Meghan Strader vs. La Pequena Luz

[Wisteria Waltz]

There's a notable sense of confusion in the air when we open up, because when you think of the person we're here to see, the last place you'd expect to find her in might be a cemetery. It's hard to tell exactly which cemetery, other than the fact that we can at least confirm we're in Minneapolis by the sight of some of the distant buildings that anybody who's ever visited the city would be familiar with. Still, our immediate vicinity is rows upon rows of headstones with tall trees planted every now and then to really give this place a serene feeling, as if those buried here are truly at rest. A low-hanging fog creeps along the ground as there's just enough light ti indicate it's very early in the morning, but that doesn't seem to be enough to stop one person from wandering along. As this figure passes, we can see that it's La Pequeña Luz, wearing a version of her mask that resembles a detailed sugar skull and otherwise dressed for the rather chilly weather, as indicated by her occasional breaths being visible to us. She looks along all the graves with a mournful smile, clutching her United States Championship against her chest. After a moment, she reaches one of the trees and sinks down to sit beneath it, legs crossed, title resting in her lap. She nods down at it for a moment before her gaze rises to us, and while there's still a hint of sadness to it, her smile is every bit as radiant as it usually is.

“This is a period of time that means a lot to me, for many different reasons. In Mexico, this morning would be the end of Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead. It's one of the most important holidays to me, and one of the reasons why I'm out here in a cemetery right now. After all, this holiday is not only to remember all those who are no longer with us, but a celebration of life itself, a reminder that death is not the end, but merely a new beginning, so there's no reason not to live your life to the fullest and embrace every single moment with all the passion you have to give.

Today is also my one year anniversary of being married to mi amor, Amelia Nevado. It's poetic, in a way... the two of us tying the knot during one of the most sacred holidays in my culture. It was a decision we made so that the spirit of my father, known to the wrestling world as the legendary luchador El Espíritu Angélico, could be present for my wedding, just as I know he is watching over me now, proud of what his littlelight has accomplished.

Of course, tonight is also the day of Under Attack, a pay-per-view that has always been important to me, perhaps just as much as Rise to Greatness. After all, last year Amelia and I not only competed for the first time as a married couple, but also stepped into the Chamber for the very first time and ran the table to prove that it was going to take a lot more than one of SCW's most dangerous structures to take the World Tag Team Titles away from us. The year before that, Amelia and I won those titles for the very first time, fighting tooth and nail through everything that Syren and Ravyn Taylor had to throw at us to prove that we were finally ready, that it was finally our time to stand at the top, and once we got there, we breathed new life into the tag team division by making it clear that if you wanted a shot at us?  You had to be ready to earn it.

Yeah, it wasn't a popular decision to a lot of people, but ever since that night two years ago, we've always stood our ground on how we view this business and how we're going to conduct ours in it. I've said it time and time again: my father raised and trained me on the philosophy that wrestling problems should be resolved in a wrestling ring, for it is there where the results matter most. You can pick all the fights you want, build yourself an army, bust your butt to intimidate the locker room and make people fear you... but if you can't back it up in the ring when it matters most? Then what was the point of any of the chaos you sought? That's why I've held firm to what I wanted this reign as U.S. Champion to be, just like all the times Amelia and I have called ourselves your World Tag Team Champions. I don't care about politics or fear tactics or people just claiming they deserve it, I want people to step up to the plate and prove that they've earned it.

And believe it or not, that's exactly what you did, Meghan.”

Luz leans back more against the tree, getting more comfortable. She briefly looks up towards the heavens, letting a tear form in her eye as she knows her father is looking down on her now, encouraging her to keep going. She chuckles to herself and wipes the tear away before her focus is back on us.

“As I sit here among all these graves, I know that each and every spirit around me has their own story to tell. And those stories are worth listening to, because they help you to never forget them, to honor their memory and the lives they lived well. That, in and of itself, is why I didn't just want to become a wrestler, like my father before me... it's why I wanted to build my own legacy, separate from his. El Espíritu Angélico will always be remembered as more than just a luchador... he was a hero, he was fearless, he was a man of the people who succeeded despite all the pressures and temptations of this business that lead people down dark paths or make them believe it's necessary to make them seem tougher than they really are. I want that for myself... not to be remembered just as his daughter, but whenever my time finally comes, I want people to look back on my life and career and acknowledge everything that I contributed to this business, the fight I showed to be my own person and everything I accomplished while staying true to myself.

