I will never accept life for what it is. I don't need an easy life. My road was meant to be hard because anything worth having in this world will take me to the very edge of myself. I will overcome everything I have ever gone through and will make my future the one God intended me to have. I will pick up the pieces of this pain and sculpt it into art. I am not ordinary and never was. I walk into my birthright as a queen with her head held high. I was born to do this!”
― Shannon L. Alder

Karma…

Atlanta, Georgia, January 5th 2020

She was furious. Not angry, not frustrated, not annoyed. Blind with unyielding rage. An emotion so pure it felt right in the moment. It numbed her to the pain. Her shoulder, already damaged the week before, now burned with it. But her mind flashed through the attack. Every moment, every step, every shot of anguish that etched itself on her face.

The vision of Bobbie Dahl standing over her, holding her sling up in the air like a trophy. It had happened moments ago but seemed like an old memory, she replayed it over and over. Trainers and medical staff moved around her talking to each other and also to her. But Alicia didn’t care. She didn’t even absorb the words. She didn’t answer questions. As stupid as they were.

Didn’t they see what happened?

She asked herself. Her bright blue eyes shooting sideways as a young trainer manipulated her shoulder up into a replacement sling. Alicia’s teeth ground together as she growled looking him dead in the eye. He swallowed hard and lowered her arm into the cloth that was tied around the back of her neck.

The ambulance was on its way to take her to a local hospital. She didn’t want to go, she knew she needed too but she didn’t want to. What she wanted to do was to get up off the bench, to walk out the door, turn right down the hallway to the women’s locker room. She wanted to drag Bobbie Dahl out by her hair and then do the one thing that would make her feel better.

Beat the shit out of her.

But she couldn’t. Not because she didn’t want to, or need to in some case. But because she was physically unable. And for someone like Alicia, that was worse than any other type of punishment. To have it taken away, her means of living, the thing that she loved. But also, her vengeance. And what was worse in all of this, as the people around her trying to give her the one thing she didn’t want, need and feared. Hope. Between management of SCW, the trainers and members of her own group. The hope flowed. But she knew it was empty, she knew that she was going to need to take time off from what she viewed as her purpose in life.

It hurt, physically and emotionally. It felt as if someone had stabbed her in the heart. And now minutes after announcing she wasn’t going anywhere and saying that she was going to go back after her title, she was sitting alone after pushing everyone away, with the rage in her heart and hatred in her soul.

She would not be broken by this.

But time was needed, time was against her. In Alicia’s mind she felt one truth. She would be forgotten. The realisation burned again as she pushed off the bench with her good arm to her feet, her hand clasping into a balled fist as she went to push away. She couldn’t breathe, the walls were closing in. The air suddenly felt thick, heavy. Less like a gas and more like a liquid, moving over her skin, through her hair, weighing her down and filling her lungs. She needed out.

Alicia burst into the hallway towards the back of the arena, out the door into the rear parking lot and loading dock. The air outside was cold and filled her lungs washing it away, there was no one here. She was alone. Here she could do what she needed. She heard a scream, loud and guttural. It came from her. She closed her eyes as tears started to fall. Hot down her cheeks to the concrete below. Alicia swallowed hard as she wept looking up to the night sky.

”why?” It was a simple question, asked of someone she never put much stock in. But now she had to voice it. A voice answered back. But it was not a savior or deity. This was closer to home.

It was low, with a slight Texan accent. ”I wouldn’t be asking him. He doesn’t know anything…” It was Alex, dressed in his street clothes, his long hair tied back in a bun, black jeans, a red wolfslair shirt and a leather jacket. He smiled and shook his head after saying what many would consider to be blasphemous. ”And if he did, well they say it’s god’s will, so really, if he does exist, he’s a dick and is responsible for that.”

She couldn’t help but laugh, her tears still hot on her cheek, her eyes now puffy and black as her eyeliner smudged and made her look like some kind of 80’s hair metal panda. ”Thanks, I needed that. I just...I don’t know what to do…” She shook her head looking down unable to even look at Alex, then she heard it, a scoff, she looked up to find Alex with his hands on his hips with a sneer.

He stepped forward tilting his head. ”You don’t?. Are you sure about that kid?” It had been years since he called her kid. It had been back in Japan, where they first met. Alicia couldn’t help but smile with a nod. Alex sighed deeply. ”You will get your arm fixed, listen to your doctors, do your rehab. And then...come back and reclaim your fucking crown.” Alex slowly smiled, it was that boyish but still evil smirk. His hand reached up to her good shoulder patting it slowly as the ambulance pulled up. Alex turned and led her toward it. Alicia took long deep breaths as she prepared to get in.

Hypocrites

”Is this what you wanted?”

Her voice was a whisper, her head straight down staring at the floor. Counting the tiles with her arms by her side. Alicia took a drawn out breath before smiling and shaking her head, keeping her eyes straight down. Speaking the line again, this time louder, like a yell.

”IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?”

She took another long, drawn out and deep breath. Her eyes closed as her head raised, then on an exhale her bright blue eyes opened. Behind her was black, complete darkness. But Alicia herself was illuminated by the light in front, it created a bright yellow circle that appeared in her pupils. Her iris instantly adjusted as if it narrowed.

”You know, it’s funny looking at how people view me. The nature of the beast in professional wrestling. People think they know you, make assumptions and run their mouths. And when you look at people and know what kind of personality they have and you understand them, it’s infuriating to not have it returned. And see, that5 is the problem. None of you understand what I did, what I was willing to do. None of you get it. You all became hate filled, jealous hypocrites. You all thought I was physically and mentally strong enough to ignore everything that was said about me or done to me. But the truth is, those two weeks stretching from when I lost my title, to when I lost my dignity...they broke me…”

“I sat backstage and felt something about myself that I never felt before and never hoped to feel again. Pity. Self, fucking, pity. And I sat there with this hatred and anger in my heart and stomach and I never had that before. I mean, I’m aggressive, I call people out on their bullshit and I tell people I am better than them, but it was all in a vain hope that the division would take pride in itself and raise up to my level. That feeling was replaced after I had felt pity in myself but also felt..bad about my own success…”

“That is what you all did. See, I am mentally strong but hearing you all read from the same book and the same broken record spin. It was nauseating and I started to believe it.”

“I started to believe I was “holding the title hostage” Do you all remember that little nugget of wisdom? That train started pulling out of the station and Crystal, Roxi, Andrea, Bobbie they all jumped on. They rode that steaming breakaway train right on down the tracks and in my mind I was tied with my hands and feet bound together waiting for that big ol locamotive to come and fucking run my ass down.”

Alicia’s nostrils flare, her eyes seem to well up and she clenches her jaw looking away for a moment, the light in her eyes disappearing, she slowly looks back and smirks, her eyes hitting the same angle again.

”I was beaten in a brutal match with five other women where I got injured and lost my championship. Not a bad way for a champion to lose, on her shield. Like a real fucking warrior. After having the most defences and longest single reign. Bringing the Bombshells title to heights that it had never seen before. Keeping it at the same level Dani Weston kept it at and then surpassing it to the point where I have been recognised on some hacks radio show as a “top five” bombshell. Yes, I DID THAT. Me.”

“But when I lost, all that I heard was “ding dong the witch is dead””

“So, before that Climax Control, the one in my hometown, I embraced that. I thought that maybe they were right, maybe I did hold the title hostage and that I was a negative for the division. Not a positive. That I had almost destroyed something I took pride in and maybe people were sick of me being the best, holding the title over my head and daring, begging, pleading for someone...ANYONE to raise up and take it.”

“And then...it happened…”

“Roxi Johnson did it. And while I can proudly say it wasn’t taken from me in a one on one match Roxi still beat me. And I have never disagreed with Roxi being one of the best. She has earned everything she had and part of me thought that in Roxi we had someone who would keep the title at the same level. And after she beat Bobbie, I gave a small nod. My faith had not been misplaced. Because Bobbie Dahlo did not deserve that title. So, before I get into what happened next and my other targets. Thank you Roxi. Thank you for stepping out of that match and the one against Bobbie as champion…”

There was a small sigh, Alicia then stepped forward and ran her hands up and through her long blond hair looking up at the ceiling.

”After that however. I have to ask, where did your heart go?. Crystal, or Christina beat you. And while I’m on the subject of that bitch, let me just throw this out there. We are all sick and tired of the different names and fake ass split personality bullshit. See Christina kissed my ass and almost begged, BEGGED me to be her friend and respect her. Then, well then after I had relented and showed her an inch, A FUCKING INCH or the respect and friendship she begged for, she then turned around and repeated the same bullshit about the title everyone else had said.”

“But I’m the bad guy right?”

“Amy Santino, Dani Weston, Seleana Zdunich. A handful of names. Women who I have faced who have showed me the proper respect and had it returned in kind. But now I’m expected to show respect to three women who took a championship I defended and bui8lt higher than anyone else had and dragged it down?. I’m supposed to respect Roxi because she’s a legend in SCW? It’s funny that everyone accuses me of living in the past when that is exactly what Roxi did the second she came back into SCW. But that was of nostalgia along with Roxi’s undeniable talent got her to a third SCW bombshells title.”

“And as title reigns go it wasn’t horrible. Made a little longer because of the christmas break but Roxi, you beat Seleana and Bobbie. I applaud that. But losing it to Crystal? That did damage to the title. Cause Crystal is like a dog chasing a car, she wants it BAD but when she catches it, well, she had no clue what to do with it. She dragged that title down which is why I fought so HARD for her not to take it from me. Then, first hill to climb..she loses interest and it ends up in Andreas hands…”

“And who knows, Hernandez might prove to be a great champion, she had that chance, she will face Evie Jordan in a great match. Meanwhile, I have my eyes set on making a successful return, then destroying Bobbie Dahl. But first, well...first Roxi Johnson...you and I have a date…”

Alicia shrugs and looks down at the ground, her eyes move along a line between the first and second set of tiles, a barrier if you will. Alicia stands behind it and puffs her chest out, as if begging Roxi to cross it.

”Look, no one can take away your three reigns, your defences or the comeback you made. Shit Roxi no one can say you don’t have guts. I mean, you asked for this. You went to SCW management and volunteered to be my first match back. And I get it, you know that bi’ll be rusty. You know I will be recovering and might even be worried with less confidence that takes time to build. The problem is Roxi, that I needed the time off.”

“Doing what I did?...it’s exhausting…”

“I needed to recharge my batteries. It’s damn hard to hold a title that long and defend it so many times. I mean...you wouldn’t know, but you can ask Mikah or me, we’ll both tell you. But, while I needed time off, because of burn out and being so very tired. It needed to be my choice. And Bobbie putting me out like that was obviously not my choice. So now, well, now I need to make a statement. And as good as you are, as good as your return run has been despite losing to me and acting like a depressed bitch, I need to come out and remind everyone who Alicia nLukas is…”

“I need to return with a bang and stamp my authority. And that’s what all this is isn’t it?. You still have it and are rolling the dice on a match with me, cause if you can stop my momentum before it starts it keeps you right there, close to the SCW Bombshells title and in prime position to maybe go after the winner of Evie and Andrea. And my goals? I come back strong, build myself back up, go after Bobbie and get my revenge before going after the winner of Andrea and Evie myself. But, I know you’re not thinking I’m easy pickings, despite the injury, the return, the fact I’ll be having my first match back without fans. I know you're not stupid enough to think I’ll be easy, or unprepared, or that I’ll look passed you.”

“I love facing you Roxi, I do. You’re a challenge, a legend, a champion. We may have differing opinions on how to conduct ourselves and we mix like oil and water. But we’re two gunslingers, with our hands by our sides, ready to go. Just waiting for the other one to twitch so we can pull, aim and shoot. And you better believe I’ll be aiming right between the eyes sister...and when I slide that six shooter back in my holster, and you fall to the ground...just know that the respect will always be there, despite outward appearances...despite your comments about me...may the better woman win Roxi...and good luck...cause the queen is back...and history...will...repeat”

 I remember black skies
The lightning all around me
I remember each flash
As time began to blur
Like a startling sign
That fate had finally found me
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

Scene One-Are you sure about this?
Off Camera  
Washington DC  
18 Months ago

“Are you sure those are the colors you want?” Michael smiled and pointed out and down to the magazine as Alicia looked it over and smiled with a nod.“Perfect”. Her voice was calm and low as she stood in her kitchen, dressed in a flowing white dress, her hair done up and makeup almost flawless. Michael looked her over and laughed to himself. “I’m sure your mother will love that you made so much of an effort for this lunch.” Alicia sighed and rolled her eyes folding her arms.

