{Our scene begins after Climax Control, with Roxi being checked out by the medical staff, holding gauze against Roxi’s open wound on her forehead. Keira is standing beside her, arms folded, looking both concerned and angry.}
Keira – I told you that you didn’t have to do that.
Roxi – I know.
Keira – Are you okay?
Roxi – I'll be fine. I’ve been hit harder.
Keira – I should have known something was up. I should have never let you do this.
Roxi – Let me?
Keira – Yes, you know good and well that if it came down to it, I could have.
Roxi – Is that so?
{Keira rolls her eyes.}
Keira – I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t want to see you get hurt, and have it be on me. Sometimes I regret ever coming back. If I knew this was going to happen.
Roxi – You didn’t. How could you have known?
Keira – Because I know Sin.
Roxi – And so do I. But what I did, I did for everyone who is scared right now. She can beat me up, I can take it. But did you really think Sin was going to be the one who did me in?
{Keira shakes her head.}
Keira – No, not here anyway.
Roxi – She didn’t get the job done. She failed. And she’ll fail again. We’ll stop her, this time, for good.
Keira – No, Roxi. I am going to stop her. I don’t want you, or anyone else in the way.
Roxi – Excuse me?
Keira – No, I’m not going to run from this anymore. I’ve been sitting here on the defensive this whole time. I let that damn thing hurt people I care about. I should have been on the offensive. I shouldn’t have had you get involved at all.
Roxi – If you need me...
Keira – No. Not this time. I didn’t want this. I guess I was... trying to do what I thought you might do.
Roxi – …
Keira – I didn’t meant it like that. I mean just think it through, observe and try and get all the details. At the end of the day, Sin, is a monster, and I’m going to take her down, and finally put this to rest, and I’m going to get Krystal back so that this NEVER happens again.
{Roxi can’t help but grin at this and touches Keira’s shoulder.}
Roxi – I believe in you. I’ve told you before, you don’t need to try and be me. You are who you are. And that’s perfectly fine. You need to be you. That’s why I stepped in, in the first place. I needed to be me.
{Keira smiles.}
Keira – I know. And you were great. Thank you for showing me what I needed to see.
{Roxi pulls the gauze away from her head, which is now not bleeding and she nods at the trainer.}
Roxi – I think I need a shower to wash this blood out. But thanks Doc.
{Roxi hops off the trainers table and she and Keira head out, as the scene fades.}
{Th new scene opens at a baseball field in Tampa, as part of the Tampa Bay Little League group. Roxi is walking with Nate, without Keira as she is busy at the Hero Academy gym. Nate is all smiles with his bat and glove, walking and holding Roxi’s hand. Roxi looks down at Nate and smiles rubbing his head with her free hand.}
Roxi – Are you excited?
Nate – Yeah!
Roxi – Good. I want you to have fun, okay?
Nate - I will.
{Roxi walks Nate up to the dugout where Roxi sees the coach coming up. She greets him with a grin and a handshake.}
Roxi – Hello, Coach Klien.
Coach Klien – Ah, Mrs. Johnson. Or can I call you Roxi?
Roxi – Either or, it’s okay.
Coach Klien – I have to say, I’m a big fan.
Roxi – Well, I appreciate that. Nate is very excited to play.
Coach Klien – That's great. It’s going to be a lot of fun. We’re just waiting for more of the kids to show up. I’m glad you’re excited Nate.
Nate – Am I gonna bat today?
Coach Klien – You will get your chance, I promise.
Nate – Okay.
Coach Klien – You can go have a seat over there, and we’ll get it all ready.
Nate – Okay.
{Roxi bends down and kisses Nate on the forehead and smiles at him, rubbing his cheek}
Roxi – I'll be in the stands and I’ll come get you when you’re done okay?
Nate – Okay Mommy.
Roxi – Have fun. I love you.
Nate - I love you too, Mommy.
{Roxi smiles at Coach Klien and walks into the stands, Coach Klien walks with Nate to have a seat in the dugout. Some kids are already seated, throwing a ball into the air and catching it. Nate eagerly moves forward and tries to speak with the other children.}
Nate – Hi, I’m Nate. Do you want to play catch?
Young boy – I'm Steven. Sure, we can play catch.
{The two boys stand up and toss the ball back and forth. Roxi watches on after finding her seat. Genuinely proud as a warm smile crosses her face to see Nate interacting with other kids without any issue. The kids continue to make small talk.}
Steven – Are you here with your mom, or are you here with your dad?
Nate – My mommy is here.
Steven – Which one is your mom?
{Nate catches the ball, and turns and takes a second to locate Roxi in the stands. Roxi smiles at him and waves.}
Nate – That's my mom.
Steven – Whoa.
{Steven, a 7 year old, notices Roxi and his eyes widen.}
Steven – Your mom looks like Roxi Johnson!
{Nate shrugs.}
Nate – That's her name.
{Steve is bewildered by this.}
Steven – No way, Roxi Johnson is your mom?
Nate – Uh-huh.
Steven – I see her on TV all the time. My brother told me that one time she was wrestling and some lady had a big chainsaw and cut her arm off, but she grew it back.
{Nate looks over again, questioning the veracity of that statement. He was just an infant when Twisted Sister chased Roxi with a chainsaw, and for all he knows, Twisted Sister DID cut his mom’s arm off and she grew it back. He shakes his head and turns back and continues tossing the ball.}
Nate – My mommy’s arms are fine.
Steven – Yeah, she’s super cool. Sometimes I watch her wrestle on youtube.
{Another small boy comes to play catch with Nate and Steven.}
Small boy – Can I play too?
Steven – Sure.
