Blog: Almighty Fire
semana del 29 de junio al 7 de julio de 2025

OK, let's get one thing straight from the jump: there’s a difference between being a champion and acting like one. But apparently, in Sin City Wrestling, definitions are as loose as Bella Madison’s grasp on reality—or her Twitter password.

So, I log into Twitter, minding my own business, and what do I see? Bella Madison, the perennial sidekick of her own story, chirping away about loopholes and crayons. Sweetheart, if I needed a lesson in coloring outside the lines, I’d ask a toddler, not someone who’s been coloring her career with excuses since day one.

Let’s recap for those in the cheap seats:

After Into the Void:
I had a “bad night.” Oh, the horror. Newsflash: even legends have off nights. But unlike some, I don’t need a support group and a hashtag every time I stub my toe. I move on. Winners do.

Climax Control, two weeks after that:
Suddenly, matches “don’t count.” The mental gymnastics required to keep up with Bella’s logic would put Simone Biles to shame. Apparently, if you don’t like the outcome, just say “REASONS” and hope nobody asks for specifics.

Now, Summer XXXtreme:
Bella wants another shot. Because, of course, the world revolves around her rematch clause. She’s out here acting like the only thing standing between her and greatness is a technicality. Honey, it’s called talent. Look it up.

And then, the pièce de résistance:

“IT'S CALLED A LOOPHOLE, BITCH.”

Oh, Bella. Such language. I suppose when you run out of arguments, all that’s left is to shout into the void (no pun intended) and hope someone retweets you. Maybe next time, she should try a puppet show. I hear that’s more her speed.

But let’s talk about respect. I requested Bella vs. Crystal at the go-home show. Denied. Instead, Bella has the night off, I get Kayla Richards this weekend, and then, at Summer XXXtreme, I’m defending my title in a triple threat against Bella and Lilith. Let’s pause for a moment. Triple threat. As in, I have to beat two challengers at once. Because apparently, being the best isn’t enough. Now, I have to prove it against double the competition. Outrageous doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’m the champion. I should be calling the shots. But apparently, in SCW, respect is a one-way street. Bella gets handed opportunities on a silver platter, while I have to jump through hoops just to get a fair fight. Funny how that works.

Meanwhile, Bella wonders if I thought I could “get away with making that match.” Sweetheart, I don’t “get away” with anything—I earn my opportunities. Unlike some, I don’t need to dig through the rulebook for loopholes. My legacy isn’t built on technicalities; it’s built on victories.

And just when you think the circus is over, Victoria Lyons chimes in—Bombshell Roulette Champion, self-appointed voice of reason:

“Instead of complaining, why don’t you just woman up and handle your flies?”

Victoria, darling, I’d love to, but it’s hard to swat flies when you’re constantly surrounded by gnats buzzing about rematches and loopholes. Maybe if everyone spent less time whining and more time training, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

If Bella spent half as much time perfecting her craft as she does perfecting her victim complex, maybe she'd be champion by now. But hey, not everyone can be Mercedes Vargas. Thank God for that.

I don’t need loopholes. I don’t need hand puppets. I don’t need to shout in all caps to make my point. My resume speaks for itself. But if SCW management wants to stack the odds, I say bring it. Triple threat? Fine. I’ll beat two at once. Maybe then, Bella will finally get the hint: you can’t loophole your way to greatness.

That’s what separates me from the rest. I don’t just survive pressure—I thrive in it. I don’t just accept challenges—I demand them. I don’t need management’s approval, I don’t need the fans’ validation, and I sure as hell don’t need anyone’s permission to be great.

So, to all the would-be contenders, the loophole hunters, and the self-appointed keyboard warriors among you: Step up or step aside. Because while you’re busy arguing about crayons and clauses, I’ll be busy doing what I do best—winning.

And that, darlings, is the only lesson you’ll ever need.

So, here we are. Another weekend, another match, another opportunity for Mercedes Vargas to remind the world why this division revolves around me.

Now let's get one thing straight: I don’t overlook anyone. I don’t underestimate anyone. That’s why I’m still champion, and everyone else is fighting for scraps. But when it comes to Kayla Richards, the World Bombshell Champion herself, stepping up to face me, I can’t help but notice a familiar pattern—big talk, bigger ambitions, and when the lights are brightest? That’s when the real stars shine.

Let’s be clear: Kayla’s reign as World Bombshell Champion is impressive. No one can deny she’s earned her spot at the top of that division. She's a champion in every sense of the word. But this weekend, the spotlight isn’t just on Kayla’s belt, it’s on her heart, her grit, and her ability to handle the pressure that comes with facing me.

This isn’t just another match. This is a collision of legacies. The Bombshell Internet Champion versus the World Bombshell Champion. The woman who holds the division’s spotlight versus the woman who is the spotlight.

So, what can the SCW Universe expect this weekend? Simple: A show-stealer. A match that reminds everyone why the Bombshell division is the best in the business. Expect fireworks. Expect a battle that will have everyone on the edge of their seats. Expect two women who refuse to back down, who refuse to settle for second best.

And when the final bell rings? Expect Mercedes Vargas to still be standing—because I don’t just defend my title, I defend my legacy.

This weekend isn’t about loopholes, excuses, or Twitter drama. It’s about wrestling. It’s about legacy. It’s about proving, once again, that when you step into the ring with Mercedes Vargas, you step into greatness.

This weekend, it’s more than just pride on the line. It’s about proving who truly runs this division. Who deserves the spotlight. Who’s the real queen of SCW.

So to Kayla Richards, before our collision this weekend: Don't mistake my confidence for arrogance. Don't mistake my words for empty threats. What you're hearing is the voice of a woman who has been forged in fire, who has turned pain into power, who has transformed setbacks into comebacks.

You're good, Kayla. Maybe even great. But I'm legendary.

When we lock up, when we stand toe to toe, when we push each other to our limits, remember this moment. Remember that I warned you. Remember that I saw through your facade of confidence to the doubt that lingers beneath.

Because that's the difference between us. You hope you can win. I know I will.

So bring your title. Bring your best. Bring everything you've got. It won't be enough. It's never enough against Mercedes Vargas.

The spotlight doesn't find me—I command it. The crowd doesn't cheer for me—I demand it. Success doesn't come to me—I seize it.

That's not arrogance. That's not hype. That's the cold, hard truth that everyone in Sin City Wrestling has to face eventually: In a world of contenders, there's only one Mercedes Vargas.

Will Kayla’s World Bombshell title shine brighter, or will my Bombshell Internet championship—and my legacy—outshine her? The answer lies in the ring.

This is the moment. This is the match. This is Mercedes Vargas, reminding the world why I’m not just in the spotlight—I am the spotlight.

Kayla Richards. Mercedes Vargas. Two champions, two titles, one ring—and only one can walk out standing tall.

And after this weekend, after I've beaten Kayla Richards, after I've demolished both Bella Madison and Lilith Locke at Summer XXXtreme, maybe—just maybe—they'll finally understand what I've been saying all along:

This isn't just my time. This is my legacy. This is my dynasty.

And dynasties don't fall. They reign.

So come at me with your loopholes, your darkness, your titles, your threats. Throw everything you have at me. And when the dust settles, when the smoke clears, look for me.

I'll be the one still standing. Still champion. Still Mercedes Vargas.

I’m not out to prove if I still got it. I’m here to remind the world I never lost it.


B O U L D E R • C O L O R A D O

[The same boulder at Garden of the Gods, late afternoon. The sky is streaked with soft hues of orange and pink. Mercedes sits hunched on the boulder, elbows on her knees, her championship belt draped loosely across her lap. Her breath clouds in the cooling air. She absently rubs her thumb over the metal plate of the belt, lost in thought.]

“You ever lie awake at night, replaying every time you almost walked away? Every time you wondered if any of this was worth it—if you were worth it?”

[She pauses, her eyes fixed on the horizon, fingers tightening around the belt. A gust of wind stirs her hair. She closes her eyes for a moment, steadying herself.]

“But then I remember why I started. Every door slammed in my face, every ‘you’ll never make it.’ And the first time I held this belt—how heavy it was. How real."

[She swallows hard, voice cracking just a little. She shifts, sitting up straighter, as if bracing herself against the weight of memory.]

“I’m not just fighting Bella and Lilith soon. I’m fighting every shadow that ever tried to swallow me. And I’m still here. Still standing.”

[She exhales slowly, shoulders dropping as a quiet resolve settles over her. She runs her palm along the rough surface of the boulder, grounding herself.]

“This isn’t just about winning. It’s about proving to myself that I’m more than the doubts, more than the pain. I’m still here.”

[Suddenly, footsteps approach softly from behind. Irma appears, carrying a giant thermos and a suspiciously large sandwich.]

IRMA:
You look like you need a snack and a pep talk. Lucky for you, I brought both.

[Irma sits beside Mercedes, plopping the sandwich on the boulder and offering the thermos.]

MERCEDES:
Is that… a triple-decker? Irma, we’re supposed to be training, not eating our weight in carbs.

IRMA:
Hey, fueling up is part of the process. Besides, champions need carbs. And that belt looks better with a full stomach.

[Mercedes fiddles with the belt, pretending it’s a fashion accessory.]

MERCEDES:
I’m scared, Irma. Not just of Bella and Lilith. I’m scared of losing myself—of fighting so hard I forget who I am. What if I start talking in nothing but wrestling promos?

IRMA:
“Then you better start practicing your ‘What?’ chants. But seriously, you’re stronger than you think. You’ve faced down every doubt, every shadow, and every bad haircut. And you’re still standing."

[Mercedes shifts, tracing the edge of her championship belt with trembling fingers. She lets out a shaky breath, gaze dropping to her hands.]

MERCEDES:
Sometimes I wonder if this belt is a chain, not a crown. If it’s just another way to trap me in a fight I can’t win. What if all I am is this title? What happens when it’s gone?

[Irma leans in, voice steady and warm. She reaches over, gently turning the belt so the nameplate faces her.]

IRMA:
The belt doesn’t make you—you make the belt. It’s just proof of what you’ve survived, every scar you turned into armor. Bella and Lilith can’t take that. Even if you lost it tomorrow, you’d still be the woman who never quit.

[Mercedes breathes deeply, the tension in her shoulders easing just a moment.]

MERCEDES:
I want to believe that. I want to believe I’m more than the fear, more than the mistakes. But mostly, I want to believe this thermos has coffee in it.

