Hardluck Hardcore

The crowd murmured softly as they awaited the next match of the evening. However, when the music began to appear over the loudspeaker, the arena erupted with a chorus of boos. Out from the backstage entrance stepped Lukretia Von Creuzfeldt. She strode purposefully down the ramp and slipped into the ring, bringing the microphone to her lips. She didn't look very happy.

"Guten Abend, ladies und gentlemen." Lukretia said as she scanned the crowd. "I am here on to inform you zat effective immediately, ze hardcore title is officially vacant. Miss Vela can no longer continue her duties as champion, so I have no choice but to strip her of her title. it is most unfortunate how zese things vork zemselves out, however, I assure you zat I vill do my best to see zat ze new champion is found as soon as possible. I hope zat you vill bear vith me."

Though her tone was as contrite as she could get, Lukretia seethed inwardly. This wasn't the first time she had had to do this and she always hated every bit of it.

If the crowd was expecting to have someone to cheer for after Lukretia's reception, they were about to be sorely disappointed. They figured this out the moment Styx's music began to play.

They were already booing by the time she came out from behind the curtain, dressed in her typical baggy pants and black wifebeater. She typically would've responded to the hate with a double-barreled middle finger salute. Today, though, she was in a different sort of mood.

Physically, she felt like utter shit. Her impromptu match with Adrian Kytes had not quite gone as smoothly or as healthily as she planned it, and even though she'd had enough time to get some decent recovery, she still ached in a variety of ways. She couldn't hide the limp as she walked her down to the ring, and a wince slipped through every few steps. Not her best day.

Emotionally, though, she was on Cloud Nine. She knew where this was going. Or where it was supposed to go, anyway. She'd been fighting her way up the hardcore ranks for a year. She was the #1 contender, a spot she'd fought and bled for. So there was only one logical conclusion.

She rolled into the ring, stood up, and caught a microphone that the announcer tossed her way. After a quick check, she spun around to Lukretia with a wide smile on her face.

"You want a champ?" She pointed at her chest. "You got a champ. Problem solved."

Needless to say, the crowd responded somewhat negatively to this suggestion. In fact, they'd graduated from general heat to being genuinely pissed off. Some of the guys in the front row looked like they were actually contemplating jumping the rail, but security held them back.

Lucretia turned as River came down the ramp. She had an idea what was probably coming but remained stoic. She only raised an eyebrow once Styx spoke.

"Nein." She muttered into the mic and shook her head. "Zat is not how things vork around here, fräulein. You are ze number one contender. All zis entitles you is a chance to fight for ze title. I most certainly does not allow you to claim it vithout so much as a punch being thrown your vay."

Styx paused for a moment, then raised her eyebrow. This was actually the first time she'd ever been in the same area as Lukretia, despite all the shit and problems she'd had with her in the past. About one minute in, and she already had a few new reasons to hate the bitch.

"Oh, don't give me that bullshit. The hardcore division was a joke before Liberty got the title,  now she's gone and all the sudden you give a shit?" She groaned and rubbed her neck, trying to get a kink out.

"It would give me a chance to fight for the title if someone actually had the stupid thing. Since no one does, though, I don't see the problem. 'Fight for the title', she says. I've been fighting for the title for, like, nine months. It's not like the hardcore division is exactly bursting with unsung talent or anything - I've beaten up pretty much everyone who was worth a shit. For all intents and purposes, I'm already the champ. Everyone who would throw a punch at me has already had their shot, and they failed every single time. So unless you're going to throw a punch at me - and please do, that would make my day - shut the fuck up, go in the back, and get my goddamn title."

As Styx and Lukretia had their little conversation about the hardcore title and who should wear it. Some familiar music began to play over the loudspeakers that whipped the crowd into a frenzy of boos and cheers. After a few seconds Brittany stepped out onto the stage looking completely different and holding a mic in her hands.



"No, i think you have spoken too soon. I was the reigning Hardcore champion until Liberty got lucky and took it away from me." Brittany said as she looked at Styx. "You may have challenged some pathetic nobodies but you haven't taken on true championship material yet." Brittany said before turning to look at Lukretia. "Now, i believe i am entitled to that belt as i never had a chance at a rematch to reclaim MY belt." Brittany said as she looked at Lukretia. "I mean don't you think that the belt would lok bettearound my waist instead of this upstart little bitch." Brittany said with a smile on her face.

Lukretia turned as Brittany made her way down the ramp. She was surprised by the new outfit, but made no note of it as Brittany stepped into the ring. She quietly looked over the blonde and then smiled at River.

She then looked at Brittany. "As usual, you are a convenient solution to an annoying problem, fraulein." Lukretia mused at Brittany.

She then turned and began to step away from the two of them and slipped out of the ring. "Ze two of you can beat each other to pulp und whoever is left standing, I vill drape ze title over vhat is left of you. Hopefully neither vill be too injured to force a vacation so quickly after earning it." She said with a wicked smile on her lips as she slipped up the ramp.

"In fact. I think it vould be fine if ze match started right now." Lukretia said and tilted her head towards the timekeeper while the crowd cheered on her decision.

Styx had a few questions as the 'new' challenger made her way to the ring. Chief among them was a simple question: "Who the fuck is this?"

It might have came out like a knock, but it wasn't meant to be. Styx had never seen this chick before, she was pretty sure, and Lukretia's vague smarminess didn't help things. Granted, Styx didn't keep track of most non-hardcore matches, so it wasn't too odd for her to not recognize someone. But when that someone was dressed like, well, that?

It took a minute for her to put two and two together, and if it wasn't for her mentioning the match with Liberty, she still might not have got it. She had a few more things she would've liked to throw Lukretia's way, but the bitch dashed off before she had the chance. The match was set. It was on.

"So, that's how it is, huh?" Styx rubbed her chin and looked back at Brittany. Head to toe. A blank face on, the whole time. "Okay. But before we begin, allow me to retort..."

Continued here...