Kimberly Williams vs. La Pequena Luz

[Wisteria Waltz]

Maybe this wasn't the wisest idea, but Luz had always been one for tackling her problems head-on.

At least over the years she'd gotten better about opening up about said problems and accepting help in facing them as opposed to trying to handle it all on her own.

With a little over a week until SCW returned to action with their first Breakdown since Playing the Wildcard, Luz and Amelia had forged a plan they were confident would yield some sort of result they could use in their fight against The Empire. With both girls having agreed to eventually meet Marilyn at her wrestling school in Bridgeport, especially with Luz looking to get any help she could get in preparing for an Underground Title match, whatever they could share with both her and Ryan in this fight could go a long way in figuring out what exactly their endgame really was with all of this.

What they knew for sure is that with Gage finally getting a passport in preparation for this endeavor, their little group would be at full strength to follow Marilyn's warning about a direct confrontation with Caleb's group. Add in the fact that Luz had made a few calls ahead of time to some of her father's old friends that were still in the business and she had contact established in case things started going bad. Her old boss down in Mexico already had hints that something was amiss about the whole situation so having him see this situation with his own eyes would go a long way to hopefully forcing this false Luz to stop masquerading as her.

Perhaps the biggest surprise that had worked its way into her planning was a call from her mother. While there was some clear tension between them, it was honestly one of the better conversations they'd had with one another in a very long time. To Luz's surprise, Camila acknowledged that they needed to have a proper conversation with one another, although she preferred for it to be in person which Luz felt was appropriate for a long overdue talk of that magnitude. For right now, they were at least on the same page that answers were needed about this wannabe Luz running around with The Empire, and since Camila always had an in backstage at shows both due to her being the wife of the late El Espíritu Angélico and being a doctor in case anything truly serious happened, she was more than happy to offer an extra pair of eyes for the plan.

The group had flown down to Monterrey, Mexico and gotten settled in early enough to rest off the jet lag and make sure they were at full strength for what was to come, with Luz taking an extra precaution of wearing a much different mask than her usual style to not cause any confusion that might tip anybody off through social media before they could pull this off. Once they were rested up and the night of the show had arrived, they headed over to the arena where they were given tickets that had been reserved for them by some of Luz's old trainers. They weren't the greatest seats, but they were perfect for allowing the group to watch the show and even get an in-person look at not only 'evil Luz' as Gage and Edward had taken to calling her, but also anyone else from The Empire who happened to be competing as well without being spotted. Being right next to an exit made it convenient for them to be able to quickly duck out as well if the opportunity arose to pull off their true objective tonight: try to get the imposter alone and corner them to get some answers.

If they were lucky, then maybe they could talk this woman into dropping the whole charade of pretending to be someone she sure as hell wasn't, but Luz wasn't going to set her hopes too high.

Amelia couldn't help but roll her eyes the first time someone from The Empire made their entrance as the show got underway, mumbling something about not being surprised that Caleb would decide to go with a classic orchestral piece for his little group. Her father had been the whole reason Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata was their 'family theme' and while she still used part of it, Luz could tell she was overjoyed anytime the song faded into the one she'd chosen for herself. She hoped that someday her girlfriend would drop the classical intro piece entirely, but Amelia still felt like she needed to permanently sever ties with the Blythe name before she felt comfortable with letting go of something that, for better or worse, was familiar territory for her.

Dvořák's infamous “Symphony No. 9 - Allegro Con Fuoco” at least felt fitting for a stable who preached the idea of 'purifying' the wrestling business and returning it to the pure grappling splendor that it once was but spreading that concept worldwide, but it quickly wore out its welcome and became something to joke about during lulls in the action.

The joking stopped when the song hit one more time for a very specific match and they all got their first in-person look at The Empire's version of La Pequeña Luz. Even from a distance, she truly did almost look like a perfect clone of the real Luz, right down to the same attire and mask and even a copy of the entrance robe she wore that Amelia had gifted to her. Like in any of the footage they had seen up to this point, the attire was in the signature white and gold of The Empire as opposed to Luz's tendency to shuffle her color scheme around to “keep things fresh and colorful” as she once put it. One thing that stood out right away, however, was how reserved she looked as she made her way to the ring, almost matching the movements Amelia made back before Luz managed to break down her walls, and that didn't sit well with the real deal at all.