“Well she got so bent out of shape when she saw Dad, I’m trying to calm her down.” Michael gave a nod and tilted his head. “You looking like that doesn’t calm me down.”

He moved over and pulled her close, her hand came to rest on his chest as he leaned down, before he could kiss her however they heard yelling from outside. Jason and Barbara as they waited for Alicia had gotten into it again. Alicia rolled her eyes and pushed her forehead against him. Michael held her close with a sigh.“Are we sure about this?. I don’t want them doing this at the wedding Ali.”  

“I know, I’m sorry.” She sighed again and shook her head letting out a frustrated growl as she heard her parents bickering like children.

“Maybe I should talk to your mother, she likes me.” Alicia laughed and shook her head stepping back and turning to look outside into the garden, Jason had his hands up and shook his head while Barbara yelled and made animated arm movements. “She loves you but I don’t think you can help love. She really hates my dad, I understand it but, I don’t know. I hoped she’d love me enough to let the anger go.” Michael walked up behind her putting his hands on Alicia’s hips sliding them around her stomach clasping his hands together to hold her tight.  

“It’ll be our day Alicia. You and me. I love you with all my heart and no matter what we’ll be happily married. And besides, we might need a gladiator pit to hold the entertainment.” He motioned up and forward out the window. A plastic lawn chair flew across the grass towards Jason’s face. He yelled as Barbara stormed off. Alicia sighed and groaned..“I hate my family…”

“Thanks sis, I love you too” Zoey stepped into the room from the side, a wry smile on her face as she looked out into the backyard. Alicia rolled her eyes and face planted the kitchen bench. Zoey just laughed and gave a small pat onto her sisters back.“Hey you wanted him involved. You knew what Mom would be like…” Alicia sat up and took a deep breath in and out.

.“I regret my decision….”

Promo: Heavy Metal Matches.
On Camera
Andros
Present Day

Another week, another tropical paradise. Alicia Lukas, the current SCW bombshells champion had flown back and forth from the tropical summer tour destinations to other parts of the US for commitments with other companies and media tours. But she had still been able to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather. And here she stood as the light summer breeze caught her long blond hair and made it flow across her face.

”Champion versus champion. You know there’s another woman in this company who calls herself the champion of champions, a woman whose ego is bigger than mine. That woman is Mercedes Vargas. And see Mercedes makes all these grand statements about how good she is and yeah, Mercy has won many many titles in her time in SCW. She’s a hall of fame member, she has done a lot. But, how many of those title reigns have meant a damn thing?. And hell, while I was facing Sam Marlowe Mercedes Vargas was getting beaten by a woman whose signature is still wet on her contract. And she’s the “champion of champions?” Give me a break…”

“Mercedes has gone to war with Sam Marlowe time and time again and they’ve had an interesting little feud. But, do you know who has beaten Mercedes? Who has beaten Sam Marlowe?. Crystal Hilton?, Seleana Zdunich?. Roxi Johnson?...ME I have. I have beaten every single name put in front of me since I came here. And I still haven’t reached my one year mark. I made my on screen debut at Climax Control 219, I walked out to the ring and I told the world I was the real women's champion, I was the one this company needed, and the roster did nothing...said nothing…”

“Then at 220 I made my in ring debut, beating down Parand, that led to High Stakes 8, my supercard debut. I was off to the races in SCW and no one was going to stop me, and for the last year I have beaten and destroyed everyone they have pointed me in the direction of. Weston, the entire Hilton Zdunich family, legends, nobodies, rookies, mid card stars. I haven’t cared who they are they have fallen to me.”

“And I have been nothing but honest with all of you,”

“You go back through every promo I have cut here, every pre taped rant, ever in ring or backstage interview. I told SCW I was going to be the single greatest female professional wrestler they had ever seen. And have I not lived up to my promise?. Have I not proven myself as the greatest?. Hall of fame names, champions, they all fell. Hell, I was beaten by Dani Weston and you all thought I would shrink away and disappear. But what happened?...hmm?...WHAT HAPPENED?”

Alicia seems to get more aggressive even in the beautiful sun soaked setting. The waves, the sand, the relaxed nature. It didn’t matter to the champion, even as she stood in a ruby red bikini and a white flowing sarong around her hips.

”I came back, better than ever and I took my place as the undisputed champion. Then in my first defense Crystal Hilton couldn’t keep her fat horse tooth face and giant forehead with a bad dye job out of my business. She tried to steal something from me, and did I crumble into a million pieces? No, I came back again, better than before and took back what was mine and have been on a tear ever since. Because I am a step above everyone else in this company. Dani Weston lost and walked away, Mercedes Vargas went down to the roulette division because she is terrified of facing me again, I defeated an entire family to the point where Kate is being cucked, Crystal is broken and Brittany disappeared back to whatever time jump she came from...the only member of that family who has continued to show guts is Seleana…”

“And she has shown more guts than brains. She has stumbled and fallen. But to get to Seleana and perhaps end the rivalry between us I first have to successfully defend my championship against Jesse Salco.”

“And what a defense it’ll be. Now, I’m not one to just look passed opponents to my next challenge. But Jesse Salco is a joke. See, I will be able to walk through her and take the record for most defences in a single reign. Seven, Seven title defences in what will be just over two hundred days as a champion. It’ll be a huge accomplishment and should really put me in contention for awards and a hall of fame spot already. And I know, it’s arrogant of me to say that since I’ve only been in SCW a year but ...come on..who else has done what I have?”

“Jesse Salco sure as shit hasn’t…”

Alicia scoffs and rolls her eyes before continuing.

”I’ve known Jesse for a while now. She and I were in Honor together. And there she was an average competitor, she tried hard. But she was never able to break through and be anything special. She was stuck behind myself as Legacy champion and Mercedes as the world champion. Jesse tried a few times to take my legacy title and we had a few matches teaming together but in the end she was just a footnote in that companies history while I was the entire fucking company. I won both titles, I was the final women’s champion of Honor and I was the only one who made that Legacy title matter.”

“And then, we got acquired by SCW, and in that time I have had a career and a run Jesse Salco could only dream of. See, on the same supercard I made my debut, Jesse Salco was defending the title I made famous, she was winning an award for “most hated”, and in that time frame, I have become the most dominant champion in SCW history while she has stayed at the same level she has always been. Jesse has done nothing of note in SCW yet this myth remains that she is talented all because of how long she has been in this company…”

“She is a former three time SCW roulette champion, a former SCW internet champion and a former SCW bombshells tag team champion, but not only were they years ago, but one of my reigns is longer than all hers combined. And to be honest, I made a fruit smoothie and missed them all because of how fast they happened…”

“Blink and you miss them…”

“But now, here we are. Climax Control 249, the heavy metal bombshell Jesse Salco, against the strong style southern belle Alicia FUCKING Lukas. And the crowd goes...mild. Because they know what is going to happen Jesse. Something very very bad will happen to you. See while your little buddy Vinnie got his hands on the SCW world title and Amy Marshall will forever be a legend, you’re just a silly little girl riding their coattails to stay relevant in a division that is becoming more and more stacked with names and talent that are simply better than you..”

She growls and rolls her eyes again, her arms folded over her chest as the sunlight shone off her sunglasses.

”This is your last real shot to get this title Jesse. Championship opportunities don’t just get handed out regularly. You made a deal with Mark Ward about asking for shots and because you’ve been a good little girl and a “team player”,,ahem..”

Alicia moves her hand near her mouth in a blow job motion.

”You get a shot Jesse. Congratulations, you get to have a chance at the SCW bombshells title and sure, lightning could strike and you could shock the world and beat me. But while the chances of me losing to other members of the SCW women's division is...one in ten ...the chances of me losing to you are closer to one in a hundred. And hey, that’s still a chance right?. There’s still a moment in time where we could end Climax Control 249 with you holding the SCW bombshells title over your head and you going on to face Seleana at High stakes. But now Jesse, now I want you to snap back to reality and realise that you will instead, be getting beaten down and destroyed by me. I will knock you out, choke you out and leave you in a sweaty pile of regret in the center of the ring.

“And the sad part?. It won’t be something I celebrate, it won’t be anything personal or business. You will be a speed bump on my way to continuing my legacy...a legacy...that you will never hope to come close to…”

 Memories coursing through my veins
Like the scars in yours, my roots remain
I was raised in hell
I made it out by myself
I was raised to bleed
Bad blood runs wild and free

“In my dreams last night I saw your face, You held me and washed away my tears, Then I woke to realize you're gone. I'm drowning in solitude again”-Maria Brink

Scene One-Daddy Issues
Off Camera
Atlanta Georgia
22 years ago….

The day was like any other. The sun rose high in the sky, the smell of summer in the air as the heat in Georgia seemed to bake us all alive. I was five years old. Long curly blond locks, chubby cheeks. Every bit a mixture of my southern belle mother and my father. A rough and rugged wrestler named Jason Maxwell. He was seven feet tall, huge muscles and long blond hair. A smirk that was playful and boyish despite his age. A look that my mother fell for, hook, line, and sinker. I don’t remember everything from that time. But I remember being happy.

I remember my mother being happy. I was the firstborn. The princess. Followed by my brother Josh and our baby sister Zoey. Josh was 2 and a half, Zoey was a newborn, maybe three or four months. I don’t remember exactly how old. I just remember the weird feeling. My mother for a time had been questioning my father on his choices. On what he was doing for the family. She had come from money, she gave that all up from the family to marry my father. A star crossed forbidden love it seems. But times grew tougher….

The wrestling business as a whole had become stagnant. There was no money to be made in the mid-90’s and with three children my mother worried. She was scared and wanted Jason to find another job. My father was stubborn as a mule. I suppose that is where I get it from. But I sat on the floor, the hardwood floor of the house we lived in. A small three bedroom affair, My brother and sister both having a nap, not that they would have remembered much anyway. All I remember was the yelling. My mother and father in the kitchen. My mother then telling him to keep his voice down once she realized I could hear everything.  

I didn’t think much of it that day.

It had become a little more regular than I would like to admit. The arguments back and forth, always over money and direction. Things that never held much weight in my mind. At the time all I cared about was my little brother touching my shit. But I heard the boots on the floor. My father stepping through the house. I remembered feeling different, weird. The vibe was all wrong and I was upset. He walked out of Josh and Zoey’s room, he walked over to me setting his bag down and picked me up sitting me on his knee. His eyes looked strange. Not the happy relief I was used to when he was able to see us, spend time with me and actually be a father away from the traveling circus life of professional wrestling.

A life I myself now subscribe to and endure and love. In a way, I understand why he left. Why the last I saw of him for 20 years was his back. His large silhouette moving out our front door with a bag in his hand. My mother angry and shaking her head hiding the tears and keeping them back and away. He loved the life. He loved the feeling. He loved the rush. At the time I thought he was just leaving for work. That someday my father would walk back in the door like nothing happened. Give me a hug, tell me he loved me. But that day didn’t come, not for 20 goddamn years.  

And when it did, I felt happy, I fell for the lies, I fell for the bullshit. I let him back in only for him to walk out time and time again, and over the last two years, I have had to deal with that fallout. The feeling and knowing that my father is a failure as a man, as a professional wrestler, as a father, and as a grandfather…..

But. I still want him to do that one thing every little girl dreams about. I want him to walk me down the aisle….

Alicia looked up, now a fully grown woman in the present day, her bright blue eyes staring forward at the man in front of her. His hair a silver grey with a matching beard. Pictures and documents in front of him as two cups of hot coffee sit between them. Alicia’s long blond hair tied back away from her face. Her body ragged up in a black hooded sweatshirt and jeans. The weather in Canada being as harsh and changing as her own feelings forwards her father.

