Chapter 68 (Daily)
"Attention, everyone! Gather round! Ms. Rogue has a big announcement to make!" Ryuji called out to the entire Xtrema gym. The wrestlers there all met up with Ryuji and Sayuri Rogue.
"Thank you, Ryuji." Sayuri said. "Now, I'm sure you've all been anticipating my return from out of town, eager to announce the next Xtrema episode. So I won't keep you waiting any longer. Before I announce the matches, however, I will guarantee you three things that will happen before Xtrema Against the World. Number one, we will get through the first round of the face and heel tournaments for the Yin-Yang Tournament. Number two, everyone in the roster will have the chance to compete before XAW. Lastly, all the championships will be filled out."
The ladies smiled with interest. They continued hearing what their boss had to say.
"Now, this took a lot of planning, so I don't want any complaining." Sayuri continued. "In order for this to work, we'll have to raise our number of matches from six to seven for the next two weeks. Here's how it'll work. For the first for matches of the next episode, we will be going through the first round of the face side of the Yin-Yang tournament. Our faces for this event will consist of Sam Hamilton, Charlie Hart, La Calavera, Amazon Aqua, Calypso, Kyoko Natsumi, Jun Juli, and Cleopatra."
The eight girls that were mentioned smiled and gasped in joy.
"Don't get ahead of yourselves." Sayuri said. "Celebrate after your victories because half of you will be eliminated. Here are our matches for the first round: Kyoko Natsumi vs Amazon Aqua, La Calavera vs Calypso, Cleopatra vs Sam Hamilton, and Charlie Hart vs Jun Juli. After that, we'll have our Tag Team Championship match. Because of a deal I made in the past, I agreed to let the Galaxy Twins take part in it. And their opponents shall be the number one contenders."
"Me and Poison, right?" Diaz asked. "I'll be happy to stomp those two to the ground and take back my belts in record time." She pounded her palm while giving the sisters a frightening glare.
"You mean OUR belts." Poison growled.
"She means neither of your belts because Diaz and Poison aren't competing?" Sayuri asked.
"What?" Poison asked. "But we only just lost the belts."
"Ryuji." Sayuri said waving her hand at her assistant.
Ryuji cleared his throat and opened up his tablet. He read the contract that was displayed on it. "In the event that a title is lost outside of a championship match—which is what you did—the previous champions are to be moved to the back of the contendership."
"What?" Poison asked in frustration. "But she did lose the Tag Team belts in a championship match."
"In a World championship match, Not a Tag Team championship match." Sayuri said. "I looked it over, and technically, the tag team belts were collateral losses, and thus, they were lost outside of a tag team title match."
Poison growled giving her partner an angry glare.
"Don't sweat it." Diaz said. "I still won us the belts in a short while."
"So who are our opponents now?" Luna asked.
"The number one contenders are… the Daughters of Darkness, Midnight and Azraella Bloodstone."
"Us?" Midnight asked. "Why, you shouldn't have."
"We'll be more than pleased to reclaim our belts." Azraella said holding out her clawed hand.
"All right then." Sayuri said. "Moving on. For our sixth match, we've got a little special something that I like to call the Free Pass Battle Royal."
"Free Pass?" Jasper asked. "What's that?"
"A Free Pass is the reward for this battle royal. An over-the-top-rope elimination match up between eight of our wrestlers, four faces and four heels. The last one standing gets the right to enter the second round of their respective divisions in the Yin-Yang Tournament. They'll intervene in either the middle or after their chosen match. If it's a face, then they get to get in a match in the middle of a match in the face round. If it's a heel, they'll wrestle in the heel division. But once the second round of a tournament is officially over, your Free Pass expires."
"So whoever wins gets to skip the first round of the tournament?" Mewlie asked. "That sounds interesting. Who's participating?"
"That will be Starla, Isebella, the Skunk, Mantis, Jasper Jones, Poison, Black Swan, and Kaito Marx."
"Me?" Kaito asked.
"You heard me." Sayuri said. "Everyone in the roster has to compete once before Xtrema Against the World. That includes you, Mr. Marx."
"Well, we know who won't be winning." Mantis said.