“There's no energy in her entrance,” Luz growled under her breath. “How could anyone ever mistake her for me? Yeah, she looks almost identical, but anyone who knows even a little bit about me knows that I'm always bouncy and energetic during my entrance because I'm too excited for the match ahead to just sit still.”

“It's what makes you who you are Luz, and you know I love you for it,” Amelia told her and punctuated it with a kiss on the cheek. “Still, the idea of trying to pass this off even as a 'perfect version' of you and erasing your neurodivergent traits as part of that disgusts me.”

“Either that's a suggestion from mom or dad or the first real proof that Caleb's just as bad as they are,” Emily noted.

“If Caleb's just as bad, if not worse, on his wrestlers, then that implies some other practices that would make me feel a lot sorrier for this girl than I currently do,” Ivy chimed in, leaving Luz to briefly ponder that thought and how that would change her entire approach if there was even the tiniest sliver of truth to that.

She quickly slammed her train of thought back on the tracks when the bell rang and they all watched as “Luz” squared off with someone Luz remembered crossing paths with frequently in her early years in the business, although it was clear the other competitor was not prepared at all for the drastic difference in style. Unlike the real Luz and her tendency to “leap before she looked” a lot of the time, the faker had no problems with slowing things down heavily and spending as long as possible just tediously grinding down her opponent, something the real Luz had the ability to do but felt better mixing it with her more comfortable aerial offense to keep her opponents guessing.

“That's our parents' influence for sure,” Edward pointed out. “Or if not them, then Caleb's doing for sure because there's a few techniques even I don't recognize.”

“I at least adapted to my own technique that felt more natural,” Amelia replied, smiling at the memory of how her parents had surprisingly not minded when she displayed a lot more fluid transitions between holds once she finally debuted, though that smile faded once she realized they probably never remarked on it because it brought her the only thing that ever mattered in their eyes: success.

Luz could only cringe at the hatred the fans around them were showering “her” with as the match went on.

Eventually, the match ended when the copycat managed to catch her opponent in a crossface chickenwing and ultimately made them tap out, scoring a rather decisive victory in the process. As the music hit and her hand was raised in victory, Luz took a careful look down at her doppelganger and was surprised to find no trace of happiness from winning a match, even if it was being suppressed to maintain whatever air of 'professionalism' The Empire was trying to present to everyone. It almost felt more like the jeering fans around her was really getting to her but she was trying her best to hide it. Considering Luz had gone through that song and dance before, both from the bullies that tormented her growing up and some of the early days of her career where she was being crushed under the idea of failing to live up to her father's legacy in their eyes, she could see it clear as day and it definitely threw her off upon seeing it, to the point that she barely even acknowledged that the show was already continuing on to the next match.

“Luz? You alright?” Amelia asked her as the next match got underway.

“I'm not sure...” Luz admitted. “Maybe I was just seeing things, but-”

Luz cut herself off when her phone vibrated with a text message, and as she checked it she quickly signaled to the others that their chance had come. The fake Luz had apparently been sent out to the parking lot to grab something and no one had accompanied her, the reason why being something to do with avoiding Camila but there wasn't anything certain there according to the message. Still, they had their chance, and the group quickly and discreetly ducked out of the crowd and made their way out top the parking lot, though Luz got a bit of a head start on them the rest were trying to catch up.

She couldn't help it... she was bound and determined to get some answers tonight and she wasn't letting this opportunity slip through her fingers.

Once they were outside, the group carefully looked around, trying to spot any sign of the copycat luchadora. It took them a minute, but Gage managed to spot the white and gold mask and pointed it out to everyone. As quietly as they could manage, which became a chore for Luz as she had to restrain herself for the sake of not blowing this vital opportunity, the group managed to get close enough to hide behind a huge RV that was parked out there to spy on “Luz” as she rummaged around in one of several large white vans that had The Empire's logo on the sides.

