AAA: The Revolution is Now

[cbacon87]

<p>Good to see this back.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

AAA presents Battle of the Babes</p><p> </p><p>

Meydenbauer Center</p><p>

Bellevue, WA</p><p>

October 2, 2016</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals</p><p>

<strong>Flower Power</strong> vs. The Delicate Flowers</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals</p><p>

The Princess & The Punk vs. <strong>The Uprising</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Laura Flame vs. <strong>Amber Allen</strong></p><p> </p><p>

AAA Femme Fatale Championship Match</p><p>

<strong>Jaime Quine</strong> vs. Steph Blake</p>

[MrWolf101]

<p>So glad to have (not-evil) Cat Quine's AAA back! It is amazing how the characters pop right back to life as if no time had passed at all, so it's definitely a credit to you.</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals</p><p>

<strong>Flower Power</strong> vs. The Delicate Flowers</p><p>

<em>Welp, you definitely threw me for a loop having Flower Power win. My instinct is to pick them to lose here, but maybe, just maybe you're running with them?</em></p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals</p><p>

The Princess & The Punk vs. <strong>The Uprising</strong></p><p>

<em>Again, my original picks for the Final was going to be Delicate Flowers vs P&P, but I think if Flower Power pull off another upset, they face the Uprising in the Finals. This would also allow Talia to get another win.</em></p><p> </p><p>

Laura Flame vs. <strong>Amber Allen</strong></p><p>

<em>I think Amber is the bigger player for you right now. Maybe you want to give Laura a big win, but Amber should be nearing the main event scene soon while Flame is likely settling into the midcard.</em></p><p> </p><p>

AAA Femme Fatale Championship Match</p><p>

<strong>Jaime Quine</strong> vs. Steph Blake</p><p>

<em>It is so difficult for me to pick against the Queen of Mean, but I think this is when you do the title switch. The biggest match you can have right now is Alicia Strong vs Steph, but I think the biggest feud you can have is Jaime vs Alicia for the title (if that makes any sense).</em></p>

[DarEatWorld]

<p>AAA presents Battle of the Babes</p><p> </p><p>

Meydenbauer Center</p><p>

Bellevue, WA</p><p>

October 2, 2016</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals</p><p>

Flower Power vs. <strong>The Delicate Flowers</strong></p><p>

Comment: I think Flower Power have put down a marker of intent just by getting here. A gutsy but ultimately unsuccessful showing against the experienced duo still represents progress.</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals</p><p>

<strong>The Princess & The Punk</strong> vs. The Uprising</p><p>

Comment: A miscue from The Uprising send P&P on their way to the final.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Laura Flame</strong> vs. Amber Allen</p><p>

Comment: The wildfire begins to spread. A decent scalp to signify the rise of Laura.</p><p> </p><p>

AAA Femme Fatale Championship Match </p><p>

Jaime Quine vs. <strong>Steph Blake</strong></p><p>

Comment: Blake <em>has</em> to lose eventually right? Still feel it's not yet time though.</p>

[Dr_Avalanche]

<p>AAA presents Battle of the Babes</p><p> </p><p>

Meydenbauer Center</p><p>

Bellevue, WA</p><p>

October 2, 2016</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals</p><p>

Flower Power vs. <strong>The Delicate Flowers</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Could well be wrong here, especially since Flower Power has been getting a decent push, I just see more potential in the Delicate Flowers.</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals</p><p>

The Princess & The Punk vs. <strong>The Uprising</strong></p><p> </p><p>

We're entering the age of Talia Quinzel. </p><p> </p><p>

Laura Flame vs. <strong>Amber Allen</strong></p><p> </p><p>

AAA Femme Fatale Championship Match</p><p>

<strong>Jaime Quine</strong> vs. Steph Blake</p><p> </p><p>

I'm not sure at all that there will be a title change, but I think it's getting close.</p>

[Sudo_Nym]

<p>Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals</p><p>

Flower Power vs. <strong>The Delicate Flowers</strong></p><p>

<em>Flower Power is getting a little push, but Delicate Flowers are more talnted.</em></p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals</p><p>

<strong>The Princess & The Punk</strong> vs. The Uprising</p><p>

<em>Because I love them.</em></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Laura Flame</strong> vs. Amber Allen</p><p>

<em>Laura's great.</em></p><p> </p><p>

AAA Femme Fatale Championship Match</p><p>

Jaime Quine vs. <strong>Steph Blake</strong></p><p>

<em>Probably too early to switch, especially with Strong in the mix.</em></p>

[kingjames]

<p>AAA Battle of the Babes - 10/2/2016</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA presents Battle of the Babes</span></strong></p><p><strong>

</strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/D8OEJxq.jpg</span></p><p><strong>

</strong><a href="http://vps12198.inmotionhosting.com/~bfdev14/www.meydenbauer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Meydenbauer-w-Bravern-from-South.jpg" rel="external nofollow"><strong>Meydenbauer</strong></a><strong> </strong><a href="http://www.mpiwsc.org/media/com_jbusinessdirectory/pictures/companies/523/Center%20Hall%20Straight%20On-1460145363.jpg" rel="external nofollow"><strong>Center</strong></a></p><p><strong>

</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellevue,_Washington" rel="external nofollow"><strong>Bellevue</strong></a><strong>, WA</strong></p><p><strong>

October 2, 2016</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<span>http://i.imgur.com/VJqkQW6.jpg</span></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

“Good evening everyone, to another night of amazing AAA action!” says Jim Lou Freebush as the feed begins. “Tonight’s show is Battle of the Babes, and there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing some memorable battles tonight in front of 3,154 Angels.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/kEkUwNO.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p>

“You know, Jim, I feel like ‘battle’ isn’t going to do justice to tonight’s matches,” replies Cat Quine. “I think we’ll be seeing some wars inside the ropes tonight. The semi-finals of our tag team tournament happen tonight, with the winners going on to face each other for the AAA Tag Team titles in two weeks at Homecoming Queens. We’ve got a grudge match between the Ultimate Competitor, Amber Allen, and the red-hot Laura Flame. And last but certainly not least, we have a match for the richest prize in women’s wrestling, the Femme Fatale title, between the Queen of Mean, Steph Blake, and my stepsister, Jaime Quine. And no, Grace, I know I’m not completely unbiased, but I know Jaime wants to win this one on her own merits, and I’m going to call it like I see it, no matter what.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/zUsPh6M.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p>

“How <em>noble</em> of you, Cathy, to do your job,” sneers Grace Harper. “Don’t worry, being the broadcast professional I am, I promise all of you Angels that I will do everything in my power - which is a lot, I’m pretty powerful - to keep Cat Quine well-behaved. Before all that, though, I’ve been informed by our esteemed General Manager Cat Jemson that she...and our wholly unnecessary Commissioner Persephone Coombs, I guess...have a major announcement about our show one month from now, Queen of the Ring.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>In the ring at AAA Battle of the Babes</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/uBl8pJY.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/2grrL5B.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

AAA Commissioner Persephone Coombs raises her microphone to speak...and is cut off before she can even get a word in by General Manager Cat Jemson. “Good evening, Bellevue, and welcome to Battle of the Babes!” she exclaims, clearly gleeful at stealing the spotlight once again. “Though, I mean, let’s be honest. The biggest babe in AAA isn’t going to be battling tonight, because that would be </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>moi</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;">. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Oui</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;">?” The crowd boos, because even if someone didn’t understand a word of French, Jemson’s titanic arrogance fills the Meydenbauer Center.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Cat, we talked about this,” says a testy Coombs. “We’re out here to make a major announcement about the Queen of the Ring next month.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Cat scoffs. “Whatever, Coombs. It’s always all business with you. You need to learn to enjoy the finer things in life. And let’s be real, there’s nothing finer in AAA than Ms. Cat Jemson.” Persephone’s death glare convinces Jemson to move on from her favorite topic, which is herself. “Philistines, all of you. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Anyway</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;">. After consulting with the AAA Board of Directors, they decided to adopt my proposal - “</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“It was my proposal, Cat,” Coombs injerects.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“- </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Our</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> proposal to name a Queen of the Ring at the Queen of the Ring, through a single elimination tournament!” Despite the news coming from Jemson, the crowd reacts positively to the idea. “I know, wasn’t my idea great?” Jemson crows.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Persephone rolls her eyes. “</div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Anyway</strong></div><div style="margin-left:25px;">. We will be having the first four tournament matches in two weeks, at Homecoming Queens. The winners of those matches will face each other in semi-final matches at Queen of the Ring, and the winners of </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>those</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> matches will face each other in the main event to determine AAA’s first Queen of the Ring.” The crowd gives an “A-A-A! A-A-A!” chant in appreciation. “And I am excited to announce the participants in this year’s tournament. Christine, if you’ll bring up the boards?” A ring crew member brings in two easels and places large poster boards on them. The boards show the first round line up of the tournament. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 73)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Steph Blake/Jaime Quine</strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Suzanne Brazzle</strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Nadia Snow</strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Ariel Breaks</strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Danielle Sweetheart</strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Tracey Brendon</strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Demelza Wade</strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

___________</strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“For the first entry, the woman who does not hold the Femme Fatale title at the end of tonight is the entrant,” explains Persephone. “Now, you may be wondering who that final entry is. I could tell you...or I could let her tell you herself.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/lqRIdUF.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

As soon as the first notes of

</div><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/IZBlqcbpmxY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"></iframe></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> play, the audience knows the answer. Alicia Strong comes out to a roaring ovation. As Strong gets into the ring, Persephone hands over her microphone, while Cat Jemson simply rolls her eyes. “Sheesh, you all know how to make a lady feel welcome,” she says with a grin. Getting serious, she says, “Now, when I first got here, I said I did not want to let my name or my reputation give me unearned opportunities. To be included in this tournament is an honor, with former Femme Fatale champions in the brackets - including my opponent two weeks from now, Demelza Wade. She’s won the big one here in AAA, and I’ve got all of one victory under my belt. I’m not sure that I’ve earned it. That said, this tournament is the perfect venue for me to prove myself to all of you. To become Queen of the Ring, you have to win three matches against the best of the best - and two of those victories have to come on the same night. It doesn’t matter what your name is or what you’ve done once the tournament starts. You get results, or you get out. And believe me, I don’t intend on anything less than complete victory. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 72)</em></div></div><p> </p><p>

“I don’t know about you, Grace, but I’m excited about the inaugural Queen of the Ring tournament,” says Cat Quine. “That’s a heck of a lineup. Any one of those women could be crowned Queen of the Ring...though you have to think Alicia Strong has to be an early favorite.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Bah,” says Harper. “We <em>already</em> have a Queen of AAA, and her name is Steph Blake. I would say <em>she</em> would be the early favorite, but she’s not losing tonight so she won’t be in the tournament. So I’m picking Demelza Wade, the A-Lister, the only true celebrity in AAA, to win the whole thing. She’ll shock the world by dumping Alicia Strong out of the tournament in the first round, and mop up everyone else on her way to the throne.”</p><p> </p><p>

“From future tournaments to tournaments already in progress,” segues Freebush, “we’ve got the first of our two Tag Team tournament semi-final matches ready to go.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #000000;"></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA Tag Team Tournament Semi-Final Match</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

</strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/PVM1Kw9.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/Y4lKwTx.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/Lz8zst8.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/ftiHnYI.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Flower Power (Wendy Anderson & Bobbie McGee) vs. The Delicate Flowers (Kate Lilly & Debbie Rose)</strong></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

These two teams fought each other a few months back at </div><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2216969&postcount=142" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2216969&postcount=142" rel="external nofollow">Lass Frontier II</a></div><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2216969&postcount=142" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">, as the Delicate Flowers’ delicate sensibilities were offended by the presence of another flower-named team in AAA. Flower Power was overwhelmed by the almost preternatural teamwork of the Delicate Flowers in their last encounter. Despite a few more months of teaming together, and a more game performance compared to the prior curb stomping, this match goes much like the first meeting. The Flowers make quick tags, blind tags, and generally never give Flower Power a moment to rest. Debbie Rose hits a mat-shaking brainbuster on Bobbie McGee, and with impeccable timing, Kate Lilly lands her Lilly Launch Pad frog splash - the feared combination finisher called “The Thorn”. Rose makes sure Anderson isn’t able to break up the pin, while Lilly gets the three-count and the Delicate Flowers’ pass to the Tag Team championship match. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(The Delicate Flowers defeated Flower Power in 9:53 when Kate Lilly defeated Bobbie McGee by pinfall with The Thorn. Rating - 48)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">WINNERS, BY PINFALL: THE DELICATE FLOWERS</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><span>http://i.imgur.com/Lz8zst8.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/ftiHnYI.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></div></p><p> </p><p>

“A resounding victory by the four-time former Tag Team champions,” says Freebush.</p><p> </p><p>

“Did you expect anything else?” asks Harper.</p><p> </p><p>

“With a convincing victory, the Delicate Flowers are one half of the Tag Team title match happening in two weeks at Homecoming Queens,” says Cat Quine. “But tonight, our main event features Femme Fatale champion Steph Blake defending against my sister, Jaime Quine. I took some time to talk to her before tonight’s match - let’s take a look.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>On screen at Battle of the Babes</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/kEkUwNO.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/5Auj7Hh.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Cat and Jaime Quine sit in chairs in the Cat’s Lair dojo. The ring is brightly lit, while the rest of the dojo is darker. “Hello, everyone, and I hope you’re enjoying Battle of the Babes,” says the previously-recorded Cat Quine. “I thought I would take some of the questions you Angels have been sending in about the match, and give Jaime a little pop quiz.” Cat grins while Jaime gives a little laugh.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“You should know better than anyone how well I did with pop quizzes back in school,” Jaime jokes.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Well, yes. Why do you think I’m giving you a pop quiz?” Cat says, with a cartoonishly exaggerated grin.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Ohhhhh, so that’s the way it’s gonna be.” Jaime laughs. “Okay, Cat. Remember this when Christmas rolls around, huh?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“All right, all right,” Cat says. “Let’s get to the questions. First, are you nervous?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/Dw8k489.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t,” says Jaime. “I’ve had a lot of big matches. I’ve won the Top Contender’s title three times. I had a main event at </div><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2225825&postcount=173" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2225825&postcount=173" rel="external nofollow">Women of Wrestling</a></div><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2225825&postcount=173" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"> with Cherry Bomb, a real legend in our industry. But this...this is, I think, the biggest match I’ve ever been in. So, yes, I am nervous. But I’m using those nerves to fuel me, to push just a little bit harder, to make sure that I am focused and ready for this match.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/2m3v59w.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Second question,” says Cat. “Steph Blake has...cut corners, if you will, in order to achieve victory. Certainly she did so last week, when she got the pinfall on you with the help of a steel chair. How are you going to prevent Blake from pulling the same tricks again?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“You know, I have a lot of respect for Steph,” says Jaime. “She sent Sara Marie York </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>and</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Joanne Rodriguez out of AAA. She’s held the title for six months, and even with shortcuts, you don’t hold the title that long unless you have serious skillt. Steph’s got a DDT variation for any situation you can think of, she’s got better cardio than anyone I’ve ever met. But Steph Blake hasn’t beat me clean. I think Steph Blake is afraid that she </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>can’t</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> beat me clean. So yes, I expect she’ll take liberties if she sees an opportunity. All I can do is be careful - and take advantage of the fact that when you boil everything down, Steph cheats because she’s afraid. A scared competitor makes mistakes, and one mistake is all I need.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Next question,” Cat says. “There are some people - including a particularly annoying gadfly I am forced to sit next to - who claim you’re being handed this opportunity because of who you are, who you’re related to, not because you earned it. What would you say to them?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Jaime sighs and nods. “Well, in the case of Grace Harper, I’d say she needs to stop averting her eyes and finding excuses to be somewhere else when we’re in the same room together, if she wants to accuse me of nepotism. As for other people...it’s a logical question to ask. I don’t blame anyone for asking. In fact, I hope people would question it, question me. In the end...I’ve been wrestling for AAA for nine years now. I’m a three-time Top Contender champion. I’ve put in my dues, and honestly, if we didn’t share a last name? I don’t think people would ask if I’ve earned an opportunity. In the end, this opportunity wasn’t given to me - </div><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2234928&postcount=230" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2234928&postcount=230" rel="external nofollow">I won it</a></div><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2234928&postcount=230" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">. I outlasted nine of the best female athletes on the planet to be here. If that’s not enough to show this is an earned opportunity...I’m not sure there’s any way to convince someone I wasn’t just handed this title shot.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Jaime, thank you for your answers,” says Cat. “And good luck later tonight.” </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 70)</em></div></div><p> </p><p>

“Barf,” says Harper.</p><p> </p><p>

“There’s the insightful commentary we’ve come to know and respect from you, Grace,” says Cat.</p><p> </p><p>

