. She has positioned herself in a major title match up against the best this company has to offer.

I didn't come into this company looking to make friends, I came to win and to be the best. You two can talk about respecting each other all you want. What do you think Fury is going to do to you Okami once that bell rings? You think she forgot about that victory you got over her a few weeks back? I highly doubt it. You exposed a chink in her armor. For the past year she has been running over this division like a tank. And you proved that she could be beaten. So much that she had to challenge you again just to prove her dominance.

BuZZ BeRmaN: I don't know if that is the reason Fury challenged her to a rematch, she might have just wanted to give the fans another showcase of the best women's wrestling around.

You two can dance around the truth all you want. You can shake hands, blow kisses to the crowd, hell you can even hug it out. But just know this once the bell rings and the holding hands is done, we will have a war here tonight. And I plan on being the woman standing when the smoke clears.

Monroe lowers the microphone and waits for a response from either lady.

[Jamie Fury]

Paige, you make it sound as if we don't know that tonight is going to be tough. We already know it's going to be physical. We already know it's going to be intense...

The champ now had her attention focused on the newcomer Paige Monroe, a woman she'd yet to have faced. Her words were strong, but Jamie felt them to be a bit mislead as well.

...but what you need to understand is this. The spirit of competition burns brighter, holds truer and stands stronger than a killer instinct, a mean streak or any other kind of rage, anger or disdain you can hold towards anyone. It's really easy to dislike someone in this business, but to respect someone takes something else. A quality that few people who steps through these ropes can say that they have. The best way to describe it is "the love of the game".

Everyone has their reasons for becoming a part of this brother and SISTERhood called pro wrestling. Some people...most I'd say, do it for themselves. Their own gain, their own glory and their own agenda. Then you have that rare breed that do it for something more than themselves. They do it for the fans...

Those fans rally behind her with cheers...

...they do it for the tradition. They do it for the history, to have their name etched in the annals of time...remembered by generations beyond their time in the ring. That's the difference between the great ones in this sport and the legends.

There've been women before me who've meant something to this business, to this title...and there've been women who had it only to use it as bragging rights. Their prerogatives are their own, but in the end it's as it's been said before, winning and losing is only a small part of what it means to be "the best" as you say.

When you understand that is when your on the path to truly being one of them, Monroe...otherwise, it won't matter whether you win tonight or not. Some people make history, others are just footnotes in it. That's not up to you to decide Paige...it's up to them!

Pointing out to the crowd, they respond with another huge pop as she lowered her mic.

[mrfeelnothing]

Monroe takes in the words of the XWA Diamond Champion, she then slowly begins to walk to the ring. She never takes her eyes off of the two women in the ring, as she enters the ring.

Fury..

Fury..

FURY...

As expected you reply with some invigorating speech about how much respect and gratitude you have for these people.

Points to the crowd.

And you're right there have been many women that have given their blood and sweat for this business. They have laid the bricks for this road we now walk. But what you need to do is get off your high horse. This is a business and rather or not you want to admit it, every woman in the back is here to prove they are the best. You and Okami here simply like to pander to these sheep in the crowd. Why? Who knows maybe it's just to hear their cheers maybe it's to sale an extra t-shirt. I don't do what I do for them. I do it for me.

You don't have to like it, hell you don't even have to respect it. But at the end of the night you will know that I'm real deal. What's the slogan for this pay per view??

Oh.. one night can change everything.

I plan on being a prime example of that when that final bell sounds tonight.

Monroe walks up face to face with Jamie Fury.

Because when that time keeper rings that bell, and the announcer makes it official that I'm the new XWA Diamond champion. You will know Jamie that a new era has been ushered in. The era of the Straight Edge Scarlett.

And that you and these other 2 women were simply deer standing in the middle of my road, that had to be ran down and pushed to the side. See you later tonight.

Monroe drops the microphone and exits the ring.

[okami]

Okami watches Paige Monroe leave the ring. She had really never taken her eyes off of her. Monroe was the kind of woman that would take any advantage she could find to get what she wanted. The exact kind of woman you do not take your eyes off of until she was a safe distance away. Then Okami turned to Jamie Fury. A woman, just as Paige said, whom she respected very much. She placed her hands together, and bowed her head again and said the prayer of the path.

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. The path we must become.

Okami raised her head.

I look forward to meeting you there again Fury-san.

Matt Goldman: "One woman is silent. One woman cares only about herself. One woman follows the path wherever it takes her. And one woman is The Diamond Champion. The Champion for all these people here."

BuZZ BeRmaN: "That's where they come from, four distinct places within XWA. But Paige is right, before the night is over their origins won't matter. The only thing that matters is that one of these women will be The Diamond Champion, the measuring stick for the XWA Diamond division."

Matt Goldman: "Overload may argue with you on that point, but I won't. This is what TakeDown is all about. Tonight's Diamond Crucible is nothing less than spectacular on paper and I can't wait for it to unfold in that very ring."