Io Won’t Give Up Without a Fight

While the crowd was booing, and Toni was parading around with the title, Io was finally coming to and sitting up, wincing from just that simple action. After such a big crash, she would be lucky if nothing was broken.

“Can you stand? Io, can you stand?” One of the trainers asks upon seeing her awake and sitting up, the Joshi Judas nodding as another one helps her up to her feet, starting to lead her up the ramp, Io slowly limping from her majorly missed Moonsault.

“Oh shut up…” Io turns around with another wince at that loud shout from the ring, there was Toni, holding her title. And suddenly, her vision went red. How dare she, this couldn’t stand?! She had to get her ****, injuries be damned!

“Io…what are you…” One of the trainers asks as she pushes past them, almost falling down from her first unassisted step. But she preservers, managing to make it into the ring and sliding in, even if it is a struggle to just get back up to her feet in a corner.

“Not. Like. That.” Io growls, the crowd popping while Toni suddenly goes wide eyed, shocked that Shirai was even back into the ring!

“Wha—what? Ref, it’s over, I’m the champ,” Toni says, nervously giggling as she holds a bit tighter onto the title, this was all over, she was champion already, why should there be a match tonight at all? Io should be in the back, and the back of the line already.

“I need to fight. Let me defend.” Io says, glaring at both Toni and the ref, she wasn’t about to let the blonde rockstar take her title, especially not like that.

“It’s. Over.” Toni repeats, now moving to try and hide the title behind her back, as though that would stop anything from happening. The ref, clearly conflicted, walked over to the apron where Regal was waiting, very clearly mouthing ‘What Do I Do?’

The GM wanted to tell him to throw out the match, who knew how badly Io was hurt, and even in a special match such as this, she could get hurt much worse. However, he had promised a title match, Io wanted it, and the thought of Toni being the brand’s champion, after her actions, especially in a manner like this, sickened him. At least if she won the match, she’d have technically earned it.

“Yeah…ring the bell.” Regal says, the crowd popping as he turns to head to the back. Io meanwhile grinned wickedly in the ring, she may be hurt, but she was fueled by rage, adrenaline, and vengeance. She obviously had a chance. The only person not happy with the decision was…

“You can’t do this to me!” Toni screams, now in a tug of war with the title belt with the referee, the ring announcer sliding into the ring while the almost new champion continued to plead her case in vain.

“The match is over! Finite, finished! There shouldn’t be a rematch!” Toni screams, before the ref finally pulls the belt away from her, getting ready for introductions while Toni looked beyond upset.

“The following contest is a Bra And Panties Match scheduled for ONE FALL! And it is for the N.X.T. WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP!” While his prior announcement had been lacking in verve, the announcer was his normal self for this, the crowd cheering loudly for the announcement.

“The only way to win is to strip your opponent to their bra and panties, and then pin or submit them. Now, if Toni Storm loses this match, her NXT Contract will be TERMINATED!” While the original stipulation and match announcement got a loud reaction, this one got one even louder. Needless to say, a lot of fans wanted Toni gone. Whether that be to the main roster, back to NXT UK, or wherever, they just did not want to deal with her ego every week.

“However, if Io Shirai loses this match, she must kneel down, wrap the title around Toni Storm’s waist, and kiss her backside, or face an indefinite suspension and lose her claim to any future NXT Women’s title shots.” For the first time since this match was announced, Toni actually laughed and struck another pose, smacking her ass a couple times. Meanwhile, Io, while still looking calm and collected, actually felt a brief flash of surprise. She hadn’t known what would happen if she lost and didn’t follow Toni’s special stipulations.

“Introducing first, the challenger: from Gold Coast, Australia, she is the self proclaimed Top Star of NXT: TONI STORM!” Toni steps forward at the announcement, striking her classic pose to loud booing, while looking upset by the announcement again.

“I’m not the challenger! I’m the rightful champion! You all heard the announcement earlier!” Toni screams as the ref forces her back into her corner, still struggling and demanding she be recognized as champion after the earlier announcement.

“And her opponent: from Tokyo, Japan, she is the current reigning and defending NXT Women’s Champion, the…” The ring announcer pauses and looks over, seeing a small smirk on Io’s face. She had totally slipped in an extra notecard into his introduction backstage. “The woman who made Toni Storm tap out and lose her mind three weeks ago.” The crowd pops and laughs, while the blonde is furious, stomping over to the ring announcer only for the ref to have to pull her back again.

“You Tapped Out! You Tapped Out!”

“She is IO SHIRAI!” The crowd pops again at the announcement, while Io grins and rolls her eyes at Toni’s fury, the champ may be hurt, but Storm was clearly angry before this match started. The ref meanwhile held up the title and then gave it to the announcer, who slid out of the ring. Not wasting a single second, the ref called for the bell.

DING DING!