Columbus, Ohio
Emmanuelle, tired and banged up but triumphant, leaves the press conference area of the Project: Honor event. It had been a long, frustrating road since her time as a double champion had ended. Falling to Havoc and Chris at Arcadia, losing her Warrior Rising Championship and a tournament final to the same woman, and failing to win the King of the World Crown against her hated rival Asakura…it had all taken a toll. It eroded from some of the fun that she was having. She was growing more bitter, more aggressive by the moment. But, through it all, she never waivered. Through it all, she got her swagger back. Through it all, her friend and bodyguard Sonya was there. She didn’t accompany her to the ring. This was something that she had to get past on her own. And less than a year from joining that company, she had acquired the Grand Championship, the top prize there. Sonya met her, arms outstretched, a warm smile on her face. Emmy almost ran into the embrace, squeezing her larger friend tight as warm tears started to flow. All the frustration was finally coming out in the form of joy and relief as she finally found herself back. The swagger was returning.
“I knew you could do it.”
“I didn’t. This has been such a long road…..Thanks for being here for me. Means more than you know.”
“Nonsense. You know I know how much this means to you. That’s why I’m here tonight.”
Emmy slowly breaks the embrace, tears still streaking down her cheeks, which she quickly brushes away with her wrist. Sonya teasingly puts her hands on her hips for a moment before nodding to Emmy as if she was questioning her about the tears.
“Uh….it’s nothing. I think some of the beer got in my eyes at the press conference.”
“Now that you have your World Championship, it’s time to return to WrestleWorld and reclaim your Shogun Championship, yes?”
“Yeah. But there’s some work to do for that. Seems like we’re going to have to go through this five way match AND go through a vote.”
“Vote?”
“Yep. We’ll worry about that later. We’re going out tonight, I’m buying too. Let me go grab a shower real quick.”
“Suit yourself.”
A few days later, back in the Neutral Territories, Emmy’s swagger has noticeably returned. She sits in a sky blue sleeveless dress, her powerful arms and toned shoulders on display. Her hair has grown much longer in the months since her fall from grace in Arcadia. Her latest championship conquest, a new customized black star belt representing the Project Honor Grand Championship, is over her shoulder. A cheeky little smirk is fixed over her features for a moment.
I could take a moment to simply just campaign for a championship match. That’s what this is supposed to be right, a campaign ad for why I should be next in line for the Shogun Championship. How about this: a Sell-out Crowd in Columbus, Ohio watching me and the King of the World have another duel for a championship. I win, the place erupts. The promoters praise me. Companies, groupies, other wrestlers, EVERYONE gets to sliding in my social media DMs, trying to reach out and become a part of the long line of people who have come to understand what the Platinum Standard is ALL about.
In less than two full years in this industry, I’m already a Former Shogun Champion and a current World Champion. In less than two years, I’ve achieved a level of relevancy that people like Dampshaw, Delilah Hill, Sam Ace and that other guy, I forget his name, can dream of achieving. We are sitting here acting like this really needs to be a debate, like there needs to be a discussion about who should be in line for a title match. Why?
Delilah is an interesting addition into the Shogun division, although I think she would honestly make a more interesting addition to my lap at a strip club than being a suitable challenger for the Shogun Championship. She’s looked the part so far, but that’s mainly because she’s had doggie treats thrown her way, tomato cans as old boxing journalists would say. What is she going to do when the lights are on bright and she has to stand across the ring from someone who has been there and done that? She’s come on strong, she has all the trappings of a bona fide star, but even as someone who has become annoyed with the Shogun Title and it’s former Architect’s philosophy, she has no idea what it’s like to truly challenge for that belt. It has a distinct flavor, much different than the others. Nothing will drain you more, physically, mentally, or emotionally, than challenging for or defending that belt. Outlaw Rules you can rely on weapons and friends. Parejas Rules, Lucha Rules, you have a partner. You can luck up and win European matches with technical prowess. In the Shogun Division, you have to have heart, ability and a rugged toughness that I don’t think our shiny new Barbie can quite comprehend yet. I’ll be happy to show her.
Reggie and Ace, why are you two still here? Seriously? Why are you all involved in this? You two do nothing more than take up space. I don’t even know if Reggie Boy even is aware I put him on his ass yet. Oh well. Look, you two can go sit in the front row somewhere, maybe play spades in the locker room while one of you two nerds streams Dr Who. Just stay out of grown folks business because it’s very obvious to me that you two need not apply to be in the mix for this title.
OH! DEVON! I remember your name now. Let me tell you something, do you think I give a shit about what you think of me as a professional? Do you think I give a shit about that match that was supposed to happen last week? I warned WrestleWorld MONTHS ago that if I didn’t get what I wanted, which is a Shogun Championship match, I was going to make the lives of anyone and everyone around me miserable. Reggie just happened to catch it that day. You can spare me the lectures about how my professionalism is a “disgrace to the sport”.
You wanna know what’s NOT disgraceful right now? My fucking bank account.
OWA had me at their Civil War event, taking part in the signature match known as Dimensional Warfare. They paid me top dollar to be there. LAW has me competing in their tournament called the Lethal League. I just won my second championship in Project Honor. Slaughterhouse Wrestling has me competing in a marquee match. Promotions all over the United States and Japan have contacted me AFTER ONE FUCKING MATCH to be on their shows, to grace them with my presence, to let their grubby little dreamers rub shoulders with the Silver Fucking Starlet. EVERYONE is learning to LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOOOOOVE EMMANUELLE.
Except you.
Are you mad that someone like me is getting opportunities while being a total bitch that someone like you who plays by the old rules gets to scoop up my sloppy seconds? Yeah? Well get used to it. I’m going to continue to make little old men like you cry. The Samurai Spirit, it’s not about that honor bullshit that you believe or Arata used to believe…it’s about your own survival and the complete domination of your enemies. And I’m going to dominate you, just like I dominate anyone put in front of me.
I don’t know why there’s any need for voting, or this match, to take place, but whatever. If I have to actually show you all that I’m the best wrestler on the planet, that none of you can touch me…fine.
You all, just like all the jokers who have come before you, are just launching points for me to jump off to greater heights. Heights that little cellar dwellers like you can only hope to reach in your motherfucking dreams.
End. Fucking. Scene.
Sat Dec 03, 2022 4:36 pm by 
Subject: Grand Swagger 
