Ishikawa is getting helped to the back.
Backstage
Chloe Davis stands in front of a large TV monitor, mic in hand and a smile on her face.
Davis: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Bearer of the Jewell, EMPRESS NGOZI!
The crowd explodes in raucous applause before the Empress even appears on screen. When she does, clad in a black robe and signature orange visor with the Jewell's Championship over her left shoulder, they get even louder.
Davis: Empress, thank you for your time. How's the arm?
Ngozi raises her right arm and bends it, slowly: It's much better, Chloe, though not quite 100%. Of course, if I were 100%, I'd be the best wrestler in the world. (pauses, looks up) Oh, wait! (looks at Chloe with a smile, lowers arm) I am.
The crowd pops.
A.B.: Yes, she is.
Dominga: Real objective there, Alf.
A.B.: Zitto.
Davis: Tonight, later tonight in our main event, you have a one-on-one non-title match with the former and first-ever Jewell's Champion, Queen Cobra...
The crowd boos.
Davis: ... whom you defeated for the Jewell's Championship at Ascension last Sunday in a gruelling submission match, but who was also responsible for nearly hyperextending your arm in that match. Just 24 hours later, in our first episode, we saw her systematically target the arm in the 6-woman Tag Team Match. Are you feeling any kind of dread or anxiety going into tonight, knowing what Cobra is capable of and that your arm is going to be a target?
Ngozi: Do you know the definition of insanity, Chloe?
Davis: Yes, that's doing the same thing over and over, and...
Ngozi: ... expecting a different result, very good. Make no mistake, and this goes out to every aspiring wrestler, fighter and the like, targeting a specific limb is a sound strategy, but there's a caveat, especially when your opponent is me. (places left hand on her chest) My heart (raises finger to her temple) is still pumping blood to my brain, and my brain (brings arm down while gesturing) is still controlling the rest of my body.
The crowd pops. Chloe nods.
Ngozi: Queen Cobra targeted my arm at Ascension, and she lost. Last Monday, she and her team targeted my arm, and they lost.
Chloe: Well, to be fair, you were given an opening to tag out when Shay Maharaj cost her team the adv-
Ngozi gently places a finger to Davis's lips. The crowd pops and laughs.
Ngozi: Did they lose?
Davis nods.
Ngozi: And was it me who secured that victory?
Davis nods again.
Ngozi: Then does anything else matter?
Davis shakes her head.
Ngozi (pulls her hand away): Very good. If Queen Cobra wants to keep going in circles, repeating the same strategies, she's not going to get anywhere.
Davis: That is a fair point. Looking at it from a "big picture" perspective. Tonight's match is one-on-one, but Queen Cobra isn't really alone, is she?
Ngozi: I doubt she'll be, but I've made... preparations.
Davis: That's not what I mean.
Ngozi (raised eyebrow): Hmm?
Davis: I mentioned the six-woman from tag last week. Queen Cobra's other partner in that match was your longtime rival, the Outlaw Jessie Moore...
The crowd is a mix of intense boos and respectful cheers. Ngozi's jaw clenches at the name drop.
Davis: ... a woman whose primary career motivation for nearly 20 years has been your ultimate downfall. And even as you secured the victory for your team, you still had to look over your shoulder AT your team.
The interviewer points at the monitor, showing the video clip of Ngozi, after submitting Maharaj with the Delta, waving off Zadie Chen's attempts to help her stand, only to turn around and see Sarah Esposito holding the Jewell's title.
Davis: Here we see Sarah Esposito, the number 1 overall draft pick, and self-described fan of yours, making it a point to grab the Jewell's Championship and hand it to you, which many people interpreted as a challenge.
The clip ends with Esposito leaving the ring, Chen tilting her head, and Ngozi looking suspicious. The current Ngozi is still looking at the screen.
Davis: But it doesn't stop with the Jewell's Division. This past Friday on the Fight Pit, we heard from Tình Nhân, the mother and manager of the current Tag Team Champions, Pandemonium and the woman whose career ended well over 20 years ago. The Tag Championships are, of course, floating, meaning they could come here, to the Madhouse, any time they-
Ngozi: Is there a question here?
Davis: Very well, how do you feel knowing that you are a woman on an island surrounded by sharks?
Ngozi: Statistically speaking, if I were surrounded by sharks, I would be much safer.
Shamoon: She's right, you know. Sharks are actually less-likely-
Dominga: Shut up, Shamoon.
Ngozi: Do you know how many times I have been a World Champion, Chloe?
Davis: 14.
Ngozi (taps the Jewell, smirking): 15.
The crowd pops.
Ngozi: Which means that wherever I have been, I have reached the highest of highs, where the terrain is treacherous, and the footing is faulty, and I have stood firm! That is the expectation. That is the example. That is the STANDARD, and I am the standard-bearer as I am the Bearer of the Jewell! (snatches the microphone, pulls off her visor and looks into the camera)
Crowd: N-GO-ZI! N-GO-ZI! N-GO-ZI! N-GO-ZI! N-GO-ZI! N-GO-ZI!
The Empress holds up a finger to silence them.
Ngozi: ... ... ... Lambanog.
The crowd pops at the mention of their city's name.
Ngozi (snatchs mic, pulls off visor, looking deep into the camera): Your Empress has arrived!
She tosses the mic into the air. Davis has to scramble to catch it, nearly dropping it several times.
Davis (big sigh): Strong words from the Champion. Alf, Dominga, back to you.
Arena
Shamoon: Hey, how come she didn't mention me?
Dominga (ignoring him): I'm just going to say, winning 15 world titles is great, but it also means losing 14 world titles. So, not as impressive as it sounds.
Balducci narrows his eyes.
Dominga: With respect!
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