"Anyway, we're onto our last match of the upcoming episode, the seventh." Sayuri said. "We will be having a gauntlet match to decide who will be facing Queen Bee in a World title match in the next episode. For those of you who don't know, a gauntlet match is a multi-competitor contest. It starts with two people. When one of them loses, the winner faces the next. The process continues until there is one clear winner left. And the competitors for this are Clementine Cirrus, Thunder Mana, Maria Crawford, Freya, Liza Surkova, and Platinum Mask."
Liza turned her head to the last woman who was mentioned. She growled at her as she stood next to Eris, who had her arm wrapped around hers.
"So the six of us have to face each other before we have to face Queen Bee?" Thunder Mana asked. "All right then."
"That's all the matches we've got in store in a couple of nights." Sayuri said. "Now, I've got some more news. As some of you know, Xtrema Against the World will have you all compete against wrestlers from outside of the league. We have singles contests and we have tag team contests too, which means some of you will be competing twice. For example, if Team Spirit fights one team, then later on, they'll each have to face someone individually."
"Can our partners still be there as our seconds?" Isebella asked.
"I'll allow it." Sayuri said. "That being said, for the tag teams that are competing, we decided we won't just be using official tag teams from our roster. If you are a close group or a fan-favorite team, you are applicable too. So, aside from the official tag teams, which consist of Team Spirit, the Daughters of Darkness, the Killer Kitties, Atlantis Force, Diaz and Poison, and the Galaxy Twins, we will also be including the teams of Eris and Platinum Mask, Scarlette and Clover, Madame Python and Black Swan, the Skunk and Mantis, and Queen Bee and Kaito Marx. One last team that we'll be including is our newly official duo of Thunder Mana and Carly X, the Storm Ligers."
"That's us." Carly X said pointing her thumb at herself and Thunder Mana, her new partner.
"Congrats. You want a medal?" Neko Girl asked sarcastically.
"Moving on." Sayuri continued. "Along with all that, we've already decided on some of the matches for XAW. Some of them, you requested. Some of them, your opponents requested. Some of them, the fans requested. We're still working on the complete match card, but here is what we have so far…
"Mewlie, Neko Girl, although your singles opponents are still pending, your tag team opponents have been finalized. At Xtrema Against the World, you will be facing against the independent wrestlers, the Fenris Army."
"Fenris? You mean wolves? We have to wrestle a bunch of dogs?" Neko Girl asked annoyed.
"Don't worry, Neko." Mewlie said. "We'll turn those dogs into whining bitches in no time."
"Anyway," Sayuri continued, "Clementine Cirrus will be up against Tina Armstrong."
"Really?" Clementine asked. She then thought to herself, "Shoot! That must be why Tina decided to stay in Japan for a few months. She and Ms. Rogue must have already discussed it."
"Next, our opponent for Thunder Mana will be another independent wrestler who we plan on recruiting after XAW. And that will be Viper Takagi."
"The Japanese Amazon?" Thunder Mana asked. "Sounds like quite a challenge."
"Cleopatra, from WWE, your opponent will be the Empress of Tomorrow, Asuka."
"A pharaoh from Egypt against an empress from Japan." Cleopatra said. "I like it."
"Liza Surkova, we have finally got around to arrange your request. Your opponent will be the MMA star, Mila."
"Finally!" Liza said. "Once I have her in that octagon again, I will…"
"Whoa, whoa, hold it!" Sayuri interrupted. "Who said anything about an octagon? I never said this would be an MMA match?"
"What? Why?" Liza asked.
"Because we're not an MMA league. This is pro wrestling. Our opponents will have to follow our league rules instead of use rules from different sports. We can give you special rules to make it similar, but it won't be an MMA match."
Liza crossed her arms and huffed. "Fine."
"Good. Now, Willow Powell, the fans wish for you to have a rematch against Sakura Hagiwara."
"What?" Willow asked with a harsh laugh. "Moi against ze princess again? Zis will be an easy win for sure."
"How can you be?" Kaito asked. "Sakura's been having a better record lately."
"Dumb luck." Willow said. "A handful of wins doesn't wash away her legendary losing streak. And I'll be more zan happy to start a new one."
"If you say so." Sayuri said. "Kaito, since you spoke up, I'll announce your opponent. Your challenger is, Ran Aeko."
"Who's that?" Kaito asked.
"I've heard of her." Sam Hamilton asked. "She used to be a Keijo player, but after a one-sided loss and one of her own being injured, she quit and took up wrestling."
