Message #19700

[Adam Grant]

The lights dim, allowing for purple, green and black strobe lights to pulsate around the arena as “Veil of Elysium” thunders out into the system, and the stage is doused in a fog of dry ice. Through the fog, two figures emerge, their forms still clouded by what has  risen around them.

Maggie: Introducing first, hailing from Edinburgh Scotland! She weighs in at 145 pounds, please welcome VALERIE LAMB!

Hear my promise of blistering light,
Sewing a rose of obsidian.
My dear I promise death comes to all,
In a heartbeat...only silence.
Let’s play with the fire that burns in our veins,
Trust in the might of a miracle.
Now winter has come and I stand in the snow,
I don’t feel the cold,
And it’s all I will ever need to believe.

The haze clears, revealing Valerie Lamb and Vincent Belmont stood together. The crowd pops, and Valerie raises her hands with a smile on her face while Vincent simply smiles, his hands by his sides. The pair begin their descent towards the ring, Valerie slapping hands with the fans on her way down, and Vincent just behind her.

One day I know we will meet again,
In the shade of a life to die for.
Watching the world through the eyes of a child
In Elysium
Will I know you then?
Will I know you then?

During the chorus of the song, Valerie takes off, sprinting around the ring before grabbing hold of the middle rope about three-quarters of the way around the ring, using the momentum to pull herself up. She steps in through the ropes and heads towards her corner, where Vincent is waiting for her. The two share words as the music dies out, and Valerie stretches as they speak.

Two sea eagle cries are heard before "Rise" hits the sound system. Accompanied by her manager Kyle Kilmeade, Mika Demidov walks through the entrance gate when the song makes its halt to come back with a stronger beat. Right before the entrance aisle, she raises her right hand in the air with the index, middle and ring fingers fully extended upwards, and white, blue and red pyros shoot behind her back, and her manager presents her to the crowd.

Maggie: And her opponent, escorted to the ring by Kyle Kilmeade... From Saint Petersburg, western Russia... "The Red Star"... MIKA DEMIDOV!

She then walks down the entrance aisle, scowling at the crowd and ignoring the outstretched hands who wish for a high-five, before she's offered a hand by Kyle to climb the steel steps leading into the ring. She enters the square passing between the mid and bottom ropes and, once inside, she climbs a random turnbuckle, taunting the crowd by basically screaming smack at them. After soaking in the boos, she shakes her head and leaps back into the ring and prepares for her match.

Zack: These two women, former FFW Champions, have gone at one another’s throats twice before, and tonight the returning Mika Demidov looks to make it three for three against the gatekeeper that is Valerie Lamb.

Mai:...There’s got to be another name to call Valerie. How about awful? Yeah, awful. That works.

After the bell rings, Mika and Valerie stare down one another, Mika with a smug look on her lips while Lamb keeps her eye focused on the Red Star. Gleefully Demidov raises her hand to Valerie, raising up one finger...then another...and then another. She then points her thumb behind her, as if to tell the eldest McFarlane that one more win and she’s out.

Zack: Mike is, of course, reminding Valerie of those two victories she has before, and Valerie doesn’t look happy with that reminder. But the Lamb stays determined!

Mai:...I didn’t know Mika got baseball references.

Demidov mockingly blows a kiss to Valerie before backing away from Valerie, who stands there while Mika plays up wanting to start off with a lock up between them.  Valerie sighs, accepting the invitation to the lock up...but before Mika could pull off whatever dirty tactic she had in store, Valerie grabs Mika’s raised hand and spins it into a hammerlock behind the Russian, putting it in tightly as a reminder to Mika who she’s dealing with! Mika tries to elbow the redhead in the head, but Valerie cranes her neck back to keep away from the shots the Russian has in mind for her. Valerie twists the arm again until she’s in front of Mika, then pulls her forward into a short-arm clothesline! Mika’s on the ground, and Valerie folds her arms, shaking her head at a distance while she laughs at the Russian.

Zack: Mika got a little cocky to start off, and that gave Valerie the excuse she needed to go ham on the Empress!

Mai:...Don’t say ham again. Even if you’re talking about the food product.

