The Future is the Present.

[Fairy Dragon]

It had a been a rough time for a certain former Champion. She was on top of the world and in in one fell swoop it had been taken from her before she could even process the possibility that it could. Most champs knew that a loss was inevitable but somehow Kyoko had eventually convinced herself that her and the Middleweight title were so connected to one another that they would never part ways. Of course reality had to settle in eventually but now even months later and with some matches since then behind her Kyoko was still dwelling on the past, and knew that she would continue too unless she had the freedom to say what she needed. It was this that motivated her to come marching down the ring without any plans or warning for the staff and quickly grab a mic, muttering some curse at anyone who was too slow to move out of the way or do what she asked before marc hing into the ring to continue her rant for herself.

"Nothing about this is right...not a single bit of it makes sense! Ever since I lost my Middleweight Championship everything has felt wrong and broken. I shouldn't be here wondering what my next move is I should be holding both my belts celebrating what was and still is the most prestigious title reign in wrestling history! But the worst is the fact that so many wrestlers are talking about the future...What's next in the new world and who's going to be the next big star. Let me tell you right now, very clearly, their is no new future. The biggest start 2 years ago is the same star now and for the next 2 years, then the next 10, then the next 20! And that is me, I don't know what the hell is going on but I assure of this nothing is making me irrelevant, not this loss or any other because I will push through the bullshit that has been fed to me and reclaim my title and ascend back to her top where I belong. And if anyone thinks that they can pry my future from me I dare you try, I dare someone to actually think they can do anything to stop me by coming out here and telling that to my face. We'll see if you can still stand by the time you're done doing that." Ktoko said before tossing the mic to the floor and pacing around the ring, gesturing around as the crowd bood hoping someone would show up to put Kyoko in her place.

[BlackAkuma]

Valerie’s mothers always told her that she needed to wear her

when the show was on, even if she wasn’t scheduled for a match. You never knew when opportunity would come knocking, when someone might give out a title shot or need you for a tag match or, say, a former champion might come out and issue a challenge, and you had to be ready for whatever came your way.

Good advice. She was glad she listened to it.

She had been hanging out backstage, just relaxing in catering, when Kyoko Akan came burst out into the ring and started spitting fire all over the place. The champion - now former champion - had been someone on Valerie’s radar for a while, always an end-goal in the Middleweight Division, but she hadn't been able to get a shot at the woman while she’d had the belt. That was all well and good, she was new and she needed to rise in the ranks, she knew there was an order to things. She could wait.

But she also knew there was value in taking on a former champion. This was a golden opportunity, falling right in her lap.

Before Kyoko had even finished her speech, Valerie found a microphone and made her way to the curtains. The crew was on point, playing her

as she came from the curtain and began marching her way down the ramp. She was a little surprised by how amped the crowd seemed to be by her appearance, cheering her on every step of the way, but she kept her eyes focused and forward. It was just as important to appear her confident here as it was actually being it.

Valerie had never been a good talker, but thankfully she didn’t need to be this time. Kyoko already told her what she needed to say, she could just say it. She walked up the steps, slipped through the ropes, stood in front of Kyoko and spoke.

”I think I can stop you.”

[Fairy Dragon]

Kyoko was waiting to see if anyone would actually show up, but she didn't need to wait very long. Her words had barely left her lips before the sound of music played across the arena. The crowd reacted with glee at the sound of it but Kyoko wasn't familiar with the song at the very least it wasn't anyone Kyoko had fought and an unfamiliar face came out that Kyoko simply stared at. Annoyed that one new face thought they could take her, which was only worse when the women came up and said as much without a hint of fear. The crowd ate it up and Kyoko looked at them with scorn before turning her attention back at the person sharing a ring with her.

"You see any thinking has been going on in that some of yours. Because I've just met you and you've done nothing but make dumb decisions all day." Kyoko said stepping closer to the women as the crowd got antsy expecting a fight to break out at any moment. "First off getting in a ring with me is a guaranteed risk and you're wearing a mostly white outfit...would be kinda hard to hide any stains you get on it by the time I'm done. And you're bold or should I say dumb enough to step into my ring like you own it, only problem s no one knows who the fuck you are. So what exactly makes you think you can stop me?" Kyoko asked, hissing at her intruder as f ready to pounce at any moment.

[BlackAkuma]

…crap, Kyoko actually wanted a dialogue. Valerie had kind of hoped she would just accept the challenge and they could go straight to match, and not have a dialogue. With words. And stuff. Trash-talking was never much of her thing, and she could already tell the former champion was far better at it. Which made sense; of course she would be.

She wasn’t quite prepared for the level of venom she got back, though maybe she should’ve been - Kyoko Akan wasn’t exactly known for her good temper at the best times, and these were far from the best of times.

Her face wrinkled when Kyoko hissed back at her, but she managed to hold her ground, opened her mouth, and…

”I…” She started, then shook her head and let out a deep breath. ”Okay, I’ll just level with you, I’m not up for this whole back and forth thing, it’s not really me. You called someone to challenge you, here I am. We’re in the same division, you’re a former champ, I’m up-and-coming, let’s, you know…do this.”

Valerie pointed between them, then ruled her shoulders, before she popped back up. ”Oh, and I’m Valley Doll. If you didn’t know that.”

[Fairy Dragon]

Kyoko could see the surprise on her face, she'd be eaten alive in a game of poker. She expected her to run away at Kyoko's words before she saw the women steel herself and attempt to speak...before shocking the Belly Queen by admitting that she had no real experience or skill for back and forth dialogue of that magnitude. She just wanted to fight. Kyoko had to admit she wasn't expecting that at all and her face briefly went blank wondering what the hell she was supposed to even say to that. Talk more shit? What would be the point she didn't want to talk. The Belly Queen gave up attempting to throw insults and brought the mic back to her.

"Alright...Valley Doll. If you want a fight so badly it's your funeral. Just don't expect it to go well. Get a damn ref out here!" Kyoko said before she'd toss the mic to the ground and then wait for it to arrive, it was better they just skipped to this part anyway. Now sh ecould hit something a little faster.