“If I may interject?” asks Freebush. “While the video was playing, our roving backstage camera caught a very interesting confrontation backstage. Let’s take a look.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Backstage at Battle of the Babes</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/2m3v59w.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/VcZ3dx5.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/weawI8F.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/gVkOI5G.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Steph Blake, Demelza Wade, and Ariel Breaks are conferencing backstage, when a loud “Hey!” startles all three of them. Foxxy LaRue saunters into frame, but says nothing. The other three look at each other, to see who is going to field this one, before unofficial leader Steph Blake takes charge.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Yes, peasant?” asks an expectant Blake. “Do you have something you wish to tell us? Or are you just wandering around, making random noises? We assume that’s a hobby of yours.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I hope Jaime smacks the crap out of you tonight, just cause I’mma enjoy imagining the look on your face when you wake up tomorrow morning and realize you ain’t the champ,” says Foxxy with enough fire to leave the normally garrulous champion at a loss for words. “But I ain’t comin’ for you, queenie.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Well, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Foxxy,” says Demelza Wade, “but there are three of us and one of you. Even you can do that math.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I got two hands and two feet, and that’s more than enough,” replies Foxxy, “But I ain’t comin’ for you, either.” Foxxy turns her glare to Ariel Breaks, who actually lets out a little “meep!” of concern. “You hit that Breakerfall of yours on ol’ Foxxy </div><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2252552&postcount=245" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2252552&postcount=245" rel="external nofollow">two weeks ago</a></div><a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2252552&postcount=245" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">, nearly got the three count. I ain’t got a problem admitting that you almost got me, and more power to ya if you did. But ya didn’t finish. But Foxxy keeps on hearing about you runnin’ your mouth to everyone who’ll listen that Ariel Breaks beat Foxxy LaRue, ‘bout how you gonna do it again. Now, have my ears been playin’ tricks on me?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Breaks begins to speak, but mostly stammers. She looks to the other two more established veterans for help. “Though we may question whether what is between your ears functions correctly,” offers Blake, “your ears have heard right. Young Lady Breaks </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>has</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> been saying she had you beat.” Breaks shakes her head, clearly not wanting </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>this</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> kind of help.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“And I don’t suppose you follow Ariel on Instantgram,” says Wade. “She’s been putting it on blast on social media for two weeks.” Breaks’ eyes grow wide as saucers.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Uh-huh,” says Foxxy. “Well, little miss thang, if you’re so sure you beat Foxxy, how about you do it again?” Breaks looks to be sweating. “Now, Foxxy knows you’re in that tournament, takin’ on Nadia Snow.” Wade reflexively makes a face like she’s smelled something rotten. “And Foxxy knows you gonna get beat. So, how ‘bout you meet me in a street fight at Queen of the Ring one month from now? And if by some miracle you manage to get into the second round, Foxxy doesn’t mind waitin’ another two weeks to throw down. You dig?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Breaks looks back and forth to her companions, frantically. Steph Blake’s face slowly takes on a Cheshire Cat grin. “Young Miss Breaks accepts your challenge,” Blake says, while Breaks’ mouth hangs agape. “And we daresay, we have every reason to believe she’ll ‘breaks’ you.” Wade and Blake laugh. Breaks...does not. Foxxy nods her head and grins.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“See ya in a month, hon,” says Foxxy, blowing Breaks a kiss before walking away. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 57)</em></div></DIV><p> </p><p>

“Well, with friends like that…” says Cat Quine.</p><p> </p><p>

“Don’t you put your ridiculous spin on this,” says Harper. “It’s <em>clear</em> and <em>obvious</em> that Steph Blake and Demelza Wade see the extraordinary skill of Ariel Breaks, even if Ariel is far too modest about her own abilities. What you just saw was tough love - the kind of love between real friends. Which explains why you can’t see that, because you’d have to <em>have</em> friends to know that.”</p><p> </p><p>

“You know something, Grace?” says a testy Quine.</p><p> </p><p>

“I know a <em>lot</em> of things, Cathy,” says a clearly-instigating Harper. “Let’s see if you can tell me something I don’t already know.”</p><p> </p><p>

“I think you’re a real -” and suddenly the feed cuts to a blue screen.</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Location Unknown</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

When the feed comes back, it’s dark, too dark to make much of anything out. Then we hear the sound of something set alight. Flames rise within a barrel. As the flames grow, we hear a familiar voice.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/57sF3YA.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“All my life, I’ve done as I was told. Be a good girl. Sit up straight. Be polite. Share. Be a good sister.” It becomes clear Tracey is behind the camera, as with her free hand, Tracey Brendon places a photo of her and her sister Michelle as little girls in front of the camera. “Instead of going out and becoming the best </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>I</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> could be, it was all about the best </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>we</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> could be.” A photo of the Brendon Sisters’ debut in AAA. “Smile. Be respectful. Appreciate your opponents. Treasure the fans. Support the community.” Another photo produced, of Tracey and Michelle doing charity work at a Tacoma street fair. “Win for the fans. Tell them how you couldn’t have done it without them. Respect your defeated opponent. Positively represent the company.” A photo of the Brendon Sisters, arms aloft, holding the Tag Team titles. “You know what none of those things are about? Me. Everything I did, I did other people. But who was doing anything for me? I gave and gave, and everyone just took and took. So I stopped giving.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/p39q1H6.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

A photo of Brendon brutalizing Suzanne Brazzle. “What did I stop giving? Myself. I clung to the past. To old lessons, to old wounds. But I realized there was something else I needed to stop giving. I stopped giving a </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>a good goddamn what anyone thinks about me</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;">. What I wear, what I say, what I do. All this time feeling bitter about carrying my load of a sister on my back, t I was dragging around something much heavier - everyone else’s expectations.” One by one, the photos are consigned to the flames. They curl as they burn. “I know what I want. And I know how to get it. What do I want? Well.” Brendon exhales. “ Some women just want to watch the world burn.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="vMFYo1C.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/vMFYo1C.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The hand cam turns around to show Tracey Brendon...who looks very different than she did the last time she was seen. “AAA, I’m done playing by your rules, anyone’s rules. It’s time for anarchy rules. It’s my time.” </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 65)</em></div></DIV><p> </p><p>

The feed returns to normal, as Freebush appears to be a demilitarized zone between Harper and Cat Quine. “You know what, Cat?” asks Harper. “I can’t believe you kiss your mother with that mouth.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Well, Grace,” replies Cat Quine, “You can kiss my -”</p><p> </p><p>

“Grace, Cat, we’re back,” says an anxious Freebush. Both women refuse to break their stare-off. “Ladies?” Finally, Cat rolls her eyes, Grace sneers, but both return to the camera. “Obviously, Angels, things are pretty tense around here, and you have to think Tracey Brendon’s message - her threats, really - they’re only going to increase tensions.”</p><p> </p><p>

“I like it,” says Harper. “You never win playing someone else’s game. Do unto others before they do unto you, I always say.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Tracey’s always been a great competitor, but she’s seemed adrift without her sister Michelle this last year,” says Cat. “I don’t know if she knows who or what she is. I hope she figures it out soon, without doing too much damage along the way.”</p><p> </p><p>

“One thing we’ll be figuring out soon is who will advance to the Tag Team tournament finals,” says Freebush. “Earlier tonight we saw the Delicate Flowers punch their ticket. Now, we find out if their opponents will be the ever-energetic Princess & the Punk, or the unrelenting force called the Uprising.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #000000;"></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA Tag Team Tournament Semi-Final Match</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

</strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/TjVyclG.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/U10U2qP.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> w/ </strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/XaMRxhf.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/3vdoMpU.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/dcnOexP.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

The Princess & the Punk (Christy Higgins & Simony Sentinel) w/ Joanna Silver vs. The Uprising (Selina Svelte & Talia Quinzel)</strong></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The future of the division gets an opportunity to shine, as Christy Higgins and Selina Svelte start for their respective teams. Higgins and Svelte are both adept mat workers, and thought they stay grounded, they keep up a good pace. With Silver getting the crowd behind her team, Higgins gets the tag to Sentinel. The story becomes one of trying to keep Svelte from tagging Quinzel in, with Sentinel and Higgins making quick tags to prevent the tag. Svelte finally gets Sentinel off her with a shot to Sentinel’s throat, and crawls as quickly as she can over to her corner.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Once Quinzel’s in the match, she comes in as a powerhouse. After a few stiff shots, Sentinel tags in Higgins. Higgins is at a severe height disadvantage, giving her poor leverage to get Quinzel down to the mat where Higgins becomes most dangerous. Higgins tries to take Quinzel’s long legs out, but Quinzel keeps getting shots in on Higgins when she gets in close. Finally, a desperation lunge from Higgins is reversed into an </div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF3cgmCnhRU" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF3cgmCnhRU" rel="external nofollow">inverted headlock backbreaker</a></div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF3cgmCnhRU" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">, landing with enough force that Silver averts her eyes and winces. Quinzel smugly steps on Higgins as she saunters back to her corner, telling Svelte to “finish her”.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Svelte comes in with just as much attitude as her teammate. As Higgins crawls towards Sentinel, who’s nearly vibrating with pent-up energy stretching for the tag, Svelte trash-talks her and smacks her across the back of the head a few times in utter disrespect. But when Svelte tries to lock in the </div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRfrIIP2PtU" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRfrIIP2PtU" rel="external nofollow">Prawn Armlock</a></div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRfrIIP2PtU" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">, Higgins reverses it into a desperation single-arm DDT. Agonizingly, she pulls herself towards Sentinel, and right as Svelte starts to clear the cobwebs, Higgins makes the tag to Sentinel.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Sentinel comes in on fire, with running jumping forearm smashes, dropkicks, even a Sling Blade. Quinzel comes in to bail out her partner, and catches Sentinel’s leg as Sentinel tries to kick her. Quinzel smirks, but Sentinel climbs the ladder and takes Quinzel down with an enziguri. With Quinzel down on all fours, Sentinel jumps onto Quinzel’s back and uses the extra height to get to the top turnbuckle with a second jump. As Svelte turns around, finally getting up from the prior assault, she’s greeted by Sentinel’s top-rope diving forearm, the Sentinel Strike. Svelte’s eyes roll as she spins from the impact, then collapses to the canvas. Sentinel scrambles to cover Svelte, and despite a decent kickout attempt at 3 and a ½ seconds, Sentinel gets the pin for her team. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(The Princess & the Punk defeated The Uprising in 10:24 when Simony Sentinel defeated Selina Svelte by pinfall with a Sentinel Strike. Rating - 43.)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">WINNERS, BY PINFALL: THE PRINCESS & THE PUNK</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><span>http://i.imgur.com/TjVyclG.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/U10U2qP.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></div></p><p> </p><p>

As Sentinel rolls out of the ring and is embraced by her other P3 members to the sounds of “

</p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/L0oeqAQ1qE8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Rebel Girl"></iframe></div></div>”, Harper scoffs. “Enjoy it now, little girls. You’re gonna be plant food when you take on the Delicate Flowers.”<p> </p><p>

“I wouldn’t talk too soon, Grace,” responds Cat Quine. “There’s no doubt that the Delicate Flowers may be the most elite team in AAA, following the breakups of the A-List and Goodlookin’ Bunny earlier this year. The Princess & the Punk have a huge disadvantage in terms of experience. But Sentinel and Higgins are really finding their groove, and Silver is an x-factor at ringside. I’ll agree that it’d be an upset for P3 to take home the Tag Team titles, but it’s far from impossible.”</p><p> </p><p>

The arena suddenly goes dark except for a cold blue light, and the PA system begins playing “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXM77Jrh74I" rel="external nofollow">The Killing Moon</a>”. Freebush shudders, then says, “We go from the neon-bright intensity of P3, to the cold and calculating darkness that signals the arrival of the Mother of Monsters, Lilith, and her ‘children’.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>In the ring at Battle of the Babes</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/fVVoDMS.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/Ij4JV2X.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/sB96FgI.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/GM8hqrJ.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

When boos subside, Lilith raises her mic. Standing next to her is Devil’s Daughter, the Top Contender title slung over her shoulder. Towering behind her is Lilith’s enforcer, the Psycho Hillbilly, Ellie May Walton. Perched at the top of a nearby turnbuckle, looking for all the world like a carrion bird waiting for its next meal to die, is Lilith’s newest child Elsa Calvo. “The root of fear is the unknown. The things we do not know, they become monsters lurking in the dark. Without light, the Children of Eve imagine what lives in the darkness. Once upon a time, the Children of Eve were the prey of these monsters. And even in these dissolute, debased times, the Children of Eve remember that. So their minds fill in the details they cannot see. And the monsters start looking exactly like what they fear.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Lilith waits a moment. A few boos, but mostly the crowd seems to be hanging on to her quiet intensity. “Listen to me, Children of Eve, for another Daughter has finally come home to her mother. But I will not tell you who my daughter is. I will not tell you whether she walks among you, or if she comes to me from parts unknown. I will not tell you her purpose. But I will tell you this - as your mind begins turning, as it begins to fill in the details you cannot see with all of the things you fear? Know that you are </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>right</strong></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> to fear. When she arrives, you will know that your worst fears were not enough to prepare you for what is to come. Sleep tight, little Angels.” </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 58)</em></div></DIV><p> </p><p>

“How many more of these ‘Children’ are going to come out of the woodwork?” asks an incredulous Cat Quine.</p><p> </p><p>

“Have you no sense of family values, Cat?” asks Harper. “I mean, you’re fundamentally compromised as a broadcast professional given your blatant bias for your sister, you should get it. She’s a mother, she’s going to protect her kids, however many of them there are. I mean, look, blood is thicker than water, Cat. And I’ll be honest, Cat - if you keep bad mouthing Lilith and her family, they might help you make a first-hand observation as to just how thick blood is.”</p><p> </p><p>

Cat shakes her head. “Come on, Grace. ‘Family values’? Are you kidding me? The only family values Lilith and her gang have are that of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manson_Family" rel="external nofollow">Manson Family</a>.”</p><p> </p><p>

Freebush is about to speak when Harper cuts him off. “Hush, Jimmy boy, I’ll do this next lead in. As soon as I heard that Cat and Jaime were having a sit-down interview, I saw the injustice being done to Steph Blake. And so I, being the paragon of professionalism I am, arranged an interview with the Queen of AAA, the spectacular Steph Blake, so we can present both sides of the story.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Grace, we booked the interviews with Jaime and Steph Blake at the exact same time,” says an exasperated Cat Quine. “You were there when we did it.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Okay, yes, but only <em>because</em> I was there and you wouldn’t have done so if my presence hadn’t been enough to force your hand,” says Harper, ignoring being called out on her lying with stunning aplomb. “So Angels, here is the interview <em>they</em> don’t want you to see! Roll the tape, A/V nerds.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>On screen at Battle of the Babes</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/zUsPh6M.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/2m3v59w.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Grace Harper interviews Steph Blake in the same ring Cat and Jaime Quine used for their interview. However, instead of a simple folding chair, Steph Blake is seated on a literal throne. The throne is surrounded by garishly large floral arrangements. The AAA Femme Fatale championship belt is displayed on an actual, honest-to-goodness pedestal. A gofer hands Steph Blake a cup of tea. She immediately frowns. “Tea should be served several degrees warmer than this, you </div><a href="https://40.media.tumblr.com/ac98604193f1b09f199669983f4987d3/tumblr_nm22x4sNXA1rnjfjfo1_r1_540.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://40.media.tumblr.com/ac98604193f1b09f199669983f4987d3/tumblr_nm22x4sNXA1rnjfjfo1_r1_540.jpg" rel="external nofollow">wank pheasant</a></div><a href="https://40.media.tumblr.com/ac98604193f1b09f199669983f4987d3/tumblr_nm22x4sNXA1rnjfjfo1_r1_540.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">,” she snarls, in a thick </div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_dialect" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_dialect" rel="external nofollow">Manchester dialect</a></div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_dialect" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">, tossing the tea in the gofer's face. She is about to continue running down the poor person when she catches the camera’s recording light in the corner of her eye. Her demeanor immediately changes from a slouch to a more regal posture. “Be gone, peasant,” she says, in a notably posher dialect than the one she used just moments ago.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I’m Grace Harper, the </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>only</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> true broadcast journalist in AAA, and I’m here with the Queen of AAA, the AAA Femme Fatale Champion, the magnificent Steph Blake,” says Harper. “Thank you for gracing us, your lowly subjects, with your presence Your Majesty.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“We are happy to grace our subjects with our benevolence,” says a haughty Blake.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I know you’re a busy woman, so I’m going to just go right into our questions,” says Harper. “As Femme Fatale champion, you’re obviously the best wrestler in AAA.” Blake nods. “But what is it about you that makes you the best?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“A fascinating question, one we could - and have - considered for quite some time,” says Blake. “We have experience - we have been ruling this ring for over a decade. But others have experience, and let us be honest, anyone can persist in this business if they are comfortable being humiliated and looking up at the lights for 20 or 30 years. So experience does not set us apart. We have amazing conditioning. But others have that, even if not to our level, so it is not our ability to go 60 minutes without breaking a sweat that separates us. We have a mastery of the DDT, the ability to strike from anywhere, at any time, on any opponent. But others have mastered tricks of the trade, and yet they are not us. We could even draw attention to our mind, how we play chess in the ring against people struggling to play checkers. But others in this business have been clever. The easy answer would be that it is the combination of all these things that set us above the rest...and yet, that is not a fulfilling answer. Though it is true we </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>are</strong></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> all those things, what sets us apart is something...indefinable. We possess an inherent nobility that cannot be taught, nor denied. It is not destiny that we rule so much as it is the natural order of things.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Harper nods, clearly in awe. “An artist in the ring, and an artist with your words. Truly, you are a champion we do not deserve.” Blake shrugs her shoulders in agreement with Harper’s assessment. Harper continues. “Some mouthbreathers, like a certain doofus I am forced to sit next to twice a month, have suggested that your reign is somehow ‘tainted’, claiming you cannot win without interference from what - and these are not my words - from what </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>some people</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> call ‘lackeys’, like Zoe Ammis, Demelza Wade, and Ariel Breaks. It’s preposterous, and I know it’s beneath you to answer, but perhaps you can address these obvious falsehoods and dispel them once and for all?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Blake dramatically sighs. “You are correct that even addressing this rubbish is beneath our station,” says Blake, sternly. “However, given such wild accusations besmirch some of the noblest people we know, we shall address these consummate lies.” </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/RkMOrtI.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Zoe Ammis was the princess of our queendom,” declares Blake. “She was...rambunctious, true, but her mirth was an essential part of ensuring our rule remained connected to the people. It was a loss not only for us, but for all of AAA, when Princess Zoe returned to her native fiefdom. But it is proof of her magnanimity, that she left the comfort and security of our realm to bring warmth and joy to the cold and bitter north.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/VcZ3dx5.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“To call Demelza Wade anyone’s ‘lackey’ is outrageous,” says Blake. “It is true this is our realm, and we are the sole queen of this realm. But we recognize Ms. Wade as our equal. Her realm is that of the media, where they do not have queens, but celebrities. And there is no doubt Demelza Wade is a true A-Lister, finally free of the shackles of the C-List - no - Zed-List ‘celebrity’ Nadia Snow. We do not order Ms. Wade; we request, and as her goals align with ours, Ms. Wade willingly works with us toward the betterment of our queendom.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/weawI8F.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“As for Ariel Breaks?” asks Blake, rhetorically. “Ariel Breaks is our lady-in-waiting. She is subordinate to us, yes. But is this not the way of things, that someone so young - yet so talented - serve her apprenticeship with a more experienced master? Lady Breaks has enormous potential. Never have we seen someone who so reminds us of ourselves at her age. In some ways, we envy Lady Breaks. Whereas we had to scrape and claw to ascend to our rightful throne, Lady Breaks benefits from our having already set things right here in AAA. Unlike the years of dolts denying our supremacy we had to face, Lady Breaks’ obvious talent has been recognized and appreciated by her elders. In return, Lady Breaks is happy to support her queen in whatever capacity is required.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Harper appears to be slightly choked up. “I’m sorry,” she apologizes. “That was just so...beautiful.” She breaths deeply. “A final question, as your lowly servant has already taken too much of your time. Though the outcome of your match with Jaime Quine is a foregone conclusion, do you have any eloquence to spare on your feelings about the match?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/5Auj7Hh.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Blake snorts, then sneers. “We find it an insult, frankly, that this match is even happening,” says an obviously irritated Blake. “What has Jaime Quine done to deserve the opportunity to be in the ring with us? She won a battle royale? What an abuse of the term ‘royale’! Jaime Quine is a woman who twice faced Cherry Bomb and was defeated, yet she connived and begged and used every connection she had to get a third match. Jaime Quine is a woman who has won the Top Contender’s title on three occasions, and yet has never had what it takes to be the Femme Fatale champion. And she still doesn’t have what it takes, because when the match is over, our hand will be raised and Jaime Quine will be left broken on the canvas, and everyone will see things as they should be.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Harper turns directly to the camera. “Well, Angels, I hope you have been awed and inspired by the wisdom of the Queen of AAA. May she reign forever!” </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 65)</em></div></div><p> </p><p>

