Blog: Almighty Firesemana del 10 al 16 de deciembre de 2023 Pay-per-view week. More importantly, it's December 2 Dismember, the final supercard of the year. What do I have to say about this? I'm ecstatic. This should be fun. This is great. No, this is special. I don't always go to Arizona , but when I do, I bring plenty of water.
You know, high elevation and all. Nosebleeds, lack of oxygen.
You have to be prepared.
Speaking of prepared, there's my match with Harper this Sunday in Tucson. A match YOU mae personal. See, while we can make excuses about who did what when, the record book doesn't care for that. This Sunday, Harper, there will be no distractions, and there will be no excuses. You escaped death once so your odds of doing it again goes up dramatically, right?
Wrong. I like to think that those odds now are in my favor.
I have a very good track record of proving people wrong, that's just what I do. Whatever preconceived motions you have in your lizard brain right now, get rid of it. I'm not going to roll over, I'm not backing down. I'm at best when the chips are down, when my back is against the wall, when the odds are against me. You've seen it for yourself.
You've made the big time, Harper. You being under the bright lights can only mean one thing. Now, I know what you're thinking. 'Oh, Mercedes is going to kill me this Sunday! What am I going to do? She's going to outclass, outperform, and outsmart me.' And you're right, that is exactly what's going to happen. If you're feeling a little intimidated right now, don't sweat it. It's perfectly normal. Unlike the training you're getting at Team Hero Academy and training with your cousin, I'm not going to coddle you, I'm not going to kiss your boo-boo and make it all better, and I most certainly WON'T handle you with kid gloves. Once that bell rings, the gloves come off.
Sure, some of the opponents you beat are capable wrestlers in their own right, but let's face it, all of those wins were just dumb luck. OK, so you have only one loss since your debut? Oh, good for you! That you lost to Bea Barnhart is something else entirely. And how were those wins, by the way? In the humble words of Shania Twain, that don't impress me much.
And so, Harper, it seems we've come full circle, haven't we? Somehow we've circled the wagons to find ourselves facing each other once again. You and I will trip the light fantastic, we will dance the dance of death this Sunday in Tucson, Arizona.
I call it a date with destiny.
I don't think you're going to like this date very much.
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. And may the odds be ever in your favor.~~~
[Winter is coming. Mercedes Vargas didn't have that problem, at least for the few weeks she's spent here in Arizona. With the temperature heating up and the days getting longer, she was more worried about her next destination than whether she should have packed an extra jacket. And with so many destinations across the state, adventure was always just a short car ride away. Of course, getting there was half the fun. The other half? She didn't know, she wasn't sure. But it's going to be fun to find out.
[A clear blue sky. The sun beats down. In the distance, a white convertible drives along a gravel road somewhere in Arizona. Mercedes is behind the wheel. Her cousin Carmen in the passenger seat, preoccupied with paperwork. Top 40 playing from the radio. If every city Mercedes visited had a soundtrack, she had yet to find one.
.::MERCEDES::..
Clean, fresh air. Breathtaking scenery. Spacious mountains. What more could you ask for?
.::CARMEN::..
Mhm.
.::MERCEDES::..
You know, while I love quiet time, I'm not much of the silent type. At least say something.
.::CARMEN::..
Something.
[Carmen shuffles paperwork, pins them together with a paperclip, and stores them away in a briefcase.]
..::MERCEDES::..
Did I ever told you about my first time in Arizona? It was crazy. Tempeture was in the triple digits, I think my radiator died.
.::CARMEN::..
Sorry, Merce. Let me fill out these last few questions...
..::MERCEDES::..
Getting a signal was the worst, though.
[Carmen is lost in her paperwork. Trying to get anything to jot down on paper was neatly impossible.]
..::MERCEDES::..
New year, new week, same story. Or maybe I'm living my own Groundhog Day.
[Carmen decidedly throws her paperwork with a perperclip, shoved it in a suitcase. Tosses it in the backseat.]
..::MERCEDES::..
So how was your week?
.::CARMEN::..
Too busy. I had a car chase in downtown. Probably wasn't my finest moment, especially with Malcolm doing his best James Bond impersonation every moment he got.
..::MERCEDES::..
Okay...
.::CARMEN::..
The getaway car was swirving through traffic like he was in Grand Them Auto. The language barrier was brutal. The chase ended after the driver blewout his tires than Malcolm and I finally got them on foot.
..::MERCEDES::.. And then you stood among your vanquished foe, claiming victory with a warcry. Ayiyiiyiyiyiyi!