IRMA:
Better. It’s hot chocolate. Because sometimes champions need a little sweetness. And you on more caffeine? No thanks.

[Mercedes laughs, then takes a big sip from the thermos.]

MERCEDES:
Okay, I take it back—hot chocolate is the real championship fuel.

IRMA:
See? I told you. Forget protein shakes. Next time, I’m bringing churros.

MERCEDES:
Churros? Now you’re talking. Think I can get a snack break written into my contract?

IRMA:
Only if you promise not to hit anyone with a baguette again.

MERCEDES:
That was one time! And technically, it was a breadstick.

[They both burst out laughing, the tension broken, as the sun dips lower behind the rocks.]

MERCEDES:
Heard The Floating Penalty Box is going all out for the Fourth of July.

IRMA:
Nothing like celebrating freedom with a side of root beer BBQ wings and a river breeze. I’m already dreaming of those bacon-wrapped poppers. Tomas keeps bragging about those sweet potato tots and his house-made fry sauce. Honestly, that sauce deserves its own trophy.

MERCEDES:
If I win Sunday, I’m claiming the biggest slice of that berry pie. No questions asked.

IRMA:
And I’ll be right there, making sure you don’t get distracted by the fireworks and forget who you’re supposed to be beating next. Kayla Richards is no joke.

MERCEDES:
Deal. But if I lose, you’re buying me a round of those “Delayed Penalty” cheeseburgers.

IRMA:
You’re on. But fair warning—those burgers are almost as dangerous as Kayla's finishing move.

MERCEDES:
Good. I like a challenge—on the plate or in the ring.

END


Present Day ♦ G R A N D J U N C T I O N • C O L O R A D O

[REC•]

[Sidewalk Café, late morning. Mercedes Vargas sits at a sun-drenched bistro table, the bustle of Grand Junction reflected in her sunglasses. She’s dressed impeccably: crisp white blouse, tailored slacks, designer heels. Her Bombshell Internet Championship belt is draped over the back of her chair, just visible to the camera. She checks her phone, then sets it aside, crossing her legs with practiced elegance.

[She lifts her coffee cup, savoring a slow sip. Her Hall of Fame rings catch the sunlight as she sets the cup down with a soft clink. She leans back, a knowing smile playing at her lips as she looks straight into the camera.]

"You know, there’s something refreshing about Grand Junction in the summer. The air is clean, the sun is bright, and the people… well, they’re not nearly as bitter as some of the company I keep in Sin City Wrestling."

[Mercedes idly drums her fingers on the table, her Hall of Fame rings glinting. She glances at her phone, scrolling briefly before locking the screen and placing it face-down. She picks up a silver spoon, stirring her coffee with a gentle swirl, unhurried and precise.]

"I always appreciate when someone takes the time to talk about me at length. Kayla certainly has a way with words—so many of them, in fact, I almost needed a second cup of coffee to get through her little TED Talk. But don’t worry, I took notes. I always do. Some of us like to be prepared for the test."

[Mercedes casually stirs her coffee, a faint smirk tugging at her lips as she glances over the rim of her cup, clearly amused.]

"First, let me say how touching it is to hear you finally admit what I’ve known all along: I’m not so easy to get rid of. I mean, you’ve practically made a hobby out of telling me to quit. You begged, you pleaded, you even tried reverse psychology. I haven’t seen that much effort since the last time you tried to convince yourself you were humble. Or the last time you tried to convince the world you’re not obsessed with me."

[She pauses, letting the words hang in the air, then leans back with a playful roll of her eyes.]

"But I get it. It must be exhausting, constantly trying to keep up with someone who refuses to fade quietly into the background. While you’re busy counting titles and talking legacy, I’m busy making moves—quietly, efficiently, without the need for a spotlight every step of the way."

[Mercedes taps her rings lightly on the table.]

"The “I’m not a bitch, I just play one on TV” routine is so you, Kayla. I have to admit, you do arrogance like nobody else—except maybe me, but I do it with better shoes."

[She glances down, shifting her foot to show off her designer heels, then looks back up with a sly smirk.]

"You’ve got a lot of opinions about who’s “over the hill” and who should retire, but let’s be honest—you talk about legends like you’re not desperate to become one. You’ve set records, collected titles like Starbucks rewards points. But for someone “untouchable,” you sure spend a lot of time talking about everyone else’s legacy."

[She leans in, lowering her sunglasses just enough to reveal a glint in her eye, her voice soft and conspiratorial.]

"But here’s the thing, Kayla. You keep asking me to walk away, but you never seem to ask yourself why I’m still here. Maybe it’s because I love this business. Or maybe it’s because every time you think you’ve got me figured out, I give you something new to worry about. Like, say, this Bombshell Internet Championship. Looks good on me, doesn’t it? Almost as good as that World Bombshell Championship looks good on you—back when you still smiled in your photos."

[Mercedes takes another sip of coffee, unbothered.]

"You say you’ve never given me your best. That’s cute. It’s easier to claim you were holding back than admit you just couldn’t put me away. But hey, if you need to tell yourself bedtime stories to sleep at night, who am I to judge? Some of us count sheep, others count excuses. Guess which one sleeps better at night?"

[She scrolls idly on her phone, then sets it down, her attention returning to the camera as she leans forward, elbows on the table.]

"You want to talk about hunger, about motivation, about legacy? Sweetheart, I built mine while you were still figuring out which side of your face photographs better. And I didn’t need to tear down every woman in the locker room to do it. See, that’s the difference between us: I don’t need to be the loudest in the room, because my actions speak for themselves. Bombshell Internet Champion, and still here. Still winning. Still making history, even when people like you pray for my downfall."

[Mercedes flashes a dazzling smile, her tone light but her words sharp. She uncrosses her legs, shifting in her chair to face the camera more directly]

"And let’s be honest, Kayla, you can’t resist coming back to this well, can you? No matter how many times you try to move on, you keep finding yourself face-to-face with me. Almost poetic, really. Remember the last time you tried to write me off? You walked out thinking you’d silenced me for good. But here I am, still standing, still winning, still the name you can’t escape."

[She picks up her phone, scrolling idly as she continues.]

"It’s adorable that you’re proud of me. I’ll be sure to send you a thank-you card—maybe even a fruit basket. I hear humility pairs well with citrus. And if you’re lucky, I’ll autograph it for you. A keepsake for when you’re feeling nostalgic. But let’s not pretend this is charity, Kayla. You know as well as I do that every time I step up, I force you to step up, too. That’s why you’re finally giving me your best, right? Because you know anything less just isn’t enough anymore."

[She leans back, crossing her legs, championship gleaming.]

"So here’s what’s going to happen, Kayla. You’re going to walk into our match with all the confidence in the world, and I’m going to walk in with all the experience in it. You’ll try to make an example out of me, and I’ll remind you—gently, of course—that you can’t kill a legend. You can only hope to keep up."

[Mercedes winks at the camera, then stands, gathering her purse and slinging it over her shoulder with effortless grace. She picks up her championship belt, draping it over her arm, and saunters down Main Street. The camera follows, heels clicking confidently on the pavement]

[She passes a mural of the Colorado River, pausing to let the sun catch her hair. She gestures to the mural, voice soft but pointed.]

"There's something poetic about this town. A place where the river carves its own path through stubborn rock, where the landscape refuses to be tamed. It reminds me a lot of this business we’re in—the wrestling world. You can try to shape it, control it, dominate it, but there’s always going to be someone ready to push back, to carve out their own legacy."

[She brushes her fingers along the painted river, then turns back to the camera.]

"That river? That’s me. Flowing, relentless, and always finding a way forward, no matter the obstacles. You? You’re the rock. Solid, sure, but worn down by time and pressure. And no matter how hard you try to hold your ground, eventually, you erode."

[Mercedes smiles, a mix of kindness and challenge. She resumes her walk, passing local shops and art galleries, occasionally glancing in windows, her stride never faltering.]

"I’ve been watching you the last three  years, Kayla. Watching you build your empire, stacking those titles like trophies on a shelf. But here’s the thing about empires—they’re fragile. Built on fear, on intimidation, on the illusion of perfection. And when the foundation cracks, the whole thing comes tumbling down."

[She starts walking again, passing local shops and art galleries, occasionally glancing in windows, her stride never faltering.]

"You say you’re “built different.” That you’re better than anyone who’s come before or after you. That you’re the standard by which all others are measured. That’s a bold claim. And I respect confidence—I really do. But confidence without humility is just arrogance. And arrogance? Well, that’s a dangerous game."

[Mercedes passes a jewelry store, her gaze lingering on the sparkling display before she pivots gracefully, meeting the camera’s eye.]

"You talk about me like I’m some relic, some fading star clinging to the past. But I’m not here to relive the past. I’m here to make new history. To redefine what it means to be a champion in this division. To show that experience and heart can still outshine youth and flash."

[She laughs softly, shaking her head, then adjusts her sunglasses, pushing them higher up her nose.]

"You think this is about age? About who’s “over the hill” and who’s “past their prime”? That’s a tired narrative. Wrestling isn’t a young person’s game—it’s a fighter’s game. And I’m still fighting. Still hungry. Still hungry enough to stare down someone like you and say, “Bring it.”"

[Mercedes’s expression hardens, eyes narrowing with intensity as she stops at the curb, waiting for the crosswalk signal.]

"You say you’re afraid of what would happen if I beat you. That it would be the “death of your legacy.” That’s adorable. But here’s a little secret: legacies aren’t built on avoiding defeat. They’re built on how you respond to it. On how you rise after you fall. On how you keep going when everyone else expects you to quit."

[She steps closer to the camera, voice dropping to a confident whisper.]

"And if I beat you? That won’t be the end of your legacy, Kayla. It’ll be the start of a new chapter. One where you finally learn humility. One where you finally learn what it really means to be challenged. To be pushed. To be humbled. Because that’s how champions grow. Not by talking themselves up, but by proving themselves in the ring."

[Mercedes straightens, smoothing her dress and sliding her sunglasses back up. She glances at the mountains in the distance, gesturing with her free hand.]

"I’m not here to break you. I’m here to elevate this division. To raise the bar. To inspire every woman who’s been told she’s too old, too small, too “not enough” to chase her dreams. Because I’m living proof that it’s never too late to rewrite your story."

