The Great British Face-Off: The Loserweight Open Challenge! [open]

[Luncha_Libre]

During a lull in the evening’s show, the lights went low and the crowd, in response, went silent. Murmurs of anticipation rumbled through the audience. What could this be? A new debut? The return of a fan favorite? Finally, the lights picked back up and the loudspeakers erupted in music …

Spoiler

“Miracle” by Chvrches hit the loudspeakers, and Holly Matheson stepped out to the entrance ramp. Around her waist was fastened the Loser’s Championship, the title that had come to define her career … and the most pathetic woman in all of professional wrestling! The anticipation immediately turned to laughter, jeers and a small scattering of applause. Behind Holly, a woman in a suit and tie, holding a clipboard, scoffed and adjusted her glasses.

No matter how many times this happened, Holly was embarrassed by the fan reaction she got. A pretty and posh young woman, the British Bombshell was not used to being mocked. She tried to take it in stride, tried to keep confident that she would find a girl she could drop this belt to, but it hadn’t happened yet and the weight of it was getting to her. Now, her cheeks were burning with humiliation as insults and laughs reached her ears, and she was fighting back tears even as she waved to the fans.

Pushing through the indignity, Holly pulled herself up onto the ring apron and wiped her boots. She then turned to face the camera, raising an arm and flexing for the fans. It drew the now-expected laughs from the audience, and Holly scowled. Clearing her throat, she ducked between the ropes and entered the ring, where the woman that had followed her was ready to hand her a mic from ringside.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as you likely know, I am Holly Matheson … the Loser’s Champion of LAW!” There was a smattering of applause, which eventually gave way to a louder wave of sarcastic applause. Holly’s chest heaved as she let out a heavy sigh. She gathered herself, then continued.

“Now, I know what this title means, and I’m sure all of you fans do, as well. It is the cruelest, meanest joke played on anyone in the history of wrestling, a reflection of our sadistic management, and it’s an insult to any of us women who put our bodies on the line in this ring, night in and night out, for our love of professional wrestling!

“I’m just the second Loser’s Champion, after I was defeated by both Lauren Fredericks, and the first Champion, Karin Shin. Those girls worked and fought hard and deserve respect. So do the other girls who have ‘challenged’ me for the belt. I’ve worked hard, too … ” Holly started to choke up, a little, “and I don’t deserve this!

“Some of you fans have stuck by me, and I will always appreciate that! I am not ending my career with this title around my waist, don’t worry. Some of you, however … even before now, I was aware of the things that ‘fans’ have said about me on the internet, in the stands … sometimes, even on the streets! I know what you all think of me. That I’m just a pretty girl who got into wrestling to get attention, or to roll around with hot guys and girls. Hell, my boyfriend was my trainer! Things get worse from there, and I won’t dignify all of it by addressing it here, but there is one thing that really upsets me, and that is what I am here to address.

“There is an idea that anyone can beat me. Literally anyone. And that is just too much for me to put up with. Regardless of what anyone thinks, I have trained long and hard to get here, and I won’t let anyone disparage that hard work! So, I’ve talked it over with management, and I have worked something out for anyone … and I mean anyone … to try and put their money where their mouth is!

“As of right now, I am issuing the Loser’s Open Championship Challenge! Next to me is a legal representative from LAW, who has all the requisite waivers and paperwork for anyone that thinks that they can step in the ring and hold their own against a fully trained, experienced female professional wrestler! So many of you are so tough on Twitter, or behind that barricade, let’s see how you handle it when you’re in the ring with me!

“This challenge is open to any man or woman who thinks they have what it takes. I will be coming out here, week after week, taking on any and all comers! If you really think this belt makes me so weak, so pitiful, that literally anyone can beat me, then come in here and prove it! I risk everything in this ring, and I’m ready to risk it all with this. Man or woman, enthusiastic amateur or mouthy fan, no challenger will be refused. If you think you can sit there and smack talk me, then back it up in the ring and let’s see how tough you really are when I’ve got my hands on you!” Holly handed the microphone back to the ring crew and stood in the center of the ring. The busty British Bombshell unstrapped the belt, her waistline expanding a little as she did so, her thighs jiggling a little as she took a strong stance in the center of the ring with the belt held high. Holly put on her stiff upper lip as the fans cheered and shouted. She puffed her chest out proudly and raised her head high. For the first time, she held her ‘championship’ up above her head, turning her usual shame into something else … a direct challenge.

Spoiler

[This thread is referencing the concept introduced here. If anyone is interested in partaking with either a new character or a little-known one, let me know via PM here! Feel free to have characters respond here, as well. Thanks!]

