Scene One-Finding a father.
Off Camera  
Washington D.C  
February 2018

“Have you told him yet?” The question burned in Alicia’s ears as she stared out into the backyard of the large home on the outskirts of D.C she shared with Michael. He stood in middle of the grass talking to Alicia and Zoey’s brother Josh laughed and talked to him. Zoey sat behind Alicia patiently waiting for an answer as the silence between them grew. Alicia looked down and turned back to her sister. Zoey looked nothing like her. Her hair was a dark brown, her face was long and slender. She looked my more like their mother. Josh and Alicia on the other hand had their fathers features.  

Long blond hair, blue eyes, skin that tanned easily. Zoey was the odd one out. Both of her younger siblings had been in the wrestling business. Josh retiring from it to get married and have a child. He worked hard. Zoey left after her wrestler boyfriend broke her heart.“No, Michael doesn’t know….” The words were hard to say, to form. Or to even think about. Zoey made a small huffing noise, Alicia looked up and raised an eyebrow.  

“What?” It came out a lot more forceful than Alicia had meant. Zoey simply rolled her eyes and pushed off the stool that sat near the kitchen bench, her fingers dancing along the black marble as she joined Alicia near the window looking out at Michael, Josh, the boys. She grabbed Alicia’s arm pulling her around. Forcing her to look at them. “He isn’t going to care V….” Alicia winced hearing even the first letter of her birth name. She sighed deeply and gave a nod. Zoey knocked on the window and motioned to Josh, he moved inside with the boys who hugged their mother goodbye.

“Remember...he’ll understand…” She gave a small wink being dragged out the door as Alicia folded her arms over herself again holding herself tight.  

“So…” Michael’s voice rang out through the kitchen as Alicia turned to face him, his face plastered with a cheeky almost boyish grin beneath his beard, he stepped forward and slid his arms around Alicia cupping them around her lower back pulling her against him. “What shall we do while Ryan and Rory spend time with their aunt and uncle?” Alicia gave a small shrug and a smile as Michael leaned down giving her a slow but passionate kiss. As Michael pulled back he tilted his head with a smirk.“What’s wrong?....what’d you and Zoey break?”

She couldn’t help but laugh and roll her eyes despite being nervous and not sure how to bring it up. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath.“There was another reason for Zoey and Josh’s visit. Zoey called me last week and…” Alicia paused and chewed on her bottom lip looking down and away, Michael now seemed concerned noticing the change in Alicia’s body language. His hand drifted from her lower back to her face slowly moving a strand of her golden blonde hair from her face.  

“What’s wrong Alicia?” She swallowed hard and backed up a little leaning against the black marble bench, her hands gripping it as she pulled herself up to sit on the edge. “Zoey told me that she wanted to find Dad. And I agreed to help. I agreed to pay for a private investigator". Alicia paused for a moment as Michael tilted his head again bringing his hand up to his chin as he seemed in thought. Before he could say anything Alicia continued.  

“I know he hasn’t been the best dad and last time I saw him really hurt me, I know that I shouldn’t care or that I should of talked to you but...I..” She took a deep breath as all the memories flooded back. She remembered Jason leaving when she was five, Josh and Zoey were babies, they didn’t know the feeling like Alicia. She remembered every time her father had come in and out of her life the last two years. The anger, the pain, the resentment. All of it flooded back, along with Michael being there the last time to pull her back from the bring. To remind her of who she was and what she’d accomplished. Michael cleared his throat and Alicia straightened in fear.  

“He’s your father. And he’s family. I wish you would have come to me first though…” She gave a small nod of acceptance and slid back down onto her feet, she got close to Michael and slowly put her hand on his chest. “I know we’re getting married so everything like that I should talk to you about…” Michael laughed and kissed her on the forehead. “Not just that but, I have my own investigator, very good, works business mostly but he would have helped if I had asked..”  

They stood in silence for a few moments, Alicia breathing deep with a sigh of relief, the feeling of stupidity rolling over her as she realised she should never be scared to tell Michael anything. He has been her rock, her savior. He had never lied to her or hurt her, he had never emotionally blackmailed her or used her. Michael was her guardian angel and had tried to get rid of the demons that Alicia had always brought with her as a type of baggage.  

Baggage that destroyed friendships and all her relationships. Baggage that could have killed her and led her to a life of drinking and stupidity. “Is this because you want him at our wedding?” The question caught her off guard. She stumbled her words and shook her head before taking a deep breath.“Yes…” He gave her a smile and another softer kiss. “Then find him….”

Scene Two: Moments
On Camera
Arizona
Present Day

”There’s only a few moments that separate the haves from the have-nots in the professional wrestling world.”

Alicia’s eyes open, her black mascara framing her bright blue that shines out. Her long blonde hair flowing from under her bandana.

”A win here, a loss there. Different things motivate different people. A Lot has to go right for you to become a champion or stay a champion. Sure, there’s a lot of skill involved but there’s also a lot of luck and a lot of willpower that goes into all of it. I didn’t get here myself. I didn’t stand on top of the mountain by myself. But I did do it in a fair way. That is the difference between myself and others. I never take shortcuts. I’ve had my chances, I’ve had those moments to cheat and to use the rules as more of a guide. But I never broke them.

“It’s never been in my nature.”

“I’m a competitor, not someone who is a fame or gloryhound.”

“That is the difference between myself and Brittany and her family.”

“When I returned to the US from Japan about 4 years ago I came back with a chip on my shoulder and a need to be the best. I came from a world where if you cheated the punishment would outweigh the gains you could get from it. Honor, respect, the warrior spirit and way they called bushido. That ruled my life for years. That forced me to get better. And for 6 years that is what I had in my life. It was a culture shock when I came home. See when you’re in another country you live in this bubble. Outside of it doesn’t really matter. And I knew the names of some of the bigger American stars and I wanted to get better to face them...imagine my shock...my surprise when I really looked at some of those names…”

Alicia scoffs and shakes her head, a look of frustration and disappointment coming over her face.

”I went to bigger companies, I wrestled anyone and everyone I was put in the ring with and I won titles. I walked in and took what I wanted and I did it by just being better. I didn’t rely on my family name to get there and I never needed to. In fact no one knew I was Jason Maxwells kid, it was a fact I hid from EVERYONE. Brittany and I are alike in that. We are both children of this business. We both have parents that had a name. But while Brittany walked around proclaiming to everyone who she was, I didn’t want to.”

“While Brittany has done everyone to emulate mommy dearest, I have done everything I can to separate myself from my father’s legacy.”

“And look at the success I have had. Not just in SCW but the whole wrestling world. See, when I came back to the states I joined Honor wrestling’s development program. “Legacy”. I was told nothing I did in Japan mattered. Then I beat everyone they put in front of me and won the title. Then I went to WWH and they told me nothing I did in Legacy mattered. Until I won their women’s title. I went back to Honor and in a match against Kate Steele I regained the right to call myself the Legacy champion there, and they told me that it didn’t matter. Nothing I did in WWH mattered and I was “handed” a title.”

“Handed...a title…”

“So I defended that thing for over a year, most defences in history, longest title reign in the whole company since its original inception. Mercedses Vargas told me I would never beat her, that while my legacy run was impressive I wasn’t worthy of the Honor world title. I beat her for that, then came here. And what did I find here?. People telling me that...this is SCW and Honor never mattered…”

Alicia shakes her head with a sly grin before pulling the SCW bombshells world title into view putting it on her shoulder with her eyebrows raising up.

”Well, what about all those moments now?. I lost to Dani Weston and that was supposed to be the end of me. Alicia Lukas failed and the entire world breathed a collective sigh of relief. But what most of you don’t realise is that a loss is something to be used as fuel. I lose and I don’t disappear for weeks to let people forget, I lose and I want right back in the ring to prove why I deserved to be there in the first place. And that’s what I did. I did that and beat Weston and I took the title.”

“Of course it wasn’t long after that Brittany, where your mother would screw me out of the title and make it look like a joke by getting involved where she shouldn’t have. She cost me a title run and she destroyed the legitimacy of her own wife for her own personal gain. And this is a woman you want to be like?. This is a woman you want to emulate?. Are you kidding me?. I rose above all that. I stood tall and came back and regained the title and since then I have not looked back. I turned away the challenge of four women, Dani, Seleana and your mother. I then walked into hostile territory and beat Kate Steele. All the while...having to hear your bullshit…”

“Oh you got a draw in a match by pinning someone the same time I did right?. It didn’t get you the title, so you ran off to SCU and barely paid attention to the world around you. You finally resurfaced after your mother failed and jumped into the Blast from the past. And that Brittany, is where your moments began. That is where you were able to do enough to get to the final and win.”

“Kale Smith was a great tag team partner to have, meanwhile I got Blade Alexander who, as we already established, was a liability. That isn’t me making excuses Brittany. That’s a fact. And the FACT is that while you did well in Blast from the past, Kale did exceptional and he dragged your ass to a win. And now here it is Britt, another moment. Just sitting there waiting for you to seize it, to take it with both hands and make it YOURS..”

Alicia laughs to herself and moves a few strands of hair from her face. Her red lips twisting into a small grin again.

”But will it be yours?. Willo the moment be Brittany Williams ascension to the top?. Or will it be something your mother takes from you, like she did with her own wife?. See, whoever wins this has to face Crystal and lets be honest here, you somehow shock the world and take this title from me, you’ll hand it over to your mother. Hell you said it, in your eyes she’s one of the best pro wrestlers ever and one of the best bombshells ever.”

Alicia makes a beeping noise and flashes her hands.

”Sorry, bullshit detector went off. You say that I sit on my high horse calling you Crystal-lite or Crystal 2.0 and say that it isn’t a bad thing. Are you stupid?. Legit question, are you stupid?. This business is about scratching and clawing to be the best and to be the best YOU that YOU can be. You’re just trying to be the best Crystal you can be. And that is the saddest thing I have ever heard of Brittany. See while you hold your mother up on this pedestal like some kind of legend, the rest of us see her for what she really is…”

“A failed actress, a failed singer, an average wrestler at best and a horrible human being.”

“She is not someone to be emulated. She’s someone to be made into a warning. You believe your own hype, your own bullshit and this is what happens. And that is what you are in danger of becoming and honestly, part of me wants to stop that. Cause you are still young. You’ve already made a whole load of mistakes, like getting married at a young again, trying to be like her, talk like her, as I said you even married a little blonde girl and tried to beat her for an opportunity just like her. But you want a real idol to look up to Britt?. You want someone with real moments and accomplishments that you can look up to?”

“I’m right here…”

“I can take you under my wing, I can make you a star and I can show you the way without you having to be exactly like me, because, honestly, you could never be like me. Your mother is an easy effigy to copy. Just be loud,obnoxious and talk a lot of trash, only back it up half the time and then when you lose disappear for weeks or months. Wait for people to forget then come right back again with the same bullshit. Hell you already do this, you even disappear after wins. Meanwhile I stay active, I get in that ring and I bust my ass week in and week out. I put in that world and that is why I am a champion and you’re not, that’s why7 at Into the void I will walk in, beat you down and take my title home…”

“Not just because I can.”

“Not just because I want to…”

“Because I HAVE to. I can’t let this title fall into your hands and have the same thing happen with you as what has happened with your mother. This title will be used as a prop, as a tool. It will disappear from television until you are forced to turn up and defend it. The title will become invisible. It will become a joke. And it will lose moments. All because little Brittany Williams, wants to be exactly like dear mommy dearest. Instead of standing up and being her own woman….and as I said Brittany...that is the saddest thing of all.

 Prologue: Passion.

Everyone has passions in life. Very rarely do you get to turn that passion into a career or a way to provide for yourself and your family. I have been blessed with the opportunity to have something in my life that I was born to do, that is in my blood, that does exactly that,

My sons will never have to worry, my husband works hard and he too never had to worry. I did the passionate work at the beginning, sitting on the floor eating my third bowl of ramen noodles for the week wondering if maybe, just maybe, I’ll earn enough to upgrade to tuna and rice tomorrow.

That kind of start separates the ones who really want it, from those who are just in wrestling, or any passion, to use it.

Imagine, if you will, starting off in another profession or passion, only to walk away and use what we do as a back up plan. Thyat is the situation we have in wrestling with certain people. They don’t have the passion I do, they don’t have the love for this that I do, they haven’t had nights where you clean a gym or dojo, finish at midnight then sleep on a hard, cold floor.

Only to wake up at 5 am for the first class.

I have.

I’ve been there.

So when I say the entitled morons I am forced to deal with. When I see a family of prima donna wannabe divas tell me that they are going to take MY title and MY place. I take offence to that. Cause that isn’t passion, that isn’t a need to be the best. That is a failure to understand. And week in, wekk out I prove that I am the best in this damn business. And no one.

No one…

Can take my passion away...

Scene One-Will you?...
Off Camera
Washington D.C  
New Year’s Eve 2017

“Ali?” Michaels voice went through the hallway as he stood in a black tuxedo. His wavy brown hair framing his handsome features as his trimmed beard curled around his lips that moved into a nervous smile. His deep brown eyes darted back and forth as he waited near the door of their home. There was still no answer as he laughed to himself hearing a few crashing noises in the bathroom. “Alicia are you alright?” His voice was a little louder, but still soft and calm, only a hint of a wavering nervous energy underneath.  

“I’m fine!, sorry!..” Alicia seemed out of breath as the door opened and she stepped out. Her hair was done up and to one side, her makeup showcased her big blue eyes and her soft pouty lips that were covered in a red lipstick that matches her dress. A long flowing strapless gown with a slit up one side, black high heeled shoes made small clicking noises as they touched the hardwood floor of the hallway leading out. Michael stood in awe, his jaw dropped as his eyebrows raised. Alicia looked down making sure her dress was straight, her black handbag finding her right hand as she looked up to find her speechless boyfriend.  

“Is, is there something wrong?” Alicia panicked for a moment, her hands shaking a little as Michael seemed to snap out of it, he laughed to himself and leaning in close kissing her lips softly, as he pulled back Alicia blushed and let out a deep breath realising it was all fine. “Nothing could ever be more right than seeing you right now. You’re gorgeous Alicia.” She looked down and bit her lip squeezing his hand. She cleared her throat and looked at the door. “We should probably get going….we have a party to attend and clients of yours to wow…” Michael laughed again and moved his hand lightly across her cheek.  
>[color]lightblue]“I think them seeing you in that dress will wow them way more than any boring business proposals I could have.”[/color] She made a face and giggled under her breath as she kept his hand in hers and went for the door, Michael’s hand slid into his pocket and he stopped causing Alicia to slowly turn around. She tilted her head and smiled slightly looking at his pale face. “What is it?” He took a deep breath and squeezed something in his pocket before looking down at Ali. The light moved and danced in her eyes as he stepped closer.  

“I was going to do this later.” He swallowed hard and kissed her again, this time with even more passion and love, Alicia melted in his arms as his right hand moved down her bare shoulder. “I was going to do this as the clock struck midnight, in front of a lot of people. But this moment...I want it to be just ours…” Alicia shook a little as the butterflies rose in her stomach, her heart raced and felt as if it was going to burst from her chest as it heaved up and down. Michael slowly dropped to one knee and slid his left hand from his pocket holding a small black and red ring box.  

Alicia took a sharp breath in as she tried to keep it together, Michael looked up as his hands shook and his eyes stared right into hers almost looking into her heart. He pulled the top of the box open revealing a beautiful white gold diamond engagement ring. Alicia swallowed hard and made a small squeaking noise as Michael tried to keep his voice strong. “Violet Maxwell.” She didn’t even flinch at him using her birth name, others said it in mocking tones with venom designed to make her angry. Michael said it with love and affection.  

“You and I have been through a journey, we found each other and you repaired me just as much as I did you…” He paused for a moment rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb, a small chuckle coming from deep down as Alicia started struggled not to cry. “But the journey has only just started, and I want you by my side for all of it. The ups and downs, highs and lows...Violet...will you marry me?” The words were barely out of Michael’s mouth as Alicia blurted out her answer “YES!”

Michael stood up and Alicia wrapped her arms around his neck, he laughed again and pushed the ring on her finger, Alicia kissed him over and over again before taking a deep breath to calm down. A beep is heard as Michael turned to look outside as the large black car that sat out front, he gave a small nod grabbing Alicia’s jacket sliding it on leading her out the door.

Scene Two-Better the devil you know…
On Camera
New York, New York
Present Day[/i]

”Sometimes you’re forced tp do things you really don’t want to do…

Alicia pauses straight away, a deep breath follows as she shakes her head.