“Where is it, where is it!?” she said in a panicked tone as she frantically searched for something. What threw the group, though, was that her voice was much lower and raspier compared to any interviews or promos they'd seen from her where she sounded almost exactly like the woman she was imitating. “If I don't find that medical bag so we can avoid Dr. Nevado and keep this facade going, Hunter's going to tell Caleb and then I'll be in for it.”

This certainly hadn't been what the group was expecting to see or hear, but Luz turned her thoughts back to Ivy's earlier remarks before her doppelganger's match. By the sound of things, she might've hit the nail on the head and there might be something deeper to this whole situation than they initially thought. They wouldn't know for sure unless they got some answers though, and that's what ultimately drove Luz to vacate their hiding place and start marching toward her twin.

“Luz! What are you doing!?” Amelia hissed, but it didn't deter her girlfriend in the slightest. Luz was clearly determined to act now, and nothing was going to stop her.

“Hey!” Luz called out, startling the imposter greatly. She turned around slowly, and whatever nerves she'd been displaying before gave way to pure terror once she realized she was locking eyes with a very familiar masked face.

“You... you're the real Luz!” the copycat said in a panic. “No... no, you weren't supposed to find out about any of this!”

“Kind of hard not to when I'm hearing reports about behavior that's very much not like me,” Luz firmly told her.

“Nonononono,” the doppelganger said as she tried to back away before bumping against the van, forgetting where she was enough that she felt like she'd been cornered. “He can't know that you actually found me. This was the only way I could actually be free!”

That immediately caused alarms to start going off in Luz's head as she watched her impersonator look like they were on the verge of a panic attack. Any sense of hostility she held toward the other woman was immediately shelved as she squatted down in front of her.

“Hey, easy... I'm not going to hurt you,” she carefully said. “I just want some answers... first, though, I need you to take a deep breath for me. In for three, hold for four, out for seven, alright?” She proceeded to demonstrate the breathing technique, and the second time she did so she was joined by the other Luz. They repeated this a couple of times before Luz held out her hand and her twin took it to get back to her feet.

“You're... acting a lot nicer about this than I thought you would,” the other Luz hesitantly said.

“Don't get me wrong, I'm still upset since you're disrespecting my name and mask which is very frowned upon in lucha libre,” Luz clarified, “but I'm starting to get the feeling you're not intentionally trying to sabotage my career.”

“I... I kind of am actually...” the doppelganger admitted. “Though I'm only doing it because it's what I'm being made to do. I never actually wanted to be a wrestler, but when Caleb adopted me he told me I had a role to fill if I didn't want to end up back on the streets, and it was forgetting who I am to become everything you're supposed to be but won't become.”

“Caleb...” Luz growled, her clone flinching at the sheer venom in her voice. “OK, you need to tell me whatever you can, because maybe I can help you out of this. Maybe we can start with your name? Or at least something I can call you by aside from Luz because... well...”

“Y-You can call me-” the other Luz started to say, almost in disbelief that this was how this conversation was going.

“So, you finally caught on.”

Both Luzes quickly whipped around at the new addition to their conversation, and the fake Luz immediately began trembling in fear again in the face of the young blonde man approaching them, dressed in an elegant white and gold suit and hiding his face behind a golden mask. The mere presence of him immediately made Luz want to punch him, but she restrained herself.

“I'm almost surprised it took you this long,” he continued, almost as though he was talking down to her. “Then again, I guess flying around in SCW and contributing to the decline of wrestling has kept you pretty busy, hasn't it?”

“I'm going to guess by the dumb mask that you're the so-called Golden Prodigy?” Luz spat.

“That's correct,” he chuckled. “And to think of all you and Amelia could become if you just saw the light and joined us in purifying this sport. Consider this your chance if you want to take it... otherwise, I'll be taking that and we'll be on our way.”

