'I guess the reason it's offending me so damn much that A took that title from me... is that he didn't deserve it. I can't help but think of all the names who held it before me, you earned the strap by fighting through hell to do so. Where does Dominic Pericolo stand in line with all the champions of the past? I don't want to be 'just another NLCW champion'... I want to make the world see how much this belt means to me-- means to the NLCW. Chris said that this is my year, he told me that I really can make this year of the NLCW the best I'll have with this title. I'm on the ay to building a great legacy here... but I want to bring the company with me, not go alone. I want to bring this title higher then it is, I want to make it truly mean something again, to wipe the stain of the former champion from it's shine...'

Finally, no more bitter thoughts... I'm actually starting to rationalize things now. Walking down the sidewalk across from the suite I'm staying in, I sigh lightly. Today is going to be hectic, that photo shoot going to gain quite alot of attention from the fans... I'll probably get hounded right when I walk out the doors at the end. It'll be fine though, I honestly don't mind. I guess in a way I've came to expect that-- it'd be wrong if it didn't happen. I love my fans... love giving what I can to them. If it means taking a few more minutes out of my 'hectic schedule', then I seriously won't mind.

I love how much these people have came to support me, even all the way across the damn globe... it's incredible. I honestly never expected to be this big a name in the NLCW, and still be fighting to get even bigger. I remember recently that even JLR, a man who particularly doesn't care for myself or Chris all that much, called me up to thank me for my hard work.

I put all I have into the NLCW... I really do. I give this place my blood, sweat, tears... all of the passion for the business that I have goes into my work. From start to finish I don't rest during a match... I keep going for the fans and for the federation.

I guess I've learnt to appreciate the way things are around here more... the rich history this federation has. Hell, maybe that really is why Violent A stealing my title made me so angry... because I have such a high respect for this belt and he simply took it like it was a toy to be stolen by a jealous child.

I must give him credit however... he's a phenomenal wrestler, and has been in the NLCW much, much longer then I have. A former world champion... he's gone on tours of the world with the company before, he's seen much more then I have, and he certainly has had fans screaming for him longer. However... it works both ways, for I've seen more then he has as well. I've seen these fans take me in as a rookie and instantly accept me for who I am. I've seen these fans support me every step, of every inch of the way. That when I faced the top names of this company, names they've cheered for for so long... they still backed me up.

I've faced nearly every name the NLCW has to offer in less then a year. I've answered every challenge given to me, no matter who it is. I even beat Jeremy Diaz, an X-Net world champion, when I went to represent this federation on Avulsion two weeks in a row against him.

I've been through cage/ladder combination matches... hardcore matches... final solution matches...

"... and I'm still fucking standing, A..." I whispered silently to myself, looking to the sky with a glare in my eye.

Any normal man wouldn't be able to fight after going through much... you'd expect there to be some injuries after all the damage he'd taken, but no... I'm still here. And what amazes me is guys like Bucky are still here as well. He's banged up as hell... but he's still fighting.

I've learnt to respect the people I've faced here, too. Maybe that's another reason I got so pissed at A-- he betrayed that respect when he stole my damn belt.

But, I guess to A... respect might not mean much in this game.

Hopefully Tyler Scott feels differently.

In a way... I have to go into Avulsion expecting a handicap match. After last week, you can bet the painted bastard's going to be coming after me... I desperately need to keep an eye out for that if I want to keep this winning streak alive. Then, regardless of whether or not I'm able to stop him, A will then go on to talk about how he's going to take my title 'for real' this time. He might even claim that one day he'll end my career, that I'll go to sleep each night and see that freakish mug of his beneath my lids. That one day he'll destroy me, and make it so that no one remembers Dominic Pericolo or that hope he held to make the title bigger then it ever was.

You know something, A? It doesn't matter what happens at this point... whether or not you beat Perry or Bucky. It doesn't matter if you try to stop me in my match with Tyler Scott, nor will it matter if you continue to beat my ass all throughout the weeks leading into Sultan of the Squared Circle. Because no matter how badly you beat me... I'll stand right back up. Know what else, A? You're not going to stop this reign, either. Not after everything I went through to earn the belt... not after the hell I've had to fight through just to keep the damn thing within the first month.

You want to play the big bad challenger, A? It's time you realize something here and now; there's going to be more challenges for me then just you. YOu're not my be-all-end-all. Look at this Tyler Scott kid I have to face on Avulsion... he's young, talented, and he's looking for the big win in his NLCW debut. This kid's going out there with all he has, just to prove himself against the world champion. He's going to be a challenge for me, because he has that strong, burning desire to win that's so very similar to my own.

Look at Bucky Skyler-- 2nd degree burns on his chest yet he fights onward, possibly one day going on to try and take the belt again. The man went through hell and fire and came up short... yet he's still pacing forward.

Look at Sugar Shane Perry... he didn't even let the loss effect him. The tough bastard's going to keep fighting on until he gets this title around my waist... THAT is fucking dedication. THAT is no limits.

You... you just stole the belt. You stole it, said how badly you just wanted to pretend for one week that you were the champion, and then gave it back.

That's not the actions of a champion, Violent A... that's the actions of a child. A child who just wants to be something he can't yet be.

I looked at my watch, I had been walking around Osaka for about an hour, it was time to head back in. I turned around to head back... the apartments were only a 10 minute walk away-- I didn't know my way around well enough to walk too far off without losing track of where I was, so I figured to just walk around the general area.

Looking to the sky I smiled softly, thinking about Suki waiting back at home for me. Plenty of time to get home, get ready, and get going to the shoot... and she'd be with me all throughout.

I'm prepared for A... prepared for everything he plans on bringing me. I'm prepared for any possible sneak attacks, the Black Rain...

There's nothing he can do that will take me off-guard... and rest assured, Tyler Scott will face an opponent with his mind focused solely on the match at hand.

Even if his eyes are trained to spot any oncoming attacks from elsewhere.