Alexis Quinne vs. Selena Frost

[SnowQueenSCW]

The camera opens up to the inside of the Palacio de los Deportes arena in Mexico City, Mexico – the site for tonight's episode of SCW's Breakdown! As usual with this episodic segment, the arena is mostly empty, though the ring is already set up, as is most of the set and tech for tonight's show. As the camera focuses into the ring, a lone figure stands in the middle, her head cast down to gaze at the title she holds in her arms. She is dressed, not in her usual street attire for such promos, but rather her wrestling attire, the colors of dark blue and white accentuating her features as well as fitting her name – The Snow Queen – perfectly. The only thing missing is her 'ice-shard' cape, but that is not needed for right now.

As the camera focuses to a new angle, the features of said Snow Queen, Selena Frost, can be seen and they are of deep contemplation as her sapphire eyes scan the United States title she is the champion of, or what remains of it.

Strange... isn't it?

Cliche as that opening line sounds, Selena does not back down from using it, her eyes remaining on the title she fought through hell to acquire back in January. They say that 'time heals all wounds'. I never really understood that. I mean, nothing can heal a decapitated head or something fatal like that. she shrugs. I think... I think the right phrase should have been “time accepts wounds”, in that, the wounds that don't outright kill us, even if they scar us, in time, we learn to accept them. Accept them as part of ourselves. We learn to appreciate the scars, they remind us of what we have survived. What we have overcome and they stand as a testament to how strong we are and can be.

That's why I couldn't do what Giovanni Aries thought I would. Selena rolls her eyes. See, the supposed 'Mad Hatter' and 'liberator' that he claims to be believed that I would just white-wash over what he did to this title. That I'd throw this broken, damaged belt away and just get a new one to represent this division. 

And yes...[size=undefined] Selena shrugs. That thought did cross my mind, I won't lie. That certainly would have been easy. Certainly would have given a powerful message. Show just how little his 'actions', petulant as they are, had to slow down this fine division. I mean, look at where we are now? I'm set to defend the United States Championship tonight – my third defence in as many matches. About two weeks after he defaced and disrespected it. Yet, for all of it, we're still here, this division still stands and we are still on track to give all of you the definition of 'supreme championship wrestling'. I mean, bringing in an undamaged title belt would have made it look like Giovanni's actions had little to no effect, wouldn't it? [/size]

A sigh escapes the Snow Queen's lips as she shakes her head. But see, that's just it... I don't want to forget what Giovanni did to me, did to this title at Tabula Rasa. I don't want to forget what this title has gone through to be one of the most sought-after titles in SCW. Main-eventers, Hall of Famers, Midcarders, they all come down to this division. Where else can you see Shilo Valiant fight Lucas Knight AND David Helms fight Greg Cherry? Name me another division that could have Regan Street fighting Selena Frost AND also, at another point, have Marie Jones fighting Jinn or Tyler Tucker?

I said it last week and I will say it again: so many superstars claim to bring a 'new era' or 'prestige' to this title, but really, this title has gone through more battles and hell than any of us have to be at the level that it is at. It's because this belt has survived so much that so many of us want to 'make history' with it. That's how prestigious it is. That's how amazing it is!

Carefully, Selena places the title over her shoulder. When I realized that, I knew I couldn't just replace it with 'another look-alike' title. Because it is this title, the belt I fought like hell for in that roofed cage, the belt I fought like hell to keep in that damn two-on-one fiasco with Christy Matthews – this belt that I retained against Tommy Valentine and, yes, agaisnt Giovanni Aries. This is the belt I wanted to carry. This is the belt I wanted to earn. And, while I appreciate Sasha for wanting to fix it so it represents the division like a fine-tailored dress – I'm not Sienna Swann. I'm not about appearances and nothing else.

I'm...I'm proud that this title and I have survived such battles together. That we have fought along side one another in this championship reign and, yes, we've been scared and beaten and damaged, but... we are still here. All of you are still here!