As this guy motioned to Luz's copycat, the way he referred to her was quickly igniting a fire that Luz really didn't want to allow to spread. She knew he was trying to bait her, especially once he sauntered over and started reaching for the other Luz. To his surprise, however, his hand was smacked away and he stepped back as Amelia made her presence known, with the others not too far behind her.

“I think we've all heard about enough,” Amelia growled.

“Ah, there's my future wife,” the man said all too happily. “A pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

“The feeling's far from mutual, you creep,” was the reply he got. “I don't know what you think my parents have told you, but I could never be interested in someone like you and whatever wedding you were promised isn't going to happen.”

“Please, call me Henry White,” the gold-masked figure replied in a dismissive tone. “And I heard about the whole thing regarding your sexuality... don't worry, it's fixable though, and The Empire will see to that.”

Ivy and the twins had to make sure hands were on shoulders before Luz and Amelia did anything, because it was very clear they were ready to pounce on this guy for that remark. Having his face completely hidden by his mask made him impossible to read, but they could just tell he was getting a kick out of trying to rile them up. With a snap of his fingers, the Luz doppelganger fearfully pulled away from the group and slowly moved to stand by Henry's side. As she did, a small group of figures in white hooded robes began to suddenly emerge and surround them. Realizing what was happening, Luz managed to pull her phone out of her back pocket and pass it to Gage, who used the cover he had to fire off a quick text message that went unnoticed in the standoff.

“Now, while I don't know or care for you two,” Henry said as he pointed to Ivy and Gage, “and the twins over there are already lost causes that should've just kept rotting away in their old mansion if Ophelia hadn't screwed up, there is promise here. So... Luz, Amelia, this is your golden ticket to be among the true elite in the wrestling business, a chance to-”

“Save it, you scrawny little lap dog,”Amelia harshly cut him off.

“Whatever Caleb's brainwashed your whole group into doing, we're not buying into it,” Luz sternly added. “Especially not when Amelia's parents are involved and this whole thing smells more rotten than I'm sure the old man bossing you around does.”

“How childish...” Henry scoffed. “I guess I expected no less from someone disgracing this business by hiding behind a mask and refusing to keep things on the ground like a true wrestler. The fact that you're going to be fighting in that barbaric Underground Rules match on your next SCW show says everything I need to know.”

“Well isn't that the pot calling the kettle black, Mr. White,” Luz fired back. “At least you can actually see what I'm feeling through my mask, and apparently it's important enough for your boss to replicate and adopt someone just to impersonate me and do all the dirty work for him.”

Henry seemed to stall at that, almost as though something in Luz's words struck a chord with him. After a moment, whatever composure he had seemed to drop as he snapped his fingers again.

“Take them out,” he sternly ordered the Empire members surrounding the group. “Load up Luz and Amelia when you're done so Caleb can have a personal chat with them.”

“What the hell is going on out here!?”

All eyes suddenly turned in the direction of the arena, the voice belonging to one of the security guards as a whole swarm of them began to approach, followed close behind both by Luz's old boss and, to Luz's surprise, her mother. Her old boss was looking back and forth between the two Luzes standing in front of him, a lightbulb going off in his head that Henry seemed to pick up on immediately.

“Empire! We're moving out now!” he called, and the entire group quickly disengaged and began to either pile into the vans or head back toward the arena to grab their stuff. Henry himself began to throw the Luz doppelganger into the van right next to the group before slamming the door shut and moving to climb into the driver's seat, using the fact that security was starting to pull Luz and her friends away to his advantage.

Before the van roared to life and sped off, however, Luz noticed her twin mouth the name “Valentina” as they locked eyes through the window.

“Mija!” Camila called as she quickly ran to the group, specifically her daughter. “What the hell was that all about?”

“I think...” Luz started as she thought about everything that had happened in the past few minutes, almost as though she were struggling to come to terms with how much this whole situation had been turned on its head as a result of their first direct confrontation with The Empire. “I think this whole thing is a lot messier and runs a lot deeper than we may have first thought...”