“Thank you for the backstory, it can help me get into your father’s mind as to why he came all the way up here.” Alicia scoffed and looked out onto the street through the large bay window in this tiny coffee shop in outer Toronto. Her fingertips reached out and moved along the top of the cup before picking it up and taking a sip leaning across the small table. “I know why. There’s a cardiologist up here he wanted to see. He borrowed 12 grand from me 6 months ago…”

Alicia trailed off and swallowed hard, part of her angry that Jason was here and hadn’t bothered to contact her, part of her relieved he was still alive and part was annoyed. Annoyed, she had to go to the lengths of hiring a private investigator to find her own father. She shook her head and seemed to drift off into thought, the PI’s voice snapping her out of it causing her to jump a little. “Well that would explain why I found him in Toronto General….”

“That’s...two blocks away” He gave her a small nod and clasped his hands together as Alicia took a long deep breath. Her heart ached, her breathing staggered as she tried to hold back tears. Her eyes closed and as she visualized it, the last time she saw him, her eyes reopened and she swallowed hard. “I have to see him, I have to know ...give me the room number…”

His hand moved to his pen, he wrote it down fast and folded it over before slowly sliding it across the table, before Alicia could grab it he slid it back a little. “I held up my end of the bargain….” She gave a small nod, the payment slipping her mind. She reached into her bag pulling out the envelope handing it to him. “10K….want to count it?” The last words spat with anger as he eyes burned a hole through the paper. He scoffed and slid the paper to her before collecting the pictures and documents. “Good day Miss Maxwell….”

Scene Two: And end to the saga
On Camera
New York, New York.
Present Day

Alicia took a long and deep breath in. The air filling her lungs as her bright blue eyes closed. Her hands gripping the leather strap of the SCW Bombshells world championship. A title that had been in her possession for over a hundred and fifty days.

”I can smell it, feel it. The end of all this.

Her eyes slowly opened, a smile coming across her ruby red lips. She looked out across the houses in the suburban area of upstate New York. A beautiful place she had lived in now for over two years. An idyllic life she had given up hope of ever having.

”For months it seems like I’ve been locked in this constant tug of war between myself, this title and one family. The roots of which go back to when I first won the title. Back when Danielle Weston was the champion. She and I went to war and she was able to do something that very, very few had been able to do before. Beat me one on one. I congratulated her, I trained and whooped some ass and then I walked into a match with her in the beginning of February and I was able to finally claim the title. It was a competitive war and it made me feel alive and I will always respect Danielle Weston for the title reign she had and the fight she brought to me.”

“And see that match and that victory was huge. Dani was shaping up to be a contender to break Mikah’s record for length. Dani was being viewed as the leader of the new breed of women in SCW. That was until Honor and SCW merged and I became a member of the roster. As good as Dani Weston is, as good as Mikah was, I truly believe I am the greatest women’s wrestler on the planet today. And just because of the competition I have had to face and the trials I have willingly put myself through I should already have that distinction. But,.well…”

“I also understand that records and statistics go a long way in the world of proof.”

“I have the numbers and history to back up all my claims. Every single company I walk into I become a star and I become the one to beat and go on record breaking reigns. I defined and built the Honor Wrestling women’s division. Not Mercedes, Not Crystal, Not Winter. ME. I made the WWH women’s world championship mean something at a time when that division was filled with killers. I walked into LAW and I beat some of their best and was getting so close to a match with Gabby for that title I could taste it right up until it closed. This is not a fluke…”

Alicia scoffs and shakes her head, she seems to get annoyed as her body language changes from contemplation and relaxation to tight and anxious.

”Some people would have you just look at SCW and forget everything else I have done and claim that I am a fluke or I am just “lucky” Despite all the evidence to the contrary. And there was a point when I almost believed that too. And that point wasn’t when I fell to Dani, no, that point was when I was sitting in the middle of the ring on the twenty-fourth of February this year. When Seleana Zdunich was holding the SCW title in the air and I had watched a reign that I wanted to mean something crumble and get blown away like fucking dust.”

“But that moment wasn’t my fault. It wasn’t Seleana’s fault. It wasn’t the fans, the referee, the management group. No, that moment was made, manufactured and shown for the world to see in a fucked up presentation by Crystal Zdunich. And yes, Crystal, I am using your married name to prove a point. Now, while I get to tell the world I am a two-time champion I would have rather had one reign. One whole reign. But because of you, I was robbed of twenty-one days. And sure, I was able to salvage that and I now have one that is longer than Danielle’s. I can puff my chest out and crow about how good I have been. But I look back at my run of opponents and I can say I am sick to death of you and your fucking family.”

“I’m sick of Williams, Zdunichs. Millars, Hiltons. Whatever last name there is. If it was raised by you, married to you or in Kate’s case just someone who has been around you by proxy I am sick to death of seeing you.”

“Your actions started all of this and while Seleana was caught in the crossfire and she is someone I respect and I did enjoy facing you did more damage to her career than any loss to me would have. Your actions, your arrogance, your begging for title matches and validation did damage not just to your own career and credibility which was already in the goddamn toilet but you damaged your wife’s career, the validity of the SCW bombshells title and of course...MY CAREER.”

Alicia points to herself, her anger rising as she yells into the camera. Her voice deeper and going back to her southern twang with a Georgian tinge.

”But, because I am a champion because I am the best in the world I beat you, Seleana and Dani in one night to repair all the damage you have done. I then went on to beat Kate, Seleana and your daughter. I needed a break and gave a title shot to Amy Marshall because I wanted a break from you and your family Crystal. But all the while I knew I had this coming. I knew I had a match with you and a title defense all lined up. There is light at the end of the tunnel and while I am not foolish enough to look passed you I am looking forward to it. I had that list, Crystal. Remember it?”

“Your name wasn’t on it.”

“Amy’s was, Cat Riley’s was, Mercedes Vargas was. And of course. Roxi Johnson and now, well now whoever comes out of Climax Control with the SCW title gets to face Roxi. Now, if nothing else had transpired between us that would be enough for me to want to get to Summer XXXtreme and face her. An SCW legend, a real one, not a fake like you, against me. But, that isn’t the only thing between us. Is it Crystal?. There is all that history from SCW, from Honor and shit even LAW. LAW is the one place in all of this where you were able to beat me and the sad fact is that I should respect you.”

“I should.”

“But I don’t. I can’t. Because I have seen the whiny, arrogant, self-serving bullshit you have been pulling and I just can’t give a shit Crystal. And you just sit there and talk about how you’ve changed and how you want to get all that respect back but you just keep doing it. This isn’t the first time you’ve pulled this and it won’t be the last and you cannot expect people just to smile and go “well hey that’s just Crystal”. No more. Never again. And you really have to ask yourself...when you look in the mirror...Why?. Why don’t people respect you the same way they do me or even Vargas?.”

She laughs to herself and pulls the SCW bombshells title up and over her shoulder.

”I mean think about it, Crystal. All the success you had in IWF, LAW and of course here in SCW. Shit, just in SCW Crystal. A former blast from the past winner, last ever Bombshells internet champion, former bombshells roulette champion, a three-time world bombshells champion and a hall of fame. That is just here. And all of that means you should be respected on the same level as Roxi, as Mikah, as Amy.”

“I should be excited about facing you, I should be happy about facing you and I should want to walk into this match and shake your hand before and after it no matter who wins. But I’m not. And that is your fault, Crystal. So I need to end this for my own sanity. I need to walk into that ring, give you the beating you deserve and walk out with the SCW title and also, judging by how people treat you and react to you. I need to do it for SCW. They need a real champion and that isn’t you. The fans deserve better Crystal. They deserve Alicia Lukas versus Roxi Johnson. And you…..you need to fade away and be remembered for what you once were. Not what you are…”

 Prologue: Passion.

Everyone has passions in life. Very rarely do you get to turn that passion into a career or a way to provide for yourself and your family. I have been blessed with the opportunity to have something in my life that I was born to do, that is in my blood, that does exactly that,

My sons will never have to worry, my husband works hard and he too never had to worry. I did the passionate work at the beginning, sitting on the floor eating my third bowl of ramen noodles for the week wondering if maybe, just maybe, I’ll earn enough to upgrade to tuna and rice tomorrow.

That kind of start separates the ones who really want it, from those who are just in wrestling, or any passion, to use it.

Imagine, if you will, starting off in another profession or passion, only to walk away and use what we do as a back up plan. Thyat is the situation we have in wrestling with certain people. They don’t have the passion I do, they don’t have the love for this that I do, they haven’t had nights where you clean a gym or dojo, finish at midnight then sleep on a hard, cold floor.

Only to wake up at 5 am for the first class.

I have.

I’ve been there.

So when I say the entitled morons I am forced to deal with. When I see a family of prima donna wannabe divas tell me that they are going to take MY title and MY place. I take offence to that. Cause that isn’t passion, that isn’t a need to be the best. That is a failure to understand. And week in, wekk out I prove that I am the best in this damn business. And no one.

No one…

Can take my passion away...

Scene One-Will you?...
Off Camera
Washington D.C  
New Year’s Eve 2017

“Ali?” Michaels voice went through the hallway as he stood in a black tuxedo. His wavy brown hair framing his handsome features as his trimmed beard curled around his lips that moved into a nervous smile. His deep brown eyes darted back and forth as he waited near the door of their home. There was still no answer as he laughed to himself hearing a few crashing noises in the bathroom. “Alicia are you alright?” His voice was a little louder, but still soft and calm, only a hint of a wavering nervous energy underneath.  

“I’m fine!, sorry!..” Alicia seemed out of breath as the door opened and she stepped out. Her hair was done up and to one side, her makeup showcased her big blue eyes and her soft pouty lips that were covered in a red lipstick that matches her dress. A long flowing strapless gown with a slit up one side, black high heeled shoes made small clicking noises as they touched the hardwood floor of the hallway leading out. Michael stood in awe, his jaw dropped as his eyebrows raised. Alicia looked down making sure her dress was straight, her black handbag finding her right hand as she looked up to find her speechless boyfriend.  

“Is, is there something wrong?” Alicia panicked for a moment, her hands shaking a little as Michael seemed to snap out of it, he laughed to himself and leaning in close kissing her lips softly, as he pulled back Alicia blushed and let out a deep breath realising it was all fine. “Nothing could ever be more right than seeing you right now. You’re gorgeous Alicia.” She looked down and bit her lip squeezing his hand. She cleared her throat and looked at the door. “We should probably get going….we have a party to attend and clients of yours to wow…” Michael laughed again and moved his hand lightly across her cheek.  
>[color]lightblue]“I think them seeing you in that dress will wow them way more than any boring business proposals I could have.”[/color] She made a face and giggled under her breath as she kept his hand in hers and went for the door, Michael’s hand slid into his pocket and he stopped causing Alicia to slowly turn around. She tilted her head and smiled slightly looking at his pale face. “What is it?” He took a deep breath and squeezed something in his pocket before looking down at Ali. The light moved and danced in her eyes as he stepped closer.  

“I was going to do this later.” He swallowed hard and kissed her again, this time with even more passion and love, Alicia melted in his arms as his right hand moved down her bare shoulder. “I was going to do this as the clock struck midnight, in front of a lot of people. But this moment...I want it to be just ours…” Alicia shook a little as the butterflies rose in her stomach, her heart raced and felt as if it was going to burst from her chest as it heaved up and down. Michael slowly dropped to one knee and slid his left hand from his pocket holding a small black and red ring box.  

Alicia took a sharp breath in as she tried to keep it together, Michael looked up as his hands shook and his eyes stared right into hers almost looking into her heart. He pulled the top of the box open revealing a beautiful white gold diamond engagement ring. Alicia swallowed hard and made a small squeaking noise as Michael tried to keep his voice strong. “Violet Maxwell.” She didn’t even flinch at him using her birth name, others said it in mocking tones with venom designed to make her angry. Michael said it with love and affection.  

“You and I have been through a journey, we found each other and you repaired me just as much as I did you…” He paused for a moment rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb, a small chuckle coming from deep down as Alicia started struggled not to cry. “But the journey has only just started, and I want you by my side for all of it. The ups and downs, highs and lows...Violet...will you marry me?” The words were barely out of Michael’s mouth as Alicia blurted out her answer “YES!”