”This week SCW decends on Tuscon Arizona, Climax Control will, as always, be a huge show. Filled with action and drama and all that good shit. A few weeks ago, I stepped into a match against Seleana Zdunich. I put my SCW bombshells title on the line and we both fought tooth and nail for it. In the end I was able to come out the other side with the title held high. I told the world I was going to do it, I told them how and when the dust settled I was still on top of the mountain.”

“And it wasn’t for lack of trying on Seleana’s part to try and toss me off. She did all she could, she put it all on the line and she came damn close. I said it before the match and I’ll say it again, Seleana Zdunich is a great wrestler and competitor, and I respect her effort. And any other time in SCW women like Seleana would be at the top, but she is living in a time where I am dominant. This is a time when SCW has me ready, willing and able to not just be a great champion, but to be THE great champion. See, winning this championship was just the first step, you think that’s all I wanted? To win it and that’s it?. No, that isn’t my style.”

“I want the record….”

“Most defences, most days, most main events, highest win percentage, I don’t care what record it is I want it. And matches against Seleana and others will get me there. The truth is that I don’t care who SCW put in front of me. I don’t care what obstacles I have. I don’t care what returning former champions want a piece of me or what young new prospects step into SCW and take the world by storm. The truth is, and you just have to look at my match with Seleana for this, I am the best professional wrestler on this planet today.”

Alicia raises her eyebrows and shrugs with a chuckle under her breath moving along the gym flor. Her long hair tied back away from her face.

”And when I say something like that, somne of you believe it, some of you don’t. But it’s up to all of you to try and stop me. It’s up to all of you to prove me wrong. And there’s two women in this match who have had opportunities to try. One is my tag partner, one is one of my opponents as well as someone who foir some reason, has a shot atb my title. But, teaming with Mercedes Vargas is definately not all doom and gloom. See Mercedes and I have an interesting history. She has been able to get wins over me...albiet they haven’t been one on one wins. And no one except her counts battle royals. But still, she has beaten me in a tag match. There seems to be a running theme here. See one on one I am damn hard to beat, Mercedes should know this, since I beat her. But in tag matches?...my partners routinely drop the ball…”

“I’d like to think Mercedes isn’t past her prime enough that she’d be able to hold up her end of the bargain, especially considering who we’re up against. But the truth is, I don’t know what Mercedes we will get. Will we get the Mercedes who has been coasting on her name, shrugging off challenges and just being a passenger in SCW?. Or will we get the Mercedes who ran roughshot over SCW years ago and Honor?.”

“Truth is I have no idea and I don’t even think she knows. But if Mercedes turns up and puts effort in, well, I know we can wrap up this match in a nice little bow. And that isn’t meant to be a slight on Sam Marlowe, Crystal Zdunish?. Absolutely. And I’ll get to that horse faced bitch, but Sam Marlowe is different,”See Sam is a champion, and I know she’s eager mto put that title on the line against Mercedes but I wonder, does she want to test herself against me?...”

“See Sam is one of those what if scenarios, much like the woman who beat her recently Cat Riley. Those are two names and two competitors I would love to defend this title against. Two of the best, two of the most talented, but Sam and I have never had the pleasure of a one on one match. She has been in the roulette division, toiling away and showing the world how good she is and now, well now she gets to step in the ring with me again. Last time she was able to beat down that waste of space Jesse Salco….so technically...Sam Marlowe has a win over me…”

Alicia seems to look sick to her stomach as she shakes her head.

”But I’d say I have the upperhand on tag team partners this time, as much as Mercedes annoys me she is a bonafide star and a proven comodity, no matter how much she seems to want to coast on her name and accolades of the past, and Sam this time you’re handicapped with a partner. Just like I was when you and Dani Weston beat me and Salco. See while I have Mercedes Vargas, someone who is ALMOST as good as she believes herself to be. You are stuck with...Crystal Hilton…”

“Or Christina Zdunich…”

“Whatever she wants to call herself.”

“Me?. I like to call her, overrated, boring, passionless, a liar, a scumbag, a bitch, a cunt, untalented. See, Crystal you shouldn’t be in this match and you shouldn’t even have another shot at me. Seleana earned hers because of your stupidity getting involved in our business in the first place, and your continued involvement. You are a stain on professional wrestling and the SCW bhombshells division and title scene. You are a selfish, egomanic. Your wife earned shots against me and you keep poking your nose in and now your own daughter, your beanheaded arrogant chip off the old block has a shot against me that..despite how I personally feel she EARNED at Blast from the past and hey look who is involved again…”

“I don’t know why SCW continues to put you in positions like this Crystal...I really don’t…”

Alicia scoffs and throws her arms in the air.

”Kate earned her shot, so did Sel and your daughter but you?. You get carried to wins and use underhanded tactics and somehow, someway, despite the fact you’re a lying, useless piece of shit you are in a position again and in my way. But, I’m done with that Crystal, I am done watching you twist and turn your way into title shots over and over and when I am done with your daughter I am coming for you. See Brit earned her shot but she is making the same mistakes you are. The same arrogant bullshit attitude, it’s quite obvious that the horse face, hairdye and bad decisions don’t fall far from the tree…”

“This tag match will be a away for me to punish you fot all your stupidity Crystal and send a clear message to your idiot daughter.”

“And then, when the dust settles...I’m going to into the void...and I’m going to beat the living hell out of her while you watch and you’ll know, her blood will be on YOUR hands…”

 Slowly fading I’m fading
I’m sick of waiting and waiting
Feeling lower than yesterday
When the earth is my hell
And I’m trapped in a cell
Will I ever get a break?

Scene One-Business and personal
Off Camera  
Washington D.C
Four Months Ago

I'd seen Michael with my boys. I'd felt Michael with me. I knew his heart and soul. I knew his tenderness and sweet nature. His handsome smile and the sparkle in his eye as he spent time with us. The warmth of his hands as they would pull me against him. I heard his heartbeat, it was like music. But that was behind closed doors in our personal life.  

But when it comes to business? He changed. He became focused like a laser beam. The playful smile turned into an arrogant one. He was in his element. The forging of deals and making money. The side of this business I had always failed at.  

He was great at it. He was a master. And he would do it all out of loyalty and love. This wasn't about money or fame. He wasn't about growing himself or just his name. He felt strong and fought harder because he understood that this was a true partnership. Sure I was the one in the lights, the one who won the titles. But he has been the driving force to help extend the brand I created for myself.  

The brand I had let others damage.  

I am not blind to the fact people dislike me. In some cases hate me. Their anger and jealousy misplaced and in some cases skewed due to others. Michael didn't care about any of that. He has helped me grow and be a better person. The business side though. That was different.  

He has made me a better person in our lives. Made me mature into a young woman worthy of the standing I had earned. A fact others couldn't gloat about. If I was angry or frustrated preparing to snap back at those who would drag my name through the mud he would simply take my phone then my hands and remind me that all the public squabbling meant nothing.  

What really mattered was what I have done in that ring. What I have achieved through my athletic ability. And he was right. But the part of this I never understood or was good at, he had taken over. He handled investments, contracts, royalties, talent bookings, and appearances. He had become my middle man.  

He was already successful.  

Already financially secure.  

He had helped me save up and secure a future for my kids. And now as I sit here staring at him as he paced across the room I saw his version of fighting. His verbal assault as he beat down a lawyer representing a royalty firm. They had tried to withhold a cheque, Michael had none of it. His demeanor changed. His voice lowered and he made sure we got what was owed.  

My hero. My leader. My other half. He knows me and my heart but also knew I would accept his help and grow as a person. I'd never been this happy. Never been so complete. Not with Chris or Travis. Kaden or Cass. Michael was what I needed not just what I wanted.  

I kept staring, kept smiling even as he growled down the phone. He hung it up and took a deep breath before turning back towards me. Business Michael melted away and he simply smiled and ran a hand through his wavy brown hair. His hands slid around my hips and pulled me forward, he whispered sweet nothings in my ear and told me the news. Truth be told all I wanted was him….  

That's what made me rich.  

A few days later
Off Camera  
Washington D.C  

The sounds of flesh hitting the hard plastic of the heavy bag filled the empty loft. Over and over again a sharp exhale followed by the slapping noise. Alicia Lukas moves around jabbing the bag over and over, her long blonde hair tied up in a braid that moved and hit her back with each bounce on the balls of her feet. Her eyes focused just on the bag as she growled and hissed out an exhale and another shot. The heavy clunk of footsteps on the wooden stairs didn’t distract her as Michael moved into the room, he slid his hands into his pockets and sighed heavily.  

Alicia kept moving to throw her jabs and hooks, a few that would be body shots, a few higher. A growl as she seemed to zone back out and throw her hands. Michael steps forward grabbing the bag with a boyish smirk, his eyes sparkling as he looks down at Alicia who stops for a moment, she blows some of her hair that shook loose out of her face and breathed deep trying to cool down. “You know, when I decided to put a gym up here I thought it would help you not have to feel like you should run back to New York every week...in hindsight, it may have been a bad idea.” His voice was calm and his smile showed it was a joke. Alicia sighed and shook her head looking down slightly embarrassed.  

“I’m sorry. I just. I had some aggression and energy I needed to let out…” She turned and unwrapped her hands, Michael let go of the bad, his hands sliding around her hips and to her stomach holding her against his toned body, his arms strong and caring as he leaned in close whispering in her ear. “And you didn’t get a lot of that energy out this morning? Alicia bit her bottom lip and laughed under her breath leaning back against him, her hands finding his as she squeezed them. “Hey now, enough of that talk..I’m trying to stay focused…”

Michael chuckled and stepped back letting her go, his arms folding over his chest as he tilted his head. He gave out a low sigh and looked her up and down. “It’s true, you do need to focus.” His voice got deeper, Adding authority. Alicia raised her eyebrows as Michael continued. “I love you, and I know you love me but, our relationship took something from you. Her heart raced, her mouth opened as if to say something as a fear came over her. She closed off her body language, her back and legs stiffening and her arms coming across her chest.”It’s almost as if you lost that killer instinct…”  

“What...what are you saying?” Her voice stuttered as she prepared herself for the worst. Michael studied her and it clicked in his mind. He smiled and stepped closed reaching out to take her hands. “Hey, I’m just saying we need to find a way to get that fire back. It seems like when you were with other men their stupidity would annoy you and you’d use it as fuel to be...less than calm..in the ring.” Alicia couldn’t help but laugh. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath in to slow her racing heart. “Well, that's actually true. I’m very happy with you Michael, I don’t carry around the same frustration, anger, and resentment I used to.”  

He laughed to himself and leaned close, his hands cupping her cheeks pulling her slightly forward into a soft kiss. Alicia licks her lips as she pulls back smiling wide. “So, if you make me so incredibly happy, how...how am I going to get that killer instinct back?” Michael laughs to himself and winks. “Simple, no more kisses until you train and get the vision of who you want to destroy and how burned into your pretty little head.” Alicia’s jaw drops as she seems speechless, she stutters a response, Michael just smiles and turns her around to face the heavy bag before slapping her on the rear end.  

“Get to work...dear, do what you can...rediscover it all”

Lack of effort gets you nowhere…

”I have worked hard with everything I have ever done in this business, I have sacrificed my body, my mind, my soul, my sanity. Time with my husband, my sons, friends, family. I have done gleefully with no reservations or regrets.”

Alicia’s voice is low, almost a whisper but loud enough to be audible as she leans forward. Her hair swept to the side as it frames her face. Her eyes lined with makeup making the deep blue pop and shine, a small smear of black war paint under her right eye that has become her trademark, and cherry red lipstick contrasting her pale face.

”I respect anyone willing to get in the ring. See this job,l this life isn’t easy. If it was anyone could do it. But there are varying levels of dedication to all of this and effort that some people don’t understand and don’t have. And my opponent at London Brawling, Kate Steele is one of these people. See don’t get me wrong Kate as a person I do give you respect for doing this. You’ve had a long career and you are a professional wrestler, you are “one of us” as it were. You’re not someone like Amanda Cortez who should be in videos on pornhub, you have earned the right to call yourself a wrestler….kind of…”

“See, when weighing up a career and the effort put in people have to ask themselves are they a real professional wrestler who has love and passion for the business or are they doing it as part of their lives and something to fall back on or use to their advantage?. Kate would have you believe she loves this business but cared more about setting up her former band to be at London Brawling than the match itself. She spends more time and care promoting the specatvle of the event than the match itself and fans notice. Fans know that for years I toiled away in Japan before coming back to America and dominating…”

“Real fans know the difference Kate…”

“You look at our careers side by side and they look about even. We’ve both won titles and had good runs in various companies before being led to SCW.”

Alicia pauses for a moment pulling up the SCW bombshells world championship and setting it down on the table in front of her, her hands staying either side as she looks it over and draws attention to the nameplate at the bottom with “Alicia Lukas” shining bright under the light above.

”For you, it was IWF and LAW, for me, it was WWH and Honor. Sure, we’ve both had spots in other companies, hell I had started climbing the ranks of LAW when it had closed and trust me on this, if that company had stayed open I would have held their world title too. Cause that’s what I do Kate. I join a company and I bust my ass till I get to the top and I don’t let anyone tell me “no”. I don’t let anyone hold me down or hold me back and I fight for everything I have. I am not handed a goddamn thing and in the last three years I have had a career that you could only dream of.”

“And the reason is, as I said...dedication…”

“Dedication to my craft, my career, my art form, and my legacy.”

“Your legacy is based on being an average musician and an average wrestler. And it’s not because your career and focus is split. It’s because you’re not dedicated and don’t put the effort in. Do you want proof?. When was the last time you were in a wrestling ring, Kate?. Actually, when was the last time you were in an SCW ring?. Cause I can answer that, it was at Blaze of Glory. March tenth Kate, March freakin tenth. You got that briefcase back from Jesse Salco, and since then...nothing…”

She chuckles and rolls her eyes pushing to her feet.

”You can cut a promo where you ramble on for an hour and waste everyone's time but words are hollow when you don’t back it up with actions. While you just sat around on twitter whining about when you wanted to cash in your contract I entered the Blast from the past and I was prepared to defend my title at a moments notice. I stayed active, I put in the effort to make every single match I have been a part of special to the point where I hurt myself and they FORCED me to sit out a week. If you win the Bombshells title it will disappear…”

“You will sit on your ass, you will ignore the world and just be happy to hold it and will do nothing to make the championship or your reign feel special. Because that, Kate, would require effort, which as we’ve established isn’t your strong suit. Hell, you said it in your promo last week, not everyone is made to be in the main event and honestly, you’re not.”

“The main event is a position that requires dedication and love and your heart. Things you don’t have a goddamn clue about. It’s why it took you so long to get to this point. In LAW I started that climb, in Honor I was the fucking climb. You saw it, you felt it, the only time you ever “beat” me was in tag matches where someone else did the work cause one on one in direct competition you have never EVER been able to beat me. I dominated Honor wrestling and the women's division and when Honor was absorbed by SCW I did the same thing here and won the Bombshells title faster than anyone and this is a championship you have never held despite your long career here.”

“And even now you have tried to stack the deck in your favor and seem to care more about the where and when than the why?. Why should you be the champion Kate?. Because you got lucky and won a clusterfuck match to get a shot?. Because it is your “dream”?. Because it’s your home country and home town?.

Alicia scoffs and throws her arms in the air before kicking the chair back and clutching the Bombshells title in her hand violently shaking it at the camera.

”THIS IS NOT A PROP FOR YOU TO WRITE YOUR STUPID FAIRYTALE WITH. This is a symbol, a symbol of excellence and a symbol of who is the best in the world and as talented as you believe yourself to be, as gifted athletically as you have proved yourself to be the fact remains that you do not have the heart or effort to be the champion and even with your reigns in the past you have no idea..no real idea...what being a champion is all about. It’s about putting a whole company on your back, it’s about leading from the front and being prepared to put it on the line and bust your ass through injury, through sacrifice and through being the best…”

“Dani Weston understood it, Vargas understands it, Seleana understands it, I understand it.”

