Las Vegas, Nevada
John S. Park Elementary School
Now that the holiday season was over more or less, school was back in full swing and until the much desired summer vacation was to begin. This, of course, meant that the parental figures were once again finding themselves juggling the responsibilities between their roles as parent and being a piece of the workforce tapestry that we all one day find ourselves to be a part of. And just outside of the John S. Park Elementary School, many a car was lined up along the neighborhood walks with the buses lined up ahead of them, along the school grounds. Some adults, affectionately coined as 'helicopter parents' couldn't see themselves not personally escorting their 'angels' from the school doors to their respective vehicles, and in many cases, accosting the teachers who stand outside to discuss their children's progress whether the teacher wants to or not. Other parents are a lot more loose stringed, still at work or at home and putting enough trust in their children to use the school buses or to walk the short distance between home and school and back again. Then again, there were parents like SCW's very own Tempest who found themselves caught somewhere in between.
Being so new to the role of mother to her stepdaughter Anela, Tempest felt herself torn somewhere between trusting and helicopter mode. Like a handful of parents like her, Tempest stood beside her car and patiently watched for her young one. She didn't want to embarrass her stepdaughter, but neither did she want to stray too far away on the off chance that Anela needed her for some reason. So, bundled up in her favorite wool-lined denim jacket, Tempest stood beside her tan 202 Chevrolet Transverse, watching the doors to the school remain open as one wave of children after another exited in a hurry, excited for the school day to be over and done with and to enjoy the rest of the afternoon for themselves. Every now and then, Tempest could feel the eyes of the random parent on her, which was to be somewhat expected as she towered over most of the fathers whose children attended this school, let alone the mothers. But even some of Anela's classmates and peers were stealing a look every now and then, either in wonder at her stature or perhaps they even recognized her if they were fans of Sin City Wrestling.
But then the one she had been watching for finally emerged from the school doors, flanked by Gabriel's son Lucas and two other children who Anela had grown close with ever since she first entered this school system. The kids were laughing about something but even not knowing the source of their bemusement did not stop Tempest from smiling as well, thrilled that her girl was growing into her own in this school and beginning to make friends. Especially after the sordid first few weeks when Anela had found herself the target of a particular bully. Until 'Momma Bear' had reared her head and put a stop to that nonsense. But as Tempest watched Anela separate herself from her friends, sharing a quick hug from Lucas (she'd have to have a chat with Gabriel about that later), Tempest also took note that one of the teachers had managed to separate themselves from a parent grilling them about their baby's daily progress with questions in order to accompany Anela toward her.
Ohhh, that wasn't good.
Anela rushed right up to her was her usual norm, wrapping her arms around her momma's body for a "I missed you" sort of embrace, a feeling Tem[pest herself would never grow tired of. But it was when Anela separated herself from her mom and practically dove inside of their vehicle that gave Tempest a real cause for concern. The teacher was a young man, younger than the rest of the faculty that she's seen by a fair few years, and one that she did not recognize. Once the teacher had approached her, the first thing he did was extend his hand and he wore a comfortable smile on his face.
Teacher: Missus Kahale?
Although wary, Tempest accepted the gesture and shook the man's hand, albeit with an inquisitive frown on her face.
Tempest: Can I at least hear what she did first before I answer that?
Teacher: Pardon me...? Oh, oh no.
The man chuckled, waving off any of her concerns.
Teacher: No, nothing like that. I'm Chad Weber, a student teacher in Anela's classroom. I just wanted to introduce myself and come out here to personally thank you.
A single brow rose on tempest's forehead.
Tempest: Thank me? What for, exactly?
Mr. Weber: Well we know how busy you parents are every day with your jobs, and you especially given your road schedule as a wrestler. I can't even begin to tell you how excited the children are.
Tempest unfolded her arms from across her chest and stood upright, no longer leaning against her vehicle as there was clearly more going on here than she could grasp at the moment.
Tempest: You have me at a disadvantage, Mister Weber. because I don't have the first clue as to what you're talking about.
The young teacher, or teacher's aide, blinked, his face a matching confusion to Tempest's own.
Mr. Weber: Oh? There must be a crossed wire or something. It's just that one of the parents had to cancel for Career Day this Friday and your stepdaughter...