Michael stood up and Alicia wrapped her arms around his neck, he laughed again and pushed the ring on her finger, Alicia kissed him over and over again before taking a deep breath to calm down. A beep is heard as Michael turned to look outside as the large black car that sat out front, he gave a small nod grabbing Alicia’s jacket sliding it on leading her out the door.

Scene Two-Better the devil you know…
On Camera
New York, New York
Present Day[/i]

”Sometimes you’re forced tp do things you really don’t want to do…

Alicia pauses straight away, a deep breath follows as she shakes her head.

”This week SCW decends on Tuscon Arizona, Climax Control will, as always, be a huge show. Filled with action and drama and all that good shit. A few weeks ago, I stepped into a match against Seleana Zdunich. I put my SCW bombshells title on the line and we both fought tooth and nail for it. In the end I was able to come out the other side with the title held high. I told the world I was going to do it, I told them how and when the dust settled I was still on top of the mountain.”

“And it wasn’t for lack of trying on Seleana’s part to try and toss me off. She did all she could, she put it all on the line and she came damn close. I said it before the match and I’ll say it again, Seleana Zdunich is a great wrestler and competitor, and I respect her effort. And any other time in SCW women like Seleana would be at the top, but she is living in a time where I am dominant. This is a time when SCW has me ready, willing and able to not just be a great champion, but to be THE great champion. See, winning this championship was just the first step, you think that’s all I wanted? To win it and that’s it?. No, that isn’t my style.”

“I want the record….”

“Most defences, most days, most main events, highest win percentage, I don’t care what record it is I want it. And matches against Seleana and others will get me there. The truth is that I don’t care who SCW put in front of me. I don’t care what obstacles I have. I don’t care what returning former champions want a piece of me or what young new prospects step into SCW and take the world by storm. The truth is, and you just have to look at my match with Seleana for this, I am the best professional wrestler on this planet today.”

Alicia raises her eyebrows and shrugs with a chuckle under her breath moving along the gym flor. Her long hair tied back away from her face.

”And when I say something like that, somne of you believe it, some of you don’t. But it’s up to all of you to try and stop me. It’s up to all of you to prove me wrong. And there’s two women in this match who have had opportunities to try. One is my tag partner, one is one of my opponents as well as someone who foir some reason, has a shot atb my title. But, teaming with Mercedes Vargas is definately not all doom and gloom. See Mercedes and I have an interesting history. She has been able to get wins over me...albiet they haven’t been one on one wins. And no one except her counts battle royals. But still, she has beaten me in a tag match. There seems to be a running theme here. See one on one I am damn hard to beat, Mercedes should know this, since I beat her. But in tag matches?...my partners routinely drop the ball…”

“I’d like to think Mercedes isn’t past her prime enough that she’d be able to hold up her end of the bargain, especially considering who we’re up against. But the truth is, I don’t know what Mercedes we will get. Will we get the Mercedes who has been coasting on her name, shrugging off challenges and just being a passenger in SCW?. Or will we get the Mercedes who ran roughshot over SCW years ago and Honor?.”

“Truth is I have no idea and I don’t even think she knows. But if Mercedes turns up and puts effort in, well, I know we can wrap up this match in a nice little bow. And that isn’t meant to be a slight on Sam Marlowe, Crystal Zdunish?. Absolutely. And I’ll get to that horse faced bitch, but Sam Marlowe is different,”See Sam is a champion, and I know she’s eager mto put that title on the line against Mercedes but I wonder, does she want to test herself against me?...”

“See Sam is one of those what if scenarios, much like the woman who beat her recently Cat Riley. Those are two names and two competitors I would love to defend this title against. Two of the best, two of the most talented, but Sam and I have never had the pleasure of a one on one match. She has been in the roulette division, toiling away and showing the world how good she is and now, well now she gets to step in the ring with me again. Last time she was able to beat down that waste of space Jesse Salco….so technically...Sam Marlowe has a win over me…”

Alicia seems to look sick to her stomach as she shakes her head.

”But I’d say I have the upperhand on tag team partners this time, as much as Mercedes annoys me she is a bonafide star and a proven comodity, no matter how much she seems to want to coast on her name and accolades of the past, and Sam this time you’re handicapped with a partner. Just like I was when you and Dani Weston beat me and Salco. See while I have Mercedes Vargas, someone who is ALMOST as good as she believes herself to be. You are stuck with...Crystal Hilton…”

“Or Christina Zdunich…”

“Whatever she wants to call herself.”

“Me?. I like to call her, overrated, boring, passionless, a liar, a scumbag, a bitch, a cunt, untalented. See, Crystal you shouldn’t be in this match and you shouldn’t even have another shot at me. Seleana earned hers because of your stupidity getting involved in our business in the first place, and your continued involvement. You are a stain on professional wrestling and the SCW bhombshells division and title scene. You are a selfish, egomanic. Your wife earned shots against me and you keep poking your nose in and now your own daughter, your beanheaded arrogant chip off the old block has a shot against me that..despite how I personally feel she EARNED at Blast from the past and hey look who is involved again…”

“I don’t know why SCW continues to put you in positions like this Crystal...I really don’t…”

Alicia scoffs and throws her arms in the air.

”Kate earned her shot, so did Sel and your daughter but you?. You get carried to wins and use underhanded tactics and somehow, someway, despite the fact you’re a lying, useless piece of shit you are in a position again and in my way. But, I’m done with that Crystal, I am done watching you twist and turn your way into title shots over and over and when I am done with your daughter I am coming for you. See Brit earned her shot but she is making the same mistakes you are. The same arrogant bullshit attitude, it’s quite obvious that the horse face, hairdye and bad decisions don’t fall far from the tree…”

“This tag match will be a away for me to punish you fot all your stupidity Crystal and send a clear message to your idiot daughter.”

“And then, when the dust settles...I’m going to into the void...and I’m going to beat the living hell out of her while you watch and you’ll know, her blood will be on YOUR hands…”

 Prologue: How to be the best and alienate people

I’m an acquired taste.

I get it. I can come off as arrogant, self-righteous, and downright cocky. But it comes with the territory when you know how talented you are. When you walk around a locker room and see all your competition and know that nine times out of ten you beat every single one of them. When you look in a mirror and know that the reflection staring back at you is the only person who can beat you down and embarrass you.

It’s a realisation I came to so very early in my career.

I trained in Japan and I heard the dreams of the other girls. All the Joshi’s. They spoke of America like it was the best place on Earth and where they would get a real test. And despite being born and bred in the United States I had only ever known the Japanese side of the business.

So when I came home, can you imagine the culture shock?. Can you imagine the disappointment?.

O came back to a country where women who had side jobs or were using wrestling to pad their little social media resume’s and tried to use it to get bigger paychecks in acting and singing and god knows what else.

It made me feel dirty.

It made me feel wrong.

So I went about fixing that perception, that wrong in my life. I vowed I was going to be the best of the best, the most dangerous woman on the planet. I told myself I would seek out those who were like-minded and destroy those who weren’t. And as much as I dislike Mercedes Vargas, she is a professional wrestler. You take away the makeup and the television presentation and she cares about what happens in that ring more than ANYTHING. Sierra Williams, Devona, my little sister Zoey, these are women who care about this business.

Crystal, Kate, Brittany, Seleana, hell even Dani. They worry about everything else under the sun instead of this business…..

That is why I’m disliked, that is why I rub people the wrong way and that is why I’m looked at as arrogant. Because to me, wrestling isn’t just a side job. To me, wrestling isn’t just a little addition to my life. Wrestling is my life.

I love my husband.

I love my sons.

But wrestling is my calling. It’s what I was put on this planet to do. And I do it damn well. I walked into Honor and dominated their development company. I walked into WWH, LAW and then back to Honor and dominated there. And now, in SCW I do the exact same thing.

And in times of doubt, in times of crisis….I have my family, I have my friends...and then….I become legend…

Scene One-Failure?
Off Camera
Camp Ripley Morrison County, Minnesota
August 13th. 2017. Night of Honor Wrestlings Zero Hour PPV

Alicia holds her ribs as medical staff holds ice packs on her neck and shoulders, her breathing is labored and deep but every single breath is met with a wince as her chest and ribs contract. Alicia grinds her teeth and pushes them away throwing the ice across the floor. She picks up both her title belts and turns kicking open the locker room door stepping inside. Sweat drips from her face and hair as she looks up into the full-length dressing mirror. Alicia had just faced Samantha Tolson in a champion versus champion match. Both her Legacy championship and Sam’s Honor title had been on the line.

For half an hour Samantha and Alicia beat the hell out of each other. Suplexes, stiff shots, submissions, brawling. All of it had been used and it had all been left in the ring. The time limit had expired and the medical staff had ruled that both women could not continue, despite both of them protesting heavily. Alicia had stormed backstage and held both the Honor Legacy title and the WWH women's world title at the same time.

Both championships dangle down in her hands. Alicia nods slowly and places them down on the table next to her bag, she doesn’t even hear the door open as she tries to calm herself and forget about the pain. Then she feels it, Michael’s hand slide over her shoulder. Alicia calms down with a smile as she turns to face him. Her manager, life coach, and new best friend. He stood a lot taller than her about 6’3, his toned muscular frame hidden under a beautifully tailored grey suit. Alicia looked into his eyes with a small smile before looking away and down, her heart dropping as she backed away. Michael tilted his head looking confused as he lightly brushed some of the hair from her face, his thumb moving down her cheek as his forefinger lightly lifted her chin to him.

“Hey peaches, why the sad face?” Alicia chuckled as she shook her head and sat back against the end of the table, her ribs again causing her pain as she closed her eyes and winced. Michael reached forward and helped her stand back up, his hand drifting over her midsection as he looked down and noticed the heat coming from her right side.”I think you have some bad bruising. We have to get you checked out...I’ll get the doctors that you shoved off back in here”

As he turned to leave Alicia reached out grabbing his arm, he turned back and she shook her head. “I need a minute, I can’t face anyone right now” She looked down again as she leaned in placing her forehead against Michael's chest, he looked down concerned, his arms wrapping around her on instinct.” What is it?”

“I...I let everyone down. I said I was walking out with both belts and in the end I failed” Michael couldn’t help but laugh to himself as he shook his head before lightly pushing Alicia back and down onto a chair, he slowly moved down to one knee in front of her with a deep sigh, his eyes kind and full of affection. “You went out there and went to war with a woman who is a two time Honor champion. You didn’t lose, you didn’t win. You came to a stalemate and they had to call it off. I don’t think this is the last time you two will be in the ring and trust me. I saw Samantha Tolson being helped down the hallway….you have nothing to be ashamed of.” Alicia looked up and shot him a small smile and a nod. He got to his feet offering his hands. She places hers in his and allowed him to help her up to her feet. His arm moved around her as he turned to help her back towards the medical personnel and trainers.

Washington D.C
Two Weeks Later

Alicia stepped through the large archway into the main room of the large old colonial home. It’s rich history plain to see to anyone who would look. It’s architecture screaming late 1700’s. She couldn’t help but smile as she passed old family photo’s. Family members and baby pictures of Michael and his parents and ancestors. She couldn’t help but smile as she stopped at one of him as a child, a ball in his hands.

Alicia turned to him as he leaned against the archway, his wavy brown hair loose and flowing over his nears and down his back, a trimmed brown beard accenting his cheekbones as a grin came across his lips.“What’s so funny?” She chuckled again and grabbed the photo turning it towards him.“You were so cute” She makes a small face pushing out her lips before laughing again. Michael shook his head stepping forward taking the photo as she held it out.

“That was a long time ago….the innocence of youth.” There was a hint of sadness in his voice as he placed the photo back on the wall, Alicia looked down and gave a small nod before feeling his hand on hers, he led her through into the kitchen and out to the stairs stopping at the bottom.“And up there are the bedrooms, the master is down the hall to the right then another 3 on either side.” He gave her a grin and leaned against the post of the staircase that went up and curved to the side.  

