Staggs Dungeon…
Sam Marlowe walks into a room that is very familiar to viewers. As she advances towards a workout area and ring set up, she unshoulders a battered green backpack and lets it fall to the floor. She is dressed in a pair of tights, with converse hightops, a Vixen tee that is knotted at the small of her back and a light University of Nevada hoodie. No one seems to be there but the redhead. Reaching into the bag at her feet, she pulls out a pair of earbuds and an elastic. Straightening up once more, her hands reach up to the curling redhair and pulls it up into a messy ponytail that hangs down her back before she moves to the wall where mirrors show everything behind her, depositing the bag on a bench there.
Moving back, Sam spreads her feet out and then begin to stretch out, her body bending at the waist as she touches the top of one shoe then walks across to the other. Rolling her shoulders, she unbends and arches back before rolling to the side then forward once more.
From behind her a door can be heard to open. Ignoring it, Sam continues to stretch. Footsteps can be heard walking along the floor towards the redhead who finally stands and then looking into the mirror begins smiling.
“Howdy stranger,” she taunts the woman walking towards her. The other is dressed in a pair of ripped jeans, white sweater and black combat boots. The eyebrow of the advancing woman raises ever so slightly at the sight of Sam in the room. “I hope you don’t mind me warming up first before you put me through my paces.”
The eyebrow lowers as one side of the other woman’s lips quirk into a smirk. “Vraiment, you are going to need it,” responds Vixen Staggs as she hooks her thumbs into her jean pockets. Sam chuckles at her trainer who lets the smirk fade. “You think I am kidding? Voyons donc!”
Sam shakes her head as she brings one arm across her chest using the other to anchor it and stretch it out. “I am not thinkin’ y’all are kidding, it is just that I miss your trainin’ is all. Considering you had been rather busy with what you were doing and then the radio silence…” Sam’s voice trails off after glancing at the face of Vixen that had hardened for a moment before she turns away and walks towards the bench where Sam’s bag is resting.
Reaching down, Vixen sends it to the floor then sits herself down. “Yeah, but now you are here and no more radio silence eh? Let’s get started, shall we? First we will begin with some lunges…” states Vixen. “From a pushup, considering that you have a title match to train for.”
Sam’s eyes widen in surprise. “You heard about that?” she demands as she leans down to place her hands on the mat in front of Vixen and gets comfortable before she starts to bring a knee to her chest.
“I am quiet…not deaf,” answers Vixen as she crosses her leg over her knee and sets her hands around her knee. “Of course, I heard that you have a bombshell Roulette title match. And you have come here to train and get information. Well, I can give you the first but not the second.”
Sam looks up at Vixen who is contemplating the redhead. “I appreciate the training but information? Nah, I am not looking for information on Royal Purple,” huffs Sam as she continues to pull her knees up to her chest. “I know she is in GRIME and you were too but I don’t want to go into this match with preconceived notions. And if you tell me about her then I am going to underestimate just how dangerous that she could be. I want to be prepared for what can happen but not lackadaisical when it comes to Royal Purple by getting you to tell me about her.”
Vixen scoffs hearing that from Sam who is now huffing more from the exercising. “Enough lunges, to your feet and take this rope for some cardio…” commands Vixen with a grin. Sam makes her way to her feet as Vixen grabs the rope and tosses it at Sam who catches the tangle. “I think that you have to realize that with Royal Purple being in GRIME, you can’t prepare for her because she is unpredictable. I will admit though that it might work in your favour.”
Sam shakes out the jumprope before looking up in surprise at Vixen. “What do you mean?” asks Sam as she puts the rope behind her knees then begins to spin it, starting a rhythm of jumping. A soft hiss of breath escapes each time her feet hit the floor. “I don’t think that knowin’ that she is unpredictable is going to help me Vix. I get that she is dangerous and respect that because to be Bombshell Roulette title holder, dangerous is the name of the game.” Sam’s breathing quickens as does the rope as she jumps in a rhythm.
“Dangerous is as dangerous does,” paraphrases Vixen as she looks at her fingernails almost like she is ignoring Sam. “Does she know that I trained you? Does she realize that you have learned some of the attitude that Spike and I taught you? I bet she is thinking that you are going to be the one that won’t do what is necessary because you are the good girl that everyone sees. I bet they still think that you aren’t willing to go the distance to win the title. Tell me, is she doubting what you are capable of?”
Sam breathes deeply as she jumps rope for a moment without answering. Vixen fixes her with a look that seems to demand an answer which is not long in coming. “I don’t think that she is doubting it per se. I think that she is probably thinking that since she is the champion, she is better than me,” offers Sam as Vixen motions for her to speed up. The rope becomes a blur as Sam’s feet tap lightly on the floor.
“I am sure that is definitely what she is doing because that is just the attitude that she gives off. Can’t you tell with the name Royal Purple? She is very self-aware and self-confident. So, my advice to you is not to think about her,” says Vixen as she holds up a hand which has Sam stop jumping. The soft thwack of the rope on the back of Sam’s legs punctuates Vixen’s comment. Vixen rises to her feet and then moves towards a speed bag that hangs beside a heavy bag.
