Amelia Blythe vs. Veronica Strader

[Wisteria Waltz]

At the heart of Montreal stands Mount Royal Park, a key feature of the city's economic, civic and cultural development. Sporting several hiking trails, the man-made Beaver Lake, a summit that not only offers a breathtaking view of the city but also has become a go-to destination for eager suitors to drop to one knee and pop the question, the park and “the mountain” (as the locals refer to it) stands as a symbol of the city's history and heritage, inspiring visitors with its legendary beauty and living testament to the power of nature.

There are many couples that are out and about on this particular sunny day, but the one we're focused on isn't up at the summit enjoying the admittedly romantic view. Instead, they're emerging from a jog along one of the hiking trails and heading towards the water, an intense focus on their gazes. Amelia Blythe and La Pequeña Luz don't seem to mind the gazes from people as they jog past, although they do smile and nod in acknowledgment of the occasional cheer and call of support from any SCW fans who happen to recognize them, almost feeling energized by the support. The closer they get to the man-made basin, the more their pace seems to pick up as they ultimately break into a full-on sprint before sliding to a stop by the water's edge, laughing between the breaths they take as we see some of their friends pass them water and towels to cool down. It's as they're catching their breath that the couple notice us, and in response they turn to each other and have a brief conversation before exchanging a soft kiss as Amelia steps forward, with Luz ushering their friends out of the shot in the background to let her fiancée work. Amelia takes one more deep breath as she tosses the water bottle over to one of them before stretching out a tiny bit, making sure she's good and ready.

“Bonjour, everyone! I apologize if this isn't the kind of state you were expecting me to be doing this in, but I'd like to hope that Luz and I have made it clear several times over by now that we're never ones to start slowing down just because we're champions. Every week presents itself with a new opportunity for us to keep pushing ourselves, seeking greater challenges to improve and ensuring that the next time time the bell rings, we're even better than we were the match before. Ever since Luz and I first met, we're both shared in that mindset regardless of what the next challenge looks like. We inspire one another, push each other beyond our limits, and look out for one another to make sure we don't push so hard that we break.

That mentality is why we are two-time SCW World Tag Team Champions, why we are each former Television Champions. It's that desire to keep pushing forward and getting better that ultimately keeps us from succumbing to the chaos and fighting these battles on our terms, the terms that we feel matters should be settled by.

Luz talked about it a bit last week leading up to her match, about how as the champions we hold the responsibility of leading by example. Perhaps most who see the position we're in would assume that means simply winning and asserting dominance, but that's the perception that many champions in the business at large want you to embrace. This idea of dominating the competition because you're at the very top and you want to make it clear that no one can dethrone you because they simply aren't good enough... once upon a time, I might've been a part of that camp, but that's not who Amelia Blythe truly is, who I want to be. If I'm going to lead by example, that doesn't mean standing above the chaos and watching it unfold, that means throwing myself right in the middle of it to make it clear that's not how we want things to be done. That means being willing to step into that ring no matter the situation and give my opponent nothing less than my absolute best. And if I don't happen to win that match? That's alright... I would be willing to accept defeat if it not only means I have mistakes to learn from so that I CAN keep improving for the next time around, but also that I made my opponent earn that win because they truly were the better wrestler on that night.”

Amelia's head lowers for a moment, her smile and focus fading as she seems to think about something. In a mirror of last week, we pan over a bit as Luz approaches her partner and gently takes her hand, her thumb rubbing circles into the back of it to keep her grounded. Amelia glances over that ever-brilliant smile and nods her head in thanks, reaching up with her free hand to actually wipe away tears that seemed to be forming in her eyes. Luz remains by her side as she takes another deep breath and refocuses herself.

“Maybe those of you watching think it's dumb that I'm getting emotional over any of that, but given what I've shared of my past with all of you, can I really be blamed? If I was still the same person that I was when I first started in this business, I wouldn't have wanted any of that or even found the upsides of defeat whenever it does happen. That's not how my family worked... to my parents, the Blythe name wasn't just something to associate with wrestling greatness, it was supposed to be THE standard by which every wrestler across the globe aspired to try and reach but never would. I was bent, broken, and reforged in fire until I was nothing less than the perfect wrestler. There were never allowed to be flaws in my technique, the mere thought that I could ever lose wasn't one to be entertained, there was supposed to be no room for improvement because I was supposed to be at a level that was beyond everyone... untouchable, unbeatable, undeniable. Being the best wasn't a goal for me to strive for, it was the bare minimum expected of me every single match. That was what it meant to be a Blythe... that was the legacy my parents wanted to build on our name, a legacy that included pitting me against my older siblings because that mentality didn't simply stop with every other wrestler out there. I had to always be better than them, they always had to be better than me, and there was no compromise for such an impossible situation.

That said... I can't help but envy you, Veronica Strader.