“So, when do I get to see the bedrooms?....” She moved some hair from in front of her face and stared up into his eyes, Michael coughed and laughed under his breath looking up to the top. “Well, by all means, I can finish the tour now, or after we eat?” Alicia gave him a nod again and stepped close to him. “And which room is mine tonight?” She squeezed his hand and tilted her head slightly as she asked the question. “Well, that depends…”

“On what?” He leaned in close, his lips just touching hers softly. As he pulled back he shook his head. “I’m sorry Alicia….I...I’m sorry.”  

She looked surprised and fumbled over her own words, her accent becoming more prominent as she seemed slightly panicked. “Why?. Why are you sorry?.” Michael folded his arms over his chest looking away, his body language showing embarrassment as he seemed to close off before her eyes. “I crossed a line, Ali. We’re friends and I’m your agent. We shouldn’t…”

He trailed off and went silent, after a few moments Alicia stepped forward finding his hands again getting close, she pushed up on her tiptoes to meet him kissing him softly. “The heart wants what it wants. I stopped listening to that annoying little voice saying “no” a long time ago” Michael looked in her eyes and smiled with a small nod. “Alicia...you want to be with me?” Alicia laughed to herself “I thought that’s what the kiss implied...but you will take me on a proper date….tonight…”

“Yes ma’am”

Scene Two: Fucking cabbages and Family legacies
On Camera
Edinburgh, Scotland
Present Day

”Are you people shocked?. That I can play along in a team setting?”

Alicia chuckles lightly, her hand grips the SCW Bombshells world title that is slung over her shoulder, the leather strap dangling down next to her body.

”Climax Control 231, live from Dublin Ireland, myself and Blade Alexander beat down and destroyed that silly little twit Hitamashi and that mean girl rip off Calia. We went down to that ring and it was an eye-opener. See, I’d heard of Blade Alexander, I’d heard of his skills in the ring and that he was always one of the big “what if’s” in SCW. What if Blade had stayed, what if Blade was still around, what if Blade had won the SCW world title?. Hitamashi disregarded his skills, disregarded his past and he paid the price. Expulsion from the tournament and ZERO CHANCE at the World title shot.”

“Blade and I did what we do and that is win.”

“I have told you all time and time again that I could drag anyone to victory in this. But the fact I have a partner who has a past, who has a great skill set and is determined to win this tournament?. Well, that makes my job even easier.”

“I look around at the other teams left as we get down to the final 8 and I only see Alex and Devona as our real challenge. And that, well that’s because I know Alex. I know I could take Devona’s pretty little head off. And I know there has been some confusion about Blast from the past but let me be clear. If Mark, Christian or Brooke decide that one of these matches is to be a title defense of my championship, I will face whoever I am in the ring with and fight tooth and nail to keep this championship. See, I wanted to be a fighting champion, that’s why I entered this tournament, I didn’t want to9 just wait around for someone to win….”

“Or cash in a stupid little gimmick briefcase…”

Alicia scowls and adjusts the championship on her shoulder, her lips pushing together as their cherry red color blurs together, her long blond hair flowing from under a black and red baseball cap.

”Yeah, that’s right I’m talking about Kate Steele-Warren. Now, if some of you missed the little exchange happening, Kate is crowing about cashing in her shot at me for London Calling, but If Blade and I get to the Blast from the past final then I will be busy and not only will I be busy but chances are I will be putting the title on the line in that final against whatever woman has been good enough with her partner to get to that match. Whcih, I’m actually excited for. If we get there. But Kate wants to whine and cry about it, Kate wants to try and re-write the rules of the tournament.”

“Re-writing rules, not staying active, whining and crying. Damn she kind of sounds like Brittany Williams.”

“Before I get into the upcoming match here in Scotland, let’s revisit how our opponents got here. Kale Smith and Brittany Williams beat the only team in this tournament more pathetic than the team Blade and I beat. They beat Joshua “I can travel through time” Acquin and Effie Bingham. The girl who has the distinction of having a mouth twice as big as mine while having one eighth the talent. Now, Kale, you may be a talent, you may be on par with Blade, I don’t know. You’re six foot two, over two hundred pounds, you can move for a guy that size and you have this certain...spark about you. I don’t know if it’s because you’re from Australia or if it’s because you’re a great athlete, but I don’t think it’s a secret as to what Blade and I are going to do…”

Alicia smirks and moves the title off her shoulder looking at it before her bright blue eyes shine and look straight back up into the camera.

”Divide and conquer.”

She lets out a deep laugh and shrugs pacing back and forth a little.

”I am so confident in Blade and I winning that I’m going to let you in on a little secret here Kale. Our plan involved Brittany being tagged in and never being let out again. See Kale, I look at you and I see a guy who has real talent, I see a danger. I mean, I know Blade is tough and talented but you? You fought for three years to get back to SCW and the blast from the past tournament is your door to be back full time right?. This is all to prove to Mark and Christian that you belong and truth be told, after seeing you drag that tiny piece of dead weight to a win proes it…”

“I don’t wish you any ill will and if I’m honest I think you would be a great challenge for Austin. He loves a fight, a real fight. And I have to say between Blade, Alex and you?. Well those are three possible contenders that I know would get Austins motor running. But, the bad news with all this is no matter how much I think you deserve to move on, no matter how impressed I am with you and your re-emergence….it ultimately means nothing.”

“Because you’re teaming with a piece of shit…”

“What?...too harsh?”

Alicia tilts her head at the production crew who all just stay silent. Not one of them standing up for Brittany Williams.

”Up until the Blast from the past match the last time we saw little miss Brittany was back in November where she tried to steal the Honor tirle from me. I retained and I have gone on to win the SCW bombshells world title and still stay strong. Because that, is what champions do but Bitt wouldn’t know anything about that. She was the youngest champion in company history, but she lost that title and faded into obscurity. She then popped up months ago, lost to me and then...poof disappeared…”

“She didn’t keep working, she didn’t try and get another match with me, she didn’t try and earn a shot at the Honor or SCW titles. She just went home, sat on her ass and waited till this tournament so she could hope and pray that she’d be able to hitch her wagon to someone talented and ride their coattails right on into the finals and get a shot that way.”

“What else would we expect from a “Hilton” right?”

“Your bitch ass mother tried the same thing when she beat down her own wife to get added into a match she had no right to be in. Typical Williams woman, always takming the back door, too bad your father didn’t do that, we’d have been saved the embaressing bratty punk bitch that you seem to be proud of being…”

“But, here’s the downside to your little plan kiddo, you don’t get to the finals because the brackets have lined you and Kale up against me and Blade. So now, without others in the ring for you to pinj to try and get a cheap win, you will be alone in the ring with me. And I am planning on beating the hell out of you till you make the smart choice and abort your plans to follow in your mothers footsteps, you know kind of like how your mother should have aborted yo-”

The sound cuts out as the cameraman lowers the camera and an SCW producer steps out, we can’t hear it but Alicia and the man have a heated conversation. After a few moments Alicia put her hands up and nods before the camera gets lifted back up and the sound comes back on.

”The fact remains Britt, that you are outmatches and outclassed. You think because you have a family legacy you’re going to be some big deal?. You mother ain’t shit, you ain’t shit. You’re just another name in a long list of disappointments from your family who like to flake out time and time again and can never be relied on to do the real hard work that makes you a champion, and I don’t mean holding a title sweetheart because your mommy, she can’t teach you what I know. I work, day in and day out, I turn up week after week and month after month to defend the title and to appear in front of a crowd…”

“So I’ll do you a favor, I’ll beat you down, I’ll make you tap and then you can disappear for another three months….”

 Prologue: Vindication….

It happened. Everything I worked for, everything I sacrificed for. I can stand on top of the mountain again, look down and say “I was right”. I went home after the last show. I had the title belt in my possession. I put the replica up with the rest of them and smiled. It looked beautiful up there. It looked right.

But now I’m even more determined.

In loss I was turned into a beast.

I had moments of doubt and self reflection that caused anger and frustration to burn.

Do you know what it’s like?. To be expected to be great?. Not just be told that you have potential, that you COULD do something, but that you WILL?. Every single time?. Now I have that pressure, that expectation. And when those expectations aren’t met I lash out.

I did that with my husband and my sons.

My mother and my sister.

My husband said he understood but really how could he?. He isn’t a competitor. He doesn’t know the competitive nature and that fire that burns deep in the pit of your stomach. He doesn’t know the feeling of your own confidence eating itself when you have that huge weight crushing down on your shoulders. Hell not even everyone in this business gets that or understands it. Not everyone feels the same way I do, thinks the same way I do.

But that is the difference between a champion and the common wrestlers who do this as a job, as a life and for fun. See people like that might hold championships and have some small moments of success, they get their names inscribed in record books, they get a replica to always remind them of what they did.

The feeling is what is different.

It feels good no doubt, but I envy them. See for them to outdo their potential and rise above is celebrated. It’s revered looked at as an inevitability. It’s why it was so shocking when I lost.; Cause really...it just doesn’t happen.

No matter what that idiot Mercedes Vargas says.

That’s the trade off though. People with fewer expectations get the bigger shock and awe of celebration, people in my position though. The title reigns aren’t just looked upon as a cool moment in time. Nah, they’re looked at as special. Legendary. Memorable. And now I take my position as the head of the division. As it’s champion. And I am ready to take on everyone….


Scene One: Fuck that Noise-
Off Camera.
Atlanta, Georgia
12 Years Ago

This wasn’t supposed to be her life. The blood, the pain, the sweat, the tears. Travelling from country to country, eating just enough to survive all for that 10 minutes or so in front of a crowd. The sleeping on gym floors or airport benches. None of it was supposed to be “Alicia Lukas”.

No, she was born to be a prissy pretty little society girl. She would go to a finishing school, learn to be a proper southern lady. Splitting time between Georgia where her mother lived and North Carolina, where her ladies academy was.. She grew to be a Georgia peach, a beauty queen. With her long strawberry blond hair that her mother would curl.

She wore frilly dresses that would turn into ball gowns as they went to dinners with the who’s who of southern royalty. And when the day came She was to be married to a local man, the son of some rich land owner and factory tycoon. “New Money” who needed the “old money” name. A life that would of led to her being a woman of leisure. Maybe even a shot at being on a future season of “real housewives of Atlanta or St Louis.”

Or so she thought. The reality was much darker and filled with pain,and when she turned 19 she looked at her life and just thought to herself…

Fuck that noise….but her rebellion started long before that. Before she met her future husband at 17. No it started as a teen. As she hated the beauty queen bullshit….

Alicia sat in the parlor of her mother’s home. A large two story house located in Atlanta’s’ outer suburbs. The ceilings seemed to reach straight up with delicate lines of painted scenes on them. A few white columns that looked roman scattered through the house as decorative pillars. Her fingers tapped on the grand rosewood table, she smiled slowly as her mother walked in with the women in her employ.

Barbara stopped, her eyes going up and down her daughter as a shock set in, she fanned herself and looked at the two women who kept the house in order shooing them away. She stepped around the table and got closer. Barbara Lukas was divorced from her father, they lived in different state, and Alicia hadn’t seen her father in years.

Barbara was very young when she fell pregnant with Alicia, she was 17 and never fully appreciated her role as a mother and protector. Her father Jason tried to be a father, but his life as a wrestler and unwillingness to settle down and get a stable job with three young children forced him out when Alicia was 5. Barbara was still youthful in her appearance. Her long light brown hair was done and curled with the top back and bowed. She shook her head but tried to keep her demeanor, her accent was brought back but still just enough to distinguish herself.

“Violet Alicia Eveline Lukas, whatever have you done?” Alicia just smiled at her mother, a huge toothy grin full of swagger and arrogance. She licked her lips as Barbara walked around her. Studying her, judging her. “Why?...your beautiful hair!...” Her long strawberry locks had been cut off. Shaved all around leaving a long blonde and light blue part from the front angling down one side of her face and head as the other side stayed uncovered.

Barbara continued her assessment, her demeanor continuing to change. “is…is that…a tattoo?...” Alicia smiled again,the outside of her hand showing a black and red bird. Barbara steps back and shakes her head as Alicia stops and gets to her feet. “You don’t like it mama?” She kicks the chair back, lightly stepping around her mother, still in a bright ruby red dress.