When the feed comes back to the broadcast table, Harper is grinning ear to ear, while Cat Quine stares at her with a completely blank expression. With neither woman saying anything, Freebush appears immensely uneasy. “Well...ummm...that was AAA Femme Fatale Champion Steph Blake, who we’ll see in action in tonight’s main event,” he ventures. “But before we get there, we’ve got a heck of a match on tap between the up-and-coming Laura Flame and the Ultimate Competitor, Amber Allen.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #000000;"></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/fzhTaWY.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"> vs. </div><span>http://i.imgur.com/A4UQJDM.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Amber Allen vs. Laura Flame</strong></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Amber Allen wrestled in North of the Border for years before coming to AAA. Laura Flame is a legit kickboxer and hungry to show the world what she can do. Both women take the intensity of their match way up compared to what the Angels of AAA are accustomed to seeing. However, far from thrilling the crowd and stealing the show, the match comes across poorly to the audience. The crisp, clean ring work is also too fast, too chain-wrestling oriented, and generally devoid of storytelling compared to what AAA audiences over the past 20 years have come to expect. Though it is an exhibition of undoubted mastery, the audience reaction is cool as Allen and Flame move on to the next spot before the audience has time to digest what’s just happened. That said, Flame and Allen’s clear in-ring skill shines through, even the match is perhaps disappointing given their first encounter. The crowd does get into the finale, as a desperate Flame uses a distraction to pull a hidden set of brass knuckles and load it into her MMA-style left glove. Flame decks Allen, who drops to the mat in a heap. The crowd boos as Laura Flame steals the victory from Amber Allen. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Laura Flame defeated Amber Allen in 10:39 by pinfall after using a foreign object. Rating - 44)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">WINNER, BY PINFALL: LAURA FLAME</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><span>http://i.imgur.com/A4UQJDM.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></div></p><p> </p><p>

“Just goes to show,” says Harper, “Talent beats experience any day of the week.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Is that so?” asks a clearly sarcastic Cat Quine. “So, what particular talent does it take to knock someone out with an illegal weapon?”</p><p> </p><p>

“Okay, so it was maybe a little bit outside the rules,” admits Harper. “But sometimes you have to be willing to play outside the rules if you want to be successful, and Laura Flame absolutely wants to a huge success here in AAA.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Grace, Cat,” says Freebush, “I’m getting word backstage that during that match, the backstage area was absolute chaos. We’ve got the video cued up and ready to go.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Backstage at Battle of the Babes</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/5Auj7Hh.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/F4Wr0uD.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Jaime Quine is stretching when Paige Croft comes up to her. “I just wanted to say, Jaime, good luck out there tonight,” says Croft. “There’s nothing I want more than for you to go out there and beat Steph Blake, and become Femme Fatale champion.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Jaime stops and smiles. “Paige, that means the world to me,” she says. “I know you wanted this title shot just as much as I did, and I hoped you would understand that I expected you to give your all against everyone and I would do the same. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure that I’d be able to let it go like you did. That’s a real inspir -” </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 71)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/dmZuyG1.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/sB96FgI.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/fVVoDMS.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/Ij4JV2X.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/GM8hqrJ.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The heart-to-heart comes an abrupt halt as a loud commotion is heard off-screen. The camera swings around to see Golden Delicious being held up like a rag doll by Ellie May Walton, barely conscious, surrounded by Lilith and her other “Children”, Devil’s Daughter and Elsa Calvo. Security can be heard, telling Jaime and Paige to get back. Lilith gets into GD’s face. “Listen to me carefully,” Lilith hisses. “You are dealing with forces you cannot even begin to comprehend. The Children of Lilith will soon hold everything you Angels hold near and dear to your precious little hearts. Do you think your actions last week were brave? No. They were foolish. You have only delayed the inevitable, while calling down the wrath of the Dark Mother upon you. In the end you gained nothing. In the end, you are nothing. And if you should interfere in our crusade again? We will visit upon you a pain so beyond imagining that you would prefer nothingness to what my Children and I do to you.” Having given her warning, Lilith nods to Walton. Walton flings the limp body of GD up and over a table full of A/V cables. GD hits the cables and hits the concrete with a sickening smack, while hitting just enough of the table to tip it over and bury her in cables. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 35)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/uBl8pJY.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/2grrL5B.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/AWOWtpe.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/gVkOI5G.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/VcZ3dx5.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/weawI8F.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/F4Wr0uD.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Medics rush to tend to GD when another ruckus breaks out, close to the curtain. AAA Commissioner Persephone Coombs and General Manager Cat Jenson are surrounded by Nadia Snow, Foxxy LaRue, Demelza Wade, Ariel Breaks, and Paige Croft. “Okay, I’m saying this once, and I’m saying it so that it is absolutely clear.” Coombs looks at the camera. “And we’re getting this on camera, so you can’t try to pretend like you can’t remember. As I was saying, I spoke to the AAA Board of Directors, who have been less than pleased with the amount of interference that has been occurring in Femme Fatale title matches since Steph Blake became champion. So I am here to tell you that the Board of Directors have decided anyone who leaves the backstage area during the title match is suspended for three months, and is ineligible for title opportunities for six months. If you interfere, or try to interfere, if you in any way alter the outcome of the match, you’re suspended for six months and eligible for a title opportunity for a year. Am I </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>crystal</strong></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> clear, ladies?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“And that applies to </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>all</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> of you,” adds Cat Jemson. “Doesn’t matter who you are. So, please, Nadia, or Paige, or Foxxy, please take a step out from behind that curtain. Because I would love to see the look on your face when you get your suspension. Don’t test me, because I’ll do it in a heartbeat.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“It’s rare that Cat and I are in total agreement, but this time we are, so hopefully that impresses upon you just how serious we are,” says Coombs. There are some grumbles, but no one appears to be ready to put up a fight. “Okay. I think Cat and I have made ourselves clear. Feel free to be anywhere </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>but</strong></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> ringside.” </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 66)</em></div></div><p> </p><p>

“What in the...that’s not fair!” shouts Harper. “Our queen, Steph Blake, deserves better than this! This is nothing less than a coup!”</p><p> </p><p>

“But Grace,” says a satisfied Cat Quine, “I thought Steph Blake was unbeatable, invincible, that Jaime was beneath her. So, I don’t know what you’re going on about,” she says with a grin.</p><p> </p><p>

Harper harrumphs and fumes, but says nothing, so Freebush steps in. “And now it’s time for our main event. Jaime Quine got this opportunity in a ten-woman battle royale. Steph Blake, for her part, took the title off no less a legend than Sara Marie York. Whatever your thoughts on each competitor, they are both exceptional athletes. Angels, this is going to be a good one.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #000000;"></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA Femme Fatale Championship Match</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

</strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/mkLIQNG.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

</strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/5Auj7Hh.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/2m3v59w.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Jaime Quine (challenger) vs. Steph Blake (champion)</strong></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Even if her usual backup is nowhere to be seen, Blake appears just as confident - or haughty - as she normally does as the bell rings. An early flurry of strikes by Jaime Quine causes Blake to backpedal, though she’s more than aware enough to easily dodge an attempted K.O. Kick. Blake looks genuinely offended that Quine would try to end this match early. Fueled by her disdain, Blake gains the upper hand early, mostly by never letting Jaime Quine have time to reset without Blake being right on her. Quine tries to power out of a headlock on the mat, but Blake responds with a kneeling DDT, one of dozens of variations in her arsenal. It’s enough to get two, but Blake takes time to let referee Dwight Kumas know that she is less than impressed with his count.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

It’s a mistake, because the breather gives Quine what she needs - a few seconds to regroup and plan her next move. When Blake turns back around, Quine sweep kicks Blake’s legs right out from under her. Blake gets back to her feet, but Quine buffalo rushes Blake into the corner and land a succession of forearm and elbow shots before Kumas makes her break. Of course, Blake uses the moment to go for Quine’s eyes right in front of the referee, risking a DQ - though this is likely her plan since she either gets an advantage on Quine or she gets to keep her belt. Kumas, for his part, does not seem inclined to calling for a DQ unless absolutely necessary.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The match tempo picks up - usually, that would favor the younger competitor, but Steph Blake’s conditioning is renown. Blake seems to realize one of the keys to beat Quine is to not give Jaime time to plan, so she ensures she kicks or punches at Quine when she’s got Quine down. But with the crowd behind her, Jaime fights back. Quine gets enough momentum to send Blake into the ropes, and when Blake comes back, Jaime hits a hurricanrana into a pinning predicament. The crowd audibly groans when Blake kicks out at 2 and 9/10ths. Blake now gets her turn to come back, but even a crisp DDT isn’t enough to put Jaime away. Frustrated, Blake decides to do what she never does - go top rope.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

It’s another mistake. Blake is very unsure of her footing, and by the time she gets up to the top, Jaime’s there to land a shot and get Blake seated on the top turnbuckle. With the crowd roaring, Jaime sets Blake up for a superplex, but Blake blocks the attempt. After an elbow to Quine’s face, Blake sets up a monstrous tornado DDT that nearly sucks the air out of the room. With smug satisfaction, Blake makes the cover and gets one, two - and not three.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The crowds go wild as Steph Blake begins to have a meltdown in the ring, aghast that Quine just won’t stay down. Frustrated, she goes to the outside and steals the chair right out from under Cat Quine. Blake slides into the ring, clearly not caring about the DQ she’s about to get because it will end the match now that Blake’s best shots haven’t been enough. The fans - and the ref - are immensely opposed to Blake trying for an intentional DQ. Kumas grabs the chair, and Blake and Kumas play tug of war with it. Blake finally wins the tug of war, and spins around - only to have the chair K.O. Kicked right into her face. An exhausted Quine drapes herself over the unconscious Blake, and the crowd explodes with cheers when Kumas’ hand hits the canvas for the third time. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Jaime Quine defeated Steph Blake in 22:16 by pinfall with a K.O. Kick. Jaime Quine wins the AAA Femme Fatale title. Rating - 66)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">WINNER, BY PINFALL, AND NEW FEMME FATALE CHAMPION: JAIME QUINE</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><span>http://i.imgur.com/mkLIQNG.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><span>http://i.imgur.com/5Auj7Hh.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></div></p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>In the ring at Battle of the Babes</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/5Auj7Hh.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/mkLIQNG.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Barely able to get to her feet, referee Dwight Kumas supports Jaime Quine as he raises her hand in victory, Jaime’s

</div><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/jfmCeD4A42g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Metric - Stadium Love [LYRICS]"></iframe></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> blaring over the PA system. Jaime seems almost unaware of her surroundings at first, but when Kumas gives the Femme Fatale title belt to Jaime, Jaime stops frozen, as if she can’t believe it herself. She turns to the crowd, holding the belt high in the air, a million-watt smile on her face as hundreds of smartphones record the very first moments of Jaime Quine’s first reign as Femme Fatale champion. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 60)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/F4Wr0uD.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The crowd pops even harder as Paige Croft comes out to the ring. Jaime sees her coming down the aisle and looks ecstatic to share the moment. The normally emotionless Croft has a smile on her face, and when she gets into the ring Paige and Jaime hug in the center of the ring. Following that, Paige raises Jaime’s hand in victory and the crowd pops nearly as loud as they did when Jaime got the three-count. Croft spots Cat Quine - who’s been standing the entire time since Blake stole her chair - and points her out to Jaime, telling her to go say something to her stepsister. Jaime comes over to the side of the ring closest to Cat, leaving the Femme Fatale title with Paige. It’s impossible to hear what’s being said, but those who have some skill in lip reading can see Cat telling Jaime how proud she is of her, and Jaime telling Cat that she loves her. Jaime turns back around, to continue the celebration in the ring.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Or, at least, it’s what she intends to do.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Instead, Paige Croft obliterates Jaime Quine with a shot to the face using the Femme Fatale title belt. Any and all emotion is completely drained from her, her face a mask with a flat, cold affect. The fans immediately start booing Paige Croft, who could not care less about their reaction. She studies the downed Jaime, almost clinically, then drapes the Femme Fatale title over Jaime’s face. She finally looks out into the crowd, her expression unchanging as stone. Without rushing - but without lingering either - Paige Croft mechanically exits the ring to a cascade of boos. As Paige disappears behind the curtain, an anguished Cat asks, “Why, Paige? Why?” </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Segment rating - 64</em></div></div><p> </p><p>

<strong><em>Final Show Rating - 59</em></strong></p>

[kingjames]

