::They were cut off as the lights begin to fade, going practically to nothing. The song 'Down with the Sickness' by disturbed hit over the PA system. Instruments were heard...::


Voice: "Can you feel that?"

::The instrumentals continued…::


"Oh Sh*t…Oh Whahahaha…Oh Whahahaha!"


::It continued as Kelsia Vector came from behind the black curtain to look out at the now booing fans. She laughed looking around at them all.::


"It seems what's left of my human side is slowly changing... in me."

"Looking at my own reflecting when suddenly it changes, VIOLENTLY, it changes.... OH, NO.”

“There is no turning back now that you have woken up the DEMON........IN ME!!!!!"


::Kelsia kept an evil smile on her face as she made her way down the ramp, one foot followed by the other until she was down the ramp and coming jump onto the apron and stand in the center of it turning her back so that she was now facing the stage once more. Her hands came out on either side locking with the ropes before she looked left, then right once more. ::


"Madness is the gift that has been given to me!"
"I can see inside you the sickness is rising, don't try to deny what you feel…"
"It seems that all that was good has died and is decaying, in me!"


::She flipped back coming to land in the ring just as the next sentence came blaring out. ::

"Get up, come on, get down with the sickness, come on, get down with the sickness, come on get down with the sickness open up your hate and let it flow into me..."


::The words faded as did the instrumentals as Kelsia moved to the far corner jumping on the turnbuckle and taking a seat waiting for the match to get under way.::

 

RJ: “Fine way to interrupt someone, but nonetheless, there you have the current number-one contender…”

 

MS: “And soon to be Women’s Champion!”

 

RJ: “…number-one contender for the Women’s Championship, Kelsia Vector.  And the fans are letting her know what they think of her attitude adjustment.”

 

MS: “She knows what’s best for her, so those fans can go soak their heads.  I like the change, personally.”

 

::Moments after Kelsia took up her spot, the arena darkened again to signal the entry of the champion.  First the dancing notes of the piano, then the fluttering of great wings before thundering guitars add themselves to the mix as “Phoenix” by Vanden Plas sounds throughout the arena. The lights rise again with a fiery orange tint. The ACW-Tron comes alive with scenes of Aurelei Phoenix in action in the ring as well as outside of it, with a few of her promo spots shown as well. As she walks out on the stage, she draws back the hood of her cloak slowly and closes her eyes soaking in the cheers of the fans in the arena. The wavering voice of the vocalist begins adding his tones to the mix as Aurelei twirls once on her feet before throwing her arms up into the air, bringing jets of fire shooting up on either side of her from below the stage. The lights, yellow and red against the orange hue already bathing the arena, flicker and flash in time with the music to give the effect of dancing flames.::

::Unclasping the cloak and sweeping it off her shoulders, she tosses it aside as Roric makes his way out from behind the curtain to stand behind her.  As with her interview previously, she turns to look up at him as he comes to stand with her.  The fans cheers become near-deafening as he stands on stage with her.  But his presence is momentary.  He lingers only long enough to lean around with a hand resting upon her cheek, bringing his lips down upon hers briefly before whispering something in her ear that makes her narrow her eyes with a determined smile.  Backing off as she makes her way down the ramp, he steps back behind the curtain with his own smile.::

 

::Each side of the railing holds fans reaching out, and she shows them the same affection to her fans that they show to her, her smile warm even as her eyes burn with the desire to assault her opponent. Making her way down to the ring, she takes a leap onto the apron and lands on one knee before swinging her other leg up to rest in front of it. One last wave to her fans given, she leaps up onto the top turnbuckle and flips into the ring, un-strapping the title belt around her waist and holding it high into the air. After passing it to the referee, she makes her way into her corner as the smile fades into a look of determination.::

 

RJ: “Well…er…that’s some kinda motivation there isn’t it, Mitchell?”

 

MS: “If you wanna call it that.  You got a wastebasket over there or something?  My lunch ain’t setting well right now.”

 

RJ: “Oh, grow up…you’re such a child.  Nevertheless, grand reaction for the Women’s Champion as she hands off the title to the referee…and here’s Heather Lee for the introductions.”

 

::Standing mid-ring now with the referee who holds the title belt in his hands, Heather Lee brings the microphone to her lips.::

 

HL: “Ladies and gentlemen, this match is for one fall and will be for the ACW Women’s Championship!”  ::At her words, the referee raises the belt up high into the air.::  “Introducing, in the corner to my right…the challenger.  Standing at five-feet-six-inches tall and weighing in at 130 pounds, she hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she is the number-one contender to the ACW Women’s Championship.  Ladies and gentlemen…this…is Kelsia Vector!”

