{Our scene opens with Roxi and Keira having finished a tandem workout late at night and deep in their basement training area. Both women are drenched in sweat, sitting on the mats and toweling off. Keira has a smirk on her face despite her heavy breathing, Roxi taking deeper breathes in order to catch her breath a little faster. Keira just start giggling and lays back, still catching her breath.} Roxi – You okay?
Keira – Yeah.
Roxi – What's so funny then? Or is this a laugh attack?
Keira – What's a laugh attack?
Roxi – It's where you think of something funny, and then you start laughing. You start just laughing uncontrollably.
Keira – No, it’s not a laught attack.
Roxi – So, what’s funny then?
Keira – This. Just training together again. It feels like we haven’t done it in a long time. Not since last year right before we actually fought one another.
Roxi – I think that’s pretty close to the time.
Keira – I think so. It’s just... funny now. After all this time the little things you miss. You just take them for granted and then, after you don’t do them you suddenly miss them.
Roxi – We haven’t needed to train together for a long time. You retired. Remember?
Keira – I know, and soon, it’ll be a thing again.
Roxi – For good this time?
{Keira stands up after toweling off and sighs.} Keira – Yeah. For good. It’s why this open challenge thing means so much to me. Because I think we have to make a decision on this.
Roxi – What do you mean?
Keira – After all this? I mean it’s time to just end this. I was happy to be retired because I didn’t have anything left to do. I won everything I wanted. I’m in the hall of fame. There wasn’t anything left to do and then... like a bad rash, Sin comes back. Again. She forced my hand one more time. And it took a lot out of me this time Roxi. More than I would have thought.
Roxi – Wait, are you okay?
Keira – Physically, yes. Mentally... I’m just tired. I have just a couple of things I want to do and then I’ll be more than happy to step aside.
Roxi – So, you want this to be the end?
Keira – SCW gave Team Hero the chance and we took it to the top. We have shown over and over again that we are a great team. Why ruin a good thing and keep coming back over and over again? I don’t want to be that person Roxi.
Roxi – Neither do I. But we haven’t teamed up in a long time.
Keira – And this, should be the final time. At least in SCW. All the projects we have going, all the things we’re doing and have done? Team Hero has done everything we need to do. So, just one last time, we can do this, and then... we can just call it a day.
Roxi – Is that really what you want?
{Keira sighs, nodding to no one in particular, staring off, away from Roxi.} Keira – Yes. But that’s how I feel.
{Keira turns finally facing Roxi.} Keira – What about you?
{Roxi sighs herself, shrugging.} Roxi – I thought the last time was good enough. I thought CC 300 was good enough. Maybe you have a point that we’re starting to become the nostalgia act that won’t go away. I agree that we don’t need to team up in SCW anymore, and I’m okay with that after this. If there’s things you want to do, and wrestling is getting in the way of those things, then yes, let’s make this the last time.
{Kiera smiles and the couple embrace.} Keira – What about everything else? I noticed your open challenge got denied.
Roxi – Well, it’s wasn’t an open challenge. It was a challenge that I didn’t expect to be accepted or even answered anyway. So I’m not surprised.
Keira – And... what about after Blaze of Glory?
{Roxi frowns and shrugs again.} Roxi – I don’t know. I thought that maybe I would have ventured out to do some of those dream matches but everybody is so busy, and I don’t want to walk away without at least trying. But, I enjoy what I’m doing now and I enjoy where I’m at. So, I’m not sure what I want to do just yet. I thought I would have had it figured out by now, but there’s so much going on that I haven’t really had time to think about it as much as I’ve wanted to.
{Keira gives Roxi a nod and smile.} Keira – I'm sure you’ll figure it out.
Roxi – Yeah, I hope so.
Keira – So, have you thought about Krystal?
Roxi – A little.
Keira – Just, don’t hold too much against her. You know that it wasn’t really her.
Roxi - … I don’t know about all that.
Keira – She didn’t almost kill you, Sin did.
Roxi – I understand that part. But that doesn’t change what she said before that. It doesn’t change what she tried to pull before that. Maybe that was all Sin. I don’t know. But I’m going to find out one way or another. Trust me, I’m focused on this match, and I’m going to do what I always do.
Keira – I understand, but just keep that in the back of your mind, maybe?