<p>Battle of the Babes Roundup</p><p> </p><p> Hey, I managed to post my next show in less than three months! <em>*confetti*</em> <em>*noisemakers*</em></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Flower Power vs. the Delicate Flowers</strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="MrWolf101" data-cite="MrWolf101" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Welp, you definitely threw me for a loop having Flower Power win. My instinct is to pick them to lose here, but maybe, just maybe you're running with them?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="DarEatWorld" data-cite="DarEatWorld" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I think Flower Power have put down a marker of intent just by getting here. A gutsy but ultimately unsuccessful showing against the experienced duo still represents progress.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Dr_Avalanche" data-cite="Dr_Avalanche" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Could well be wrong here, especially since Flower Power has been getting a decent push, I just see more potential in the Delicate Flowers.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Sudo_Nym" data-cite="Sudo_Nym" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Flower Power is getting a little push, but Delicate Flowers are more talented.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I'm glad I could throw you a bit, Wolf, but Dar pretty much hit in on the head. I actually like Flower Power, but they're not a world-beater of a team at this point. They may never be. They're a high-flying tag team in a fed that doesn't place a high value on that kind of skill. McGee's a great influence backstage, both are pretty inexpensive, they fill out the division, and they're slowly gaining experience working together. It's not like I have any burning solo plans with either of them, and I could see at some point Flower Power getting a really big championship run as the team whose dogged determination and commitment to improvement finally pays off after a long time of them being underlooked and thus underestimated. But that time is not now, and it may not be for some time, if ever.</p><p> </p><p> The Delicate Flowers, on the other hand, are the best tag team I have, bar none. Even reforming the A-List, there's still a decent argument over which is the better team. I'm happy they're a heel team, because having a dominant, experienced heel team in the division makes them the "end boss" of the AAA tag titles. I want them to be the team that, if you can beat them, it means that you're <em>legit</em> as a team. So, given my narrative goals for both teams, I didn't want to embarrass Flower Power, but I didn't want this to necessarily have to be an even match. I wanted Flower Power to look like they deserve to be in the ring with the Delicate Flowers, but not that they're on the same level, because they are not.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>The Princess & the Punk vs. The Uprising</strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="MrWolf101" data-cite="MrWolf101" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Again, my original picks for the Final was going to be Delicate Flowers vs P&P, but I think if Flower Power pull off another upset, they face the Uprising in the Finals. This would also allow Talia to get another win.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Dr_Avalanche" data-cite="Dr_Avalanche" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>We're entering the age of Talia Quinzel.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="DarEatWorld" data-cite="DarEatWorld" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>A miscue from The Uprising send P&P on their way to the final.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Sudo_Nym" data-cite="Sudo_Nym" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Because I love them.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> A split guess here, partially following splits on the Flower Power/Delicate Flowers outcome. Being straight-up honest - my tag team division is a mess right now. I let Jessica Bunny walk, breaking up Goodlookin' Bunny and their 100 tag experience. Michelle Brendon's retired, which breaks up the Brendon Sisters. I've split the A-List, which means my two main-event level tag team workers are out of the division. So one long-term project in this diary is to rebuild the tag division from almost scratch. P&P, or P3 if you're counting Joanna Silver, is part of that rebuilding. I think they're great character-wise for the division - both of them have very strong but very differing characterizations, helping the team to not be "Machine 1 & Machine 2". They're young, and I'm doing fine enough with my singles divisions that I can spare them specializing in tag matches for years if I want, and still have them go solo in their early-30s prime if I need them to do so.</p><p> </p><p> As for the Uprising, I agree that Talia Quinzel is the breakout star of the team, though Selina Svelte is no one to sleep on. But do remember that she's just coming back from a quad tear that required surgery. Right now, I'm not sure what long-term impact that's going to have on her, and I am wary of trying to push her too hard, too far post-injury. Obviously I can't surround her in bubble wrap, but I'm okay with letting her rise be a slow simmer instead of the massive leaps and bounds I've seen in other diaries' Talias.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Amber Allen vs. Laura Flame</strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="MrWolf101" data-cite="MrWolf101" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I think Amber is the bigger player for you right now. Maybe you want to give Laura a big win, but Amber should be nearing the main event scene soon while Flame is likely settling into the midcard.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="DarEatWorld" data-cite="DarEatWorld" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The wildfire begins to spread. A decent scalp to signify the rise of Laura.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Sudo_Nym" data-cite="Sudo_Nym" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Laura's great.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> People calling some big things for Laura Flame, and under the hood, they seem to be correct - she's got truly ridiculous star power in my save, and it's propelled her a ton despite being essentially a rookie. Wolf, I know your Laura Flame has stalled out due to a rough destiny roll, so I totally get why you'd peg Amber as the obviously bigger star, but Amber is actually a bit of an odd fit with AAA. She's a great worker, one of the best in the company, but she leaves things to be desired with her promo and camera skills. In a pop > perf company like my AAA, that's something that will slow her ascent. Not stop it outright, of course, but it doesn't make her necessarily someone I'm strapping a rocket to at this time.</p><p> </p><p> That said, Flame got a cheap-ass victory, in a match where I tinkered with upping the match intensity to see what happened. What happened was a real dud of a semi-main, which brought the entire show's score down. Lesson very much learned here that AAA crowds aren't quite into all that flippy shit.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Jaime Quine vs. Steph Blake</strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="MrWolf101" data-cite="MrWolf101" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>It is so difficult for me to pick against the Queen of Mean, but I think this is when you do the title switch. The biggest match you can have right now is Alicia Strong vs Steph, but I think the biggest feud you can have is Jaime vs Alicia for the title (if that makes any sense).</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Dr_Avalanche" data-cite="Dr_Avalanche" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I'm not sure at all that there will be a title change, but I think it's getting close.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="DarEatWorld" data-cite="DarEatWorld" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Blake <em>has</em> to lose eventually right? Still feel it's not yet time though.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Sudo_Nym" data-cite="Sudo_Nym" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Probably too early to switch, especially with Strong in the mix.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/msDuNZyYAIQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Scott Steiner's Math Promo Sacrifice 2008 ACTUAL FOOTAGE"></iframe></div></div> Would Jaime's chances of winning drastic go down? <em>siren emojis intensify</em><p> </p><p> Had a good spread of opinions here, which is always fun to see. I consider it an accomplishment that I started off with Steph Blake as a stopgap transitional champion when I lost both of my biggest babyfaces, and didn't want to slot Cherry Bomb as champion so that she could feud with Jaime Quine without the title being at stake - and then wound up creating my diary's #1 heel with a "Queen of Mean" gimmick that went way, way beyond anything I imagined. For what it's worth, Steph Blake has the third-highest pop in the entire company, behind only Jaime Quine and Alicia Strong, and Alicia Strong's pop is entirely USPW carryover. You may all rest assured that the Queen of Mean is not falling down the card now that she's dropped the title.</p><p> </p><p> As for Jaime, she's my #2 face in terms of popularity. Why not give the belt to Alicia Strong? Honestly, it's because I don't trust that I'm going to be able to keep her for the long term. She's got a six-month cooldown with USPW, and luckily, neither SWF nor TCW have women's divisions. As always, my concern lies in British Columbia and North of the Border Pro Wrestling. That said, they've been willing to drop talents like Amber Allen, so I'm not sure they want to take Alicia Strong on with a written contract. Plus, Alicia Strong is a performer that I don't think needs the belt to be a top-tier star. Whether it makes AAA look good or not, Alicia Strong is bigger than the Femme Fatale belt. Jaime Quine's career gets a boost from having captured it, especially as she's never won it before now, whereas it doesn't mean a ton to Alicia's career.</p><p> </p><p> It's absolutely true that, in pure pop terms, Alicia vs. Jaime would be my biggest match. It's just that I don't see the path to getting there with the way things are set up now - and I may never, if Alicia's stay is a quick one.</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">FABULOUS PRIZES!</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> I don't have any to give out this time, sorry about that.</p><p> </p><p> But! I do want to put the ball in everyone's court, so think of this as everyone winning. I've been doing story interlude throughout this diary, and they're some of my favorite things to write. There's an enormous amount of possibilities out there, so I'm asking you all - what sort of interlude scenes might interest you? Are there particular performers you'd like to see behind the scenes? Flashback sequences to earlier days of AAA? To the end of the BSC war? All the way back to Anne Stardust's pre-AAA days? Do you want to see what's happening out in the world beyond AAA? I'm not promising I'd get to each and every suggestion you might have, but any writing prompts you give me would be immensely appreciated and hopefully I can do as many as I can and make sense! <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Sudo_Nym]

Anne Stardust's pre-AAA days could be interesting. Based on your characterization, I've already got an image in my head of some promoter trying to talk her into a Bra & Panties match, while she tries to decide if she can get away with a murder.

[MrWolf101]

Man, what a great show. Jaime winning really did feel like a big deal, and that post-main event angle sets up what should be a hot feud.

 

I was so off on my predictions, so I'm very happy the prize is open to everyone.

 

You know my love for anything BSC-related, so it's hard not to vote for that one. At the same time, I have to agree with Sudo_Nym that pre-AAA Anne Stardust sounds like a good read. I'm assuming she wasn't born the way she is, so learning how she became so...um, her is an interlude that can go in a lot of ways.

[Dr_Avalanche]

I like stories that tie in to the characters we see day to day in the "now" of the diary, so maybe something from Cat Quinn and Grace Harper's past, if their rivalry today can be tracked all the way to their active careers. Or any flashback that explains the way AAA looks today.

[Sudo_Nym]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="MrWolf101" data-cite="MrWolf101" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I have to agree with Sudo_Nym</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> This is, by a wide margin, the most correct opinion anybody has ever had on anything.</p>

[kingjames]

<p>AAA Homecoming Queens Preview</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>September 30, 2016</strong></p><p><strong>

Houston, TX</strong></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/cW8ziyP.jpg</span><img alt="8BEOIzg.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/8BEOIzg.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

Farrah Heskath was surprised she could hear her phone over the cacophony of noise in the parking lot of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRG_Stadium" rel="external nofollow">NRG Stadium</a>. She sat in a canvas folding chair, beer in one hand and barbecue burger in the other, among tens of thousands of fellow Houstonians tailgating before the day’s big football game. Farrah wasn’t even all that big of a fan of football, truth be told, but if promised a steady supply of beer and barbecue she’d be happy to accept an invitation to the gates of Hell itself. Farrah considered just ignoring the call, until she saw a familiar face pop up on the caller ID screen.</p><p> </p><p>

Heskath sat down her beer and answered her phone. “Hey Cat,” Farrah said.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/kEkUwNO.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/UU290zR.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p>

“Good lord, Farrah, where in the heck are you?” said Cat Quine, her counterpart in the Pacific Northwest’s Angel Athletic Association promotion. “It sounds like you’re in the middle of a riot. Or a damned war zone.”</p><p> </p><p>

Farrah chuckled. “I’m in a parking lot tailgating before a football game, so either guess isn’t really that far off,” she said. “Y’all got these up in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Seahawks" rel="external nofollow">Seattle</a>, so don’t play like this is some weird Texas thing. That said, why are you calling me on Sunday morning? Odd time for business. I’m assuming this is a business call?”</p><p> </p><p>

“Farrah, we’re in the wrestling business. Everyone in this business is constantly working each other, so I’m not sure there is such a thing as a non-business call,” said Cat. Farrah shrugged in agreement. “But yes, I’m calling about business.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Listen, Cat, now’s not really the best time - “</p><p> </p><p>

“Don’t worry, this is only going to take a sec and you don’t need to <em>do</em> anything. It’s just a courtesy call,” said Cat. Farrah’s eyebrow raised. Cat Quine had always played things straight up with her, but a courtesy call in this business often meant “I’m going to screw you, but I’d rather be honorable about it and acknowledge it to you instead of pretending I’m not doing so.” </p><p> </p><p>

Farrah put a finger in her ear to block out the noise. “All right, I’m listening,” she said, a new terseness in her tone.</p><p> </p><p>

“So. Your big tournament, Queen of the Ring?” said Cat, without further explanation.</p><p> </p><p>

“...yes, I’m aware we have a big tournament called Queen of the Ring,” said Farrah. “I’m hoping you didn’t call to tell me that. I assure you, I’m keenly aware.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Smartass. Farrah, I love you, you smartass,” said Cat. “Years ago, when you formed that tournament, Anne and I talked about whether you were infringing on our trademark. We’ve had a show called ‘Queen of the Ring’ since 2004.” Farrah’s pulse began to quicken. “I thought you were infringing on our trademark. Anne didn’t. Lawyers said maybe, maybe not, but it’d be expensive for either side to prove it and we’d likely all go out of business.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Cat, we’ve been holding this tournament since 2010,” said Farrah. “You’ve had years to make your claims. If you took this to court, we’d argue you abandoned your trademark.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Well, then, it’s a good thing we’re not taking anything to court then,” said Cat.</p><p> </p><p>

“Oh,” Farrah’s blood pressure dropped, but confusion replaced combativeness. “All right, then why are you calling me about this?”</p><p> </p><p>

“I’m calling because I’m starting up a tournament in a couple of weeks to crown a ‘Queen of the Ring’ at our event of the same name,” said Cat. “And I’m calling because, so far as I’m concerned, ‘Queen of the Ring’ is <em>our</em> name. But the tournament concept, well, I think you can lay claim to that. So I propose what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. We didn’t raise a stink when you started up the Queen of the Ring tournament. I’m asking you to return the favor now and not put up a stink about us crowning a Queen of the Ring through a tournament. Fair deal?”</p><p> </p><p>

Farrah thought about this for a moment. “This isn’t a binding contract, Cat. You understand that before I say anything else?”</p><p> </p><p>

“Go on.”</p><p> </p><p>

“All right, as long as we understand that,” Farrah said. “I’m willing to not raise a stink. It’s not like people in my neck of the woods are going to know about your QotR and get confused.” Farrah took a deep breath. “I’m fine with it under one condition.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Which is?” asked Cat.</p><p> </p><p>

“You acknowledge the existence of the QAW Queen of the Ring tournament, and you portray it as an equally valuable honor as the AAA Queen of the Ring,” said Farrah. “Do that, and I’ll tell any of the dirtsheet bloggers who ask me about it that I’m fine with you doing a Queen of the Ring of your own and that women’s wrestling companies need to support each other instead of sniping at each other and blah blah blah.”</p><p> </p><p>

“You know, Farrah, I said this was a courtesy call. I don’t <em>have</em> to accept any conditions,” said Cat. Farrah was about to argue when Cat cut her off. “But I will. Because you’re not wrong. Women’s wrestling companies <em>do</em> need to support each other. Or, at the very least, not get into pissing contests over stupid little things. That’s how Anne handled Babes of Sin City. She was so petty about it. And you know what? Us ‘beating’ them didn’t make us a damn dime. We passed over workers that could have drawn us money because Anne outright refused to hire BSC workers, even after BSC closed, out of spite. Meanwhile, you picked up Alexis Lee and you made money off her. So even though I don’t have to accept any conditions, Farrah, I will accept your condition. Because women’s wrestling as a business in this country is always in a precarious position, and infighting only puts us both out of business.”</p><p> </p><p>

“

</p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/r-XRno3nTC0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="John Cena's"></iframe></div></div>,” said Farrah. “Sounds like we got a deal, then.”<p> </p><p>

“Agreed,” said Cat. “Go enjoy your sportsball game, Farrah. I’ll talk to you later. Maybe we should try to see each other in person more than <a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2233757&postcount=219" rel="external nofollow">once</a> a year, huh?”</p><p> </p><p>

“Maybe,” said Farrah. “I’d say when we weren’t busy, but if I did, then it’d mean we’d never meet up. I’ll talk at you later, Cat.” Farrah hung up the phone and exhaled deeply. Anne Stardust may have benignly neglected QAW, and Cat Quine had so far been straight up with her. But Farrah felt like she detected a condescending tone in Cat’s voice she didn’t like, as if Cat thought of QAW as a “minor league” operation compared to AAA. Then again, even when she was a teenager, Cat had that tone, the one that sounded like she always thought she knew better than you. Cat had “mom voice” down cold before she turned 20. <em>Screw it, whatever</em>, she thought. She went to take another swig of beer, only to come up empty. Farrah exaggeratedly frowned. “<a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2233757&postcount=219" rel="external nofollow">Rosalva</a>! I’m coming up dry! Beer me, mi amiga!”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>**********</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA presents Homecoming Queens</span></strong></p><p><strong>

</strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/UU290zR.jpg</span></p><p><strong>

October 16, 2016</strong></p><p><strong>

Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall</strong></p><p><strong>

Tacoma, WA</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Autumn usually means sweater weather and cooler temperatures - but the action in the Angel Athletic Association is just heating up as we return to our hometown of Tacoma for Homecoming Queens! As announced at Battle of the Babes, you’ll see four first-round matches in the tournament to crown AAA’s first-ever Queen of the Ring. With a highly competitive field of eight of the best competitors AAA has to offer - four of whom have held the Femme Fatale championship - you won’t want to miss this show. If that wasn’t enough, AAA will crown a pair of homecoming queens as we hold the finals of the AAA Tag Team tournament. Additionally, new Femme Fatale champion Jaime Quine will address the AAA faithful after Paige Croft shocked the women’s wrestling world by betraying and attacking the new champ just minutes into her reign. So grab your pumpkin spice lattes and your cardigans and join us on October 16 at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall, because this is one homecoming you definitely won’t want to miss!</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Queen of the Ring Opening Round Match</span></strong></p><p><strong>

</strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/AWOWtpe.jpg</span><strong> vs. </strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/weawI8F.jpg</span></p><p><strong>

Nadia Snow vs. Ariel Breaks</strong></p><p><strong>

</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

The first of three matches featuring “The Queen of Mean” Steph Blake’s coalescing “court” sees Blake’s “lady-in-waiting” Ariel Breaks take on the showstopping Nadia Snow. Breaks is young and hungry, and was just a fraction of a second away from scoring a major upset on Foxxy LaRue at Riot Grrls one month ago. With the tutelage - and possibly the outside assistance - of Steph Blake and Demelza Wade, a victory would certainly be another sign that the young Breaks has arrived as a competitor. For her part, Nadia Snow is a battle-tested veteran, whose explosiveness and experience are a major edge. It will be competitive from the opening bell, and you don’t want to miss it!</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Queen of the Ring Opening Round Match</span></strong></p><p><strong>

</strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/YPkRl7Y.jpg</span><strong> vs. </strong><img alt="vMFYo1C.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/vMFYo1C.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p><strong>

Danielle Sweetheart vs. Tracey Brendon</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Danielle Sweetheart may be a new competitor in AAA, but she’s definitely not new to the tournament scene. In the Queens of American Wrestling promotion, Sweetheart was a back-to-back-to-back winner of QAW’s Queen of the Ring, an unprecedented feat unlikely to be replicated any time in the near future. Sweetheart’s been somewhat quiet since her debut at Liberation, but the Queen of the Ring tournament could serve as a springboard for Sweetheart all the way to the main event of AAA. For her part, the veteran Tracey Brendon has adopted a new look and a nasty new attitude, stating she was now living her life by “anarchy rules”. With her thunderous Idaho Crunch running powerslam, Tracey Brendon has what it takes to put down any opponent. Will Brendon’s new outlook propel her to victory? Or will we see that it takes a true Sweetheart to find victory in the Angel Athletic Association?</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Tag Team Tournament Finals</span></strong></p><p><strong>

</strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/Jcg9ZCt.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/Jcg9ZCt.jpg</span></p><p><strong>

</strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/TjVyclG.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/U10U2qP.jpg</span><strong> w/ </strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/XaMRxhf.jpg</span><strong> vs. </strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/Lz8zst8.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/ftiHnYI.jpg</span></p><p><strong>

The Princess & the Punk w/ Joanna Silver vs. The Delicate Flowers</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

After a vacancy caused by Jaime Quine and Paige Croft being unable to defend the tag titles due to medical reasons, AAA is ready to crown its next tag team champions. The Delicate Flowers found their way into the finals by easily dispatching Katherine Goodlooks & Steffi Chee in the first round at Liberation, and won their second round match against Flower Power at Battle of the Babes in convincing fashion. The Delicate Flowers are four-time AAA Tag Team champions, tied for the most reigns in AAA history, and no doubt the Delicate Flowers are looking to become the very first five-time Tag Team champions.</p><p> </p><p>

As for the Princess & the Punk, the opposites-attract team of Simony Sentinel and Christy Higgins is one of AAA’s youngest, most exciting tag teams. After running circles around the behemoth team of Glorious Gloria and Juliette King, Sentinel and Higgins triumphed over former tag champs The Uprising in the second round at Battle of the Babes. Some young teams would merely be happy to make it to the finals, but Sentinel and Higgins are clearly in to win it all. Will youth energy trump experience? Or will veteran savvy prove to be too much for the relatively untested Princess & the Punk?</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Queen of the Ring Opening Round Match</span></strong></p><p><strong>

</strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/2m3v59w.jpg</span><strong> vs. </strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/p39q1H6.jpg</span></p><p><strong>

Steph Blake vs. Suzanne Brazzle</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Steph Blake enters the Queen of the Ring tournament as she lost the Femme Fatale title to Jamie Quine at Battle of the Babes. Suzanne Brazzle is a former one-time Femme Fatale champion herself, a veteran mainstay of the AAA roster. Both women are known for their impressive athleticism and for their unbelievable instincts in the ring. In these ways, this is a match of equals. However, one key difference is that it’s been several years since Brazzle’s title reign, whereas Blake just lost her title. It’s likely the match will come down to how Blake handles the loss of a title that defined her self-image. If Blake’s lost her confidence, or Brazzle is able to exploit Blake’s rage to force mistakes, the Queen of Mean might find herself bumped out of the Queen of the Ring tournament in the very first round. If, on the other hand, Blake is able to harness her emotions and put them to good use, that may well be the edge Blake needs to defeat the Miracle Blonde and advance towards a Queendom Blake believes is hers by right.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Queen of the Ring Opening Round Match</span></strong></p><p><strong>

</strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/lqRIdUF.jpg</span><strong> vs. </strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/VcZ3dx5.jpg</span></p><p><strong>

Alicia Strong vs. Demelza Wade</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

The main event of the night has two of the biggest names in women’s wrestling competing to be the very first Angel Athletic Association Queen of the Ring. Alicia Strong is a global icon, a second-generation talent who has immersed herself in in-ring competition since she was old enough to crawl between the ropes. Demelza Wade, for her part, believes she’s an A-list celebrity without peer in the world of women’s wrestling - and that includes Alicia Strong. Strong will be looking to prove that she’s more than just a famous last name by scoring a victory over a former Femme Fatale champion in Demelza Wade. Wade will be looking to prove that she, not Strong, should be the competitor that every media outlet and every social media account can’t stop talking about. With so much to prove, not just in terms of advancing in the tournament, we expect this match to be nothing less than an instant classic.</p>

[MrWolf101]

I do love a good trademark fight. I still say that AAA ripped off Queen of the Ring from BSC, but hey, that's for the courts to decide.