Small boy – My name is Bobby.
Nate – My name is Nate.
Steven – I'm Steven, did you know Nate’s mom is Roxi Johnson?!
Bobby – Oh, sometimes I watch her on twitch. She teaches drums. My dad said she used to drum for Metallica or something.
Nate – She does that all the time.
{Steven and Bobby pause.}
Steven – Whoa, that’s sick!
Bobby – She's like a rock star!
{Nate again turns to Roxi, not full comprehending that Roxi doesn’t ACTUALLY play for Metallica, she just drums their songs. He’s a little confused but shrugs it off again.}
Nate – I guess.
{Meanwhile Roxi is still watching and smiling as another woman sits next to her in the bleachers.}
Woman – You don’t mind if I sit here, do you?
Roxi – No, of course not.
{The middle-aged woman sits down, blanket all laid out so she doesn’t have to sit on the wooden bleachers.}
Woman – Which one is yours?
Roxi – The one with the long blonde hair.
Woman – Oh, I see, he’s adorable. My son is playing catch with him there, Bobby.
Roxi – He's a cutie too.
Woman – Thanks. I’m Francine.
Roxi – Roxi.
Francine – Oh, you’re the wrestler right?
Roxi – That's me.
Francine – I've heard about you. My husband and some of his friends watch wrestling.
Roxi – Well, I appreciate their support.
Francine – Quite frankly, I think it’s crazy. Risking your life for entertainment of complete strangers.
Roxi – I enjoy it.
Francine – It must be so exhausting.
Roxi – It can be, but it’s fun.
Francine – I wouldn’t want that, getting beat up all the time. And it’s not even for a lot of money.
Roxi – I get by.
Francine – And to have all those people looking at you, I would never.
Roxi – Well, what works for some, may not work for others. I enjoy what I do, and really, if you do that, they say you never work a day in your life.
Francine – Yes, I suppose so.
{Another woman calls out to Francine. Quickly sitting down and hugging her.}
Francine – Where have you been Patty?
Patty – I'm sorry, we got stuck in traffic.
Francine – This is... Roxi right?
Patty – Nice to meet you.
Roxi – Nice to meet you too.
{Patty and Francine just being to just gossip about anything and everything, distracting Roxi from actually paying attention to Nate. After a few moments of this, Roxi pulls out her phone and politely smiles.}
Roxi – Excuse me, ladies, I have to take a phone call.
{Roxi stands up and walks to the top of the bleachers away from the gossiping women and pretends to be on a call.}
Francine – Did you see her figure? She must have had all kinds of plastic surgery.
Patty – In this day and age? She probably is lining up more. Get those butt implants!
Francine – You know she’s a wrestler?!
Patty – Like on TV?
Francine – Yeah!
Patty – Oh, I bet she doesn’t even do that stuff. She probably does that... what did they used to call it? Foxy boxing? Or hot oil wrestling in those strip clubs!
Francine – You're probably right. Probably has to wear those tiny bikini’s too!
{Meanwhile More kids are showing up as Nate continues to play catch.}
Steven – Hey Nate, my brother said your mom is a superhero or something, is that true?
Nate – I don’t think so.
Steven – Maybe she knows Spider-man!
Bobby – That would be so cool!
Steven – Can she turn invisible?
{Nate looks over and sees that Roxi isn’t there anymore, and turns back, doing a double take to see Roxi re-take her seat with the gossiping women. It confuses him for a second, but he turns back.}
Nate - I don’t think so.
{Finally Coach Klien brings in all the kids and the Tee ball game is finally able to get underway, and the scene fades.}
{Once the game has concluded, Roxi meets Nate who is eating a popsicle, after a fun day.}
Roxi – You did so good out there. I’m so proud of you.
Nate – Thanks Mommy.
Roxi – Did you have fun?
Nate – Uh-huh.
Roxi – That's all the matters.
{Roxi and Nate continue to walk, passing by Francine and Patty, who give her that squinshed face smile and wave. Roxi stops and smiles at them.}
Roxi – It was nice to meet you both. Hopefully we’ll get to talk more next time.
Francine – Of course.
Roxi – And by the way, butt implants are extremely dangerous, and oil wrestling isn’t an actual job. Just thought I’d let you know. You should be careful about talking so loudly. Just a helpful hint about perception.
{Francine and Patty are embarrassed as Roxi leads Nate to their car and loads him in, before getting in the car to head home. Nate looks out the window, but then looks at Roxi’s arm and touches it.}
Roxi – What's up?
Nate – Mommy, did that lady cut your arm off?
Roxi – What?!
Nate – Those kids were saying that. That this lady at your work cut your arm off and you grew it back.
{Roxi looks very confused, but she catches up with the question.}
Roxi – No baby, she didn’t cut my arm off. I know Mommy has a lot of silly co-workers, but nobody cut my arm off, I promise.
Nate – Oh.
Roxi – Those other kids have active imaginations, I see.
Nate – They said you played the drums for Me... metall... Metallica.
Roxi – No baby, I do play to Metallica songs, but I don’t play for them. It’s the same thing when you watch Star Wars and pretend to be a Jedi.
Nate – Can I be a real Jedi?
{Roxi pauses and nods.}
Roxi – I don’t know, maybe one day. But let’s focus on Tee ball for now.
Nate – Okay.
Roxi – Good.
Nate – Mommy, can you turn invisible?
Roxi – What? Where are you getting these questions from? Do those kids think I turn invisible?
Nate – Yeah, and then I couldn’t see you, and then I turned around you were there.
Roxi – No, Nate, I’m not invisible. Whenever you need me, I’ll always be there. That’s my real superpower, being your mommy.