“You don’t, you don’t get it and no matter how many times we try and point it out to you Kate it just never sinks in. Your whole career is a mix of happy accidents and moments that you kind of fell in to. I can’t sit here and say you’re a bad wrestler or you don’t have the athletic ability to be something great but...you just don’t have that spark Kate, you don’t have it in you to sacrifice everything, Not like I have. Dani Weston sacrificed everything to keep this to the point where after she lost it she has not been the same...and now I stand on the edge of a cliff and over that edge is losing this championship in my first defense for the second time…”

“The first time was because of Crystal...and all that did was piss me off and make me come back stronger and better...because that is what a champion does…”

She takes a deep breath and seems to calm down, her heart still racing a mile a minute.

”You are the first defense of my SECOND reign and this will not end like the first. I will not let this title slip away and you won’t have someone help you. It’s just you and me in that ring, and one on one….you just don’t measure up…”

 Prologue: How to be the best and alienate people

I’m an acquired taste.

I get it. I can come off as arrogant, self-righteous, and downright cocky. But it comes with the territory when you know how talented you are. When you walk around a locker room and see all your competition and know that nine times out of ten you beat every single one of them. When you look in a mirror and know that the reflection staring back at you is the only person who can beat you down and embarrass you.

It’s a realisation I came to so very early in my career.

I trained in Japan and I heard the dreams of the other girls. All the Joshi’s. They spoke of America like it was the best place on Earth and where they would get a real test. And despite being born and bred in the United States I had only ever known the Japanese side of the business.

So when I came home, can you imagine the culture shock?. Can you imagine the disappointment?.

O came back to a country where women who had side jobs or were using wrestling to pad their little social media resume’s and tried to use it to get bigger paychecks in acting and singing and god knows what else.

It made me feel dirty.

It made me feel wrong.

So I went about fixing that perception, that wrong in my life. I vowed I was going to be the best of the best, the most dangerous woman on the planet. I told myself I would seek out those who were like-minded and destroy those who weren’t. And as much as I dislike Mercedes Vargas, she is a professional wrestler. You take away the makeup and the television presentation and she cares about what happens in that ring more than ANYTHING. Sierra Williams, Devona, my little sister Zoey, these are women who care about this business.

Crystal, Kate, Brittany, Seleana, hell even Dani. They worry about everything else under the sun instead of this business…..

That is why I’m disliked, that is why I rub people the wrong way and that is why I’m looked at as arrogant. Because to me, wrestling isn’t just a side job. To me, wrestling isn’t just a little addition to my life. Wrestling is my life.

I love my husband.

I love my sons.

But wrestling is my calling. It’s what I was put on this planet to do. And I do it damn well. I walked into Honor and dominated their development company. I walked into WWH, LAW and then back to Honor and dominated there. And now, in SCW I do the exact same thing.

And in times of doubt, in times of crisis….I have my family, I have my friends...and then….I become legend…

Scene One-Failure?
Off Camera
Camp Ripley Morrison County, Minnesota
August 13th. 2017. Night of Honor Wrestlings Zero Hour PPV

Alicia holds her ribs as medical staff holds ice packs on her neck and shoulders, her breathing is labored and deep but every single breath is met with a wince as her chest and ribs contract. Alicia grinds her teeth and pushes them away throwing the ice across the floor. She picks up both her title belts and turns kicking open the locker room door stepping inside. Sweat drips from her face and hair as she looks up into the full-length dressing mirror. Alicia had just faced Samantha Tolson in a champion versus champion match. Both her Legacy championship and Sam’s Honor title had been on the line.

For half an hour Samantha and Alicia beat the hell out of each other. Suplexes, stiff shots, submissions, brawling. All of it had been used and it had all been left in the ring. The time limit had expired and the medical staff had ruled that both women could not continue, despite both of them protesting heavily. Alicia had stormed backstage and held both the Honor Legacy title and the WWH women's world title at the same time.

Both championships dangle down in her hands. Alicia nods slowly and places them down on the table next to her bag, she doesn’t even hear the door open as she tries to calm herself and forget about the pain. Then she feels it, Michael’s hand slide over her shoulder. Alicia calms down with a smile as she turns to face him. Her manager, life coach, and new best friend. He stood a lot taller than her about 6’3, his toned muscular frame hidden under a beautifully tailored grey suit. Alicia looked into his eyes with a small smile before looking away and down, her heart dropping as she backed away. Michael tilted his head looking confused as he lightly brushed some of the hair from her face, his thumb moving down her cheek as his forefinger lightly lifted her chin to him.

“Hey peaches, why the sad face?” Alicia chuckled as she shook her head and sat back against the end of the table, her ribs again causing her pain as she closed her eyes and winced. Michael reached forward and helped her stand back up, his hand drifting over her midsection as he looked down and noticed the heat coming from her right side.”I think you have some bad bruising. We have to get you checked out...I’ll get the doctors that you shoved off back in here”

As he turned to leave Alicia reached out grabbing his arm, he turned back and she shook her head. “I need a minute, I can’t face anyone right now” She looked down again as she leaned in placing her forehead against Michael's chest, he looked down concerned, his arms wrapping around her on instinct.” What is it?”

“I...I let everyone down. I said I was walking out with both belts and in the end I failed” Michael couldn’t help but laugh to himself as he shook his head before lightly pushing Alicia back and down onto a chair, he slowly moved down to one knee in front of her with a deep sigh, his eyes kind and full of affection. “You went out there and went to war with a woman who is a two time Honor champion. You didn’t lose, you didn’t win. You came to a stalemate and they had to call it off. I don’t think this is the last time you two will be in the ring and trust me. I saw Samantha Tolson being helped down the hallway….you have nothing to be ashamed of.” Alicia looked up and shot him a small smile and a nod. He got to his feet offering his hands. She places hers in his and allowed him to help her up to her feet. His arm moved around her as he turned to help her back towards the medical personnel and trainers.

Washington D.C
Two Weeks Later

Alicia stepped through the large archway into the main room of the large old colonial home. It’s rich history plain to see to anyone who would look. It’s architecture screaming late 1700’s. She couldn’t help but smile as she passed old family photo’s. Family members and baby pictures of Michael and his parents and ancestors. She couldn’t help but smile as she stopped at one of him as a child, a ball in his hands.

Alicia turned to him as he leaned against the archway, his wavy brown hair loose and flowing over his nears and down his back, a trimmed brown beard accenting his cheekbones as a grin came across his lips.“What’s so funny?” She chuckled again and grabbed the photo turning it towards him.“You were so cute” She makes a small face pushing out her lips before laughing again. Michael shook his head stepping forward taking the photo as she held it out.

“That was a long time ago….the innocence of youth.” There was a hint of sadness in his voice as he placed the photo back on the wall, Alicia looked down and gave a small nod before feeling his hand on hers, he led her through into the kitchen and out to the stairs stopping at the bottom.“And up there are the bedrooms, the master is down the hall to the right then another 3 on either side.” He gave her a grin and leaned against the post of the staircase that went up and curved to the side.  

“So, when do I get to see the bedrooms?....” She moved some hair from in front of her face and stared up into his eyes, Michael coughed and laughed under his breath looking up to the top. “Well, by all means, I can finish the tour now, or after we eat?” Alicia gave him a nod again and stepped close to him. “And which room is mine tonight?” She squeezed his hand and tilted her head slightly as she asked the question. “Well, that depends…”

“On what?” He leaned in close, his lips just touching hers softly. As he pulled back he shook his head. “I’m sorry Alicia….I...I’m sorry.”  

She looked surprised and fumbled over her own words, her accent becoming more prominent as she seemed slightly panicked. “Why?. Why are you sorry?.” Michael folded his arms over his chest looking away, his body language showing embarrassment as he seemed to close off before her eyes. “I crossed a line, Ali. We’re friends and I’m your agent. We shouldn’t…”

He trailed off and went silent, after a few moments Alicia stepped forward finding his hands again getting close, she pushed up on her tiptoes to meet him kissing him softly. “The heart wants what it wants. I stopped listening to that annoying little voice saying “no” a long time ago” Michael looked in her eyes and smiled with a small nod. “Alicia...you want to be with me?” Alicia laughed to herself “I thought that’s what the kiss implied...but you will take me on a proper date….tonight…”

“Yes ma’am”

Scene Two: Fucking cabbages and Family legacies
On Camera
Edinburgh, Scotland
Present Day

”Are you people shocked?. That I can play along in a team setting?”

Alicia chuckles lightly, her hand grips the SCW Bombshells world title that is slung over her shoulder, the leather strap dangling down next to her body.

”Climax Control 231, live from Dublin Ireland, myself and Blade Alexander beat down and destroyed that silly little twit Hitamashi and that mean girl rip off Calia. We went down to that ring and it was an eye-opener. See, I’d heard of Blade Alexander, I’d heard of his skills in the ring and that he was always one of the big “what if’s” in SCW. What if Blade had stayed, what if Blade was still around, what if Blade had won the SCW world title?. Hitamashi disregarded his skills, disregarded his past and he paid the price. Expulsion from the tournament and ZERO CHANCE at the World title shot.”

“Blade and I did what we do and that is win.”

“I have told you all time and time again that I could drag anyone to victory in this. But the fact I have a partner who has a past, who has a great skill set and is determined to win this tournament?. Well, that makes my job even easier.”

“I look around at the other teams left as we get down to the final 8 and I only see Alex and Devona as our real challenge. And that, well that’s because I know Alex. I know I could take Devona’s pretty little head off. And I know there has been some confusion about Blast from the past but let me be clear. If Mark, Christian or Brooke decide that one of these matches is to be a title defense of my championship, I will face whoever I am in the ring with and fight tooth and nail to keep this championship. See, I wanted to be a fighting champion, that’s why I entered this tournament, I didn’t want to9 just wait around for someone to win….”

“Or cash in a stupid little gimmick briefcase…”

Alicia scowls and adjusts the championship on her shoulder, her lips pushing together as their cherry red color blurs together, her long blond hair flowing from under a black and red baseball cap.

”Yeah, that’s right I’m talking about Kate Steele-Warren. Now, if some of you missed the little exchange happening, Kate is crowing about cashing in her shot at me for London Calling, but If Blade and I get to the Blast from the past final then I will be busy and not only will I be busy but chances are I will be putting the title on the line in that final against whatever woman has been good enough with her partner to get to that match. Whcih, I’m actually excited for. If we get there. But Kate wants to whine and cry about it, Kate wants to try and re-write the rules of the tournament.”

“Re-writing rules, not staying active, whining and crying. Damn she kind of sounds like Brittany Williams.”

“Before I get into the upcoming match here in Scotland, let’s revisit how our opponents got here. Kale Smith and Brittany Williams beat the only team in this tournament more pathetic than the team Blade and I beat. They beat Joshua “I can travel through time” Acquin and Effie Bingham. The girl who has the distinction of having a mouth twice as big as mine while having one eighth the talent. Now, Kale, you may be a talent, you may be on par with Blade, I don’t know. You’re six foot two, over two hundred pounds, you can move for a guy that size and you have this certain...spark about you. I don’t know if it’s because you’re from Australia or if it’s because you’re a great athlete, but I don’t think it’s a secret as to what Blade and I are going to do…”

Alicia smirks and moves the title off her shoulder looking at it before her bright blue eyes shine and look straight back up into the camera.

”Divide and conquer.”

She lets out a deep laugh and shrugs pacing back and forth a little.

”I am so confident in Blade and I winning that I’m going to let you in on a little secret here Kale. Our plan involved Brittany being tagged in and never being let out again. See Kale, I look at you and I see a guy who has real talent, I see a danger. I mean, I know Blade is tough and talented but you? You fought for three years to get back to SCW and the blast from the past tournament is your door to be back full time right?. This is all to prove to Mark and Christian that you belong and truth be told, after seeing you drag that tiny piece of dead weight to a win proes it…”

“I don’t wish you any ill will and if I’m honest I think you would be a great challenge for Austin. He loves a fight, a real fight. And I have to say between Blade, Alex and you?. Well those are three possible contenders that I know would get Austins motor running. But, the bad news with all this is no matter how much I think you deserve to move on, no matter how impressed I am with you and your re-emergence….it ultimately means nothing.”

“Because you’re teaming with a piece of shit…”

“What?...too harsh?”

Alicia tilts her head at the production crew who all just stay silent. Not one of them standing up for Brittany Williams.

”Up until the Blast from the past match the last time we saw little miss Brittany was back in November where she tried to steal the Honor tirle from me. I retained and I have gone on to win the SCW bombshells world title and still stay strong. Because that, is what champions do but Bitt wouldn’t know anything about that. She was the youngest champion in company history, but she lost that title and faded into obscurity. She then popped up months ago, lost to me and then...poof disappeared…”

“She didn’t keep working, she didn’t try and get another match with me, she didn’t try and earn a shot at the Honor or SCW titles. She just went home, sat on her ass and waited till this tournament so she could hope and pray that she’d be able to hitch her wagon to someone talented and ride their coattails right on into the finals and get a shot that way.”

“What else would we expect from a “Hilton” right?”

“Your bitch ass mother tried the same thing when she beat down her own wife to get added into a match she had no right to be in. Typical Williams woman, always takming the back door, too bad your father didn’t do that, we’d have been saved the embaressing bratty punk bitch that you seem to be proud of being…”

“But, here’s the downside to your little plan kiddo, you don’t get to the finals because the brackets have lined you and Kale up against me and Blade. So now, without others in the ring for you to pinj to try and get a cheap win, you will be alone in the ring with me. And I am planning on beating the hell out of you till you make the smart choice and abort your plans to follow in your mothers footsteps, you know kind of like how your mother should have aborted yo-”

The sound cuts out as the cameraman lowers the camera and an SCW producer steps out, we can’t hear it but Alicia and the man have a heated conversation. After a few moments Alicia put her hands up and nods before the camera gets lifted back up and the sound comes back on.

”The fact remains Britt, that you are outmatches and outclassed. You think because you have a family legacy you’re going to be some big deal?. You mother ain’t shit, you ain’t shit. You’re just another name in a long list of disappointments from your family who like to flake out time and time again and can never be relied on to do the real hard work that makes you a champion, and I don’t mean holding a title sweetheart because your mommy, she can’t teach you what I know. I work, day in and day out, I turn up week after week and month after month to defend the title and to appear in front of a crowd…”

“So I’ll do you a favor, I’ll beat you down, I’ll make you tap and then you can disappear for another three months….”

 Prologue: Leave the Memories alone.

Do you know what it’s like to feel worthless? To look in a mirror and not see a human being? But a thing to be used up n thrown away?. I felt that way once. I felt it every fuckin day. When I was five I told my father I wanted to be a fighter. A boxer, I wanted to just fight…

He laughed.

I know I was five but fuck, you don’t forget dreams bein crushed an stepped on. you never forget your own daddy looking you in the eyes and saying “No little one...you will just be a good wife and mother” That’s all I was supposed to be right?...A fuckin dinner cooking baby making machine.  

But life doesn’t work that way does it?

I tried that way, it was bullshit

So when I woke up to what my life was and where it could be I walked away. I changed myself and became a fighter, a warrior, a beast in a ring or a cage. I went from a chubby little 16-year-old to a trim pissed off 24-year-old.

But then I fucked it all up. Cause I went and did the one thing a career woman shouldn’t fuckin do. I fell in love. Real fucking love, or so I thought. An older man, a rough-faced perverted redneck who treated me like fucking gold most of the time.

He bought me a house.

A jeep.

He took care of my boys like they were his own. But we fight. We fight like cats n dogs and it screwed us up. He walked off angry an I let him, he jumped in his truck and he did the first lil thang he found jus to spite me…. and when it all came out I was crushed but….I took him back…..but that was just the beginning.


Scene One: Rock Bottom
Off Camera
MGM Grand lower bar. Las Vegas Nevada.
3 Years Ago

The lights were disorientating as they flashed from the stage, different colors, red, purple, green crisscrossed as Alicia moved on the dance floor. The smoke machines bellowed out gust after gust of white mist. Alicia shook her head right to left, her long dirty blonde hair flailing wildly to the music, sweat poured down her body as she scanned around.

A few men gravitated to her. They moved in and out, two got in close moving against her. Alicia didn’t pay them any attention dancing in her own little world. There was no acknowledgment, no invitation. But they moved against her anyway. One of them stood behind her his hands dancing down her hips holding her in place while he rubbed himself against her. Again she seemed vacant storing off into space while occasionally moving her head.

The guy at the front seemed to back off, but his friend didn’t. He was a good looking guy, about six one, well built and muscled. Short brown hair and an olive complexion. He grabbed Alicia and whispered something in her ear. Her hair hitting him in the face as she turned her head to the side giving him a small nod. She was led through the heaving pile of people, the guys' friend followed them.