[She gestures to the mountains in the distance, their peaks glowing in the late morning sun.]

"Look at those peaks. Majestic, unyielding. They didn’t get that way by standing still. They got there by weathering storms, by enduring the harshest conditions, by standing tall no matter what."

[Mercedes turns back to the camera, eyes shining with conviction. She rests her hand on her championship belt, thumb tracing the gold.]

"That’s what I bring to this match. Not just skill or strength, but heart. Experience. The kind of resilience that only comes from decades in this business. And that, Kayla, is something you can’t fake. Something you can’t buy. Something you have to earn."

[She smiles slyly, stepping off the curb as the crosswalk light changes.]

"They say wisdom comes with age. Lucky for me, I'm dripping in both. So, Kayla, by all means—bring your best. Bring the fire, the bravado, the monologues. I’ll bring the experience, the resilience, and the inconvenient truth that legends don’t die just because you wish they would. They evolve. They adapt. And sometimes, they remind you why you started chasing greatness in the first place."

[Mercedes walks confidently across the street, the camera pulling back to capture the vibrant life of Grand Junction around her—families, artists, the distant hum of summer. She pauses, looking back over her shoulder with a final, confident smile.]

"When we step into that ring, Kayla, don’t expect the “crusty old bitch” you think you know. Expect the champion who refuses to be written off. The woman who’s still got plenty of fight left. The one who’s going to remind you—and everyone watching—why I’m still here.

"And to everyone out there watching—get ready. Because this isn’t just a match. It’s a battle for respect. For legacy. For the future of the Bombshells division.

[Mercedes stands at the edge of the crosswalk, glancing up at the traffic light. She tightens her grip on the championship belt, draws a steadying breath, and steps forward with purpose as the signal changes, her silhouette framed by the morning sun.]

"So here’s to Climax Control 430—champion versus champion, legacy versus legacy. May the best woman win, Kayla. And if, by some chance, you find yourself needing a little pep talk after, don’t worry. I’m always happy to lend a hand. After all, I’ve made a career out of helping women like you remember who set the standard in the first place."

[Fade out as Mercedes crosses the street, the sun casting long shadows behind her, the sounds of Grand Junction fading into the background.]

[***Fade***]

Though Cassie did pick up the win in Young Justice’s Tag Team Match against Diamond Caldwell and Seleana Zdunich the young duo haven’t seen much action since then, in fact they’ve been busy with issues that started during the Viking Era Tour: Harper’s ongoing war with Victoria Lyons had only intensified because Lyons hadn’t pinned Harper during the Queen’s Gambit Match at Into the Void while Cassie was out to solve her issues with Seleana that started mid-way through the Viking Era tour! In fact, Cassie had gotten so restless that she had requested a warmup match at the Go Home Show before Summer XXXTreme and the bosses apparently decided to kill two birds with one stone.

How? By booking a non-title match between Cassie and Victoria for the Go Home Show in Grand Junction, Colorado! The match wasn’t being contested under Roulette Rules but a win here could radically alter the Roulette Title Match that was scheduled between Harper and Victoria for this year’s Summer Spectacular, can Cassie shock the world and get the win over a woman who is easily the most dominant fact of the Bombshell Division? Especially since the match was happening a few days before her twenty second birthday?

Backstage at Climax Control 429, Boulder, Colorado
Sunday the 29th of June 2025, 21:00pm

There seems to be a lot of misconceptions about how I came about signing my SCW Contract this time last year, give or take a month or two.

The main one seems to stem from the fact that I arrived right as my half sister Krystal was on her way out of the company, the truth is Krystal’s contract didn’t expire until this past February and she chose not to renew it, as for why she disappeared? She had arranged to take some time off ahead of the show because she had nagging injuries to deal with and during said time off she reevaluated whether or not she actually wanted to return because of how far her stock had fallen since the start of the new year and well, you know the rest.

The other misconception is that people think that I got my spot on the roster because Krystal was the longest reigning Bombshell Roulette Champion before Victoria came around! And yeah, I am related to Krystal through marriage (and initially thought I was her younger cousin but that is a LONG story) but I had already built up my reputation outside of SCW before then, hell, I was a double champion during my rookie year!

Just don’t talk about how my first (and thus far, only) singles title reign ended, that shit still pisses me off! The point is? I had been on SCW’s radar for a while, the main things keeping me from signing up sooner were one: at the time I was living in Reno and that was one hell of a commute to Vegas and two: I still had some lingering bad feelings from that attack at 2023’s Blaze of Glory that basically led to Krystal’s “I’m a Bitch” phase.

Sure, I was still living in Reno when I signed with SCW but that didn’t last long as Josh managed to find me a decent sized house in a non-HOA neighbourhood back in Vegas, and since then? I’ve been trying to carve my own path as a Bombshell.

”There you are!” I greeted Harper as I walked up to her and Harper grinned before clapping hands with me. ”Man, you really took it to Victoria and Kate tonight!”

”Yeah, well, I wasn’t about to let them get the one up on me.” Harper responded as she leaned against the wall and I nodded in response. ”Any idea what they’re going to do about you and Seleana? You’ve been calling her out just as long as I’ve been going after Victoria this cycle  but I’ve at least heard from Victoria! And Kate to a less extent.”

”I haven’t heard anything from either the bosses or Sel, not even sure if the match will go ahead at this point.” I responded as I shook my head and Harper nodded as she got the idea. ”Worst case scenario I guess is that we end up in another multi-woman match but if that does happen I might just say screw it and move on! and hey, at least you ensured that Kate had a very bad night tonight!”

”True, but knowing her? She’ll probably try to flex it like “still unpinned or haven’t been submitted”, like beating Bea is a flex!” Harper responded with a scoff as she rolled her eyes. ”We both know that streak would’ve ended it Amelia wasn’t the third wheel in the match!”

”Ironically taking advantage of the same mistake that got her brother pinned in the opener.” I scoffed but before I could say anything else? I felt my phone vibrate in my jeans’ pocket, and at this time of night on a Sunday that hosted a Climax Control? That could only mean one thing. ”Sounds like the bosses have granted my wish for a warmup match.”

”My phone didn’t go off so I’m guessing it’s not a tag match of sorts.” Harper responded before we dug our phones out, Harper was right, she hadn’t been booked for the Go Home Show but I had, Harper went to pocket her phone again when she saw the look on my face. ”Why do I get the feeling that your match is going to complicate things?”

”Because there’s a good chance it will!” I responded as I shook my head and Harper’s frown deepened. ”I’m facing Victoria in a non-title match.”

”Wait, what?!” Harper asked before taking the phone from me to confirm for herself. ”Non-title like you said, standard rules, I haven’t been mentioned anywhere except for the match description, what are they playing at?”

“Looks like the SCW Text system has beaten me to the punch.” We looked up and saw Josh approaching us with a neutral expression on his face, as the manager of both me and Harp? It was safe to say that he had a lot of thoughts about this situation. “Cass, I’ve been talking with Mark and Christian since your segment aired, they had their hands tied after what Logan did to those local guys but they decided to throw this match together because of your connection to Harper.”

”And I’m guessing they said nothing about me and Seleana?” I asked and Josh nodded to confirm my suspicions, I shared a look with Harper before adding, ”Okay but where does that leave us? I thought Kate Steele was going to be the third wheel in Harper’s match at Summer XXXTreme but now it’s being advertised as a one on one match between Harper and Victoria.”

“I’m not sure, they weren’t exactly forthcoming.” Joshua responded as he shook his head and me and Harper nodded. “You’re both my charges of course and you both being in the Roulette Title Match at one of SCW’s biggest shows would raise my stock as a manager while raising your stocks, but Cassie needs to beat Victoria on Sunday before they even think about that, not to mention it’ll be your last match as a twenty one year old woman.”

”Yep, turning twenty two exactly five days later.” I nodded in response as I folded my arms. ”Mom’s already got me a Switch 2 for my birthday, she accidentally spilled the beans on that when I had a vid chat with her on Friday, so I guess on one hand we can count this as an early birthday present for me.”

”While only making things more complicated for me.” Harper responded as she let out a deep breath. ”So much for this issue potentially being resolved at Summer XXXTreme.”

“It could still be resolved, Cassie’s involvement in the Roulette Match is dependent on her beating Victoria this Sunday.” Josh assured Harper and I frowned as I folded my arms. “And you have something to say about that I bet.”

”I mean, yeah! The Bombshell Roulette Title is the only belt I haven’t competed for since I signed with SCW last year.” I responded as I thought back to my previous matches. ”My official Supercard debut was against Luna, Alexandra and Seleana in a Tables Elimination Match to determine Victoria’s challenger for last year’s High Stakes but that’s the closest I’ve gotten, then I was in the High Stakes rumble but I could’ve gone after any title in the division if I won that thing, then I had my match with Crystal, then the Elimination Chamber and finally the Queen for a Day Match, notice anything missing from hat list?”

“A Roulette Title Match? Of course, if you had won the tables match, the rumble or the Queen match then we’d likely be telling a different story.” Josh responded with a nod and I had to admit, he was right. “I know you mentioned  that you wanted to go after Victoria if you won the rumble, but what about the Queen for a Day match?”

”If you mean “have I figured out what I would’ve done if I had grabbed the crown instead of Alexandra”? I was torn between a match with Victoria or Mercedes to be honest.” I responded with a shrug and my companions nodded. ”I know it’s the ultimate “King/Queen for a Day” cliché but that was the first thing that came to mind when we were in Paris that weekend, of course we all know how that turned out but either way? We’ve got training to do.”

“Indeed, we’re in Grand Junction for the Go Home show next week so I expect you two to be ready.” Josh nodded in response before he started to walk off. “Until then? Let’s get going.” Josh added before we left the arena.

Boy oh boy, did THIS escalate quickly!

Hero Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
Wednesday the 2nd of July 2025, 14:00pm

Well, it’s official folks, we’re one week away from my turning twenty two! Well, a week and two days but hey, who’s counting, am I right?

But as much as I want to just focus on the fact that I’ll be celebrating my birthday on the cruise? I think you can guess what’s also on my mind right now, yep, you got it, it’s the match with Victoria at the Go Home Show!

I’ve been training with Josh and Harper for most of the week since the match was announced but today? I went back to my old stomping grounds, the school where I homed my craft as a wrestler! Well, after that PTA Gym bullshit but well, we haven’t seen Matthew Kennedy since the tail end of 2023 so yeah.