Nate – That's a superpower?
Roxi – You better believe it. You don’t make it easy on me being so cute, you know.
Nate – You're so silly, Mommy.
Roxi – I'm a lot of things, Nate...
{Roxi sighs.}
Roxi – I'm a lot of things.
{Roxi continues the drive home as the scene fades.}
{The scene is after dinner at the Johnson household once again. Keira is doing the dishes while Roxi puts away some of the leftover food.}
Keira – How was the tee-ball game today?
Roxi – A lot of fun. Some weirdness, but a lot of fun.
Keira – Weirdness?
Roxi – Nate’s teammates think I got my arm cut off my Twisted Sister and grew it back.
{Keira blinks at the absurdity of that statement, but shrugs.}
Keira – Can you grow limbs back? Is that part of our healing?
Roxi – … No. I don’t think so.
Keira – Oh. Damn.
Roxi – Very funny.
Keira – What? They’re kids. They ask all kinds of goofy stuff.
Roxi – And so do their moms.
Keira – Oh boy.
Roxi – No, I’m just saying that it’s just really rude some of the stuff those mom’s say.
Keira – You were almost one of them.
Roxi – I was not!
Keira – You were coaching Nate like it was game 7 of the World Series out there.
Roxi – I want him to do well.
Keira – And they want their sons to do well too.
Roxi – They weren’t even talking about the kids.
Keira – Oh? What were they talking about?
Roxi – Other parents. Just gossipy ladies.
Keira – They’re annoying, but harmless unless they were talking about you.
Roxi – Oh, they were, they didn’t think I could hear them, but you know, you tell people you’re a wrestler and they instantly think of you as something weird and different.
{Keira shrugs.}
Keira – Wrestling is weird and different.
Roxi – But just the way people change like that. One moment I’m a total stranger and the next I’m all silicone with butt implants and hot oil wrestling.
{Keira smirks.}
Keira – Rawr.
Roxi – Knock it off.
Keira – I'm just saying...
Roxi – What? You want me to get butt implants now?
{Keira shuts off the sink and hugs Roxi tightly.}
Keira – Of course not, Roxi. I’ve loved you for a decade and it has never mattered to me how you look physically. You’re a beautiful person on the inside, and you saved my life without even knowing me. I love you just the way you are. I wouldn’t have you any other way.
Roxi – Thank you, my love.
Keira – But... butt implants...
Roxi – Shut up...
{Roxi and Keira finish eveything up as the scene fades.}
“I can't change the color of my skin... what I try to do is something far more difficult... to be a human being. And hopefully, someday, we'll see each other only in that way. “
- Superman (Superman Vol 2 #179)
Hello, SCW.
I suppose I should clarify my actions and what they meant at the last CC. I stepped into ensure that no more innocent people would be injured at the hands of Sin, prior to when Keira takes care of the problem at Violent Conduct. My intention was not to beat Sin, but to see exactly what Keira is up against. And for Keira to see it as well. And yes, I took my lumps. I was expecting to. I was expecting a heightened sense of violence and that’s exactly what I got. But at the end of the day, I’m still here. I’m fine, and to be honest, I expected Krystal, or Sin to hit harder than she did. The fact that she used a weapon tells me all I need to know. She is scared, and desperate. I look forward to seeing Keira finally end this at Violent Conduct.
But, as always now, there are still questions surrounding my future. I have a list of things I want to get done, but it appears that the date of October being the finishing touches is delayed. And to be honest, I’m not sad or upset about it. Because this is my choice. I didn’t make the decision I made on a whim. I did it, because it’s what I want to do.
That appears to be a major talking point for the current champion, Courtney Pierce. So, just allow me to clarify so that there is no confusion: I don’t have a desire to try and win the Bombshell’s championship again. It’s not that I can’t. What does it do for me at this point? It puts me back in the most hunted role, maybe in all of women’s wrestling. It means I carry the load again when I’ve already done it 5 times. The loss freed me to see the division grow. That’s what I want. I don’t NEED to win another title. It’s just that simple.
And yet, I still am being mentioned and talked about, it’s kind of silly at this point. I made the choice long before I lost the title in the first place. If it hadn’t been Courtney, it would have been someone else. And the result and my status would still be the same. I’ve done all I needed to do in SCW. I’ve given up my spot, not because I can’t do it anymore, but because I don’t need to do it anymore. The goal post would simply be moved to do holding down the division. Making it about me, putting everyone else below me in the pecking order. And that’s not what I want to do.
I’m happy with where I am, and I’m happy with facing new opponents and having new opportunities.
Which, of course, brings me to Julianna DiMaria.
I’m not going to sit here and talk about Julianna as if she’s a rookie or something silly like that. The bio is right there. The information is right there for me to know she’s not a rookie by any stretch of the imagination. She’s been in the game for several years. And you know what else? She’s very good.
You don’t win championships, you don’t become successful, not in this game, simply by being in it. That is one of the rarest occurrences in life. Championships don’t just fall into your lap in wrestling, that’s not how it works. You must work, you must strive to be the best. And so, when you win gold everywhere you go pretty much, it’s not a coincidence. So, I’m not going to say that I have some crazy experience advantage, or that Julianna has a lot left to learn, because I still have a lot to learn if I’m being honest. I’m not going to give the too cool for school or lecture Julianna on the importance and all that.
She deserves better than that. And so, I will treat her and talk about her with the respect she deserves.
Though, I have a feeling I’m not going to get that from here.