Mika gets back up, feeling her chest where Valerie clotheslined her as she leers at the redhead. Lamb decides to egg Mika on for that, suggesting a lockup of her own. Mika just continues to leer at her as she slowly steps towards Lamb, then raises her hand up, only for Valerie to swing it back into a jab to Mika’s face, hitting knee strikes into the Russian’s legs until she sweeps a leg underneath, knocking Mika on her back! Valerie goes for the cover as the ref slides into place!

ONE!

TW-

Zack: Just a two count for Valerie, but Mika got in a good hit on the Lamb!

Mika shoves her shoulder up, getting a good forearm shot in on Valerie’s face as she turns. It distracts Lamb long enough that Mika gets to her feet first, kicking Valerie’s ribs while she’s still getting up. Mika grabs Val by the head and pulls her up while she’s still grabbing her ribs, smashing her elbow into the redhead’s face before swiping with a southpaw! Val lands back on the ropes, which Mika gleefully uses to her advantage by kneeing the ribs again! Demidov continues to plant her knee into the midsection until the ref has to step in, warning Mika not to overdo it while Val was on the ropes. Mika just tells him where to stick it before she grabs Valerie by the head and hits a running bulldog headlock to the more experienced woman! Demidov rolls her over and hooks the leg for a pin!

ONE!

TWO!

Zack: Still not enough to keep Valerie down!

Mai: Oh c’mon, freakin’ BOW to your Empress already! You’re just delaying the inevitable!

Mika grabs Valerie by the arm to stand her up to her feet, then whips her into the nearest corner. Val lands back first, and Mika rushes with a clothesline to her throat against the turnbuckles before raising her leg and forcing her boot against the throat, not giving the Scot a moment to breathe until the ref counts to four. Mika then lets go, backing away...only to come back at Val and choke her boot against her throat again! The ref counts again, and Mika lets go at four, the referee yelling at her again for that!

Zack: The referee isn’t happy with Mika choking out Valerie twice in a row like that, and I can’t blame him!

Mai: I can. Let the Empress have her way, she deserves it!

Zack:...That...didn’t sound right.

Mika blows him off, as well as the crowd booing her for her actions, and she goes back to work on the redhead, chopping her hand across her chest. As if taunting everyone around her, Mika yells something to the crowd before grabbing Valerie’s hair to pull her out of the corner. Mika then climbs the turnbuckles, and hops to the outside while holding the large clump of red hair. Valerie’s throat lands on the top rope, and the bounce back causes Valerie to fly off her feet and onto the mat! Mika show boats while Valerie is grabbing at her throat, and the Russian slides back into the ring and bears a grin before leaping onto Valerie’s fallen body, stomping both feet down on the gatekeeper. Mika keeps one foot on Val’s chest for a cover while posing to the crowd’s boos.

ONE!

TWO!

Valerie reaches for Mika’s leg and yanks it off of her, causing Demidov to land squarely on her backside! While Mika processes what just occurred, Valerie is slowly getting to her feet, and before Demidov can get up Lamb is running to the ropes, bouncing off with a dropkick to Mika’s chest! Demidov falls to her back in response, and Valerie runs to the ropes again, springing off with a lionsault. Mika rolls out of the way in time, but Valerie lands on her feet, spinning to the now standing Russian to hit a knee strike to the gut, following it up with an enziguri to the blonde’s head! Mika collapses and Valerie goes for the cover again!

ONE!

TWO!

TH-

Zack: Valerie felt a bit of a surge for a come back, but it’s not enough to keep Mika down!

Mai: You don’t keep royalty down, yo!

Zack: For the last time, MIKA ISN’T REAL ROYALTY!

Mika kicks out! Valerie grabs Mika by the legs as she looks for a Boston crab, but Mika is able to kick Lamb off of her, Valerie stumbling back. Mika rolls to her feet again, and with Val having taken so much throughout the fight, decides to go with her ultimate move...a hiptoss! But it does leave Val floored!

Zack: With all that Valerie’s gone through, that hiptoss alone was enough to keep Valerie down!

Mai: But it’s a hiptoss of DOOM, Zack! DOOM!