Anyway, I knew exactly who I wanted to train with, because I’m a petite woman (5ft 3 and 118ibs to be precise) going up against a woman five inches taller and 52ibs heavier than me and I need someone close that that height range.

”Hey Thea.” I greeted the red headed trainee and she looked up from the weight machine, for those don’t remember? Thea was one of two Hero Academy trainees me and Harper trained with in preparation for the tag match between us and Seleana and Diamond, Thea was selected as our sparring partner because she’s a former Basketball Player turned wrestling trainee who had taken to wrestling like a duck to water, meaning that she was perfect for my purposes. ”How goes training?”

“Going good, and I figured you’d come looking for me at some point this week.” Thea responded before setting the weights down and sitting up on the bench. “Because between me, Seleana and now Victoria? You can’t seem to escape the tall babes lately.”

”Funny, I thought we were just out of pride month.” I snarked as I shook my head and Thea laughed. ”Besides, I’m one of the shorter bombshells on the SCW roster right now, most of the women tower over me.”

“Yeah, good point!” Thea admitted before standing up and yeah, I was like a little girl next to Thea. “You want to to spar? Let’s go, just don’t assume that I’m a big lumbering giant because I can actually reach the top shelf, there’s a lot more to basketball than just being tall and knowing how to handle a ball!”

I bit my tongue on making any sex jokes regarding that last quote, Thea hadn’t really revealed her sexuality or if she was even seeing anyone for that matter so I wanted to play it safe. ”Yeah, I know, we sparred before, remember?”

“Maybe, but that’s pretty much what everyone else expects when they realize I’m one of the tallest women in the room.” Thea scoffed as she shook her head before I joined her in one of the training rings, Thea stepped in using the classic “big wrestler with long legs” approach and I rolled in. “Though I will admit that stepping into the ring like that will never get old.”

”Until you take too long and the rope bounces up against your snatch.” I commented dryly and Thea winced. ”Happened once during Hero Academy’s early days, the poor girl quit on the spot.”

“Note to self, don’t spend more than a few minutes getting into the ring like that.” Thea grimaced because shaking her head. “Ready when you are Cass.”

The match that followed was exactly as I expected, Thea was tall sure but she was the kind of athletic tall girl that could keep up with shorter girls like me, sure, she was green but it was clear that the Hero Academy trainers thought highly of her.

And yeah, she’s smoking hot too, there was a brief moment where Thea lingered a bit too long where our faces were inches part from a pin attempt but that was brief and we got back to training before long.

And honestly, I needed a sparring partner like Thea for matches like this!

Cassie’s Promo Room, Las Vegas, Nevada
Wednesday the 2nd of July 2025, 18:00pm

*promo time*

As I stood inside the promo room ready for my promo against the champ I had a few things on my mind to say the least.

”You know, when I said that I wanted a warm up match for Summer XXXTreme and my match against Seleana, I wasn’t sure what to expect.” I admitted as the green screen behind me showed a big question mark. ”Apparently the bosses decided to kill two birds with one stone! Not only did they grant my request but they’re using this warmup match to hype up Harp’s match at Summer XXXTreme, how?

By putting me against Victoria Lyons.” I commented ass I shook my head. ”I swear between this and Alexandra I simply can’t escape my fellow PWS: Apex alumni! But anyway, Victoria is someone I’ve wanted to face anyway, since the Viking Era Tour in fact, but since Harper was busy with her in Paris? I let them be.”

But………..

”But do I need to remind you of what happened the last time I was in a ring with Victoria? Go on, guess.” I shook my head as the green screen showed Harper slamming the chair into my back. ”Victoria used me as a human shield in her little war against Harper, I was mad at first because of that because, well, chair shots to the back hurt like a bitch, shocking, I know.

But I realized that Harper wasn’t at fault for that by the time Into the Void rolled around, though to be fair the fact that I was also dealing with the Seleana situation didn’t help matters! no, instead I focussed my anger on the bitch that orchestrated that whole situation in the first place and trust me Victoria, I’ve been waiting for a chance at revenge.”

But how?

”One idea I had was to book me against you if I won Queen for a Day at Into the Void, pretty sure I don’t need to remind you of who won it instead and regardless of whether Harper took the title from you or not? That was in my plans.” I added as the green screen showed me with a photoshopped crown on my head. ”But nope! We got to enjoy another feew weeks of you holding the title.

Only your reign has hit shaky ground Victoria! Sure, Frankie had a little help from Harper but that was still a loss, then you lost to the Harris brats and the week after that? You got dunked by something I could smell from the backstage area.” I commented with a grin as I flipped some hair over my shoulder. ”Do you know who held the record for longest reign before you Victoria? My older half-sister Krystal, and just like you? She lost an important match during the final days of her reign, in other words? The Queen’s reign is about to end!”

Yep.

”It would be poetic if a Wolfe ended the reign of a Lyon, kind of a bookends kind of deal, but alas, this match is non-title.” I added as I folded my arms. ”But you seem to choke the most when the gold isn’t at stake Victoria, your first oss was to Luna in a non-title match and set a precedent for others to follow: you lose before your next title match and then retain the title, right?”
It's that simple.

”It would apply to this cycle, except this is the first time you’ve lost more than one match in a row,” I stated as I looked at the camera with a cocky grin. ”And as someone who is a former champ myself? Babe, I haven’t seen this many cracks appear since there was a plumbers convention on the strip! It took over a year but you are finally slipping Vicky, allow me me to help drive the last nail in that coffin.”

And with that I decided to wrap things up.

”The coffin for your title reign that is! And after I win? Who knows? Maybe Kate will get the shaft and it’ll be Young Justice vs. Vicky for the gold? I mean honestly, was the world really clamouring for a Kate Steele return?” I asked before shaking my head. ”Don’t answer that, we all know the answer! But in the meantime Victoria we’ll make do with the following battle: A Lyon vs. A Wolfe, and the Wolfe’s about to go all “Long Live The King” on the Lyon Queen’s Ass! To all my fans? In a world of fake queens and champions on the decline? Be yourselves and be a Rebel Princess, especially since that princess is about to show a delusional queen why she’s Hungry Like the Wolfe!”

I turned off the camera as the scene fades.

Beating Necra Octavian Kane was definitely the outlet that I said it was going to be. I got a very good chunk of anger that I had been holding back for five years out of me though I knew that there was probably some repressed anger that was more than likely still inside of me. I felt that satisfaction for a moment, but the next day? I knew that it wasn’t going to be all THAT helpful as far as my current situation goes. For the time being though, anger stepped aside and it was replaced with that very familiar June swoon feeling.

As had been the case every Father’s Day since he passed, I was visiting my father’s grave. The last five years definitely came before me in a flash as I longingly looked at the gravestone in front of me, fighting that horrible wishing that he was still here somehow and that the day he died was nothing but a nightmare that I had yet to wake up from. I could long or wish for things to have gone a different direction, but I let out a sigh with a very harsh reality…

“It never gets easier…”

I sighed again as I continued to talk to my father the best way that I could at this point.

“I know it’s been five years, but it still feels like it happened yesterday. The truth is, when you passed away, it was like an entire world got ripped away from me. I regret what your passing ended up doing to me. I regret that I let that pain and the toxic words of toxic people that I was dealing with at the time turn me into something I’m not. I know that I have since redeemed myself a hell of a lot and truly made you proud, but even I have to admit that winning the title in SCW the second time wasn’t as fulfilling as I was hoping it would be. Maybe I went numb after High Stakes? Maybe it didn’t mean as much as it would’ve had I won at that event instead of winning it when I did when I was alone and no family around me? Don’t get me wrong, I felt happy but not as happy as I thought. Maybe it’s because you weren’t there to celebrate it with me…”

Luckily, I was long past the point of crying over his death. I had long accepted the fact that he was dead. But five years later, I wasn’t as sure if I had accepted the fact that he could no longer be here.

“I’ve had to navigate all of this without you and there are times where I’m flying high and it’s so easy and there are other times where it feels like I can’t do it and I suffocate under all the pressure. Full disclosure? Trying the hardest that I can to keep my head up and to stay bright and above all the toxicity in a locker room full of poison like I do in SCW is probably the hardest thing I could ever do…

At this point, winning a world championship is a cakewalk in comparison….”

I paused, reflecting on the mistakes that caused me to succumb to the same exact pressure I was feeling five years ago. I knew in my heart that at the time, I had no sense of self-worth or any knowledge whatsoever of who I was or who I was meant to become. All June 2020 was for me personally was by far the worst month of my whole wrestling career.

“I am trying… VERY hard, Dad… but coming out of that last world title match that I was in… then going into the match I just had where I had a piece of shit of an opponent that treated me like I was fucking nobody… then combine that with all the shade and the harangues that I hear from opponents and even people that I’m not even wrestling against constantly. For months, I stood strong against it, but now, it’s like… what am I doing, honestly? How do I keep fighting when I know that the warped perception about me is never going to change? Aside from when I was in that rut that I was in all those years ago, all I’ve ever been is myself and it just doesn’t resonate with ANYONE at all. There’s a reason why I barely hang around the locker room or even bother promoting a fucking thing SCW related on social media anymore…”

I had to stop myself knowing that the frustration from everything that I just described was starting to get to me at this point. I took a few deep breaths and even imagined my father telling me that everything was going to be okay, to breathe, to bring everything back to what is supposed to matter and to flush everything else down the trash chute. I knew that this is what he would say to me. But I couldn’t help it anymore. I knew I was exhausted from being exposed to ‘the poison’ that I was talking about.

Winning another world championship or even succeeding in SCW became the least of my worries at this point. I had no confidence issues that I was still going to be a success story at the end of the day.

But knowing, swallowing and accepting the reality that no matter what I did, I was always going to have slander, hatred, lies, and the like thrown at me every single opposing promo became the REAL difficult part and there was a majority piece inside of my soul that just wanted to stop and not even deal with it anymore, as I was about to confess to my father.

“I’m tired, Daddy…” I said with a sigh. “...I’ll always be the punching bag of those toxic women…”

“Do you think he’d want you to be tired?” I heard one of my brothers say behind me.

“He’d want you to keep fighting, no matter what.” I heard the other say. I turned and saw Eddie and Roddy coming up from behind in the rare instance where it was just the three of us. They each put a hand on my shoulder and I didn’t even bother asking if they heard everything I said because I assumed, rightfully, that they did.