She can be brash, and arrogant and all those things. I am fully anticipating being disrespectful and being called a bunch of names and everything like that. And that’s okay. I understand the point of this. When you are in a new place, what you’ve done elsewhere isn’t going to really come into play. It’s nice to have those accomplishments, but at the end of the day, you’re starting basically from scratch. And when you want to make an impact, you have to have to mean it. You have to take that opportunity by the throat and throw caution to the wind. If you can’t tell, I’ve seen this a time or two.
I’ve seen people just like Julianna come into SCW before. Brash, cocky, arrogant, a chip on their shoulder and anger to burn. And I’ve seen more than a few of those folks flame out almost immediately. I’ve seen some rise to great heights, fall and never recover. So, I suppose that puts me in this weird position, doesn’t it?
See, Julianna would very much like all of you to not put me on a pedestal. I never claimed that I was above anybody, I don’t go around referring to myself as some great champion or the best or anything like that. Why? Because I don’t want to, and more importantly, I don’t HAVE to. But it’s already getting under her skin that I am who I am. Julianna can treat me like just another opponent. A person she has to beat, and that’s fine. I would welcome that very much. I don’t call myself “the Icon” or any other nickname. My social media name is just “Roxi Johnson” you know why? Because it’s all I need to be.
Now I can’t help what other people call me. That’s just kind of a fun perk when you’ve done a lot. You get talked about. People just say my name, heck, people just say my first name, and everybody knows who they’re talking about. And that’s cool. But it doesn’t make me feel like I’m bigger than anyone else. It doesn’t matter to me if you’ve been in the game for 20 years or 20 months. I can be in the opening match, or the middle of the show or the main event. Because I’ve earned that ability.
I’m just going to be me, and whether or not that means I’ve reached some crazy high level, isn’t really important to me. So, if at the end of the day, Julianna beats me? Cool. But then there become a problem.
You see, the win mean Juilianna was right and I’m not important and she’s killed a hero and all that stuff I’ve heard a hundred times before. I mean, I think she’s really making up a “detractor” that said to her that she was going into the fire. I don’t think anybody said that to her. She simply wants to create the myth, so she can destroy it. And then brush it off like she proved a bunch of people wrong. And hey, I understand doing that too. Whatever motivates her to be at the top of her game, I’m don’t have a problem with. You should take your victory lap, but I see the process coming. I see the wheels turning in her head. She doesn’t want me to be this god-like creation, which no one has ever said, but again, you have to make your own motivation. She doesn’t want me to be seen as a legend or icon or anything like that. Just so that if she wins, she can say “See, she’s not what you all make her out to be.”
Again, I’ve heard this a few times.
And you know what happens to me?
Not really much. I’ll pick myself up, dust myself off, and get right back to work, because life will continue. It will not break me. It will not crush me. It will not make me walk away or retire, and I have a strong feeling that people won’t just give up on me because of one loss. If that was the case, I don’t think I’d have too many fans or friends left.
I get it. But then comes the other side of the coin.
What happens if Julianna loses to me? Does it destroy her? Does it set her back months? Is the system corrupt? Am I using God-mode to beat her? Or is it because I’m some kind of legend that needs to be protected? I’ve heard those a time or two before as well. So what are we going to get here?
I would hope that it would be, as I try to do every time I’m out there, a learning experience. Julianna is 2 for 2 in SCW. If she goes 3-0, maybe it’ll give her the confidence that she seems to been lacking. If she goes 2-1, then what? Does she pick herself back up, or does she wilt and die? Will it be the end of the world? Will it be the worst thing to ever happen to her? Will it crush that confidence into dust?
The answer to those questions, is no, but the only person who needs to be convinced of that, is Julianna.
I know she’s probably looking at the screen right now, angry, or confused, or both. That’s okay. Again, I’ve seen this a time or two. Losing to me, won’t kill her. The sun will still come up the next day. The world will not be ending. It’s just a loss.
I’m just trying to get Julianna used to what I’m saying, because I plan on winning this match.
And I know, some folks might continue the narrative that I’m just making ruining all the young talent. I beat them and they never recover from it. I mean, you can ask several hall of famers about losing to me, I don’t think it took them out. I didn’t kill them, did I? Maybe I did, I don’t know. But I think they’re just fine.
But at this point, I think I’ll just be me. If Julianna wants me to be just another wrestler just so she can gloat later if she wins? Sure. If I’m the big bad bully that is going to ruin her? I’ll be that too. If I’m the manifestation of all the terrible people in her life, I’m that. I can pretty much be anything because I’ve earned that ability. I suppose it all depends on your perception.
Julianna told every she wasn’t going to build me up to be a god. And that’s fine. I won’t build her into one either. I will simply state the truth. She’s good. She’s a winner. But at the end of the day, I can tell she has those butterflies in her stomach. She’s nervous. She’s worried. That statement alone tells me that she’s already aware of who I am, and she just wants to downplay it. I can do the same thing, just stating the facts.
Julianna has had two matches in SCW, against Dawn Warren and Laura Phoenix. And she let them have it. And while that is impressive and victories are nothing to sneeze at... I’m not going to hand Julianna the keys to the kingdom simply because she’s looked impressive in two matches. That’s not how I do things. I’m not going to sit here dreading facing someone who is new and looks impressive. Because I’m aware of what this is. This is a test.
This match isn’t just another match for me. It’s another chance, another opportunity to show everybody that I am still at the top of my game. And I have all the confidence in the world of my abilities. But this match has made me very curious.
I believe it’s time to see how Julianna handles a loss.
Because that’s what coming to her, at Violent Conduct.
I hope she's ready.
{Our scene opens with Roxi inside the Hero gym offices, reviewing the schedule and other items when there is a knock on her door. Even though it’s open, Roxi peers up, a warm smile crosses her face as one of her students, known as Tiny Tina due to her small stature is waiting.}
Roxi – Tina, is everything okay?