You heard me right... I envy you. Just as Luz studied and trained her butt off to face Cara last week on Breakdown, I've been doing the same to prepare for our match right here in Montreal on Thursday night. I listened back to what you had to say to Glory, a woman who statistically has had my number in just about every encounter we've had thus far. I heard you talk about how the both of you come from wrestling families, something that you and Cara both share with Luz and myself as well. The way you talked about your family, what it means to be a part of it and represent that legacy while still seeking to forge your own... I'd be lying if I stood here and say I even had the option of deciding for myself whether or not I wanted that. It's what everyone around me expected because of my name, it's what my parents demanded of me because I was their daughter... it's what I ultimately gave in and embraced, burying the person I truly wanted to be beneath the image of who I was supposed to be according to them.

The Amelia Blythe standing before you now had to fight with everything she had to break free of those shackles and finally have the chance to forge her own path... and I never would have had that opportunity had it not been for the woman standing next to me being responsible for the first taste of defeat I've ever had in this sport.”

Amelia turns and looks at Luz, who has a bit of a sheepish grin on her face at the memory of that match so long ago. A smile begins to form on her own lips as she can't resist leaning over and kissing the corner of Luz's mouth, surprising her enough that she lets go of Amelia's hand. Amelia simply turns her focus back to us, almost drawing energy from her partner staring at her like a lovesick fool as her gaze grows more determined.

“Yes, I am a second-generation wrestler from a rather highly regarded wrestling family. Yes, I have won titles all over the world both on my own and with Luz by my side. But none of that has been because I'm a Blythe, with all the expectations that name comes burdened with. If anything, how far I've come in this business has been in spite of that, because I know I need to work just that little bit harder to create a legacy of my own. I've learned my lessons and continue to learn the longer I stick with this, doing it for both myself and for the woman I love.

That is the woman who will meet you in the ring on Breakdown, Veronica.

Yes, Luz and I have been critical of the way you and Cara have been trying to handle business lately regarding Twisted & Sadistic, even if we admit you have very good reasons for wanting to pay them back. As Luz said last week, however, that's not the kind of business we want to condone happening on our watch. If her and Cara's match and your acknowledgment after the fact told us anything, it's that you do respect us for the way we want to handle things even if you may not agree with it because of who else has been involved. Twisted & Sadistic are not our friends, and our respect for them is tenuous at best right now considering we stood face-to-face with them before Taking the Leap and told them, point blank, that we weren't going to just give them anything because of how they chose to go about getting it. As I said earlier... we are the champions, we are the ones who have to lead by example. You and Cara may not be amused by us interjecting ourselves into this mess, but we're not going to stand here and allow the titles we proudly hold to be disrespected just because nobody wants to settle matters in the ring.

Last year, we were personally questioned by the current World Champion, Selena Frost, just what being World Tag Team Champions meant to us. In response, we exiled ourselves from title contention until she and Deanna deemed us to be ready. We spent that time in self-imposed exile working not only on what we could do together, but what we could do ourselves as well. Even when our exile was ended, we still didn't blindly throw ourselves right at the champions, we fought to earn the opportunity to get here. And now, here we stand, in our second reign as champions... and that means more to us than you might ever comprehend, Veronica.

After all, I'm announcing this right now on behalf of both Luz and myself: neither one of us will be in the Taking Hold of the Flame battle royal come June 2nd.”

Amelia lets that declaration sink in for a moment, knowing that such a statement is rather audacious. After all, they're basically saying that they aren't pursuing an opportunity to main event Rise to Greatness or challenge for the World Championship. Still, she only smiles, and Luz even nods along to prove she's in agreement with this.

“I know that probably sounds crazy to many of you out there. After all, who in their right mind would even think of giving up a chance to compete for the biggest prize in this company?

The fact of the matter is... Luz and I are already World Champions, even if neither one of us holds THE World Championship. That is what being Tag Team Champions means to us, because those titles we hold are the only ones that matter to us right now. That is why we step into that ring night in and night out, pushing ourselves farther and farther to put on the kinds of matches you fans pay to see each and every week, and even if it's a series of singles clashes between the Cowgirls From Hell and The Light In The Darkness, we know full well there are future Tag Title implications at play here, and it would be wrong of me to not show you, Veronica, the same courtesy that Luz showed Cara last week. You deserve nothing less than my very best and more, you deserve a challenge to show me just how much this means to you, how badly you want to even our score after Luz's win last week.

This is your chance to step up to the plate Veronica, your chance to make the kind of statement we know you and Cara want to make. If you and I can put on the same great match, fair and square, that Luz and Cara had last week, then regardless of the outcome, I think it's only fair to say that the Cowgirls may have an opportunity at tag team gold in the near future.

Just know that I'm not going to make this easy for you on Thursday night... after all, I have a bit of a personal statement of my own to make come Breakdown, and I'm more than ready to fight like hell to earn this win and open a few more eyes in the process.”

Amelia grins at us before she turns to Luz, and as the two of them begin to walk back over to their friends, they seem to fall into a rather animated conversation about something. The bond between them is clear as day, though, as is the positive effect it's had on Amelia after so many years of suffering. It's not long before we see the couple start jogging once more, immediately getting back to work to make sure Amelia is ready for Breakdown and the both of them are ready for Taking Hold of the Flame beyond that, leaving us to fade out and allow them to resume pushing themselves their way.