“I know you’ve been hurting lately, Andrea…” Eddie began. “...and that’s okay. You don’t have to hide it from us anymore. I know that whole series with Kayla Richards really brought you down and you tried to be strong through it.”

“It’s obvious with how distant you’ve been from that place that it really brought you down… that those words, that sudden about face, the worthless comparisons to Crystal and all of that nonsense when you didn’t do a damn thing to Kayla at all… it’s weighed you down…”

“It has, Roddy. Are you happy that I’ve admitted it? Are you happy that I’m hurting knowing that nothing I do in that company fucking matters to these people? I’m at the point where I don’t even know what the fuck anyone wants from me anymore. All I do is be the best that I can be, in the ring and out of the ring. I am real. I don’t hide shit. I don’t sugar coat shit. I express myself the way I am and it seems like all it does is give every vapid bitch in there an EXCUSE to slander me and make up all this fucking untrue shit. I’m struggling guys, honestly. There’s a part of me that just wants to… I don’t know…”

“Look, if it comes down to it, you can always walk away again…” Eddie reminded me.

“Don’t suggest that, bro. You know she wants to make things right.”

“I’ll never make it right…” I admitted. “Not with anyone in that room. No matter what I do, what I say, I’ll always be marginalized, scrutinized and treated unfairly just because… I don’t know. I wish things were better. I wish I didn’t have this struggle right now.”

“You just need to buy into your truth a little harder, Andrea…” Roddy advised.

“But HOW do I do that? How can I be the light that snuffs out the darkness surrounding me, you know? Dad never got the chance to teach me that. I understand that the key is believing in myself, my truth and everything that I’m about better, stronger and like you said harder. But where I’m struggling with is HOW? Dad died five years ago and it was the most heartbreaking thing that I’ve ever had to deal with and now it feels like I’m back in the same spot that I was then.”

My brothers looked at each other and I could tell that they were trying very hard to find a way to help me through this.

“For starters, quit being so distant from us…” Eddie added. “You know we’re always here to help you even if Dad is no longer with us.”

“Exactly…” Roddy added. “Whatever you need to help you get back on your feet, don’t be afraid to reach ou to either of us or both of us. You don’t have to struggle through this anymore and you sure as hell don’t have to deal with the crap that you deal with. You’re better and stronger than that. You were still doing some great things even though you lived through the horrible darkness that you did before you left that place and then you came back and you regained that world title. It takes someone very special to pull through all of that.

“You’re exactly it, Andrea. You just have to see your own strength for yourself and for real.”

“We’re here for you, no matter what…”

“Always…”

“I love you guys…”

We started to exchange hugs at that point and I knew my father would be incredibly happy with all of us right now.

“It’s fucking hard right now and it’s not getting any easier, but I can pull through this. I’ve done it once before when it was so much harder than it is right now and I can, and I will, do this again. You two have my promise that I’m never going to stop fighting and that I’ll never relapse back to what I was before. That match I just had a week ago was an outlet and a one time deal, nothing more.”

“That’s the spirit, Andrea…” Eddie assured me.

“You keep fighting and you keep on finding and believing in your truth…” Roddy reemphasized. “Just like Dad would…”

I glanced at the grave in front of us.

“...exactly like he would….”

Suddenly, this Father’s Day didn’t seem so gloomy even though I had a long way to go to fully pull through this.

A few hours later…

Chelsea LeClair was always someone that would give it to me straight which is why she’s been more or less my best friend for the last twenty or so years. When my brothers left and she came by to check on me, she was about to give it to me straight after I told her about the conversation that I had with both of them.

“I understand, Andrea…” she said with a sigh. “It’ll never fully stop being a struggle to deal with all of that toxicity and you have every right to step away from it and want to be as far away from it as possible. I mean, the shit Necra said about you going into your last match there, are you fucking kidding me?”

I rolled my eyes with annoyance.

“And everyone else seems to just want to twist your words into things like ‘arrogance’, ‘fake’, blah fucking blah. Honestly, Andrea, there isn’t an original fucking thought in that locker room. Hell, let me tell it to you REALLY fucking straight…”

“Yeah?”

“You’re too good of a person for that locker room. Hell, you’re too good of a person for SCW period.”

I narrowed my eyes with confusion.

“Chels, if that ever comes out of my mouth on social media or when the camera is on, you know that’s going to start a wave of shit just like 2020 again.”

“One, WHO FUCKING GIVES A FUCK about what anyone else thinks? I’m dead serious. I didn’t mean that as a professional wrestler and I didn’t mean that in the context of wins, championships and so forth. I meant as a human being. You and I both know, even though you really don’t want to say it, that SCW has a locker room full of awful people, full of venomous ego, full of vapid pieces of shit that don’t have an original thought, full of people that have nothing else to say about you because they’re so fucking unmotivated to better themselves in any way, full of people that just want to bring you down to their level because the company is either all they have in the business or the only company they’d be willing to work for because they’re fucking SCARED to be exposed wrestling for another company… and you’re going to let a bunch of THAT GARBAGE make you feel the way you do? Honestly, as your best friend ever, that’s fucking stupid and you need to stop fucking doing that.”

I knew right away that Chelsea was right and I didn’t even bother fighting back on this.

“Where am I wrong, Andrea? Every place has poison in its locker room. The other place that you wrestle for that you are FAR happier in and FAR more passionate about has it too, but as far as the business goes, it’s no worse than in SCW. Tell me where I’m wrong.”

“You’re not…”

“You’re fucking nuts for even wanting to be there, I’ll tell you that right now.”

“Unfinished business, Chelsea. It was never going to end the way it did when I left and it sure as hell isn’t going to end with the Kayla Richards nonsense. You’re right in everything you said. I just get so caught up in my own emotions that I forget that so often.”

“You just have to be grounded a little more and just keep focusing on within. I understand it’s a hard habit to break. I was there seeing you or hearing about you getting bullied and berated and torn down all the damn time at school or at home with Roddy back when he was a fucking prick to you. But you have at least four… about to be five by the end of this month in the other company… reasons why none of that shit matters…”

“Did you take that one out of my Dad’s playbook?” I asked her.

“Would your dad tell you anything different than what I just said? Be better, be stronger, stay above the shit, Andrea. You can express your truth and you can pick at the flaws of your opponents and their successes and failures until the cows come home, but for the sake of your father’s spirit, don’t let the assholes win. Don’t relapse back to what you were, alright?”

“Chelsea, if I ever do, you have every right to cripple me to the point of having to retire because I’d rather have THAT then ever relapsing back to that shit…”

I let out an angry sigh as I was largely determined to avoid relapsing back to that horrible phase of my career.

“I’m not letting the poison win again…”

With that, I turned away from my father’s grave and finally left the cemetery with Chelsea not so far behind…

June 27, 2025

When the camera was on, I was starting to feel a little bit better coming down from all the emotions on Father’s Day a couple of weeks prior. I was nowhere near as angry as I was going into my match against Necra, but I definitely still felt jaded considering that I had to come around on the truth that I was never going to change my perception in the ‘toxic’ locker room in SCW no matter what I said or did. Nonetheless, I spoke my mind and spoke my truth as always with the pride in my heart knowing that nobody knew my truth better than me.

“My last match was a purge. I had to get that anger out. Let’s just say it was a cheat meal of sorts as I ran rampant against a Hall of Fame member in Necra Octavian Kane and promptly shut her the fuck up. But, I have to be real. Aside from the fact that I beat someone that is in the Hall of Fame, I can’t say that win satisfies me very much. Maybe it’s because I know I have done better and that I can do better but really, I know that I’ve been too unfocused. I know I’ve been pushing too hard at the wrong things and worrying too much about perception and what other people have thought about me in the past or what someone says about me directly the week that I am facing them or whether or not someone has shaded me in a subtweet or in their own promo even when I’m not facing them. I’ve been pushing back on the hope that it would get better if not go away completely. I’ve even tried to give ‘being the light in the darkness’ a shot in trying to set a new example to change the culture in this locker room. I will be the first to admit that I was a fool for even trying that. After my match against Necra, I paid my father a visit, took in so much support and encouraging words from my friends and family, and tried the best that I could to put the pieces together just like I always do. I had to swallow the fact that the culture of this locker room is never going to change.

So why even TRY to change it at this point?

It’s still going to be the most ego-infested poison of a locker room I will ever wrestle in throughout my entire career. My way of fighting it isn’t to try to change the culture, it’s to make damn fucking sure that the culture doesn’t change me…

Again…

Necra was a purge, a statement and a release. There’s still a long way to go for things to get to where I desire them to be, but I will never be denied again and I meant it when I said it before and I will always mean when I say it. Not one person in this locker room, not one moment, not one ounce of adversity is going to change me again and you can interpret that however the fuck you want, but regardless of what happens, regardless of what lie is said about me, regardless of what happens any given match, at least I know walking out of that locker room and carrying on with the next day with my head held high and not allowing that shit to break me again is ALL I need to do to be above it all.

So as far as THIS match goes? I’m not entirely sure what to make of it really. On one hand, you got a new girl… a very impressive new girl with some favorable connections I should say… and on the other hand, you’ve got someone that has always been an identity crisis and always will be. I know it’s not the most exciting thing in the world to say, or the most “scandalous” thing in the world to say, but I’m going to go in there, I’m going to do what I have to do to win and then I just let it all roll off my back and move forward. I’m on a journey where I’m fighting through the darkness that I caved into years ago and this match will be the next step in the process for that and that’s the purpose that this match has for me.

Now, Amelia…

Got that win over Joanne Canelli.

I’m not so surprised by that.

Hell, I’m not even surprised that she finds herself in a match with me considering that, for better or worse, SCW does have a history of hot shotting newbies up the ladder like nobody’s business. Here’s where I can tell Amelia that she’s in over her head because she’s new and that Joanne really wasn’t that impressive or whatever cliche I can pull out of my ass. But no, I’m not going to do that. See, Amelia is someone that won’t sugar coat shit and she’s going to tell you exactly how she feels. She’s not going to pull any punches. I already know going in that whatever she says about me is probably going to be the same shit I always hear or maybe there will be a spin on it that is slightly different, but still. She’s the kind of person I am constantly fighting against in this company because you’ve got a roster full of women that feel like they have to tear each other down and make up lies about people and interpret this to force their lies and interpret that to twist their narrative even though it makes no fucking sense. Yeah, I already know that. I can tell that Amelia is in that same line of thinking… maybe to a smaller extent than the others, who the hell knows. Her associations alone tell you that. But I’m going to tell her straight up that what worked with Joanne isn’t going to work with me.