Tina – Yes.
Roxi – What can I help you with?
Tina – I just need to talk.
Roxi – Sure, come on in. Close the door if you need to.
{Tina does just that, closing the door behind her and sitting at the chair in front of Roxi’s desk.}
Roxi – So, what’s on your mind?
Tina – I just... I’m just having some trouble.
Roxi – Like, at home? Or here? What’s going on?
Tina – I'm just having some confidence issues.
Roxi – Really? Why? From what I’ve seen and heard, you’re an outstanding student and you’re a pretty good leader of this class.
Tina – I appreciate that, but I’m just seeing all these big and tall people, and I don’t want to be typecast.
Roxi – Typecast? We’re not typecasting you. Do you feel that way?
Tina – I guess I’m doing it to myself. I’m only 5’1” and it just feels like everything is too big. I feel like I’m going to be judged based on my small stature.
Roxi – Well, that’s just silly. I’m not the tallest, Keira isn’t the tallest. We’ve had and trained a lot of smaller wrestlers since opening the gym. That doesn’t make you strange or an outcast. Your height makes you unique.
Tina – It's just that you know, that’s the first thing people will see, is my height. And they may just make assumptions or have expectations that I don’t know if I’m going to be able to meet. It’s not easy to be petite in this day and age.
Roxi – No, you’re right. And some people may just look at your height and see something that isn’t there or make assumptions because you’re smaller. But you have to look it from your own perspective. It doesn’t really matter what perception people have of you, it’s about what you can do.
Tina – It's just hard sometimes.
Roxi – So, you know Ariana Angelos, right?
Tina – Sure.
Roxi – Do you know how tall she is?
Tina – Like 5’5”.
Roxi – Exactly. But she’s on the petite side as well, she’s not some thick huge person. She’s smaller. Maybe not AS small, but she’s smaller. And you know where she is right now? At the top. She didn’t let other’s preception change how she conducted her business.
Tina – But she’s still way taller than me.
Roxi – And that’s what you can play into. Here’s the thing, Tina. You’re on the smaller side and there’s not a lot we can do to fix that. That’s the way you were made. I can’t make you get taller, outside of stretching which may give you half an inch or something like that, but the fact is, we’re not gonna make you 5’10” with super long legs anytime soon. But you know what a lot of tall girls are? Un-coordinated. They trip and fall and misjudge things. They want to wear high heels to be even taller. They are trying to be something they aren’t. You don’t need to do that. You’re smaller? That’s okay. It’s just who you are. But that’s not ALL you are. You understand?
Tina – Yeah, I guess.
Roxi – You have been doing so well here in classes, and you’re a leader. You don’t have to be big or physically super strong to leader. You are using your mind, and that is your greatest weapon in the ring.
Tina – It is?
Roxi – You can do just about anything anybody else can do. But just like you said, people are going to judge you based on your height. So, they are going to see one thing, which gives you the opportunity each and every time you go out to a ring, no matter where you are, to show them just what you can do.
Tina – Yeah... yeah..
Roxi – I've seen you take charge. I’ve seen you do exactly what you need to do in order to win. If this industry was about only big guys and tall girls, then I don’t think I would even be here. It’s not about the size of the dog as the only saying goes. And you have been fighting and scrapping since you started. I’ve seen you after class with the others, and with Keira training, asking questions, striving to get better. You make up for a lack of height, with a lot more heart than a lot of people show. Even vets.
Tina – I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.
Roxi – I've seen people who you may consider legends, my peers, some of my contemporaries achieve things and then coast. I’ve seen them run away when the heat comes down. I’ve seen then quit when it gets too difficult or they don’t win when they think they should. That’s not you. So, being small? That’s just a blessing in disguise.
{TIna perks up, reaching over the desk to hug Roxi.}
Tina – Thank you. Thank you so much. I never thought of it that way.
Roxi – It’s okay. Anytime. Just remember that you can be small, but everyone is the same size on the mat. And I’ve seen you, you have the ability to do great things. Anybody who judges you based on your size alone? They are in for a real surprise.
{Tina giggles and smiles, finally standing up and hugging Roxi again.}
Tina – Thank you. It means a lot.
Roxi – Anytime.
{Tina opens the door and leaves, only for Keira to walk past her and Tina’s smile only grows.}
Tina – Hi Coach Keira!
Keira – Uh... hi...
{Keira gives a quirky smile as she stands in the doorway.}
Keira – What was that about?
Roxi – Just giving her some advice.
Keira – You've been doing that a lot lately.
Roxi – Well, people ask.
Keira – I meant with Ariana.
Roxi – I didn’t want her focus to be on defending us.
Keira – I suppose that’s true.
Roxi – You know good and well Ariana’s intention was to fight for us when she doesn’t need to.
Keira – Because we both lost to Courtney.
Roxi – And that happens. I know Ariana might think it’s a big deal, but we’re not gunning for title matches. This isn’t about us anymore. It’s about Ariana and her taking her moment.
Keira – You know how to she is, she’s loyal.
Roxi – And so is Harper and everybody else we trained. And I would hope it’s appreciated by the people we talk to and encourage. But we’re not in the spotlight in SCW anymore, and it’s more time for us to observe and see how it plays out. Ariana making her title match about avenging Team Hero hurts her.
Keira – I know. I tried to explain it to her before. Maybe it’ll resonate with her coming from you.
Roxi – I hope so. That was the whole point of our last match. So that she was ready for the moment when it came around again, because she’s too good to not earn another match
Keira – She didn’t exactly earn this one.