.::CARMEN::..
No.
[Carmen reaches for the radio and turns the nob to a rock station as the DJ gives the weather report. Mercedes sighs and hangs her head. Carmen phone goes off. She answers, then gives up the phone to Mercedes.]
.::CARMEN::..
It's for you.
.::MERCEDES::..
Motel 6, Mercedes speaking.
.:: FERNANDO::..
Mercedes.
.::MERCEDES::..
Dad, hello.
.:: FERNANDO::..
I wanted to talk to you about the Christmas dinner next Friday.
.::MERCEDES::..
Ah, Christmas dinner.
[Dead air followed by background noise and shuffling in the background.]
.:: ESTELLE::..
You forgot.
.::MERCEDES::..
Well mom, there's been a lot going on around lately, Christmas festivities not exactly high on my list of things to stress about.
.:: ESTELLE::..
Well I'm sorry if the timing is bad Mercedes, but the world doesn't always revolve around you.
.::MERCEDES::..
Excuse me?
.:: FERNANDO::..
Cocktails are at 6, dinner's at 8.
.::MERCEDES::..
I probably won't be there for cocktails.
.:: ESTELLE::..
Why not?
.::MERCEDES::..
Because I have to work?
.:: FERNANDO::..
You can't leave work early?
.::MERCEDES::..
No, Dad, I can't.
.:: ESTELLE::..
Why not?
.::MERCEDES::..
Because it's not in my job description.
.:: ESTELLE::..
Well then don't come.
.::MERCEDES::..
Really?
.:: ESTELLE::..
Don't come. I don't want this to be a burden for you.
.::MERCEDES::..
Yeah but -
.:: ESTELLE::..
Just send Carmen.
.::CARMEN::..
Wait, what? Why do I have to go?
.:: ESTELLE::..
Well you're obviously too busy.
.::MERCEDES::..
You're telling me not to come to the Christmas party?
.:: ESTELLE::..
Mercedes let's be honest here, I'm not too happy with you right now and I assume you're not too happy with me.
.::MERCEDES::..
I never said that.
.:: ESTELLE::..
You didn't have to.
.::CARMEN::..
Um, Aunt Estelle. I can't make this year.
.:: ESTELLE::..
Carmen, you've always took time out to visit. You can do it again.
.::CARMEN::..
Sorry, I can't. Trust me on this one.
.:: ESTELLE::..
Oh, well. If that's how you feel then I can't stop you.
.::MERCEDES::..
So you're uninviting us to Christmas dinner?
.:: ESTELLE::..
Yes I am.
.::MERCEDES::..
Fine.
.:: ESTELLE::..
Fine.
.::MERCEDES::..
Ok, anything else?
.:: ESTELLE::..
I believe that's all.
.::MERCEDES::..
Ok well, great mom, dad, it's been swell talking to you.
.:: ESTELLE and FERNANDO::..
Bye Mercedes.
.::CARMEN::..
Feliz Navidad, tia. Feliz navidad, tio.
.:: ESTELLE and FERNANDO::..
Muchas gracias, amiga, feliz navidad para ti también.
[Phone hangs up]
.::MERCEDES::..
[sourly]It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
[Mercedes slows down to a crawl, turns down the radio, stop talking and pulls over on the wide shoulder of a deserted road.]
.::CARMEN::..
What's going on?
[She tosses the keys to Carmen.]
.::MERCEDES::..
Drive.
~~~
Present Day ♦ S A N T A M O N I C A, C A L I F O R N I A[REC•][As our scene opens, Mercedes can be seen walking up to the camera. The sun hides behind the clouds on this day.]
"I put my ears to the ground and I hear what’s said about me. I'm past my prime, I’m just a blip on the radar, my title reigns were a joke, I’m practically the worst Bombshell in the history of the company. They say everything happens for a reason, and I'm really starting to believe that.
"It's not like I was thinking if they liked me or anything. It's that I'd be fine if they don't."
[A short pause here as Mercedes removes her baseball cap as her wavy, brunette hair fell into her face. She places her baseball cap in her lap.]
"When I became one of the longest-tenured wrestlers in the company, that happened for a reason - I'm not a quitter. And maybe that's also to my own detriment. When I accomplished everything that there was to do in Sin City Wrestling, that happened for a reason - I'm driven. When I became a bonified legend, that, too, happened for a reason. I trained my ass off, got better in the ring, and cemented my legacy.