Barbara stepped away from her, her hand fanning her upper body. “Why?..you were raised better than this….you’re 15 years old!. You are going to meet the young man you’re going to marry next summer!. Do you not realise how much we need this?!?”

Alicia just laughs and turns away before tugging on the red sundress pulling it down revealing a tank top under it and then black denim shorts. Alicia shakes her head with a deep sigh. “You know what I saw in the mirror last week?....you…for years I’ve just…pretended…and I can’t do it anymore…”

As Alicia turns away Barbara looked down at the dress pulling it up to study it. ”We’re broke Violet. We have no money, the deal is done. Ronald Dempsey Senior has already set it up, his son, his son and you will be wed when you turn 18. But you will be meeting him before that.

Alicia growled and turned around suddenly tilting her head. Her anger built up higher as her hands clenched into fists. Her future being laid out for her. ”The hell I will! ”Enough Violet!. Don’t you get it? Would you have me on the street? Poor? Like some kind of beggar?....that’s what will happen. And what about your brother?...your baby sister Rose?....she’s ten Violet….TEN… Alicia swallowed her and realised she didn’t have a choice. Her heart sank as she looked up with a defeated sigh, her hand reaching out taking the dress back. ”Good...now..get upstairs...I’ll get some peroxide…

2 Years Later


“Violet!” His voice exploded through the house his daddy owned. Ronnie stormed through the 20 year old heir to a large fortune. His nose was in the air, his fists were clenched. He was angry, a standard day. He looked left and right as a few house workers seemed to get out of his way. He stopped getting to two large doors.

He took a deep breath and pushed them open. “Violet!” She sat up straight, her breathing laboured as she got to her feet looking around suddenly. Her hands straighten her dress out as he stepped around her. The house workers all left the room and as the giant door shut Violet Lukas took a sharp breath in.

He stepped around her a few rotations, his anger boiling to the surface, his eyes trailing up and down her body. Her long blonde hair tied back and put in a long braid down the side and down one shoulder. Ronnie came to a stop in front of her and leaned in. “Who is James Daniels?”

She stuttered and fumbled more, swallowing and then sighing. “Uh, darling he was a friend from when I was younger...my next door neighbour and we were going to see one ano-” She didn’t even see it coming, the back of his hand. It flew up and under before catching Violet on the cheek causing her head to fly backwards and to the side. She let out a whimper but didn’t go down, instead she made a grave error and turned back to him with her eyes blazing with anger and hatred.

Ronnie stepped forward and reached out grabbing her hair in his left hand yanking her head back hard. “Listen here ya little slut….I do not work and give you nice things for you to disrespect me..and my family…” Violet let out another whimper. “I wasn’t I swear” Another shot, this time an open hand slap across her face, his grip hard enough to stop her from falling, pulling out strands of hair. “LIAR. when we are married you will not make a fool of me Violet..YOU WILL FALL IN LINE…”

He leaned in, getting so close to her face she could feel his hot breath on her cheek and neck, his lips an inch from her ear. “Remember, without me...ya nothi, ya mother has nothin, ya family has and is nothin...when ya turn 18 ya mine….forever…” He let her go throwing her backwards, she stumbled and hit the large black baby grand piano, her hip crashing against it as she fell to the floor. Ronnie adjusted his suit, straightened his hair and smiled. “Now...be a dear and clean yourself up before drawing me a bath…”

Scene Two: What I’m trying to do
On Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
Present Day.

”Do any of you get what I’m trying to do here?. All I get from some of you are complaints and comments and bullshit. You don’t seem to understand it. This title, it means everything to me, and it’s not just because it’s another championship to add to my ever growing list of accomplishments”
Alicia looks down at the title belt in her right hand, she looks at it and studies it. From the front plate and side plates, the ornate designs, the nameplate on the front, the name “bombshells” that made her skin crawl. She sighed and smirked with a wink.

”I recognise that as a whole SCW has been a great force for women’s wrestling. Helping the idea of a women’s division be viable as something more than a sideshow. So many other places have a free for all, they don’t have divisions but SCW was able to keep the idea of gender segregation but do it in a way that was respectful. And it always has been. I get it, I’m not bli9nd, SCW was an innovative place and in a way still is. I’m not trying to disagree with that or destroy it’s legacy. Back in 2011 SCW was producing great matches between WRESTLERS who happened to be women while other places put their female athletes in bikinis and hired models. SCW was ahead of the curve…”

“And I’m honored to represent that lineage. I’m honored to hold the title that Roxi Johnson once held. But for every woman like Roxi or Amy there is an Amanda Cortez, a glorified porn star with a foot fetish. Or a Delia Darling, a woman who is more flash and now bang. I have been vocal about the name of the division, the name of the title and what it represents. I feel as if the name should represent the respect SCW has shown female athletes over the years. Bombshells doesn’t do that. It’s the same as Roses or Diamonds or Divas. It just doesn’t show the proper message that SCW is trying to convey.”

“See a few years ago, I entered a company that had a women’s title, a title called the bombshells championship. It was held by a succession of women who didn’t make it mean a damn thing, it was almost a dead championship, they were all style and no substance. I won that title and I built an entire division. Gone where these no named, fake titted wannabe actresses with no wrestling talent. Instead I built a division of killers. Now, I left that company because of the stupidity of the owner. But that championship is now a world title and Mercedes Vargas is fighting for it in a few days. Now, here in SCW..things are different…”

Alicia pulled the SCW Bombshells title over her shoulder with a slow smile. She held onto it with her long hair tied back, the slow smile turning into a toothy grin, her lips covered in a cherry red lipstick that made her smile “pop” more.

”Christian, Mark and Brooke aren’t stupid. Sure, they’re not perfect either but unlike that other place I mentioned SCW isn’t run by people with a third grade education and second rate ideas. They push their talents to be and get better, some ways I don’t agree with, but they still try. So I don’t need to worry about that, and I don’t have to worry about building a division. I already have a talented division to face and work with. Just look at Dani Weston. She beat me one on one and I already told you all. That doesn’t happen.”

“Mercedes Vargas can run her mouth about how it took me two shots to win the title, cause you know, that matters. But being beaten by Dani Weston isn’t a shame. She’s an incredible wrestler and athlete and if she ever wants the rubber match between us. I’m in. She deserves to stay in the conversation for this championship and I’m glad she’s in the match at Blaze of Glory. But the real wars happen one on one. But, wait, I guess I’m somehow hiding behind my trophy case right Trinity Jones?. I bet you thought I wouldn’t hear what you said right?. You’ll say that in a promo but I bet you won’t say it to my face, cause if you did I’d slap the taste out of your mouth, drag you down to the ting and beat you so fast even Parand Ara would be shocked.”

“But before I get to Blaze of Glory, I get to defend my title in a one on one match. The final show before the supercard. This is one of those decisions most people would be confused about. Why would Christian, Mark and Brooke make a dombshells title match a few weeks out from Blaze of glory?.”

“Motivation…”

“They know someone like me thrives in these situations. They know someone like me loves competition and loves to defend the title. So they signed this match, and I also bet a certain member of SCW’s management also takes great pleasure in how pissed off Crystal has gotten with Seleana getting a singles title shot long before her….”

Alicia laughs to herself and tilts her head.

”But I want to be very clear on this. Seleana Zdunich deserves a title shot, she deserves a one on one shot, hell so does Dani Weston, but both of them will be in the match at Blaze of glory the question we have though, is who is going into that match as the champion and who will be going in as one of the challengers?. That’s what we got eh Seleana?. Thing is I could spend the next 20 minutes talking about your relationship with your wife, I could talk about how much I hate her and how much your little domestic spat being played out all on live TV makes me sick to my stomach. I could even talk about the kind of person you are behind the scenes, the sweet animal lover from Sweden by way of New Zealand….”

“I could talk about how, as a person I have no issue with you.; I think you’re a credit to wrestling and your family.”

“But instead I want to focus on why we’re here. Wrestling. See SCW has a lot of issues floating around and we have seen your whole domestic issue played out in public, I have no doubt this is stressful for you. But the truth is that when you get in that ring it all fades away. It doesn’t matter. And this week at Climax Control 230 you get a one on one shot. Live in long beach Seleana The Cat Zdunich against Alicia The strong style southern belle Lukas. And as I said...you earned this…”

“You should be the calibre of opponents I face. You should be the type of person who steps up and gets in the ring with me. You have this heart that very few people possess, you have a determination and an honor that we can all respect. And, you’re talented. You have a chance to beat me Seleana. You have the talent and the drive and the determination...it should be applauded and celebrated….but…..you’re still not walking out of here with the title…”

Alicia laughs to herself again and closes her eyes with a deep breathe.

”Just because you have talent drive and determination doesn’t mean you’ll beat me, I mean you CAN beat me, but you won’t. See, you look at title matches and track records and we can see that when a title is on the line you choke. And, hey it’s not your fault a lot of people have performance issues. Just look at my ex husband Chris Cane. Now when I hold titles, I hold them for a long time. WWH womens champion for almost three hundred days, never lost the Honor legacy title, longest reigning Honor women's champion. I lost to Dani Weston then immediately, this is what I do, Seleana, I win titles, I hold them and make them  wanted prizes. This title is already coveted so half my job is done, but I want to break Mikah’s record, I want most defences, I want my name to be as synonymous with this as it is with every other championship I’ve held…”

“For that to happen I can’t exactly lose it to you now can I?....”

“It’s a shame because if anyone deserves a Bombshells championship win, if anyone deserves a moment in the sun to prove just how good she is, well, it’s you. But I can’t let sentimentality impact me. I need to be the best, I need to show I’m the best and I will do that by beating anyone and everyone SCW puts in my way. At Blaze of glory, it’;; be Dani, Crystal and you, but this week in Long beach it’s just us Seleana. And I will respect you before, then after the match and I know, I KNOW you will put your entire heart and soul into this, I know how bad you want it and trust me...I know one day you will h0old this championship…”

“Just...not now, not for a long time and certainly not at Climax Control 230, not at Blaze of glory….I have plans, I have my whole reign in front of me….and I will be...champion…”

 Maybe in another life
I could find you there
Pulled away before your time
I can't deal, it's so unfair
And it feels
And it feels like
Heaven's so far away
And it feels
Yeah, it feels like
The world has grown cold
Now that you've gone away

Prologue-If I had a heart.

Maybe one day I would actually care. I mean really care. About those less fortunate. About those who needed to train harder hit harder, be faster. Those who had to compensate for a lack of natural ability. But the truth is natural ability and skills that are inside or DNA only get you so far. But if you take both, if you can harness someones natural talent and instill a need to compete. You get a monster.

Maybe one day I would actually care. I mean really care. About those that life stomps down and leaves behind. About those who had fallen on hard times and fallen. Who was unable to raise up under their own power. The ones who were beaten and held back. But weren’t strong enough to fight and win. To break the chains of bondage that held them down.

Maybe one day I would actually care. I mean really care….

If I had a heart.


Scene One-I feel nothing
Off Camera
Atlanta Georgia
Last Week

The house seemed so quiet. The large main parlor didn’t even seem to echo as it used to. Alicia looked around as her mother Barbara slid her sunglasses on and left, Zoey walked out of the room, her makeup smudged, her eyes red from crying. Zoey moved out into the parlor with her sister sitting down on a chair opposite her. Alicia just stared at her, wanting to say something but unsure of what to offer. Zoey was closer to him than Alicia was. There was a thick silence as Zoey took a sharp inhale opening her bottle of water to take a drink.

As she finished she finally noticed while she had been crying and in emotional pain. Alicia hadn’t been. Alicia’s face was blank and emotionless. She had not shed a single tear for James Maxwell, their biological father. ”You know you can cry right?. You don’t have to be a strong big sister.” Oh bless her heart. Alicia smirked and shook her head looking down. She had no idea how to work this, or why it would even matter. She was here for Zoey. not their father. But she needed something to distract Zoey from the lack of emotion. ”Have you started the funeral arrangements?. Did he leave any instructions in his will?

