March 28 - Blaze of Glory IX
“Why am I here!?” Tempest said with much heat in her voice, as she stood backstage at the Golden Ring Casino. True to form, she was dressed to compete despite the fact that she had not been scheduled for a match. It was standard procedure in most wrestling circles for the un booked talent to be prepared, just on the off-chance that something might come up and a substitute was needed in one of the scheduled matches.
“Look, I’ve already tried explaining this procedure to you…” SCW Co-Owner Christian Underwood started to speak but he was interrupted by the larger-than-average Bombshell, as she interrupted him from explaining once again and thus, repeating himself.
“Yeah, I heard you the first time and do you actually expect me to buy the fact that you’d just insert me into one of these matches on the chance one of these Barbie dolls musses her hair or breaks a nail and can’t compete!?”
“It’s standard procedure…” Christian again tried to explain, but just as before, Tempest cut him off, holding up her hands and openly scoffing. She said, “I have not been booked in almost two months!” She emphasized her words, slapping one hand into the palm of her other. “Two. Months! If you won’t put me on one of your regular shows, why the hell should I believe you’d put me on one of your bigger Supercard events!?”
“We can’t book everyone every week…”
Tempest took a step forward and towered over the 5’10” boss man, stating with harsh undertones, “I have not had a match since Inception IV against Sam and that trash, Violet Amelia Holt! What, you think because I didn’t win, my stock took a nosedive or something!?”
“Of course not…!”
“Then I guess I have to just do something to remind you!” And she walked right past Christian, leaving him watching after her and shaking his head. He exhaled sharply and walked down the hall himself, half muttering, “Somehow that does not bode well….”
Current
For everything that had been seen by countless viewers where the GO Gym had been concerned over these past many years since the debut of their first prized pupil, Evie Jordan, just as much remained either a mystery known only to students and trainers, or had been merely hinted at a time or two. One such thing - or room - was the media room that doubled as a classroom setting. It was here where the trainees of the Go Gym not only learned how to cut a promo and were lectured in the nuances of the psychology of the sport, but they were also able to spend what time was needed studying the past, present and future stars on the state-of-the-art screen mounted against the far wall.
“The reason I think That they’ve been hesitant in booking you is your own fault, really.” Gabriel spoke as he opened the door to the classroom setting and stepped foot inside, followed by the 6’3” amazon Tempest who had been wreaking havoc on the SCW Bombshells, but more so on the outside of the ring rather than within. “... is of your own doing.”
He closed the door behind her and found her staring at him for an explanation, her brow knitted into what was fast becoming a perpetual frown. Gabriel casually pointed up at her and mused with comedic undertones, “Careful or else your face will freeze like that.”
He then motioned for her to have a seat, and she walked around to the plush sofa that rested against the wall, facing the front. He then sat on the edge of the desk he shared with Odette and explained, “You’ve caused a lot of heads to turn and not always in the good way. Two attacks, Tempest.” He held up two fingers to emphasize his point. “On four Bombshells. One of whom you put out to pasture for good, as is my understanding.”
He was referring to, of course, former Bombshell Sierra Williams, who had not returned to an SCW ring since the aforementioned attack.
Gabriel continued, “The two matches you did have? Brutal.” He smiled and winked, telling her that was not a reprimand but more so a statement of pride in one of his students. In return, she gifted a rare smile of her own. He said, “None of the Bombshells have made any hint about wanting to duck or avoid being booked against you. This was all from the top. I have a feeling now, however, after what happened with Bobbie? Things are about to get very busy for you.”
“Really.” Tempest said, her tone suggesting it was more a question than statement.
Gabriel answered, “Really. Second fight drew in Bobbie, who is the only Bombshell that can stand against you size-wise. That fact alone has drawn interest from the fans, and the press. And what do the higher ups want? Attention from all the above. That’s why after you and Bobbie got into it again, suddenly? You’re booked.”
“On the same show she is.” Tempest pointed out, causing Gabriel to smile widely, “Which is not a coincidence. They did it because the tension is there, and they are expecting something - anything - to happen.”
Gabriel smiled as he walked away from the monitor and around to the desk in which he shared duties with his wife and co-owner of the training facility. He leaned over and rapidly hit a number of keys on the laptop stationed on the surface.