Roxi – I will. I have to think about the future.
Kiera – Thank you.
Roxi – Alright, I’m hungry, let’s get some food.
{Keira gives Roxi a sly grin.} Keira – You took the words right out of my mouth.
{The two head upstairs to get food as the scene fades.}
{The new scene is Roxi perched on rooftop in costume, looking down at the city. She looks to be a bit bored calling in to Vision.} Roxi – Anything?
Vision – All seems quiet.
Roxi – Great.
Vision – I thought you’d be happy about this? The lack of crime means you’re doing your job.
Roxi – I dunno, I feel like there should be something that I should handle.
Vision – You say that now. But when a 50-foot monster starts destroying the city...
Roxi – You... you think that Godzilla is real?
Vision – It doesn’t have to be Godzilla.
Roxi – When you say 50-foot monster, everyone thinks of Godzilla.
Vision – What about the Cloverfield monster?
Roxi – Who is thinking about the Cloverfield monster? That’s a pretty obscure reference.
Vision – It’s more recent than Godzilla.
Roxi – Godzilla is a classic. Everyone knows who that is.
Vision – And King Kong too I suppose?
Roxi – Yeah.
Vision – I'm just saying that you won’t be saying that when it happens.
Roxi – It just won’t be Godzilla.
Vision – What about Mecha-Godzilla.
Roxi – … Okay, that one is at least possible.
Vision – I don’t see how Mecha-Godzilla is more possible than Godzilla. Mecha-Godzilla only exists because Godzilla does.
Roxi – In the movie, Vision. A giant robot isn’t exclusive to Godzilla.
Vision – I think you’re just stuck on Godzilla.
Roxi – It's a classic. I’m just saying that if you’re talking about movie monsters, we start with Godzilla. Maybe King Kong. In that order. Nobody is talking about the Cloverfield monster, or the Kraken, or the Meg or anything else. Giant monster is Godzilla.
{Roxi finally stops and shakes her head.} Roxi – Why are we even arguing about this?
Vision – Because there’s no crime going on currently.
Roxi – This is why I’m annoyed then. I feel like I need to punch something.
Vision – Isn't this what you were fighting for, isn’t this what all of us fight for? Peace and quiet so we can finally rest.
Roxi – I suppose that’s true. But you know, sometimes, you need to punch something. It’s just a thing that happens.
Vision – I will never understand you. I –
Roxi – You okay?
Vision – Be happy, there’s a silent alarm going off and a convenience store about two blocks. 4th and Olympic.
Roxi – I'm going in.
Vision – You don’t even have the details.
Roxi – It’s crime. It’s not complicated.
{Roxi flies off, landing just a few feet from the door of the convenience store where she can see the store being held up by what looks like a man, who is actually wearing some kind of costume and holding some kind of giant weapon. Roxi shrugs and shakes her head.} Roxi – Alright then.
{Roxi walks in and pushes the door open the noticable bell attached to the door goes off and the guy’s attention turns to her.} Roxi – Yeah, hi... So... what are you doing?
Clerk – He's crazy!
Roxi – So... you got a theme going or?
{Roxi can see behind the costume and Lone Ranger style mask is just a kid, no older than 18 or 19. He fumbles around and aims the giant gun at her.} Roxi – Compensating? I’m supposing.
Kid – Shut up! Otherwise you will feel my wrath!
Roxi – Oh, we’re doing this then.
Kid – What?
Roxi – You're going to need to work on the Villain speech. But I do appreciate the effort. Also... is that a homemade gun of some kinds?
Kid – Laugh while you can, because this is about to go viral! I will defeat you Lady Bedlam. And you will rue the day you crossed Kid Cool!
{“Kid Cool” Also pushed a button and his phone begins recording.} Roxi – Kid...Cool? OH MY GOD. No... no that’s just.... that’s just terrible.
{“Kid Cool” doesn’t look pleased with that comment.} Kid Cool – How dare you!
Roxi – Kid, you’re not even fully equipped for the whole super-villain thing. The costume is pretty shabby. And the name is horrendous. I think you might wanna re-think this. I’m just saying.
Kid Cool – You will pay for those remarks. Take this!
