La Pequena Luz vs. “The One” Kirsten Scott

[Wisteria Waltz]

Halloween is a night that many look forward to, whether you're a kid looking to gather an impressive candy haul or a horror movie fan who embraces the scary themes of the holiday to break out your favorites for a marathon, or even an adult simply looking to dress up and party. For the latter, one of the best places to be for a Halloween party has to be the city of New Orleans, and we can see how much the town has transformed to fit the spirit of the holiday. People of all ages are dressed up and seizing the night, whether it be trick-or-treating or watching the Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade make its way down the streets or simply partying with friends and seeing where the holiday takes them. It's hard not to be mesmerized by the atmosphere as we gaze along the streets from above, taking in the wonder that is The Big Easy fully immersed in the Halloween spirit.

After getting our fill of this incredible sight, our view pulls back to find two familiar individuals who are also embracing the Halloween spirit this evening. Standing hand-in-hand at the edge of the building we're perched on, illuminated by the festive lights of the city, are La Pequeña Luz and Amelia Blythe, taking advantage of the holiday to cosplay as the anime characters Anthy Himemiya and Utena Tenjou, respectively, from Revolutionary Girl Utena. They both glance back to us watching them before Amelia leans in close to Luz.

“The floor is yours, my Rose Bride. Show them what you can do.”

“Thank you, my knight. I give you my word that I will face this challenge to the best of my abilities.”

Amelia chuckles a bit before stepping aside with the kind of bow that's almost introducing Luz to us. As she turns her complete focus to us, we notice that not only is she still adhering to lucha libre tradition by wearing her mask even if it clashes with her cosplay, but that the mask is designed to resemble an elaborate sugar skull. She takes a deep breath and runs two fingers along the side of her masked face before she begins.

“This time of year is always special to me... true, I adore Halloween and will gladly embrace the spirit because not only do I love an excuse to dress up as the characters that have inspired me growing up, but I also have a fascination for the dark and the macabre that comes with this holiday. But as much as I love Halloween, I also love what awaits us after midnight tonight... in Mexico, we call it Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, a holiday where we honor our loved ones who are no longer with us and reminisce on how they have shaped our lives. One such person I have lost is my father, El Espíritu Angélico. Revered as a lucha libre icon for many years, I am honored to have called him my dad, not because he was this incredible wrestler or hailed as a hero in our culture for his exploits in the ring, but because of who he was that only I ever got to see. He taught me a lot growing up... he was my primary trainer when I was coming of age to begin wrestling myself, but he also taught me the value in always being myself and fighting for what I believe in, no matter how much someone tries to tear me down or convince me that fight is a lost cause.

He may no longer be with us, but I know his spirit is always watching over me, cheering me on just as I always cheered him on. Coincidentally, this upcoming Breakdown right here in New Orleans happens to fall right on Día de los Muertos, and while I won't be able to visit his grave with my family, I know he'll be in my corner cheering me on, and I promise him that I will show everyone just how far I've come since the very first time I stepped between those ropes.”

Luz lowers her head for a moment, moving to wipe a tear from her eye as she recomposes herself. With another deep breath, she raises her head once more.

“Say what you want about the kind of person I am, but I can promise you that wrestling means more to me than almost anything else and I'm never one to back down from a challenge. Maybe some of you look at that and believe that I'm some naive fool who can easily be led astray if you play your cards right, but I'm a lot more perceptive than you probably think and I have my experiences both in this business and growing up to thank for that. I'll be upfront: I was the kind of kid who was bullied and deemed worthless just because I was 'weird' or 'different,' and I've heard just about every variation of insult you can think of from those scenarios. As far as what that means regarding SCW... I get it, I haven't had as many solo opportunities as Amelia has, and my track record isn't as impressive as hers. In your mind, that probably paints this clear picture of who between us is destined for greater things and who was always meant to be left in the dust.

Since I know you're probably watching this... am I wrong about that implication in your words to me, Ravyn?

It's funny... Amelia and I have talked about this scenario extensively not just regarding SCW, but on several other occasions over the years. We knew the moment she had her run as TV Champion earlier this year that someone might think to use that against us, hoping to create a wedge between us while eroding my confidence, but she and I also aren't afraid to acknowledge our respective shortcomings... my attempt at the Underground Title, her attempt at becoming U.S. Champion, our first try at the Tag Team Titles, Taking Hold of the Flame... every one of those setbacks create an opportunity to learn and evolve. After all, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it... that alone is why, as much as I want to give you the benefit of the doubt Ravyn, I know that your intentions have nothing to do with what you claim them to be and that it wouldn't be any surprise if you tried to mess with us one more time just to try and prove your claims to be valid.

That said, I think it's safe to say I'm facing someone who also has no interest in your games and just wants to focus on the one thing I know we can both agree on happening this Thursday night: a highly competitive match worthy of the championship at stake for it.”

Luz proceeds to take off the wig for her costume and tosses it over to wherever Amelia is out of frame, almost as if this is her way of making it clear she's taking what lies ahead seriously.