 

::Kelsia arrogantly raises her arms into the air, soaking in both boos and cheers as a torrent of both wash over the arena at the announcement of her name.  Turning to the other corner, Heather continues her introductions.::

 

HL: “And in the corner to my left…formerly of Monaro, California but now hailing from Asheville, North Carolina, she checks in at five-feet-nine-inches tall and weighed in this morning at 152 pounds.  She is one-half of the team Obsession and is the reigning and defending ACW Women’s Champion.  I give to you…Aurelei Phoenix!”

 

::Like Kelsia, Aurelei gets a mixture of cheers and boos, but the former far outweighs the latter.  Licking her lips in anticipation, she lifts her hands into the air to acknowledge her fans before stepping forward with Kelsia to come face-to-face in front of the referee as he explained the rules of the match.  Heather Lee left the ring at this point and the camera picked up well on the comments made by champion and challenger.::

 

::Being face to face with Aurelei, Kelsia looked up those three inches not showing any fear in the women in front of her.::

 

Kelsia:  "Your little boy toy didn’t come out to help you with this one? I would love to see his injured a** try and take my boys on. Are you all talk like he is Aurelei? After all, you both seem so much alike.”

 

::Kelsia had that smirk on her face still, fist clenching as she gritted her teeth.  Smiling slightly at her opponent's comments, Aurelei is quick to respond.::

 

Aurelei: "He knows I can stand on my own, sweetheart.  And as for your boys, he's more of a man than both of them combined.  What you'd better do...is keep your eyes on the prize...or you're liable to be carried out of here in a neck brace."

 

RJ: “Strong words from the champion, and everyone knows she can back it up.”

 

MS: “Yeah, well, she ain’t proved that to me yet, Robbie.”

 

RJ: “Then you obviously aren’t watching her matches very closely, Mitch.”

 

::Aurelei, unlike her opponent, remained loose and ready.  Pressure?  Not for her.::

Kelsia:” All talk and no action. Figures.”

 

::Kelsia turned her back to Aurelei for a moment, a smile on her face still.  She turned around quickly and her hand swung to slap Aurelei across the face.  The blow got an 'ohhhhhh' from the crowd as Aurelei was turned a bit from the force of the slap.  Putting a hand to her reddened cheek, she rubbed her tongue against the inside of that cheek and then gave Kelsia a cocky little smile.::

 

RJ: “Whoa…now THAT was uncalled for!  Who does she think she is?”


MS: “The next ACW Women’s Champion, and I sure as hell agree with her!”

Aurelei: "That was your free shot, b*tch.  Hope you enjoyed it."

 

::The referee stepped in before they could go at one another, but Aurelei simply backed into her corner calmly, wearing an odd smile as she watched Kelsia move into her own corner so that they could be checked before the bell.  The two were checked one at a time by the referee before he stepped back and called for the bell, getting the match underway.::

 

::Rather than rushing Kelsia right away, Aurelei stepped in and closed the distance only when Kelsia advanced as well.  Two arm lengths apart, they were in a crouch, fingers moving in the air as they teased with locking hands only to pull away.  They almost locked both hands together, but then drew away again as the crowd simmered while waiting for some kind of attack.  Once the two women managed to lock hands and hold their grip, their chests slammed together in a test of strength.  And from the beginning, Kelsia pressed a slight advantage, bending Aurelei back at the waist as she bore down on the champion with more leverage gained each passing moment.  When Aurelei slowly began pushing back up, though, Kelsia’s expression turned to one of anger and then concern as they were standing even again.  The champion’s training earlier in the week had paid off and she was bearing down on her challenger now with a determined expression…which turned to a pained one as Kelsia broke the stalemate with a sharp kick to the stomach followed by a DDT and an elbow drop.  Going for the cover immediately, she only managed a one-count.::

 

RJ: “So much for a clean exchange, but after that pipe attack last week and that slap a minute ago, I guess I’m not surprised.”

 

MS: “She’s tired of losing and wants to win, Robbie.  Tell me how that’s wrong!”

RJ: “Right way, wrong way, Mitchell!  It explains itself!”