He looked around as they led her into the men's room, Alicia stood in the center of the tiny one stall room, the second guy locked the door. Alicia just stayed still, no music to lead her movements. No distractions with lights and mist to change her demeanor. She was a husk, a vacant shell.  

Their hands danced and groped, she put on a smile and moaned through their clumsy attempts. It was a mask, one she used to wear quite well when she was younger. Before she knew it her back was against the wall, lips touched her tanned skin, her neck, her inner thigh. Four hands wanted her lusted for her.

She didn’t enjoy it.

She didn’t hate it.

There was nothing but the faint need to be owned. To feel like she mattered to someone. To forget the man she loved, to forget the betrayal. This wasn’t about pleasure or revenge. Alicia stood there, then was moved again and again. The laughter then faded away into nothing. She sat on the cold hard bathroom floor and straightened her dress before getting to her feet. She walked out on the floor, she brushed past them both and out into the night where the cold air hit her face as she snapped out of it and walked to a cab getting in. As it pulls away tears flow down her eyes, her body shakes and she curls up on the seat alone….

Alicia’s Home Las Vegas Nevada.
Later That Night.

The moon was out as they stop in front of one another. Alicia’s arms folded over her chest as she seemed dressed in redneck chic clothing. A white singlet top, her pink bra underneath clearly visible. A pair of denim booty shorts torn in just the right places and a pair of sneakers.

Her hair was down and waved in the night time breeze. Chris was dressed similarly in a pair of dad jeans and a shirt way to tight to be worn by someone of his age. His hair flowing down under a black and red bandana. They both looked miserable staring back and forth neither of them really willing to break the silence.

Alicia teared up as Chris stayed silent. Her breathing seemed to quake and waver as she looked down and muttered. “I uh….I have to be honest..” Alicia’s voice was low and soft, Chris shook his head and folded his arms before growling a response. “Who is he….who was it Licia?”

She looked down and away her eyes filling with tears as she couldn’t look him in the eye, her shaking hands finding one another in front of her as she stumbled over her words, before she could answer Chris yelled causing her to jump and her mind to flash back to a time with Ronnie…..the blows he laid on her feeling all too real as she forgot the man in front of her would never...could never lay a hand on her.

“TELL ME WHO” She swallowed and snapped out of it looking up at him. “T-there were a few...does it really matter?” Chris shakes his head and paces back and forth trying now to hold back his own anger and tears. “Tell me Lic….I need to know…”  

She sighed and took a moment to find the courage. “Levi….and then two guys I didn’t know…”

There was silence. The Betrayal Chris felt must have been huge, Levi...his best friend, Chris stood there as shock seemed to overtake him, he turned and his fist slammed against the door panel of his truck with a loud thud that left a dent and scratches from his rings. He turned and walked off before pacing back, his look of disgust and anger causing Alicia to slink back in fear.

“Why Licia?....why?....” Alicia just stayed silent as Chris shook his head again. “It was revenge wasn’t it?..for that stupid little girl when we fought…..fuck…..” Alicia closes her eyes and looks away unable or unwilling to answer. Chris stared down at her and slowly gave a nod before jumping in his truck, Alicia looked up in a panic running to the window.

“Chris where are you going?...You’re seriously walking out on me?. ME?.…” He turned and sped off leaving her alone in the driveway, her hands running through her hair in a panic.

Champions.

In this world, they are held on a pedestal for simply winning a title. For earning that right and holding a belt or winning a tournament. The champions are usually the best of the best, but sometimes they can just be people in the right place at the right time.

I never thought I’d be a champion, get a title shot.

And for the most part, I was right. I was known for having good matches. Being the workhorse and making sure the fans went home happy.

In the UK I mat wrestled the greats, I won some, I lost some but they all knew I was the legit real deal when it came to submissions and holds.  

In Japan I would strike, kicks, elbows, punches, knee’s I did it all and I would just throw down.

I’d walk backstage covered in sweat and blood and I knew...I just knew those fans were walking out thinking about what I had done…

In Mexico I learned to fly, I’d throw my body around the ring with reckless abandon. I went worldwide for a reason. I learned it all for a reason. So I could come back home and I could put it all together and be a champion. And even though I know I’m capable….I still have to prove it….

Scene Two: Taking Back The Day
On Camera
South Beach, Florida
Present Day

”Here we go, final few days counting down to the main event of Blaze of glory. The main fucking event. Can you all believe it?. Well, actually I can, see Main events is what I do. Sorry, that was a little facetious of me. But still factually correct. I have a track record of performing in big matches. And this match is huge. See this match will determine the future direction of the SCW “bombshells” division.”

Alicia pauses for a moment and looks around at the beautifully clear 77-degree day. The sun shining down, the sky is blue and there isn’t a cloud around. Her feet sink into the sand as she sits with her back resting against a sand dune.

”I’m sure some are asking “Alicia why are you in Florida?. Shouldn’t you be training in New York right now?”. And yeah, that is true I should have my ass at Wolfslair right now, training with Alex and Austin as well as all the other talents we have under that umbrella. I plan on going back in a day or two, but I needed to relax a little. See all work and no play makes Alicia an overworked girl. And if I hope to regain my position as the Bombshells champion In can’t be in that kind of overexerted headspace. Especially if I’m going to be leading this division. And as we head into Blaze of glory and out the other side towards blast from the past Sin city wrestling needs a strong champion…”

“But, is that me?”

“Well, look at the alternatives. Dani Weston. A woman who held the SCW Bombshells title proudly. She was a great champion and I give Dani all the respect in the world for what she did while she was champion, she was even able to beat me one on one. She defended that championship with all the strength and courage you would want to see from a strong leader. But, what happened when Dani lost the title?. When I lost my first match with her, I got on that horse and I worked my ass off, I beat her. When I got screwed over by Crystal and Seleana I did the same thing...but what has Dani done?”

“Has she had the same attitude?”

“Is she the same person?”

“Has she worked her ass off the same way?”

“No. It’s a simple fact. As great as Dani was while champion she has done nothing. NOTHING since she lost the title. I told her straight up I’d give her a rematch. She never took it, instead, I had to face Seleana Zdunich and get fucked out of the damn title making Seleana look like shit, me look like shit and the division as a whole look like shit. Good work Crystal...fucking idiot. However, the fact remains that since losing the title Dani has not acted like a champion.”

Alicia shrugs and shakes her head. Her hair turning a shiny golden color under the Florida sun as she lets out a deep sigh of happiness and relaxation.

”See a champion realizes when mistakes happen and overcomes them, like me. A champion faces adversity and punches it in the face. Like me. A champion falls off the horse and gets right back on. Like me. And Dani failed to do that. Seleana also failed to do that, Crystal sure as shit failed to do that.

Alicia scoffs and folds her arms over her chest shaking her head. Her bright blue eyes covered with a pair of black sunglasses.

”Crystal Hilton-Zdunich. You know what I really hate?. I hate this myth that Crystal is a great wrestler. Or even a good wrestler. See Crystal has all this history in IWF, LAW, Honor, and SCW and people seem to think she’s got talent when in reality she’s just fucking lucky. She was lucky in LAW, she’s been really lucky in SCW and what’s worse is if you look at the times Crystal has been “dominant” in this division it lines up with times when the roster was at it’s weakest. But she still wants to stomp around here and act like she’s the fucking star?”

“Crystal, you’re a joke.”

“The only thing more astonishing than the size of the joke you are is the fact people take you seriously at all. You want to stand there and say you and I are similar in any way shape or form?. Why?. Because we both have fathers who are in the industry?. That’s funny, I don’t seem to remember that being a thing in IWF when I’d watch you there, or LAW. Guess that’s a new plot poi-...I mean “fact” about you...Seems like something you would have added in there at the beginning of your career or something people would have known. But what is really fun is when you start talking about how I “bury” people and “talk myself up”. You mean how I point out YOUR stupidity and then promote the match and myself?”

“That’s part of what we do you vapid walking forehead. And by the way just a little reminder, you have millions, fix your fucking teeth you horse faced cunt.”

“I’m sorry, that was very mean of me, not as mean as you were to your own wife when you attacked her. Or was that Cristina?. Oh by the way, that whole split personality bullshit has been done by much better and more convincing people than you and if you really do have split personalities I will call the mental health association of America because YOU should not be in this business because you are a danger to yourself and others. And also a fucking moron”

You think I cry about things?. Really? Did I cry when I lost to Dani?. Did I cry when I lost the tag match?. I was angry because YOU interfered in a match you had no right to and cost me a championship. And here’s the thing Crystalina Hiltonuich I’m walking into this match with two very different goals. One is the obvious one, win back the title I was fucked out of. The other? Hurt you. Not just regular hurt either like a few bruises, I mean broken bones, snapped tendons, real pain, real anguish….you took that title from me and you want to act like some big star when you barely give a shit about this?...fuck you, Crystal. You are a fucking hypocrite and the truth is no one, except for your idiot wife can stand you….”

She pushes to her feet and shakes her head walking down the beach.

”And what’s worse is Crystal you have made me hate Seleana as much as I do you. And that pains me, it really does. I like you Seleana. I said it before our match and I even said it after, you do deserve the spotlight, you do deserve to be in matches like this and if you are good enough you deserve to be champion and that’s what this match is, A chance to prove that you should be a champion. Your wife wants to pigeonhole me as some loud disrespectful bitch. But I have done nothing but give you and Dani respect. Just not her…”

“I get it though Seleana. You love Crystal. But she’s toxic for you. Do you know how I know that?. Cause I have been in toxic relationshops. Before I met Michael, my husband. I was in horrible relationships. My first boyfriend Ronnie, father of my sons, was an asshole. Jacob Cass, Chris Cane, Travis Blake, Kaden fucking Kessler, someone your friend Eavan Maloney should know. I was bounced from abusive fuck up to abusive fuck up and Crystal...is abusing you…”

“It’s not abuse in the technical sense but look at it. She says she can change, she apologises says you’re “working stuff out” but she hurt you, physically, emotionally...you need catharsis and you need to stand up to her, you need to punch her in the fucking face.”

“You deserve better…”

“But what you don’t deserve...is that championship….”

“At least. Not yet. You win this match then yeah, you have earned the right to call yourself a champion. Hell, I’ll wrap the damn title around your waist myself. If you lose, then you go back to the drawing board and I’ll tell you this much. If I win the SCW title and then go on to win Blast from the past, I will choose YOU to be my opponent….Dani doesn’t deserve it after being a faded walflower, your wife doesn’t deserve it for obvious reasons but you Seleana. You do. I respect you, I like you….but….you still need to EARN that title around your waist and even though I want it back, even though being a champion is one of the things I love most...part of me...is rooting for you...but, I know if you go down you will go down in a Blaze of glory…”

 Prologue: Vindication….

It happened. Everything I worked for, everything I sacrificed for. I can stand on top of the mountain again, look down and say “I was right”. I went home after the last show. I had the title belt in my possession. I put the replica up with the rest of them and smiled. It looked beautiful up there. It looked right.

But now I’m even more determined.

In loss I was turned into a beast.

I had moments of doubt and self reflection that caused anger and frustration to burn.

Do you know what it’s like?. To be expected to be great?. Not just be told that you have potential, that you COULD do something, but that you WILL?. Every single time?. Now I have that pressure, that expectation. And when those expectations aren’t met I lash out.

I did that with my husband and my sons.

My mother and my sister.

My husband said he understood but really how could he?. He isn’t a competitor. He doesn’t know the competitive nature and that fire that burns deep in the pit of your stomach. He doesn’t know the feeling of your own confidence eating itself when you have that huge weight crushing down on your shoulders. Hell not even everyone in this business gets that or understands it. Not everyone feels the same way I do, thinks the same way I do.

But that is the difference between a champion and the common wrestlers who do this as a job, as a life and for fun. See people like that might hold championships and have some small moments of success, they get their names inscribed in record books, they get a replica to always remind them of what they did.

The feeling is what is different.

It feels good no doubt, but I envy them. See for them to outdo their potential and rise above is celebrated. It’s revered looked at as an inevitability. It’s why it was so shocking when I lost.; Cause really...it just doesn’t happen.

No matter what that idiot Mercedes Vargas says.

That’s the trade off though. People with fewer expectations get the bigger shock and awe of celebration, people in my position though. The title reigns aren’t just looked upon as a cool moment in time. Nah, they’re looked at as special. Legendary. Memorable. And now I take my position as the head of the division. As it’s champion. And I am ready to take on everyone….


Scene One: Fuck that Noise-
Off Camera.
Atlanta, Georgia
12 Years Ago

This wasn’t supposed to be her life. The blood, the pain, the sweat, the tears. Travelling from country to country, eating just enough to survive all for that 10 minutes or so in front of a crowd. The sleeping on gym floors or airport benches. None of it was supposed to be “Alicia Lukas”.

No, she was born to be a prissy pretty little society girl. She would go to a finishing school, learn to be a proper southern lady. Splitting time between Georgia where her mother lived and North Carolina, where her ladies academy was.. She grew to be a Georgia peach, a beauty queen. With her long strawberry blond hair that her mother would curl.

She wore frilly dresses that would turn into ball gowns as they went to dinners with the who’s who of southern royalty. And when the day came She was to be married to a local man, the son of some rich land owner and factory tycoon. “New Money” who needed the “old money” name. A life that would of led to her being a woman of leisure. Maybe even a shot at being on a future season of “real housewives of Atlanta or St Louis.”

Or so she thought. The reality was much darker and filled with pain,and when she turned 19 she looked at her life and just thought to herself…

Fuck that noise….but her rebellion started long before that. Before she met her future husband at 17. No it started as a teen. As she hated the beauty queen bullshit….

Alicia sat in the parlor of her mother’s home. A large two story house located in Atlanta’s’ outer suburbs. The ceilings seemed to reach straight up with delicate lines of painted scenes on them. A few white columns that looked roman scattered through the house as decorative pillars. Her fingers tapped on the grand rosewood table, she smiled slowly as her mother walked in with the women in her employ.

Barbara stopped, her eyes going up and down her daughter as a shock set in, she fanned herself and looked at the two women who kept the house in order shooing them away. She stepped around the table and got closer. Barbara Lukas was divorced from her father, they lived in different state, and Alicia hadn’t seen her father in years.

Barbara was very young when she fell pregnant with Alicia, she was 17 and never fully appreciated her role as a mother and protector. Her father Jason tried to be a father, but his life as a wrestler and unwillingness to settle down and get a stable job with three young children forced him out when Alicia was 5. Barbara was still youthful in her appearance. Her long light brown hair was done and curled with the top back and bowed. She shook her head but tried to keep her demeanor, her accent was brought back but still just enough to distinguish herself.

“Violet Alicia Eveline Lukas, whatever have you done?” Alicia just smiled at her mother, a huge toothy grin full of swagger and arrogance. She licked her lips as Barbara walked around her. Studying her, judging her. “Why?...your beautiful hair!...” Her long strawberry locks had been cut off. Shaved all around leaving a long blonde and light blue part from the front angling down one side of her face and head as the other side stayed uncovered.

Barbara continued her assessment, her demeanor continuing to change. “is…is that…a tattoo?...” Alicia smiled again,the outside of her hand showing a black and red bird. Barbara steps back and shakes her head as Alicia stops and gets to her feet. “You don’t like it mama?” She kicks the chair back, lightly stepping around her mother, still in a bright ruby red dress.

Barbara stepped away from her, her hand fanning her upper body. “Why?..you were raised better than this….you’re 15 years old!. You are going to meet the young man you’re going to marry next summer!. Do you not realise how much we need this?!?”

Alicia just laughs and turns away before tugging on the red sundress pulling it down revealing a tank top under it and then black denim shorts. Alicia shakes her head with a deep sigh. “You know what I saw in the mirror last week?....you…for years I’ve just…pretended…and I can’t do it anymore…”

As Alicia turns away Barbara looked down at the dress pulling it up to study it. ”We’re broke Violet. We have no money, the deal is done. Ronald Dempsey Senior has already set it up, his son, his son and you will be wed when you turn 18. But you will be meeting him before that.