“In about a week and a half, Amelia and I will be tasked with trying to take the Tag Team Titles away from Dark Fantasy, arguably the greatest tag team in SCW history. Before that, however, there is one final Breakdown before Under Attack, and I find myself with another opportunity as I challenge Kirsten Scott for her TV Title. There are many layers of symbolism to this: Amelia's aforementioned reign with that championship near the start of the year, the fact that so many default to that title reign as proof of me being the weak link of The Light In The Darkness, the opportunity to immediately upend Ravyn's implications and unravel some of her head games before Under Attack, and let's not forget that once upon a time Ravyn was also TV Champion... in fact, she once held the very honor that Kirsten has made it clear she wants, and that's the lengthy reign that will define her as the greatest TV Champion in SCW history.

I'm sorry that I might have to play spoiler to that, but it's clear that my next two matches are going to be arguably the toughest challenges I've faced in SCW to date and I'm not going to back down from these fights.

Kirsten, if you were to ask me whether or not I earned this opportunity, I'd be honest and tell you that I'm not sure I have. I know I've earned the Tag Title opportunity on the horizon, Amelia and I have the proof of that, but my singles record alone would be enough to suggest that maybe I'm not the kind of opponent you think you should be facing. If I've learned anything in this life, though, it's that everything happens for a reason, and even if I may not believe I've truly earned this match, it's clear that CHBK or someone else higher up believes I have, and that's all the motivation I need to prove to you, them and everyone else that belief in what I can do was not misplaced. I have this challenge before me to prove what I can do on my own, with championship gold as the incentive, and if I succeed?

Then for all I know, this could be the start of a turnaround for me on the singles front and a big omen for The Light In The Darkness.

I know you've been exactly where I am right now Kirsten... wanting to make an impact and prove yourself on this ultra competitive roster, struggling more often than not to get to where you want to be. But look at you now: a two-time TV Champion with this current reign being almost three months old now, that Trios contract that I know is still in your possession, and several other major opportunities where, even if you didn't walk away with the win, you still made a statement that you are The One and you will continue to fight and improve until everyone around you accepts that.”

Luz chuckles, although those who are truly paying attention will easily pick up on the fact that it sounds a little forced. Even she knows she's not exactly hiding it, but she doesn't seem to care.

“As you said, you walked into SCW with no formal training or experience, just looking for a fight and a desire to make your voice heard. But put yourselves in my shoes for a moment Kirsten. All eyes are on you in your very first match because there's such high expectations, and why wouldn't there be? You're the daughter of a legend, a cultural icon, a man who is no longer with us due to a tragic accident but his spirit still lives on through how deeply ingrained it is in this very sport. Every single mistake you make is magnified because of this belief that your father would have never made such a simple mistake, that you're supposed to be better to fill the giant boots he left behind. That is the challenge I have faced, am still facing, every single match. The inevitable comparison to my father, and even to my fiancée, the questions of whether or not I'm even capable of measuring up no matter how much I've already accomplished or who I've beaten to try and prove just that.

I stand here before you, engulfed by a huge shadow that people are starting to believe is finally going to swallow me whole... not once have I ever stopped fighting to get out from underneath it, though, to not only make my papá proud looking down on me from above, but to define myself. Amelia and I both often speak about what even singles opportunities like this mean for the both of us, and that's not because we're mere tag team specialists... that's our way of always pushing one another to fight harder, to get better, to become the kind of wrestlers we truly want to be both together and as individuals. That's why her holding that title you now hold was important for the both of us... and now it's my turn to have a run with it to see if I can hold it for longer than she did, to motivate her to also step up her game so that we can keep fighting our way to the top and prove to all of SCW that we are exactly what we say we are.

So Kirsten, I ask only one thing of you for this Breakdown, one thing that I know you're already planning to do anyway. I want you to push me beyond my limits, I want you to give me the fight of my life and make me earn that TV Title, not so I can stand here and say Amelia and I have both held it at least once, but so I can hold it high and proudly tell the locker room that La Pequeña Luz is good enough to stand at the top of the mountain and she dares everyone back there to try and knock me back down. That's the only way I'm going to improve, the motivation that will allow us both to continue our evolution into the kinds of wrestlers we want to be, earned through nothing but our own hard work and dedication to this craft that means everything to us.

That, Kirsten, is who La Pequeña Luz is, and with my father's spirit as my witness on this blessed Day of the Dead, I will be the fighter who ends your TV Title run before making my own into the spark that not only continues to define that honor as the true working wrestler's championship, but also brings us one step closer to that brighter future we want for SCW.”

At that, Luz bows her head and we hear her quietly saying what sounds like a prayer in Spanish, perhaps to her father watching over her, before a simple “amen” brings her back to one last determined look to walk out of New Orleans as the new Television Champion. She nods to us before we linger long enough to see Amelia walk back into the picture to help Luz put her wig back on, softly encouraging her beloved and squashing any doubt of just how supportive these two are with one another no matter the situation before we fade away.