 

::Kelsia pulled Aurelei up and continued her assault with a few hard chops across the chest of the champion, her attire offering little protection against the blistering assault.  After a trio of attacks, though, Aurelei began fighting back with forearm shivers, grabbing Kelsia behind the head with her left hand while delivering blows with her right.  The counters from Kelsia soon fell off as she was dazed by the blows.  Backed into the corner, Aurelei backed off to get a running start and came charging in for a shoulder to the stomach.  Kelsia, however, leapt up onto the second rope as Aurelei stopped herself before impact.  Dropping down on Aurelei’s back, Kelsia rolled forward with a modified sunset flip only to see Aurelei roll through it and rise to her feet before hitting a seated dropkick on her opponent.  Rocked by the impact of her head against the mat, Kelsia didn’t offer much resistance to being pulled up to her feet where Aurelei could land a trio of knees to her abdomen and a leaping double-knee to her forehead that took her down to the mat again.  Aurelei’s pin, however, wasn’t much more successful than Kelsia’s, merely getting her a two-count.::

 

::Kelsia rose faster than expected and came at Aurelei again with chops before landing a hard elbow to the top of her head after doubling her over with a knee of her own.  Hitting the ropes, Kelsia returned with a clothesline that saw Aurelei catch hold of her arm and flip her to the mat with an Oriental-style throw.  Fuming, Kelsia rose and rushed again, falling victim to a dropkick to her knee that stopped her in her tracks.  Aurelei followed with a double-leg takedown and tried to wrap Kelsia into a sharpshooter, but the challenger smartly scurried to the ropes, prompting the referee to force the break.  Not wanting to quit pressing the assault, Aurelei got too overzealous and Kelsia managed to rake the eyes behind the referee’s back.  She used the few seconds that move brought to take Aurelei up into the air and down with a cradle brainbuster before leaping over her, hitting the second rope, and coming off with an Asai moonsault for a two-count.::

 

MS: “See, that’s what I’m talking about!  New attitude, new moves…all style, all winner!”

 

RJ: “Oh sure…win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat!  You’re so predictable!  The more she uses those cheap shots, the more determined she makes the champion to beat her!”

 

MS: “Determination don’t do jack if you’re on your back, Robbie!  And look…that’s where the champion is right now, as a matter of fact!”

 

::Kelsia seemed quite content to keep Aurelei on the mat, grabbing her by the hair and driving her head down against the canvas while the referee threatened her with an unfinished five-count.  Sitting Aurelei up and pasting a few chops across her chest, Kelsia took a running start and landed a hard front kick that drove the champion back to the mat with authority.  Despite the impact, the resultant pin only garnered a two-count.  Hooking the leg in a second attempt only produced another two-count, prompting Kelsia to bring Aurelei up and over with a textbook belly-to-belly suplex that earned a two-and-a-half count.::

 

RJ: “I’ll say this…I do like the new persistence and crispness to Kelsia’s moves.  There’s a lot less hesitation and feeling-out with her.  She’s getting right down to it.”

 

::When Kelsia brought Aurelei up again, the champion threw her grip off and hit the ropes only to be caught with an attempted knee upon her return which she shifted into a schoolgirl roll-up that gained her a fast two-count.  Kelsia shimmied out of it, executed a double-leg take down and flipped over top of Aurelei, only managing a one before Aurelei bridged out of it and took Kelsia over her back and shoulders for a backslide that gained another swift two-count.  Rolling back to her feet, Kelsia ran at Aurelei and was dodged, her legs swept from under her from behind as Aurelei moved into a lateral press that didn’t even get counted before Kelsia kicked out and pulled the champion into an inside cradle, getting another two before Aurelei broke out.  Both kipped up to their feet and went to face to face for a split-second of trash-talking before the champion returned the stiff slap from before the bell to which Kelsia retaliated with another slap of her own.  Aurelei ducked the blow, grabbed hold of Kelsia’s arm as before and took her over with another Oriental toss.  This time she kept hold of the arm and turned Kelsia over before drawing both her challenger’s arms backwards and locking them down, pulling fiercely.::

 

RJ: “Wing Snap!  That’s Aurelei’s Rings of Saturn variation!  Look at the way she’s driving her knee into Kelsia’s back!”

 

MS: “She doesn’t even have anything to tap out on!”