{“Kid Cool” shoots his gun, which fires... ice cubes at Roxi. She is hit a few times, but it more annoyed than hurt.} Roxi – Hey. Ow... what the... ow! Are those ice cubes?!
Kid Cool – Now do you wish to surrender? I’ve got plenty more of this!
Roxi – Oh... OOOOH. Now I get it. Kid Cool. It’s a stupid temperature-based pun name... You know what that’s even worse.
Kid Cool – How dare you!
Roxi – Okay, we’re done here.
{Roxi finally gets tired of this and rushes over, snatching the “gun” out of Kid Cool’s hand and pushes him down. In an instant, she smashes the gun, which begins leaking water and ice out of it.} Roxi – Yeah, you really need some kind of cooler or something on your back. You know, to keep the ice cool. I don’t think you thought this through. Also recording your own crimes is really stupid. I swear these kids.
{A cop car finally pulls up and two officers get out.} Roxi – Here he is boys.
Officer – Uh, isn’t this your department.
Roxi – I think you got this one.
Officer – Oh.
Roxi – If this is the future of super villains... I weep for the future.
{Roxi shakes her head.} Kid Cool – You haven’t seen the last of me!
Roxi – Heard it before. Thanks.
{Roxi finally departs, the scene fading out.}
“This is a job for Superman. To pull people out of their despondence. To make them feel less alone. To give them confidence in a future. If they're going to survive this night... they have to be able to picture a sunrise. They need to believe tomorrow will exist. They need hope.”
- Superman (Dark Nights: Death Metal The Last Stories of the DC Universe Vol 1 #1)
Hello, SCW.
I’m here today, and as much as I wanted to be disappointed, I expected the result I got. But as much as people don’t like it, despite my last outing being a loss, the sun came up, and everything is just fine. There was a little bit of some ruckus and whatnot the past couple of weeks, but I know people need to feel like they got the last word, and they won something. But it’s going to take more than that to cause me any grief. I’m gonna be okay. My world is just fine.
Is it frustrating? At times, sure. But at this point, I expect that stuff to be part of the job.
But let’s not focus on the irrelevant, shall we? Because that wasn’t the only challenge that was laid out that I have been involved in recently. There is still an open challenge for Team Hero to wrestle one more time. I know, it might be getting a bit old, but after some talking with Keira and the state of everything in our lives, and the current wrestling climate, there really isn’t anything left for Team Hero to do in SCW. We’ve already shown time and time again that we stand on top of SCW as one of the best, if not the best tag team in the company's history. Male or female. That’s an undeniable fact. So, the idea is that... pretty much, this is it.
Yeah, after Blaze of Glory, Team Hero is retired in SCW. This is just a simple case, of a last hurrah and we’re both okay with that. I thought that after the last time against Ariana and Krystal it would be done. Perhaps at Climax Control 300, that it was going to be the end, but after talking it over with Keira, this is pretty much the end. Because it doesn’t need to drag on forever. Keira came out of retirement for a couple of parting things, but as we inch closer to Blaze of Glory, the realization has hit both of us that we cannot do this forever. So, one last time, win or lose, we ride off into the sunset as a team.
Now, I can’t tell you what the future holds after that. There are just some things that we both want to do and I said it about this time last year that time was winding down for the both of us. I have some things I want to do, and that after October, I’m not sure what I’m going to do when it comes to SCW. I already made the decision to not have any more championship opportunities and I’m sticking to that. I like to think I’ve done enough that having a title doesn’t do anything for me, or for SCW. Because I’ve been here, for the most part for a decade. And I’m proud of that, but at the end of the day, time will move forward, and SCW will continue whether I’m here or not.
So, I think we’re just getting closer to me being satisfied, and no longer just content.
But we’re not there quite yet.
Thus, bringing me to my opponent this week, Krystal Wolfe.
And because she has earned my respect, I’d rather talk to her, than about her.
So, hello, Krystal.
I know the past couple of months have been weird, and I first want to apologize because you were once again dragged into a situation that neither I nor Keira would have liked. I thought that we were done with Sin, and it was over, and I was wrong, and then all this stuff happened to you. So, I just want you to understand that Keira and I were only going to get involved with this, when it got out of hand. And it got out of hand rather quickly. Keira recognized it before I did, but things just had to be done from our end. So, while I don’t blame you for what happened a few weeks ago, I still have the scars, and the wounds to show for it. But it is what had to be done.
