Grand Marais Minnesota 5:30 a.m, karlie pushes the door open to the compound’s state of the art gym, a flick of a switch brings the gym to life, she walks across the gym and sets her bag down on the bench then bends down to tie her shoes, behind her heavy footsteps of her imposing and intimidating bodyguard Hilda Meyer.

 

Hilda: Okay we get started.

 

Hilda removed her jacket.

 

Hilda: First 40 minutes on the treadmill, work on adding  endurance for the gauntlet match.

 

Karlie: I can do the match right now without breaking a sweat, but a good run on the treadmill will get the old blood pumping.

Karlie removed her hooding revealing a tight sports bra, she smirked as she stepped on the treadmill.

Karlie: And away we go.

 

Gauntlet matches require strategy and endurance, strategy depending on where you enter, enter first it becomes a test of endurance, will and strategy, enter last, well you just pick the bones of whomever is left.

 

Karlie picks up the pace on the treadmill.

 

Endurance is where I have the clear advantage. I've been an elite athlete since I was a kid, hockey, wrestling, the bed room, yeah I have endurance in spades, so I guess it comes down to strategy doesn’t it, depending upon where I enter.

 

She smirks.

 

Which really doesn’t matter to me, since I fully intend to prove once again why intelligence and pure wrestling ability always win out over brawn and well people who can’t actually wrestle.

 

The timer ends on the treadmill and Karlie steps off, she wipes herself with a towel despite barely sweating.

 

Hilda: Next one hundred fifty pushups.

 

Hilda smiled.

 

Hilda: with one arm.

 

Karlie dropped down and Hilda began counting, Karlie switched arms while pushing herself through the pushups. Hilda finished her count and Karlie sat up.

 

Hilda: Now the bench press.

 

Hilda puts 165 lbs on the bar, Karlie lays on the bench under the bench, Hilda moves behind to spot.

 

Hilda: Now give me fifteen reps.

 

Hilda lifts the bar off the bench, Karlie powers through the reps, Hilda places the bar back on the rack and Karlie sits up.

 

Karlie: What’s next?

 

Hilda: Goblet squats, 100 pound kettlebell.

 

Karlie: Okay.

 

Hilda handed Karlie the kettlebell.

 

Hilda: Now give me 150 squats.

 

Again Karlie powers through and she smirks.

 

Hilda: Okay take a short break.

 

Karlie sat on the bench taking small sips of water.

 

Alex Nelson(she claps mockingly), wow you got your first win daddy must be so proud right, and so you know I never look past any opponent, and I’m the most conditioned wrestler in the the match, and unlike your father I don’t have to rely on hardcore garbage in my matches, if you and I meet in the gauntlet, it will be interesting to see if he really thought you any real wrestling technique if just enough to get by I strive under pressure Alex and my endurance is almost god like, can you out last me, no can you out wrestle me probably not, but it will be interesting to see, I have held the valor title before if going through you means me getting another shot than so be it.

 

Karlie: What next?

 

Hilda: We spar.

 

They spar for 90 minutes, strikes, kicks, grappling.

 

After finishing up Karlie leans against the heavy bag.

 

Zolothach, yeah so I haven’t forgotten you beating me in the skirmish tournament, but it turns out your not going to get that title either, since our last match, camp Karlie has studied your matches, your movement in the ring sure your a definite unpredictable wildcard in this but I’ve seen how you play your hand and I see what’s coming from you Tabitha, and the Valor title belongs with a pure wrestling technician like me, so sucks to be you I guess.

 

People begin to file into the gym, Karlie heads to the shower as Hilda returns to destroying the heavy bag. 

 

Karlie emerges from the locker room and she and Hilda head out.

 

Later back at her residence Karlie is sitting in the grass.

 

Miguel Lanza again we meet, again in a match involving the Valor title. Remember what happened last time, you were beaten for the Valor title by eNVy, you’re honestly who I feel is the biggest threat in the gauntlet match, does that you’re automatically going to win.

 

Karlie laughed.

 

Of course not, may depend on your draw right and if you have the gas in your tank to last should you be one of the first in the match. Miguel we’re both former Valor champions and that carries weight in the gauntlet match, but titles keep leaving Eternal Grove and it’s time someone brought a title back to the group, may as well be me.

 

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.

 

Karlie stands and walks and walks inside.

 

Later Karlie is sitting in the crowd at a local wrestling promotion, the main event is the championship deathmatch, Karlie watched the match, the two wrestler one male and one female gave a display of non-wrestling, chair shots, kendo stick shot, panes of glass thumbtack table chair, blood the whole works after the match ended, the female champion retained her title and asked Karlie into the ring Karlie declined saying that she didn’t know whyshe stayed this long watching this crap.

 

The champion grabbed a mic.

Monica Meyhem: Crap, crap I busted my fucking ass tonight and you stand there and call it crap, why don’t get your ass in this ring and let me show give you a fucking lesson in deathmatch wrestling.

 

Karlie smirked and stepped into the ring, Monica yelled to ring the fucking bell, Karlie promptly kicked her ass without the use of a single weapon, she picked up the championship belt then dropped on Monica’s chest.

 

Karlie: You see what happens when these hardcore garbage wrestlers decide to fight someone with actual wrestling skill.

 

As Monica climbed to all fours, Karlie kicked her hard in the ribs, then stepped out of the ring.

 

Karlie: This shit will never top real actual wrestling.

 

She walked out of the arena as they fan booed her.

 

The next day the internet is buzzing about Karlie's attendance at the show and easily beating up the company's champion.

 

Karlie is sitting in her rec room with a reply of the show on the television screen behind.

 

So now everyone knows I lowered my standards to attend that shit show, and guess what I’m what everyone is talking about not that completely garbage show, me but that’s what happens where real wrestling talent makes an appearance.

 

Sadie, I figure Dylan Erickson may be questioning himself after he lost to you, then I beat you decisively, now you step back into an environment your not prepared a pure wrestling match a gauntlet match where when you get desperate because you can’t keep up, your shitty deathmatch skills won’t be a factor no reaching for chairs, for thumbtacks, kendo sticks, none of that hardcore shit, I exposed you and beat you without breaking a sweat, I’ve wrestled Zolothach and she miles ahead of you I’ve wrestled and beaten Miguel Lanza Jr and he is also miles ahead of you, so that makes three of your opponents miles ahead of you as it relates to in ring wrestling ability, heck Steve Nelson may even be miles ahead of you, the morale of the story Sadie, your stepping into the ring with real professional wrestlers and you in over your head, Graves but you know what I wishing for other than winning the gauntlet match is being the one you eliminated you and proves once again real wrestling always beat hardcore deathmatch crap.

 

Karlie looks at the camera.

 

Miguel, Zolothach. Steve, Sadie, in greensboro North Carolina in professional wrestling country, I’m walking in with one goal to last all of you and secure my shot at the Valor title, so Miguel, zolothach, Steve make me look good alright, and sadie try and last more then ten seconds, Greensboro, Eternal Grove steps one step closer to one again having the Valor title in our possession.

 

Psalm 27:2: "When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.