I’ve been where you are, Amelia. Hell, I’ve even experienced that hot shotting. When I had my first match here back in 2019, it wasn’t against anyone special at all but then my second match in… BOOM, I’m suddenly facing Mercedes Vargas and then five matches in, I’m facing then-world champion Alicia Lukas right off of High Stakes. Not even nine months in, I’m already a world champion. Matter of fact, I experienced it again when I came back. Not even ten matches in…. BOOM, I’m in the Bombshells main event of High Stakes for the first time in my long run here. I’ve been able to navigate the waters that you can only experience by doing, not by watching. You might be a quick riser in this division. I can see that in you after just one match. Clearly, with you being in this sort of match, the company itself might be seeing that in you. But the question that this match may answer in the long run is that when you get that hot shot up the ladder and you’re suddenly finding yourself in a situation where you have to step the fuck up more than you could ever imagine before, are you actually going to make that leap and prove all the hype correct or are you going to be like so many others that have crumbled and collapsed and then are never heard from again? Yeah, I haven’t been perfect. I’ve had my stumbles and falls. I’ve had two very unsatisfying world title reigns that ended quicker than I wanted them to end and overall, I haven’t broken the ceiling that I wanted to here, I will own that shit to kingdom come.

But at the same time, I’ve STILL made something out of nothing many times. I’m STILL that woman that when she was at rock bottom, went 16 months without losing a match and still captured an Internet Championship. I’m that woman that, while she was still finding her feet again in this company… and to be honest, I still am… managed to beat Kayla Richards for the world title. Yeah, like I said, that reign didn’t go how I wanted it to go, but at the same time? I’ve DONE all that while I’m dealing with the shit that I’ve been dealing with. I stand to reason that aside from maybe Crystal Hilton and Mercedes Vargas, no woman in recent memory of this company has been scrutinized, criticized, and slandered more than I have been throughout the entire time that I’ve been here and even though yes, it HAS brought me down more times than I can count, I STILL pull through all of that toxic poison I’m surrounded by. That’s what gives me the biggest edge over someone like you.

You’re impressive, yes.

You have a bright future here if you want it, sure.

But let’s see what happens when the wolves come out for you eventually just like they have from me in this company going all the way back to my second match here…

One of those wolves happen to be the OTHER opponent…”

I rolled my eyes obviously feeling annoyed about the fact that Kate Steele had become a cockroach of the Bombshells division at this point.

“...more like a Pomeranian if we’re being honest. Lord, Kate Steele is back. Quick poll, is there anyone in this company that even WANTED Kate Steele back? Look Kate, I’m going to keep it very simple with you because you’re not complex to figure out at all. You never have been. You never will be. I know you have a history of just going whichever way the wind blows and even in recent times, that’s exactly what you’ve done. I mean, I’ve lost count. That’s how many comebacks that you’ve made in recent years under how many different names or monikers or identities or what have you? I mean, last I remember, you were DIAMOND Steele and you were on this Gemstones kick with Ruby and all those bitches  and you were all about the rock band and you were all about… well… truth be told, I don’t even know what you were really all about because you’ve changed personas faster than one can blink really and now you’re coming back as…

‘The Phoenix….”

You’ve GOT to be fucking kidding me…

I am NOT going to go the route of ‘you ripped me off, I used it first’ because truth be told, that’s not an original moniker. People used it in this business long before I did and people are going to continue to use it long after we’re both done, but are you fucking serious, Kate? Do you have an original bone in your body at all? Are you even CAPABLE of changing? Are you even CAPABLE of learning anything for any sort of personal growth at all? NO! Absolutely not. Matter of fact, calling yourself a phoenix is HIGHLY inaccurate because calling yourself a phoenix is insinuating that you’ve ever had ashes to rise from to begin with and it insinuates that you even had a high in this company to even be burned to ashes at all and last I checked Kate… you’ve never been a world champion in SCW and the last time that you were even CLOSE to ANY sort of high at all was… when, exactly? You can change your name, change your moniker and change your lock all you want to Kate, but you will NEVER be anything more, to me anyway, as the woman that just can’t get the fuck out of her own way and goes in endless cycles with nothing original to ever bring forth to the table. You’re always going to be the woman that has been here the longest and yet, has never won the big one in this company because of always getting in her own way. You’re the type of person that has always talked shit about someone one week and then the next, you’re kissing their ass or sometimes, it’s even the other way around.

Once a mental mess, always a mental mess! Now, this is where I COULD bring up things that took place between us years ago or how you were one of the people years ago that were rooting for me to fail and how you were one of the most toxic people that I dealt with back then, but what good does that do me? For one, I got it out of my system last year on the cruise ship when I beat you in a triple threat match and secondly, you’re not even worth getting worked up about anymore. I was dumb and naive enough to let someone like you bother me with the garbage they were saying about me a long time ago but now? You mean absolutely nothing to me. You’ve done nothing over the last however long it’s been to even warrant any sort of emotion from me. You’re someone that a year from now is going to have either a different moniker or a different name if not both because… well… let’s be straight up… you’re a miserable, self-loathing cunt that has never pulled her head out of her own ass to see the truth and never will. So, when I beat you on Sunday, you better have your next moniker lined up. If I could make a suggestion, maybe it should be… hmmm…. “The Straitjacket Queen”?

Because really… it’s getting to a point where the only place with more than two sides you should be in is that padded room with how often you change everything about you to try to be relevant, then fail, then change again to try to be relevant and… fuck it, you’re not worth another second.

I wasted no time shutting off the camera at this point.

Boulder, Colorado
Boulder Creek Path

The Boulder Creek Path was the city’s most popular path that ran 5.5 miles throughout the city and extended all the way to Boulder Canyon. It was the perfect walk to have that of a family trip between the divorced married couple of Teddy Warren and Kate Steele. They were also joined by their soon to be 15 year old Juliet Steele-Warren. The brunette girl walked ahead of her parents as she shook her head in disgust with her hands placed firmly on her hips.

“Can you two hurry up?! I want to see what else this path has to offer. I bet Boulder Canyon is absolutely beautiful, on top of that Aurora told me that we can hang out at the hotel pool so I would appreciate it if we wrapped this up so we could make it back to the hotel!”

Juliet ran ahead as Kate and Teddy just glanced at one another. Teddy smirked as he couldn’t keep his eyes off of his ex-wife. He looked at her from head to toe as he nodded his head in agreement.

“You heard what the daughter said Kate, she wants to make it back to the hotel. I know you really don’t want to be here but at least we could talk to make time go by a little faster. I must say you have been looking good as of lately and…”

Kate just cracks a wicked grin as she turns her attention over to Teddy. Kate wore some tight spandex shorts that made her ass pop out. Her sports bra could barely contain her breasts. Every time she jogged his eyes started to tread off towards her body and she slowly waves her finger at him.

“And I do believe you have a wife at home that you need to get back too. Remember you are the one who asked for the divorce in the first place. You are the one who caused all of these problems and tried to get child protective services called on me. You are the one who caused me to go on this downward spiral to the point where I couldn’t figure it who I was or what was important about me…”

She quickly shakes her head as she glares daggers at him.

“No boo boo, you don’t get to say that I have been looking good lately. Bitch I always look good, I have always been good but you didn’t appreciate me because you were too busy trying to force a pregnancy on me and force me to be away from the ring. It’s not what I wanted. You know I care way too much about my musical career and my wrestling career to just take a year leave away from it all because of pregnancy. I would miss everything too much…”

Teddy however can only look at her in disgust before he raises his voice back at her.

“You really are something Kate. I don’t think it was wrong for a married man to ask his wife for them to settle down and have a baby together. I know it would have sucked to take a timeout from wrestling but it wouldn’t have hurt you. It would have made us closer together as a couple and we would have been in a better place. I mean it would have been better than the path that we eventually went on. I will admit it was wrong for me to me call CPS on you and having Juliet pulled away out of your home but you weren’t stable…”

Kate however just yells back at Teddy.

“Stable, you want to complain about me being stable! You were abusive and I just took it. I took it all so when I tell you that you don’t get the right to look at me or even assume I look good I mean it. Besides you should be happy considering you married Michelle and had your little girl Marlene, why don’t you focus on that?! You finally got the baby you wanted. As far as I go I am in a much happier place. I got my wife Blayke and that’s all that matters…”

Teddy laughs as he shakes his head in disgust.

“That’s funny considering since our divorce you have been breaking hearts of everybody you have been in a relationship with. You dated Stoyo and things looked good until you called it off just to have a little fling with Dawn Lohan, and how exactly did that work out for you?! Oh I know you get married, you get divorced, and you get remarried, and once again get divorced. It’s a damn shame and now you find yourself married to yet another woman and you think things are going to work out between the two of you?! What makes this any different than any other relationship Kate?! That’s not even counting how things went between you and Misty Whitmore, Jodie Gray, Mackenzie Roberts, or even Marcia Chavez. Go on though keep telling yourself that you are happy… It’s only a matter of time before you break this girl’s heart just like all of the rest…”

Kate is furious as she forms a fist and begins to wind it up but Teddy just smiles as he seems disgusted.

“And now you want to put your hands on me?! This is why I called CPS in the first place. I think I am going to have a chat with Michelle. I think it’s only right that Juliet lives in our home. You aren’t deserving of her. She needs a stable home. She needs to be around her sister. She needs to be around us, and not a woman who is fake and insecure about who she is…”

Kate thinks about the fist that she formed and she puts it back. She looks at Juliet who is continuously walking ahead of them before she turns her attention back over to her former husband.

“I don’t need to stoop to your level, and despite what you think my past doesn’t haunt me. It shapes me for who I am today. The only reason why you are at where you are in life is because of me. I made you Todd Warren and as much as you wish to throw that bullshit around trying to throw my love life in my face. At the end of the day I was your first true love. I know it sickens you that you can’t go back home to me every night. As much as you might think you are happy with your wife it’s me that you think about. Hell I know a lot of people think about me. People have fantasies but it doesn’t mean that any of them will be true. I am God’s greatest gift to the Earth…”

Kate chuckles some more as she twirls around.