Roxi – True, but even if that’s the case, you have to take those chances when they are presented to you. That match should be about Ariana, not about us.
Keira – True. So, you want to close up shop for the day?
Roxi – Yeah, just give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready.
Keira – Okay. I need to get this last bit of training in.
Roxi – I know, and I believe in you.
Keira – I just... I need to tell you I’m sorry.
Roxi – Sorry? For what?
Keira – I didn’t think it would go this far, and now... I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders and all of this was my fault.
{Keira closes the door so no stragglers can hear.}
Keira – Sin was a part of me for the longest time. I let her out. And I thought after all the trouble with Jenny, with Jessie, with you and everyone else that I finally got rid of her. We got rid of her. Many times. Sin, Bio Sin, Multiverse Sin. And she keeps coming back. And people get hurt. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of doing this. I thought this was just about Krystal, but it’s not. Now Sin is back again and... I don’t know how much more I can do this. I need to finish this, once and for all to make it up to everyone.
Roxi – And I know you can do it.
Keira – I know before I said... I’m going to do this alone, but...
Roxi – Don’t. If you need me, I will be there. You know that.
{Keira smiles.}
Keira – Thanks. Anyway, I’ll let you finish up.
Roxi – Yup.
{Keira departs and Roxi finishes looking at her files, before closing up shop for the day, and the scene fades.}
{The new scene is Roxi in costume on the roof of police HQ, and Lt. Murphy comes out the door, puffing on a cigarette as usual. He turns and Roxi is leaning against the wall. Murphy takes a drag and looks out at the city skyline.}
Lt. Murphy – So where have you been?
Roxi – Out and about. Nothing crazy has happened lately so, I guess I’ve just been waiting.
Lt. Murphy – I wish I had that kind of luck.
Roxi – I wish I could share it, but we’d both be out of work.
Lt. Murphy – Isn’t that the dream?
Roxi – Yeah. That’s what we’re working for, isn’t it?
Lt. Murphy – Yeah, it is.
Roxi – So, anything with this... Hidden Hand guy?
Lt. Murphy – Nothing for a long time. No names, no leads, and things haven’t really been as big. Nothing that ties into the guy anyway.
Roxi – What about Louie, and The Hamiltons?
Lt. Murphy – Louie’s moved underground. With the extra security on the shipments coming in, there hasn’t been anything. And as far as we know, the Hamiltons aren’t even really involved.
Roxi – They’re involved.
Lt. Murphy – You keep saying that, but Ms. Hamilton appears clean.
Roxi – This guy is pretty good at pulling the strings then.
Lt. Murphy – Yeah, appears that way.
Roxi – I will do everything I can to help you and get to the bottom of all this.
Lt. Murphy – I know that you will. Sometimes it’s against my better judgement, but you know what... I guess I just need to say it... You’re alright.
Roxi – Okay, who are you, and what you done with Lt. Murphy?
Lt. Murphy – I’m being serious. Look, I may not like you running around here and doing my job, wearing a damn mask, and sometimes I think you’re responsible for half the nutjobs and monsters that show up here.
Roxi – Hey, the Guild pays for all the property damage. It’s all Government funded.
Lt. Murphy – And nobody likes the feds involved in their business.
Roxi – Yeah, but some of my best friends are in the feds.
Lt. Murphy – Cute. My point is, despite our differences... you’ve been there.
Roxi – That’s my job, Lt. Murphy.
Lt. Murphy – I know that, but you... and your partner, you do a lot.
Roxi – Lt. It’s not about whether or not you like me, or even respect me. How you felt about me in the past, or even now, isn’t going to stop me from doing my job to protect this city. I get it, I’m some crazy lady in skin-tight spandex and a mask running around here and fighting crime and dealing with super jacked up monsters. If you want that job...
Lt. Murphy – No, I don’t.
Roxi – Well, I don’t either, but it’s something I have to do. I don’t mean to intrude on the stuff you do either. I respect what you do, and the people who risk their lives every day for a lot of people who... well, may not always respect them, and have a bad mental image of them based on what’s on TV all the time. That’s just... what comes with the territory I suppose.
Lt. Murphy – Ain’t that the truth. Again... I may not like everything you do, or your Guild does but... you know, you do a lot more good for this city than harm.
Roxi – Well... I appreciate that.
Lt. Murphy – Don’t think that this changes that much between us though. I’ll be more than happy to welcome you on the force if you give that up and put on a badge.
Roxi – Yeah, I don’t know if blue is really my color. And I don’t like wearing my hear up. And I got this thing about guns and stuff.
Lt. Murphy – I thought you used guns? Your hands shoot fire, don’t they?
Roxi – No, it’s energy. And I can control it. I couldn’t control a gun in my hands. I point, I shoot, but at the end of the day, I’m not trying to take lives or even give the impression.
Lt. Murphy – Nobody wants to take lives. It’s something that happens because the situation calls for it. What these assholes in the news and on the Internet show is all the bad stuff. All the bad cops who have an axe to grind. That’s not all of us.
Roxi – I know that, but I can’t take that chance, or make that call and have it on my conscience. It’s just not me.
Lt. Murphy – Well, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on that.
Desk – Attention all patrols, be aware of the following BOLO: White Chevy Suburban, license plate KP4 3XA last seen headed down Olympic approacing Overland at a high rate of speed. Suspects appear intoxicated.
Roxi – Well...
Lt. Murphy – I’ll get it.
Roxi – Race ya?
Lt. Murphy – Very funny.