Alicia growled and turned around suddenly tilting her head. Her anger built up higher as her hands clenched into fists. Her future being laid out for her. ”The hell I will! ”Enough Violet!. Don’t you get it? Would you have me on the street? Poor? Like some kind of beggar?....that’s what will happen. And what about your brother?...your baby sister Rose?....she’s ten Violet….TEN… Alicia swallowed her and realised she didn’t have a choice. Her heart sank as she looked up with a defeated sigh, her hand reaching out taking the dress back. ”Good...now..get upstairs...I’ll get some peroxide…

2 Years Later


“Violet!” His voice exploded through the house his daddy owned. Ronnie stormed through the 20 year old heir to a large fortune. His nose was in the air, his fists were clenched. He was angry, a standard day. He looked left and right as a few house workers seemed to get out of his way. He stopped getting to two large doors.

He took a deep breath and pushed them open. “Violet!” She sat up straight, her breathing laboured as she got to her feet looking around suddenly. Her hands straighten her dress out as he stepped around her. The house workers all left the room and as the giant door shut Violet Lukas took a sharp breath in.

He stepped around her a few rotations, his anger boiling to the surface, his eyes trailing up and down her body. Her long blonde hair tied back and put in a long braid down the side and down one shoulder. Ronnie came to a stop in front of her and leaned in. “Who is James Daniels?”

She stuttered and fumbled more, swallowing and then sighing. “Uh, darling he was a friend from when I was younger...my next door neighbour and we were going to see one ano-” She didn’t even see it coming, the back of his hand. It flew up and under before catching Violet on the cheek causing her head to fly backwards and to the side. She let out a whimper but didn’t go down, instead she made a grave error and turned back to him with her eyes blazing with anger and hatred.

Ronnie stepped forward and reached out grabbing her hair in his left hand yanking her head back hard. “Listen here ya little slut….I do not work and give you nice things for you to disrespect me..and my family…” Violet let out another whimper. “I wasn’t I swear” Another shot, this time an open hand slap across her face, his grip hard enough to stop her from falling, pulling out strands of hair. “LIAR. when we are married you will not make a fool of me Violet..YOU WILL FALL IN LINE…”

He leaned in, getting so close to her face she could feel his hot breath on her cheek and neck, his lips an inch from her ear. “Remember, without me...ya nothi, ya mother has nothin, ya family has and is nothin...when ya turn 18 ya mine….forever…” He let her go throwing her backwards, she stumbled and hit the large black baby grand piano, her hip crashing against it as she fell to the floor. Ronnie adjusted his suit, straightened his hair and smiled. “Now...be a dear and clean yourself up before drawing me a bath…”

Scene Two: What I’m trying to do
On Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
Present Day.

”Do any of you get what I’m trying to do here?. All I get from some of you are complaints and comments and bullshit. You don’t seem to understand it. This title, it means everything to me, and it’s not just because it’s another championship to add to my ever growing list of accomplishments”
Alicia looks down at the title belt in her right hand, she looks at it and studies it. From the front plate and side plates, the ornate designs, the nameplate on the front, the name “bombshells” that made her skin crawl. She sighed and smirked with a wink.

”I recognise that as a whole SCW has been a great force for women’s wrestling. Helping the idea of a women’s division be viable as something more than a sideshow. So many other places have a free for all, they don’t have divisions but SCW was able to keep the idea of gender segregation but do it in a way that was respectful. And it always has been. I get it, I’m not bli9nd, SCW was an innovative place and in a way still is. I’m not trying to disagree with that or destroy it’s legacy. Back in 2011 SCW was producing great matches between WRESTLERS who happened to be women while other places put their female athletes in bikinis and hired models. SCW was ahead of the curve…”

“And I’m honored to represent that lineage. I’m honored to hold the title that Roxi Johnson once held. But for every woman like Roxi or Amy there is an Amanda Cortez, a glorified porn star with a foot fetish. Or a Delia Darling, a woman who is more flash and now bang. I have been vocal about the name of the division, the name of the title and what it represents. I feel as if the name should represent the respect SCW has shown female athletes over the years. Bombshells doesn’t do that. It’s the same as Roses or Diamonds or Divas. It just doesn’t show the proper message that SCW is trying to convey.”

“See a few years ago, I entered a company that had a women’s title, a title called the bombshells championship. It was held by a succession of women who didn’t make it mean a damn thing, it was almost a dead championship, they were all style and no substance. I won that title and I built an entire division. Gone where these no named, fake titted wannabe actresses with no wrestling talent. Instead I built a division of killers. Now, I left that company because of the stupidity of the owner. But that championship is now a world title and Mercedes Vargas is fighting for it in a few days. Now, here in SCW..things are different…”

Alicia pulled the SCW Bombshells title over her shoulder with a slow smile. She held onto it with her long hair tied back, the slow smile turning into a toothy grin, her lips covered in a cherry red lipstick that made her smile “pop” more.

”Christian, Mark and Brooke aren’t stupid. Sure, they’re not perfect either but unlike that other place I mentioned SCW isn’t run by people with a third grade education and second rate ideas. They push their talents to be and get better, some ways I don’t agree with, but they still try. So I don’t need to worry about that, and I don’t have to worry about building a division. I already have a talented division to face and work with. Just look at Dani Weston. She beat me one on one and I already told you all. That doesn’t happen.”

“Mercedes Vargas can run her mouth about how it took me two shots to win the title, cause you know, that matters. But being beaten by Dani Weston isn’t a shame. She’s an incredible wrestler and athlete and if she ever wants the rubber match between us. I’m in. She deserves to stay in the conversation for this championship and I’m glad she’s in the match at Blaze of Glory. But the real wars happen one on one. But, wait, I guess I’m somehow hiding behind my trophy case right Trinity Jones?. I bet you thought I wouldn’t hear what you said right?. You’ll say that in a promo but I bet you won’t say it to my face, cause if you did I’d slap the taste out of your mouth, drag you down to the ting and beat you so fast even Parand Ara would be shocked.”

“But before I get to Blaze of Glory, I get to defend my title in a one on one match. The final show before the supercard. This is one of those decisions most people would be confused about. Why would Christian, Mark and Brooke make a dombshells title match a few weeks out from Blaze of glory?.”

“Motivation…”

“They know someone like me thrives in these situations. They know someone like me loves competition and loves to defend the title. So they signed this match, and I also bet a certain member of SCW’s management also takes great pleasure in how pissed off Crystal has gotten with Seleana getting a singles title shot long before her….”

Alicia laughs to herself and tilts her head.

”But I want to be very clear on this. Seleana Zdunich deserves a title shot, she deserves a one on one shot, hell so does Dani Weston, but both of them will be in the match at Blaze of glory the question we have though, is who is going into that match as the champion and who will be going in as one of the challengers?. That’s what we got eh Seleana?. Thing is I could spend the next 20 minutes talking about your relationship with your wife, I could talk about how much I hate her and how much your little domestic spat being played out all on live TV makes me sick to my stomach. I could even talk about the kind of person you are behind the scenes, the sweet animal lover from Sweden by way of New Zealand….”

“I could talk about how, as a person I have no issue with you.; I think you’re a credit to wrestling and your family.”

“But instead I want to focus on why we’re here. Wrestling. See SCW has a lot of issues floating around and we have seen your whole domestic issue played out in public, I have no doubt this is stressful for you. But the truth is that when you get in that ring it all fades away. It doesn’t matter. And this week at Climax Control 230 you get a one on one shot. Live in long beach Seleana The Cat Zdunich against Alicia The strong style southern belle Lukas. And as I said...you earned this…”

“You should be the calibre of opponents I face. You should be the type of person who steps up and gets in the ring with me. You have this heart that very few people possess, you have a determination and an honor that we can all respect. And, you’re talented. You have a chance to beat me Seleana. You have the talent and the drive and the determination...it should be applauded and celebrated….but…..you’re still not walking out of here with the title…”

Alicia laughs to herself again and closes her eyes with a deep breathe.

”Just because you have talent drive and determination doesn’t mean you’ll beat me, I mean you CAN beat me, but you won’t. See, you look at title matches and track records and we can see that when a title is on the line you choke. And, hey it’s not your fault a lot of people have performance issues. Just look at my ex husband Chris Cane. Now when I hold titles, I hold them for a long time. WWH womens champion for almost three hundred days, never lost the Honor legacy title, longest reigning Honor women's champion. I lost to Dani Weston then immediately, this is what I do, Seleana, I win titles, I hold them and make them  wanted prizes. This title is already coveted so half my job is done, but I want to break Mikah’s record, I want most defences, I want my name to be as synonymous with this as it is with every other championship I’ve held…”

“For that to happen I can’t exactly lose it to you now can I?....”

“It’s a shame because if anyone deserves a Bombshells championship win, if anyone deserves a moment in the sun to prove just how good she is, well, it’s you. But I can’t let sentimentality impact me. I need to be the best, I need to show I’m the best and I will do that by beating anyone and everyone SCW puts in my way. At Blaze of glory, it’;; be Dani, Crystal and you, but this week in Long beach it’s just us Seleana. And I will respect you before, then after the match and I know, I KNOW you will put your entire heart and soul into this, I know how bad you want it and trust me...I know one day you will h0old this championship…”

“Just...not now, not for a long time and certainly not at Climax Control 230, not at Blaze of glory….I have plans, I have my whole reign in front of me….and I will be...champion…”

 I Am Above.

Cut my throat and throw me to the wolves
I'm just too tired, too tired to reload
Don't need your tears, I don't need your love
Don't need your sympathy, I am above
I'll be the ghost that haunts you in your sleep
You have anchored the hate in me
Don't need your tears, I don't need your love
Don't need your sympathy, I am above

Prologue-When I dream….

When you close your eyes at night, what is it that runs through your mind?. Do you lay there and stare at the ceiling, unable to turn off your brain as the synapses fire and crackle?. As the electricity that powers our thoughts, feelings and the true basis of emotion speaks to you?. I used to lay in bed at night, for hours. I wanted to sleep, I needed to sleep. I ached for sleep. To be able to turn it all off and just drift off.

See in my life in my mind the reality of where I was and what my life was to become hit me like a brick.

I was to be nothing. A pretty face smiling and nodding along to whatever my husband said. I was to keep the servants in line, to keep our kids proper and well kept. I was to just spend my days sitting around with equally dull plastic fantastic women and chit chat about whatever our husbands were doing, to compare cars and trinkets and different shoes. That really wasn’t for me.

But from a young age, that’s what I was supposed to be.

From a young age that’s where my future was headed.

So when I did finally get tired enough that I simply couldn’t stay away, when the little switch in my mind would simply click and all my worries would fade away. What would I dream about?. What would my subconscious do?. Honestly?. It would take me back to a time when I was a child. To the day my father left. And in the dream I would be given the understanding and strength to stand up, to walk over to him and grab his hand. To tell him not to go, that we needed him.

And in typical dream fashion. He’d have listened.

What bullshit!.

That is why they were dreams. But now, when I close my eyes do you know what I dream about?. Do you know where my mind goes?. It still goes back to the past but it goes to when I was older. It goes to my ex-Ronnie. It goes to every single shot he took every single slap, closed fist. Ever laugh and moment of abuse he put me through. It goes back to that time and makes me relive every last fucking moment. But, why I can hear you ask?. Why would my own brain put me through that and consider it a dream?.

To remind me.

To remind me that I am living my dream. To remind me that I am a part of something dream. To remind me that Alicia Lukas is not Violet Maxwell. I left that name, I left that life. I left that person, broken and twisted. I left that weakling, crying on a dojo floor in Japan 7 years ago. So now, when I dream….

I’m awake….

Scene One- The Bright Lights Don’t Hide Your Scars
Off Camera
Southampton, New York
2 Years Ago

“You’re not going to do it are you?”. Travis’ voice rang out across the room as he stared at the letter. A small hint of anger coming off the back end making the question seem more like a demand. It sent a small shiver up Alicia’s spine. Her long blond hair flowing down her back and shoulders as she turned her head to the side looking at Travis from the corner of her eye. He set the letter down and folded his arms over his chest.

His hair was tied back, his tattooed hand stroked his long Viking like beard as he gave out a small sigh waiting for an answer.; Alicia turned not even making eye contact. Her arms crossed over her chest, her body language not showing the confident champion she had become. At this moment, with the tone and feeling in the room, she had shrunk to the scared little girl she had been as a teenager. Travis didn’t see the signs, he stepped forward and shook his head.  

“Alicia, tell me you’re not going back there.” She stepped back sheepishly looking away from his gaze. Travis deep blue eyes staring a hole through her. As she turned her head her hair flowed down in front of her face as the memories came flooding back. The walls seemed to close around her as Travis' voice seemed to be replaced with one from the past. Her nails dug into her arms, the pain shaking the reality back to the present day for a time, but it wasn’t enough. The walls closed in closer. Her mind screamed enough but her heart wouldn’t listen.

The memories became real. The control. The hands around her throat like a leash stopping her from being free. A chain held her down as her hands hit the cold concrete and became weighed down but nothing physical. It was the pressure, the hatred, the pain. She looked around panicked, unable to breathe. Travis wasn’t there. Instead, it was spirits. Ghosts from her past. The original stood taller than the others. One with a demon mask, one with a cowboy hat, one with a smaller demon in the shape of Pikachu but black and distorted.

A larger demon stood behind them all with white eyes, leashed around their necks all leading to the larger demons fingertips and he played them like marionettes. She stared into the eyes. The outline was red with black over white uncaring cold eyes. There was no soul no kindness. Just manipulation and control. Alicia felt the anger rise, she felt it pulling her up away from the concrete prison keeping her locked. As she rose to her feet the original demon, the largest stepped forward, his huge black fist connected with her face sending Alicia down. She looked up wiping the blood from her lip the shot fueling the anger as she stood, her eyes flashing black as she got to her feet.

“You will not control me….” She chanted the words, a personal mantra over and over, the four demons in front all slid back behind the largest holding their leashes. He seemed to laugh at her, mock her. His hand reached out and instead of some kind of abusive shot, physical or mental his finger moved across her cheek tenderly, and in a moment of weakness, she saw the demon smile and the black faded from her eyes. He had her and she felt the pull of his power. She stepped closer with a smile….

“Alicia”

She heard a voice. It wasn’t the demon’s, it wasn’t the voice of the devil in all his seduction. It was something else. Something pure. The demon turned black, his eyes glowed red as his false illusions faded away. She turned away from him and a blinding white light sang to her like a chorus of angels singing her hymn. Her fingertips reached out into the light and it didn’t burn, it didn’t hurt. It felt like….

Home

“Alicia!” The light flashed. She felt hands on her shoulders, everything blurred but slowly came to focus. Travis stood above her, she felt the rug beneath her back. He breathing was heavy as she heaved up and down. She stared up into his eyes. The sorrow and worry poured through as she reached up pulling herself up to him and their bodies together. Travis rubbed her back and scooped his hands underneath her picking her up in his arms. She clung onto him and calmed herself. Her heartbeat slowing with her breathing.  

She sat down and took a sip of water as Travis dropped to a knee, his hand finding hers as his finger ran over her engagement ring. “Lic, what happened?” She smiled slowly and shook her head clearing her throat. “It doesn’t matter, I’m ok.” Travis sighed and looked over at the letter he shook his head and slid his hand up to her face, his thumb caressing her soft pale cheek. “I’m sorry, babe it’s your choice if you want to go back there. I just….I want to know why?”

Alicia chuckled to herself before standing up, she walked over to the cabinet where they kept their trophies, their accomplishments a replica of the titles they had both won sat there. Alicia’s trophies from Japan. Her WWH title, Travis’ two WWH international titles, and his Hellsgate. She reached up pulling a championship belt down turning to Travis holding it in her hands. Her fingertips sliding over the silver faceplate and across the small screwed in nameplate at the bottom.

“This championship is the first one I got on home soil Travis. I never lost it. I have...unfinished business. It represents everyone who told me I couldn’t do it. No matter how much I do, no matter who I beat, I’m still the person they said was going to be nothing. Please understand, please don’t stand in my way.” Travis gave her a small smile and a nod, he pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead before leaning close to her ear whispering. “I’ll always be by your side, you know that. Just promise me one thing….” He pulled back and Alicia raised an eyebrow confused. Travis couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath before staring into her eyes.