"I have nothing to prove to anybody because there's not a single Bombshell - past, present or future - who has worked half as hard as I did, half as smart, half as charismatic or half as good-looking as me. Nobody can erase or defeat what I have achieved in SCW. Often imitated. Never duplicated.
"I won't be wrestling in this ring
forever. Sin City Wrestling is looking for bright young stars like Harper to lead them into the future. Still, if the majority of people still think that she's way out of her league against me - and they couldn't BE more right on that one - I believe in Harper. But now it's her turn. Call this her, oh I don't know, trial by fire.
"But let's not get too ahead of ourselves. Let's bring this to where it should be: me versus the incomparable Harper Mason. Gotta say, some people are wondering how she's gone from rookie to lucky, and she's only been here a little over three months now. She's on quite the roll right now, her confidence is at an all-time high. No longer can anyone ignore the elephant in the room. She maybe good after all. A little rough around the edges but that's okay, she's still a rookie after all, that's to be expected. She's still learning, growing, and improving so she can someday, one day, see herself holding up an SCW championship as she's cheered wildly from the rafters to the front row and her family is probably in tears watching her in her moment.
"We're going to find out a lot of things come December 2 Dismember. And I know that day by day Harper is feeling confident. Day by day, she's preparing herself for the match at hand. And she should. Because she isn't swimming with guppies, she's swimming with sharks."
[She gives a rueful smile at the camera.]
"I think it's time we have a talk, a little heart-to-heart, a “come to Jesus moment”, an intervention, whatever you want to call it. Some things are better left unsaid, but you can bet I'm going to say it anyway. It's one thing that you're truly out of touch with reality, it's another that you think you have any kind of chance of beating me. That you even signed a contract with Sin City Wrestling is a miracle in and of itself."
[Mercedes shakes her head slowly, a solemn look on her face as she continues.]
"And when my last outing against you ended up as a disappointment, that also happened for a reason - because you lacked a killer instinct. You can hold that win over my head, but does that make you feel good, Harper? Did costing me my world title match against Julianna made you feel better? That makes one of us. I missed out on birthdays, weddings, holidays. Winning that championship would have continued my legacy. But you robbed that moment from me. So, now, you have to pay the price. Every action has consequences. Are you ready to face them, Harper? Are you ready for this match? Jessie may be ready. Those fans in Tucson may be ready. But are you? You better be. See, you have it all wrong. I'm not in the ring with you, mamita, you're in the ring with me. And what that means is that you can't run and you can't hide.
[Mercedes places her hands at her side as a wide grin appears.]
"I'll have you know that I've had my share of battles, and I've got the scars to prove it. I’ve been in this business for the better part of 14 years, 10 of those years in Sin City Wrestling. I’ve been through tables, ladders, and chairs. I've been thrown off of ladders, I've jumped off of ladders. Hit with broom sticks, hit with tool boxes, been suplexed and bodyslammed on concrete floors. I’ve been in street fights, first blood matches, table matches and, yes, even locked inside the confines of a steel cage on occasion. Your few months of hardcore matches doesn't compare to my few years doing the same. I'm not going against the grain, I'm not out of my element, matches like these are just second nature. So when it comes to December 2 Dismember, I stay ready so I don't need to get ready.
"They say good things come to those who wait, but I don't mind. I’ve got all the time in the world. In less than a week, when we meet in the middle of the ring, your time, Harper, is coming to an end, and I’m going to put an end to this. This thing between us..."
[Mercedes motions between her and the camera.]
"It will come to an end.
"I never want to leave here without offering some sage advice, and with that said, here's some advice from yours truly: Get over yourself. You haven't exactly set the River Thames on fire.You're going to be a cautionary tale about what happens when you have success too quickly when you fall flat on your face. Maybe after Sunday, you're going to have to find a new career.
"The way things are in the economy today, Lord knows there isn't much out there for you. What else are you going to do, be the world's largest cashier at the Circle K? A short-order fry cook at the golden arches? Waiting on tables at the waffle house? Hey, the worst off you could be is an escort.
"Then again, you probably would put them out of business. No date would last five seconds with you.”
[Mercedes shakes her head and chuckles for a quick second.]
"But you won't listen to me, and that's OK, that's fine. My voice will fade, my scars will heal, and time will move on. So, I hope Jessie sits back, relax, and get her Kleenex ready in her hospital room. This won't end well for her< or for you, Harper."
[Mercedes slowly nods and adds another head toss as she continues.]
“Consider this as the gift to top with a big red bow, courtesy of the Argentine Assassin.”
[***FADE***]