“I don’t give a damn if I had to pay to look like this but I would say all of it is paying dividends because people just can’t get enough of me. Who knows I may even start my only fans because I know I am that much in demand. Years ago I might have been the sad sorrowful emotional princess who cared way too much about what the world thought of me but lately as long as I have the ability to look in the mirror. I see a woman who is fully confident in whom she is and knows that she is the best thing on this planet. I don’t need you in my fan club, I have a wife who tells me what I need to hear every day.”

Kate glances at Teddy as she shakes her head in disgust.

“I honestly don’t know what I saw in you to begin with. I must have been very down in my life to ever get with somebody like you. It must be painful to know that I am your little sister’s favorite wrestler. She idolizes everything I do and still wishes to have a healthy sisterly relationship despite having a big jerk for a brother. Go on though; enjoy your meaningless and mediocre family life. I will continue to be the big pop star that I know I am. When I rise through wrestling and establish a bigger band you were merely be a footnote in my Wikipedia page, an afterthought who held no type of substance to who I was or what I was about…”

Teddy just sighs as he shrugs his shoulders.

“Whatever you say Kate, you might think you are so much but don’t forget that I am the one that made you. Enjoy your five seconds of fame but I guarantee that it is all going to come crashing down and when it does don’t look in this direction to get saved. You aren’t my problem anymore…”

Kate can only laugh in return as she keeps her eyes focused on Teddy. It isn’t that long before their daughter Juliet runs back to where the two of them are standing. She crosses her arms as she seems disappointed as she glances at the both of them.

“You both were arguing again weren’t you?! Why do you two have to have such an unhealthy relationship, why can’t you just get along?! This is not what I imagined that I would go through with my parents. You adopted me and for what purpose exactly, just to get into constant fights. You do realize this is going to have a big impact on how my future is going to turn out?!”

Kate just giggles as she shakes her head.

“No it won’t because I won’t let your idiotic father’s stupidity do that to you. I know you have a bright future ahead of you Jules, after all I raised you and only the best things come from out of my household.”

Juliet nods her head before she looks back at her father.

“You know you can be a real jerk at times. I don’t appreciate the way you talk to mom at times. She has only ever tried to do her best and all you do is make fun of her. While you were off trying to run around with your new family, mom was actually there for me.”

Teddy is taken back as he really doesn’t know what to say.

“Juliet that’s not the case you know I would never…”

Kate grabs her daughter as she embraces her into a long passionate hug.

“You heard what our little girl said Teddy. It’s a shame when our own child can see the horrible mistakes that you have made. Perhaps if you spent more time focusing on our child instead of trying to run about to force somebody to give birth to another we wouldn’t be in this type of situation. As a matter of fact why don’t you just leave us be. We don’t want you around. Juliet and I are just fine…”

Teddy stops as he looks at the both of them. He sighs before holding his arms up and walking away.

“Whatever, I don’t need to deal with this. Why don’t you both just enjoy your daughter and mommy day, I will catch a car ride back to the hotel so I can enjoy my wife and daughter that actually enjoy me…”

Kate waves her hands as a smile escapes her lips.

“Go for it, it’s not like it’s going to hurt us in any way. Isn’t that right Juliet?!”

Juliet smirks as she looks back at her mom.

“That’s right mom. It’s always us against the world and nothing will ever change that. Not now and certainly not ever… See you later dad…”

Dad walks away and now it’s just Juliet and Kate. Kate looks over at her daughter but Juliet doesn’t hesitate as she runs over to her mother and she hugs her as tightly as she possibly can. Kate can only smile in return as Juliet speaks to her.

“I love you so much. Thank you for being my mother and doing everything in your power to give me the best home possible…”

Kate just squeezes her as tightly as possible as she looks down into her eyes.

“Of course pumpkin, I know I might have gone through a lot of changes but one area where I will never change in is in my love for you. You are my everything to me. Even if I may portray myself in wrestling or to the public I could never change in your eyes…”

“Mom I know that. I know you have gone through so much. I am not going to question why you had to change how you look or your appearance. That’s only something that you can answer but what I can say is that you will always be my mother. I will be your biggest supporter in wrestling and in whatever you do. Just go out there and win like I know you can…”

“I will pumpkin, and I won’t ever let you down… Now why don’t we go back to the hotel so you can spend some time with your best friend?!”

The two of them smile as they continue to walk along the path and we leave on that image of them.

“I'm just saying that it's not natural.”

Carter visibly cringed at the words he had heard from random strangers ever since he had come out at the tender age of fourteen. Some of them were family and former friends. Most had been his school classmates although just as many, if not more, were surprisingly supportive.

But it was still vastly disappointing and hurtful when you would hear a stranger offering an opinion on not just the fact on whom you shared a bed with, but also how this supposedly affected the ability in how you performed your craft. Something that you had been doing relatively successfully for over six years, and only recently surpassed your own dreams by climbing to the upper echelon of the business.

But sure, let’s forget about all of that.

Carter had been content to spend a portion of the day alone while Miles busied himself at the gym, getting in one of his (in)famous workouts. Carter usually loved going to the gym as an open excuse to ogle his “hot husband” but found neither man got a lot accomplished during the session. Well, as far as actual working out goes. So this time Miles opted to go alone and he’d return to pick Carter up so the two of them could go shopping for a birthday present for their nephew in London. Riley’s parents had made them swear an oath not to go overboard like they had in their last visit to England, but despite crossing their hearts, they made no ‘real’ promises.

So here Carter remained at their home, watching a podcast he had been told about only moments ago by his best friend, Ariana Angelos. She had texted him to let him know that “Beyond the Squared Circle” - one of theory mutually favorite wrestling-related podcasts was going to be dedicating this episode to not just Carter, but also his reign atop the mountain of Sin City Wrestling. And even better? The host Ava Garner was to be joined by some “wrestling expert” by the name of Tobias Holloway. Whoever that was. Carter figured it to be some guy who never set foot in the actual business side of the sport, let alone an actual wrestling ring, but still somehow believed being a fan made him an expert on everything wrestling-related.

Ava always took her own craft seriously, treating each and every guest of her show with the utmost of respect, even when some of those old school boys treated her less so all because she possessed a uterus. Her studio was brightly lit from overhead stage lights and the set itself was two chairs in the center of a stage made up to resemble a wrestling ring on three sides. That was it. She felt no need for anything more glamorous because she was here not to impress anyone but to have fun and pay her respects to the men and women who put their bodies on the line, day in and day out, and all in the name of our bloodlust infused amusement.

"And welcome back to Beyond the Squared Circle!"

Ava Garner said with a perpetual smile on her face, a woman in her late twenties with olive tone skin. "Today my guest Tobias Holloway and I have been discussing something that has been making waves in recent weeks, and that is the fact that Helluva Bottom Carter has become the brand new World Heavyweight Champion of Sin City Wrestling, having defeated the legendary Alex Jones for the gold this past May in Paris, France.”

Tobias, a man who was pushing fifty if we are being generous, and possessed the countenance of a right-wing politician, sat in the chair next to her and looked every bit the part of his belonging there. For a man like this, it was not about the entertainment or the fun aspect of discussing different opinions on any topic. It was about control and convincing the world why he was right and everyone else who disagreed with him was not.

Tobias, or Mister Holloway as he preferred to be addressed as, cleared his throat and shook his head with a faux sense of dismay. He spoke up, all but interrupting his host to say, “We are, to put it mildly, in a regrettable era of the sport that we all love. Helluva Bottom Carter, World Champion.”

He shook his head in disgust, “It simply defies the natural order of things, on a business that was built on the backs of men. Real men who bled for the sport, only to have others enter their world and turn it into a complete mockery."

“Well I think you’re using the term ‘mockery’ a little loosely.” Ava countered, shaking her head. “And I have to say, that is not the first time that you so freely used the phrase ‘natural’ or ‘unnatural’ where Carter is concerned. I mean, are you implying that a wrestler's sexual orientation has any bearing on their ability to perform in the ring, or their worthiness of holding a championship?”

It looked like Tobias was about to speak over her or interrupt, but Ava literally did the same to him, talking over him as she pointed out, “Helluva Bottom Carter has consistently delivered incredible matches, displayed so much charisma, and clearly has the support of the fans."

Carter could not help but smile as he took a drink of the water he had infused with strawberries and kiwi. His and Miles’s “little girl” aka Ms. Thang hopped up onto the couch at his side, demanding tribute and he idly obliged, stretching an arm over to stroke her scalp lovingly as the close-eyed purring commenced. Carter felt grateful for people in the business like Ava who did not support sexual orientation per se, but more so anyone who wanted to make a living in this sport no matter who they shared their bed with. But he was also smart enough to know this exchange was far from over.

And the close-minded nature of Tobias was put on full display for the world to see as he finally got his chance to speak and said, “Talent is one thing, but the championship is about presenting an ideal. It's about aspirations, about what young boys see as the pinnacle of power and prestige. And yes, young boys are some of the top demographic targets for the business.”

“Ignoring of course the fact that the audience is heavily flavored with young girls as well, considering how female wrestlers are just as big in many areas - if not bigger.” Ava pointed out.

“Score.” Carter murmured as he took another drink, watching.

But it was as if Ava had not even spoken, given the way Tobias all but glossed over everything she had just said. Instead, he played the role of “peacemaker” by stating, “With all due respect to Mr. Carter’s personal life, his being the current champion, diminishes the title as well as its lineage. Now, I’m not denying Helluva Bottom Carter is talented in the ring!”

Carter all but rolled his eyes even though there was nobody present to see the fact.

Tobias continued, “It’s like you said. He’s got athleticism, charisma, and can cut a promo with the best of them. But let’s not pretend like this isn’t a calculated move to disrupt the traditional legacy of the World Heavyweight Championship.”

Ava’s face found the frown for the first time since this program started and she questioned, “How do you figure?”