His will, that was a joke. Alicia knew damn well their father would not do the decent thing and put his last thoughts and wants to paper to make things easier for anyone foolish enough to actually care for him. ”He didn’t, I have no idea what he’d want. I don’t….Ali..help” It broke her heart, seeing Zoey like this. Zoey always put on the face of strength. She was 5’10, 160 pounds. She was bigger and stronger than Alicia. She took after their father more than she did too. But here they were, the older sister feeling nothing except pain at her baby sisters suffering. And an inability to relate. She reached out and laid her hand on Zoey’s shoulder. Zoey tilted her head and laid her cheek on Alicia’s hand.

A little more time passed as Zoey suddenly sat up straight and grabbed a handful of tissues. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose shaking her head at the same time. ”No, I’m not going to be like this, I need to be stronger, like you. He was your father too yet I’m the one crying like a baby.””That’s because she doesn't feel bad.” Josh’s voice cut through the room. Zoey and Alicia both turned to look up at their brother. The troubled “middle child”. But he was every bit like their father. He stood six foot eight, was naturally muscular, had long wavy blond hair and a beard. He dropped his bag near his sisters and turned to the small bar to mix a drink.

”Josh?..what are you..””Doing here?...I felt like saying a final goodbye to the old man, so I’m here to help with the funeral” Alicia raised her eyebrows, Zoey shook her head and got to her feet as Josh downed the whiskey stomping passed him. ”So you disappear for months and think you can just turn up now?. Last time I saw you was Ali’s wedding and that was seven months ago… He poured himself another drink and shook his head again downing it. Alicia still stayed silent. Her hands coming together as she sat back watching Zoey getting more upset and Josh staying just as blank and emotionless as she felt.

”You just turn back up and expect us to want you to help?” Josh shook his head and set the glass down before turning to Zoey, he reached down and gave a small pat to the top of his baby sisters head. ”The funny thing is you think she wants to help” He motioned towards Alicia who looked away, Zoey looked at them both one after another before scrunching her face up with a growl. ”You too?...what is it with this family?” Alicia could feel herself standing up and the words about to come out of her mouth, she could feel decades of anger. ”I’m sorry you lost YOUR father Zoey, I feel bad for you and I hate seeing you upset but you have to understand something.”

She stepped closer to her sister till they were face to face. Both of them with long blond hair, tanned and toned bodies, bright blue eyes. ”Jason walked out on me and Josh when we could still remember it. We know what it was like to watch him leave and not understand why. He may have been your dad and you may have been the apple of his fucking eye...but he was dead to us a long time before his body caught up/” Zoey opened her mouth trying to find the words, nothing came out and she just stood there looking at her siblings with tears in her eyes before turning and walking away.

Alicia sighed as her heart dropped. ”She had to hear the truth Ali” Her hand flew up with a finger in the air, she didn’t even turn to look at her brother. ”I don’t want to hear it, Josh…”

Scene Two-The Day he died for the first time/
Off Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
22 Years Ago

The day was like any other. The sun rose high in the sky, the smell of summer in the air as the heat in Georgia seemed to bake us all alive. I was five years old. Long curly blond locks, chubby cheeks. Every bit a mixture of my southern belle mother and my father. A rough and rugged wrestler named Jason Maxwell. He was seven foot tall, huge muscles and long blond hair. A smirk that was playful and boyish despite his age. A look my mother fell for, hook, line, and sinker. I don’t remember everything from that time. But I remember being happy.

I remember my mother being happy. I was the first born. The princess. Followed by my brother Josh and our baby sister Zoey. Josh was 2 and a half, Zoey was a newborn, maybe three or four months. I don’t remember exactly how old. I just remember the weird feeling. My mother for a time had been questioning my father on his choices. On what he was doing for the family. She had come from money, she gave that all up from the family to marry my father. A star-crossed forbidden love it seems. But times grew tougher….

The wrestling business as a whole had become stagnant. There was no money to be made in the mid-’90s and with three children my mother worried. She was scared and wanted Jason to find another job. My father was as stubborn as a mule. I suppose that is where I get it from. But I sat on the floor, the hardwood floor of the house we lived in. A small three bedroom affair, My brother and sister both have a nap, not that they would have remembered much anyway. All I remember was the yelling. My mother and father in the kitchen. My mother then telling him to keep his voice down once she realised I could hear everything.  

I didn’t think much of it that day.

It had become a little more regular than I would like to admit. The arguments back and forth, always over money and direction. Things that never held much weight in my mind. At the time all I cared about was my little brother touching my shit. But I heard the boots on the floor. My father stepping through the house. I remembered feeling different, weird. The vibe was all wrong and I was upset. He walked out of Josh and Zoey’s room, he walked over to me setting his bag down and picked me up sitting me on his knee. His eyes looked strange. Not the happy relief I was used to when he was able to see us, spend time with me and actually be a father away from the traveling circus life of professional wrestling.

A life I myself now subscribe to and endure and love. In a way, I understand why he left. Why the last I saw of him for 20 years was his back. His large silhouette moving out our front door with a bag in his hand. My mother angry and shaking her head hiding the tears and keeping them back and away. He loved the life. He loved the feeling. He loved the rush. At the time I thought he was just leaving for work. That someday my father would walk back in the door as if nothing happened. Give me a hug, tell me he loved me. But that day didn’t come, not for 20 goddamn years.  

And when it did, I felt happy, I fell for the lies, I fell for the bullshit. I let him back in only for him to walk out time and time again, and over the last two years, I have had to deal with that fallout. The feeling and knowing that my father is a failure as a man, as a professional wrestler, as a father, and as a grandfather….. And now he was nothing.

Scene Three-I am SCW now
On Camera
Washington, D.C
Present Day

”I’ve been waiting months to be able to say and do this.”

Alicia smiles wide and adjusts her shirt straightening it, she slides her hair into place and she takes a deep and slow inhale and exhale before laughing under her breath.

”Mercedes Vargas. I told you so”

She smiles again, her lips coated in a deep red lipstick twist up and show her almost perfect white teeth, her blue eyes sparkle as Alicia seems to bounce a little as she moves.

”I told you years ago, the second I got you in the ring, one on one, that we’d find o0ut who was better. And the entire time we were both in Honor you were able to pick up cheap wins over me. Tag match wins when I had eliminated the entirety of your team and was tired. Mayhem survival “wins” that weren’t actually wins and bullshit DQ’s. But when push came to shove, when the ending actually mattered which one of us stood tall Marcy?. I took the Honor title off you, I waved it around and all you could do was meekly put a hand up and say…”

<Fake Mercedes Voice>“But, but you never pinned me…..”</Fake Mercedes Voice>

“Well, gee willy Mercy, I took your championship and you were too scared to face me, I wiped out your pathetic little group that you built up around yourself. Then I came here, to YOUR turf, to the company where YOU are in the hall of fame. I stepped in YOUR ring after you had thrown out all that bullshit on Twitter. And I pinned you. Kind of makes your little tantrum seem even more childish now right?. You know the one?. Where a certain management representative said “Alicia is SCW” and your little panties..or rather..depends got all twisted up?”

“Cause let’s face it. With that win, and what I am capable of and what I am going to do?...I am SCW…”

Alicia flashes that grin again and pulls up the Honor wrestling championship adjusting it on her shoulder with a laugh to herself.

”I know that seems loaded here but, with Honor and SCW merging and with the matches looming to unify titles I think it’s important to realise that Honors past is now SCW’s past. I am an SCW employee and wrestler and while I love the lineage and records I have broken and hold in Honor there comes a time when that company needs to be fully absorbed and laid to rest. And at Inception III that is what is going to happen. I’m not going to sit there and have this “us vs them” mentality. See I like Jesse Salco and it honestly doesn't matter if she considers herself to be more “Honor” than “SCW”. Cause right now, this is the company we work for. And Jesse is a very talented woman and she is also someone I respect immensely and I know I can rely on her. I know that I will do my half of the world and she will do hers. I can’t say that about everyone….”

“But, our opponents in this match have to realise something. See Sam Marlowe and Dani Weston have been impressive in SCW and I will get to them but they know Jesse Salco. They know Jesse Salco is an impressive woman who can go in that ring. They have seen her win and defend a championship in Honor and inside the SCW ring. So it should send a little shiver down the spines of Dani and Sam when they sit back and realise the title Jesse holds, I made famous.”

“The Honor Wrestling Legacy Championship is tattooed with my name on it no matter who holds it. I had it for over a year and the only reason I don’t have it over my shoulder is that I had to give it up. I had to hand it back to management because I beat Mercedes and won “the big one”. But for almost 400 days that title was mine. I even defended it against Jesse so, Jesse Salco is a great opponent, competitor, and partner. But she isn’t on my level. And sad to say. Neither are you two…”

Alicia smiles and shakes her head leaning back holding the Honor wrestling title tight against her body.

”I mean, the current Roulette Champion, Samantha Marlowe is a name here. Sin City knows you and knows what you can do. Three-time Roulette Champion, two-time Bombshells champion, a Mixed Tag Champion with Caleb storms. Damn Sam, what a resume. I’m impressed and doing that is not easy. But even with all this knowledge, even with being able to look at your past and nod in approval. You’re still not someone who can or will step to me. See I have given people respect and props for what they’ve accomplished here and I will do so. I’ve watched past SCW shows and I will always admit it’s a thrill to be in the same company where Roxi Johnson once rolled and was a champion.”

“But, Sam, you’re not going to believe what you see when I step in the ring.”

“All the hype about me sweetheart is real. You traded the SCW bombshells title back and forth with Crystal Hilton and Mercedes. Two hall of famers who can’t and won’t be good enough to lace my boots let alone live up to what I’ve accomplished. You’re probably going to go on to Inception and face Jesse, putting that pretty belt you won off of Evie Bang on the line. And when the dust settles one of you will hold a brand new title having both histories under it. So, Sam, what that means is, if you do happen to beat Jesse at the supercard, you will technically hold a title that includes the history of me being the most dominant champion and professional wrestler on this planet….congratulations honey….I’ll give you a rub without doing anything…”

“You can thank me later”

Alicia chuckles again and sighs rolling her eyes shaking her long blond hair out.

”And someone else who should thank me is Dani Weston. You should be thanking me for wanting to defend the Honor title and remind everyone what it means instead of just coming straight for you. It has bought you an extra month or so for you to call yourself a champion. And it’s funny cause I kind of thought this would happen. Eventually, the top female champion in SCW, that would be you, would have to face the best champion who was coming into the company. That would be me. And since you hold the SCW...argh..Bombshells..title that means you are “the best” here.”

“And looking at you, I can’t help but be disappointed.”

“I was excited Dani, I was pumped to step into this company after hearing and seeing so much about it from Jesse, Delia, Crystal, and Mercedes. These women were the best this company had to offer and...and...I beat them. Easily. I am one of the best professional wrestlers on the planet Dani and I want to face the best but all I see from you is constant complaining and whining on social media. And fluke your way to holding that piece of gold on your shoulder. Now, we have a few weeks till this supercard. If you want to hold onto that title till then, then I hope you realise what you have to go through…”

“Then again, you get a small preview this week. At Climax Control 223 you and Sam will get in the ring with myself and Jesse. And while the three of you have been successful here and built careers the sad truth is that I’m the one who is going to be remembered. I’m the one who is going to be looked at as the best, as the star, as the goddamn G.O.A.T. You will know what it’s like to step in the ring with the best of the best. All your champions would fall to me and I am the most complete female wrestler in the world today and that may be looked at as a goddamn boast but I have the track record to prove it. People have always doubted me and hated me, this is not anything new to me. And I have made a career out of proving everyone wrong and shoving it down their throats. And I’m coming for blood. We are not the same, say the fucking name.”

 Prologue-The Hunger

It’s hard.

Living up to that potential people see in you. I understand it. See these days if the name Alicia Lukas isn’t at the top, if the person behind the name and actions isn’t going for a title or holding a title then I’m a failure. I’m not living up to that potential that people say they see in me. That kind of pressure and attitude helps me thrive, But it still weighs on my mind

Especially given my past.

See when I first got into all of this, when I started training, my first matches, hell my first year there was no expectations or light of potential. I was left alone, I was an afterthought and there was no pressure. No future to speak of. No one telling me that I should be doing better. Most people would miss that feeling, the one where you’re not a failure while still winning matches.

