Spoiler
Blanco Sombra
with
Holly Matheson
During a brief break in the action, the lights in the LAW arena came up. Then, Spanish Metal’s “Luchador” hit the loudspeakers and the crowd turned to the ramp, ready and expecting Blanco Sombra on the entrance ramp. The masked man had been working his way around the LAW roster in recent weeks, appearing in the ring with a variety of LAW luminaries and fresh talent. Whether his efforts in the ring had led to impressive victories or crushing defeats, the luchador had been giving it his all since coming back to LAW, and the fans were starting to take notice. Now, Blanco emerged on the ramp flanked as always by his girlfriend, Holly Matheson. However, instead of his usual skimpy wrestling trunks, Blanco was decked out in a close-fitting suit and tie, with a microphone in hand. From beneath his mask, Blanco grinned at the crowd as he marched down to the ring with Holly smiling and waving behind him.
Holly climbed up to the apron first, sitting her bottom on the second rope to open it up a bit as her man stepped through. Taking to the ring, the luchador raised his arms to greet the fans. Holly stood at the ropes, politely clapping with the fans.
“Good evening LAW …” Blanco started, stepping up to the center of the ring. “You’re probably wondering, 'why this guy is wearing pants?' Me too, but I was told- by someone not currently wearing pants, I will point out-" Holly shrugged, and the crowd laughed as Blanco continued, "that this is how you get people to listen to what you have to say. So, here I am, rocking the suit and lucha mask combo, with a lot to say.
“Since we’ve returned to LAW, I have enjoyed many challenges. Some of them have been too much for me. Some of them have been a perfect showcase for the strongest aspects of my lucha libre style, while others, I have to admit, proved to be too much for me … But, each and every one of them has reminded me why I have spent my life in the ring, doing what I do, have trained to do since I was fourteen years old, and why I plan on doing it until my body simply won't let me, anymore!
“Now, I have wrestled from the streets and alleys of Mexico City to the rings of Coliseo Mexico. I’ve grappled in the arenas of Puerto Rico, in North American clubs and gymnasiums, pubs and theaters in the United Kingdom, even ramshackle rings in the Congo. All before coming to the arenas of Japan to challenge some of the toughest competitors on the panet!” Blanco paused a moment, letting the fans clap for the local acknowledgement.
“For years now, I have wanted to show the world what lucha libre can do. I have traveled thousands of miles, had long sleepless nights, been eating out of takeout boxes on buses and trains, all to bring my lucha libre to the world, and that ‘world tour’ has led me here to LAW! And after years of this, I have to admit … it hasn’t been enough.
“I have faced tough competition from all over the world. Hard-hitting puro strikers. Brutal North American powerhouses. Ruthless German dominatrixes, towering Indian giants, hard-hitting puro strikers … and it honestly hasn’t been enough. I know there’s more out there, I know there are styles I’ve never even seen, and never had a chance to test myself against, even here. And that got me to thinking. I have come to a major decision about my future in LAW, where I’m going, what I’m doing … and where would be best for me, to get what I want.
“See, I started touring the world with lucha libre. Country to country, coast to coast, all to show the world what it means to be a luchador. And this entire time, the truth is … the entire world comes here. The world of professional wrestling is right here, in the LAW ring, in front of these crowds, every single week at every single show.
“So now, I am asking the world to come to me. Lucha Libre vs The World, a self contained lucha world tour, in which I want to face LAW competitors from any part of the globe that will step into the ring with me. Any experience level, any attitude, any weight class … I want competitors from any part of the world to feel like they can step into the ring with me and show me and the world what they want to have to offer.
“I want to pit the tope suicida up against brutal Russian powerhouses. The Mexican Destroyer against the finest submission technicians that Canada has to offer. Chinese martial arts against the springboard arm drag! Brazilian jiu jiutsu against the deft ropework of lucha libre! What lucha style could only come from your part of the world? Bring it to the ring against me and let’s see how it stacks up against three generations of lucha libre experience!”
The crowd started to clap along as Blanco paced around the ring, pounding out a list of dream matches, punctuating each idea with the thrust of a finger. The fast-paced luchador getting increasingly frenetic as he rattled off a list of possible style clashes he wanted to see play out in front of the LAW crowd. Holly bounced up and down on her heels, figure jiggling as she grinned and clapped along. Blanco spun on his heel, facing the crowd again.
“So, we have all these ideas, but what we don’t have … is names. I’m hoping to see that change soon, so I know you’re watching this space, but keep your eyes on social media. Keep your eyes on the pages of LAW magazine, the LAW website, fan sites, dirt sheets … because starting now, it is Lucha Libre versus the world, and you’re not going to want to miss a minute of this!”
Blanco raised his arms to the cheering fans, nodding in thanks as he finished saying his piece. Holly came up from behind, starting to guide him out of the ring. His music hit the loudspeakers again, and the luchador pressed a shoe into the middle rope, pulling up the top one to let Holly out. He took one more moment to raise an arm in salute to the fans, holding out the mic to pick up their voices, hoping that they were anywhere near as hyped about the ‘Lucha World Tour’ he was pitching as he was.
Spoiler
If anyone has a character you'd like to get in on this, feel free to post an IC reaction here, or PM to make plans. International competitors especially suited to this, of course. I'm also trying to work on promo writing since I never do these, so feel free to let me know in DM if I screwed something up. Thanks for reading!