He said casually, “Ordinarily, Odette and I have students focus on the actual matches of the opponents that you’re scheduled against, and I will, mind you…” He held up a hand to ward off any questioning that might have followed from his and his wife’s latest graduate. He continued, “But this time what I want to lead you into this match is more so the promos that Candy has cut. Give you sort of an insight into the type of person she is outside of the ring, rather than inside.”
“And, why would I want to know who she is or what she’s like outside of the ring?” Tempest questioned. “Isn’t it the wrestler, not the person, that I should be focused on?”
“True, but in Candy’s case, you should be focused on both, because where Candy is concerned, she has something in common with someone from inside this very facility.”
At his student’s questioning look, Gabriel pointed to a framed photograph of someone that he had been very close to over a number of years, namely Despayre. Not a graduate of this gym nor even an official trainer. Despayre was simply a friend and ‘brother’ to Gabriel and he helped out in the gym whenever Gabriel and Odette needed him, without question. Sometimes as a trainer, but more often than not, as the reception at the Gym’s front desk.
Gabriel explained, “Granted, she’s not to the same extremes that our Despy is, but just as it is with him, with Candy? What you see is what you get.”
“So, what? This is to get me to feel sorry for her and make me go easy?”
“Hardly!” Gabriel scoffed with a smile as he hit one final key on the laptop, causing the monitor on the wall to come to life. He walked back around the desk and to the door to the classroom, resting a hand on Tempest's shoulder. “If anything, it’s to get you to do anything but. Because just like it is with Despy, appearances are deceiving. Candy might have an innocent air about her, but she’s anything BUT helpless inside of the ring. She’s one of the rare ones that will fight fair, but she can stretch that definition to the point of breaking.”
Gabriel shut the door behind him and for the first time, Tempest turned her head back to the screen and gave her full attention to everything on it...
March 28 - Blaze of Glory IX
“What the bloody hell is WRONG with you!?” “Hot Stuff” Mark Ward literally bellowed at the top of his lungs the moment the curtains at the ‘gorilla position’ parted and SCW security forcibly escorted Tempest backstage! Just moments ago, the amazon had attacked Bella Madison and Courtney Pierce, and would have done worse were it not for the timely intervention of Bobbie Dahl.
“Me!?” Tempest protested hotly. “What the hell was that about out there!? I’m handling my own business out there when that bitch gets involved!? Are you planning to do ANYTHING about that!?”
Mark frowned, and leaned back slightly at the waist. He had a look of utter disbelief on his face, unable to fully comprehend what he was hearing this woman before him was saying. “Excuse me?” He stated. “Are you actually bitching that someone went out there and stopped you from attacking and possibly injuring two more of our Bombshells? Seriously!?”
Tempest snarled, “There was no ‘possibly’ about it boss man! If that’s what it would take for you and Christian to get your heads out of your asses…!” But whatever else she was going to say was warned away by “Hot Stuff,” who was not so much intimidated by this woman as was his business partner. In fact, Mark here was the one solely responsible for signing her in the first place.
He said, with a warning behind his tone, “Watch … what you say to me. I signed you, I can undo that deal just as easily!”
There was an albeit too brief of stare downs between the two, and Mark got the response he wanted from his warning; the hot headed temper of the woman standing before him had started to simmer down. Cooler heads and all that. He nodded, stating a single word, “Good.”
Tempest then pointed blindly behind her, toward the curtains. “You planning on doing something about that?”
“No.” Mark shook his head. “And I will tell you why. For one, Bobbie isn’t just some random fan that jumped the barricade. Christian just resigned her. So she is, in fact, an SCW Bombshell! But also because with each Bombshell that you hurt? That’s one less that we can book. One less that can draw the fans to us. Which is money out of our pockets, and money out of yours. And besides…”
Mark then was the one to take a step forward and his eyes were solid, like ice, as he stated, “I’m not a Bobbie Dahl fan but I dare say that you deserved everything you just did.” And with that said, Mark turned and walked away, not giving her so much as a chance for a rebuttal.