[SimplePride]

Isaiah was passively watching the "champion" ramble on in the ring from backstage, and if Isaiah was being honest, there wasn't a whole lot that Holly said that he didn't agree with. He, too, disliked the idea of a "Loser's Champion" it seemed not only kind of ham-fisted, but, also rather pointless. Championships are meant to be accomplishments, not insults. He also disliked the Hentai Championship, but, that was another matter entirely. Isaiah's interest was peaked when Holly issued an open challenge. Seeing as he needed redemption of his own, his music started blaring over the arena:

Spoiler

Spoiler

Isaiah came out to a relatively positive response. Mostly though, the crowd seemed confused: this wasn't the Isaiah they were used too seeing. The last time he did something like this, he justifiably got his ass kicked. But, that was now in the past. It was time to forge a new path, and Holly Matheson was just in the way.

He entered the ring and was immediately handed a mike, he looked over at Holly, who was less than amused, He addressed the crowd first, "Expecting something else?" He asked in a teasing voice. The crowd murmured in agreement, "Now, the last time I had a mic in my hand, I got my ass kicked, and if I'm being honest, I deserved every bit of it. And that leads me to you..." Isaiah then turned his attention to Holly, "If I can be frank with you, there wasn't a lot I heard from you that I didn't agree with. That title you hold is not only insulting, but also pointless. Championships are meant to be strived for, and that title spits in the face of all the rightful champions here and everywhere. I feel the same way about the Hentai Championship, but that's neither here nor there." There were a few boos coming from the crowd regarding his thoughts on the Hentai Championship, "You came out here looking for validation. I came here looking for redemption. And I think you and I both know a way we an both get what we want..."

[Luncha_Libre]

Holly froze the moment someone else’s music hit the loudspeakers. Chewing her lip, the British Bombshell watched the ramp nervously, knowing that coming out and cutting a promo in LAW came with these kinds of risks. When Isaiah emerged, Holly looked confused. Her eyes narrowed as she heard him out, stepping toward the ring ropes as she listened nervously.

“Look, I don’t make the titles,” Holly said, when Isaiah had said his piece and the crowd reaction died down, “but I know my lot in life and I aim to change it. If you’re here to issue a challenge and come for me, then I welcome that.” Holly beckoned over the woman from LAW’s legal department, handing the Loser’s Championship off to her. The woman scoffed, picking the thing up and then dumping unceremoniously at ringside. Then, Holly continued.

“Now, I don’t know you, but I feel I should warn you,” Holly said.”I don’t know what you need redemption from, but I’m not here to be anyone’s stepping stone. If you want to do this, I won't hesitate to put you down for the three count, and just walk away. So step up if you want, but don’t expect to just be the latest one to bully the loser’s champion!” Holly then walked away from the ropes, looking a little huffy as she brushed her long black hair over her shoulder. Handing the mic off to the ringside crew, Holly bounced in place, curved bouncing up and down as she stretched her arms up and over her chest, then behind her back, limbering up for another challenge.

[SimplePride]

Isaiah had to admit he did not expect such tenacity from the Loser's Champion, "Pump the brakes, champ. We aren't doing this now. You see, when I last came out here, I called myself the Sheepherder, the Sheepherder was...probably the worst gimmick in LAW's history, and that's saying something. However, the Sheepherder taught me something. It is the act of cowards to hide behind a facade. However, I found...comfort behind the mask, so much so that the Sheepherder never really went away, he was just revamped and renamed the Prophet. Maybe even you can stand to learn from the Sheepherder and the Prophet? Tell me...what's behind the mask you wear?"

[Luncha_Libre]

Holly paced around the ring, trying to limber herself up for whatever was about to happen. Her heart was pounding in her chest, thinking that she was about to have to defend herself against this incoming stranger. So when it seemed that this wasn’t about to happen, she stopped moving and looked out at Isaiah with a befuddled expression.

“What are you on about?” Holly asked, walking up to the ropes and leaning against them after the young man had said his piece. “I know a lot of folks that wrestle in masks, luv … I even adore some of them. I don’t have that luxury. As the loser’s champion, I’ve had everything laid bare in the ring …” Holly winced at the inevitable hoots and catcalls at her accidental entendre. “So, thanks for the personal history, but what does any of that actually mean?”

[SimplePride]

Isaiah soon realized that he had done it again: using 300 words when 3 would've done just fine, "As I said, there wasn't a lot you said at the beginning that I didn't agree with. And I figure we can both get what we want, you validation, and me, redemption. But, I'm rambling. I'll see you in the ring later..." Isaiah turned to walk away from the Champion, thinking he has said enough.