Less than a week ago, Beckett Marisol tried humiliating Aria Knight on her home turf in Japan, challenging her to a title match after dressing her down in front of a capacity crowd. How did Aria respond?
She went to her turf and cost Beckett her prized possession.
Aria has made her way to the parking lot, seemingly proud of herself. Showing the gruesome aftermath of a long weekend in Japan, a disgusting mixture of brown and green remains underneath her eyes and she sports a bandage on her forehead.
Aria Knight: I’ve done the vignettes. I’ve sent the warnin’ shots. I informed Beckett Marisol that I was comin’ for the Women’s Championship..
A smile flashes across her face.
Aria Knight: I just didn’t expect someone else to be holdin’ it after I got here.
Showing no remorse, she shrugs.
Aria Knight: Jasmin Raye, feel free to thank me whenever you see fit. ‘Cos when our paths cross wit’ that title on the line, I’ll thank you for keepin’ it warm. You are nothin’ put a placeholder champion. Run that match back 99 times and you’d lose each and every time I didn’t show up to change the game.
A black BMW with tinted windows slowly rolls up, coming to a complete stop just feet from Aria’s left side. Aria turns and notices the vehicle before looking back to the camera.
Aria Knight: Beckett, you fucked around wit’ the wrong gal and paid the price. See, my problem wasn’t wit’ you.. It was merely me wantin’ your belt. You can piss off forever as far as I’m concerned. That’s why endin’ your reign brings no tears to my eyes. My sights now turn to Jasmine Raye.
She looks deep into the camera and you can sense the adrenaline coursing through her veins after a shocking debut.
Aria Knight: Friday Night Combat, The Propa’ Villainess is here. And everything you knew about women’s wrestling just got turned on its fuckin’ head. Gone are the days of havin’ to deal with Latoya Hixx atop your card. Forget the hostage situation that was Beckett defendin’ that belt everywhere but here.. Your future champion..
Aria points to herself.
Aria Knight: Is right bloody here..
Confidently, she walks to the passenger side door of the sedan and opens it up. With one foot inside, she leans over the top to give her parting words.
Aria Knight: Friday Night Combat, you should be HONORED that I’m takin’ my time to save your women’s division. ‘Cos nobody can stop me.
She enters the vehicle, slamming the door behind her. The sedan cruises off into the evening, disappearing quickly in a sea of busy traffic. Just as quickly as Aria Knight appeared and sent shockwaves through Friday Night Combat.. She disappears.
The scene fades.
2011.
Aria Knight began training to become a professional wrestler the day after her eighteenth birthday. The story is well-told. She packed everything she had and took a bus 200 miles to London on her birthday.
Her first day of training saw her meet the woman who’d change her life forever, Isla Villin. A drill sergeant trainer, Villin had done it all in the sport and was passing her knowledge down. On the first day of training, a new student caught her eye.
“So why do you want to be a wrestler, kid?”
Kid. She always called Aria “kid,” something that she’s kept on for the last twelve years.
Aria Knight: This is my dream. While my mates and friends are off at uni, preparin’ to get degrees to go work shit jobs, I want to do this so that I’ll never have any regrets.
Isla was impressed.
Isla Villin: I can work with that.
She saw much of herself in Aria and poured her time and energy in her in comparison to the other students. The washout rate was high in wrestling school. You had to truly want it and it wasn’t for the faint of heart.
Isla Villin: Here’s a piece of advice, Aria.
Isla walks closer to her new student and places her right hand on her shoulder.
Isla Villin: Professional wrestling is about knowin’ what the fuck you’re doin’ in here, bettin’ on yourself, and makin’ a good first impression.
Aria nods, soaking it all in. Isla could’ve told her to go jump off a bridge and Aria would have asked which one she preferred and what kind of dive.
Isla Villin: I’m goin’ to teach you what to do in here to be the best.
She pokes Aria in the chest with an index finger.
Isla Villin: You’re already showin’ you have balls by leavin’ your friends and family behind to come do this 200 miles from home.
Aria is all ears.
Isla Villin: So when the time’s right, you’d better make a bloody good first impression, ‘cos you only get one. When you see a crowd and a locker room for the first time, you’d betta’ stake your claim right then and there. If you believe you’re the best, then THEY will believe you’re the best.
She continues.
Isla Villin: And when you get in this ring, you get ONE chance to show everyone what you have. You wanna’ be the best? You wanna’ carry gold? Prove why you’re the best when the opportunity presents itself.
Aria Knight: Understood.
Fade.
The next day.
When you show up unannounced and turn a company’s women’s division upside down with your actions, you had better have a game plan in place to back it up.
“C’mon, Aria! Thirty more seconds!”
Not resting on her laurels, less than twenty-four hours after appearing on Combat, Aria is in the gym training. Having been formally trained in London at the Wrestle Britannia school, she frequently returns to the gym that gave her a start. It’s seen much better days, but it has a roof and a ring in the middle, so what else could someone want?
“FINISH! THE JOB!”