To which Tobias, excuse me, Mister Holloway, gleefully answered, “Wrestling has always had its share of characters, but the champion has historically been a symbol of dominance and authenticity. This current title run? It feels like a publicity stunt. Carter’s overt flamboyance, his sexually charged persona? Especially given it’s ‘Pride Month…’ (And yes indeed, he did do the air quotes!) … It's not what the SCW World Heavyweight Championship was built on! You can call it progress all you like but the simple fact is that his title reign is woke and is diminishing the legacy of almost thirteen years and names like Gabriel Stevens, Austin James Mercer, Fenris and Michael Harris to name a few! Until Carter came along, there has not been a single homosexual World Heavyweight Champion…”

“Not true.” Ava interrupted, and the stricken expression on Tobias’s face would scream that he was unsure of which was the greater sin. Being interrupted or being told that he was wrong. Ava continued, “You mentioned names such as Fenris but Fenris was openly gay, and Kris Ryans himself - a two-time champion in his own right, was a member of the LGBTQ community. As a matter of fact, as I recall, Fenris and Kris Ryans had a brief personal relationship between the two of them.”

Tobias stared at her, at a temporary loss for words but he recovered quickly enough. He again cleared his throat and spoke up, “Be that as it may, Fenris is a perfect example. One would look at him and never know he was a member of that lifestyle. You look at him and see a rugged fighter. Kris Ryans too - to a degree! Neither of them flaunted who they were behind closed doors but men like Carter make their entire personae all about being gay!”

Ava sighed, “You see Carter winning the championship as some kind of joke or a publicity stunt but I see it as a reclamation of a spot that has long shut out performers like him or made jokes out of them. The crowd reactions are real. The merchandise sales are real. The impact he brings to the business is real!”

“But that’s exactly what I’m talking about, Ava!” Tobias countered. “The timing of Carter’s push was too convenient. Do you seriously not find it suspicious that Alex Jones, one of the most technically sound champions in SCW history, loses clean to someone like Carter? Come on.” He sat back, rolling his eyes. “That wasn’t a title change! It was a social experiment…!”

But whatever else was going to be said between the two was silenced as Carter quickly slammed the laptop shut. Carter fell back against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. After languishing in the SCW midcard territory and being unable to capitalize on numerous chances at the championship, to finally succeeding and having his success story reduced to nothing more than bigoted propaganda and claims of social experiments did more than turn his stomach!

It broke his heart. It shouldn’t, but it did. Carter had been dealing with people like Tobias Holloway most of his life, let alone his career. Many would not know this, but when Carter first entered the business, he was personally concerned about how he would be accepted in the locker rooms when he signed to both SCU as well as SCW. A fear that turned out to be unfounded because he had been supported from day one. Strongly so. Many of the men he shared a locker room with? Names like Austin James Mercer and Mac Babe among others. They had no problems sharing a dressing room with him. In fact, men like that were more prone to have a problem with anybody who complained about sharing a dressing room with Carter.

Still, it never felt good to know that someone did not accept you. Arrogant pricks like Tobias? They weren't worth the time or effort to care about them or their little feelings and opinions. Carter was willing to bet anything that this jerk off was a Trump supporter. And he wasn't about to let this asshole ruin his day.

If anything could pick up his mood…


… It was sitting back and watching Miles do squats.

Carter stepped into the shadows of the parking garage beneath the Turnberry Towers, the sound of his hard soled shoes against the concrete the only noise breaking the stillness, but it might as well have been a thunderstorm. The track lighting overhead cast ominous shadows over the rows of parked cars and for a moment, his old fears came back. Not just from the memories of the time he had been attacked in this very garage at night by a hired assailant, but also that deep rooted phobia he had always had about a break in and what would come of it. The hum of distant traffic was barely audible as Carter struggled past his irrational fears to reach his car, the lime green VW Beetle that he had inherited from his Grandfather. Miles had once questioned why he held onto such an old fashioned car, but once the connection between his Grandfather and the car was explained, Miles more than understood. He helped Carter take the utmost care of the memorial keepsake.

As he approached his car, keys in hand, something made him slow his steps. The air felt heavier all of a sudden. He glanced around but nothing seemed out of place. Rows of empty cars, a trash bin in the corner, a flickering light above the stairwell that really needed replacing. Still, his instincts whispered that something wasn’t right. He paused at the driver’s side door, hand hovering just above the handle, eyes scanning the shadows between pillars and parked cars.

A prickle was felt across the back of his neck. Carter turned abruptly, heart thudding now, scanning the rows behind him. Was that movement near the support beam? No. But feeling like a spotlight had settled on him refused to fade. His jaw tightened and he almost jumped when another car turned into the garage and headed his way. And only when Carter recognized it as being Miles’s very own blue Jeep Renegade

Carter watched with a subdued sense of relief as the car pulled around the rows and came to a crawl until it finally stopped parallel to where he was standing. The driver’s side window rolled down and Miles shifted his shades down over the bridge of his nose and said, “`Ey you pretty thing, you looking for a good time?”

Carter snorted back a laugh, all past trepidation all but forgotten in favor of Miles attempting to pick his husband up. And by ‘attempted,’ we of course mean Carter would have given it up for him had Miles simply said, “Yo bitch, backseat!” But he was far too much of a gentleman.

“What are you doing back from the gym so soon?” Carter asked, leaning against his car. “You’re usually there for another hour at least.”

“Eh, it’s just not the same when I don’t have your eyes glued to my arse.” Miles quipped, then with a lilt of the head, beckoned his husband to the passenger side. “C’mon an’ get in. Let’s grab dinner and then make my sister regret limiting what we can send Riley for his birthday.”


Carter just smirked gratefully as he walked around the now open passenger door and hopped it. And mere moments later, the Jeep Renegade vanished from the garage and into the famed “City of Sin.”

And it was inside of the Turnberry Towers security office when a gross sense of bad timing, and the guard having taken a quick break from the monitors, did not see the figure step back from around the pillar to watch as the vehicle pulled away.

---

“Living the dream.”

“That is the saying, isn’t it? When you either fulfill a life’s goal or you’re at least trying to give the illusion that everything in life is alright and couldn’t be better. But here’s the thing. I do happen to be living the dream. Not just now but I have for some time. Too many people these days are just skating by in life, barely making a living in jobs that they can’t honestly say that they love, let alone are loyal too. Hell, you even see people that have incredibly successful careers that pays well and gives them a life that would be the envy of many, but they can’t always say that they themselves are happy because they can’t say they love what they do. Doctors, lawyers, politicians… many of them begin these careers out of family desires and obligations rather than doing what they really want and later on in life, they look back with regret in their hearts and a single, painful question on their mind;”

“What if?”

“Me? I can honestly say that I am one of the lucky few. I might not have had a lot of family support in my chosen career, but I had plenty in the aspect that I was living a dream that I’ve had since I was a kid. To step inside of the ring. To travel the world. To meet fans of all ages who ask to have their picture taken with me? I’ll be honest, I get just as much a charge out of posing with people at shows or on the streets now as I did when I first got involved in wrestling. It’s these little things that bring me such joy and get me past the threshold of the injuries and frustrations. And I’ve had my fair share of those. But all of that pales by comparison when I can look at myself in the mirror and finally realize that I am the best.”

Carter lifts the SCW World Championship belt into the cradle of his arms against his upper body as if it were a small child.

“When all is said and done, that is what this particular accomplishment is all about, isn’t it? To win the top championship, to beat the best offered to you - that makes you the best.”

Carter paused and held up a hand.

“In most cases, at least. I was taught from the earliest stages of my training that a champion is only as good as the challengers that he or she faces, and that’s why when I first won this, the first thing I told everyone. Fans and the SCW bosses - that I wanted to make an example. I wanted to be a defending champion. And I’d like to think for the most part that I’ve fulfilled my side of that particular bargain without slowing down. I know Guy thought he was being funny when he booked me against Artie but he wasn’t. Neither Artie nor I treated our match like it was going to be anything less than a championship match to bring the house down. And we did just that – right up until the part where J2H and Kevin Carter just had to go and get involved. But I won. Artie gave one hell of a performance and an even better fight, but I am still the champion. Which brings me to the next step on my path toward J2H, and that’s the man that I beat for the championship in Paris.”

“Alex Jones.”

“I’ll be open and honest with everyone that’s watching right now. This match with Alex Jones? It should be for the championship. No questions or doubts about that. I know a lot of people aren’t big on impromptu title matches or big matches like this ahead of even bigger matches like what I’ve got at Summer XXXTreme, but you can not deny the fact that Alex Jones is in line for a championship match. He’s the freaking former champion for God’s sake! He hasn’t had a rematch yet and if he doesn’t deserve the opportunity to take this title and face J2H then tell me; who the hell does!?”

“How can anyone out there look at the history between us? The fights. The threats. I mean, literally EVERYTHING … and then book a non-title match between us like it’s nothing more than just some exhibition? Granted, it’s right where it belongs as the Main Event of the show but you know what would make it even better? If the championship was at stake!”

Carter nods toward the camera, and thus toward whomever might be watching.

“So Alex, if you’re watching and I suspect that you are, despite everything that happened between us in the past, I can say with sincerity that I am sorry for this happening. You not being given a rematch is disrespectful to the weight of what you and I’ve been through, and frankly, it’s a disservice to the SCW Universe who knows exactly how high the stakes should be! I wanted this to be the defining moment. You and I each hold one win over the other and this could have been our big time, the rubber match to decide it all. And technically it still can be but I just felt like it could be … more.”

“I wanted the lights brighter and the pressure more intense. Because if Alex really thinks he’s ready to climb back to the top, if I want to send a message to J2H, then we should have been allowed to prove it with everything at stake. Let him walk that same path I did and try to take what matters most. Instead, we’ve got the inevitable repeat of a fight with no crown to claim, and to me that just feels hollow. I want the title on the line, not to protect it, but because I believe in proving myself every time I step in that ring. Just like every single champion should do! That’s what a champion does. And if Alex wants a shot at redemption, I say put some damn gold on the table and let’s make it mean something!”

“And you and I are fully capable of doing just that. We brought the house down at Into the Void IX, we can do so again and make Climax Control seem like the Supercard to end all Supercards! Just … do me one favor.”

“I’m getting a little sick and tired of people poking their nose in my business. Either to cost me the championship or to give themselves a leg up on the inevitable. Your little friend Aaron Asphyxia tried to get involved and would have cost me were it not for my own bestie, Ariana. Ad Ari - and other ladies backstage - both told me that they were ready to have my back if Aaron tried to get involved again. And you saw that J2H and Kevin almost cost me everything just two weeks ago. I’m just done with people interfering and tarnishing everything that could be!”

“So please … leave Aaron in the back. Let’s just make things you and me - man to man. That way when you lose a second time around, you won’t have anyone to blame but yourself.”