Sam tosses the jump rope to the side and follows her trainer to the heavy bag and is surprised when Vixen holds out a pair of gloves to Sam. Sam takes them slowly and tucking one under her arm, she pulls the second on her hand. Vixen waits patiently as she watches Sam who pulls on the first glove. Sam then shadow boxes slightly while Vixen moves to hold the heavy bag.
“Vixen, what will happen if I don’t think about her?” asks Sam as she sends one fist into the bag. Vixen grunts slightly with the impact. “I mean that you usually tell me to think about who I am facing and what they are capable of…now you are telling me to not think about it?
“Sam, you are very ring capable, aren’t you?” asks Vixen which gets a nod from Sam. “So, instead of thinking about it, you should just rely on your instincts. Ostie, you have won that title how many times? You know what you need to do, so do it, don’t think it.”
Sam stops punching the bag and gives Vixen a hard look. Vixen motions for her to continue but Sam holds up her hand. “Hold up there Vix,” begins Sam, “y’all can’t just Mr. Miyagi me with some kind of wax on, wax off speech and expect me to be fine with it. I mean you really have to give me a bit more of a pep talk than that.”
Vixen pushes the heavy bag into Sam knocking her back. Sam shoots Vixen a ‘wtf’ look which only draws a sneer from Vixen. “Are you wanting me to tell you that you have this match in the bag and there isn’t anything to worry about? Voyons, that is vraiment stupide Sam. If that’s what you expect then there is nothing I can do for you.” Vixen steps away from the bag and begins to walk away only to have Sam put a hand on her arm.
“I’m sorry Vix,” offers Sam before biting her lip in self-doubt. “This match has me in knots,” she admits slowly. “I think that I am ready for it and then this…” Sam points to her head with a sigh, “Gets in the way. You know how I get. This time it isn’t self-doubt that has me messed up. It is the fact that I am getting the feeling that people don’t really want to see me win this title because I am the ‘good girl’ and it seems that they only need me to be the sacrificial lamb for their champions that need to be given an easy win.” As Sam is speaking, she had turned back to the bag and slams a fist hard into it.
Vixen smiles behind the back of Sam as the redhead angrily attacks the bag. Vixen begins to circle the bag as she watches the emotions working across the face of Sam as she really begins to throw hard rights and lefts into it. Vixen stops directly in front of Sam and then throws a kick into the swinging bag that sends it towards Sam who is surprised but stops it with a kick of her own. Vixen laughs at the surprised Sam.
“See, not thinking will have you ready for Royal Purple,” says Vixen. “Your instincts will serve you well in the match. Now…again…”
The scene fades out on Vixen pushing the bag towards Sam again making her throw a punch at it.
A video screen can be seen with snow playing, the loud hiss of it filling a dark room. Suddenly, the snow snaps into a picture of a dark room with a spotlight making a corridor of light leading towards the screen. Into the light, a figure moves and is silhouetted against the light. The figure has a distinct feminine shape as it moves forward, the shadowy figure getting bigger and bigger until features can be seen in the light from what appears to be a screen.
The image seen is a mask of Royal Purple that turns slightly to look into the camera then tilts in the opposite direction. No sound comes from the image as the screen begins to blink and flash with the image of the mask flashing to the face of Sam Marlowe who is in the same position as the mask was before the screen changed to her face.
“Imagine if you will, a contest pitting a woman in a mask against a known quantity in a woman that wears no mask and has put herself out there from the beginning. Showing her real face and being an open book. One would look at that match and the odds would be against the unmasked woman,” says the image of Sam softly.
Behind her, images start to flash in the light of the spotlight. Title matches playing on a white screen showing the Bombshell Roulette title being contested. Sam’s eyes get a distant look in them as her head tilts slightly to the right to allow more of the screen to be seen.
“Royal Purple, someone that wears a mask but fights like a veteran. Makes one wonder don’t you think. I mean she could be anyone under that mask. And that in itself is something that turns the odds on their heads even more. I could be facing someone that has years under their ‘belt’ and are more experienced than I am. Or I could be facing someone that is just lucky when she steps in the ring. One thing is for certain though…” she begins as she holds up a finger beside her face as she slowly smiles and continues with a chuckle. “Royal Purple is not someone to take lightly.”
Sam lays the finger against her nose and crinkles it slightly. “I may be out of line saying this but I get it, Royal Purple is the champion and, in this match, this makes her the odds-on favorite to win the match. She has the champion’s edge so to speak. Anyone that doesn’t take that into account has lost the match before it even begins. Which is why I am laser focused on the fact that I have to overcome those odds and trust me when I say that they are definitely a small roadblock on my way to my regaining the title that I have been identified with the most. Historically there have been many Bombshell Roulette champions however, when the title is mentioned, it isn’t the name of Royal Purple that is associated with that belt. The only association is that she is the one holding the title right now.”