"And she challenged me? Why?" Kaito asked.
"I don't know." Sayuri said. "Anyway, Diana Diaz, your opponent will be Lady Kai II."
"Lady Kai? Wait, you mean that ninja girl? I thought she was injured." Diana said.
"She was, by you, if memory serves." Sayuri said. "But this is a different Lady Kai. Lady Kai II is a big fan of the original Lady Kai who clearly related to her. She even matched her fighting style and added her own. But after you crippled her, the young girl trained herself and wants a match against you to avenge her."
"So the veteran took an early retirement and now, the junior wants to see if she can do any better?" Diaz asked with a mocking chuckle. "Bring it on."
"Poison, your opponent will be against a pirate-themed wrestler named Ayah Gill, and she requested for you personally."
"Ayah Gill?" Poison asked. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
"Kyoko Natsumi, your opponent will also be a well-trained martial artist named Makoto."
"Of the Rindokan karate dojo?" Kyoko asked. "I admit, I am intrigued."
"Mantis, your opponent will be a martial artist from the rising organization of Hardkor, a martial artist named Yuri Ora."
Mantis merely nodded.
"N-Bomb your opponent will be a heavyweight named Garm Takanashi."
"No one's heavier than me." N-Bomb said. "I'll crush her bones into pieces."
"Freya, your opponent will be Ms. Everest."
"Who?" Freya asked.
"A masked wrestler who claims she's from Tibet. Although, I don't know if that's true or not. She's more mysterious than even Platinum Mask. Speaking of whom, Platinum Mask, your opponent requested you personally. She calls herself the Obsidian Blade."
"The Obsidian Blade?" Sam asked loudly. "No way! She must not like what you did, Platinum!"
"Why? Who is she?" Platinum Mask asked.
"Someone with a strong sense of justice." Sam asked. "She takes down those she considers evil, and she must see what you did for Eris as an act of evil. I'd train extra hard if I was you."
"Oh, don't worry. She'll win." Eris said before turning her head. "Won't you?"
Platinum Mask sighed. "Yes, my goddess. I will."
"What is up with those two?" Kaito asked.
"Who cares?" Queen Bee asked. "Ms. Rogue, has my opponent been decided yet?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. Miss X called me earlier, told me that Fukuwara Mask kept his end of the bargain, and now, you are going to face Queen Elizabeth."
"Yes!" Queen Bee exclaimed.
"Also representing GWM, Aoife Leavy is coming in for a match against Clover."
"I get her?" Clover asked. "Isn't she more relatable to Thunder Mana?"
"Thunder Mana is taken." Sayuri said. "Anyway, La Calavera, your opponent will be Maria Hirano."
"All right. I've been dreaming of a rematch against her for years."
"Black Swan, you will be against a luchadora of your own." Sayuri said. "Your opponent will be La Mariposa."
"Sounds exotic." Black Swan said. "Once I take her mask, I…"
"No." Sayuri interrupted. "La Mariposa was quite adamant that she does not want a mascara contra mascara match. I'll make it a special rules match, but nothing will be at stake. Anyway, we've got a double dose of wrestlers from the wrestling gym of El Palacio. Their two strongest, Ouka Shimusen and Mari the Kid, will face against their respective Xtrema opponents, Zelda Logan and Maria Crawford. Also, Sam Hamilton, your opponent will be a superhero-themed wrestler who I think you'll get along with. Her name is Alex Duncan."
"Superhero themed?" Sam asked excitedly. "I can't wait to meet her!"
"Great to hear." Sayuri said. "Next, Amazon Aqua, your opponent shall be Gouda Yuma."
"The golden age wrestler?" Jasper Jones asked. "She's been wrestling for over thirty years."
"That's crazy." Kaito said.
"Respect." Queen Bee said.
"Our final confirmed match is… my own. I will be competing in the main event of Xtrema Against the World, and my opponent shall be… Jackal Tojo!"
Most of the roster widened their eyes.
"Jackal? Really?" Zelda asked.
"Well, since Jackal returned to Japan, it would be inevitable that this happened." Poison said.
"Still, it's going to be spectacular." Queen Bee said. "Those two have competed against each other about 50 times and it never gets boring."
"And I have no plans on making it boring this time." Sayuri said.