Current
Tempest remained seated where she had been witnessed previously, her eyes remained fixated on the screen that had just finished airing yet another Candy promo. Tempest’s brow was furrowed into a slight frown coupled with troubled disbelief. The screen went dark, and with her eyes closed, Tempest held up her hands as if to forestall someone, or anyone, from speaking up to derail her train of thought.
“Okay, wait a minute. I-I don’t understand. I’ve just sat back and watched so many Candy promos, and seen so much damn nonsense during them to the point I feel like my head feels like it’s about to explode. I swear, I didn’t feel like I was watching anything even remotely resembling a wrestling promo or a wrestler in general. I thought I was watching some weird rendition of a Disney movie. Almost as if one of the Disney Princesses (one of the more immature if I’m going to be brutally honest), somehow fell off of the silver screen and landed smack dab right here in the real world! That’s who I’m up against in my first match in almost three months? That’s who Candy is? Girl…”
Tempest sighed, a soft breath gently exhaled through her nose of which she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge.
“...After seeing that childlike tripe, all I have to ask is…”
She opened her eyes and turned her hard, amber eyes directly toward the camera.
“What is WRONG with you!? Why do you act like this!? I know children who don’t act as flighty and childlike as you do! Everything I watched where you were concerned, everything about you -- there was absolutely nothing - NOTHING - that as a casual viewer would I think to take seriously! Where you’re concerned, everything about life is all about hugs and puppies, glitter and rainbows! LOTS of glitter from what I understand is rolling around in that wet noodle head of yours! And that just is not what real life is all about, baby! In the real world, things aren’t so bright as you imagine them to be. In the real world, there is pain and suffering. There is war. Strife. People are sick and getting sicker all the time! Racism. Shootings. People killing others for no other reason than the color of their skin or the gender they choose to romance. Cops are murdering innocent children! THAT - Candy - is the world that you and I and everyone else lives in, here and now! But you have shut yourself off from that reality. Put on your blinders and closed yourself off so you can pretend this life of yours is just another fun time in Candyland. It is time to bring your head down from out of the clouds girl and if that means I have to bring you crashing down to the harsh reality of the world we live in, then so be it. Consider it my ‘good deed’ for the day!”
“Candy, everything about you practically screams …”
She twirled a forefinger around her ear, the universal sign of someone being nuts.
But see, here’s the thing; Gabriel swears to god that there’s more to you than what we see. More to you than the woman who giggles and throws glitter everywhere. More to this woman that skips out to the ring, cuddling a damn dog of all things! Gabriel seems to think that you’re a threat inside of the ring, and considering the fact that you’ve beaten some of the best that this division has to offer, I can hardly dispute the claim, now can I? Mercedes Vargas, one of the most decorated wrestlers between the women or the men, decided you’d be an easy target and you left her wondering ‘what the hell happened’ after putting her down”
“I also suppose the fact that you actually had your hands on the Roulette Championship is something to commend. Crazy, but props. What’s even crazier is the fact that you held onto that title for five months. All I can do is wonder is how in hell did you ever manage to dethrone someone like Samantha Marlowe? It almost leaves me wondering if it was a pity loss, out of the kindness of Sam’s heart so you could get some emotional high for a title win, and so that Little Miss Sunshine could leave the Roulette title behind her and move onto bigger and better things. Unlikely, though. I’m just trying to understand what, or who, I’m up against, and what you must have done to piss off whoever decided to book this match.”
“I mean, it must have been something! Candy, people celebrated the fact that you were back. You even gave them something to believe in when you came back and got a win! So, why then, did they decide to put you right back in the ring, and throw you to the lions by making me the woman you’d have to face? Because I am nothing like the women that you’ve faced before. I go into this match with you and I have no intention or desire to shake hands or to hug it out. I don’t want to smile with you or share a laugh. I am going into this match with a single purpose; to show everyone from the bosses to the other women and everyone watching in the arenas and at home, that I am done sitting at home and waiting for Mark or Christian to throw me a few crumbs and expect me to be satisfied! I am done waiting for that bitch Bobbie Dahl to get in my face and finish what she started!”
“If all of this means breaking you? If it means shattering those rose colored glasses from your face and tearing down these flowery walls that you’ve surrounded yourself with, then I will do it. Gladly.”
“I said you’re living in a fantasy world, Candy. And I’m your reality.”
