Ribbon-Cutting with the Fans

As the crowd finished settling into their seats, the lights around the main arena in Rose Hall began to dim, until they descended into pitch black. The voices around the arena started to fall into a hush, wondering what was about to happen. It stayed like that for a few moments, until finally, a single spotlight flicked to life, shining directly into the middle of the ring -- and showing off a familiar blonde man, clad in a white shirt and snakeskin pants that clung to his frame. Dangling from his neck was a golden necklace, shimmering in the bright spotlight.

"Welcome, one and all, to the newly founded Wrestle Island!" Kamo Ryusaki, general manager, announced into his microphone. For a moment, mild applause broke through the crowd. This was not an entirely new audience; some of them have seen Kamo at work, and they were unamused. For a moment, if one looked closely at Kamo, they would notice that a grimace flashed across his face at this tepid response. It was only for a moment, though; easy to miss, which most of the audience did. "We've been working hard at this place for all of you to enjoy, to watch all of your favorite wrestlers up close and personal, see them in any number of situations that you can't get anywhere else.

"And wrestlers -- welcome to the island, your new home! I hope you find your lodgings to be comfortable. We worked quite hard to make sure each and every person would have a lovely place to stay. A few rules -- wrestling is permitted almost everywhere. There are a couple of places that are off-limits, but good luck finding them!" He grinned lightly, his hand moving to his hip as he spoke. The crowd roared at the announcement, and Kamo couldn't help but give a wide, toothy grin, showing those pearly whites to the audience. That was more of the response he was looking for.

"Now, I know we were doing fairly well before -- we had a few people around who were fighting for the belts and everything. Now that we're on the Island, everything has been reset. There are all-new belts for you to contend for -- but don't worry. Former belt holders will have a spot reserved for them in the contention of the title they've had to abdicate. We have the After Dark belt still, since -- come on, isn't that what we're all here for!?" Another roar. Kamo had them, hook, line, and sinker. "And we still have the overall champion, the GWA Champion belt! But with our new setting, we decided to expand it a bit -- so now, feast your eyes on the brand-new Island Champion belt!"

With that, a blue-haired man moved into the ring quickly, holding a black belt with gold emblems on his shoulder, and the main symbol in the middle of the GWA, the two men wrestling, while palm trees stood tall on either side of them. "Because the idea of Wrestle Island is that a match could happen anywhere, the belt runs off of the same theme. That's right -- as long as a referee is around to witness the match, the Island Belt can be fought for anywhere, at any time. In the restaurant, on the beach, in a cave, in the shopping district -- anywhere." Casimir thrust the belt into the air at that, holding it horizontally for everyone to see, which just elicited a roar from the audience.

"Now then -- I'm sure the question on everyone's mind is, how do I sign up to fight for a belt? All you have to do is find me. My office is right in the Headlock Hotel, at the top floor. All wrestlers should have been given a card key to use, to get to the top. Just make sure you don't get ambushed into a match on your way up!

"And with that, Wrestle Island is officially, properly, open!"