{Roxi sets off in pursuit of as Murphy calls in his status and the scene fades.}
“A man comes at me with his fists, I'll meet him with fists. But if he pulls a gun-- or threatens people I'm protectin'-- then I got no sympathy for him. He made his choice. He'll have to live-- or die-- with it. I never used my claws on someone who hadn't tried to kill me first. I call that self-defense."
- Wolverine (X-Men Vol 1 #140)
You know, I didn’t want to do this.
I really didn’t.
Just let it be known I didn’t ask for this match. I didn’t say, let me face Julianna so I can beat her and ruin her. I was very happy sitting at home and taking my son to Tee ball and being a mom. I wasn’t going to get involved in the Sin thing because that was Keira’s thing. She came out of retirement for it. I was thinking that possibly I would not be at Violent Conduct and I was going to be okay with that. But who am I to turn down another chance to wrestle? It wouldn’t matter if it was Julianna, or Mercedes Vargas or Ariana or whoever. I enjoy wrestling. But I didn’t request to have the match at all.
So, I came into it fully understanding what to expect after the tweet.
And man, sometimes, it’s like clockwork.
Julianna DiMaria hit all the points, checked off all the boxes like she was supposed to, and just like I said that she would. And I know she’s very proud of that, and she even has supporters. And hey, that’s good. But after hearing her, I can’t help but feel like this was all rehearsed and that was the best take.
It all sounds so familiar. I mean, it’s because I’ve heard it before, you’ve heard it before, and it still doesn’t make a lot of sense. I don’t think Julianna even thinks it’s all true, she’s speaking from a place of anger, not from a place of complete truth.
I have failed a lot. I’ve lost a lot. I’ve had to make tough decisions and I’ve made plenty of mistakes. I have never called myself perfect or anything close to it. I’ve always said I’ve chased perfection, but I know I can never get there. It’s what keeps me going. But yes, I have failed many times. And it’s very easy to cherry pick those failures and lump them together with no context and go “See!”
Basically, Julianna thinks this is some big gotcha moment, or moments, and she just wants you to believe that she’s got me dead to rights, and you should believe everything she ran her mouth off about. I am this horrible two-faced monster here to kill the division. And she will be lauded as the real hero when I’m no longer... in the picture? Which I already took myself out of.
I know Julianna is one of those people of a certain age where they expect things instantly. Instant gratification. But that’s not how gardens work. I think of SCW bombshell’s division as a garden, and you have to work at it to make a garden grow. If I plant a seed, and then come back an hour later, nothing will have grown. It takes time, it takes watering and tending the garden. I started attempting to make the division better over a year ago. When I was Bombshell’s champion the fourth time. I said, give me Bella Madison, give me new people. Let’s make the division stronger and more competitive.
And low and behold, new folks have shown up, and the garden is growing. Julianna is just one of those seeds.
But If Jullianna was so astute and so on the ball about this, she would know that I said all that and then some almost a year ago. I said that my presence would not be as strong as it has been in 2023. And it hasn’t been. I said in 2023 my appearances would be fewer and fewer, and they have been. I said that 2023 may be the last year I’m in SCW. That was before I won the Bombshell’s title for the fifth time. That was me, looking back at a decade and saying “Yeah, I think I’m good.”
But let’s just skip that for now, obviously it was load of BS and Julianna has no time for this or something. Plenty of time to pick through bad moments, but the one moment that kinda negates the whole argument, nah, let’s not bother with that.
You can hear it in her voice. It’s quite comical to me that someone who is no nonsense, has enough time to look up what other people have said, and then just say that. It’s almost like Julianna doesn’t have anything to really say at all. What words were her own? How many times have people said I’m a liar, terrible, a monster, the real villain, playing this long drawn on con game on SCW and the Bombshell’s division to...I guess win a lot?
Someone is going to have to tell me what the end goal of my game is, because I don’t even know. I don’t know whose career I have killed off by beating them. Or being friendly. For those who hate me in such a way, please, explain to me how this makes any sense.
This is what people do when they don’t have an original thought in their head. It’s just all too familiar. Just say what other people have said. It reminds me of so many others.
In fact, I want to tell you all a story.
This story is about someone who used to be in SCW with me a while back, and she took almost the exact same route that Julianna is taking. She said she grew up as a fan of mine. She won the Bombshell’s title and I said “hey, congratulations.” And she thanked me for that. And then...she lost the title, and all of a sudden it was my fault. Everything wrong in her career was my fault. Because I was in the way. Never mind that a year had gone by since then, and there was no bad blood or catalyst for this change between us, it was still my fault.
She held this grudge against me and told all of you that I was the scourge of SCW. I ruined everything. I was everything wrong with SCW. I was a liar, a hypocrite, a backstabber and everything terrible under the sun.
I know this sounds like you just heard it, because you did, but just continuie on this story’s journey with me.
So, once this narrative was established, I had to defend myself. I had to look back and say... well, this doesn’t make sense and that doesn’t make sense and the context of this is wrong, so on and so forth.
Again, the pattern is right there.
Anyway, once the back and forth’s were done, I wrestled her. Right there in the ring.
And she won.
I’m sure in her mind that justified all that she said about me. So, what did I do? I sat back. I said to myself “Okay, now let’s see what she does with this. She’s got all this momentum, she just beat me, there should be nothing standing in her way now, right? I’m the big bully conquered. Now let’s wait and see.”
And I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And you know what happened? You know what she did with that big win, and all that momentum? You know what came from all that talk?
NOTHING.
Not one single thing.
She sat around, just wrestling, as if all of that trash talk was just for me and then it didn’t matter and she wasn’t really upset. Because her goal was to break me. And she failed. The match result was secondary, apparently.