Tempest: Daughter.
She forcefully emphasized the use of the word, thinking and loving Anela as if she were her own rather than just the daughter of her late husband and Anela's late father. The young man looked properly abashed and he cleared his throat.
Mr. Weber: I'm sorry ... daughter. She said you were only too happy to fill the vacancy for Career Day to talk to the students.
Tempest just stared as in ... S-T-A-R-E-D at the man, her head slightly reared back and she blinked.
Tempest: Excuse me?
She turned and leaned down and stared through the passenger door and at Anela who seemed to want to look in every direction BUT at her own mom.
Tempest: She did, did she...?
GO Gym
It's indeed a rarity when two students who have yet to graduate a wrestling academy take the forefront of the proverbial gossip factory that is in the locker rooms of any wrestling promotion. But such with the case with two particular young women who are currently being trained under the legendary watch of Gabriel Stevens, one of the proprietors of the famed GO Gym, a wrestling academy that had seen among its graduates names such as Fenris, London Underground, Devona and several others. But on social media, another graduate by the name of Krystal Wolfe had made mention of a particular student by the name of Kelly, a young woman who's owned sense of worth matched the potential that was seen in her. She thought for sale talented and tough enough to pick a fight with one of the more imposing and prominent of their graduates, the woman known as Tempest. When the two sparred, it could not even be seen as anything related to a sparring match as Tempest quickly put her down with a series of powerbombs and a clothesline that sent the poor young woman into a tailspin before she yielded.
But apparently Miss Kelly was not one to take such treatment lying down and she had talked to fellow student by the name of Hayley into joining her for something of a handicap sparring match against the very same Amazon. Kelly obviously felt that the numbers would be to their advantage but that is where we would be joining as we check into the GO Gym for the current happenings…
Inside of the single six-sided ring, Kelly and Hayley each had hold of one of Tempest's arms and attempted to Irish whip the larger woman into the ropes but Tempest easily put on the brakes and instead, used her overwhelming power to whip her arms together, causing both students to collide into one another and fall to the mat! Tempest dragged Kelly up to her feet and threw her into the ropes, so hard that Kelly almost spent entirely backward over the top rope and fell out the hard way! But nevertheless, the young student came ricocheting off of the ropes and Tempest threw her clear up into the air and allowed her to drop via a flapjack!
On the outside of the ring, there was a small gathering watching the proceedings. Of course Gabriel himself was the most prominent being the trainer of these young women. But on one side of him was one such fellow graduate, Fenris as he watched with much amusement at what was happening. On the other side of Gabriel, was his proverbial “little brother” Despayre who watched and cringed at every heavy impact against the mat, casually munching on a bag of popcorn with heavy butter. Nearby was the aforementioned Krystal Wolfe, who was watching what was going down in between continuous moments of face palming at what these two girls were putting themselves through.
Krystal: You'd think Kelly would have learned after the first time, huh guys?
She mused as she accepted a handful of buttered popcorn, offered over by Despy.
Back inside of the ring, Tempest now pulled Haley up to her feet and through her into the ropes. Haley screeched as she came flying off and Tempest scooped her up onto her shoulders in a fireman's carry. It looked as it Tempest was going to go for one of her trademark maneuvers, the Samoan drop, when she caught movement out of the side of her eye. Kelly, going back on the offensive, was scaling the corner nearby for a leaping attack. But Tempest marched over to a suddenly wide-eyed Kelly and piled her on top of Haley, bringing both women out of the corner on her shoulders in an awesome display of her brute strength!
Fenris: Shit…!
Gabriel: Bloody hell..
Both men mused together, and both men dropped a dollar into the immediate outstretched hand of Despayre.
And Tempest suddenly fell back, delivering the Samoan drop to both students at the same time! Kelly landing on the bottom, Haley on top of her and Tempest own weight adding to the pile up under the maneuver! Gabriel strolled over toward the ring apron and picked up the hammer which he used to strike the time keeper's bell, signifying an end to the match.
Gabriel: Alright you lot, that's enough! I think you put them through enough.
Those next words directed toward Tempest herself, who was now standing and leaning against the ring ropes on her forearms.
Tempest: They started it.
Gabriel: And you finished it, so let's have a chat while the girls get scraped up off of the mat.