"Wait." Kaito said. "You said that every competitor will get to compete before Xtrema Against the World. Does that mean you're competing before the event too?"
"Of course. Though I'm a part-timer, I am still a member of the roster."
"So who will you be facing?" Thunder Mana asked.
"I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise." Sayuri answered. Although, in her head, she secretly thought to herself, "That's good question."
*Xtrema Shorts*
Chibi Monica Everly popped in the middle of her stage waving at the crowd and the cameras pointed at her. She sat in her chair where a Chibi version of Madame Python sat next to. As soon as the applause died down, Chibi Monica began her segment.
"Welcome back to Xtrema Shorts. Here, we ask questions and get answers from our very own characters. And now, here with us tonight, it is Xtrema's mistress of all things snake, it's Madame Python! Thanks for being here, MP."
"Call me that again and I'll poison you." Chibi Python threatened.
Chibi Monica chuckled nervously. "Duly noted. Now, I'll be asking standard questions followed by some personal ones asked by our readers. You ready?"
"Of course." Chibi Python replied.
"Great. Let's get started. How long have you been wrestling?"
"I've scaling around the sport since ten years ago."
"Do you have any dream opponents?"
"I'd like to take apart Queen Bee, make her pay for thinking a bug like her can be an ace over an apex predator like myself. You know, I did hear of this beloved bunny girl from El Palacio, and I'd love to hunt her down in front of her little fans."
"How do you feel about your fans?"
"They mean nothing to me. In my eyes, I must only focus on my prey. Everything else is just jungle foliage to me."
"What's the toughest match you've had so far?"
"Cleopatra. She calls herself the Pharaoh of Submissions, but our match against each other proved that I was more than a match for her. Some people may say that I sank my teeth into her to keep from losing, but I know that I am superior to her."
"What do you do for fun?"
"Well, my little friend, Ophiuchus, needs to be tended to. I often look around for fresh mice to feed him with."
"What do you think makes a great wrestler?"
"I only know what I know, and that is that I only focus on bringing out the animal within me. We are all animals who have forgotten our roots. I am merely embracing my snake heritage."
"Do you have any interests besides wrestling?"
"Hunting. I hone my skills by going into the forest and hunting down animals with my bare hands. Sometimes, I do it to bring food for me and Ophiuchus. Other times, it's good practice for my reflexes and skill against other animals."
Chibi Monica gulped. This girl was creepier than she imagined. Still, she still had a job to do. "Now, for the personal questions, mostly asked by Awesome ax10. First, what do you think of Kaito since you act like a sexual predator with him?"
"Mmm. He's quite the most attractive prey I've ever met. And since he never wins a match, that makes him my most precious target. It would be a pleasure for me to mate with him."
"What's your relationship with Black Swan?"
"Well, we have a friendly rivalry since we are both vicious predators, even though a swan isn't necessarily dangerous. We hope to one day be a tag team."
"What species of snake do you think yourself to be?"
"It varies depending on my mood. Some days, I am a rattlesnake shaking in anticipation for the kill. Some days, I am a python ready to strike before you can blink. Mostly, though, I see myself as a boa constrictor squeezing my pray feeling them struggle until they lose hope, give up, and falls at my lack of mercy."
"Well, that was… enlightening. Thank you, Madame Python. Now, to our readers if anyone of you has questions to ask our characters, do ask and we'll answer. And now, we review the match card…
1.) Kyoko Natsumi vs Amazon Aqua
2.) La Calavera vs Calypso
3.) Cleopatra vs Sam Hamilton
4.) Charlie Hart vs Jun Juli
5.) The Galaxy Twins vs the Daughters of Darkness (for the Tag Team Championship)
6.) The Free Pass Battle Royal (Starla vs Isebella vs the Skunk vs Mantis vs Jasper Jones vs Poison vs Black Swan vs Kaito Marx)
7.) The World Title Number One Contendership Gauntlet Match (Clementine Cirrus vs Thunder Mana vs Maria Crawford vs Freya vs Liza Surkova vs Platinum Mask)
"Who do you think will win the first round of the Yin-Yang Tournament face division, the Tag Team Championships, and Free Pass, and the World Championship opportunity? And who do you think should be Sayuri Rogue's opponent before Xtrema Against the World? Find out soon. Any and all comments are welcome."