All I'm Asking

As the first notes of the [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxCsy0wPlIE:3c9j6l61]familiar entrance theme[/url:3c9j6l61] hit the arena, the fans and audience of the AFW burst into a series of cheers and applause, roaring for their champion Angel as she appeared atop the entrance ramp, confidently making her way down to the ring, her title slung over one shoulder, a microphone clutched in one hand.

Calm. Angel was feeling calm. Relaxed, even. Gone was her initial anger towards Taylor, replaced by a feeling of complete and utter calm. Did part of her still wish she could go off on Taylor like she really wanted to? Of course. But she wouldn't. She hadn't let her anger get out of hand in a very long time, not since...well, not since Nikolette. She wasn't going to let it happen, either. She knew that was exactly what Taylor wanted, and she wasn't going to play into her hands by getting mad. Angel was better than that. Stronger than that.

She hit the ring and climbed up onto the apron, stepping through the ropes and heading to the center of the ring, raising her microphone to her lips. She wasn't wasting any time tonight, no posturing or posing for the crowd. She planned on getting straight to the point.

"Respect," the Latina began, looking out over the audience, her vision slowly panning across the crowd. "My entire career here in the AFW, I've struggled for two things. This title..." she gestured to her shoulder, to the belt hanging over it. "...and for respect." She shook her head, Angel's expression remaining calm. "I've had way too many bitches come out into this ring and tell me I'm nothing. Tell me I'm trash, tell me how bad they were going to beat me. I've had people stand out here and tell me that I've been protected by the upper management, and that's the only reason that I've gotten so many shots at this title. My title. I've gotten no respect from them. None."

She took a moment to pause, taking a deep breath to keep herself calm before she continued. "Let me make one thing clear, right here, and right now. I deserve everything I've gotten. Every title shot, every single one. I've worked my ass off to get to where I am. I've been beaten down, bloodied, bruised, and broken. I've fought the biggest, toughest women in this company, and I've kept coming back for more."

Angel lowered her microphone for a moment, a wry smile crossing her face, before she lifted it back up to continue. "And did I ever quit? Did I ever give up? No. I've stuck to it, and I've kept fighting. Even while some people decided to call it quits, and decided to leave, I stuck around. I kept leaving everything I had in this ring, just so I could get to where I am today.

"So Taylor? I know you're listening back there, and if you're not, you should at least listen to this part, alright?" Her voice hardened, taking on a tougher, sterner tone. "No one in this company can call me a loser, the least of all you. No one can say I haven't worked hard to get to where I am, and no one can tell me that I don't know anything about hard work and sacrifice."

She reached for her title, lifting it off of her shoulder, holding it high into the air above her. "You and me? We're going to fight, and I'm going to show you my passion. I'm going to show you everything that I'm made of. I'm going to teach you to have a little respect for your champion, when I leave you beaten in this ring, when I'm standing tall above you. Then we'll see if you can still run your mouth about me, chica."

With that, she dropped her microphone and went to slide out of the ring, making her exit back to the backstage, leaving the arena and the audience behind her.