And when it didn’t happen, she scrambled. She had to find something else. She got the win but did absolutely nothing with it. She didn’t try to win the Bombshell’s title back, she didn’t bother with that at all. So, it turns out hating me was a big nothing burger, but sure, let’s continue..
And then she finally did something else. She won another title, over a year later. I wasn’t in the Bombshell’s title picture for that same period of time. I knew I was in the back of the line. I had to work my way up, and then I did. Never once facing her, even though I offered. I simply kept my head down and did what I was supposed to do. I went up, she went down. I didn’t ruin anybody along the way, or anybody else, I guess. She... stayed stagnant. So... what happened? What was all the for?
Not one single thing.
And then, at the end, she lost her title, and then... she quit. Which, I guess was my fault too somehow.
I wish the story had a happier ending, but it doesn’t. It’s just a lesson that people blame me for lots of things. I’m sure if they could, they’d blame me for the common cold. It just seems to be a running pattern that people show up here, determined to put an end to me, and call me a bad person.
So, in that story I just told you, was I the bad guy? Did I ruin that person’s career? No, it’s simply that that person needed a scapegoat, and I was chosen. That tends to happen when folks aren’t able to take responsibility for their own shortcomings. She probably has me blocked on twitter or X or whatever we’re calling it these days.
Why? Because she is and was insecure.
And to hear such an eerily similar series of jabs from Julianna, is a bit weird.
And confusing.
And hypocritical.
I mean, again, context is really the key in this, but again we’re just cherry-picking fails. Yes, I failed a lot. I will be the first to admit that. It’s not new, or some kind of shocking revelation. I have failed in the past, I have failed recently, and I will fail, at something, at some point in the future.
I would spend the time to go ahead and debunk all those things or even give them the proper context, but this isn’t a debate. But just so we’re on the same page on this, this is not the first time I’ve heard those words come out of someone’s mouth simply because they think it gets to me. Or because they need an edge.
And the thing is again, Julianna doesn’t even believe them. Since she decided to talk out of both sides of her mouth on this and say she wasn’t going to build me up, she was going to treat me like just another opponent, only to them basically run through my history in this company. Treating me like a big deal after saying she wasn’t. Stuff that she saw on TV and has made her assessment of me, based on that.
She doesn’t know me. She’s never uttered a word to me, to my face, we have never interacted, but she knows all the things about me and my true nature. She knows the real me, despite not ever saying one word to me before this past week.
Kinda funny how that works.
I’m just saying... next time maybe she should do her own homework instead of copying off someone else’s and trying to pass it off as her own.
Because the only thing that seems fake around here... is Julianna DiMaria.
And you can’t fake the funk around here. You can’t Milli-Vanilli this stuff. You have to be you.
So, who exactly IS Julianna DiMaria?
Do you know how many people have walked through the doors of SCW being the baddest bitch, or the toughest guy, or the most badass person walking the planet? They are a dime a dozen. Is that really Julianna? The “Straight shooter” Because if this is the case, I’ve seen it done better.
I can do that pretty easily. You ready?
Julianna,
I know you are my next opponent, and it doesn’t matter to me what you’ve done in other companies. You believe you are the hottest new thing on the block, but on Sunday, you are just another person, standing across from me. And I’m going to beat you, because I am better than you. I’m better than you think I am, and I’m better than you think you are. You have had 2 matches in your short run in SCW, and while you won, if that’s supposed to impress me, it does not. If you think I’m going to be intimidated or worried because you showed up, or because your name is next to mine, you are dead wrong. The only thing that this match is really about for me, is proving myself at least one more time.
You see?
I can do that in my sleep. It’s not even my thing, and I can do just like that.
Julianna couldn’t manage to do that. I heard the same stuff I’ve heard for years, just repeated by someone new. There must be a factory somewhere that tells everyone that this is the best thing ever to say in front of a camera. Be as edgy as you can. Go to those places where other people don’t feel the need to. Push that envelope. You can always say “I say what most people are afraid to.” Is it being afraid?
Or, because it’s easy?
ANYBODY can do that. It’s not hard at all. I just did it in front of all of you. And you know what I did just there? I made it about ME. Not about her. Because... and get ready for this now, because I’m about to blow your mind... I wasn’t trying to build her up.
So not only can she not really come at me with anything original, she can’t even do any original parts well. It’s like I pulled a string on her back and she just spouts all the things other people have done, and done better.
Julianna DiMaria is as fake as they come. She might as well be put in a plastic box and have a PlaySkool or Mattel logo slapped on it. One of a million others. Put together like Mr. Potato Head. Rearrange the parts all you want, it’s still Mr. Potato Head.
Like I said at the beginning, I didn’t want to do this.
But lessons have to be taught.
I have been in this situation before. I know what I’m doing. To succeed, you have to want that pressure. You cannot be afraid of the moment; You have to embrace it. I love the high-pressure situations, because I have everything in my hands. And I’m confident enough that when it’s all in my hands, that I will do what needs to be done, and I can win any contest I am in, no matter the stakes.
The facts, and the undisputed truth, is that people who truly know me, know the type of person I am. So, when I hear someone try and frame it like I’m the worst person in the world, it just makes me laugh. And clearly from a person who doesn’t know how this all works.
No matter how hard anybody tries to do some character assassination on me, they will fail. Because I have made myself BULLETPROOF.
This is just another lesson, and hopefully Julianna learns from this, and she actually develops from it. Because while I enjoy growing a garden... with every garden, there’s going to be a few weeds. And if that’s how it works, then I have no problem, pulling that weed out of my garden.
But maybe that’s all my perception.
We’ll see what’s reality as Violent Conduct.
And I can’t wait.
See you there!