Sam’s lips curl into a friendly smile and her head tilts offering the camera a half profile glance as if Sam is turned to speak to someone to the side. “I don’t have to speak of my association with the title belt and the majority of records that I have my name attached to them. And I get the fact that I can’t rest on my history with the title either. I am a multiple time winner of the Bombshell Roulette title so I can’t claim to be the best because to be a multiple time winner means that I have won and lost the title a couple of times. And even trying to justify being such a great champion would be stretching the truth. And given the fact that I am not going to even try makes so much sense. And that is ironic on its face.”
Sam sighs as if the last comment was pulled from her. She once more looks into the camera lens.
“The irony is that when it comes to the title, champion and challenger alike talk about how they will be the better wrestler in the match and how they are going to win the belt and once more be the champion. I have to admit that in the past I have been on both sides of that argument and I am guilty of sayin’ exactly that,” she offers with a guilty smile. “I realize now that saying something like that is just playing into the broken record that is match talk and match hype. But this time is different…”
Sam walks backwards slightly as she melds into the images flashing around her. “I wonder Purple…I can call you Purple, can’t I? I wonder just how much one can actually say that they are going to win the title match, say that they are the best when it comes to the title and holding it. The Bombshell Roulette title is inherently a title match that is ultimately dependent on fate deciding the match type. Which in that case, the odds would be fifty fifty now wouldn’t they be? I would also wonder that given those odds, either one of us will get the win and both of us can claim to be the better wrestler. It will come down to who wants to win this match the most.”
At this point, Sam reaches up to brush her hair back and she looks to the side where an image of Royal Purple with the belt can be seen flickering. “You have the current champion with all the confidence of a ring veteran who knows that she is very capable of retaining the title with the fact that she has been a force to be reckoned with in Sin City Wrestling. And I will freely admit that she has a great win record going for her with the fact that she gets into the ring and wins…a lot. She is someone that will step into the ring and bring the fight to whomever she is facing and make them realize that they have gotten into the ring with a machine who won’t stop until they have won or they have been beaten to a point where they can’t come back. The former more than the latter has added to her air of dominance when it comes to in ring battles. I have to definitely give her the props when it comes to having a winning confidence and ability to dominate in the ring.”
The admission brings a look of determination to her face. The image of Royal Purple flickers again, this time the title belt is held in one hand but slips through her fingers although no emotion is seen on the mask. “Have you ever heard Purple that the tighter you hold on to something the faster it slips through your fingers? I know that you like holding the title, I did when I held it. But I learned that the harder I held on to the title, the easier it was to beat me.” Says Sam as she cocks her head slightly as if listening. “I suppose this is where you would say that it is easy to beat me regardless but that is okay. When people said that, they tended to be on the losing side of the match. Hellfire, when I said that, I was on the losing end of the match myself. So, I am not going to say that Purple.”
Sam crosses her arms over her chest and turns her head to the other side where an image of herself is standing dressed the same she is. Sam offers the image a smile that it mirrors before both turn to look into the camera lens.
“I want to tell you Purple that I am ready for this match, more than ready actually. See, I know that you are the champion. I know you beat someone that beat me. I will even admit that it is quite possible that you confident enough to say that I don’t stand a chance of taking back that title belt. I will even tell you to go ahead and keep thinking that so when we get in that ring, you will come at me with all confidence. That is the champion I want to face Purple, the cocky confident wrestler that I suspect you are. I am not going to deny it,” offers Sam before she leans towards the camera, matched by her image once again. “I am not going to deny it but I am going to tell you something and I want you to listen closely.”
Looking both to her right and left, Sam leans in even closer as if sharing a secret with her opponent.
“Purple, this match at Blaze of Glory nine is not about winning or losing a title belt. No, this match is for redemption of a sort for me. It has been a while since I have won a championship and, in all actuality, I am coming into this match as the underdog. Yes, you are the champion, but the fight in this bombshell is something you are going to have to be ready to face because I am not going to stop in this match. I will be bringing the fight to you with every fiber of my being. This championship match is something that I have earned by beating two other women by climbing a ladder and snatching the briefcase with the contract. And signing that contract was climbing another ladder to earn this match. Wouldn’t be ironic if the wheel o’matches landed on a ladder match?”
Sam giggles as does her twin.
“Regardless of what match is chosen, no matter what needs to be done, no matter how much pain you put me through and no matter how much you want to retain the Bombshell Roulette title,” offers Sam, her fingers curling into a fist. “I am not going to sit back and let you have the opportunity to beat me Purple. I am coming with a fire that is going to burn down any dream you have of retaining that title and I am going to once more wear that title, proudly and confidently. The only roadblock that I can see isn’t you Purple, the only roadblock is me but at the supercard, that roadblock will be gone! I am coming for the title Purple. Which means that there are only two things you can do…accept that I am not going to be beaten and respect the fact that I am going to bring the fight to you with more heart and more determination than you will be able to overcome. The title will be mine…”
With that comment, Sam’s fist pumps into the air in front of her chest. Suddenly, the fist is released and Sam turns before stepping into a flashing and blinking image that turns once more into the Royal Purple mask which is now obscured with a red circle and a line through it which bursts into flames that causes the image to burn and melt to a white screen before it blinks to darkness.