Mika taunts the crowd, raising both hands as she raises the appropriate fingers for the Russian Victory sign as she signals for the Russian Burial! Demidov picks Valerie up, then hoists her up for a powerbomb, but as Mika takes a step back Valerie manages to land on her feet, then tackles Mika down! Valerie gets her legs in the appropriate position, then locks Mika in for the Encore! The crowd is going wild, awaiting the moment where Mika gives in to the pain Lamb is putting on her! It takes a moment, but Mika’s hand is eventually seen tapping out!

DING DING DING!

Maggie: Here is your winner...VALERIE LAMB!

Mika simply rolls out of the ring once Valerie lets go, the Russian falling to a seated position by the apron while Valerie stands up, grabbing her ribs while the referee raises her hand!

Zack: A good welcome back from Mika, but it’s not the warmest of returns after Val gets the win off her!

Mai: Big whoop. The score is still 2-1, Zacko Warner, and our TRUE Queen Supreme is in the lead!



Starla’s Position

The show heads to the back, where we find the outgoing COO Cody Kincaid along with his consultant for the No Surrender division, both standing around Amber Carano.

Amber: I’m here with Cody Kincaid & Starla McCLoud, who have some news to share with us relating to the No Surrender division. But before we get to that, Cody, I do have a question for you. Do you know who will be replacing you yet, and what will happen to the position you created for Dr. McCloud here?

Cody: No, Amber. I’m not aware of who might replace me, and I don’t expect to know either. It’s not a decision that has to be discussed with or run past me. All I know is that I’m still here through the end of the month doing my job just as focused and diligent as I ever did. As for Starla here, the only thing that changes for her is that she’d report to Samantha until a replacement is named. She could even be in consideration. There’s been plenty of people wanting the job, even Silas Mason has been lobbying about it.

Amber’s eyes widened a bit.

Amber: Silas Mason wants to be second in command of FFW? I’m not sure he’d be the best possible choice. What do you think, Dr. McCloud?

There was a hesitation from the red haired woman; a pause for thought and contemplation.

Starla: I think Silas Mason would be a very interesting choice. A marked departure from Mr. Kincaid in almost everyway that I could imagine. He strikes me as a man that is perhaps a little too much… bluff and bluster and given his interactions with some members of the roster, a very difficult man to get along with. I’m not certain that he and I would be able to foster a good working relationship at all.

She looked towards Cody.

Starla: As for me being in consideration for the role? It’s a mighty big role for any single person to take on - some big shoes to fill. I’d be honored if my name appeared on the shortlist for the position, though I figure I’d probably be a dark horse in any conversation. Though, Samantha is always capable of surprising people. Until she makes a decision, I’m more than happy to help in any way that I can - be it with the No Surrender division or more wide ranging and as a sounding board to bounce ideas off of.

Cody: We’ll see what happens there. But this isn’t what we are here to discuss. Starla and I have been discussing some of her ideas as it pertains to the No Surrender division. We’ve worked out a few things, and I have already put my stamp on what she’s about to tell you.

Amber turns her attention back to Starla.

Starla: First of all there’s the issue of Savannah Taylor, the former No Surrender Champion who lost her title belt to Natalya Demidov at Unstoppable 8. As I’m sure you are aware, she is owed a rematch for that title belt. And she will get that at Global Wars - no matter what happens between then and now or at Sin & Sacrifice, Savannah Taylor will be the mandatory challenger and face whoever the Champion is at FFW’s final PPV of the year, Global Wars.

The former No Surrender Champion turned consultant took a deep breath before she continued.

Starla: The second of my suggestions that Mr. Kincaid has approved pertains to the Submissions Count Anywhere match at Sin & Sacrifice between Lily-Rose and OE Ayano. I know first hand how tough that particular match stipulation is; I know the level of sacrifice that is required just to compete in those matches and how dangerous it can be. It’s an out and out war and it’s being fought between two women who already don’t like each other - as we’ve seen in recent weeks. Therefore, whoever, survives this match with their hand raised in victory will also be given a shot at the No Surrender Championship.

Cody: I’m looking forward to seeing both of those matches when they take place. Starla here has been an excellent consultant since she took the position, and I think she’s an asset in any role she occupies.

Amber: Well that certainly raises the stakes for both Lily-Rose and O.E. Ayano coming up at Sin & Sacrifice. Thank you both for talking with me tonight.

As Amber concludes, the show heads to a commercial for Sin & Sacrifice.