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We open up on a rather odd sight, at least in terms of who we're here to see. While there are definitely all the hallmarks of what looks to be a wrestling school such as rings, training mats, weights, bags and so on, there's also a ton of other miscellaneous items scattered around before our very eyes that almost makes it seem like we're in someone's garage instead. Of specific note are a ladder set up in one of the rings, a few tables that are either set up or appear to be broken that are scattered about, a few steel chairs laying around, and even what appear to be thumbtacks and shards of broken glass piled up on one of the mats. Sitting in one of these steel chairs, looking down at the pile of tacks and glass resting before her, is La Pequeña Luz. While we see her in her wrestling gear, we can also see signs of cuts and bruises along her arms that are already bandaged up, but nothing so bad that it won't heal in time for Breakdown. Way in the background we can see Amelia Blythe having a conversation with an older woman with a wild mane of fiery orange hair, perhaps the owner of whatever this place is. Luz spares a moment to glance back at them, almost as if the sight of them being present and watching her while trying to stay far enough out of the way not to interrupt gives her the motivation she needs as she takes a deep breath and turns her focus to us.

“When people think of hardcore wrestling, often times their thoughts will drift toward people who 'can't wrestle' and instead rely on weapons and excessive violence to make up for it. Admittedly, there a lot of matches that fall under these rules, or lack thereof, where things tend to escalate to a point that it becomes hard to watch, especially these days as concerns about the health and well-being of wrestlers becomes a more prominent concern. Something that a lot of people forget, however, is that there are quite a few matches that could technically be defined as 'hardcore' matches because they forego the traditional rules in exchange for something a little different to give the fans an alternative or maybe because two wrestlers need something a little extra to settle the score. Ladder matches, cage matches, tables matches... only a few examples that are frequent go-to stipulations for scenarios like that, and all matches that I have taken part in at one point or another in addition to matches that would simply fall under SCW's definition of Underground Rules. They haven't been extreme bloodbaths, aside from maybe a rough landing or good shot that split my head open real good here and there even with my mask, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm familiar with the concept of the Underground and what it entails.

In a twisted sort of way, there's a respect to be had for the various names throughout SCW's history that have primarily defined themselves in their reigns and pursuits of the Underground Championship. Names like The Real Speed, Dillusion, Rachel Foxx, Rachel Tatum Lee, Matt Auclair... just to name a few. All extremely capable wrestlers in their own right, and all wrestlers who embraced what it meant to hold that very title. The blood they spilled, the wars they had, the toughness they displayed... if that isn't worthy of respect, especially with how they probably showed those traits more than most on SCW's roster at any point in time considering what they endured night in and night out, then I don't know what is. Those are the names that people look to when they talk about some of the most violent matches in SCW history, the warriors who put that title on the map and made it into what it is today.

The thing is... they did all of that through nothing more than their wars with each other and anyone else who stepped up to challenge them. They earned the right to call themselves true Underground Champions, earning their opportunities and taking care of business in the ring under a set of rules that gave them all the freedom in the world to get creative and put on a show all their own for the fans.

That's the kind of Underground Champion that Kimberly Williams wants to be... unfortunately, I would argue that her antics as of late have done that title a disservice, and deep down, I think she knows it.”

Luz leans back in the chair and shakes her head before turning her attention back to the veritable junkyard surrounding her right now. Every item is a common piece to the Underground puzzle while also barely scratching the surface of what you can find in one of those matches, and yet Luz knows that she'll need to get well acquainted with each and every one of them in some form or another for the fight that awaits her in Omaha.

“I'm going to be upfront with you Kim... I wasn't expecting you to actually take what I said to heart. The last news I honestly expected to get coming out of Playing the Wildcard was that you were actually going to defend your Underground Title against me, and yet... here we are. When you cashed in your Trios contract and created an entire night worth of chaos hoping to shake everything up, both my girlfriend and I rightfully called you out on setting aside one very specific stipulation that made it so that you had to do the bare minimum of a single fall and you would be a champion again while everyone else was playing your game and fighting to score far more than that in hopes of winning any of the other titles on the line that night. It would be easy to sit here and say that the reason that in particular stuck out to us was because of the fact that I scored more falls than you and yet instead of holding that title as it would've been the next in the lineup technically, I left empty-handed... a fact that you did actually acknowledge, considering where we currently stand. Amelia and I made it clear both going into that night and when we talked with Selena and Deanna before finally joining the fray that we  weren't expecting to actually walk away with anything on that night and our intentions were more to see where we currently stood in the grand scheme of things, so not ending that night as a champion actually didn't bother me as much as you might think.

