Like A Worthy Champion {Melissa & Liz}

[Sarah Andrews-Cross]

A few nights after the champions had been crowned and no more than an hour after her brother and his band of thugs had made their way to this very ring to proclaim their "greatness" soon to come here in APW, Sarah made her way through the curtain dressed in street clothes as Epidemic's "Walk Away" blared from the PA system throughout the arena. The cheers were deafening as she stepped out onto the entrance stage with that same bright smile she was so well known for.

Taking her time to wave to the fans along the entrance ramp area as well as making the dreams of a few teenage boys come true by allowing them a second of her hands as her arms are extended to the rows of fans along the way, in no time she arrives at ringside. She then once again waved to the fans nearest ringside as she grabbed a microphone from a nearby stagehand and finally entered the ring, the cat calls still echoing the building increasing the smile on her face as she stood there center ring, awaiting her music to die down. Once it does she raises the microphone to her mouth and speaks.


[shadow=purple,left,300]...Wow!...Tee Hee...Whoa okay...Good to see you guys again too...Wow thank you so much...I didn't expect such a welcome umm...That one threw me off I gotta admit but...[/shadow]

She paces a bit in the middle of the ring thinking about the words about to leave her mouth. Knowing that there's no time like the present to be on top of things concerning furthering one's career.

[shadow=purple,left,300]...There is something I came out here to say to you all...And of course to all of the ladies...Backstage now who compete along with myself in the growing Rose division...I'm sure you all saw what happened a few nights ago at Battlezone right?...
[/shadow]

The crowd erupts in cheers as they knew exactly what Sarah was talking about. She continues as the audience dies down again. Through the cheers and jeers she hears the name of the woman she was out here to address directly.

[shadow=purple,left,300]Yep. She did. She won that Rose Championship. Survived all of those very talented ladies BEST...Coming out the victor. That's quite the accomplishment. It is. I've been in the ring with most if not all of those ladies. They're the real deal. She did it.The FIRST here in APW. Give her a round of applause everybody...Come on...Give it up for her...[/shadow]

Pausing again to give the crowd the floor to congratulate the first Rose champion in APW history. When the crowd noise subsides again...

[shadow=purple,left,300]Yeah...I have to give it up to her, Melissa Armstrong did what so many others SAID they would do. She beat us all to it. But...I'm not out here to talk about what I didn't do. I'm here to talk about what I AM going to do and what Sarah Andrews-Cross plans on beating everyone else to doing...Being the FIRST...One in line...And deserving as well...Being the first in line...At a shot at that title you now are calling your own Miss Armstrong. It's the reason why all of us are here. Everyone of those ladies back there are here for that belt around your waist missy and I'm no different.

The Rose division is something that's on the verge of revolutionizing professional wrestling as we know it and women's professional wrestling as well. And I feel that being said...Sarah Andrews-Cross HAS to be in the history books when it's all said and done. I don't care about the "promised" shots you let foolishly fall out of your mouth ten seconds after the bell...I have to make a name for myself here...The only way I can do that? Is to take what I believe is rightfully mine Miss Armstrong...So if you will...Join me out here tonight in front of these fans who are clearly dying to see me make you tap out in the middle of this ring...[/shadow]

The crowd then erupts as Sarah's facial expression changes from one of delight to one of sternness as those last words exit her mouth, turning to face the entrance ramp awaiting the newly crowned champion...

[Elizabeth Knight]

She doesn't get the champion, as "Out of My Way" fires up over the PA system, Elizabeth Michaels stepping onto the stage as she looks down at Sarah. Sarah had a look of sternness? That pales in comparison to the look on Elizabeth's face...


"Oh, wait... let me guess, I remember you making me tap in my open challenge Women's battle royale, yes... very good. But you forget the hands on favorite to have gone into that match! That's right, it's me..."[/b]

The crowd doesn't know how to react at the sudden shift in personality from Elizabeth...

"You want a title shot, when you're career is just beginning? Then you're sharing the spotlight with the veteran... the same one that you faced one on one at the first Full Throttle! And this time... THIS TIME!!!... I'll have what is rightfully mine, not the same bloody trollup that cannot speak a full sentance without butchering her native language!"[/b]

[Sarah Andrews-Cross]

Sarah smiled at the arrival of a woman she considered a friend in this business. A mentor on some levels even. But it was clear that the old woman was finally starting to crack after all those skull pokes from Pryor back in the day. So as she raised the microphone back to her lips...

[shadow=purple,left,300]I should have known you'd show up Liz. Nice Kevin Nash impression by the way. Taking every opportunity you can to stand in the way of the new and YOUNG talent coming into the business. Nice job though I never thought you'd be guilty of something like that. I guess life IS full of surprises but...If I'm correct, I called out the Rose Championship holder and not the woman I...Oh just as you said...Made you tap!...So grandma, what do I have to air a re-run of that for you or are you going to leave the young girls to the real competition?[/shadow]

[Yuki Kenzo]

Yuki's entrance music starts to play as she walks out through the curtain. She quickly get in the ring and looks from Sarah to Liz and then back again.