“Win…”

Alicia smiled and laughed to herself. But it stuck in her mind. The feeling of being controlled, the feeling that Travis hated she had a mind of her own. Like Ronnie. There was always friction, always pain. She had truly believed Travis was to be “the one”. But it was a lie. A fallacy. He would be like all the others. Like Jacob Cass, Chris Cane, Sean Demint, Kaden Kessler. They were all the same. Until Michael. Until her heart finally found her…
.
Scene Two-What dreams may come
Off Camera



She could hear the sound of water dripping from the old ivory faucet. Each one hit the bottom of the sink sending a small noise out from the downstairs bathroom through the house. The small light from the desk lamp moved up and across the room as Violet sat on the floor. Her hair a mess as she breathed shallow and slow. Too deep and the pain in her ribs would cause her to almost scream in pain. A fear that kept her quiet as she heard Ronnie upstairs asleep and snoring. She swallowed hard and grabbed the wet rag sitting in the small plastic bucket, it was warm and pleasant to the touch as she slowly rung out the excess water.

Her hands shook lightly as she moved the mirror in front of her face but keeping it to the side. She knew it would be bad, she felt it in the pit of her stomach, she remembered and counted the blows in her head as she closed her eyes tight, her own mind begging for her not to cry, the sting of the falling tears and her shaking body making her ribs hurt would be too much. She saw it in her mind. The confrontation hours before. Baby Ryan less than a year old sat in his high chair during dinner. Violet feeding him spoonfuls of applesauce and cinnamon.

Ronnie swayed with a smirk on his face, onto his fifth double scotch since coming home. At 19 he had been placed in a position of power, he didn’t have to actually work for his money. He smelled of alcohol and cigars when he came home, drinking all day without regard. He laughed as he slid the paper away finishing his last piece of steak leaving the plate in front of him, he got to his feet and was about to move into the bedroom, Violet's heart sang as it looked like he would be passing out without incident.

Her hopes would be crushed in moments as he leaned down to kiss his son on his forehead, the smell of the alcohol and roughness of his face from not shaving causing the young boy to stir and cry out,

That is all Ronnie needed. He accused Violet of turning their son against him, her cries and protests angering him as signs of guilt in his fractured mind. Ryan cried louder, Violet pleaded, Ronnie, ignored. The next minutes were a blur of pain, swearing and the sound of bone hitting bone. When he was done he staggered off, leaving Violet to deal with the dropping blood and their upset child. She gathered herself up, she got Ryan in bed. And now she sat on the hardwood floor of the parlor. The cloth and water to her side, still resistant to turn the mirror towards herself to assess the damage. Her hands shook as she gripped the side turning it.

As the reflecting face showed her own she couldn’t help but gasp as she saw the damage. The swelling and the bruising. The gasp now causing her ribs to pop as she almost let out a squeeze. The footsteps were heard, her heart raced, before she could move she looked up, Ronnie stood holding a gun, before she could make a sound his finger twitched, the trigger was pulled…..

Alicia sat up fast, a cold sweat covering her body as she yelled “NO RONNIE!”. Her chest heaved as she looked around frantically, she felt hands on her and she panicked, her hands flailing and pushing, the light came on, Michael was there, his arms wrapped around her. “Shhh Lic...I’m here...I’m here…” Alicia breathed deep over and over, her heart calming down as Michael just moved his hand down her back and back up again. Alicia closed her eyes tight again. But all she could see was that gun and all she could hear was that sound. All she could feel was that fear and that hate.

It's guilt and frustration, it's everything between
The silence and the absence hitting home
Peripheral glances and the chasing of a sound
I never knew I'd miss until it's gone
So ask me how I'm coping, and I'll smile and tell you: "I'm just fine"
While down inside I'm drowning in the fucking rain

Scene Three-Cause tonight, I’m killing gods
On Camera
Las Vegas, Nevada
Present Day

Alicia sighed as she stood outside a small two bedroom house in the suburbs of Vegas. A for sale sign laying on the ground. The lawn had become a jungle of grass, she shook her head and moved towards it. Her long hair tied up with a pink bandana under it, she slowly opened the door and stepped in, the pain had started falling from the walls due to the heat and no one taking care of it, the dry Vegas weather taking its toll.

”This is where I lived once…”

A small smile came across her face as her black boots made large banging noises on the hardwood floors that echoed through the now empty rooms. She folded her arms over her chest, her leather jacket stretching as she does.

”This is where it all started for me when I came back to the united states. I couldn’t go back to Atlanta. I couldn’t face my ex. See, I have a lot of regrets in my life. I’m only 27 years old but I feel as if I have lived a thousand lifetimes. I was born into a family with a mother who hated me because I was the oldest. Zoey was a baby and was too young to take the blame and my brother Josh was the golden son. So, Violet Maxwell became the punching bag. Violet Maxwell became everyone's reason for anger. For my mother is was because I reminded her of my father. The long blond hair, the cocky smile even when I was in trouble. It was Jason all over.”

“For Josh, it was because I was the older sister and with Zoey, she thought I had more time with our father than she did. All that resentment, all that anger. It needed to go somewhere and for years I allowed it to be on me. I took all of it for that reason but then, well, then something changed. The anger and hatred put towards me weren’t just emotional. It wasn’t just smart assed snide remarks from my mother and blame from my siblings. It was real pain and anger. It was physical abuse. From someone who was supposed to love me.”

“Ronnie and I met when I was 14, he was a few years older and my mother arranged our relationship with his father. Sure, the world says those kinds of things don’t happen anymore but, that’s bullshit. See my mothers maiden name, Lukas, the one I use. Was from “old money” in the south, but we didn’t actually have any of it at the time. And my ex, well his father was “new money” he had a lot of it but everyone in Georgia laughed at him. So, my being with his son was beneficial. I had two boys, Rory and Ryan. But, one night I had enough. See Ronnie would never hurt them, I knew no matter what they would be safe but I had to get out, I had to leave. So. I did….”

“And for years my heart hurt….”

“I went to Japan, I trained, I got beaten down, I got broken down and then built back up. For five years I stayed away from anything approaching a relationship. I stayed away from men, women...everyone who seemed to fancy me in anything but a professional manner. I thought I was strong, I thought I was powerful and that no one would ever hurt me like that again. But I was wrong. So fucking wrong…”

Alicia growled as her teeth moved together as she seemed to hiss in frustration throwing her hand sideways as she looked around the room that would have been the dining area. She laughed leaned against the wall.

”I made horrible decisions in my personal life. All the while in my professional life I destroyed everyone who stood in my way. And that is what I have done for the last three years in America. Every single big name that I have come face to face with has disappointed me. But the most recent one is Mercedes Vargas. Every action that woman takes has let me down personally as a fan of professional wrestling. She ignores her losses, she never gives anyone credit except for herself. She is nothing but a lie. A big shining lie of title wins and statistics. And me?. I’m not like that…”

“So while I have said that it was Jesse Salco’s dumb ass that got pinned, I have also said that it was Sam and Danielle Weston who walked out winners in a tag match…”

“But, that tag match meant nothing. One on one is what matters. That is something Mercedes Vargas never wrapped her head around. Mercedes for months went on about how she beat me in tag matches, about how she beat me in battle royals. But when push came to shove, in triple threats and a one on one match. Mercedes was a disappointment. So Dani, when I call you a disappointment it’s for many reasons but the main one, is you actually thinking a tag team match is in any way shape or form proof that you are in my league…”

“It’s the same tired shit that Mercedes Vargas and others use. See one on one is the real measure of competition. It’s the real moment of truth in this business. You have been the SCW bombshells champion since August but I am the first one to really challenge you. I am the first one to put my finger in your chest and say “hey, I’m better than you”. And actually, mean it. See Amy Marshall, Crystal Hilton, Mercedes Vargas, they are the names that have been linked with that title for a long time and escaping that shadow is hard for you. But not for me….”

“So when I call you a disappointment...you shouldn’t actually take it personally. Cause to a lot of SCW’s fans, you’re a disappointment.”

Alicia shrugs and pushes off the wall as she moves through into the backyard, a rusted swing set stands there with one of the chains broken, Alicia reaches out moving her fingertips along the paint as it seems to flake off.

”There has been so much “Oh Alicia you said” that it leads me to believe if I had remained silent you would have nothing to talk about. I have spent this entire time telling you why I’m better, what I’ve done in my past and putting forward real reasons as to why I’m better and why I would make a better champion than you. But I have left out the most important one…”

“It’s because in this world of predators and prey...I’m a fucking great white shark…”

“I have beaten you down and verbally annihilated you over and over and the best thing you can come up with is a half-assed puffed out comment about a tag team match and about how now I apparently stutter?. Are you feeling ok?, Cause if you think I’m not speaking clearly your goddamn ears are broken but then again it seems to be a running them with everyone in this damn company. One on one I am the best goddamn wrestler on the planet today. This is a fact, something I have proved over and over again for the last 7 years.”

“And for the last two years in America in any company, I have stepped in. I have continued it here but people like you just stick your heads in the ground like a fucking ostrich. Hell, you did it in your little promo against me. You said I will never be SCW, that I’m not SCW. Again, not something I originally said. That is from Mark, and to a lesser extent Christian, your bosses. They see the value in me but apparently, you don’t.”

“So, if nothing I have ever done has mattered Dani, then what will it mean when you beat me?....”

“See, if I do happen to lose to you I am fully prepared for the consequences. I will shake your hand, raise your hand up and admit I was wrong. I will leave the main event of Inception 3 knowing that I was wrong and the funny part is I will be HAPPY about it. I have been proven right about so many people time and time again that it DISAPPOINTS me when I am right. See, I want you and the others to rise up and be better..to shake off that stupid “bombshells” name and just be WOMEN….”

Alicia again throws her hands in the air and shakes her head with a growl.

”It’s almost like that’s a horrible concept. But, I want you to beat me, Dani. I want to be proven wrong. That’s what people don’t get about me and what you fail to understand. I look at women like Crystal Hilton and Mercedes Vargas and it pisses me off that they were the standard bearers here. A failed model and a failed actress. Wow. That really says a lot about the state of professional WRESTLING when a failed actress and a failed model can reach the pinnacle. So please...PLEASE prove me wrong at Inception Dani...I’M BEGGING YOU”

 Maybe in another life
I could find you there
Pulled away before your time
I can't deal, it's so unfair
And it feels
And it feels like
Heaven's so far away
And it feels
Yeah, it feels like
The world has grown cold
Now that you've gone away

Prologue-If I had a heart.

Maybe one day I would actually care. I mean really care. About those less fortunate. About those who needed to train harder hit harder, be faster. Those who had to compensate for a lack of natural ability. But the truth is natural ability and skills that are inside or DNA only get you so far. But if you take both, if you can harness someones natural talent and instill a need to compete. You get a monster.

Maybe one day I would actually care. I mean really care. About those that life stomps down and leaves behind. About those who had fallen on hard times and fallen. Who was unable to raise up under their own power. The ones who were beaten and held back. But weren’t strong enough to fight and win. To break the chains of bondage that held them down.

Maybe one day I would actually care. I mean really care….

If I had a heart.


Scene One-I feel nothing
Off Camera
Atlanta Georgia
Last Week

The house seemed so quiet. The large main parlor didn’t even seem to echo as it used to. Alicia looked around as her mother Barbara slid her sunglasses on and left, Zoey walked out of the room, her makeup smudged, her eyes red from crying. Zoey moved out into the parlor with her sister sitting down on a chair opposite her. Alicia just stared at her, wanting to say something but unsure of what to offer. Zoey was closer to him than Alicia was. There was a thick silence as Zoey took a sharp inhale opening her bottle of water to take a drink.

As she finished she finally noticed while she had been crying and in emotional pain. Alicia hadn’t been. Alicia’s face was blank and emotionless. She had not shed a single tear for James Maxwell, their biological father. ”You know you can cry right?. You don’t have to be a strong big sister.” Oh bless her heart. Alicia smirked and shook her head looking down. She had no idea how to work this, or why it would even matter. She was here for Zoey. not their father. But she needed something to distract Zoey from the lack of emotion. ”Have you started the funeral arrangements?. Did he leave any instructions in his will?

His will, that was a joke. Alicia knew damn well their father would not do the decent thing and put his last thoughts and wants to paper to make things easier for anyone foolish enough to actually care for him. ”He didn’t, I have no idea what he’d want. I don’t….Ali..help” It broke her heart, seeing Zoey like this. Zoey always put on the face of strength. She was 5’10, 160 pounds. She was bigger and stronger than Alicia. She took after their father more than she did too. But here they were, the older sister feeling nothing except pain at her baby sisters suffering. And an inability to relate. She reached out and laid her hand on Zoey’s shoulder. Zoey tilted her head and laid her cheek on Alicia’s hand.

A little more time passed as Zoey suddenly sat up straight and grabbed a handful of tissues. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose shaking her head at the same time. ”No, I’m not going to be like this, I need to be stronger, like you. He was your father too yet I’m the one crying like a baby.””That’s because she doesn't feel bad.” Josh’s voice cut through the room. Zoey and Alicia both turned to look up at their brother. The troubled “middle child”. But he was every bit like their father. He stood six foot eight, was naturally muscular, had long wavy blond hair and a beard. He dropped his bag near his sisters and turned to the small bar to mix a drink.

”Josh?..what are you..””Doing here?...I felt like saying a final goodbye to the old man, so I’m here to help with the funeral” Alicia raised her eyebrows, Zoey shook her head and got to her feet as Josh downed the whiskey stomping passed him. ”So you disappear for months and think you can just turn up now?. Last time I saw you was Ali’s wedding and that was seven months ago… He poured himself another drink and shook his head again downing it. Alicia still stayed silent. Her hands coming together as she sat back watching Zoey getting more upset and Josh staying just as blank and emotionless as she felt.

”You just turn back up and expect us to want you to help?” Josh shook his head and set the glass down before turning to Zoey, he reached down and gave a small pat to the top of his baby sisters head. ”The funny thing is you think she wants to help” He motioned towards Alicia who looked away, Zoey looked at them both one after another before scrunching her face up with a growl. ”You too?...what is it with this family?” Alicia could feel herself standing up and the words about to come out of her mouth, she could feel decades of anger. ”I’m sorry you lost YOUR father Zoey, I feel bad for you and I hate seeing you upset but you have to understand something.”

She stepped closer to her sister till they were face to face. Both of them with long blond hair, tanned and toned bodies, bright blue eyes. ”Jason walked out on me and Josh when we could still remember it. We know what it was like to watch him leave and not understand why. He may have been your dad and you may have been the apple of his fucking eye...but he was dead to us a long time before his body caught up/” Zoey opened her mouth trying to find the words, nothing came out and she just stood there looking at her siblings with tears in her eyes before turning and walking away.

Alicia sighed as her heart dropped. ”She had to hear the truth Ali” Her hand flew up with a finger in the air, she didn’t even turn to look at her brother. ”I don’t want to hear it, Josh…”

Scene Two-The Day he died for the first time/
Off Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
22 Years Ago

The day was like any other. The sun rose high in the sky, the smell of summer in the air as the heat in Georgia seemed to bake us all alive. I was five years old. Long curly blond locks, chubby cheeks. Every bit a mixture of my southern belle mother and my father. A rough and rugged wrestler named Jason Maxwell. He was seven foot tall, huge muscles and long blond hair. A smirk that was playful and boyish despite his age. A look my mother fell for, hook, line, and sinker. I don’t remember everything from that time. But I remember being happy.

I remember my mother being happy. I was the first born. The princess. Followed by my brother Josh and our baby sister Zoey. Josh was 2 and a half, Zoey was a newborn, maybe three or four months. I don’t remember exactly how old. I just remember the weird feeling. My mother for a time had been questioning my father on his choices. On what he was doing for the family. She had come from money, she gave that all up from the family to marry my father. A star-crossed forbidden love it seems. But times grew tougher….

The wrestling business as a whole had become stagnant. There was no money to be made in the mid-’90s and with three children my mother worried. She was scared and wanted Jason to find another job. My father was as stubborn as a mule. I suppose that is where I get it from. But I sat on the floor, the hardwood floor of the house we lived in. A small three bedroom affair, My brother and sister both have a nap, not that they would have remembered much anyway. All I remember was the yelling. My mother and father in the kitchen. My mother then telling him to keep his voice down once she realised I could hear everything.  

I didn’t think much of it that day.

It had become a little more regular than I would like to admit. The arguments back and forth, always over money and direction. Things that never held much weight in my mind. At the time all I cared about was my little brother touching my shit. But I heard the boots on the floor. My father stepping through the house. I remembered feeling different, weird. The vibe was all wrong and I was upset. He walked out of Josh and Zoey’s room, he walked over to me setting his bag down and picked me up sitting me on his knee. His eyes looked strange. Not the happy relief I was used to when he was able to see us, spend time with me and actually be a father away from the traveling circus life of professional wrestling.