With one final glance back over her shoulder at the pileup of limbs and bodies, Tempest stepped over the top rope and dropped to the floor as Krystal slid inside of the ring to lend a hand, staring over the student known as Hayley.
Krystal: So how did you get roped into this?
Hayley: Kelly wanted a sparring match. She left out the part about Tempest!
On the outside, Gabriel passed his graduate a bottled water and Despayre even offered over his bag of popcorn to which Tempest took a handful, allowing Despayre to skip back outside to the lobby to relieve Angel the teddy bear for his coffee break.
Gabriel: You were a little rough on them, don't you think?
Tempest: Consider it a learning curve. Their opponents would have went a lot harder on them if they were to run their mouths about them the way little Miss ran her's about me.
Gabriel: Fair. Plus I imagine you had to have been working off a bit of steam after what you found out.
Tempest cast a look back inside of the ring, watching as Krystal helped first Hayley and then Kelly to their collective feet and she scoffed.
Tempest: I'm not worried about teaming with Krystal. I'm not thrilled about it, but she and I already talked things out and I think we're on the same page for the time being.
Gabriel: Well, that's good to know but it wasn't what I was talking about.
Tempest shook her head as she took a drink of her offered water, indicating she didn't know what he was talking about.
Gabriel: Lucas tells me that Anela volunteered you for Career Day?
Tempest closed her eyes and sighed an audible exhale worthy of her suddenly dour mood. Quite the contrast to the smile on Gabriel's face, taking some small amount of pleasure at seeing one of his Gym's most volatile graduates brought down to earth by a simple child.
Tempest: I still can't believe that she did that. I don't know what the hell I'm going to do.
Gabriel: You're going to do it, that's what.
Tempest looked to the man who was in charge of bringing her into the world of professional wrestling but looked at him as if he had just said the single most ludicrous thing she had ever heard.
Tempest: Gabriel, have you met me? I hate interviews during shows which is why I avoid them like the plague! How in hell am I supposed to get through a bunch of little kids and their judgmental parents grilling me about what I do?
Gabriel: By recognizing it for what it's for.
He placed a reassuring hand on her arm.
Gabriel: Anela volunteered you to speak at her Career Day because she loves you, and is proud of what you do. Sure some kids might have parents who are doctors or lawyers but I can almost promise you that out of all the careers and demonstrations, yours will be the one that draws the most attention.
Tempest looked at him in brief silence, contemplating the truth to his words. Sure she absolutely hated being the center of attention in such an environment, but why else would Anela have volunteered her in the first place if what Gabriel said wasn't true?
Gabriel: Plus, and let's be honest about this. Having her mother who is something of a celebrity that appears on TV every week is going to earn that little girl a lot of brownie points amongst her peers.
Tempest: Speaking from experience, are we?
To which Gabriel chuckled and nodded his head.
Gabriel: Believe it or not, I am. Try to remember that Lucas has been going to that school longer than Anela by a fair few years. I got invited for his Career Day once, and if I can get through it, you certainly can.
He ended their talk by giving her a comforting pat on the shoulder before he went toward the ring to check on the two students who were still in an obvious daze. Tempest watched after him for a brief moment and closed her eyes, exhaling sharply through her nose.
John S. Park Elementary School
And as it turned out, Gabriel's words of encouragement proved quite true. Tempest was indeed the highlight of Anela’s classroom Career Day. Gabriel had even let a hand in the last minute edition, helping her to set up a small backdrop that resembled a wrestling ring before an audience. He also got hold of several videos and splice them together, highlighting some of her best matches against opponents such as Zoey Lukas and Seleana Zdunich. These aired in a looped replay, and it drew more attention to Tempest than the attention being given to some of the other adults who were chatting with students and teachers alike about their own respective careers.
And then when each parent took their turn in front of the class for questions, despite her discomfort at being “interviewed” by children and adult alike, she focused on Gabriel's words. That it was the pride of her little girl that brought her there, so she simply did her best and answered as honestly as she could.
Student 1: Who was your toughest opponents?
Tempest: Oh, no doubt about it. Bobbie Dahl and Zoey Lukas. Those two women gave me my toughest matches because there aren't very many on the roster who are about as big as I am. They are, and they both gave me a very tough match. This also might surprise you but I would also have to say Seleana Zdunich.