Isla Villin barks commands as Aria works to free herself from a waistlock. Aria grabs the hands of her younger opponent and charges towards the nearest corner, jumping up and pressing her feet off of the turnbuckle, sending herself backwards and her opponent to the mat with Aria following, flipping over, breaking the hold. Recovering quickly, she rushes towards the young girl, hitting a devastating V-Trigger knee strike that she calls Things That Go Bump in the Knight. Aria quickly covers the opponent and Isla slaps the mat.
“AND TIME!”
Aria leaps up off the mat effortlessly and walks over to Isla, proud of her effort.
Isla Villin: For a girl who has gone through hell this last week or so, you haven’t missed a beat today.
Aria Knight: I have a newfound burst of energy, a new motivation about myself. What can I say?
Isla had her in-ring career ended by a neck injury in Japan and turned to training the stars of tomorrow. She was about ten or so years older than Aria and her hair was golden. She didn’t look impressed.
Isla Villin: I’d say you’d better keep your head on a swivel, kid.
Aria cocks an eyebrow in interest.
Isla Villin: You’re not the hunter, you’re the bloody hunted. You caused a big stink on Friday Night Combat, and now you’re Public Enemy Number One.
Aria Knight: I welcome it.
Aria brushes Isla’s warning off. She knows her student inside and out, for better or worse.
Isla Villin: They’re puttin’ you in the ring with the new champ and Latoya Hixx. Triple threat.
Aria scoffs.
Aria Knight: I know Friday Night Combat changes hands in the administration department ‘n all, but is this the smartest thing they could do? This slag is literal days separated from the biggest win o’ her life and she gets thrown into the fuckin’ lions’ den against me? They’re thick if they think this is what’s best for ‘er.
Isla Villin: They don’t know you, Aria. You’re an outsider. You know what you’re capable of. I know what you’re capable of. The women of Miracle Galaxy Pro know what you can do.. But these gals don’t.
Aria nods, understanding the gravity of things.
Aria Knight: S’pose you’re right, yeah.. Latoya Hixx knows all about me, though.
Isla Villin: That twat is so fucked in the head she doesn’t even know all about herself. The fact she’s gotten multiple title matches and high-profile spots just goes to show how DESPERATE they are for someone like you.
Isla makes direct eye contact with Aria.
Isla Villin: That’s why this debut bloody matters, kid.
She expands.
Isla Villin: EVERY match matters, don’t get me wrong. Winnin’ pays more than losin’. The record looks good when there’s more W’s than L’s. But if you’re wantin’ that Women’s Championship, you’re gonna’ have to prove to everyone just who the hell you are. You had a handshake agreement for a title match against Beckett.
Isla slaps her hands together as if she’s dusting them off.
Isla Villin: That deal is dead. Jasmine Raye has the belt now thanks to you, so it’s all startin’ over. But you know how you circle back?
Aria Knight: By beatin’ two of the top names on Friday Night Combat.
Isla Villin: Exactly.
Aria leans back into the corner and stretches her arms out to either side, resting them on the top ropes.
Aria Knight: I know Beckett will be waitin’ on me.
Isla Villin: Let ‘er. Fuck ‘er. You have bigger fish to fry now, kid. She just went to the bottom of the food chain thanks to you. You didn’t come here to fight Beckett Marisol. You came here to win their title. Jasmine Raye has it now.
Aria rolls her eyes.
Aria Knight: I’ve seen her work. She’s a lost cause. An embarrassment to the championship.. ANY championship. She was shocked that she won, and rightfully so. I’ll be glad to help take ten pounds of weight off of her shoulders in that pretty belt o’ hers.
She hoists herself up to the top turnbuckle, sitting down and resting her feet on the middle ropes.
Aria Knight: I left Britain for Japan five months ago, and in that time, my stock has neva’ been higher. It’s time to come back home and stake my claim as the best in the United Kingdom. To do that, I have to knock off two of the so-called “best” Friday Night Combat has to offa’. ‘Tis all a waste of time.
She shakes her head.
Aria Knight: We could cut to the chase and just let me bludgeon Jasmine Raye to death and take the title. It’s a predestined end ta’ this story, yeah? But nah, let’s have Aria Knight humiliate their new champion and the hapless cunt known as Latoya Hixx on her first official night in the company. Then let’s piss around and still not give Aria her title match, ‘cos I’m sure Junko is goin’ to want a shot havin’ beaten her and all. Let ‘em do what they want, I’ll play their little game.
Her lips yield a sharp, curling snarl.
Aria Knight: While I stack up the wins, it’ll just make becomin’ Women’s Champion much, much sweeter.
Isla Villin: Just remember my rule, kid. You get one shot to make a first impression in this ring.
It’s been drilled in her head for a decade.
Isla Villin: I know you thrive off the pressure, but this is goin’ to be hostile territory. You’d better finish the job.
Aria Knight: Consider it done.
Isla Villin: Now, back to work. Combat will be here before you know it.
Aria turns and shakes the hand of the trainee in the ring and the two begin wrestling once again after Isla calls for the bell.
You get one chance to make a first impression. You also get one chance to stop Aria Knight from coming in and taking your title hostage, IIW.
The scene fades to black.
OOC: 2k on the dot per Google Docs. Honored to finally debut in IIW. Heard a lot about this place from several people and look forward to representing MGP in this affiliation between FNC and MGP.