A life I myself now subscribe to and endure and love. In a way, I understand why he left. Why the last I saw of him for 20 years was his back. His large silhouette moving out our front door with a bag in his hand. My mother angry and shaking her head hiding the tears and keeping them back and away. He loved the life. He loved the feeling. He loved the rush. At the time I thought he was just leaving for work. That someday my father would walk back in the door as if nothing happened. Give me a hug, tell me he loved me. But that day didn’t come, not for 20 goddamn years.  

And when it did, I felt happy, I fell for the lies, I fell for the bullshit. I let him back in only for him to walk out time and time again, and over the last two years, I have had to deal with that fallout. The feeling and knowing that my father is a failure as a man, as a professional wrestler, as a father, and as a grandfather….. And now he was nothing.

Scene Three-I am SCW now
On Camera
Washington, D.C
Present Day

”I’ve been waiting months to be able to say and do this.”

Alicia smiles wide and adjusts her shirt straightening it, she slides her hair into place and she takes a deep and slow inhale and exhale before laughing under her breath.

”Mercedes Vargas. I told you so”

She smiles again, her lips coated in a deep red lipstick twist up and show her almost perfect white teeth, her blue eyes sparkle as Alicia seems to bounce a little as she moves.

”I told you years ago, the second I got you in the ring, one on one, that we’d find o0ut who was better. And the entire time we were both in Honor you were able to pick up cheap wins over me. Tag match wins when I had eliminated the entirety of your team and was tired. Mayhem survival “wins” that weren’t actually wins and bullshit DQ’s. But when push came to shove, when the ending actually mattered which one of us stood tall Marcy?. I took the Honor title off you, I waved it around and all you could do was meekly put a hand up and say…”

<Fake Mercedes Voice>“But, but you never pinned me…..”</Fake Mercedes Voice>

“Well, gee willy Mercy, I took your championship and you were too scared to face me, I wiped out your pathetic little group that you built up around yourself. Then I came here, to YOUR turf, to the company where YOU are in the hall of fame. I stepped in YOUR ring after you had thrown out all that bullshit on Twitter. And I pinned you. Kind of makes your little tantrum seem even more childish now right?. You know the one?. Where a certain management representative said “Alicia is SCW” and your little panties..or rather..depends got all twisted up?”

“Cause let’s face it. With that win, and what I am capable of and what I am going to do?...I am SCW…”

Alicia flashes that grin again and pulls up the Honor wrestling championship adjusting it on her shoulder with a laugh to herself.

”I know that seems loaded here but, with Honor and SCW merging and with the matches looming to unify titles I think it’s important to realise that Honors past is now SCW’s past. I am an SCW employee and wrestler and while I love the lineage and records I have broken and hold in Honor there comes a time when that company needs to be fully absorbed and laid to rest. And at Inception III that is what is going to happen. I’m not going to sit there and have this “us vs them” mentality. See I like Jesse Salco and it honestly doesn't matter if she considers herself to be more “Honor” than “SCW”. Cause right now, this is the company we work for. And Jesse is a very talented woman and she is also someone I respect immensely and I know I can rely on her. I know that I will do my half of the world and she will do hers. I can’t say that about everyone….”

“But, our opponents in this match have to realise something. See Sam Marlowe and Dani Weston have been impressive in SCW and I will get to them but they know Jesse Salco. They know Jesse Salco is an impressive woman who can go in that ring. They have seen her win and defend a championship in Honor and inside the SCW ring. So it should send a little shiver down the spines of Dani and Sam when they sit back and realise the title Jesse holds, I made famous.”

“The Honor Wrestling Legacy Championship is tattooed with my name on it no matter who holds it. I had it for over a year and the only reason I don’t have it over my shoulder is that I had to give it up. I had to hand it back to management because I beat Mercedes and won “the big one”. But for almost 400 days that title was mine. I even defended it against Jesse so, Jesse Salco is a great opponent, competitor, and partner. But she isn’t on my level. And sad to say. Neither are you two…”

Alicia smiles and shakes her head leaning back holding the Honor wrestling title tight against her body.

”I mean, the current Roulette Champion, Samantha Marlowe is a name here. Sin City knows you and knows what you can do. Three-time Roulette Champion, two-time Bombshells champion, a Mixed Tag Champion with Caleb storms. Damn Sam, what a resume. I’m impressed and doing that is not easy. But even with all this knowledge, even with being able to look at your past and nod in approval. You’re still not someone who can or will step to me. See I have given people respect and props for what they’ve accomplished here and I will do so. I’ve watched past SCW shows and I will always admit it’s a thrill to be in the same company where Roxi Johnson once rolled and was a champion.”

“But, Sam, you’re not going to believe what you see when I step in the ring.”

“All the hype about me sweetheart is real. You traded the SCW bombshells title back and forth with Crystal Hilton and Mercedes. Two hall of famers who can’t and won’t be good enough to lace my boots let alone live up to what I’ve accomplished. You’re probably going to go on to Inception and face Jesse, putting that pretty belt you won off of Evie Bang on the line. And when the dust settles one of you will hold a brand new title having both histories under it. So, Sam, what that means is, if you do happen to beat Jesse at the supercard, you will technically hold a title that includes the history of me being the most dominant champion and professional wrestler on this planet….congratulations honey….I’ll give you a rub without doing anything…”

“You can thank me later”

Alicia chuckles again and sighs rolling her eyes shaking her long blond hair out.

”And someone else who should thank me is Dani Weston. You should be thanking me for wanting to defend the Honor title and remind everyone what it means instead of just coming straight for you. It has bought you an extra month or so for you to call yourself a champion. And it’s funny cause I kind of thought this would happen. Eventually, the top female champion in SCW, that would be you, would have to face the best champion who was coming into the company. That would be me. And since you hold the SCW...argh..Bombshells..title that means you are “the best” here.”

“And looking at you, I can’t help but be disappointed.”

“I was excited Dani, I was pumped to step into this company after hearing and seeing so much about it from Jesse, Delia, Crystal, and Mercedes. These women were the best this company had to offer and...and...I beat them. Easily. I am one of the best professional wrestlers on the planet Dani and I want to face the best but all I see from you is constant complaining and whining on social media. And fluke your way to holding that piece of gold on your shoulder. Now, we have a few weeks till this supercard. If you want to hold onto that title till then, then I hope you realise what you have to go through…”

“Then again, you get a small preview this week. At Climax Control 223 you and Sam will get in the ring with myself and Jesse. And while the three of you have been successful here and built careers the sad truth is that I’m the one who is going to be remembered. I’m the one who is going to be looked at as the best, as the star, as the goddamn G.O.A.T. You will know what it’s like to step in the ring with the best of the best. All your champions would fall to me and I am the most complete female wrestler in the world today and that may be looked at as a goddamn boast but I have the track record to prove it. People have always doubted me and hated me, this is not anything new to me. And I have made a career out of proving everyone wrong and shoving it down their throats. And I’m coming for blood. We are not the same, say the fucking name.”

 Scene one-The Honeymoon
Off Camera
Paris, France
6 Months Ago

Her eyes fluttered open as the sounds of the city could be heard in faint moments outside the window. Alicia smiled as she remembered instantly where they were. Paris. The cliched honeymoon destination of destinations. But this was new for her. Alicia had only ever been to Paris to work. In, work and out again, onto another city, another country, another match, another company. As was the nomadic life of a professional wrestler not signed to any major company. As a rookie, as an unsigned talent and again as a young woman looking to make her mark she had been able to visit many different places.

Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, North America. She’d been everywhere. Wrestled everywhere. But this was different. This was life, relaxing. It was real. They flew in the morning before. Michael smiling as he took a deep breath in as they found a cab. They spent the first day checking in and getting settled. Learning the layout of the surrounding areas near the hotel. They ate in the restaurant under the hotel, they drank wine. There was no looking at the time, there were no worries about an early bedtime to catch a 5 am flight for either of them. It was a real holiday. A time for the newlyweds to celebrate alone.

Alicia’s sons, Rory and Ryan were safe and sound with their biological father. Their house was being looked after by Alicia’s sister Zoey. Everything seemed perfect. Everything felt perfect. And then it hit her. She was content and happy being a wife, a mother. She could do as she wanted. Michael had a great job, a healthy business. Alicia had savings, a bank account and a name she could trade off. Did she really want to keep traveling? Did she really want to be away from Michael?. And then there was the other question. Did they want to try for a baby now?. The question burned at the front of Alicia’s mind.

She remembered what it was like at home. Seeing Michael with her boys, the smile on his face, the flush in their cheeks. She would stand and cook, laughing at them playing. It was the life her mother wanted for her with Ronnie. The life she was raised for that she had hated and rebelled against for so long. Now though, it seemed to clear. As she lay on the perfect white sheets in a wonderful hotel. She stared at Michael as his eyes opened, he looked down finding Alicia awake and her head on his chest, her hand sitting on his chest as her chin came to rest there too. They didn’t speak just yet. Letting the moment stay between them.

Her bright blue eyes stared into his as she pushed herself up to look at him. Her long blond hair swept over to one side, her left leg curled up and over his as they had slept intertwined. A small laugh escaped her lips as Michael was the first to speak. “This is a beautiful way to wake up. And one that might spoil me as we grow old.” He shot out a grin, it was cheeky and boyish with a hint of attitude and charm. Alicia laughed again and buried her face in his chest blushing. Even now, two years after they first met. And now a married couple he was still able to make her act like a nervous teenager.

“You have to stop that sir. I will keep blushing until my face burns.” She sat up and stretched her arms out before sliding off the bed grabbing his shirt and some of her underwear. She slides them on and stood near the window looking down from the third floor to the street below. Her smile stayed locked as she let out a small sight that slipped down and outward. Michaels' ears picked up and at that moment their bond which had been so strong became more noticeable. He stood up moving beside her sliding a hand around her hip.

”A Euro for your thoughts?” Alicia scoffed and tried to hide her laughter under a snort before tilting her head. ”Just thinking. You make me happy, that’s all really” He gave a nod and kissed his wife on the cheek before sitting on the edge of the bed turning Alicia to him, taking her hands in his raising his eyebrows. After a few moments, Alicia cleared her throat getting ready to speak. Michael knew her well enough to know that if there was something, anything on her mind all he needed to do was wait and she would bring it to light.

She inhaled a deep breath and looked to the ceiling and back down again rubbing his hands with her thumbs. ”I just, I’ve never been this content and the more I think about it. The more I feel that maybe, maybe I should retire. From wrestling. Be at home with you and the boys.” There was still silence as Michael listened, he gave a small nod moving his lips together taking her words in. Alicia though continued. ”We could try for a baby, hope for a girl…”

Her cheeks were red again, she swallowed hard as Michael smiled and seemed lost for words before shaking his head and getting to his feet, his hands drifted up to Alicia’s face, he cupped her cheeks and gave her a slow passionate kiss before placing his forehead against hers keeping them so close she could hear the speed of his heartbeat. ”I love you. But you and I both know that is the moment talking.” Her heart sank, she didn’t understand just yet. Michael, however, understood it all.

”Right now, that’s what you want. But the Alicia Lukas I know still has a lot left to prove and many miles in the tank. There will be a time for all that, retirement, another child, a quieter life. But if you did that right now?. You’d have regrets.” There was a pause as she let his words sink in. He was right of course. He knew Alicia better than anyone else on this planet. He understood what drove her, what she lived for and what she needed. He was in every essence of the word, her soulmate. ”You will take the world in your hands and rule it with an iron fist….but right now. Breakfast” He laughed louder and kissed her lips again before turning and grabbing the menu and the phone, he started ordering in French. Bad French. And Alicia just slowly smiled and chuckled. She was still in heaven…..

Scene Two- Look back to go forward
Off Camera  
Kyoto Japan.    
2 Years Ago

She swung the door open and stepped in. Her long hair tied back in a bun, very similar to how it was the first time she stepped foot in the hallowed dojo. She took a deep breath in, memories flooded back as a smile came across her ruby red lips. She took her sunglasses off and slid one side in the neck of her black and red “Kyoto-sun dojo” shirt. It was faded and clearly very worn. Alicia stepped across the floor and stopped just inside before slipping her shoes off, bowing as she crossed from the hardwood to the carpet. Despite being alone she felt comfortable.    

Her feet touched the training mat, they felt the same as they did from day one. Oddly smooth and very little give in them, the balls of her feet being able to feel the floor underneath. Alicia moved across looking over at the old ring. The ropes tightened after the morning training session. A smirk came across her lips as she walked over to it, reaching out with her fingertips she smiled as a little shock shoot up her hand and arm from the canvas. She walked around it tilting her head as the experiences of the past which felt like a lifetime ago came alive in her memory.    

A smile shone across her face as she leaped up onto the apron, she grabbed the top rope and pulled herself up and over it with a jump landing on the canvas before spinning on the balls of her feet like a ballerina would on a stage. She turned and spun before standing in the center, she closed her eyes remembering every movement, every bump, every shot. The pain shooting through her back. The anger at herself when her mind begged her body to quit. The feeling of crawling along the mat throwing up in a bucket.    

Her eyes sprung open and she took off hitting the ropes crisscrossing the ring hitting them harder each time. The tight cables leaving welts against her back, arms and shoulders with each whip. She rolled across the canvas popping up to her feet bouncing up and down stretching out before shadow boxing, throwing a few punches a duck, a weave and a running bicycle knee. Alicia breathes deeply with a smile and a chuckle under her breath.    

She turned to look at the mirror across the room. It was the full length from the ceiling to the floor and ran along the entire south wall of the dojo. Her eyes trailed across her own body. Her hair back to the length it was when she first walked in here six years ago. But the rest has changed. Her body once too thin and untoned was now replaced with a fit, toned somewhat muscular frame. A woman's body with hips and thighs, she was now an athlete. Her face while still pretty was strong and fierce with burning blue eyes. The innocence and weak nature long lost along with her fears.    

There was nothing she feared now. Nothing that worried her to the point of tears. She looked down at the canvas. She used to be ruled by her emotions, her fears. For so long it was fear that drove her. Fear of losing, fear of letting people down, fear of being nothing and nobody. But that was gone now. Now there was a need for competition. A need to face people as strong as her, a need to be beaten to grow. The only fear she had left burning in her mind like a hand, held over an open flame.    

Just how far would she go?. Alicia looked back in the mirror before noticing something. A young girl, maybe 18 years old was in the corner folding towels. A task Alicia knew very well. She walked to the ropes leaping out and to the floor. As she moved closer she realized the girl was caucasian. A gaijin like her. “They have you on towel duty too huh?. That wasn’t very fun...better than toilets though right?....”  

The was no answer. The girl just stayed focused on her fast. A large bruise under her right eye and a cut on her lower left lip. Her long blond curls hung loosely down the sides of her face. She was tiny, skinny and her body looked beaten in other ways. Her knuckles were skinned, her legs bruised. She moved quickly folding the towels and leaving them in piles of three. Alicia gave a nod folding her arms looking over at the wall of graduates. “I was right where you are now. They haven’t had many women here, let alone western ones. And I’m the only one to leave here with honor…. “  

Alicia smiles focusing on the wall, the names around her, many now a who’s who of names in Japan. But one picture stood out. A small frame with a skinny girl with short pink and blue hair. Underneath it had her birth name “Violet Maxwell” and under that, it said ???or Peru u~ori?. Pale Warrior in Japanese.    

“They don’t want people like us to succeed kid. So I know things are tough right now. And I had no one. There was one guy here who seemed to care but in the end, he was a quitting bitch like everyone else. No one will ever have it harder in a place like this than us and we’ll also have the lowest expectations….but fuck that….we can also be the toughest, the baddest….and the ones with the biggest heart and resolve. So I’m telling you...not asking you….to hang in there….cause I-”  

Alicia looks down to the girl and stops. Where she was is an empty space. The towels still left in a pile. None of them folded. It was like no one had been there. Alicia looked around and shook her head as she noticed the classes filling in, she smirked as she walked past them, many stopping recognizing her from the picture bowing as she passed.    

It’s good to be a goddess….].i]

Scene Three- A true champion
On Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
Present Day

”Do I really need to do this?

Alicia Lukas sat with her legs crossed on her front porch. Her hat flipped backward as her heart sank realizing a few days away from High Stakes she was being forced to do another promo. She had planned just to save up all her anger and frustration over her opponents till the match and just unleash it with fists, kicks, suplex’s and submissions. But here we are.