 

Nadia Snow vs. Ariel Breaks

Breaks is in an interesting position. I like where her push is right now, but I think Snow can put on the better match in the next round (and I'm not sure if she would be willing to put over Ariel at this point).

Danielle Sweetheart vs. Tracey Brendon

Sweetheart going far in this tournament would be a nice way to bridge the AAA and QAW versions, but with Tracey getting a new gimmick, it feels like she needs to win more to establish herself.

The Princess & the Punk w/ Joanna Silver vs. The Delicate Flowers

I don't think I'm picking any upsets in the Queen of the Ring tournament, so why not here? Lilly & Rose are definitely your best tag team, but maybe them chasing the titles sets you up for the best matches.

Steph Blake vs. Suzanne Brazzle

The Queen of Mean, out for revenge? Can't, just can't, pick against her.

Alicia Strong vs. Demelza Wade

This is interesting. Im thinking it's full speed ahead on the Alicia's, ehem, strong push (sorry). At the same time, maybe a loss here gets some crowd sympathy to set her up for her comeback against Blake's Court. Nah, maybe next round.

[Temes1066]

AAA Homecoming Queens

 

Nadia Snow vs. Ariel Breaks

Comment: Ariel is low on the totem pole at the moment, plus she does have a street fight with Foxxy scheduled.

 

Danielle Sweetheart vs. Tracey Brendon

Comment: WooHoo, Tracy Brendon is finally getting pushed

 

The Princess & the Punk w/ Joanna Silver vs. The Delicate Flowers

Comment: I can't go againist The Delicate Flowers, the 5 time tag team champs

 

Steph Blake vs. Suzanne Brazzle

Comment: Long Live the Queen!

 

Alicia Strong vs. Demelza Wade

Comment: Of course Alicia is going to win, this is meant to lead to Alicia vs. Stephanie at the final of Queen of the Ring

[Happy0wns]

AAA Homecoming Queens

 

Nadia Snow vs. Ariel Breaks

Comment:

 

Danielle Sweetheart vs. Tracey Brendon

Comment:

 

The Princess & the Punk w/ Joanna Silver vs. The Delicate Flowers

Comment:

 

Steph Blake vs. Suzanne Brazzle

Comment:

 

Alicia Strong vs. Demelza Wade

Comment:

[Sudo_Nym]

Nadia Snow vs. Ariel Breaks

Comment: Nadia is a talented face, and there's some mileage in having her feud with Blake's Court, especially since that's where her former tag partner wound up; plus, I don't think a loss really hurts Breaks too much, though I'd have liked to see her get a first round opponent she could advance against.

 

Danielle Sweetheart vs. Tracey Brendon

Comment: Sweetheart is great, though I don't think she's exploded as quickly as I thought she would. Still, I think she can't be losing to Tracey Jobber.

 

The Princess & the Punk w/ Joanna Silver vs. The Delicate Flowers

Comment: I like heel tag team champs. Plus, the plucky babyfaces are always more fun in the chase.

 

Steph Blake vs. Suzanne Brazzle

Comment: The Queen is due her belt.

 

Alicia Strong vs. Demelza Wade

Comment: I'm calling a draw. Alicia Strong can't lose here, but she's too good to advance because she'd dominate, and she doesn't need the title anyway. Plus, Alicia vs. Jaime is a feud you build to, you don't just throw to.

Meanwhile, Wade is a credible enough heel that she can get Strong out with shenanigans, even if she doesn't go over. That frees up Blake to get into the finals Wrestlemania IV style.

[Dr_Avalanche]

Nadia Snow vs. Ariel Breaks

Comment: If Alicia hadn't appeared suddenly, I would have argued for a Nadia push, because I think she's pretty great, but I suspect she'll have to take a backseat for a while. Still, she should get past Ariel no problem.

 

Danielle Sweetheart vs. Tracey Brendon

Comment: Believe in the QAW talent.

 

The Princess & the Punk w/ Joanna Silver vs. The Delicate Flowers

Comment: I keep underestimating the Princess & the Punk, and I guess I'll do that again. I think the Delicate Flowers will win in dastardly fashion, setting up the Princess & the Punk with a good reason to chase the Delicate Flowers beyond just, you now, the titles.

 

Steph Blake vs. Suzanne Brazzle

Comment: I think you're at least kind of high on Brazzle, but even so I can't see her going over Blake here.

 

Alicia Strong vs. Demelza Wade

Comment: Woah, strong main event here. Poor Demelza gets the Tessa Blanchard treatment...

[sincerenoble]

<p><strong>Queen of the ring Opening Match</strong></p><p>

<strong>Nadia Snow</strong> Vs Ariel Breaks</p><p>

Comments: No way Breaks is able to catch a <em>break</em> against Main Eventer Nadia Snow</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Queen of the ring Opening Match</strong></p><p>

<strong>Danielle Sweetheart</strong> Vs Tracy Brendon</p><p>

Comments: The hardest of these predictions for me because it seems like Tracy is getting a push. But Danielle Sweetheart is a 3 time QAW Queen Of The Ring Champion. How would Farrah take it that her crown jewel is dumped out so early in the competition. Gotta roll with Danielle on this one.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Tag Team Tournament Finals</strong></p><p>

The Princess & The Punk Vs <strong>The Delicate Flowers</strong></p><p>

Comments: The Delicate Flowers beat P&P in a close match to become 5 time Tag Team Champions. P&P to continue to chase them into the winter.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Queen of the ring Opening Match</strong></p><p>

<strong>Steph Blake</strong> Vs Suzanne Brazzle</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Queen of the ring Opening Match</strong></p><p>

<strong>Alicia Strong</strong> vs Demelza Wade</p><p>

Comments: My pick is for Alicia to win the whole thing and start that journey by beating Wade in what should be one of the best matches put on for AAA this year</p>

[DarEatWorld]

<p>AAA Homecoming Queens</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Nadia Snow</strong> vs. Ariel Breaks</p><p>

Comment: I feel like Breaks is a little bit outclassed here. Short of Wade distracting Snow I can't see Nadia getting caught out here.</p><p> </p><p>

Danielle Sweetheart vs. <strong>Tracey Brendon</strong></p><p>

Comment: Genuinely not sure with this one. I just feel than Brendon might be needed to keep a heel/face divide consistent for the last four and this win would give her some credibility.</p><p> </p><p>

The Princess & the Punk w/ Joanna Silver vs. <strong>The Delicate Flowers</strong></p><p>

Comment: Would much prefer if P&P topped the mountain but I'm not sure they're quite there yet.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Steph Blake</strong> vs. Suzanne Brazzle</p><p>

Comment: Because Blake is Blake.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Alicia Strong </strong>vs. Demelza Wade</p><p>

Comment: Shenanigans wouldn't surprise me but I feel it's too early for Strong to be looking at the lights.</p>

[Theheel]

I am so far behind but I gotta get back in so why not now?

 

AAA Homecoming Queens

 

Nadia Snow vs. Ariel Breaks

Comment:Looks like Snow’s a baby face now so I suspect it not time to bury her in a opening round loss

 

Danielle Sweetheart vs. Tracey Brendon

Comment:Not sure I can back anyone with the name sweetheart in wrestling

 

The Princess & the Punk w/ Joanna Silver vs. The Delicate Flowers

Comment:Hard to bet against the champs but I’m going with the P&P Express to win the match by DQ

 

Steph Blake vs. Suzanne Brazzle

Comment: Bow Down to the Queen, she’s is the rightful champ

 

Alicia Strong vs. Demelza Wade

Comment: Going with Strong here as a good opponent for the Queen

[Temes1066]

The Princess & the Punk w/ Joanna Silver vs. The Delicate Flowers

Comment:Hard to bet against the champs but I’m going with the P&P Express to win the match by DQ

 

Actually this is a tournament final so a DQ victor is still a victor.

 

I like stories that tie in to the characters we see day to day in the "now" of the diary, so maybe something from Cat Quinn and Grace Harper's past, if their rivalry today can be tracked all the way to their active careers. Or any flashback that explains the way AAA looks today.

 

I agree, maybe we can have a interlude with about the old Cat Quine/Grace Harper rivalry.

[kingjames]

<p>AAA Homecoming Queens - October 16, 2016</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA presents Homecoming Queens</span></strong></p><p><strong>

</strong><span>http://i.imgur.com/UU290zR.jpg</span></p><p><strong>

</strong><a href="http://www.tacomasports.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC_3863.jpg" rel="external nofollow"><strong>Tacoma Dome</strong></a><strong> </strong><a href="http://www.tacomasports.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Tacoma-Dome-ExHall.jpg" rel="external nofollow"><strong>Exhibition Hall</strong></a></p><p><strong>

October 16, 2016</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<span>http://i.imgur.com/VJqkQW6.jpg</span></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

“Good evening all you Angels, I’m Jim Lou Freebush, and I’m joining you tonight alongside my Hall of Fame colleagues Cat Quine and Grace Harper. We welcome to our hometown of Tacoma, Washington, as we host tonight’s Homecoming Queens in the shadow of the iconic Tacoma Dome,” says Jim Lou Freebush as the feed begins. “We’re here tonight in front of a sold out crowd of 2,995 ready and rockin’ Angels, and I don’t think they’re going to be disappointed, Cat.” </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/kEkUwNO.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p>

“Oh, definitely not,” says Cat Quine. “Tonight we begin the very first ever AAA Queen of the Ring tournament. History is being made right here, right now, and you can tell this live crowd is ready to be a part of that history.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/zUsPh6M.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p>

“You want to talk history?” asks Grace Harper. “These people are going to see history being made in the finals of our Tag Team tournament. They’re about to see the Delicate Flowers become AAA’s first five-time Tag Team champions, once they knock off the Princess & the Punk later tonight.”</p><p> </p><p>

“All of that, plus we’ll be hearing from new AAA Femme Fatale champion Jaime Quine, in her first address to the AAA faithful after her victory - and after she was attacked by her former best friend Paige Croft,” proclaims Freebush. “But right now, let’s get straight to the action with the first of our four Queen of the Ring matches tonight.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #000000;"></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA Queen of the Ring First Round Match</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

</strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/AWOWtpe.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/weawI8F.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Nadia Snow vs. Ariel Breaks</strong></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Homecoming Queens starts off with the first match of the Queen of the Ring tournament, to a full and loud house. Nadia Snow is ready to go as soon as the bell rings...unfortunately for her, Ariel Breaks is ready to go </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>before</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> the bell rings, landing a running forearm to the back of Snow’s head when Nadia heads toward her corner. To a chorus of boos, Breaks unleashes a flurry of violent stomps on the downed Snow. Breaks pulls back, but only to target Snow’s arms and shoulders with kicks and stomps instead, clearly looking to neutralize Snow’s go-to match ender, the Snow Plow. Breaks brings Snow to her feet with an arm wrench, only to yank Snow back down hard by the same arm.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The crowd starts to cheer for Snow, trying to will her out of the wrenching grip of Ariel Breaks. Snow - show stopper that she is - starts to feed off the crowd’s energy. Breaks tries to hold on tighter, but is both frustrated and unnerved as Snow fights to her feet anyway. Snow makes eye contact with Breaks, and then smiles as she pulls Breaks in and nails her with a short-arm clothesline. The crowd pops as Snow begins to ramp up her offense. But the cheers turn to boos as Demelza Wade makes her way ringside. Breaks is clearly in on the plan as she “accidently” bumps into referee Dwight Kumas, sending him tumbling down to the ground. </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Breaks then locks up with Snow, pushing her toward the side of the ring where Wade is waiting on the ring apron, unseen by Snow. Wade winds up with a </div><a href="https://media.tenor.com/images/47ed763ac3e7738ba96fca0662d928e9/tenor.gif" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://media.tenor.com/images/47ed763ac3e7738ba96fca0662d928e9/tenor.gif" rel="external nofollow">SuperStar Kick</a></div><a href="https://media.tenor.com/images/47ed763ac3e7738ba96fca0662d928e9/tenor.gif" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">, but Snow seems to have caught Breaks watching Wade, and Snow ducks just in time for the kick to miss her and catch Breaks square on the chin instead. Breaks stumbles back a few steps before falling backwards in the center of the ring. Kumas has gotten up, and sees Wade on the apron. He yells at her to get down from the apron, then puts himself between Wade and the in-ring action to block Wade’s interference. Snow picks up Breaks and scoop lifts her up, wincing at the strain put on her shoulder, but she keeps Breaks up so that she can make direct eye contact with Wade. After a three-second stare off, Snow drives Breaks hard into the mat with the </div><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/522a2049e4b0a0ce717e990c/t/5645fe6be4b02e2863f0b138/1456249715965/" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/522a2049e4b0a0ce717e990c/t/5645fe6be4b02e2863f0b138/1456249715965/" rel="external nofollow">Snow Plow</a></div><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/522a2049e4b0a0ce717e990c/t/5645fe6be4b02e2863f0b138/1456249715965/" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">. Wade is clearly unhappy with the result, but merely slaps the top ring rope in frustration before heading off to the back, not even bothering to stick around for Snow to get the three-count. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(In a decent match, Nadia Snow defeated Ariel Breaks in 8:10 by pinfall with a Snow Plow. Match rating - 54)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">WINNER, BY PINFALL, AND ADVANCING TO THE SECOND ROUND: NADIA SNOW</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><span>http://i.imgur.com/AWOWtpe.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></DIV></p><p> </p><p>

“We’re not even ten minutes into the show, and already Steph Blake’s cronies are trying to cheat their way to the Queen of the Ring,” says an annoyed Cat Quine. “Despite Demelza Wade’s best efforts, a solid victory for Nadia Snow tonight.”</p><p> </p><p>

“You call that a ‘solid victory’, Quine?” asks Harper. “The difference maker was Demelza Wade’s SuperStar Kick. It’s like I’ve always said - Nadia Snow is <em>nothing</em> without Demelza Wade winning matches for her. As true today as it was during the A-List days.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Going from the present to the recent past,” says Freebush, “last week we saw Jaime Quine win her very first Femme Fatale championship in a hellacious match with the Queen of Mean, Steph Blake. Right after the match, Jaime’s ally and friend Paige Croft came to the ring, to celebrate Jaime’s victory, we thought. Instead, Croft leveled Jaime with the very belt Jaime had just won. Tonight, the new champion has asked for an opportunity to address both her recent victory, and the situation with Paige Croft.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>In the ring at Homecoming Queens</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/5Auj7Hh.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Jaime Quine’s

</div><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/jfmCeD4A42g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Metric - Stadium Love [LYRICS]"></iframe></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> plays to an huge pop, one that only gets bigger when Jaime Quine emerges from behind the curtain with the Femme Fatale belt around her waist. Quine takes a moment to scan the crowd, taking in the moment, but it’s clear a part of her is preventing her from being fully in the moment. She makes her way down to the ring, high-fiving kids on the way down, and then makes her way into the ring. She undoes the Femme Fatale belt and holds it up above her head, turning to each side of the ring so each part of the hall can see. Jaime slings the belt over her shoulder as a ring crew member hands Jaime a microphone.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Thank you, thank you all so very much,” says a demure Jaime, who has to wait for the crowd to die down before she can be heard again. “I’m just...wow. I’m still in shock, you know? Still waking up in the morning and going to find the Femme Fatale title as the very first thing I do, to make sure I wasn’t dreaming it all up.” The crowd cheers again, starting a “You deserved it!” chant, which seems to make Jaime bashful. “You all, just...just thank you. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>So</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> much. Do I ‘deserve’ this? I don’t know. Who’s to say who deserves what? But I do know that for nine years, this has been my goal. My dream. Every day, for nine years, I have wanted to be Femme Fatale champion. And every day of those nine years, when I wanted to quit, when I wanted to give up, when I wanted to settle for ‘good enough’, it was the desire to be </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>your</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Femme Fatale champion that kept me going. Your support for me over the years has meant the world to me, and I truly believe that without all you Angels, I would not be standing in this ring holding this title. Thank you!”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Quine lets the cheers subside before continuing, a shadow coming across her face. “For nine years, I tried to imagine what it would be like, winning the Femme Fatale title. I dreamt about it. And for a little while, literally, it was like my dreams came true. But that’s the thing about dreams, right? How sudden they can turn into nightmares.” The crowd boos at the memory of Croft’s betrayal. “I wish it </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>was</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> a nightmare! I wish it was a bad dream that, at the moment I achieved my dreams in this business and gained the Femme Fatale title, I lost my friend. My best friend.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Jaime speaks over the last boos of the crowd. “People have asked me, why? Why did Paige do what she did? I don’t know. I’ve tried to call her, text her, e-mail her...nothing. I looked around the locker rooms and backstage tonight, and I couldn’t find her. I don’t know what I did to Paige. But Paige? Wherever you are, if you can hear me - I’m sorry, Paige. Whatever it is that I did, I’m sorry. I didn’t know I had done something to you. That doesn’t excuse me if I did something to hurt you, but I swear to you I didn’t do it on purpose. And if there’s any way for me to make amends for what -” </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 75)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/fVVoDMS.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Jaime is cut off by the now-ominous opening notes of “</div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXM77Jrh74I" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXM77Jrh74I" rel="external nofollow">The Killing Moon</a></div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXM77Jrh74I" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">”. The crowd loudly boos the interruption, while Jaime immediately goes on her guard, looking around the ring to ensure none of Lilith’s children are sneaking up to attack her. Seeing no one, Jaime returns her attention to the curtain, where Lilith has emerged. Lilith has a microphone in hand. The Mother of Monsters remains at the end of the aisle. “And so the heir has ascended to the throne,” says Lilith, with a sardonic smile. “Young one, you spoke of nightmares. Speak my name, and I am summoned. I am not the Queen of Nightmares, I am Nightmare itself! And you...crowned by the Angels as you may be, you do not deserve the honor of saying my name!”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

