"The following contest is scheduled for one fall!" The ring announcer took over from the commentary, getting the ball rolling for the show's second match of the night. "It is a first round match of the Women's Rubicon Gauntlet!"

[url=https://youtu.be/sE145i0c5z8?si=i7OOeZjvlNTuPEEs]Fiona's music[/url] kicked in as blue and white lighting took over the arena, the spotlights all centering on the screen and ramp, which launched into a mixed montage of Fiona's in-ring action and some of the photoshoots and video promos she'd done for NMW already. She came out to warm cheers from the crowd, walking with a confident strut and a bit of playfulness down towards the ring, Kendra a few paces back. She gave out a few high fives, but her overall demeanor in front of the fans was a little less bubbly than usual, not surprising given who she was up against.

"Introducing first, accompanied by Kendra Snipes... from Seattle, Washington, [i]Fiona Chevaaalieerr![/i]"

She strode around the corner of the ring, stepping up onto the apron and turning to face the crowd before she unzipped her leather jacket and shrugged it off, tossing it down to an event staffer. She put her elbows up on the top rope, resting one foot on the bottom one and tilting her head and smiling a little for the camera beneath her as the cameraman came around. She then bounced on the bottom rope and used it to flip up and over backwards over the top rope, landing smoothly on her feet and forcefully flipping her long black hair back behind her, smiling more fully for the crowd.

"Fiona has really developed into a rising star in this business," Dan Rich declared, "and it looks like she means business tonight. I can't wait for this!"

"I won't deny her career is taking off," Brent countered, "but we're about to compare a commercial jet to a [i]rocketship[/i], guys. With the same experience, Shin Choon-hee is already a champion, and we saw last week how Fiona fared against real championship material."

"She's got a tall task ahead, no doubt," admitted Rhonda, "but she nearly took down Shin Choon-hee last time. If she can minimize the mistakes, she can-"

"Last time was a year ago, Rhonda." Brent wasn't having it. "And since then Shin Choon-hee has done nothing but win. Can Fiona win with a mistake free match? Sure, but we haven't seen that kind of consistency from her yet. She can have all the 'never give up' attitude she wants, I don't think she'll hold up under this level of firepower."

"Both of these young ladies have something to prove tonight," Dan concluded, "not to mention the chance to continue in the Rubicon Gauntlet on the line. It should be a great one."

Fiona stepped down from the corner she'd been playing to the crowd in, her entrance time just about up. She and Kendra hugged briefly in the ring before her tag partner exited, leaving Fiona alone between the ropes with the ring announcer and the referee. Fiona was trying not to think about her history with Shin Choon-hee, and certainly not about what awaited her if she actually won. If she focused on anything other than the task at hand, she knew Shin Choon-hee would make short work of her again. The Korean woman hit like a truck despite being similar size to Fiona, and was absolutely devastating with momentum.

[i]The fans gave me this chance with the votes,[/i] she reminded herself. [i]I've got all the tools to win this. Just need to give it everything from bell to bell, and put on the show they came here to watch.[/i]