Here’s the thing, I understand that you were frustrated with the way things were going for you, and maybe you blamed me for it. That appears to be a popular thing these days as it were. And it was that anger and frustration that perhaps caused you to be easy prey for Sin. But maybe even before that you were upset and I understand that when people get angry, they say things they don’t mean or do things that they wouldn’t normally do. I’ve done it, you’ve done it. Everyone does it.
But it does not mean that I didn’t hear them, and that I didn’t take them seriously.
You said long before said got involved, and I was the Bombshell’s champion that you were upset with me and you wanted to fight me and show everyone that this was who you were going to be. And I told you then, if you’re looking for a little smoke, I’ll be your chimney. I don’t have a problem with wrestling you, whether or not you’re upset with me or not.
But it does make wonder if that was you, or if that was Sin already seeping into your veins to take over. Because if that was just Sin trying to call me out, I can accept that. If that was you fighting with Sin and perhaps it slipped, I can accept that too. I can even accept that it was you, clear eyes, clear heart, can’t lose, Krystal Wolfe with determination in her eyes and fire in her belly saying those words.
I just want to make sure that you remember and that you are willing to do this again to try and back it up. Because you can bet your last dollar that I’m always going to be ready for a fight. And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing the past couple of years, Krystal. You know that, and now we get to write another chapter in the book.
But I wonder if you really, truly understand the idea behind this.
I’ve been fighting you. Keira has been fighting you. We’ve training you. Preparing you, must like we’ve tried to prepare Ariana, we’ve tried to prepare Courtney, and everyone we’ve faced in the past few years. Because you have the opportunity to be the future of SCW and be at the top. All the trials and tribulations you’ve gone through have been seen by the both of us.
And your responses to those moments have also been noted.
Keira and I did not choose to fight you because we think you are some kind of easy win or pushover. You’ve done quite a lot already, and much like we are doing with many people, we are preparing you to be one of the people who leads.
We have been trying to figure out if you are ready yet.
And before you get it in your head, no Sin’s participation in your life for the past couple of months was not by design. That was unexpected, so the past few months, we’re not going to look at as a positive or negative. That part of it doesn’t count.
Anyway, I have noticed that each time we have wrestled, you have gotten better. And that’s what I want to see again. I understand that you are coming off of a weird situation and you are looking to finally get back on track. And I happen to stand in the way of that. Or so it would seem.
Because I’m not wrestling you and trying to beat you to make you look bad or to slow your progress. That’s not my intention. The idea is that you have to rise up and be better. You complained and let your anger get the best of you before and you saw and felt the consequences. This match isn’t about me, Krystal. It’s about you. It’s about how much you have grown. It’s about how much you have learned each time we have wrestled.
Much like I tried to tell and explain and show Ariana, this isn’t and never was going to be an easy road. You have to work for it. I will give you the credit you deserve and say that each time we have wrestled you have come closer and closer to that point. You continue to give me your best every single time and I greatly appreciate that.
So, this match is another test to see exactly where you’re at, Krystal. If you are ready, we’ll all know. If you aren’t, then we’ll know that too. But understand that while I’m tryin to help you, I don’t ever make it easy for you.
I wouldn’t be me if I just made it easy.
So I just want you to focus on this match. Forget the Sin stuff, don’t worry about it. I want you to come at me because you have something to prove and a place to take. If I take the win, then you take it. But if you don’t, understand that this is me, trying to make you better like I’ve been trying to do this entire time.
And let’s be honest, after the match, a loss isn’t going to kill you, is it? I know people may make a big deal out of your win-loss record against me, but you know what, if I sat back and thought about all the people I never beat, I’d be pretty miserable. There will be other days, brighter days for you in the future. I’m just going to open a curtain for you.
It’ll be up to you whether or not you accept that.
I know what you are capable of doing, Krystal. I know that you can be great. I’ve been trying to tell you for a long time. This is where you need to give me more than you ever have before. You have to rise to the challenge. If not on Sunday, then I want you to take from this match, and all our other matches that this is about the future.
It’s up to you how bright you want to make it.
I am excited to face you again.
I will see you on Sunday.
Good luck.