There’s an addiction. I chase big matches and championships like a vampire chasing a vein. I feel the need to push myself and face the best. When others see mountains they either yell at it to try and make it seem like a hill, so when they conquer it the anticipation and luster are gone. Or, alternatively, they look at the mountain...and walk around it….

I look for a way to knock the fucker down.

I look for a way to stand in it’s broken rubble and raise my fist in the air.

Some say that is a detriment, I get myself in situations I can’t win. But then, I do. But when something happens and I stumble at the last hurdle. When I fall and start to pick myself up and people pull out the usual trump card. No pun to the president intended.

They talk about me as if I’m done.

As if one loss will define me.

One failure will end me.
‘
But what you all seem to fail to comprehend, is that losses, failures and the like starve me. They stop me from getting my goals and stop me from feeding that hunger I have and my ego. So when you push me, when you talk about me as if I’m not the best goddamn professional wrestler on this planet today. Well…

That just makes me want it even more….

I’m still a champion, I’m still a destructive force and now. Well, now I have a new carrot to chase. And you should all be fucking terrified.

Scene One-The night before
Off Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
6 Months Ago

The hotel room was in shambles. The covers pulled off the bed. Clothes were thrown over furniture. The half-naked snoring bodies of five different women laid all over the place, the floor, the bed, one of the girls was upside down on a chair. Alicia smiled looking at her friends with a small shake of her head. A few shot glasses sit on the table. Two her right her mother Barbara sits with her arms crossed over her chest looking less than impressed. To her left Alicia’s 21-year-old sister Zoey. Alicia slides the shot glasses either side of her in front of them. Barbara gave a loud tutting noise showing her disdain.

Zoey laughed and shooked her head as she and Alicia picked the glasses up, Barbara rolled her eyes and shook her head before Zoey broke the silence. ”Come on Mom, we’re celebrating Ali’s last night as a free woman.” Alicia laughed to herself as Barbara seemed to groan under her breath “Her name is Violet, and yours is Rose, I don’t care for these “stage” names.” Both Alicia and Zoey sighed deeply and looked at each other before raising the glasses higher. Barbara took the glass and raised it up looking even more annoyed as Zoey took over.

”To new beginnings and a future with happiness.” They hit the glasses together lightly and downed the clear liquid. Alicia smirked as Zoey closed her eyes and pushed out an awkward almost painful looking breath. Barbara stuck her tongue out and shook her head as Alicia poured another shot for each. A few of the girls stirred as Zoey sneered mumbling “lightweights” in a low register. Alicia overhead the remark and snickered before pushing the glasses out again. “To making smarter choices!” They downed the shots again with similar results. This time Alicia could feel the sting of the vodka as it moved down her throat. After a few moments, Barbara leaned over grabbing the bottle of Grey Goose pouring the shots. Zoey and Alicia slowly looked at each other Zoey shaking her head in shock as Alicia laughed.

They picked up their glasses. And Barbara who seemed more inebriated than raised the glass first. “To our family, and my sexy new son in law” Zoey had already started to drink, the words causing her to spit out the vodka with laughter. Alicia’s eyes widened as Barbara took her shot and sighed. “At least I’m invited to this one” Alicia shook her head as Zoey gave her sister a pat on the shoulder. Alicia’s heart dropped as she knew exactly what her mother was referring to.

“Mom I, I’m sorry and the whole thing with Chris was a huge mistake. I was confused and I was stupid and I let him talk me into getting married.”  There was an awkward silence. Alicia poured another shot and took it down as Zoey did the same. Barbara stared off into the distance and then slowly looked at her daughters. “You found a good one Violet. Are you nervous?” “Terrified” Zoey laughed to herself shaking her head pushing up to her feet, towering over her older sister and their mother, looking more like their father than their mother. Her large arms and broad shoulders showing a natural size and athletic ability few had.

“What’s so funny?” Alicia chuckled too after asking the question titling her head. Alicia was shorter than Zoey, a little smaller but also athletically gifted and strong. “The hell have you got to worry about or be scared about Ali?” Zoey seemed almost annoyed at her sisters fear and trepidation. Alicia didn’t answer and Zoey smiled lightly. There was a silence in the room as Alicia bit her bottom lip before hearing her mothers voice cut through it, a small slur still there after her increased vodka intake. “Zoey is right dear”

Alicia and Zoey slowly looked at each other shocked their mother would use one of their “stage” names over their birth names. That of Violet for Alicia and Rose for Zoey. Barbara turned and smiled warmly another different sign. “You are successful, you have two beautiful sons and tomorrow you will be marrying a man who treats you like a queen, who loves you and unlike every other man that has come into your life will not humiliate or use you. Can’t even say that about your Father” “Mom!” “oh hush dear I know what I’m talking about.”

Alicia can’t help but laugh as Zoey rolled her eyes. Zoey was always more protective of their father Jason. Alicia had a strained relationship with both her parents. Their brother Josh was a mama’s boy, Zoey was daddy’s little girl. Alicia though, she was her own women. She had been since she walked out on her abusing teenage relationship, one that her mother was partly responsible for. Barbara got to her feet and put her hand on Alicia’s shoulder patting it lightly before walking across the room opening up the door to her suite.

Zoey looked through the fridge and pulled out a few beers putting them on the table sitting down to pop them open before leaning back on her chair, legs akimbo, hair a mess, her nose piercing shining from the light above. “You know she’s proud of you right?” Alicia couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head picking up her beer taking a sip before running a hand through her long blond hair. “I guess” Her reply seemed to anger Zoey who leaned forward suddenly and tilted her head. “I’m not blowing smoke up your ass Ali, she’s proud, she blames herself for all that happened to you if she’d known;” “Stop”

She interrupted Zoey putting her hand up and shaking her head with a deep sigh. “I don’t blame her Zo, and I don’t….” She paused and tried to calm herself, her hand sliding away from the open beer. “My life turned out great. If I hadn’t have gone through all I did I might not have Michael, or the boys, or my career. I’m happy Zoey. But I’m also tired and drunk…” “Fuckin Lightweight” “Blow me.”

”Language!”

Scene Two-Pipebomb? Nah Atomic Bomb
On Camera
Phoenix, Arizona
Present Day

Her fingernails tapped lightly on the faceplate of the Honor wrestling championship. Her long blond hair was loose flowing down her shoulders and back. Alicia Lukas rolled her eyes and shook her head slowly before laughing to herself under her breath.

”Here we go. My first “pre-tape”. I mean I can’t really say this is my first promo since I went out there last week at Climax Control and ran my mouth. Before being basically ignored by the entire “bombshells” roster. Now that can be looked at in two ways. Either they don’t care, which, let's face it, would be a HUGE mistake on their parts, or they’re scared. And that is the theory I honestly think is most likely. See unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last, two years then you know who the hell I am. My name is Alicia Lukas.”

“I started my career in Japan getting my ass kicked week in and week out in a dojo where they made it very obvious they didn’t want me there. I cleaned toilets, I begged and pleaded and took abuse until they saw fit to train me. I had to earn respect there and I became a star. I traveled all around Japan and then Europe before coming home to the United States. I had expected to find a wrestling scene thriving. I had expected to find like-minded hard-hitting athletes. I joined Honor Wrestling and went to their Developmental Division called Legacy. I dominated them all. I ran through that whole place like a hot knife through butter and became the Legacy Champion before Honor shut down.”

“I went from there to WWH, the same thing happened. I put my finger in every single chest I could find, I laughed in their faces and again I dominated the entire Women’s division. Again another place where they called us “Bombshells”. Seems like the more things change the more they stay the same. But I dominated there, I went back to Honor and I was the queen of that company. Hell, there is a preview up for this show right now that tells you all you need to know. I had a handful of losses and most of them where in Tag team matches.” Alicia scoffs. ]Color=Pink]”But hey, I know what some of the SCW “bombshells” are thinking as well as some of you idiot fans who have been sipping on the kool-aid too long.”

“This is SCW, why should we care?. Well, that would be because some of your “best” tried to dethrone me, beat me, and failed. Delia Darling, Crystal Hilton, Kate Steele, Jesse Salco Mercedes Vargas. Some of the “best” in Honor are also the “best” here.[/Color]

She laughs to herself and adjusts the Honor championship on her shoulder with a smirk.

”It has been over 600 days since I looked on my shoulder and didn’t see gold. The 30th of January 2017 I walked into a WWH event, became their women’s champion and revolutionized the company and the division, a few months later I went back to Honor and was the Legacy champion, the championship Jesse Salco now holds, a title I NEVER LOST. I have gone from strength to strength to strength and then I got word Honor wrestling was merging with Sin City.”

Alicia clears her throat and raises her eyebrow throwing her hands in the air with a nervous laugh.

”Not going to lie, I was angry, I was confused and the future was uncertain. But Brooke Saxon promised me with this merger Honor champions and titles would be kept intact for anyone staying. I felt like I owed it to myself and this championship to come here and for the most part, I was happy seeing that Jesse defended her title. I say “her” title but let’s face it, she never beat me for that. It’s still MY title. And then with Shinjiro signing and defending the male counterpart and hearing rumors of Mickey’s possible next opponent it just seemed like it was all true. Until, I saw that apparently, according to people who write previews for the show and who keep records, my title reign “ended” at 161 days.”

“Ended. So the titles being defended on SCW wasn’t a hint that maybe, just maybe I was still a champion?. It seems like people don’t want me to walk around holding this championship and defending it in SCW. Part of it would be because they know I will outshine them and the SCW “bombshells” champion Danielle Weston. But really Dani should really hope SCW does keep its word and allow me to keep going with this, cause if I don’t….”

She raises her eyebrows and shrugs.

”What championship do you think I’ll set my sights on?. Wouldn’t that be grand?. Wouldn’t that be amazing?. To have Danielle Weston against Alicia Lukas?. That match could main event any show around the world. Because of me. See I don't just bring a great record and a championship with me. I bring what is known as the big fight feel. Which is why I’m so shocked that I have been placed in the opening match….”

“My debut, something that should be promoted and celebrated. Something that should be screamed from the damn rooftops is being thrown together like an afterthought and my title isn’t even on the line, meanwhile, Jesse and Shinjiro get to defend there’s and Mickey is openly applauded as a returning hero and champion. But for me?. The opening match against a woman named Parand Ara. Someone who was in SCW returned for a Blast from the past tournament and then has done...nothing. She isn’t a former champion, she isn’t a big name. She’s just a lamb being led to the damn slaughter.”

“Maybe that’s what SCW wants. Maybe they want to see just what I do against someone like you. See Jesse and Mercedes and a few of the other women?. They know what they can do. With me, it all seems to be myth and legend. Am I really that good?. Am I as dangerous as people say?. As talented as my record suggests?. Well, Parand. Yes, I am. Unfortunate for you because now you have to step in the ring with me and try and overcome those odds. Make no mistake, you’re the underdog coming into this. You’re a crash test dummy. Being used as a shining example and light to the rest of the locker room to show just what I am capable of. There is a silver lining though. Years from now your name will live on in trivia contests around the world when they ask “Who did Alicia Lukas beat in her SCW debut?”. So you can thank me for that….”

She scoffs and sits the Honor championship down in front of her.

” Climax Control 220 will represent a shift in the women’s division here in SCW. Women like Mercedes and Crystal and Danielle will all be looked at as a step behind me like they should be. I’m not just some pretty little blond tart who stumbled out of some second-rate wrestling school to use this as a springboard to some movie career. I’m not a failed movie star or model like two of the women I mentioned. Parand, I am a professional wrestler and a damn good one. I can could my losses in one on one matches on one hand and normally when I have lost it had been due to other people. I’m a force of nature, a career assassin. I’m one of if not the best in the world. And hey you might put up a great fight, you’ll scratch and claw, you’ll throw punches and try everything in your power to step in that ring and make your name relevant by beating me but in the end all you’ll do is stare up at those lights while the realization hits you that everything I have said, all the arrogant callouts, the cocky nature...it’s all earned...cause I am that damn good….”

“It all starts in Phoenix, it all starts with you. And this event will be called the rise, of Alicia Lukas.”