Spoiler
”You know,” Astrid said, ”I never quite get tired of all the cheering that seems to follow me wherever I go…” Predictably, her statement brought on even more cheers, to which Astrid chuckled under her breath. Then, though, she cleared her throat, launching into the next subject.
”But that being said. You and I know that there’s a lot on my mind lately. And a lot on the minds of just about everyone in the orbit of the Heavyweight Division, I would wager a guess. I don’t need to elaborate, because we all know what I’m talking about - back at We Are LAW, I lost to Rose Gold. And, well, there were a few certain people who took offense to that.”
Astrid let out a sigh, bowing her head lower after she had said it. No matter how much time passed, Astrid still looked back on her defeat with shame, as the lowest point in her career. Even if many had come to defend her, pointing out how close the match had been, and how Rose had needed to cheat her way to even keep her head above the water against Astrid’s assault, she couldn’t get what Thereisa had said to her out of her head - that she had let the title down in losing to a lightweight. Astrid wanted everything she did to elevate her title and her honor. She wanted to be the symbol that a champion was supposed to be - to embody everything about the ideals of her weight class. But if she had lost to Rose Gold, she couldn’t help but fear she hadn’t just let those lofty ideals down, but dragged everyone lower in the process.
However…Astrid had been determined to change that. Ever since that fateful match, she had planned the trajectory of her career around surpassing the person she was in that moment - the person who had let her fellow heavyweights down. More than anything else, this was a wakeup call that Astrid needed to prove herself. If she had cast doubt on herself by losing that match, it was up to her to prove all those doubters wrong with every match she went into afterward. And, as she looked back up into the cameras with a grin…it was clear that that was exactly what she intended to do!
”However…I’m not here to talk about that tonight! We all know just as well as I do that since then, I’ve been determined to build myself back up. I’ve accepted challenges from all comers, even a week after the fact, and I’ve had to push myself to keep on fighting when I was still taking pain meds! If I can put myself through all that, and still hold onto the title at the end of the day…” She patted her belt, for emphasis. ”...then I think I’m ready to step things up to the next level. Ladies and gentlemen…I’m proud to announce that this will not be my last Champion vs. Champion match!”
A gasp went through the stands as Astrid made her announcement. Few could believe it - they knew that Astrid was no one to crumple in the face of a challenge, but after the trouble the Norwegian had run into against Rose, the thought of her being this ready to take on another champion seemed impossible! Yet, Astrid stood tall nonetheless, keeping that smile on her face as she balled a fist and placed it against her chest.
”However, this one won’t be against any of the worthy women in LAW. Nor will it be under that promotion’s banner. Mark my words, I’m proud to be a part of LAW, and to stand as its face to the world when I promote their events, and my title, around the globe. But what some of you may know, and some of you may not, is that I also have a long history with USPW - United Supreme Pro Wrestling. I was there since day one, and I still pop my head in from time to time, even after winning the belt. But now, it’s about time they got to see me at my full strength.”
”Just around the corner is Attack of the Rising Sun, USPW’s first show in Japan. It’s set to be an unforgettable event. We have some of the biggest names on either side of the Pacific going head to head, and if I know Hank Strongbow Williams, I know that he’s going to make the most of it. But while they’re stopping by the Tokyo Dome…I think it would be a crime not to have a couple of LAW’s finest drop by too, no? We’ve already got Tracy Canon and the Superstars on board, but I think there’s room for another…”
The crowd cheered again at the promise of seeing Astrid in action once again at such an event. ”So, it’s settled - when Attack of the Rising Sun comes to town, you’ll see me take on USPW’s reigning Wildcat Champion, the Black Tornado! You may have heard that she’s set to defend her title at Fight the LAW. But before that happens, you’ll have a chance to catch a glimpse of what she has to offer when the two of us face off. She and I go back a long while, and we’ve got nothing but respect for each other. That’s not going to stop us, though. Both of us are going to bring their A-game - and if you know me, you should know that when I have my back against the wall, when the world is watching, when it’s my burden to be the champion this title deserves…that is when I do my best! So, LAW, if you want to see what Astrid Ostberg in a real Champion vs. Champion match looks like…don’t miss it!”
The cheers grew even louder at Astrid’s announcement. But, after a pause, the expression on her face grew grave. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips pulled down into a frown as she leaned closer, holding her microphone tighter.
”...there’s one other thing I’d like to talk about,” she said. ”Selket…don’t think for a moment that things are over between us. When you interrupted my title defense against Tina Kelley, you hurt me more gravely and more deeply than anything you did to me last year could have. You deprived me of my chance to prove my own merits, and you ruined what could have been the greatest night of my protege’s life. If you’re still after me, then…you won’t be disappointed with what I have to say.”
”I understand that Tina has a match scheduled for Fight the LAW as well. I’m not going to get in the way of that. It’s her fight, and that’s fine. But if you really want another shot at my title so badly…I’ll give that to you. I do plan on sticking around after Attack of the Rising Sun…so I may as well give you a title match in USPW!”
”That’s right, Selket! If you want to face me again, have at it! I’ll put my title up for grabs on CageZone, and if you want a second round, I’ll give you a second round! I’ve got Fight the LAW to prepare for myself…but I can make time for another title defense, if you’re that desperate! So, I’ll leave that ball in your court. If you want it that badly…meet me in Boston, and we’ll settle it then!”
The crowd was in awe - Astrid had once again proven just how confident she was in her ability to hang on to the belt. Going into another Champion vs. Champion match was one thing; that wouldn’t affect her status. But offering another title shot was another thing entirely. Just as the case had been with Tina, if Astrid lost that match, Selket would take her place at Fight the LAW! It was a dangerous gamble, one that could have serious repercussions on her career, and one that could give the greatest glories to Selket, a woman who Astrid had nothing but contempt for after all she’d meddled not only in her own life but in the lives of others. Yet, Astrid was ready to do whatever she needed!