Student 1: Really??
Tempest: Oh yeah. She doesn't get enough respect in this business as I think she should.
Student 2: What what's your favorite match ever?
Tempest gazed up thoughtfully, taking a moment to think back over her career thus far and one moment in particular brought a smile to her face.
Tempest: I would have to say the match where I teamed with Austin James Mercer to win the Mixed Tag Team titles from the Barnharts.
Student 3: Who is your best friend in this business?
Tempest: Austin, definitely. We started as something of a tag team and over the course of time, got to know each other. We grew close and I can say that behind the scenes he is an entirely different man than what people see on the screen. I have no qualms at all at calling that man my best friend.
Student 4: Who do you like working with the most? I mean, as far as opponents?
Tempest: Any woman who can give me a proper fight. Women like Bobbie and Zoey. Mercedes Vargas. Alexandra Calaway.
But it wasn't just the students who were taking advantage of this situation. A couple of the adults, predominantly a doctor, took some umbrage at a mere professional wrestler hijacking the spotlight of Career Day. The moment she saw her opportunity, she raised her hand just as the students did so that she might ask a question to put this woman on the spot.
Doctor: Do you think that your profession is a suitable one for children like these to go into business?
There were a few hushed whispers heard in the background as Tempest stared at the woman. A couple of the teachers fidgeted, having not expected something like this to happen or any form of professional jealousy to take place. After all, this was supposed to be about the student's future welfare and enjoyment. Not the parents competing with one another for attention.
Tempest: Well I wouldn't exactly say that this career is meant for everybody. But there are some seriously wonderful opportunities that have been given to me that I wouldn't get anywhere else, whether I was practicing law or performing surgery. I've gotten to tour countries that I never thought I'd be able to set foot in. I've met a lot of people, young girls who said that they would look up to me as an inspiration because they're different and if I'm different and can make something of myself, so can they.
The doctor seemed almost embarrassed as a few hard stairs turned in her direction for having caused this, but Tempest was far from done.
Tempest: And I will go on record and say that careers like lawyers and doctors have a lot of benefits for the world and people around them. But I've been given some of those same benefits and more. Just last year, we toured Egypt. Austin and I were given an opportunity and he and I actually worked in one of the villages, helping some of the villagers rebuilding a hut that had been destroyed. Those are what some of the opportunities are that have been afforded to me. And I am grateful for every one of them!
Tempest stared hard at the doctor, as did some of the students and many of the adults present until she sat down, her neck and face burning under the embarrassment she had put herself under.
"When I first heard about this match, I wondered what I did to deserve this. It's no big secret backstage or in the SCW offices how I feel about tag team matches. When I first showed up, I made it clear I wanted nothing to do with tag team matches because I didn't want to have to learn to reply on anyone but myself for my successes or failures inside of the ring. I don't like the thought of having to stand on the outside looking in, watching but being unable to do anything until the person that I'm teamed with can be deigned to tag me in to take my turn at beating someone down. And for the most part, the powers that be have respected this outlook. For the most part."
"I'd be a lair if I didn't admit my best success stories have been in the mixed tag team division and having a man like Austin James Mercer to rely on. Still, in my own opinion mixed tag team matches are a whole lot different than regular tag team matches. In the mixed tag division, I try to look at the positive side of things and see it as singles matches -- but with a tag team partner of the opposite gender. Austin and I brought prominence to the division whereas a certain other team all but killed it at the time. But that's not the spot I find myself in this week, is it?"
"This week, the higher ups took my one boundary I set up for myself and kicked it down, sticking me in a regular tag team match with three other women who, as is told to me, is being hyped for a Fatal Fourway match at the next Supercard. A taste test of what's to come, I imagine. All things considered, I can't imagine how they ultimately ended up choosing who was teaming with who. Did they draw names out of a hat or did they recognize that Krystal and I were alumni from the same academy and thought that would make for an easier pairing? Who knows? All I know is it could have been a lot worse. I could have been teamed up with Courtney with that piss ant wife of her's in our corner, so I'll take what blessings I can get, where I can get them."