As the crowd boos, Jaime quizzically looks at Lilith. “Enough of the riddles,” she says. “What do you want? You want a title shot for one of your ‘Children’? Fine. I’m a fighting champion. Name any one of them. Ellie May, Elsa Calvo, Devil’s Daughter - it doesn’t matter. Pick one and we can do this </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>tonight</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;">!” The crowd cheers at the idea of an unadvertised championship match.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Their hopes are quickly squashed by the distinctly unnerving sound of Lilith’s laughter. “Oh, you miserable fool. If I could feel pity for you, I would. You don’t understand. But why would you? You are but a Child of Eve, a young one at that.” Jaime is in the ring, clearly signaling for Lilith to bring out someone, because Jaime’s ready to fight. “Jaime...you’re only human. That’s the problem. You’re only human. Flawed, cursed to imperfection. There is another way, Jaime. To escape those shackles. To free yourself from the chains of morality, of empathy, of fear! You do not possess the courage nor the will to free yourself, Jaime. But there are others who do.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The lights in the arena go dark for a moment. When they come back on, they bathe the area in a sickly shade of green, the color of the display on an old computer terminal, as unfamiliar music plays.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="</div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uplw5U5oN4Y?rel=0" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uplw5U5oN4Y?rel=0" rel="external nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/embed/uplw5U5oN4Y?rel=0"</a></div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uplw5U5oN4Y?rel=0" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"> frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Finally, someone emerges from behind the curtains. For a moment, no one recognizes her, including Jaime. And then Jaime puts her hand over her mouth...it’s Paige Croft.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="ueVCpfI.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ueVCpfI.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The crowd is shocked. Paige, for her part, betrays no emotion whatsoever. As the music dies down, the crowd lightly boos, uncertain what to make of the moment. Jaime is frozen, unable to find words. Lilith happily provides them. “Paige has you to thank, Jaime! </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>You</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> showed her that loyalty and friendship are illusions. You showed her it is humanity’s fate to betray each other, to succeed at the expense of others. So Paige cast off the stink of her humanity. She became something </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>more</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;">. She is now more human than human. And she has found a home in the darkness, with the Mother of Monsters and her children.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Jaime is still speechless, shaking her head. Paige takes the mic. Burning with ice-cold rage, Paige speaks. “Jaime. You move like an insect. You think like an insect. You </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>are</strong></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> an insect. What is coming...will not take long. If it sounds unpleasant to you? Put your mind at ease, insect. You will not be here to witness my new order.” Paige Croft drops the mic and stalks to the ring at a quick yet unhurried pace. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 72)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/sB96FgI.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/GM8hqrJ.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/Ij4JV2X.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Jaime finally snaps out of it and takes a few steps backward...only to be assaulted from both sides and from behind by Devil’s Daughter, Ellie May Walton, and Elsa Calvo. The trio pound Jaime into the canvas while Paige approaches at the same pace. Cat Quine shouts “No!” and pulls off her headset, but she’s held back by Grace Harper, Jim Lou Freebush, and a member of the security team. Lilith’s other children step back from a thoroughly brutalized Jaime Quine. When Paige gets to Jaime, Jaime begins to pull herself up from the canvas by using Paige as leverage. Devil’s Daughter flashes her fangs in a predator’s grin, Ellie May Walton guffaws, and Elsa Calvo unwholesomely leers at the carnage. Croft’s expression does not change, even as Jaime pulls herself up to her knees.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Paige tilts her head, then looks to Lilith. Lilith smiles and nods. Paige takes a few steps back before launching Jaime’s own K.O. Kick on the defenseless champion. Paige then takes Jaime by the legs and twists her into the Memphis Deathlock. Jaime’s arms flail weakly, clearly tapping, before Jaime goes completely limp. Paige keeps the Deathlock on for at least 10 more seconds before Lilith nods to Paige again. Paige lets go of the hold. Lilith and her brood return behind the curtain, boos raining down on them. Paige Croft never once betrays an emotion, and she doesn’t look back. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Segment rating - 59</em></div></DIV><p> </p><p>

As EMTs rush the ring to tend to the still-unmoving Jaime Quine, Cat Quine sits down, thoughts clearly running a mile a minute. Freebush puts his headset on and talks to Cat, not the audience. “Cat...I don’t know what to say. That was awful. Listen, if you need to go, Grace and I can handle - “</p><p> </p><p>

“No.” Cat looks up, steel in her eyes.</p><p> </p><p>

“Listen, Cat, Jimmy Boy’s right,” says an uncharacteristically graceful Harper. “We can hold down the fort here.”</p><p> </p><p>

“<strong>No</strong>,” says Cat. She takes a deep breath. “I have a job to do. I’ve seen terrible things in that ring. Not once did I leave after they happened. Jaime said she wanted to me to treat her like any other athlete in the company. I would stay here if any other member of our roster was mauled by a pack of marauding psychopaths. I will stay now.”</p><p> </p><p>

Freebush looks like he wants to argue the point, but Cat’s expression makes him decide to drop it. Instead, he introduces the next match. “Angels, I’m sorry about what you have just witnessed. But as they say, the show must go on, and we have a whole lot of show left tonight. Coming up next is the second of four first round Queen of the Ring tournament matches. Danielle Sweetheart takes on Tracey Brendon, in Brendon’s first match since her change of attitude. Let’s go to the ring.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #000000;"></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA Queen of the Ring First Round Match</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

</strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/YPkRl7Y.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div><img alt="vMFYo1C.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/vMFYo1C.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Danielle Sweetheart vs. Tracey Brendon</strong></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The crowd seems slightly subdued after what they’ve just witnessed, but Sweetheart and Brendon manage to pull them right back into the show with a wild brawl of a match. Brendon is a ferocious attack dog throughout the match, almost frenzied in her attacks on Sweetheart. On several occasions, referee Dwight Kumas has to get into Brendon’s face and threaten to DQ her if she refuses to break. Sweetheart, despite getting pummelled, refuses to give in. Even after taking a clobbering, Sweetheart gets to her feet, willing herself even as blows rain down on her. Sweetheart whips a disbelieving Brendon and gives her a back body drop on the return. Sweetheart follows with alternating kicks to the stunned Brendon, and then bounces off the ropes herself for a sliding forearm smash. Sweetheart makes the cover and gets an almost three, but Brendon escapes in the nick of time.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Sweetheart goes for two more pins, but Brendon kicks out earlier each time. Sweetheart looks to the turnbuckle and goes top rope for an elbow drop. Brendon rolls out of the way as soon as Sweetheart takes to the air. With Sweetheart stunned after the missed top rope spot, Brendon is able to easily heft Sweetheart onto her shoulders for the </div><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HvndtQJwtw/VMkGg1xnV1I/AAAAAAAAZE4/x4XbqQWvZec/s1600/Running%2BPowerslam.gif" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HvndtQJwtw/VMkGg1xnV1I/AAAAAAAAZE4/x4XbqQWvZec/s1600/Running%2BPowerslam.gif" rel="external nofollow">Idaho Crunch running powerslam</a></div><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HvndtQJwtw/VMkGg1xnV1I/AAAAAAAAZE4/x4XbqQWvZec/s1600/Running%2BPowerslam.gif" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">. Despite a game attempt to kick out just a few heartbeats after the three is counted, Danielle Sweetheart’s tournament run comes to an end. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Tracey Brendon defeated Danielle Sweetheart in 10:06 by pinfall with an Idaho Crunch. Rating - 56)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">WINNER, BY PINFALL, AND ADVANCING TO THE SECOND ROUND: TRACEY BRENDON</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><img alt="vMFYo1C.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/vMFYo1C.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></DIV></p><p> </p><p>

“The new attitude looks like a winner to me,” proclaims Harper. “And winning is what matters.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Sweetheart fought ferociously, and nearly had the better of Brendon,” says a distracted Cat Quine. “It was a close match where one mistake would determine the winner, and Danielle Sweetheart made that mistake by going top rope.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Cat, Grace,” says Freebush, finger to his ear. “I’ve been told our roving backstage camera recorded a potentially game-changing stipulation to the Alicia Strong/Demelza Wade match in our main event tonight. We’ll show that now.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Backstage at Homecoming Queens</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/AWOWtpe.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/uBl8pJY.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/2grrL5B.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/VcZ3dx5.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Several backstage crew members are between Nadia Snow and Demelza Wade, who are clearly once again trying to fight each other. Commissioner Persephone Coombs and General Manager Cat Jemson jog into frame. “All right, all right,” says a frustrated Coombs. “Break it up, you two. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>NOW</strong></div><div style="margin-left:25px;">.” Coombs’ tone is enough to convince the rivals to stop trying to destroy each other, at least for the moment.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“You saw what she tried to pull!” says an aggrieved Snow. “She tried to cost me my match!”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Who won that much, Nadia?” Wade shoots back. “Right. You did. So get off my back!”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The rivals look like they’re about to launch at each other again when Coombs interrupts. “You both need to stand down, right now,” she says. To her credit, the women begrudgingly listen. “Enough is enough,” she says. “I’m getting tired of having to pull you two apart over and over again.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I wouldn’t have to if Demelza - “ starts Snow.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Nadia, listen to me,” interrupts Coombs. “I don’t care who started it. I am </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>ending</strong></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> it, right now. Understand?” Snow refuses to answer.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Stop coddling,” says Cat Jemson. “Watch how this is done. Nadia, if you touch Demelza Wade again tonight, you’re out of the Queen of the Ring tournament. Heck, if you go out to the ring during Demelza’s match, you’re out.” Cat Jemson looks pleased. “See? I make it look easy.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“You can’t possibly be going along with this,” says Snow to Coombs.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Coombs sighs. “Actually, Nadia, I am,” she says. Jemson looks genuinely elated, while Snow is shocked. “This is our first ever Queen of the Ring tournament. We cannot have our inaugural tournament marred by disputed finishes.” Snow looks like she’s about to argue, before Coombs continues.. “What I will say, however,” she says, turning to Demelza Wade, “is that this is a two-way street. Demelza, if you so much as touch Nadia Snow tonight, </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>you’re</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> out of the tournament. Got it?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Wade sneers, then shrugs. “Fine,” she says.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“All right then,” says Cat Jemson. “Another thorny situation, resolved by yours truly!” She looks to Coombs, who just shakes her head. Jemson pouts. “Hmpf! The lack of gratitude around here…” She looks at Snow, Wade, and the event staff holding them back. “Hey, we got a show to run. Go on, get to work!” </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 68)</em></div></DIV><p> </p><p>

“With Cat Jemson’s firm but fair decision making, I still don’t know why the Board of Directors ever hired Commissioner Coombs,” says Harper.</p><p> </p><p>

“As much as I respect the Board of Directors, Grace, I have to agree that not all of their decisions are perfect,” says Cat Quine. Harper looks positively elated that Cat conceded a point to her, while Freebush cocks an eyebrow for the same reason. “After all, they’re the same group of people who decided to put you on commentary.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Hey!” says a blindsided Harper.</p><p> </p><p>

“Can we move on?” says Freebush. Cat shrugs. Harper smolders but does not object. “It’s a night of tournaments here in Tacoma. Our next match is the final round of our tag team tournament. The upstart Princess and the Punk take on four-time former Tag Team champions the Delicate Flowers to determine the next AAA Tag Team champions. If you haven’t been watching, here’s a video package to get you up to speed. <em>(Segment rating - 32)</em></p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #000000;"></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA Tag Team Tournament - Championship Match</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

</strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/Jcg9ZCt.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/Jcg9ZCt.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

</strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/TjVyclG.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/U10U2qP.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> w/ </strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/XaMRxhf.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/Lz8zst8.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/ftiHnYI.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

The Princess & the Punk (Christy Higgins & Simony Sentinel) w/ Joanna Silver vs. The Delicate Flowers (Kate Lilly & Debbie Rose)</strong></div></div><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

With Joanna Silver cheerleading her team, the crowd is firmly behind the underdog Princess & the Punk. However, the Delicate Flowers have years of combined experience working in front of hostile crowds and are completely unfazed by the one-sided audience support. Debbie Rose starts against Christy Higgins. Both Rose and Higgins are the more ground-based members of their respective teams, and the opening of the match is jockeying for leverage and position. At first, Rose does not seem to take Higgins seriously. It’s a mistake, as Higgins consistently find herself in control, to the point of locking in an octopus stretch. However, a missile dropkick off the top rope from Kate Lilly spectacularly breaks the hold. Rose takes the opportunity to tag while Higgins tries to get her bearings.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The match’s pace starts picking up with Kate Lilly in the ring. It’s an advantage for the agile veteran Lilly, who not only moves fast, but thinks fast enough to use her speed to its fully advantage. Eventually, Higgins is able to reverse a flying clothesline into a flapjack. Lilly goes hard to the canvas, grabbing her calf after landing. Referee Dwight Kumas goes to check on Lilly, while Higgins tags in Simony Sentinel. Sentinel locks up with Lilly, an unexpectedly traditional approach from the counterculture rebel. It’s not Lilly’s forte either, but the experience advantage means Lilly’s more used to working outside her normal style. Lilly manages to ground Sentinel, though Sentinel does begin a rally. The veteran experience comes into play one more time, however, as Lilly is more than aware enough to merely sidestep an attempted top rope dropkick from Sentinel. </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Rose is even more effective in grinding down Sentinel than Higgins. Even the audience stomping and cheering, lead by Silver, isn’t enough to rally Higgins. With the Delicate Flowers in total control, Rose whips Sentinel into the ropes and on the return, plants Sentinel with a massive spinebuster. Rose lifts Sentinel into a vertical suplex while Lilly scrambles to the top rope. Rose drops Sentinel into a brainbuster, and Lilly lands her Lilly Launch Pad frog splash just a moment later. Having delivered “The Thorn”, Rose makes the cover while Lilly rolls out of the ring and to the canvas. To Rose’s confusion, there’s no count from the referee.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

That’s because Sentinel is not the legal woman in the match. On the whip prior to the spinebuster, Sentinel got a blind tag in on Higgins, while Rose had her head turned talking to Lilly. Rose gets up and starts arguing with Kumas, who explains that Higgins is the legal woman. Rose is utterly confused, then alarmed - and for good reason. Rose turns right into a </div><a href="http://i68.tinypic.com/erimom.gif" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="http://i68.tinypic.com/erimom.gif" rel="external nofollow">Florida Upswing (running swinging neckbreaker)</a></div><a href="http://i68.tinypic.com/erimom.gif" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;">. Higgins scrambles to get the pin. Lilly slingshots herself from the apron into the ring in a desperate attempt to break up the pin, but it’s just a fraction of a second too late. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(The Princess & the Punk defeated The Delicate Flowers in 12:11 when Christy Higgins defeated Debbie Rose by pinfall with a Florida Upswing. The Princess & the Punk win the AAA Tag Team titles. Match rating - 42)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">WINNERS, BY PINFALL, AND NEW AAA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: THE PRINCESS & THE PUNK</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><span>http://i.imgur.com/Jcg9ZCt.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/Jcg9ZCt.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><span>http://i.imgur.com/TjVyclG.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/U10U2qP.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></div></p><p> </p><p>

To the sounds of “

</p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/L0oeqAQ1qE8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Rebel Girl"></iframe></div></div>”, P3 celebrate their new championship on the outside of the ring, high-fiving and hugging young fans at ringside, while the Delicate Flowers try to wrap their minds around their unexpected loss. <em>(Segment rating - 33)</em> “Much like the previous match, all it takes is one mistake,” says Cat Quine. “The Delicate Flowers may have gotten just a bit too cocky tonight, with Rose and Lilly taking their eyes off Sentinel and missing the blind tag. And they paid dearly for it.”<p> </p><p>

“You know, <em>I</em> didn’t see that tag myself,” said Harper. “I’m not even sure there <em>was</em> a tag. I hope the Flowers review this match. If there wasn’t a tag, they deserve another match against these two weirdos and their goofy manager. The Delicate Flowers <em>deserved</em> to be crowned the first five-time AAA Tag Team champions, and these three oddballs ruined a moment of AAA history!”</p><p> </p><p>