 

::The hold had Kelsia screaming in agony with Aurelei’s sharp tone cutting in through them, telling Kelsia to give it up.  But the challenger refused and managed to shake the leverage offered by the champion’s knee.  Showing great willpower, Kelsia rolled them so that Aurelei had to shift her grip and posture, allowing the challenger to get her feet over the ropes.  Aurelei held the submission for as close to five as she could before breaking it, not willing to accept a DQ.  A pair of hard stomps to the back had the referee herding her back so that the rope-held Kelsia could get to her feet.  Once again, Aurelei rushed in as soon as the ref was clear, but Kelsia smartly pulled down the top rope causing the champion’s momentum to carry her out to the floor hard.::

 

::Following Aurelei out despite the referee’s admonishments, Kelsia delivered her own set of stomps to the back and head of Aurelei as the referee began his count.  Around the count of two, Kelsia had pulled Aurelei up to her feet and whipped her hard to the ring steps, following up with banging her head off of them for good measure.  Aurelei fought back with an elbow and tried to return the favor, but Kelsia again went for the eyes before whipping Aurelei into the ringside barrier.  The referee was at six now and Kelsia moved to roll back into the ring only to roll right back out to force the count to restart.  Aurelei, back up on her feet in that short pause, kicked Kelsia in the stomach and measured her for a forearm to the side of the head which Kelsia evaded before slinging Aurelei into the steps again.  They took their fight over to the announce table at this point, prompting some response from Mitchell and Robert.::

 

MS: “Whoa, hey…don’t bring this over to our part of town!”

 

RJ: “What the hell are you doing?  Get this back in the ring!”

 

::With a wicked grin, Kelsia rammed Aurelei face-first into the table a few times, sending the commentators scurrying from their chairs.  With Aurelei down, hands to her face, Kelsia yanked one of the monitors out of the slot on the table and jerked the wires free.  Looking at it sinisterly, she held it up and motioned for Aurelei to get up…to turn and take what was coming.  Slow to get up and leaning on the table, the referee by now having stopped the count to try and get them back into the ring, Aurelei turned and ducked just in time to prevent her face from being smashed in.  Kelsia’s momentum staggered her when she tried to stop and Aurelei caught her with a split-legged facebuster out of desperation, leaving both out on the floor.::

 

RJ: “She tried to take the woman’s face off with that monitor!  She’s not after the gold, she just wants to injure Aurelei!”

 

MS: “The woman’s getting what she deserves, and if Aurelei wasn’t born under a lucky star, she’d be wearing a crimson mask right now!”

 

::In fact, Aurelei was already bleeding from the blows to the table and stairs.  She managed to rise a moment before Kelsia and caught her with a hard forearm followed by a second one before following with a roaring elbow that drove Kelsia into the table herself, draping her half atop it.  Burning with rage after seeing the blood from her head on her hands, Aurelei fired right hands down to the forehead of Kelsia, trying to open her up as she was laid out on the table.  The referee tried to pull her off, but she brushed himself aside and left of her own accord, climbing up onto the ring apron.  Momentarily spreading her arms out wide as though ‘spreading her wings’, the crowd began to chant even louder.  Already there were two distinct sections cheering for both women in turn.::

 

::Facing the ropes, Aurelei leapt up to the second rope using her hands for balance then to the top rope before launching into the air with a floating moonsault.  Robert and Mitchell scurried for cover as Aurelei came down full-force on Kelsia, putting her through the table with the move.  The crowd exploded hard enough to shake the rafters with chants of “A-C-W! A-C-W!” while the two women lay almost motionless in the remnants of the announce table.::

 

RJ: “Sweet Jesus, they have to be as broken as our table!  Someone get some EMTs out here for God’s sake!”

 

MS: “Talk about making an impact!  Can you imagine what would have happened if she missed that, Robbie!  I’m…I’m speechless!”

 

RJ: “First good news I’ve heard all night…hey, wait…they’re moving!  Thank God!”

 

::Moving was kind of an overstatement as they were merely stirring.  Aurelei rolled off her opponent and the wreckage as EMTs made it down to ringside. But she brushed them off and made it to her feet with the security wall for help.  She faltered once, but stayed on her feet, making her way over to the ring and rolling back in.  Draped over the ropes and watching the EMTs trying to attend to Kelsia, who likewise began brushing them off, a smile curled her blood-stained lips and she backed away from the ropes, using her toe to draw a ‘line in the sand’.  Kelsia, shaken and hurt just like her opponent, wasn’t about to let that slide and rolled back into the ring herself while the referee came back in as well, looking unsure as to whether or not he should allow them to continue.::

 

MS: “Now I know you’re kidding me!  Just call the match now and get those two to the trainer’s room!  Even I have to call that enough!”