"Krystal and I have a history between ourselves, and most of it is not looked back on with much fond remembrance. Krystal was not only my first opponent after I went on that initial rampage to get the bookers to get the damn lead out and actually book me, but she also was my first in a long line of wins since I signed. Now I can't tell you if Wolfe ever looks back on that and if it gets under her skin, but that was only the first step in what I would call a long sand colorful story between she and I. Despite our being from the same Gym, she had also wanted to interfere and cost me a match against Bella Madison because it would have been in her own best interests at the time. Well, professionally it would have. But had the little girl followed through, I can tell you from what would have happened by me and toward her, it sure as hell would not have been in her best interests. Now I can imagine she has her own opinions about me, both good and bad and I can say much the same. I look back at the woman and I have thought of her as a liar and a prima donna. A diva with a bigger attitude than what she deserves and who goes on rampages when she loses or doesn't get what she wants from the match makers. She draws negative light towards herself through her own actions and then tries to play the victim card afterwards when she gets called out. But that was then, this is now. In the future - in a matter of weeks, she'll be one of three opponents for me, for my time to win the Internet title. But in the here and now? She's my tag team partner, and like it or not, she and I are going to have to co-exist if we want to wipe the smug smiles off of Courtney Pierce and that little Chihuahua, ankle biter wife of hers!"
"Now as far as Luna Pasilno goes, she and I have our own past of sorts. In fact, it was just a couple of weeks ago where that chick stepped up to the plate and gave me a pretty damn good fight. I made it pretty well known that I wanted to get back inside of the ring and while Christian Underwood spent his time teasing or threatening Harper Mason with me, it was Luna who stepped up and told the world that she'd be only too happy to give me what I wanted; an honest and legit fight inside of the ring. When most of these little girls who are half my size avoid me like the plague under the illusion that they're not scared or just don't care about facing me, Luna was the one who made the first move. I said I'd face anybody and she answered the call. The woman had no other reason to step up to the plate other than to prove herself and while she didn't go down ion the record books as the winner, she went down fighting! And that is all I ask of any woman who I get inside of the ring against. In some cases I've been less than impressed. But not with Luna. The chick is not the biggest woman by stature. I mean, I have almost a full foot on her and probably a hundred pounds. If you were to look at the two of us, you'd just assume I'd run over her like a Mack truck with the brake lines cut. Not so! No, she's not the size of myself or Bobbie Dahl or Zoey Lukas but the chick has heart! She brings that heart to the fight and THAT is what makes her dangerous! THAT is what makes me think the woman is going to become a champion again, sooner rather than later! But not at My Bloody Valentine V. And certainly she won't be walking out of Colorado as one of two winners this weekend. Especially not considering who she drew the short straw with for a partner!"
"I know. I know a lot of you are saying 'But her partner is the Internet Champion'! Her partner is a former World Champion and a Blast from the Past Champion!' Mm hm. Good for her. But let's face facts. As of late, Courtney Pierce's spotlight has dimmed. And that is because more people are paying attention to her wife on the outside of the ring than they are to Courtney herself on the inside! And why? Because lately, ninety nine percent of Pierce's wins against better opponents have been because of her wife's constant interfering in her matches! No matter what the big brass thinks of to stop Ruby Steele from, interfering in her wife's matches, it never works out and one way or another, she gets involved and Courtney's hand gets raised as a result! And do you know what the saddest part of this is? The two are actually quite proud of the fact! Pierce calls herself a champion but she freely admits she'll do anything to win a match and relies quite brazenly on Ruby interfering so she can keep her championship! And that is the woman who calls herself the Internet Champion, huh? Well, she can keep up that pretense as much as she wants but she's not fooling anybody save for herself. Pierce knows her title reign is on borrowed time, why else would she and her wife jumped me last week? She has seen me. She knows what I can and will do to someone like her, and she knows I am the one woman her wife can't save her from! She can try to throw her wife in my path but all that will serve is a quick way to put Little Ruby six feet under and let the world know how little regard she holds her wife! So Courtney, just this once ... if you truly care about your wife, tell her to stay in the back. Keep her out of harm's way because this is one storm you are not going to be able to weather no matter how much you try to prepare!"
"And no. Given her success rate inside of the ring, I don't think I could have asked for a better partner out of the three."
"When I first heard about this match, I wondered what I did to deserve this. Now I'm wondering, what Courtney and Luna did to deserve it."