The Snow Queen looks out towards the audience.

That's something that Giovanni, cowering and hiding behind his Twitter account, doesn't get. He doesn't get that no matter what he tries, how much he lies, how much he tries to ruin SCW, we will ALWAYS be here and we will ALWAYS fight back! It's something I hope James Evans can beat into his skull – that actions have consequences and when you mess with people's careers, their beliefs, their lives, they WILL fight back.

That is what I am doing now. I am fighting back. I am fighting back against his 'vision' of me. I am fighting back against the notion that I am this 'shallow champion' he sees me as. In my heart, I know I am not. I know what I fight for. And more than that, I am proud of what I fight for. And this belt is more than just leather and plates. More than being “someone's property”. Which is why I will be carrying this title – missing plates and bent centerpiece and all down to the ring tonight to defend it once more! as she speaks this, Selena holds the title up in the air, proudly displaying it for those watching. Lowering it back down, she places it back over her shoulder.

Which leads me to my next challenger, Alexis Quinne. And it's easy for me to know where to start of with her – remember I was talking about idioms and all that at the beginning of this – well, it's almost poetic to me that I would be facing you, Alexis, with a title on the line. A knowing, kind smile breaks across Selena's face.

You probably know where I am going with this, don't you, Alexis? Because when you think of “Alexis Quinne vs. Selena Frost”, there's really only one match that springs to mind. One that takes up memory. And that was you and me, End of the Year Pay-Per-View 2016, where I defeated you – the last event that ended 'The Year of Selena Frost' where I became Female of the Year and World Champion for the first time.

Quickly, Selena holds her hands up. Now, before you get upset about that with remarks like “I wrestled twice in one night” and “there was interference”, I'm not pretending that our match was clean and without controversy. I'm not delusional like Sienna or Bree. I know that you and I had some issues with our match and, really, we've not really had a chance to settle that score. I hope that can change tonight – in fact, I am looking forward to it.

But I wanted to bring up the past because – well, here we are again, Quinne. You and me and there's a title on the line. Two and a half years later, right? But in terms of similarities, that's where 2016 and 2019 end.

Slowly, Selena paces around the ring, holding onto the title. 

Because two and a half years ago, you faced a very nervous Selena Frost. One that didn't believe she was ready to win the world title. And it wasn't a matter of not believing she could beat you – because I did believe I could. I know I can now. No... 2016 Selena was nervous because she wasn't sure she could handle being 'the world champion'. I mean, let's compare. You had just defeated Syren for that title. Syren! I mean, we've got Sienna Swann proclaiming up and down that she can and will defeat Syren one on one for how many months now? And has she? Nope. Not once. You? You shrug your shoulders and go 'been there, done that'.

How was I supposed to deal with that? How was I, if I won the World title, compare to that? That was 2016 me, Alexis...

But I did win the World title – and in the time that followed, whether I was world champion or not, I had to learn really quick that I could either doubt myself or I could plunge into the competition – into the main-events of SCW, into the challenge, and continue to grow and learn until I was good enough to be champion.

The Snow Queen nods her head. Fast forward to now.... and I don't doubt anymore, Alexis. I'm not questioning myself anymore. I'm not wondering if I can be a champion. I'm not wondering if I can beat someone. I know I can. I know I can be a champion. I know I can beat anyone in SCW.

But that isn't enough anymore for me. After seeing champions like Bree Lancaster and Sienna Swann, who sell integrity for cheap wins and long reigns? After fighting superstars like Giovanni, who choose shock and gimmick over supreme wrestling? It isn't enough for me to just 'be a champion'.