”Ok. Well, first off let me be real fucking clear on this. I am the only real champion in this match. The other three, as good as they might be in the ring aren’t in my league in skill, attitude or fucking looks. See the second I found out who I was facing I went about my business. Researching strengths, weaknesses, habits, height, weight, shoe size...IQ...and trust me, with one of you those last two numbers were a little too close together.”

“Hi, Brittany…”

“Now, it’s hard to just pull things out of my ass for a promo without repeating myself and unlike Brittany, I don’t want to say the same thing five different ways. But, it’s really annoying and insulting to me that I put so much effort into promoting this match, for MY title in SCW at one of the biggest shows of the year and my efforts have not been matched by any of the women who want to take this title from me. See Winter has been silent. She’s been silent in promoting the match, on twitter, on shows. Which if you know Stephanie it’s really really out of character for her since usually you don’t find her with her goddamn mouth closed or her phone not sitting in her hand.

Alicia pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath taking a drink from her water bottle trying to calm herself down. The anger, frustration, and rage building up.

”I know Winter better than most people. I’ve been through alot with her. From friend, to rival, to enemy. And never have I gone up against her and it’s come this close to a match where she hasn’t had some smart ass bullshit remark and gone on about how she’s better than me and how she wants to make outlandish promises she never backs up. But nope, this time there has been silence. This time she doesn’t care. But here’s the thing. I care. I care about this title, I care about the legacy of Honor wrestling and the SCW merger. I do not want the memory of that company to die and get swallowed whole by SCW.”

“But then again, some people obviously don’t care. Like Trinity Jones. Does she even know she’s booked?. Is she alive?. Has anyone checked local hospitals or morgues?. Her apartment?. A dumpster behind an Arby’s maybe?. Has anyone seen this woman?. I want to believe she cares, but it’s obvious she doesn’t. And why should anyone else care if she doesn’t?. Why should SCW fans and management care if Trinity Jones can’t be bothered to open her mouth?. Again, I care, I care because I am what a champion should and does look like. Trinity and Winter have been guilty in their silence…”

“But Brittany Williams has been guilty in opening her mouth.”

“See Winter and Trinity so far have not said anything stupid due to not saying anything at all. But this silly little idiot ranted and rambled for way too long. And now, well now before I destroy them all physically I need to destroy Brittany Williams verbally….”

She sighs deeply and shrugs.

”The word “overrated” gets thrown around way too much in this business. And to have it used by a wet behind the ears, worthless rookie daughter of a pair of wannabe has-beens is something that doesn't so much wound me as it does enrage me to the point of furious anger. And not just that but I want you to slowly look in the mirror Brittany. Realize that the woman staring back at you, in one word did more damage to her own family’s legacy than I could ever hope to do.”

“See Brittany, you said I was a stranger who insulted your family. I’m not a stranger to your mother. See Crustal and I have battled it out before and she even has a win over me. One single win, in LAW. Every other time in Honor I was better than her. I made her my bitch yet you called me OVERRATED. So tell me, if I beat Kenzi Grey, Your mom, Mercedes Vargas, Jesse Salco and every other big name in Honor and most of SCW as well as big names all around the world then you, YOU, just insulted all of them.”

“Good job,”

“But this right here is a problem with people like you Brittany. Your youth is a great asset, it means you can learn, you can grow and you have your whole life ahead of you and you have a great youthful energy, but you’re also inexperienced. In and out of the ring. You can’t beat me in the ring, in a promo or in anything else. Maybe one day you will, maybe one day you’ll be better than your mother or father or anyone else in your stupid family. But right now, when you make stupid comments on social media about being “booked to take the pin” you automatically lose. When you loop yourself into a spiral of comments that say the same thing fifty different ways and think you’re clever because you have “so much to say” you just look like a rambling fool. And now, well Brittany...sweetheart….I’m going to have to destroy you...and break you...and end you. And at High Stakes, when I hold MY title in the air….you’ll know that “overrated” is the last thing you should EVER call me”

 Prologue-The Hunger

It’s hard.

Living up to that potential people see in you. I understand it. See these days if the name Alicia Lukas isn’t at the top, if the person behind the name and actions isn’t going for a title or holding a title then I’m a failure. I’m not living up to that potential that people say they see in me. That kind of pressure and attitude helps me thrive, But it still weighs on my mind

Especially given my past.

See when I first got into all of this, when I started training, my first matches, hell my first year there was no expectations or light of potential. I was left alone, I was an afterthought and there was no pressure. No future to speak of. No one telling me that I should be doing better. Most people would miss that feeling, the one where you’re not a failure while still winning matches.

There’s an addiction. I chase big matches and championships like a vampire chasing a vein. I feel the need to push myself and face the best. When others see mountains they either yell at it to try and make it seem like a hill, so when they conquer it the anticipation and luster are gone. Or, alternatively, they look at the mountain...and walk around it….

I look for a way to knock the fucker down.

I look for a way to stand in it’s broken rubble and raise my fist in the air.

Some say that is a detriment, I get myself in situations I can’t win. But then, I do. But when something happens and I stumble at the last hurdle. When I fall and start to pick myself up and people pull out the usual trump card. No pun to the president intended.

They talk about me as if I’m done.

As if one loss will define me.

One failure will end me.
‘
But what you all seem to fail to comprehend, is that losses, failures and the like starve me. They stop me from getting my goals and stop me from feeding that hunger I have and my ego. So when you push me, when you talk about me as if I’m not the best goddamn professional wrestler on this planet today. Well…

That just makes me want it even more….

I’m still a champion, I’m still a destructive force and now. Well, now I have a new carrot to chase. And you should all be fucking terrified.

Scene One-The night before
Off Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
6 Months Ago

The hotel room was in shambles. The covers pulled off the bed. Clothes were thrown over furniture. The half-naked snoring bodies of five different women laid all over the place, the floor, the bed, one of the girls was upside down on a chair. Alicia smiled looking at her friends with a small shake of her head. A few shot glasses sit on the table. Two her right her mother Barbara sits with her arms crossed over her chest looking less than impressed. To her left Alicia’s 21-year-old sister Zoey. Alicia slides the shot glasses either side of her in front of them. Barbara gave a loud tutting noise showing her disdain.

Zoey laughed and shooked her head as she and Alicia picked the glasses up, Barbara rolled her eyes and shook her head before Zoey broke the silence. ”Come on Mom, we’re celebrating Ali’s last night as a free woman.” Alicia laughed to herself as Barbara seemed to groan under her breath “Her name is Violet, and yours is Rose, I don’t care for these “stage” names.” Both Alicia and Zoey sighed deeply and looked at each other before raising the glasses higher. Barbara took the glass and raised it up looking even more annoyed as Zoey took over.

”To new beginnings and a future with happiness.” They hit the glasses together lightly and downed the clear liquid. Alicia smirked as Zoey closed her eyes and pushed out an awkward almost painful looking breath. Barbara stuck her tongue out and shook her head as Alicia poured another shot for each. A few of the girls stirred as Zoey sneered mumbling “lightweights” in a low register. Alicia overhead the remark and snickered before pushing the glasses out again. “To making smarter choices!” They downed the shots again with similar results. This time Alicia could feel the sting of the vodka as it moved down her throat. After a few moments, Barbara leaned over grabbing the bottle of Grey Goose pouring the shots. Zoey and Alicia slowly looked at each other Zoey shaking her head in shock as Alicia laughed.

They picked up their glasses. And Barbara who seemed more inebriated than raised the glass first. “To our family, and my sexy new son in law” Zoey had already started to drink, the words causing her to spit out the vodka with laughter. Alicia’s eyes widened as Barbara took her shot and sighed. “At least I’m invited to this one” Alicia shook her head as Zoey gave her sister a pat on the shoulder. Alicia’s heart dropped as she knew exactly what her mother was referring to.

“Mom I, I’m sorry and the whole thing with Chris was a huge mistake. I was confused and I was stupid and I let him talk me into getting married.”  There was an awkward silence. Alicia poured another shot and took it down as Zoey did the same. Barbara stared off into the distance and then slowly looked at her daughters. “You found a good one Violet. Are you nervous?” “Terrified” Zoey laughed to herself shaking her head pushing up to her feet, towering over her older sister and their mother, looking more like their father than their mother. Her large arms and broad shoulders showing a natural size and athletic ability few had.

“What’s so funny?” Alicia chuckled too after asking the question titling her head. Alicia was shorter than Zoey, a little smaller but also athletically gifted and strong. “The hell have you got to worry about or be scared about Ali?” Zoey seemed almost annoyed at her sisters fear and trepidation. Alicia didn’t answer and Zoey smiled lightly. There was a silence in the room as Alicia bit her bottom lip before hearing her mothers voice cut through it, a small slur still there after her increased vodka intake. “Zoey is right dear”

Alicia and Zoey slowly looked at each other shocked their mother would use one of their “stage” names over their birth names. That of Violet for Alicia and Rose for Zoey. Barbara turned and smiled warmly another different sign. “You are successful, you have two beautiful sons and tomorrow you will be marrying a man who treats you like a queen, who loves you and unlike every other man that has come into your life will not humiliate or use you. Can’t even say that about your Father” “Mom!” “oh hush dear I know what I’m talking about.”

Alicia can’t help but laugh as Zoey rolled her eyes. Zoey was always more protective of their father Jason. Alicia had a strained relationship with both her parents. Their brother Josh was a mama’s boy, Zoey was daddy’s little girl. Alicia though, she was her own women. She had been since she walked out on her abusing teenage relationship, one that her mother was partly responsible for. Barbara got to her feet and put her hand on Alicia’s shoulder patting it lightly before walking across the room opening up the door to her suite.

Zoey looked through the fridge and pulled out a few beers putting them on the table sitting down to pop them open before leaning back on her chair, legs akimbo, hair a mess, her nose piercing shining from the light above. “You know she’s proud of you right?” Alicia couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head picking up her beer taking a sip before running a hand through her long blond hair. “I guess” Her reply seemed to anger Zoey who leaned forward suddenly and tilted her head. “I’m not blowing smoke up your ass Ali, she’s proud, she blames herself for all that happened to you if she’d known;” “Stop”

She interrupted Zoey putting her hand up and shaking her head with a deep sigh. “I don’t blame her Zo, and I don’t….” She paused and tried to calm herself, her hand sliding away from the open beer. “My life turned out great. If I hadn’t have gone through all I did I might not have Michael, or the boys, or my career. I’m happy Zoey. But I’m also tired and drunk…” “Fuckin Lightweight” “Blow me.”

”Language!”

Scene Two-Pipebomb? Nah Atomic Bomb
On Camera
Phoenix, Arizona
Present Day

Her fingernails tapped lightly on the faceplate of the Honor wrestling championship. Her long blond hair was loose flowing down her shoulders and back. Alicia Lukas rolled her eyes and shook her head slowly before laughing to herself under her breath.

”Here we go. My first “pre-tape”. I mean I can’t really say this is my first promo since I went out there last week at Climax Control and ran my mouth. Before being basically ignored by the entire “bombshells” roster. Now that can be looked at in two ways. Either they don’t care, which, let's face it, would be a HUGE mistake on their parts, or they’re scared. And that is the theory I honestly think is most likely. See unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last, two years then you know who the hell I am. My name is Alicia Lukas.”

“I started my career in Japan getting my ass kicked week in and week out in a dojo where they made it very obvious they didn’t want me there. I cleaned toilets, I begged and pleaded and took abuse until they saw fit to train me. I had to earn respect there and I became a star. I traveled all around Japan and then Europe before coming home to the United States. I had expected to find a wrestling scene thriving. I had expected to find like-minded hard-hitting athletes. I joined Honor Wrestling and went to their Developmental Division called Legacy. I dominated them all. I ran through that whole place like a hot knife through butter and became the Legacy Champion before Honor shut down.”

“I went from there to WWH, the same thing happened. I put my finger in every single chest I could find, I laughed in their faces and again I dominated the entire Women’s division. Again another place where they called us “Bombshells”. Seems like the more things change the more they stay the same. But I dominated there, I went back to Honor and I was the queen of that company. Hell, there is a preview up for this show right now that tells you all you need to know. I had a handful of losses and most of them where in Tag team matches.” Alicia scoffs. ]Color=Pink]”But hey, I know what some of the SCW “bombshells” are thinking as well as some of you idiot fans who have been sipping on the kool-aid too long.”

“This is SCW, why should we care?. Well, that would be because some of your “best” tried to dethrone me, beat me, and failed. Delia Darling, Crystal Hilton, Kate Steele, Jesse Salco Mercedes Vargas. Some of the “best” in Honor are also the “best” here.[/Color]

She laughs to herself and adjusts the Honor championship on her shoulder with a smirk.

”It has been over 600 days since I looked on my shoulder and didn’t see gold. The 30th of January 2017 I walked into a WWH event, became their women’s champion and revolutionized the company and the division, a few months later I went back to Honor and was the Legacy champion, the championship Jesse Salco now holds, a title I NEVER LOST. I have gone from strength to strength to strength and then I got word Honor wrestling was merging with Sin City.”

Alicia clears her throat and raises her eyebrow throwing her hands in the air with a nervous laugh.

”Not going to lie, I was angry, I was confused and the future was uncertain. But Brooke Saxon promised me with this merger Honor champions and titles would be kept intact for anyone staying. I felt like I owed it to myself and this championship to come here and for the most part, I was happy seeing that Jesse defended her title. I say “her” title but let’s face it, she never beat me for that. It’s still MY title. And then with Shinjiro signing and defending the male counterpart and hearing rumors of Mickey’s possible next opponent it just seemed like it was all true. Until, I saw that apparently, according to people who write previews for the show and who keep records, my title reign “ended” at 161 days.”

“Ended. So the titles being defended on SCW wasn’t a hint that maybe, just maybe I was still a champion?. It seems like people don’t want me to walk around holding this championship and defending it in SCW. Part of it would be because they know I will outshine them and the SCW “bombshells” champion Danielle Weston. But really Dani should really hope SCW does keep its word and allow me to keep going with this, cause if I don’t….”

She raises her eyebrows and shrugs.

”What championship do you think I’ll set my sights on?. Wouldn’t that be grand?. Wouldn’t that be amazing?. To have Danielle Weston against Alicia Lukas?. That match could main event any show around the world. Because of me. See I don't just bring a great record and a championship with me. I bring what is known as the big fight feel. Which is why I’m so shocked that I have been placed in the opening match….”

“My debut, something that should be promoted and celebrated. Something that should be screamed from the damn rooftops is being thrown together like an afterthought and my title isn’t even on the line, meanwhile, Jesse and Shinjiro get to defend there’s and Mickey is openly applauded as a returning hero and champion. But for me?. The opening match against a woman named Parand Ara. Someone who was in SCW returned for a Blast from the past tournament and then has done...nothing. She isn’t a former champion, she isn’t a big name. She’s just a lamb being led to the damn slaughter.”

“Maybe that’s what SCW wants. Maybe they want to see just what I do against someone like you. See Jesse and Mercedes and a few of the other women?. They know what they can do. With me, it all seems to be myth and legend. Am I really that good?. Am I as dangerous as people say?. As talented as my record suggests?. Well, Parand. Yes, I am. Unfortunate for you because now you have to step in the ring with me and try and overcome those odds. Make no mistake, you’re the underdog coming into this. You’re a crash test dummy. Being used as a shining example and light to the rest of the locker room to show just what I am capable of. There is a silver lining though. Years from now your name will live on in trivia contests around the world when they ask “Who did Alicia Lukas beat in her SCW debut?”. So you can thank me for that….”

She scoffs and sits the Honor championship down in front of her.

” Climax Control 220 will represent a shift in the women’s division here in SCW. Women like Mercedes and Crystal and Danielle will all be looked at as a step behind me like they should be. I’m not just some pretty little blond tart who stumbled out of some second-rate wrestling school to use this as a springboard to some movie career. I’m not a failed movie star or model like two of the women I mentioned. Parand, I am a professional wrestler and a damn good one. I can could my losses in one on one matches on one hand and normally when I have lost it had been due to other people. I’m a force of nature, a career assassin. I’m one of if not the best in the world. And hey you might put up a great fight, you’ll scratch and claw, you’ll throw punches and try everything in your power to step in that ring and make your name relevant by beating me but in the end all you’ll do is stare up at those lights while the realization hits you that everything I have said, all the arrogant callouts, the cocky nature...it’s all earned...cause I am that damn good….”

“It all starts in Phoenix, it all starts with you. And this event will be called the rise, of Alicia Lukas.”