“Nevertheless, the Princess and the Punk are the new AAA Tag Team champions,” says Freebush. “Congratulations to Simony Sentinel, Christy Higgins, and their manager Joanna Silver, on their first taste of AAA gold.” Freebush takes a moment before continuing. “It’s not a championship belt, but it is a title – Queen of the Ring. There can only be one <em>first</em> Queen of the Ring, and either of the two athletes in our next match, the “Queen of Mean” Steph Blake or the “Miracle Blonde” Suzanne Brazzle, could be that one. But, before this next match, we have some backstage footage involving Lilith and her Children to show you.” Cat’s eyes immediately narrow. “Let’s take a look.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Backstage at Homecoming Queens</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="ueVCpfI.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ueVCpfI.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><span>http://i.imgur.com/sB96FgI.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/fVVoDMS.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/Ij4JV2X.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/GM8hqrJ.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Lilith and her entire brood – including Paige Croft – are traveling in a pack backstage, seemingly to leave the building, when a voice calls out. “Oy! You! Yeah, you!” shouts a voice with a faint Australian dialect.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/dmZuyG1.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/PVM1Kw9.jpg</span><span>http://i.imgur.com/Y4lKwTx.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The camera shows Golden Delicious, Wendy Anderson, and Bobbi McGee approaching the pack. They are unafraid, despite being outnumbered. “What you did to Jaime tonight was downright disgusting. I know you want people to be afraid of you. But one thing I’m never afraid to do is fight!”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Lilith serenely glides to meet Golden Delicious. “Oh, my sweet, precious Golden One. I do love your aggression. One day you’ll come home where you belong.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Listen, lady,” says McGee, in her incongruous Deep South dialect. “GD, Wendy, and I? We don’t want </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>none</strong></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> of what you’re sellin’.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“My, my!” Lilith says with a chuckle. Lilith turns to Wendy Anderson. “And you? Do you come bearing threats against me and my Children?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Anderson shakes her head. “I don’t make threats,” says Anderson, “but I will make a challenge. You ruined Jaime’s title victory, you ruined her chance to celebrate with the fans tonight. So how about a little of your own medicine?” Devil’s Daughter hisses, knowing what’s coming. “How about I ruin your suntan-deficient girl’s day and take her belt off her? Or all you only tough and scary when you can ambush someone four-on-one?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Lilith bursts out laughing. “Such </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>ambition</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;">. Your attempts to goad me into a rash decision by playing on my pride are cute. Obvious, but cute. I’m amused enough to give you that match.” Devil’s Daughter protectively cradles her belt. “I’m inclined to grant wishes, when someone clearly wishes to experience a pain they have never known.” Lilith turns and continues to lead her “family” out of the building, while GD, Anderson, and McGee stare at them until it’s clear the entire brood of vipers is gone. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Segment rating – 46)</em></div></DIV><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #000000;"></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA Queen of the Ring First Round Match</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

</strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/2m3v59w.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/p39q1H6.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Steph Blake vs. Suzanne Brazzle</strong></div></div><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Steph Blake looks slightly disheveled as the match begins, as if she hasn’t slept well in the two weeks since she lost her Femme Fatale championship. Insomnia or not, Blake comes out with intensity as the bell rings. Brazzle is ready to match that intensity, and the two AAA veterans are ready to add another classic match to their already impressive resume. Blake has two different spots where she open-hand slaps Brazzle across the face, clearly feeling the need to assert herself aggressively following the loss of her title. To her credit, after the second slap, Brazzle fires up. Brazzle lands a series of smooth maneuvers, ending with Blake in the center of the ring. Brazzle goes for her Miracle Connection lionsault, but Blake puts her knees up. With Brazzle having the wind knocked out of her, she’s easy prey for a </div><a href="https://eireplusalba2.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/dean-ambrose-3793-dirty-deeds-to-triple-h-on-raw.gif" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://eireplusalba2.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/dean-ambrose-3793-dirty-deeds-to-triple-h-on-raw.gif" rel="external nofollow">double-arm DDT</a></div><a href="https://eireplusalba2.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/dean-ambrose-3793-dirty-deeds-to-triple-h-on-raw.gif" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"> from Steph Blake, which is enough to give Blake the victory. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Steph Blake defeated Suzanne Brazzle in 15:02 by pinfall with a Double-Arm DDT. Match rating - 59)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">WINNER, BY PINFALL, AND ADVANCING TO THE SECOND ROUND: STEPH BLAKE</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><span>http://i.imgur.com/2m3v59w.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></DIV></p><p> </p><p>

Having achieved victory after her loss of the title, Blake cracks an arrogant smile for the first time tonight. She remains in the ring, absorbing the boos of the audience as if they were cheers, royal-waving to the peasants, and so forth.</p><p> </p><p>

“Finally! Things are closer to being right in Steph Blake’s queendom!” crows Harper. “You know, did the kings and queens of Europe stop being royalty even after they lost their crowns? No, they did not. The same goes for Steph Blake. Even when she’s temporarily without her title, she’s still the Queen of the AAA.”</p><p> </p><p>

“I’ve had a lot of problems about the way Steph Blake wrestles her matches,” says Cat Quine. “I’ve never doubted that she’s incredibly talented, and I believe she’s a championship caliber athlete without needing to cut corners. She wrestled this match more or less clean, and defeated a former Femme Fatale champion. If she can continue that, instead of resorting to shortcuts when she faces even a tiny bit of adversity, I’ll be a Blake supporter too.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Speaking of Steph Blake’s opponent,” says Freebush, “our roving backstage camera caught a backstage exchange involving Suzanne Brazzle. We’ll show that to you, before we come back for tonight’s main event.”</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #7A378B;"></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Backstage at Homecoming Queens</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/p39q1H6.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

A tired, sore, and sweaty Suzanne Brazzle sits - collapses, really - into a folding chair backstage. She seems to space out following her disappointing loss.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Getting knocked out in the first round of the tournament was a shock to you too, huh?”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i.imgur.com/YPkRl7Y.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Danielle Sweetheart comes into view as Brazzle gives a bemused smile. “Can’t say I’ve ever planned on losing during my entire career,” says Brazzle. “I could say it gets easier to accept, but no. It really doesn’t.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I hope I never feel its easier,” says Sweetheart. “The day I believe I can’t win a match is the day I decide to end my career.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Brazzle nods. “I’ve thought about calling it a career,” she says. “But I’m still here.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Sweetheart sits next to her. “What made you change your mind?” she asks.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“There’s nothing in the world - and I mean </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>nothing</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> - like going out there in front of all those cheering and shouting people, feeding off that energy,” says Brazzle. “There’s nothing in the world like professional wrestling. And I think </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>that’s</em></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> the day I quit. I quit the day when I stand in front of that curtain and feel like it’s just another day at the office.”</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The two women sit for a moment in silence. “You wrestled a heck of a match,” Sweetheart says.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Brazzle smiles. “You did too, Dani,” says Brazzle. “We both made one mistake. Tonight, it cost us both. But every two weeks, there’s another match. Dust yourself off, lace up your boots, and give it your all. Like it’s going to be your last. Because you never know if it will be. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Segment rating - 49)</em></div></DIV><p> </p><p>

“You know, it’s good to see some of the backstage veterans like Suzanne Brazzle stepping up like that,” says Cat Quine. “In this business, so often you’ll see veterans who resent younger workers, who fear younger workers, because the one opponent nobody beats is Father Time. So seeing a worker as respected and decorated as Suzanne Brazzle bonding with the next generation of talent? It’s a wonderful thing.”</p><p> </p><p>

“I would just like to point out that Suzanne’s most important decoration, the Femme Fatale belt?” says Harper. “I was the one who took it off her. And if I knew it was my time to call it a day, then Brazzle’s way past her expiration date. There’s nothing sadder than a once-great athlete hanging on too long. If I was Danielle Sweetheart, I’d stay way the heck away from Suzanne Brazzle, so my career didn’t get dragged down by a woman who just can’t let go.”</p><p> </p><p>

“Ladies and gentlemen, all you Angels out there, it’s time for tonight’s main event,” says Freebush. “And what a main event it is. The Scion, second generation star Alicia Strong, takes on AAA’s self-proclaimed ‘biggest celebrity’, Demelza Wade!” </p><p> </p><p>

<div style="border: solid 5px #000000;"></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">AAA Queen of the Ring First Round Match</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

</strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/lqRIdUF.jpg</span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div><span>http://i.imgur.com/VcZ3dx5.jpg</span><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

Alicia Strong vs. Demelza Wade</strong></div></div><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The crowd is hot from the moment the match starts. However, Strong and Wade are long-term pros who know better than to let that crowd energy overwhelm them. What follows is a well-paced match where each spot builds upon the prior one, keeping the crowd invested without burning them out. Demelza Wade starts out with the advantage, possibly because the wrestling world’s been watching Alicia Strong for years and quite a lot of footage exists. But like her father, Alicia Strong cannot be held down for long. Despite Wade’s best attempts, Alicia Strong continues throughout the match to build momentum. Wade is able to make a few covers, but Strong manages to kick out - with some authority - at 2 or less each time.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Wade is well aware that she’s taken most of her best shots at Strong, yet Strong not only keeps getting up, but she seems to get up with even more fire, more determination, each time. Wade gets desperate, and in getting desperate, she leaves herself open. Strong takes control of the match around the 15-minute mark, and she pummels Wade with stiff punches and impressive power moves. When Alicia Strong lifts her finger in the air, the crowd goes from a buzz to a steady roar as this is the signal for Strong to hit her Strong Arm Tactic finisher. However, Wade covers an eye and calls for the referee. Referee Dwight Kumas comes over to see what Wade wants. Wade says Strong illegally thumbed her in the eye. Strong drops her arm back down and goes to argue she did no such thing - which is when Wade suddenly stops having an eye injury. Wade delivers a roundhouse kick powerful enough to floor Strong.</div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The crowd boos while Wade points her to head, cementing the “injury” as a complete ruse to sucker in Strong. Wade sets up to land a SuperStar Kick on Strong, ending the tournament run of arguably the most famous women’s wrestler in North America in the very first round. Strong stirs, and Wade is waving her up, clearly anxious to end the match. Strong gets to her feet and looks like she’s about to turn around, Wade gets ready - and then

</div><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/OUpP02enWgU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Spoon - I Turn My Camera On"></iframe></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"> plays. </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Wade immediately turns her attention to the curtain, ready to fight Snow and to revel in Snow’s subsequent suspension. But Snow never comes. Wade turns around, and about halfway through the turn Wade realizes she’s made a fatal error. Wade’s entirely correct, as Alicia Strong uses Wade’s momentary loss of concentration to again set up the Strong Arm Tactic. Strong hits the first part of the move, a </div><a href="http://i.imgur.com/lMbFcF5.gif" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/lMbFcF5.gif" rel="external nofollow">thunderously stiff lariat</a></div><a href="http://i.imgur.com/lMbFcF5.gif" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"> even the joshi workers in 5-Star would think twice about taking. Wade manages a rotation and a half before she hits the mat. The elbow drop into the pin to complete the Strong Arm Tactic is completely unnecessary, as Strong hits Wade hard enough that she could have probably gotten a three-minute count, much less a three-second count. </div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>(Alicia Strong defeated Demelza Wade in 19:43 by pinfall with a Strong Arm Tactic after a distraction from Nadia Snow. Match rating - 65)</em></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">WINNER, BY PINFALL, AND ADVANCING TO THE SECOND ROUND: ALICIA STRONG</span></strong></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div><span>http://i.imgur.com/lqRIdUF.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></DIV></p><p> </p><p>

Referee Dwight Kumas checks on the still-unmoving Demelza Wade as Alicia Strong’s

</p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/IZBlqcbpmxY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"></iframe></div></div> plays. She plays to the crowd, and the crowd eats it up. Meanwhile, Kumas is finally able to get Wade moving enough that he’s able to lean Wade onto him to get her to the back. <em>(Segment rating - 79)</em><p> </p><p>

“This is a complete and utter outrage!” shouts Harper. “Demelza Wade had Alicia Strong, and then that wannabe ‘celebrity’ Nadia Snow once again sticks her nose where it doesn’t belong, and it costs Wade the match! Quine, Jimmy boy - you heard what Coombs and General Manager Jemson said! That idiot Nadia Snow just cost herself her place in this tournament! And for what? To screw over Demelza Wade? Hasn’t Nadia Snow already done enough to hurt Wade’s career already?”</p><p> </p><p>

Cat Quine looks like she might want to laugh, but she’s able to resist. “I won’t say that I condone what Nadia Snow did - assuming that Nadia Snow <em>did</em> do something,” says Cat Quine. “All we know is that Nadia Snow’s music started playing. We don’t know if Nadia Snow did that. It could have been an accident.”</p><p> </p><p>

“[An <em>accident?</em>” says Harper. “You think it was an <em>accident</em> Demelza Wade’s bitter ex-tag partner’s music plays at the exact moment Wade’s about to win the match? I can’t tell if you’re actually that stupid, or willfully blinding your eyes to the injustice that has occurred, Cathy! Maybe both!”</p><p> </p><p>

“I’m sure we’ll get more clarity on the Nadia Snow situation at a later time,” says Freebush. “Make sure you check out our website for updates as we get them. It doesn’t change that tonight Alicia Strong got the three-count and she, not Demelza Wade, continues her quest to become the first AAA Queen of the Ring. Speaking of, we hope you’ll be able to join us in two weeks for our Queen of the Ring show at the TRAC Center in Pasco, Washington. Until then, on behalf of my Hall of Fame colleagues Cat Quine and Grace Harper, this is Jim Lou Freebush, wishing you all good night!”</p><p> </p><p>

<em><strong>Final show rating - 60</strong></em></p>

[kingjames]

<p>AAA Homecoming Queens Wrap-Up and Comments</p><p> </p><p> And that, folks, was Homecoming Queens. I'm also continuing a tradition where my second show of the month - my secondary show - scores better than the "main" show. Hoping to break that trend with Queen of the Ring, but I'll have to see whether I can manage to pull that one off.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Nadia Snow def. Ariel Breaks</strong></p><p> </p><p> Ariel Breaks has been getting some non-insignificant face time in this diary as of late. However, when you get down to it, she's really a lower midcarder. I could have done a heavily protected cheap finish to push Breaks into the second round, but in the end, getting Snow into the second round made more sense to me. That said, it wasn't a wholly clean finish, with Demelza Wade's involvement. But we'll get to that relationship later.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Jaime Quine/Paige Croft</strong></p><p> </p><p> It wasn't a match, but it did take up the most real estate of anything that happened at Homecoming Queens, so it gets a reflection section. And before I say anything else, I want to give some MASSIVE props to KnowYourEnemy for the <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/SHODAN_hires.jpg" rel="external nofollow">SHODAN-inspired</a> alt render of Paige Croft. It was forever ago you did that, KYE, and I'm happy to say that your work is <em>finally</em> seeing the light of day. I'm sorry that it took this long to happen.</p><p> </p><p> One thing that really, <em>really</em> bothers me about the WWE is their inability to book faces. I have a whole theory hinging on Vince McMahon being a real-life heel to explain why the faces are idiots who are also assholes, while the heels are utterly reasonable and seem like they might be the ones in the right. And even someone who truly was the avatar of babyface, Surfer Sting in WCW, was trusting to the point of delusion. I don't like that kind of storytelling. It feels both unsatisfying, and cynical. Doing the right thing, being on the righteous path, shouldn't be easy. But it shouldn't be presented as stupid, hypocritical, and ultimately illusory either.</p><p> </p><p> So my main hope was to do a heel turn that was a <em>real</em> heel turn. Now, I think heels are better when they are presented in such a way that you can understand why they are acting like they are <strong>if</strong> you choose to view a situation with the most negative, self-serving interpretation of the situation. Just "mwa ha ha" is also unsatisfying. But in the end, I think a heel should be unreasonable at their core. That they twist the facts until they make them fit their perspective, to make it so that any action they take can be "justified" - though a more objective view of the situation should show they really aren't, and they're using a grain of truth to build a worldview that is, in the end, selfish and skewed.</p><p> </p><p> I'm planning on delving more into Paige Croft's mindset and reasons in future diary entries, so I'm not getting into that right now. My goals here were to make Jaime sympathetic, for the situation to not seem like a heel turn out of nowhere but instead based on previously-established events, and for Paige to not come across as reasonable and "cool". I'm tired of "cool" heels. Honestly, I think that's the worst legacy of the nWo, a generation of heels who are trying to get cheers and merch buys.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Tracey Brendon def. Danielle Sweetheart</strong></p><p> </p><p> When I was putting together the card for Homecoming Queens, I thought about, in real life, just how "big" the Quine/Croft segment was. It was long, and - if all goes well - somewhat emotionally draining. The next match would have a hard time following. So you can imagine how happy I was when I looked at Danielle and Tracey's stats and saw they were both quite skilled in brawling. You want to get the crowd back into the card? A fast-paced, back-alley brawl would probably have done the trick.</p><p> </p><p> I considered an ending where Tracey's new attitude saw her getting disqualified and just not caring, to the point where even two weeks from now, Sweetheart would be unable to continue in the tournament and her opponent would get a second-round bye. You know, shamelessly stealing from the WrestleMania IV booking. But to solidify Tracey's gimmick change, I felt like a clean win was needed to get that over.</p><p> </p><p> I have criminally underused Danielle Sweetheart. Honestly, I've probably either picked up too many workers, and/or haven't released enough workers from the bottom of my card. There's the problem of emotionally investing in each worker on the roster, can't hardly bring myself to dumping anyone. The result is a muddled midcard. I'm happy with my main event scene, but my midcard needs work. I'm thinking about ways to change that, including Danielle Sweetheart's role in that.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>The Princess & the Punk def. the Delicate Flowers for the AAA Tag Team Championships</strong></p><p> </p><p> Hey, Doc? You remember months and months ago where you got to pick a worker or workers for me to push as a prediction contest prize? Well, here's the finale of that prediction prize. Much like KYE, hopefully better late than never? <img alt=":o" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/redface.png.900245280682ef18c5d82399a93c5827.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> The Delicate Flowers are, in some ways, a major problem for my tag team division. They're heads and tails above anyone else in the division. My current tag team division is embryonic; I'm building up a young core of workers to replace the loss of Wild Times, the Brendon Sisters, the A-List, and Goodlookin' Bunny. Because of that, the Delicate Flowers utterly imbalance the division. With a win over the Flowers, I was hoping to elevate P&P. And that definitely happened. Higgins' pop moved from the low-mid 20s to low 30s, and Sentinel moved from 21 to the high 20s. Meanwhile, I protected the hell out of the Flowers, and Rose and Lilly only lost 1 pop a piece - my guess is the combination of booking and momentum helped dull the pop loss for the Flowers. Sometimes my booking outright sucks, but this time, my booking achieved <em>exactly</em> what I hoped it would accomplish from an in-game point of view.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Steph Blake def. Suzanne Brazzle</strong></p><p> </p><p> Neville, King of the Cruiserweights, was so perfect upon losing his "crown". Dude looked utterly distraught until he could get the belt back. Shame about him leaving. I suppose this is my tribute to one of the best gimmicks, and workers, of the past year. That said, I'm not sure that Steph Blake shares the innate nobility that Neville had, no matter what Blake might believe to the contrary. However, the point of the match was to re-establish Blake, and show that even without the Femme Fatale title, she's still a force to be reckoned with and is in no danger of sliding too far down the card.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Alicia Strong def. Demelza Wade</strong></p><p> </p><p> It's rapidly becoming clear to me that Nadia Snow and Demelza Wade are the Steen/Owens vs. Generico/Zayn of this diary. Are they destined to do this forever? Probably not <em>forever</em>. Honestly, though? The better RW wrestling comp isn't Owens/Zayn, it's Rick Martel and Tito Santana. Those two <em>never</em> got over the breakup of Strike Force. They rarely had programs together, but if they happened to be in the same Royal Rumble or battle royale or Survivor Series match, those two would beeline straight for each other. They did that for <em>years</em>; I'm not exaggerating when I say it was probably about a decade. And unlike Owens & Zayn, there was never any reconciliation between the two (kayfabe; it was their deep real-life friendship that inspired them to keep the kayfabe hate going).</p><p> </p><p> So you know what I said about faces, in relation to Jaime Quine? Well, Nadia Snow's your anti-hero face. Along with everything I said above about heels & faces, I'm also not a fan of sudden turns - especially heel to face. A sudden heel turn can work, if you play it storyline-wise of someone finally hitting their breaking point. It's easy for a good person to have a moment of weakness and go bad. But heel to face? I think it's a huge storyline opportunity lost if you do that. When you've been doing the wrong thing - and usually the <em>easy</em> thing for so long, I think it's much harder to change your ways. No one "just snaps" into laudable behavior, at least not for very long.</p><p> </p><p> So, even as I've turned Snow face, she's still not fully rehabilitated. She's unlikely to take the first action, but she'll sure as heck retaliate using the same underhanded tactics that were used against her. And in this case, truly, Demelza Wade started it. The question for Snow becomes, does she continue her face turn? Does she remain as AAA's anti-hero, a shade of (light) gray? Or does she find ways to justify and excuse more and more questionable behavior, to the point where she slips back into villainy? I say that like I know myself, but I can't say that I really know long-term what I'm doing with Nadia Snow.</p><p> </p><p> Also, I'm always happy to have a chance to reference the fact that Alicia Strong trained with joshi workers in Japan. In honor of Americans going over to Japan, Alicia Strong has been given Stan Hansen's lariat (or <strong>"LARIATOOOOOOOOOOO!"</strong> if you watch old All Japan stuff). If you didn't click the link in that match write up, you may want to. It's a .gif of Hansen hitting the lariat. It's a good thing Hansen mostly worked Japan, because I'm pretty sure in America, even in a wrestling ring, that would have been considered attempted homicide. It's like someone forgot to tell Hansen that pro wrestling is, for lack of a better description, "fake fighting". Christ almighty.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Dr_Avalanche" data-cite="Dr_Avalanche" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I like stories that tie in to the characters we see day to day in the "now" of the diary, so maybe something from Cat Quinn and Grace Harper's past, if their rivalry today can be tracked all the way to their active careers. Or any flashback that explains the way AAA looks today.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Temes1066" data-cite="Temes1066" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42833" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>...maybe we can have a interlude with about the old Cat Quine/Grace Harper rivalry.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It's like y'all read my mind...</p>