The truth of the matter is that we had such a problem with it because we expected better of you Kim.

For someone so adamant about wearing the Underground on your sleeve and wanting to join the ranks of those well-known warriors of old that everyone always associates with that title, you didn't have any issue with spitting in the face of everything that got them there in order to add another reign to the list. When you lost that title to Owen back at Body, Heart & Soul you didn't fight your way back to another opportunity or use your Trios contract to get a rematch in whatever manner you felt perfectly embodied your vision of the Underground. No... you tried to forcefully insert yourself into his matches to get a rematch, you structured your Trios cash-in to virtually guarantee you won the title back with the bare minimum of effort and only had to stick around to try and spread further chaos, you did just about everything to prove the point that you only care about the title in terms of numbers as you chase a record, regardless of how you get there. I don't have any direct issues with you as a person Kim, or anything against the Underground and all that it stands for even if I'll admit that it's not something one would normally associate with me... I have a problem with you not caring enough about the title that you claim means everything to you that you couldn't just take things to the ring and settle them like all those who came before you. Not only did it make just about every other title in SCW feel like nothing more than a consolation prize that you still have to prove you truly deserved to have, but it made you come away from that whole thing looking like anything but a modern-day warrior willing to put her body on the line to show the world what the Underground should be all about.

The fact that you acknowledged the final scores on that night and are more than willing to give me the opportunity to settle this debate in the ring and with Underground Rules so either I can prove that I should've been champion on that night or you can prove that you do deserve to hold that title again despite how you got back to that point... I'd say that's a step in the right direction.”

Luz slowly reaches down and scoops up some of the glass and tacks in her hand before shifting it between her palms, showing some discomfort as it punctures her skin but doing her best not to show it before she lets it drop back into the pile at her feet. She then starts using her boots to spread the pile around a bit as she speaks again.

“Right now Kim, I think your biggest problem is the fact that you've developed a rather unhealthy obsession with both the Underground Title and the idea of trying to 'make it relevant' by forcing people to do this on your terms. Yeah, maybe SCW isn't full of people willing to risk life and limb fighting for it like the older days before that title was originally deactivated, but that doesn't mean people won't come for it unless you make them, nor does it mean that you and you alone have to be the one trying to get people to indulge in the kind of wrestling that you like. Look back at some of your past reigns Kim... the Underground Title got reintroduced in the first place because you and Jordan Majors were having the kind of wars that defined that title in the past. You kind of forced Deanna to enter your world by antagonizing her, but the very next pay-per-view you and her were just two of five people with intertwining reasons to just settle it in the ring doing so under those rules for that championship. You got Owen willing to turn your World Title match into a title-for-title bout under your rules. All of that accomplished everything you ever wanted and then some. And yet, after you lost to Owen, your obsession led you to have meltdowns over Owen not doing more because he also had the World Title to focus on. You tried to interject yourself into his matches, took issue with the fact that Alexis Quinne didn't 'live up to your standards' as a challenger to him... heck, your Trios cash-in may have gotten you the title back, but in all the chaos you wanted you failed to consider some of the consequences that might result from it because you were so tunnel-visioned on getting your championship back around your waist and nothing else.

Case in point: while Xander couldn't do anything about Adam's cash-in aside from giving Owen extra motivation to keep him from becoming World Champion, which you almost ruined with your Underground-obsessed interference, your cash-in essentially gave him an extra chance to try and get back to the top of the mountain and you didn't care because chaos.