Yuki think, Yuki should have match. Yuki beat both of you.

She sticks out her tongue

[Elizabeth Knight]

She turns, glaring at Kenzo...

"Yuki's an afterthought..."[/b]

Now, her attention returns to Miss Cross... someone she still considered a friend, yet her recent frustrations have boiled over in her...

"Oh, I remember you making me tap... that's a great chokehold you've got there... I know, I've got one of my own... and wait... if I don't recall... I made you tap with my own choke, didn't I? One of the many taught to me by my brother and his protege... remember? Both of my legs wrapped right up against your throat? Our APW debut? So sad you've forgotten your match with one that you've admired so much..."[/b]

A determined grin crosses her face, a part of her liking this recent outburst... she could see why Pryor was the way he was...

"Or its just that you're scared, isn't it? Afraid that your easy coupe of the title will slip through your grasp, away from your one on one encounter with the champion? The FORTUNATE Champion? The one that, aside from a stroke of luck with 5 other women, distractions abound, that she managed to do what even the newest of rookies could do, and stole a title out from under the rest of the participants, cementing her name within the history books, only to be further noticed as an afterthought? You saw the easy pickings, as did I, for the title that is rightfully mine, and I have every qualification needed to challenge for it, and I do. You want her? Fine... Yuki wants her? Fine... I have no problem going through the three of you."[/b]

[Melissa Armstrong]

Finally Sarah gets the woman that she had called out in the first place. As "Fall Behind Me" plays over the PA Melissa steps out onto the stage dressed in a pair of her old BDUs(Camouflage Pants), white T-shirt, and a pair of beat up combat boots. Walking down the ramp Melissa ignores the humanoids in the audience, which gets her a slight mixed from them. Standing ring side she sets the belt on the ring apron and slides in. Getting back to her feet she picks the belt up and places it back on her shoulder. Motioning for a mic a stagehand quickly proceeds to toss her one from ring side. Lifting the mic to her mouth Melissa turns toward Sarah first.

So lil Miss Cross wants the first shot at this title.

Mel points to the title resting on her shoulder.

Well so does every woman in the back, So what exactly makes you worthy of getting a shot over Mrs. Michaels or Miss Kenzo?

[Sarah Andrews-Cross]

Looking to Liz for a second as she replies...

[shadow=purple,left,300]You're right...Yuki IS an after thought...Now...[/shadow]

Turning her head back to Melissa...

[shadow=purple,left,300]What makes me worthy? What makes THEM worthy or even the other women who were in that match WORTHY? THEY had their chance. THEY had the opportunity to make a name for themselves here in APW. THEY failed at that chance...I on the other hand, have NOT had my chance...So, now that the champion has been officially crowned, I can GET my chance that I deserve. [/shadow]

[Yuki Kenzo]

Yuki let her head hanging and starts to walk up the ramp in the direction of the locker room.

[Sarah Andrews-Cross]

Sarah pauses as she watched Yuki make her way back up the ramp slowly. She had no intention of offending the young woman but she felt she had no choice but to get her point across on her worth within the women's division as soon as humanly possible.

[shadow=purple,left,300]Well Mel? I'm waiting. These fans are waiting. Liz is waiting. The ball is in your court now. So are you going to be a REAL champion and make the RIGHT choice by giving these fans what they need to see? Which would be You...And Me...In this ring? Or are you going to become one of those paper champions that only defend their titles when they're forced to or have to be written out for a few months while their rehab tenure begins?[/shadow]

[Melissa Armstrong]

.:.Not really knowing what else to say, Melissa spits out the first thing that comes to her mind.:.

You want it, You GOT IT! Just name the time and place.

[Sarah Andrews-Cross]

That priceless smile of Sarah's grows with a hint of slyness as she says her piece as she slowly backs towards the ropes preparing for her departure.


[shadow=purple,left,300]Place? Next Pay Per View Murder By Numbers. Time? My!...Time Miss Armstrong...Mine...See you at the show Mel and good luck too. I promise I won't hold back that night missy...
[/shadow]

Walk Away by Epidemic hits the PA System as Sarah exits the ring, smile still on her face. Glancing in the direction of Liz she winks her eye at the veteran, knowing she had possibly beaten her to something she knew the woman had every intention on attaining first. Making her way back up the ramp she does her usual fan interaction and within seconds, she's gone from sight, having gotten just the answer she wanted. Score one for Mrs. Cross.

[Elizabeth Knight]

"Wait, one second... Melissa, one thing that you fail to realize, is that Miss Cross here is unproven, whereas I AM. You can't fight only her... you'll also get me as well, as I DO have all the qualifications! Whether it be at a Full Throttle, or at Murder by Numbers in a triple threat, I will have my shot, no matter what I have to do to get it!"[/b]

[Melissa Armstrong]

Well it looks like fair is fair, I gave Sarah a shot, so You got one two. So at the next Pay Per View You get your shot in a triple threat match. That is of course only if no one else steps up to be added to the match.