[kingjames]

<p>Interlude - Amazing Grace, Part I</p><p> </p><p>

First off, thank you all so much for the vote of confidence in this diary and the September Fictional Diary of the Month, and for my first Event of the Month win! I hope you continue to enjoy the adventures of the Angel Athletic Association. Now, as promised, here's some more background on Grace Harper and Cat Quine...</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>**********</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

<em>From the “AAA’s Greatest Rivalries, Vol. 2” DVD, released in November 2014</em></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><span style="font-size:12px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Grace Harper vs. Cat Quine</span></strong></span></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="nU2biRU.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/nU2biRU.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Joanne Rodriguez:</strong> “Grace Harper and Cat Quine...my opinion? It brought Cat’s career to a legendary end, and it elevated Grace to a bona-fide main event star here in AAA.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="4WuhyP5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/4WuhyP5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Sara Marie York:</strong> “Harper/Quine? Whew. Their in-ring feud only lasted about, what, 6 months? 8 months? But they packed enough into that little amount to time to make it feel like they were life-long enemies.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><span style="font-size:12px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Part I: The Prelude</span></strong></span></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="Opjjmbh.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Opjjmbh.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Anne Stardust:</strong> “Cat and Grace were at very different points in their careers. And their careers had gone very differently up to that point.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="kEkUwNO.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/kEkUwNO.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Cat Quine:</strong> “I had been with AAA since the beginning, in 1996. I was Femme Fatale champion within a couple of years. I’m not tooting my horn overly much saying that. We were still a very small operation, and our only real draw was Anne. There were maybe 10 girls to start with, most of us green as grass. We hadn’t become what we are today, so I wasn’t competing against the same level of competition.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="31bbTV3.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/31bbTV3.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Belle Bryden (Wanda Fish):</strong> “Cat will tell you that she was champion early on because the only person who could credibly hold the title was Anne Stardust, but we had to have a title change every once in a while just to mix things up. But it was Cat, and the other early champions, that established AAA was <em>more </em>than just Anne Stardust.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="zUsPh6M.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/zUsPh6M.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Grace Harper:</strong> “I joined AAA in 2000. I can’t say AAA was anywhere as big as it is today. But it certainly wasn’t surviving on a shoestring like it had been four years prior. There was a system in place. Anne had bought the warehouse that later became the Cat’s Lair. We were still running shows out of the place in 2000, sure, but we’d become a cult thing in and around Seattle. We had articles about us in alt-weekly papers like the Seattle Stranger. I wasn’t one of the ‘original’ girls.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="cW8ziyP.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/cW8ziyP.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Farrah Heskath:</strong> “Sometimes, I think there is a misperception there was a ‘clique’ of ‘AAA Originals’, the girls who joined in 1996 or 1997, and that we had a grudge against the ‘new girls’. We didn’t have any grudge against the newer girls. Heck, most of us were <strong>glad</strong> the newer girls didn’t have to deal with the same things we did in the early years. But at the same time, there’s a kind of comraderie when you go through hard times like the early years. So yes, I think there was a bond among us girls from the early days that was very strong. I can definitely understand how other people might have thought we were excluding them. But we weren’t doing so. At least, not on purpose.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “I started attending shows in 1999. It was amazing. Eventually, I thought, ‘I don’t want to watch these amazing women. I want to <strong>be</strong> these amazing women.’ So I started volunteering, and eventually I got Anne to agree to let me train with the other girls. At the time, I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life, and thought doing this amazing but looked-down-on thing once a month might derail my ‘real’ career. And honestly? I was afraid I would suck. So I decided to use a ring name.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stardust </strong><strong><em>[completely deadpan]</em></strong> “Helen Wheels.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “I was really into motorcycles at the time!” <em>laughs</em></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Quine:</strong> “Grace went with ‘Helen Wheels’. Two problems. One, we’ve already got a ‘Helen Earth’, so the using ‘Helen’ to make a pun was already being used. Two, she’s using a pun as her ring name, and that can peg you as a comedy act. But she seemed dead set, so we let her run with it.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “In those early years, I was a sponge. I would do <em>anything</em>. Wrestle a match? Yes please! Ref twisted his ankle? Get me a zebra shirt! Got someone who wasn’t a talker? Make me their manager! Need to add a little extra to commentary? Give me a headset and sit me next to Jimmy Lou!”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="VJqkQW6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/VJqkQW6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Jim Lou Freebush:</strong> “In the early days, it was just me on commentary. AAA didn’t need more than that. But if Grace Harper – or ‘Helen’ – wasn’t booked in a match, she’d grab a headset. Let me tell you, Grace has been funny from day one. She’s got a real gift for improv. I’m play-by-play, I don’t have to be clever. In fact, ‘too clever’ can mean I’m not calling the action. So when Grace would do guest commentary, it was a real treat. Highlight of some of our early DVDs.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stardust:</strong> “It was obvious Grace was a great talker from the beginning. Some people are naturals, and Grace is a natural. It took Grace longer to get her ring work together. I think Grace wasn’t committed to wrestling. She had a job with an ad agency, she poured a lot of time into that. And in AAA, she wanted to do <strong>everything</strong>. I appreciated her eagerness and versatility. But she was scattershot. It affected how the audience perceived her. She wasn’t credible.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><span style="font-size:12px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Part II: A Rolling Stone</span></strong></span></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “So it’s 2006. I’ve been doing this for 6 years. We were running 12 shows a year by then, so we’re talking somewhere around 72 shows under my belt. And I’ve never once been in a title match that wasn’t a squash. Even after we introduced the Top Contender’s title in 2005, I hadn’t even been considered for a run.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Quine:</strong> “Grace comes to me sometime in 2006, early in the year, want to say January or February. She’s hot. She just dumps on me that she thinks that we think she’s a joke.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stardust:</strong> “She <em>was</em> a joke. She was funny, but her ring work was still incomplete after six years. She was firmly in the lower midcard with a comedy gimmick. Which, at the time, is where she belonged.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “Cat, to her credit, just takes it all. Doesn’t fight me. Just listens as I let loose years of frustration that I – and I take responsibility for this now, I didn’t then – frustration I had never been brave enough to share. I was ‘happy to be there’ for a long time…even if I <em>really</em> wanted more.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stardust:</strong> “Cathy comes to me and tells me, ‘Wheels just unloaded on me.’ And I’m not mad. I’m <strong>happy</strong>, because that’s what I had been hoping for. I knew Grace <em>could</em> be great. But she needed to light a fire under her butt for it to happen. After six years I thought, she’s wasting her potential. But hey, she’s a steady hand, good attitude, fills in when we need something, she’s useful to keep around. Finally, the switch flipped. She was ready.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “Anne and I had a long talk. First thing to go, she said, was the name. She asked if I wanted to use another ring name. I was really burnt out in the ad world. I didn’t care anymore if my name was associated with pro wrestling. So I’m now Grace Harper, in and out of the ring. Second thing Anne said was, I had to choose. If I wanted to wrestle, I needed to wrestle. Not manage, not commentate. And she said I needed to get all the experience I could possibly get.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="W8GCJmn.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/W8GCJmn.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="jwhFlrJ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jwhFlrJ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Dan Stone:</strong> “With Seattle so close to the border, there’s been a lot of women who’ve worked AAA and North of the Border Pro Wrestling. Generally, Anne has been more interested in the pageantry and the mic skills of her workers, while our audiences expect high-level athletes. Not to say AAA workers aren’t solid wrestlers – every AAA worker I’ve ever had in North of the Border had strong fundamentals. But the pace and workrate up here is at a different level.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “I decided one weekend a month wasn’t enough. Even with the border crossing, Seattle to Vancouver is 3 hours. And North of the Border focused on what I needed to strengthen – my in-ring work. Overall, they’re a much more technically-oriented company. AAA has always been about telling stories, using matches to advance those stories. If I had to say what was different in North of the Border, it’s that the matches themselves <strong>are</strong> the stories.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stone:</strong> “We had Grace up for a tryout when we were in British Columbia. She’s solid but not spectacular in the ring. Generally, I would have passed. But even during the tryout, Grace is <em>working</em>. She’s incredibly expressive. I can teach you moves, and you can pick that up pretty quickly if you’re a hard worker and a decent athlete. But that kind of physical storytelling? That sense of timing? Some people have an entire career and never get it. Grace <em>got</em> it. So, we hired her. Honestly, I was ready to give her a written, guaranteed contract, but she insisted on a pay-per-appearance deal.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stardust:</strong> “Huge break for us.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “People ask why I never went full time in North of the Border. For one thing, even though I had quit my full-time job at the ad agency, I continued to work as a freelancer. If I went full-time up North, that very lucrative sideline would have to be sidelined. Secondly, full-time in North of the Border meant travelling all across Canada for weekly TV plus a pay-per-view a month. That’s a ton of travel, which I wasn’t a fan of on its own merits, much less with trying to remain a contract worker like I said. Thirdly…I felt an odd mix of resentment and gratitude towards AAA. I felt grateful that I had been part of the organization for six years, and I enjoyed the women I worked with. And I felt resentment because I felt like I hadn’t been allowed to show AAA – the fans, Anne, Cat, my fellow workers – the full extent of what I could do.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stardust:</strong> “Spite can be a more powerful motivation than love.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Quine:</strong> “Once Grace focused on improving as a worker…it was night and day.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Freebush:</strong> “People ask me, ‘Is it hard for you to not call someone by their old name when they change it?’ Sometimes, I do slip, it’s true. <em>chuckle</em> But I never had that problem when Grace dropped the ‘Helen Wheels’ gimmick. I mean, it was like watching a whole new person in the ring.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stone:</strong> “She got good, fast. Great knack for psychology. Excellent expressions. Her promo was never in doubt. She wasn’t the best worker in the company. But that’s what made her perfect for a feud I had in mind.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “Honestly, it’s surreal to me that I won my first championship in North of the Border.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><span style="font-size:12px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Part III: The Gold Standard</span></strong></span></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stone:</strong> “Our fans are about wrestling first. It’s why SWF, USPW, even TCW, haven’t taken over the Canadian scene. Our fans <em>hate</em> “sports entertainers”. I think it’s pretty easy to see how you can get easy heat with that attitude.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “In AAA, I had taken on a new attitude. An edge that hadn’t been seen before. But I was having to work out from under the six years of being seen as an opening act. In North of the Border, I didn’t have that history. All they knew was that I was an outsider, I didn’t get trained by the Stones, and that I ran my mouth. A lot.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="NJYPNFE.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NJYPNFE.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Victoria Stone-McFly:</strong> <em>laughing</em> “Oh my god, Grace – the character, not the woman, the woman is amazing – but the Grace Harper character was such. A. <em>Bitch</em>.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “You know, you hear that North of the Border fans are pretty smarky, and so it’s harder to work them. That’s bull. Honestly? They were one of the easiest crowds I’ve ever worked.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stone-McFly:</strong> “There’s a sort of code of honor in North of the Border. A right way of doing things, that even our heels follow. So one way to get serious heat with our fans is to break that code.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “It wasn’t just breaking that kayfabe ‘code’ that did it. North of the Border fans have very strong opinions about who ‘deserves’ a championship. A heel who’s a top-ten, elite-level worker, they’ll boo but only to go along with the show. But if they feel like someone isn’t sufficiently skilled, if their workrate doesn’t ‘earn’ them the right to a championship, then they’re not booing to go along with the show. They’re booing because they <em>hate</em> you.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stone-McFly:</strong> “Look. Grace Harper is a <em>good</em> worker. She’s the first to tell you that she’s not the queen of workrate, a mat empress, lucha royalty. But even in North of the Border, it’s still your ability to tell a story that matters. That’s how we worked our fans. They have expectations of what they think makes a wrestler ‘good’, and if they don’t think you meet those expectations, they’ll let you know. But whether they say it or not, they keep watching for the story.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “You’d think I had slapped the audience’s mothers in the face, called their kids ugly, stole their dogs, peed in their cereal, and used the Canadian flag to wipe my nose. That was the level of insult it was, for me to ‘dis-Grace’ the company by even stepping foot in ‘their’ ring.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="8pYwlxO.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/8pYwlxO.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="Wna83lP.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Wna83lP.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Stone-McFly:</strong> “So when Grace Harper won the North of the Border Women’s Championship from Melody Cuthill in April 2007, you can imagine the heat <em>that </em>drew.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stardust:</strong> “She managed to piss off, it seemed, an entire nation. I was surprised border guards let her come into the country.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “I wasn’t going to be a long-term champion. For one, I would only do shows in the western half of Canada – Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary. But like the carnies we are, we made that work for us.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stone:</strong> “Grace wasn’t willing to come to our shows in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City - not even our home city of Halifax. I knew that when I signed her. So while she was champ, we had her record videos of her being ‘too busy’ with ‘important things back in the States’ that we ran to explain her absence.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper:</strong> “And when I did show up? We’d do matches where I sold for my opponent like a rag doll, but managed to win through some cheap finish or take a countout or an intentional DQ.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stone:</strong> “It’s a balancing act. You want to keep the audience engaged enough that they’re willing to tune in, or even pay money, to see someone get what’s coming to them. But you string it out too long, it becomes ‘go-away’ heat, where fans quit the product. It was a great angle, but it had a short shelf life. So in October 2007, 6 months later, we had Grace drop the title back to Melody. Melody got a huge pop when she finally beat ‘the undeserving joke’ of a women’s champion.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper </strong><strong><em>[smirking]</em></strong>: “And they say you can’t work people in a post-kayfabe world.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stone:</strong> “Once Grace dropped the title, we didn’t have any programs for her. She still drew boos so we booked her some more. Grace had played her part magnificently, but she’d taken her final bow, and everything else she did was just an encore.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stardust:</strong> “Obviously, we’d been watching Grace’s work in North of the Border. Within a year of seriously dedicating herself to her craft, she’d gone from a joke to a <strong>nuclear</strong> heat magnet.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Quine:</strong> “While Grace was having a career-defining heel run in North of the Border, we had been booking her in the high midcard of AAA. Keep her looking strong, but not really heavily involved in any storylines. Honestly, with the success she was having in Canada, we weren’t sure she wasn’t going to wind up with them full-time – especially after they put the belt on her. But her storyline ended there, she gave her notice, and she was back with us full-time.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Stardust:</strong> “Now that she was fully committed to AAA, it was time to put Grace Harper in the main event. Problem was, she’d been a part of AAA for near to a decade without any notable success to her name. No involvement in any major storylines. No title runs, not even a tag team or Top Contender’s run. To push Grace into the main event, for her to be credible in the main event, we would have to do something monumental to show she belonged.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harper </strong><strong><em>[broadly grinning]</em></strong><strong>:</strong> “And that’s when Cat Quine and I became mortal enemies.”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>**********</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

<em>Look for Part II and the Queen of the Ring card coming soon!</em></p>

[Sudo_Nym]

Been out for a little bit, but I got back online and caught up; some good stuff! Looking forward to the next bit.