 

RJ: “You can try…but I have a feeling they’d attack the EMTs if they tried!”

 

MS: “You ain’t whistlin’ Dixie there, Robbie!  I guess the match continues!  Talk about a guilty pleasure!”

 

::The two women, groggy and bloody (one of them was bloody, anyway), came face to face in the middle of the ring for a moment before trading chops with the crowd whoooo-ing heartily in the background.  Kelsia got the better of the exchange with a headbutt followed by a body slam.  A pin attempt earned her a long two-count, but she kept up the assault with a backbreaker that earned an even longer two-count.  Aurelei fought to get back up to her feet now only to be dropped with a hard spear. The only saving grace this time was the proximity to the ropes as Aurelei managed to get her foot up onto the bottom strand.  Cursing in the midst of a screech of pure frustration, Kelsia hooked both legs and managed only two-and-seven-eighths before Aurelei kicked out again.::

 

RJ: “I don’t know what’s inside of the champion besides fire and rage, but whatever it is, she’s digging down deep to keep from losing her gold!”

 

MS: “How much digging can she do before she reaches the bottom of the barrel though, Robbie?  Kelsia’s still been in control much of the match and she just has more in the tank!”

 

::As if punctuating the point, Kelsia brought Aurelei up and positioned her for a piledriver, sweeping her arms side to side as if calling for the end.  Locking her hands, she tried to lift the larger woman up but was denied.  A second attempt was also denied and resulted in Kelsia being elevated with a back body drop though she landed on her feet on the ring apron.  Bringing Aurelei down to the mat by her hair, Kelsia vaulted over the top rope to come down with an elbow but the champion got her knees up and deflected the assault.  While Kelsia rose to her feet cradling the arm, Aurelei went into a spin and attempted the Phoenix Phlash only to have her leg caught by her challenger, allowing Kelsia to take her up and then down with a backbreaker across her knee.  It was Aurelei’s turn to scream in pain as she was bent over her opponent’s knee, a hand at her knee and one under her chin by Kelsia applying more and more pressure.::

 

::Fighting out of it after several moments by kicking up with her free leg to the side of Kelsia’s head, Aurelei rolled off the knee and got to her feet, kicking Kelsia in the stomach and drawing her for an Aura Crusher.::

 

MS: “Aura Crusher attempt!  But with her back having been tortured, I don’t see it happening!”

 

RJ: “Damn it, you’re right!  Kelsia slid the hold!”

 

::Aurelei had gotten her up and over, but Kelsia slid down behind Aurelei and shoved her forward into the ropes before attempting to yank her backwards into a lung blower.  Aurelei held on the ropes, however, and Kelsia dropped back-first against the mat.  Both women on their last legs, Kelsia rushed in and was met by a sudden superkick as Aurelei braced herself with her hand on the top rope.::

 

MS: “Dragon Fang!  She took a page out of Roric’s book!”

 

RJ: “We have a cover!  Leg is hooked!  One…two…three!”

 

::The crowd counted right along with as Aurelei kept Kelsia down for the three seconds.  Once the bell rang, she couldn’t even sit up to have her arm raised in victory, though…setting for leaning back against the bottom rope while the belt was handed to her…or rather laid in her lap.  Aurelei, blood still dripping from the wound in her forehead, watched as her opponent slowly regained her bearings as well.  Forcing herself up to her feet with the help of the ropes, Aurelei stared daggers at Kelsia who, with a sour expression, dropped down and rolled out of the ring, making her way to the back as Tony and Adrean came out to help her along.::

 

::Past them walked Roric, not even bothering to glance at the glaring faces of Tony or Adrean, much less the stare of Kelsia.  Making his way down to the ring with both pride and concern etched on his face, Roric rolled in under the bottom rope and went over to Aurelei.  She nodded to him and said something to which he nodded.  Getting out of the ring under her own power, Roric merely followed her and made sure she didn’t fall…but she moved on her own and held up the title for her fans as “Phoenix” by Vanden Plas sounded throughout the arena.::

 

MS: “Kelsia damn well deserves another shot after a match like that, Robbie.”

 

RJ: “You’ll get no argument from me!  She might have fought dirty at times, but she took the champion to the limit.”

 

MS: “I still don’t like either Roric or Aurelei, but I’m impressed…she had more inside her than I gave her credit for, and the Guardian kept his nose out of the match.”

 

RJ: “As did T&A.  But I’m getting word that we have an altercation in the back!’