The desire to balance the legacy you come from and the one you forge for yourself is one we're both intimately familiar with, Meghan. Unlike my wife, who has every reason to want nothing to do with the legacy she came from after all the pain it caused her, I know how difficult it is to represent where you came from while still showing the world what you can do. You are the matriarch of the Strader family, a role I know means a lot to you and a goal that others in your family are proud of you for building. But there's also the desire to be more than just your family name, to show the world exactly who Meghan Strader is beyond the role of family matriarch. It's why you came to SCW, it's why you called your shot of wanting to be World Champion someday, and it's part of what ultimately led you to me.

I said a moment ago that you did what I wanted Meghan, and that was step up to the plate and prove it. Yeah, I know you lost the war you started with Syren, and I'm not going to lie and say you were wrong about what you said to my wife that led to her making that challenge for herself. Even if I'm not a fan of the chaos you have no problem starting to get there, I still respect that you're a woman who knows what she wants and is willing to fight for it. That said, I've made it clear that I prefer my fights to take place in the ring, where you either want this title more than I do or I show you why I'm not ready to step down and hand this over just yet. It's a simple idea, but it speaks volumes.”

Luz sighs as her smile fades for a moment, her eyes turning towards the grass and the fog around her.

“You know, it's funny... I thought my wife would be the only one feeling a sense of déjà vu because she and Syren are having a singles rematch of our Tag Title encounter with Dark Fantasy from this same event two years ago, but here I sit, remembering the period when Veronica and Cara took issue with us because we resolved to keep the peace and reinforce how we wanted business to be done. We told them, point blank, that for as much as we respected the talent they had, there's a reason we have the old saying of 'two wrongs don't make a right.' There was a series of singles matches that Amelia and I won before the eight-person tag match where our team was also victorious, and I bring those up not to gloat, but because it almost feels like this match has the exact same rationale behind it.

I get it Meghan, you and Ames got screwed out of your semi-final match in Trios, I'm not going to dispute that. Believe me when I say the Glimmer Sisters are starting to get on our nerves and have us seriously considering putting a pause on our recent singles endeavors to rip those Tag Titles away from them and show them the humility they so desperately need to taste. But lighting the fuse on a very clear powder keg last Breakdown... what exactly did that do for you other than delay whatever CHBK may have wanted to talk with you about because he got hurt? Better yet, what did you have to gain from storming into our locker room and joining the list of people who claim we're 'too nice' for this business, never mind that we've proven time and time again that who we truly are doesn't hinder us when we're in that ring. Heck, if I was too nice for this business, would I be standing here as the United States Champion right now?

And need I remind you... one of the people I beat to be recognized as the undisputed champion was someone who's a very dear friend of mine, and we still gave each other our all without hesitation.

You made your intentions for this title shot clear Meghan, and despite your recent setbacks, I saw enough to know that you were worthy of being next in line. I know you, just like Veronica and Cara once did, need to see the philosophy that drives me in action firsthand to understand where I come from and how I make this work. That's why I had no problem with accepting your challenge instead of even considering whatever Gavin's trying to pull. In my mind, you've earned it... but don't think for una segunda that means I'm just going to roll over and let you take this from me. Say what you will about us being 'too nice,' but you stood by my wife for Trios and saw just how dangerous she is in that ring despite your assessment of her character, and at Under Attack, you're going to find out I'm no different. When that bell rings, I will not hesitate to throw everything I have at you to retain this title, because I still have more to prove as United States Champion.”

As Luz's gaze lifts back up to us, we see that familiar fire in her eyes. She slowly stands up, grabbing her title and holding it out to us as her determination intensifies.

“With every spirit surrounding me right now as my witness, Meghan, I will make the same promise to you that I made Cara and Veronica last year: when that bell rings, you will get nothing less than my absolute best. You will see just how badly I want to keep this title and how hard I will fight to make that happen. I warn you now, though... the Luz you will meet here in Minneapolis tonight is far from the same one that your daughters danced with last year, and by the end of it all, I will make you respect the way I conduct my business. In that ring, when it's just you and me... that's where and when it matters most. That's what mi papá taught me long ago, that's the universal truth I have always held in the highest regard in this business, and I know his soul will be watching over me with pride when I walk out of Under Attack on this sacred holiday, on the one year anniversary of my marriage to the most incredible girl I've ever known, the same way I will walk into this event tonight:

As your SCW United States Champion.”

With a nod of acknowledgment, not just to us but perhaps to all the souls watching her from their resting places in this cemetery, Luz slings the title belt back over her shoulder and takes it all in one lst time, her smile slowly returning as she turns and marches off into the fog and lingering darkness of the early morning, like a beacon guiding us towards Under Attack tonight where she plans to stand tall, no matter how difficult the fight may be.