I want to be a great champion. I want to be a champion that actually exemplifies the letters S-C- and W. I want to do what Sienna Swann and Bree Lancaster are too scared to do. Stand by a title, not hide behind it. So, you look at me and thing “Selena's gotta be getting tired. This is her third defence in as many matches”. To be honest, I'm having the time of my life! Selena smiles brightly. I know the risks. That any moment, someone could get the drop on me like Ikiro did with me and the Television title or Owen Cruze did a few months ago, but that's part of the rush! I didn't get this title to hide behind it. I didn't get this title to go months without defending it. I got this title because I wanted to be part of the new standard Sasha was promising if she ever took control. And here we are: Sasha is the new president of SCW and a new standard is being employed.

And for me, personally, Alexis, I get your stance. I saw your promo at Tabula Rasa. You want to keep the fun going in your career. You've done so much already – you're trying to keep that passion going. I admire that. I want that passion in the ring tonight. Because facing Giovanni a few weeks ago? Hearing his “I don't want the title” nonsense? It made me sick. It made me want to beat him senseless that night and then immediately request another person to fight me that was worth the time of the United States Championship. Now, things didn't go that way, but tonight, I have a chance to make up for it. I have a chance, albeit only a little, to make amends for wasting the time of the SCW Universe at Tabula Rasa.

Because I want to defend the title against wrestlers like you. People that want to win, want to beat me, want to become United States Champion because they get it. When they look at this title, damaged or not, they see what I see – what the SCW Universe sees! People that give a damn about what this title means, what this title can do and what this title represents.

But as much as I want to fight challengers like you, Alexis, I want more to beat challengers like you. Because those like Giovanni – they think that I'm something weaker now. That I, now holding a busted, broken title, have lost my edge. Even the announce team of Sharper and Knots – they were wondering last week when I showed up with this title. They were wondering “how long I would hold it now”.

Stopping, Selena places her free hand against the nearest rope. Truth be told, that's what a lot of people have been wondering. The two popular notions are that I'll either replace the belt sooner or later or I'll lose my edge now that the belt is damaged. An amused smirk breaks across Selena's face. I still don't get that. What is so bad with a belt that has some battle scars? It's like the whole “knight in shining armour” nonsense. Why would you want a knight in shining armour? If the damn armour is shiny, it means it's not really been used or been through battle. The knight just threw it on and walked towards the castle where the princess was. Wouldn't you want a 'knight in dented armour'? Armour that showed that this knight fought some kind of massive battle and survived? Won? Wouldn't that knight be far more worthy of the princess' hand and the rewards of the story than the one that did nothing but 'looked good'?

Selena shrugs her shoulders.

The crack in the Liberty Bell, Ground Zero in New York, hell, even the aged copper that's turned green on the statue of liberty. This things inspire the nation – even if they are scars or imperfections, Alexis. Know why? Because they scream to the world what this nation has survived. What the human soul can survive! To me, time doesn't heal all wounds, Quinne. No, those that survive can choose to become stronger than the pain those wounds created. We rise above and we fight on, with our scars as badges of courage! Courage that we dared to keep fighting! Dared to keep believing! 

Tonight, Alexis, you're going to help me prove a lot of people wrong. Because I'm not taking either option that's been presented to me regarding this title. I'm not going to replace this belt OR lose my edge as its champion. 

No... I'm taking option C. 

That's the option where I fight harder than ever before to retain the United States Championship against a former world champion! That's the option where you face 2019 Selena Frost, the one with the cold of Nome running through her veins, the one that doesn't doubt or question whether she can be a champion, the one that wants to be so much more than that! And when that is done, after I shake your hand for a good match, Alexis, I will then stand on one of the turnbuckles and hold this championship up and people will see the look on my face! Giovanni will see the look on my face. And it won't be shame, or disappointment or frustration...

Turning her gaze, Selena looks into the camera. It will be a look of pride, Alexis. Pride of being the United States Champion. Pride of being “The Face of SCW”. Pride at holding this championship belt!

Selena smiles. Believe it, Alexis. Because we are scarred. We are damaged. We are imperfect... but more than any of that... she holds up the United States title proudly. We Are SCW!

The camera fades at the sight, the proud champion and her battle-worn title, ready for yet another battle – another war... in the throngs of Mexico City...