On that note... Xander, I don't know if you'd even watch this, but coming from someone who has her own issues with Adam considering he and his old partner are responsible for Amelia and I being put out of commission in the first place, I ask you to please let me have a clean match—or as much of one as you can have in Underground Rules, I guess—with Kim. Let me settle things with her in the ring fair and square so I can prove to her, to the fans and management... and most importantly, to myself, that I deserve this before you go back on the warpath.”

She knows the plea is probably a futile effort and Underground Rules technically allow for outside interference, but she'd hate the idea of stepping up to the plate for this shot only for her win to feel tainted because she couldn't do it on her own. That's not the kind of wrestler she wants to be even in the Underground, and it's certainly not going to help her prove anything about what SCW means to her and how much she's willing to fight to prove she belongs here.

“All of that said though Kim... here I am, willing to enter your playground and face you of my own volition, another challenger for the Underground Title that didn't need to be forced or coerced into fighting for it. I've seen what you're capable of Kim, and I knew exactly what I was getting into when I stated the facts and saw that you'd actually heard me loud and clear. Yeah, maybe this isn't the kind of environment I'm used to fighting in where you've made it your home for years, but that's what makes this a challenge I'm willing to endure. Deanna and Owen weren't exactly known for being Underground wrestlers either, and yet they both overcame you and proved themselves worthy Underground Champions in their own right. Maybe they weren't as violent or bloodthirsty as you are, and I can't promise I'll be anything like that either, but that's not going to stop me from giving you a fight all the same Kim and taking every single shot you have to give so I can get back up and keep giving you everything that I have.

You can tout how much punishment you've taken all you want Kim, because the fact that you have lost that title several times before is proof that even you have your limits.

Don't believe I can handle that? Look back to the Tag Title match Amelia and I had back at Retribution, where I was worked over for a good chunk of the match and refused to stay down no matter how much punishment I endured from two of SCW's very best. Want a more Underground example? Check your own Trios cash-in and realize that Ravyn used a stun gun on me, something that would put most people out of commission for quite some time, and yet I fought through all the shocks and spasms running through my system for over an hour and still scored the three falls that I did. Sure, maybe that doesn't sound impressive to you given the kind of matches you've had, but it's proof that I know I can handle whatever you throw at me and will keep fighting to prove that even if I'm not 'your caliber' of an Underground wrestler, I can still earn my place among its ranks and you aren't going to be snuffing out my light that easily.

More importantly, I hope you realize that being in this match opens the door to a whole new world of possibilities for me. I've always been one to try and think outside the box and see what I can do within the rules of a given match, and Underground Rules presents me with the chance to push that imagination further than I ever have before. After all, I'm the kind of woman who's always been prone to leaping before I look... kind of how Adam put me on the shelf in the first place using the old Unsanctioned Title belt that used to belong to you, but all the signs are there to make it crystal clear Kim that if you underestimate me just because this is relatively unfamiliar territory as far as I'm concerned, then this Breakdown is going to see the end of your latest Underground Title reign.

And you know something? Maybe that's what's best for you right now Kim. A chance to let someone else take the reins while you sort out the fallout from your own chaos and prove that you can work your way back into a rematch for the title instead of just throwing a tantrum and playing games to get right back to the front of the line. Give me a chance to prove that I can be a worthy Underground Champion in my own right while you prove that for as much as that title means to you, you don't have to go it alone in trying to prove its worth. Prove that you're stronger than your obsession to hold this title Kim so that you can one day come back to it proving that you respect that title as much as you claim to, just like every single champion of the past whose company you want to be placed in.

As for me? I give you my word that even if I'm not up to your level of violence as Underground Champion, I'll still fight with everything that I have to be a worthy champion and leader of the division... and I'll do it all in my own 'Luz' way.”

Luz rises to a stand, flashing her trademark smile before she makes a point of walking right through the thumbtacks and shards of glass to reach the camera so she can stop the recording. Is it going to hurt and make her regret doing that afterward? Absolutely, but if it helps prove her point and builds her pain tolerance for whatever Kim thinks she can throw at her, then she's willing to fight through all of it to prove that she's ready to call herself a champion in SCW and lead the Underground division as a worthy champion in her own right.